Deeds 4 Needs

An advisory council that pairs creative individuals willing to donate their talents on a pro-bono basis with not-for-profit organizations who need their help.

If you're a legitimate not-for-profit organization offering aid and assistance to society, the Committee for Causes can offer assistance to you.

Our committee acts as a clearing bureau—pairing creative firms and individuals willing to donate their talents on a pro-bono basis with not-for-profits in need of effective logos, brochures, ads and other professionally produced marketing communications materials that can help them become more visible and raise more funds.

If you qualify, the Art Directors Club of New Jersey can assist your organization in creating worthwhile public service communications materials. Our volunteers represent the very best creative talents from across the state—including artists, designers, writers, and other creative professionals. We can help you with the creation of…

• Logos
• Brochures & Pamphlets
• Print & Broadcast Advertisements
• Billboards
• Signage, T-shirts & Other Ancillary Materials
• Other Projects Requiring Graphic Design Help

…all at no cost except for out-of-pocket expenses.

We cannot help you directly solicit funds and/or influence legislation.

We review applications for assistance on a case-by-case basis and will try to recruit volunteer services from our large talent pool of qualified professionals.

We typically consider requests from nonprofit organizations that are registered as 501(c)(3) organizations by the Internal Revenue Service.

The project you propose must be non- commercial, politically non-partisan in nature, have a positive impact on society at large and be relevant to audiences of every race, creed and religion. It should also be of sufficient seriousness and public importance to warrant donations of our volunteer¹s valuable time and energy.

If your organization qualifies, Committee for Causes volunteers will donate their time and talents on a pro-bono (free-of-charge) basis, except for a one-time $75 donation to the Committee that helps offset our office and communications expenses. The not-for-profit organization shall also be liable for all related materials and production expenses.

As a courtesy, we request the cooperation of each nonprofit organization that receives volunteer services through this Deeds 4 Needs program for publicity purposes. It is customary to provide a credit line in the finished piece that names the Deeds 4 Needs volunteer or firm whenever possible.

To apply, send us a letter answering as many of the following questions as you can.

1. What is the full name, address, telephone number, fax number, Web site and email addresses (if any) of your organization and who will act as the principal liaison between your organization and our volunteers?

2. When, where and for what purpose was your organization formed?

3. Is your group not-for-profit? What is its status with the Internal Revenue Service?

4. Who are the recipients of your organization¹s services and what services does your organization provide?

5. What is your specific need for creative services now?

6. How will the materials produced be used and what benefits would your organization realize from our efforts?

7. Have funds been allocated or budgeted for this project and, if so, what amount?

8. What is the time frame for preparing and implementing materials?

In addition to answering the questions above, please provide any written materials you have that describes your work.

Print out PDF file of the Deeds for Needs Form, sign and return it with your letter to the Committee for Causes.

For consideration send us a letter answering the above questions and send it, with the signed Deeds for Needs Form to:

Selection Chairman
The Committee for Causes
c/o ADCNJ
PO Box 6
75 Kearny Avenue
Kearny, NJ 07032

If selected as a client of the ADCNJ Committee for Causes, our organization agrees to pay a one-time administration charge of $75 and also to pay for all materials and production costs related to our project.

“Doing It Right”
Volunteer Work Brings Personal Satisfaction
for ADCNJ Member Derwin Sierra

When the people of Princeton-Blairstown Center heard about the opportunity to request the volunteer services of a creative professional through ADCNJ’s Deeds 4 Needs program, they quickly took action.

“We needed a total makeover in the design of our brochure,” explained Angelique Grant, Director of Development, at this nonprofit youth development organization that provides experiential education opportunities for urban youth living in the greater Philadelphia area, New Jersey, and New York. “Our previous brochure—created in the 1980s—was so outdated. It didn’t reflect the robust nature of our work, providing adventure-based programs for young men and women ages 9 to 18.”

All that has changed now, thanks to ADCNJ Member Derwin Sierra who tackled this challenge with professionalism and enthusiasm. The results: Anyone who wants to know more about the work of the Princeton-Blairstown Center can flip through a 24-page “Building Confidence, Character & Community” brochure—which fits in a standard letter-size envelope—accented with appealing photographs and various design elements to communicate the latest information about the work of this nonprofit.

“Derwin is fabulous,” added Angelique. “He is a very knowledgeable and creative professional, with a real flair for keeping the (printing) costs low and the quality high. His first step was to take the time to visit our facility and learn about our work first-hand. He delved right in and got a total feel of our work.” “It was a great experience, which started with a visit to their facility,” stated Derwin Sierra, noting that it is located on 264 acres in the northwest corner of New Jersey near the Appalachian Trail and the Delaware Water Gap. “I really felt the warmth of the people at Princeton-Blairstown Center and how much they care about the young people they serve. It was easy to get wrapped up in this work and then translate the emotional aspects of this caring to the design of this brochure.”

The target audience for this brochure includes parents and youth, as well as donors, funding organizations, and referral sources. Serving more than 4000 people a year with a wide range of programs, the Princeton-Blairstown Center needed a tool that communicates who they are and what they do.

“This project was an opportunity to meet some great people and help them achieve their communication goals,” added Derwin, an ADCNJ member since 1999 who works as senior art director with Alexander & Richardson based in Warren, New Jersey. “It is definitely satisfying to do volunteer work, and I would encourage other ADCNJ members to take on a Deeds 4 Needs project. I felt a great degree of freedom, without getting bogged down in multiple layers of review by others. For me, the most important thing about this project was to do whatever it takes and do it right.”

For more information about the Princeton-Blairstown Center, visit their Web site at http://web.princeton.edu/sites/pbcenter/ or request a brochure by calling 609-258-3340. For more information about volunteer opportunities through ADCNJ’s Deeds 4 Needs, contact ADCNJ Board Member Mike Tesi via email at mtesi@optonline.net or call him at 973-822-1000.