A Powerful Tool for Nonprofits: Supported Self-Publishing!

Supported self-publishing is a unique advocacy tool for nonprofits, says Mitch Black, CEO of Author Solutions. Below, Mitch discusses a recent case!

Mitch Black

As Chief Executive Officer of the largest global self-publisher of books, I’m always on alert for the discoveries that advance our industry. Occasionally, they’re hiding in plain sight. At Author Solutions, we have access to innumerable trends based on our more than 225,000 authors. One idea stood out to me this week in the afterglow of a national TV spotlight on a particularly inspiring writer.

Nancy Gianni is beloved in the world of special-needs children. GiGi, her spirited daughter, inspired Gianni to create GiGi’s Playhouse Down Syndrome Achievement Centers, which today provides free therapeutic and educational programs to Down syndrome individuals and their families across the country. But she wanted to educate the masses about the ongoing battle for acceptance and gain more support.

So she published her memoir through our imprint, iUniverse, and was invited on the Today show to launch it. #GenerationG – A True Story of Miracles, Hope & Unconditional Acceptance, chronicles her journey and celebrates the gift her daughter brings to their lives.

Nancy and I believe that self-publishing can serve as powerful advocacy tool for nonprofits to mobilize their audiences, raise funds and educate the public. Publishing a book also produces something tangible to promote and sell, while elevating credibility.

During a recent conversation, Nancy explained to me self-publishing #GenerationG allowed her to control her message, timeline and will help the future of her mission. “It’s an outstanding option to make a nonprofit stand out, especially when there are so many good causes vying for attention – the book immortalizes the story and its lessons,” she said.

Six ways self-publishing can benefit your nonprofit:

1. Provides credibility and another way to promote your cause to media and potential donors
2. Helps advocate for the cause
3. Creates an emotional connection between reader and cause
4. The author controls the messages and story
5. Proceeds go back to the nonprofit
6. Book can be used as a gift/incentive to those who make donations

–By Mitch Black

Mitch Black is the CEO of Author Solutions, the world leader in supported self-publishing, based in Bloomington, Indiana. Prior to joining the publishing industry, Mitch was a longtime tech leader serving as president of MOBI, a cloud-based, manage-mobility-software company and has over 25 years executive and senior sales experience at companies including BrightPoint, PCS Wireless and Verizon Wireless.