Case Studies

Client: EPIC Impact Society (501(c)(3))
Challenge: Strengthening financial sustainability, refining branding and messaging, and elevating the impact of the Annual Creativity Summit.

Overview:
DM Baker Media played a key role in supporting the EPIC Impact Society, with Dennis Baker serving as a Founding Board Member and Chair of Advancement. The EPIC Impact Society is a nonprofit organization uniting international professionals from diverse industries to empower creative leadership and foster social innovation through education, the arts, and humanitarian engagement.

Key Contributions:

1. Fundraising and Development:
• Successfully raised financial support for the organization through sponsorships, grants, and individual donations, ensuring the resources needed to sustain and expand EPIC’s programs.

1. Branding and Messaging:

• Supervised the organization’s branding and messaging to align with its mission of empowering creative leadership and social innovation.
• Developed a cohesive narrative to inspire donors, engage stakeholders, and attract broader community involvement.

1. Event Support:

• Collaborated with the team to secure high-profile speakers for the Annual Creativity Summit, ensuring a diverse and impactful program that reflects EPIC’s mission.
• Enhanced the visibility and influence of the Summit, establishing it as a premier platform for creative leadership and humanitarian dialogue.

Impact:
Through these efforts, DM Baker Media significantly contributed to the EPIC Impact Society’s growth and success. The organization now enjoys stronger financial health, a clear and compelling brand identity, and a well-established Annual Creativity Summit that draws international attention. These achievements underscore the power of strategic messaging, relationship building, and targeted fundraising in advancing a nonprofit’s mission.

This case study exemplifies DM Baker Media’s expertise in nonprofit development, branding, and event promotion, highlighting the ability to deliver measurable results and meaningful impact.

Client: Neighborhood Associations in Southern and Northern California

Challenge: Empowering citizen involvement in community planning and local land-use issues while shifting public opinion to achieve long-term advocacy goals.

Overview:
DM Baker Media collaborated with neighborhood associations in both Southern and Northern California to develop and execute strategic community advocacy programs. These initiatives were designed to support citizen engagement in community planning and land-use decision-making, ensuring that the voices of local residents were heard and respected.

Key Contributions:

1. Strategic Planning:
• Crafted a comprehensive campaign strategy tailored to the specific goals and needs of each community group.
• Conducted an in-depth analysis of local land-use issues, stakeholder dynamics, and community concerns to inform the advocacy approach.

1. Campaign Execution:

• Designed and implemented a multi-faceted campaign to educate the public, engage stakeholders, and build consensus around the clients’ goals.
• Developed messaging that resonated with community members, leveraging storytelling and data to create a compelling narrative.
• Facilitated events, workshops, and outreach initiatives to encourage citizen participation and collaboration.

1. Public Opinion and Consensus Building:

• Successfully shifted public opinion to align with the neighborhood associations’ objectives.
• Fostered community consensus on key land-use and planning issues, ensuring sustained support for the clients’ goals.

Impact:
The campaigns achieved 100% of the clients’ objectives, including significant changes in public opinion and enhanced citizen engagement in community planning. The strategies implemented by DM Baker Media not only delivered immediate results but also had a lasting impact, influencing community perspectives and advocacy efforts for years to come.

Conclusion:
This case study demonstrates DM Baker Media’s expertise in strategic community advocacy, campaign development, and public engagement. By combining thoughtful planning, targeted messaging, and effective execution, the firm successfully empowered communities to take an active role in shaping their futures.

Client: Polis Assist (Tech Startup)

Challenge: Building social capital and generating media attention to support a mobile app’s pre-launch and secure a successful second round of funding.

Overview:
In 2017, DM Baker Media spearheaded a highly effective public relations campaign to promote the pre-launch of Polis Assist, a mobile app focused on helping users locate fee-free parking. The campaign was designed to strengthen the company’s message, build community interest, and position the tech startup for its next round of funding. Received significant media attention form KTLA News, LA Weekly, LA Times, and numerous other media outlets…

Key Contributions:

1. Strategic Messaging:
• Developed a clear and compelling narrative that communicated Polis Assist’s unique value proposition to both media outlets and potential users.
• Highlighted the app’s innovative approach to solving parking challenges in major cities, positioning it as a forward-thinking solution.

1. Media Engagement:

• Secured extensive media coverage from both local and national outlets, ensuring widespread visibility for the app prior to its official launch.
• Crafted press materials, pitched stories, and coordinated interviews to showcase the app’s potential and the team behind it.

1. Community Interest Building:

• Executed targeted outreach campaigns to engage the local community and generate buzz around the app.
• Utilized digital marketing and social media channels to amplify the message and attract early adopters.

Impact:
The PR campaign was a resounding success, quickly generating significant media attention that bolstered Polis Assist’s visibility and credibility. This increased public awareness helped strengthen the company’s message, attract community interest, and build the social capital necessary to support its funding efforts.

Conclusion:
This case study highlights DM Baker Media’s ability to deliver impactful PR campaigns for tech startups, combining strategic messaging, media engagement, and community outreach to achieve measurable results. The success of this campaign laid the groundwork for Polis Assist’s growth and continued innovation in the tech space.

Client: Mariam Ibraheem (Sudanese Refugee and Human Rights Advocate)

Challenge: Managing media relations, public appearances, and advocacy efforts following her release from Sudan, while supporting her transition to the U.S.

Overview:
DM Baker Media played a pivotal role in managing the media relations and publicity efforts for Mariam Ibraheem, a celebrated refugee from Sudan who faced the death penalty for apostasy. After her release, which was secured through the advocacy of a nonprofit organization chaired by Dennis Baker and with the support of the Pope, DM Baker Media crafted and executed a strategic campaign to amplify her story and support her mission as a human rights advocate.

Key Contributions:

1. Media Relations and Publicity:
• Secured high-profile interviews and media coverage for Mariam Ibraheem on outlets such as BBC World, Megan Kelly on FOX News, ABC TV, and thousands of newspapers worldwide.
• Built relationships with global media organizations to ensure her story reached a wide audience, shining a light on issues of religious persecution and human rights abuses.

1. Preparation for Public Engagements:

• Provided media training and preparation to equip Ibraheem for interviews and public appearances, ensuring she could effectively convey her message and experiences.
• Managed her speaking engagements, coordinating logistics and securing impactful opportunities to share her story.

1. Book and Film Opportunities:

• Assisted in securing offers for her book and film rights, expanding her platform and ensuring her story would continue to inspire and educate audiences around the world.

Impact:
This campaign not only amplified Mariam Ibraheem’s story but also raised global awareness about the plight of religious persecution and human rights violations. The media coverage and speaking engagements positioned her as a powerful advocate for justice, while the book and film opportunities created long-term platforms to further her mission.

Conclusion:
This case study underscores DM Baker Media’s expertise in media relations, advocacy, and public messaging for social justice causes. By combining strategic planning, media engagement, and a compassionate approach, the campaign effectively supported Mariam Ibraheem’s transition to the U.S. and her emergence as a global advocate for human rights.

Client: Cultural Arts Organization

Challenge: Raising significant funds during the mid-2000s recession to support a major capital campaign and secure community buy-in for the organization’s vision.

Overview:
DM Baker Media successfully led a capital campaign for a cultural arts organization, raising nearly $3 million during one of the most challenging economic periods in recent history. The campaign required a multi-pronged strategy, including effective grant writing, community engagement, and lobbying efforts, to achieve the ambitious fundraising goals.

Key Contributions:

1. Grant Proposal and Advocacy:
• Secured a city grant of nearly $1.7 million by crafting a compelling and effective grant proposal that emphasized the cultural and economic benefits of the project.
• Actively lobbied city officials, fostering strong relationships and gaining their support for the organization’s vision.

1. Community Engagement:

• Built consensus within the community by communicating the importance of the project and its long-term benefits.
• Organized outreach efforts to rally support from local businesses, residents, and cultural leaders, ensuring broad-based backing for the campaign.

1. Comprehensive Fundraising:

• Raised additional funds through private donations, sponsorships, and other grant opportunities to reach the campaign’s nearly $3 million goal.
• Leveraged a network of donors and stakeholders to maximize contributions during a time of economic uncertainty.

Impact:
The capital campaign not only met but exceeded its financial goals, enabling the cultural arts organization to expand its programs, upgrade facilities, and deepen its impact within the community. The city grant and additional fundraising efforts demonstrated DM Baker Media’s ability to navigate complex funding landscapes and deliver results, even under challenging circumstances.

Conclusion:
This case study highlights DM Baker Media’s expertise in nonprofit fund development, particularly in capital campaigns and large-scale fundraising initiatives. With a proven track record of securing major grants, fostering community support, and achieving ambitious goals, DM Baker Media continues to deliver exceptional results for cultural, healthcare, and educational nonprofits.

Client: Youth-Focused 501(c)(3) Organization

Challenge: Organizing a large-scale music festival that required securing sponsorships, creating a cohesive brand identity, and managing publicity to maximize attendance and community impact.

Overview:
DM Baker Media successfully directed a 3-day music festival featuring 30 bands, providing a platform for youth engagement and support for the client’s mission. The project involved raising significant corporate and government sponsorships, creating branding and messaging, and managing all publicity and advertising for the event.

Key Contributions:

1. Sponsorship Acquisition:
• Secured high-profile sponsorships from major corporations, including MTV, FOX TV, United Airlines, American Airlines, and Pepsi.
• Negotiated government sponsorships, diversifying the funding sources and ensuring the festival’s financial success.

1. Branding and Messaging:

• Developed the festival’s brand identity and messaging to resonate with both youth audiences and the broader community.
• Created promotional materials that highlighted the organization’s mission, aligning the event with the client’s long-term goals.

1. Publicity and Advertising:

• Managed all publicity efforts, securing media coverage to generate excitement and awareness for the festival.
• Planned and executed strategic advertisement purchases, targeting key demographics to drive attendance and amplify the festival’s reach.

1. Event Management:

• Directed the 3-day festival, coordinating logistics for 30 bands, multiple sponsors, and thousands of attendees.
• Ensured seamless execution while maintaining alignment with the client’s mission and goals.

Impact:
The music festival was a resounding success, raising significant funds for the nonprofit organization and engaging a wide audience in its mission. The event strengthened relationships with corporate sponsors, enhanced the organization’s visibility, and created a lasting impact within the community.

Conclusion:
This case study demonstrates DM Baker Media’s expertise in managing large-scale events, securing diverse sponsorships, and delivering cohesive branding and publicity campaigns. By combining strategic fundraising with creative event execution, DM Baker Media continues to provide exceptional value to nonprofit organizations seeking to amplify their impact.

Client: Nonprofit Organization

Challenge: Organizing a high-profile fundraiser at the House of Lords that aligned with the premiere of Walden Media/Disney’s The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, leveraging the event to maximize visibility and engagement with donors.

Overview:
DM Baker Media successfully organized a prestigious fundraiser at the House of Lords in the British Parliament, featuring Douglas Gresham, C.S. Lewis’ stepson and Executive Producer of the Narnia film, as the keynote speaker. The event was designed to raise funds for the nonprofit organization while capitalizing on the global buzz surrounding the premiere of the Narnia film.

Key Contributions:

1. Event Coordination:
• Secured the House of Lords as the exclusive venue, creating an elegant and high-profile atmosphere to attract donors and dignitaries.
• Collaborated with Douglas Gresham to serve as the keynote speaker, drawing on his connection to C.S. Lewis and his role in the Narnia film production to enhance the event’s prestige.

1. Film Partnership Integration:

• Leveraged the Narnia premiere to create synergy between the nonprofit’s mission and the film’s themes, appealing to donors and fans alike.
• Partnered with Walden Media/Disney to align messaging and generate excitement around the event.

1. Fundraising Strategy:

• Created an exclusive guest list of influential donors, policymakers, and cultural leaders to maximize fundraising potential.
• Developed messaging that tied the event’s purpose to both the nonprofit’s mission and the universal themes of C.S. Lewis’ work, deepening emotional resonance with attendees.

1. Publicity and Promotion:

• Managed the event’s publicity, ensuring coverage by media outlets and fostering broad awareness of the fundraiser and its connection to the Narnia film premiere.
• Designed promotional materials that emphasized the unique and historic nature of the event.

Impact:
The fundraiser at the House of Lords was a remarkable success, raising significant funds for the nonprofit organization while enhancing its visibility and credibility. The event deepened relationships with key donors and stakeholders, creating a foundation for future collaborations. Additionally, the partnership with Walden Media/Disney amplified the event’s reach and provided attendees with a unique cultural experience.

Conclusion:
This case study underscores DM Baker Media’s ability to orchestrate high-profile events that blend nonprofit fundraising with cultural and entertainment partnerships. By combining strategic planning, creative integration, and effective execution, DM Baker Media delivers unparalleled outcomes for clients seeking to engage donors and amplify their mission.