Strategisk kommunikation i ideella organisationer : en fallstudie av Rädda Barnens modell med frivilligarbetande kommunikatörer

Sammanfattning: This thesis explores strategic communication management within the non-profit sector. Communication models need to be adapted to the specific sector as different sectors require different approaches of strategic communication management. In the spring of 2013, the non-profit organization Save the Children Sweden initiated a communication model based on volunteer communicators. The following study explores how non-profit organizations can manage communications with a focus on volunteers as a communication resource. The applied research questions concern how volunteers may be integrated into communication activities, the opportunities and challenges connected to involving volunteer communicators and how this may affect the role of the organization's employed communicators. The method applied is a case study of Save the Children Sweden. Semi-structured interviews have been conducted with both employed and volunteer communicators. The theoretical framework focuses on organizations’ internal and external communications. Results indicate that integration of volunteer communicators can improve outreach at the local level and thereby increase the visibility of the organization’s activities across the country. The model furthermore creates possibilities for increased volunteer participation as well as making use of volunteers’ skills and experiences. The most significant challenge attributed to this model is the length of time it takes for communication processes to be completed, due to activities being based on volunteers. A further challenge is to motivate volunteers to continued engagement. In conclusion, the communication model of Save the Children Sweden indicates that volunteers are an important communication resource in non-profit organizations’ local advocacy work.