Using the Community Action Brand
Why Brand with the National Community Action Partnership?
When your agency brands itself as a member of the National Community Action Partnership, you help create a visual connection to the national network and the work of 1000+ agencies who are working alongside you to alleviate poverty across America. The mission of helping people and the promise of Community Action connects diverse agencies who are working within local communities but who are also making a national impact.
Branding your agency as a member of this network can be done in a variety of ways including full adoption of the national style guide, or by incorporating pieces of visual branding within your own unique visual materials. However your agency chooses to maintain their visual brand, NCAP is here to help with resources, guidance, and more.
The Community Action Promise
We are a national Network like no other in the country. Even though our Community Action Agencies may administer well over 50 diverse programs and services—all unique, all tailored to the specific needs of the community—we have the Community Action Promise in common. The promise helps define our brand as a robust state and local force to our board, staff, and partners, and to the 99% of American counties we collectively serve.
“Community Action changes people’s lives, embodies the spirit of hope, improves communities, and makes America a better place to live. We care about the entire community, and we are dedicated to helping people help themselves and each other.”
Color Codes
Font Family & Font Usage
font. To simplify and reduce costs, we are suggesting new fonts—which are free, open source, and
readily available—for use in new materials as follows. The fonts suggested are also available in
common and popular design programs including Adobe and Canva.
- Headings:
o OSWALD BOLD
o To be used for headings and titles. The font can be used in ALL CAPS or standard
case. (available here: https://www.fontsquirrel.com/fonts/oswald) - Subheadings:
o Century Gothic
o Subheading and other text needs. (available here:
https://www.wfonts.com/font/century-gothic) - Body:
o Arial
o To be used for body text. (standard font available on most platforms)
Branding is About How People Feel
For an organization to be a genuine brand, it must meet several expectations:
- It is truly distinctive in a manner that is important or valued by its users.
- It is committed to providing emotional and functional benefits.
- It consistently fulfills its promise and delivers on its commitment.
When people come away from a Community Action Agency feeling positive, the Promise has been delivered. Multiply that by the 1000-plus Community Action Agencies in the country and the Community Action brand becomes one that is recognizable and turned to time and again.
Strategy For Our Brand
Today there are hundreds of Community Action Agencies that deliver that Promise and understand the power of the positive emotional impact. It’s understood that simply displaying the national logo will not evoke positive emotion if it is not followed up with positive action and experiences. Creating, sharing, and maintaining positive experiences for our customers, partners, staff, board, volunteers, elected officials, and all other stakeholders are opportunities for us to connect the emotional connection to our visual branding. Displaying the logo alone is not the answer—it’s not enough.
When there is a story to be covered, a proposal to be funded, an organization to recognize, or a new alliance to develop, our strong Community Action network will help us build and maintain our brand. Be sure also to share those stories with NCAP so we can help elevate your local brand. Contact Johnny Eudaly (link to email).
Tools and Style Guide
To access color palettes, logos, fonts, and training resources, and other tools click here.