Marketing Strategy and Branding Support

We are launching a candle-making social enterprise that will employ and train high school students from low-to-moderate income households. The program will provide students with paid work experience, financial literacy training, and entrepreneurial skills while generating revenue to support our mission.

We’re seeking a Taproot volunteer to help us shape the marketing and branding foundation for this new initiative. The volunteer will work with our team to clarify our target audiences, recommend early marketing strategies, and refine how we communicate the program’s purpose and impact.

The volunteer will support us by:
• Advising on basic market research to understand our potential buyers
• Refining key messages that explain the program’s mission and value
• Providing recommendations for brand elements such as logo direction, packaging concepts, and overall visual style
• Creating a simple starter toolkit with messaging, audience insights, and suggested next steps

All materials, ideas, and program information will be provided. Our goal is to walk away with a clear marketing direction and early branding concepts that help us prepare for launch and future growth.

This project is integrated into our nonprofit’s broader mission of supporting Black and Brown youth in Northeast Wisconsin and aligns with workforce development priorities in our region.

Once the Taproot project is complete, our Program Director and leadership team will implement and sustain the volunteer’s recommendations. For example, a marketing strategy will be put into action by our staff and volunteers, and business systems will be embedded into daily operations. We are committed to carrying the work forward and measuring impact through student employment outcomes, revenue generated, and community reach.

By entering this partnership well-prepared and with clear goals, we will ensure that the time and expertise a Taproot volunteer shares will translate into lasting, visible impact for both the young people we serve and the long-term sustainability of the enterprise.

We have laid a strong foundation to ensure that a Taproot volunteer’s contributions will be well-utilized and impactful. Our team has already secured internal buy-in from leadership, staff, and volunteers who are excited about the candle-making social enterprise as both a revenue stream and a workforce development opportunity for high school students.
To prepare, we have:

Gathered Materials & Research: We’ve purchased candle-making supplies, identified equipment needs, and in the process of researching legal/safety compliance for youth employment.

Structured the Program: A 12-week curriculum is being developed to provide students with both hands-on production skills and workforce readiness training (financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and career skills).

Aligned with Community Needs: This project is integrated into our nonprofit’s broader mission of supporting Black and Brown youth in Northeast Wisconsin and aligns with workforce development priorities in our region.