Angel Flight South Central (AFSC) was a major client of Blackbuck Marketing while I was creative director in 2017–18. This wonderful nonprofit matches volunteer pilots who own small aircraft with patients who need to travel long distances for cancer treatment or surgery. The pilots cover the cost of the flight so people needing medical treatment can travel safely and affordably.
AFSC contracted with Blackbuck to provide marketing and communications services, and over time I began providing development support as well (writing end-of-year appeals and grants, for example). AFSC had some of its most successful fundraising years while I was working with them.
The organization had not had a consistent presence on social media, and the posts had been haphazard, if charming, in tone. Pilots regularly send in photos from their Angel Flights—either on the tarmac or during flight—so I had a treasure trove of images to work with.
The ongoing message on social media, delivered with the help of these photos, was that Angel Flight South Central made it possible for people in need—people of all different ages and ethnicities, from all over the south central U.S.—to get to treatment. The implication: any one of us (including you, dear reader) could be in this position someday. Supporting the organization is like paying it forward for our own future.
AFSC social media posts had a secondary goal: to recruit and retain volunteer pilots. The pilots make considerable donations of time and fuel each time they fly an Angel Flight—making them feel deeply appreciated improves pilot retention.
As I continued to develop their social media presence, I also extended their branding vocabulary, creating evergreen infographics (below) and other templates they could adapt for years to come.
