Whether it's a small bulletin ad, a tall billboard, a multimedia campaign or a letter to the editor ... whether it's an effort to inform policymakers, educators or grassroots advocates ... your efforts will have a significant impact and ripple-effect.

Any time you spend planning is time well spent. It will maximize your impact and reduce potential pitfalls. Think of your plan as a roadmap that will help you reach your destination in the most cost-effective, efficient and successful manner. It can help you make good use of everyone's time and resources, while also achieving a better outcome.

The Message: Incorporate the "Big Picture" Evidence -- from Unwanted Abortions to Heartbreaking Aftereffects (Mothers Dying, Too) -- into Existing and New Outreach

Update your pro-life work with the Elliot Institute's "big picture" evidence especially news that most abortions are unwanted or coerced, about forced abortions in America, and related heartbreak and aftereffects, including maternal trauma and deaths.

The Elliot Institute has distilled this evidence into user-friendly materials that you can use in many ways to challenge what people think they know about abortion.

You can use our evidence-based, downloadable resources throughout this year:

• to change hearts, minds, lives and laws;

• to stop people from pushing or tolerating abortion;

• to save lives -- including mothers and families at risk;

• to expose some foundational lies upon which much of public and legal support for abortion is based.

Have a simple plan
 

When conducting an education and outreach campaign of any size, your goal is to have:

• A simple plan

• A focused audience

• A few thoughtfully selected projects with supporting educational materials

This calls for narrowing and focusing your materials, audience, message and goals. (Learn more about this in Ads 101.) It also requires planning further out for your targeted dates for timely free publicity from press releases, letters to the editor or publicized special events, or to air, run or print paid or unpaid advertising, newsletter or bulletin messages, etc.

Once you have determined these goals, outline appropriate action steps -- including additional fundraising if needed -- with realistic due dates and progress checkpoints, as well as who will be responsible for each detail, including overall implementation or project tracking.

Take time to write down your goals, target dates and action steps, revising as necessary. Most people under-estimate the amount of time and resources a task will take. Build in extra time for those inevitable delays.

1. Choose a few key dates and advertising, education or outreach projects for each year, then use our supporting resources as needed. Keep it simple. No-frills and systemized programs, such as repeating the same project yearly, will keep the plan realistic, manageable and sustainable over the long-run.

    

   Local media reps and paid or volunteer media consultants can help. When you're planning, consider often-overlooked dates, too, such as Mother's Day, Father's Day, Memorial Day, or Christmas. These days aren't always associated with pro-life issues, but have a very real emotional connection for many who have lost a child and/or a daughter, sister, wife or friend to abortion or abortion-related abuse.
    

2. Use our Events/Planning Calendar to schedule projects as far ahead as possible and use the planning tools that work best for you.
    

   When planning, use whatever system works for you, but use a system. It may be  sketching out a simple plan on a yellow legal pad, using a shared electronic calendar and cloud-based data center, such as Evernote.com or Google.com/calendar, or the latest data management apps and software. If you're working with a committee, be sure it's something everyone has access to and, again, keep it simple to be sure everyone is on the same page.

    

   Some apps can help remind you of upcoming dates and activities. Whichever method you choose, it needs to be clear, but not complex. The important thing is to have it in writing and check progress points as you go.
    

3. Re-check our Events/Planning Calendar often for new and upcoming events as they're added
   
   Leave space to adjust your quarterly or yearly plan as opportunities come up. Set aside regular planning sessions, for example, at the beginning of each year, quarter or month, with strategy and execution updates and adjustments as needed.
   
   Select a few key outreach dates and projects and choose supporting materials and timetables. Assign specific tasks to participating group leaders and individuals, making use of their unique areas of interest, talent, resources and expertise.
   
   If you haven't already, join our email list. You'll receive advance notice of new studies, timely project ideas and resources to include in your plan.
    

4. Designate a project leader and specific areas of responsibility. Plan enough time to pace yourself and others.
   
   When planning, allow sufficient time for tasks to be completed. It's common for people to underestimate the amount of time a project will take, especially when it's uncharted territory. The devil's in the details! Allow time for the inevitable pitfalls, learning curves, plan changes and detours. Adjust as necessary to avoid crossed wires or burnout.
   
   Compassionate people will want to help and are motivated to succeed, but reasonable and realistic timetables will avoid overloading anyone and allow everyone to enjoy the process. If you're a committee leader, delegate, keep it simple, remain flexible, listen and adjust, plan far ahead and avoid micro-managing.

   
   Effective planning and organization will greatly impact participants' motivation and effectiveness. It's not uncommon for volunteers and dedicated participants to spend long hours taking on all types of tasks with zeal; but, ultimately they and others are at risk of burnout. Allow people to work at their own pace and comfort level.
    

   Others may hesitate to volunteer because they think they don't have the time. But if you manage participants well and distribute work with care, appropriateness and planning, you can avoid over-loading individuals or teams and will keep and attract good helpers.

    

   When recruiting volunteers, state upfront that individuals are free to choose a schedule and the amount of time they're willing to contribute. Tell them that even one or two hours a week would help and stick to that commitment. People who are reluctant to contribute large blocks of time may agree to one, two or a few hours a week. Still others will be willing to work on a single, simple and well-defined project now and then, or on some focused aspect of an annual event.

    

5.  Incorporate our new evidence into your existing pro-life or other materials and messages.

    

   If you already have an existing media, education or outreach plan, update it to incorporate important new pro-woman/pro-life messages.

    

   Academic research published in major medical journals, plus other significant evidence, points to a reality that exposes and changes the entire "choice" premise. This new evidence about unwanted abortions and post-abortion issues, including maternal death rates, makes this an issue of risk, exploitation and human rights abuse endangering the rights and lives of both babies and mothers.
    

6. Magnify your impact, divide the work and share the energy! Join forces with other like-minded individuals, groups and organizations, or corporate sponsors.

    

   You can really multiply your efforts, lower your costs and meet new friends by sharing your outreach and project ideas and resources with like-minded groups and leaders. For example, civic groups or local churches, schools and outreach groups already doing similar work may want to pool resources and talent for an even bigger local splash.  (See Co-op Ads)
    

7.  Divide the cost by using "Co-op" Ads and Flyers with space for a sponsor's message or logo.

    

   Ask a compassionate local business or counseling center to sponsor a  Co-op Ad, where they can feature their logo or a customized message. For example, a local counseling service or any family-oriented business may want to put a simple "sponsored by" message or their phone number and type of services offered.

    

   Tell them about new evidence and remind them of how abortion is hurting and endangering many individuals and families in their own community.

    

   There are many compassionate, family-oriented businesses and organizations whose leaders and people care about other people and about the welfare of their community. Furthermore, this type of goodwill community service offers valuable visibility to companies, so go ahead and ask for their support!

    

   Or, ask a compassionate philanthropist to anonymously sponsor a regular ad or to dedicate an existing ad to a group or individual. (Get permission before publicizing someone's name. In the case of a deceased person, get the family's consent.)

    

   You can also use the set-aside space on co-op ads to promote your own group's local event, resource or hotline.
    

8. Pool resources with other individuals or groups for a joint fundraiser.
   
   Once again, pooling resources downsizes the challenge and magnifies the results. Learn more on our co-op page and in the step below if you'd like to do a simple ad campaign.
    

9. Plan a simple fundraiser(s) to raise extra money for a campaign.
   
   You can do a simple but effective basic campaign with just two or a few media; for example, combine a radio spot, one or two print or online ads and a billboard. Keep it focused, using just a few select ads that focus on a particular aspect of this issue. And, to keep costs down, you can also support this message with PR or "free media," such as social media, flyers, press releases and events or letters to the editor.
   
   Once you select a few ads, you'll need enough money to achieve the high level of repetition needed to get results. (See Ads 101.)
   
   If you plan far enough out you'll have time to raise funds. Or, set a goal, plan an event or two, such as a silent auction, a raffle, bake sale or car wash. Send a letter to your own list with a specified estimate or goal, or buy a mailing list to broaden your fundraising base for a plan-ahead campaign.
    

10. Customize our Information Kits to send introductory materials to journalists, feature editors and freelance writers who are new to these issues.
    
    Consider all types of print and electronic media. Ask them to write about seldom-reported issues of widespread unwanted or coerced abortion and post-abortion grief, injury and high death rates. This includes post-abortion suicide – a clear and immediate danger. Check our Information Kits page for customizable kits you can use in various ways for media, political leaders, educators and others who might be interested in these issues.
     

11. Include no-cost projects, such as writing letters to the editor. Use our letters as a guide for ideas about messages you can send to local print or online publications.
     

    Many projects can be done without spending a lot of time or effort. If your budget doesn't allow for a major outreach, work a few of these free projects into your plan. Published letters, written in your own words in a compassionate and respectful perspective will reach many who need to hear the message. 
     

    Write a letter to your pastor or political candidates and leaders. Most do not know about new evidence of unwanted abortions and other abuses, harm, risk and injustice to both the unborn and women, or that many families in our own midst have been hurt or are still at risk. Our educational materials can help diffuse some common presumptions and stigma that often surround this issue.

     

    Check low-cost/no-cost ways to use these materials for more ideas.
     

12. Contact editors of blogs, magazines and other publications to ask about Editorial Calendars
    
    Major publications typically have Editorial Calendars with topics, features, articles or areas of focus assigned well in advance of the publication date. If you know that a particular issue will focus on related issues, time your contribution accordingly.
    
    You may want to submit a feature article for publication, a letter to the editor or an ad within the publication or in the classifieds section. If you submit editorial content, follow each publications style and writers guidelines carefully or it is not likely to be published.

Check the Events Calendar often – it's a helpful planning tool. In addition to timely dates and events, it includes links to many associations that sponsor health and wellness outreach or other annual events. These links are for informational purposes only to help you prepare your own education and outreach materials. They are not an endorsement of any particular group's programs or philosophy.

Most of the Events Calendar dates or other information listed will change from time to time. While we try to keep this list updated, please check the original links or search online to make sure you have the correct dates and details.

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