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Grantee Media Toolkit

The Legacy Foundation is proud to be associated with and support the work of its grantees. When we enter into a grant agreement with a non-profit organization, we become partners – both working toward a mutual goal. The Foundation believes that the impact of many grants can be enhanced through strategic communication, drawing positive attention to our partners, their work, and our community. The goal of these communications guidelines is to increase awareness of the work being done within our community. When communicating about your project, such communications should focus on your organization and those that benefit from your receipt of funding. The Legacy Foundation should not be the focus of your strategic communications, but we are proud to be associated with projects that we fund. The following guidelines are intended to assist you in communicating your grant from the Legacy Foundation.

Multi-Colored Underline

Publicity: Grant recipients agree to publicize their award on their website, social media platforms, and through local media channels. All grantees are expected to submit a press release to local media within 30 days of the beginning of funded project activities. Ongoing media updates are encouraged for the duration of your funding period, including updates on milestones, events, and accomplishments. Because each project is unique the Legacy Foundation with work with you to customize a plan for initial and ongoing publicity for your project.

Media Updates: It is the responsibility of the grantee to alert the Legacy Foundation to all media created around your project. Below are communication expectations for various media types:

  • Organization Website: Email a direct link to website content containing a reference to your funded project
  • Social Media: Tag the Ottumwa Legacy Foundation in all social media posts containing a reference to your funded project
  • Online Media: Email a direct link to media pieces containing a reference to your funded project
  • Print Media: Mail or scan a copy of media containing a reference to your funded project

Signage: For new capital projects, the Legacy Foundation will purchase recognition signage to placed, when possible. The Legacy Foundation will work with each project to create signage that is appropriate for capital items.

Printed Materials: An acknowledgment of Legacy Foundation support must appear on all materials related to the funded project unless otherwise agreed upon. The Legacy Foundation logo and credit line should be used in acknowledging Legacy Foundation support. The logo must be legible and unaltered.

Project Photos: Part of your media plan will include scheduled times for the Legacy Foundation to take photos of your projects and the work you are completing. However, we cannot be present for all your work. Thus, we encourage all recipients to take photos whenever grant-related activities occur to help us tell the story of your good work. Photos should be emailed with a short summary of the work completed to myeager@ottumwalegacy.org within 30 days of the work occurring. Please send only photos that your organization has permission to release to the public. By providing a photo, you are releasing it for public use/publication and the Legacy Foundation assumes you have obtained correct permissions.

Internal Communications: Educate your staff and board about the grant to ensure effective communication to your supporters and other stakeholders.

Communication Terminology:

  • Our name: Please use our full name, the Legacy Foundation, when referring to the foundation.
  • Our logo: Grant recipients may download an electronic version of our logo below. Please do not alter the color, font, or graphics used in the logo.
  • Legacy Foundation description: The following description of the Legacy Foundation can be used in media materials. This description should not be altered in any way:
    • The Legacy Foundation, a non-profit charitable foundation created in 2010, is committed to creating opportunities to develop, implement and sustain innovative programs and services that will have a measurable impact on the improved health, education, and vitality of the City of Ottumwa and Wapello County.

Funding Terminology: The following descriptions of funding should be used in media materials. These descriptions should not be altered in any way:

  • Projects solely funded by the Legacy Foundation: “The (project) is funded by a grant from the Legacy Foundation, which partners to improve the health, education, and vitality of the City of Ottumwa and Wapello County.”
  •  Projects funded in part by the Legacy Foundation: “The (project) is funded in part by a grant from the Legacy Foundation, which partners to improve the health, education, and vitality of the City of Ottumwa and Wapello County.”