Success

Over the years, we have helped clients launch highly successful brand image campaigns and PR plans; reach millions of individuals with stories; and equip executive leaders with the tools to market their organizations.

The results include:

• Increased GKC LISC’s media placements by more than 250% in a one-year period. Today, we place dozens of stories about neighborhoods achieving their dreams.
• Established TradeNet Publishing as one of the Top Ten Small Businesses of the Year by the GKC Chamber of Commerce.
• Helped Starbuck’s Coffee Co. successfully transition into the Westport neighborhood through a carefully orchestrated plan.

Success Stories

Is There Such a Thing as Too Much Coffee? Well…No.
When the world’s largest and most successful coffee retailer was preparing to enter the Kansas City market, little did Starbucks Coffee Company know that their next-door neighbor was a popular, locally owned coffeehouse. Known for its outstanding and award-winning commitment to the communities in which they operate, Starbucks was ill prepared for the pending local resistance.

Mershon & McDonald developed and implemented a personalized crisis communications plan involving targeted media and critical communications and strategic partnerships with major Kansas City based nonprofits. The result was one of the quietest and most successful openings in Starbucks’ history and the creation of a case used nationally by other Starbucks facing community resistance.

How Do We Give Away Money?
Blue Ridge Bank Trust, an independently owned community bank in operation for more than 50 years, realized its charitable giving program needed an overhaul. Numerous requests were coming in from all points of entry throughout the year requiring considerable staff time resulting in a large number of small gifts with little impact.

Mershon & McDonald designed a customized process that resulted in a strategic charitable giving program with goals, policies and procedures. In rolling out the new program, several thousand dollars in contributions were distributed throughout the community and strengthened Blue Ridge Bank Trust’s position.

Ready, Set, Now What?
ReDiscover, a nonprofit community mental health agency, and the Linwood Area Ministry Place (LAMP), the development arm of the Heartland Presbytery, partnered to create an urban community campus housed in the former Linwood Presbyterian Church. They were about to undertake a multi-million dollar capital campaign. Major gifts were pledged with the two partners’ commitment unwavering; but was Kansas City leadership and community ready to support such a large undertaking?

Mershon & McDonald customized a large-scale, targeted feasibility study to answer that question. Through the survey, the targeted database and numerous confidential interviews, we determined the feasibility of the project and set a realistic goal. We drafted a development plan that would address the challenges uncovered. Now the partnership is poised to proceed.

More than Kumbaya
The Hope Center, a nonprofit Christian youth ministry, had a successful track record working with at-risk youth in the urban core for more than 10 years. Preparing to launch an ambitious plan to create exciting initiatives including a school, medical center, and housing corporation, The Hope Center knew its board of directors would not only need to expand but would need constant community engagement to ensure the success of these initiatives.

Mershon & McDonald customized a diversity project, involving Board and staff members, to identify specific needs, talents and interests to support such an undertaking. With Board support, critical long-term partnerships and potential candidates were identified, and a farm team for future leadership was created.

Featured Story

A Beautiful Pas de Deux on the National Stage

For more than a decade, Mershon & McDonald has partnered with Kansas City Ballet to oversee the communications and media relations for this nationally recognized, thriving major arts organization.

In helping the organization recently celebrate its 50th anniversary which included a New York City debut at the Joyce Theatre and a performance at the Kennedy Center, Mershon & McDonald secured outstanding local, regional, national and international media to showcase the company. Now poised to move to its permanent state of the art home in a renovated urban building, Kansas City Ballet has looked to Mershon & McDonald again to design and implement a communications campaign to elevate the organization onto the national scene.

What's New @ M&M:

The Children's Place AR

We have received many, many calls from folks about our 2008 Annual Report produced by Mershon & McDonald. All extremely positive; someone commented it was one of the best AR’s that he has seen in awhile! Thank you again for making us look so good!

Roxane Hill
Director of Development

Special thanks to Lisa Reppe, Reppe Design, for the graphic design

www.childrensplace.org