Build a Better Brainstorm
Madeline Stanionis, M+R
Ken Mallette, Oxfam
About M+R
About Oxfam
Can someone please cover the projector
project part? Thank you.
Post this! Drive traffic to our session!
Exclamation! I’m at this adjective session right now, and I am verb
ending in ing it!
The speakers are Madeline Stanionis, that adjective lady from M+R
and Ken Mallette, the job title at Oxfam. They’re mostly adjective.
The room is kind of adjective, and the other number people here are
kind of adjective. I could use a noun (and maybe a drink), but other
than that it’s perfect! Maybe the most superlative of the whole
adjective conference! Exclamation!
Attention isn’t free.
75%
normal.
25%
wacky.
Campaigns
that
brainstorms
begat
The
New York
Public
Library
book·plate
ˈbo͝okˌplāt/
A decorative label
stuck in the front of a
book, with a very short
dedication
The Incredible
Story of NYPL’s
Impossibly Possible
Bookplate
Campaign
$50
Last chance:
$40
In.
Your.
Facebookplate.
• Many many
bookplates
• $57 avg gift
• 57% new donors
• 10% of revenue from FB ads
• 22% - 12/24 discount
• First NYPL Giving Tuesday hook
4 ways to warm up
1. Mad Libs
What we just did – go buy a book!
2. Sentence game
Everyone draw a picture, pass it. Write a description, pass it. Draw,
write, repeat.
3. Re-brand something
New name, new logo, new tagline for meetings, or Thanksgiving,
or cockroaches.
4. Brackets
Cake vs. pie. Most annoying SNL character. Best lunch within
walking distance of the office.
Rules for Brainstorming
Rule 1
There are no rules.
Rule 2
Show up. Every time.
Rule 3
You don’t have to have
the best idea.
Rule 4
Don’t say “straw dog.”
Rule 5
Saying an idea is bad
doesn’t help.
Rule 6
Saying an idea is good doesn’t help,
either.
Rule 7
Make jokes, be silly, get crazy.
Rule 8
State the obvious.
Rule 9
Resurrect the failed.
Rule 10
Shut up and start saying
things.
Oxfam’s experience
Oxfam’s experience
Go-Nowhere Brainstorms:
Is there value? Or should we always
have a plan to execute?
Oxfam’s experience
3 Examples of Go-nowhere brainstorms
that yielded good ideas • Face to Face fundraising challenge – rigged
dice.
• Department brainstorming – ‘One Big
Idea.’
• Corporate partner challenge – unique
podcast.
Oxfam’s experience
2016 End of Year Fundraising Campaign
Summer 2016: tested three creative fundraising concepts
4 ways to mix up your storm
1. Silent storm
Everyone take 3 minutes to write down ideas, then share.
2. Rolling thunder
Write for 3 minutes, pass, add one idea, then share.
3. Gathering storm
Split into small groups, come up with stuff, then regroup to
share and discuss.
4. Lightning storm
5 minutes on Topic A, then 5 on Topic B, Topic C, etc. – then
come back to A.
4 tips for when you’re stuck
1. Talk about failure
Why didn’t it work last time? What can you fix?
2. Thesaurus and rhyming dictionary
It feels like cheating, and there is nothing wrong with that.
3. Pop culture
Find a hero, find a villain, get in touch with what your
audience cares about.
4. Medium, moment, message
Just figure out what you’ll say on Facebook on a certain date,
then expand and explore.
Your turn!
4 tips for countering bad ‘stormers
1. Invoke the rules
When everyone knows the rules, we can hold each other
accountable to follow ‘em.
2. Change up the storm
Say you have a talkity talker. Switch to a silent storm.
3. Prep leaders
Their behavior matters. Words, body language, etc.
4. Manipulate
Figure out what motivates/shuts up the bad brainstormers.
Use it. Wine. Chocolate. Color crayons. Etc.
LISTEN TO TINA
“The first rule of improvisation is AGREE.
Always agree and SAY YES….
The second rule of
improvisation is not only to
say yes, but YES, AND. You
are supposed to agree and
then add something of
your own....
The next rule is MAKE
STATEMENTS… THERE ARE
NO MISTAKES, only
opportunities. “
Questions?
Questions? Complaints? Compliments?
[email protected] @mrcampaigns
[email protected]