NEWS

16
Oct

Build on Brand

October, 2020

What is the ideal relationship between brand and strategic plan? How can taking an integrated approach make your organization more efficient, more effective, and more resilient following the COVID pandemic?

Springboard Partners and Edge Research work with nonprofits on their brands and strategic plans all the time – Springboard from a facilitation and development perspective, and Edge from a market research perspective. We surveyed more than 300 nonprofit leaders during June and July 2020 to assess their strengths and struggles. Despite investing massive amounts of time and effort, more than 70% are not confident that they have a clear, well-defined brand or a timely, relevant strategic plan. Many nonprofits in the field are missing a critical opportunity to use their core identity to create a stronger strategic plan, and ultimately, more impact on the issues they care about. Download the report to find out more about what we learned and what it means for your organization.

Download

13
Oct

Unmuted: What works, what doesn’t, and how we can all do better when working together online

October, 2020

Edge Research, in partnership with The Goodman Center and several other leading nonprofits, is proud to announce the release of a new report, “Unmuted: What works, what doesn’t, and how we can all do better when working together online.”

Based on a survey of 4,405 people at nonprofits and foundations, colleges and universities, and government agencies, “Unmuted” examines the explosion of videoconferencing triggered by the pandemic and addresses the question: What’s really happening when working together face-to-face means screen-to-screen?

Download the report

28
Jul

Afterschool Programs Meet Needs But Face Uncertainty

September, 2020

Results from a recent multi-phase Edge Research survey for the Afterschool Alliance highlight how afterschool programs have met urgent student and community needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, many afterschool and summer program providers feel they lack resources and clarity to plan for the future, and this inability to properly plan is only growing as the pandemic continues with no clear end in sight.

Wave 1 research explored the many challenges providers were facing in the spring, while also expressing optimism for the future. Wave 2 summer research among providers and parents suggests unequal access to quality aftershool programs where children with the most need face the greatest barriers to access. Parents see great value in afterschool and summer programs and believe they should receive more public funding.

20
May

Parent Response to COVID-19 School Closures

May, 2020

Edge Research recently worked with Learning Heroes on a survey of 3,600 parents to uncover their perspectives on COVID-19, school closures, and the future of parent engagement in education. Learn more about the survey results in the video below:

3
Feb

Healthy Schools Research

February, 2019

Edge Research recently collaborated with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and GMMB on a multi-phase project exploring a “whole child” approach to learning. Edge conducted qualitative and quantitative research among parents, teachers, and school and district leaders to determine priorities and motivations to adopting healthy school programs. A full report and webinar are available at the Robert Wood Johnson website.

23
Sep

Digital Evolution Study: Insights on the past, present, and future of member expectations and association technology

September, 2019

Edge Research partnered with Community Brands on a national survey of association members and professionals to understand their perspectives on key technology topics, including personalization, mobile capabilities, data analytics and more. We also examined gaps between members’ and professionals’ perceptions of association technology.

Read the Whitepaper Press Release

21
May

Gayle Vogel Speaks at American Alliance of Museums Conference

May, 2019

Edge Vice President and Senior Research Analyst Gayle Vogel recently presented findings on Charitable Giving by the Generations with a Deep Dive into Millennial Attitudes and Values towards Historic Preservation at the American Alliance of Museums Conference. The presentation was part of the Committee on Audience Research and Evaluation & Public Relations and Marketing Network Breakfast.

25
Jan

Edge Surveys Neuromuscular Community

January, 2019

Edge recently partnered with the Muscular Dystrophy Association on a landmark study of patients and caregivers to identify key areas of concern.

Press Release

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Testimonials

You have had a fundamental influence on our strategic thinking and we now have a new appreciation for the two-way conversation we have with our audiences. I have been impressed with how quickly you've immersed yourselves in our culture and gotten up to speed on our challenges. Overall the research has been a very productive use of our dollars.

Amy DeMaria Senior Vice President, Communications Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

I have worked with Edge Research for over 5 years, as a client at two very different companies. Throughout that time, they have always given me very personalized service — not only do I work directly with the top people at the firm, but I also get excellent staff support. They have been able to handle both the volume and complexity of work I need. They are experienced in a range of qualitative and quantitative methodologies, so they can meet my organization's diverse needs, and they always bring new ideas and approaches to the table.

Andy Hessabi Director Market Research K¹² Inc.

I have brought Edge in to conduct marketing research at each of the conservation organizations I have headed. Their out-of-the-box thinking challenges us to push beyond the conventional approaches so we can deeply understand our audiences and how to reach them. Their work has been a key piece of the foundation for some of my most important initiatives and programs.

Vikki Spruill President and CEO Council of Foundations

From the price of a haircut in New Jersey, to the best company name in Germany to decision drivers for wire rope in China, we've collaborated on a wide range of research assignments with Edge. And the Edge team has always delivered insightful learning. Edge continues to be my go-to research partner for one simple reason: whenever I ask for help with a project, the response is always "sure... but first what's the client trying to figure out?" They always start with objectives and then they think about the optimal methodology. Never the other way around. The Edge approach ensures that we're always able to deliver on what the client really needs to know.

Karl Barnhart President SkyBound

We are still basking in the great reviews of your research presentation, and are now kicking off this branding initiative with the support of the President and the Cabinet. We are so glad to have had the opportunity to work with you on such an important project for Holy Cross. Thank you for the care and attention, creativity, and intelligence you put into this work. It's been a pleasure and we look forward to more to come!

Ellen Ryder Chief Marketing and Communications Officer College of the Holy Cross

I love working with the team at Edge. Their expertise, enthusiasm, and true partnership shine through with every research engagement. I’m always delighted by how well they listen, how creative they are in designing solutions, and how efficient they are in execution. They’ve earned my increasing respect and confidence in every interaction.

Rick Blake Vice President of Customer Insights The Hartford

Edge Research literally helped us transform our fundraising from siloes into effective donor-centered, cross-channel strategies. Their research and insights served as the catalyst for our new engagement and message with our audiences – and we are already seeing tangible results. Plus, they are a ton of fun.

Marguerite Kirst Vice President, Marketing The USO

Edge Research is the perfect partner if you want to take messaging research to the next level. They worked with us to find the right tools that would get us the insights we needed most about our audience, and when those tools didn't exist, they rolled up their sleeves with us and created new ones. I'd work with them again in a heartbeat.

Eric Antebi Senior Vice President Fenton Communications

When the Meals On Wheels Association of America needed some true insight into its current brand and how to best define its brand messaging going forward, Edge's creative methodology and project plan (along with their reasonable pricing) landed them the job. However, it was in their implementation that they really shined. They are smart, quick, determined, and focused on getting to bottom line motivations. They worked hard up front to align themselves with our needs and masterfully unearthed insights and wove them into valuable understanding and direction. In the end, they far exceeded our expectations and I wholeheartedly recommend them to others.

Susan Waldman Chief Marketing and Communications OfficerMeals On Wheels Association of America

I’ve been using the Edge team as my go-to research partner for over a decade for a reason — we can always count on them to apply research rigor, elevate our thinking, and provide insights that are relevant and actionable while doing it cost-effectively and within tight timelines.

Olga Hewitt Group Research Manager, Consumer Tax Group Intuit, Inc.