NACS Foundation

To establish a deeper understanding of where the NACS Foundation stands online, our team dove into an in-depth diagnostic and research process including interviews with both internal and external industry stakeholders. Some of these included Joe Sheetz of the Sheetz Retail brand, and NACS members and supplier partners to gain an understanding of their individual philanthropic priorities. We then analyzed common goals and themes, and how these aligned with NACS and its position in the industry. This research built a renewed focus of the NACS Foundation and its programs.

Our next objective involved developing a structured brand identity that reflected the new vision, values, and purpose of the NACS Foundation moving forward. Through the diagnostics and discovery process, we determined that the NACS Foundation’s audience targets include passionate, charitable people who are active in their local communities. We also needed to keep in mind the importance of current members, partners, and funders who play a crucial role in the Foundations success. Using this as a background to work from, our team developed messaging and brand strategy that would amplify the key benefits of uniting with the NACS Foundation and give their audience a reason to believe in the Foundations mission.

The fresh brand identity highlights the impact of convenience, supplier, and retail members, positioning the NACS Foundation as a point of centralization and mobilization for the convenience and fuel retailing industry. Our goal is to have the NACS Foundation brand tell a story and evoke emotional resonance that ultimately leads to an increase in charitable efforts. The brand’s core pillars of optimism, empathy, authenticity, and transparency shine through in creating a voice that the convenience and fuel retailing industry can stand behind while inspiring action from their audience. We started by developing brand elements for the overarching Foundation, and then created sub-branding for each of the five signature programs.

Once the NACS Foundation’s parent brand identity was established, our team created the Foundation’s operational plan and developed five signature programs: Response Relief, aiding disaster relief and supporting first responders Neighborhood Nourish, caring for neighbors Future Fund, propelling tomorrow’s leaders Tomorrow Thrives, supporting healthy kids Community Clean-up, keeping our towns beautiful.

The Foundation’s five signature programs:

• Response Relief, aiding disaster relief and supporting first responders
• Neighborhood Nourish, caring for neighbors
• Future Fund, propelling tomorrow’s leaders
• Tomorrow Thrives, supporting healthy kids
• Community Clean-up, keeping our towns beautiful

To successfully accomplish its 5-year rollout plan, we developed a comprehensive marketing roadmap focussed on launching and growing support for the Foundation. Since we identified that the NACS Foundation has a wide range of audiences, our team developed different messaging and goals associated with each group, while still serving the greater NACS Foundation brand movement. This included a variety of marketing tactics including internal communications strategy, paid media, traditional marketing, and digital marketing to not only amplify the NACS Foundation but build brand recognition and resonance. The public relaunch inspired participation and sponsorship by highlighting the Foundations vision and values alongside upcoming programs and activation opportunities.

Beyond Definition worked closely with the NACS Foundation to launch the Foundation’s first signature program, Response Relief. NACS Foundation’s Response Relief program honors the heroes and first responders who keep communities safe at convenience stores across the country and collects money for a disaster relief fund. Response Relief launched with a new annual event, 24/7 Day, which honors first responders, service members, doctors, nurses, EMTs, fire and police, and other local heroes who work around the clock to support communities when disasters happen.

July 24, 2020, marked the second annual “24/7 Day,” which was activated and executed with an integrated marketing campaign. Through inbound and outbound email strategy, the creation of a marketing toolkit, social media ads and placements, website strategy, and authentic storytelling bringing the narrative to life, 24/7 Day experienced an increase in retailer participation, member participation, and fundraising for the American Red Cross. Our team produced a short video that we ran in gas stations across the nation at select parter and non partner convenience stores. Beyond the NACS Foundation, 24/7 Day was covered by leading media outlets and serves as a blueprint for other signature program events in the future.