Problem Statement
Weakly established and dated visual image
Film Erie existed as an organization with impact, but without name recognition or visual language befitting a regional film office. There was no defined brand narrative, unclear ownership of communication channels, inconsistent voice, and no centralized digital experience for filmmakers, partners, or the public.
Challenges
Establish the brand in parallel with live operations
Film Erie is a volunteer-run nonprofit serving independent filmmakers, regional production partners, cultural institutions, sponsors, and community audiences. There was no budget for external agencies, all contributors had full-time jobs, and active programs, festivals, and sponsorships were already in motion. The work had to happen in parallel with live operations, while also meeting governance and board compliance requirements. Every solution needed to be lightweight, sustainable, and resilient to volunteer turnover.
Solutions
Set up for the long-haul
Rather than treating this as a typical branding or website task, the work was positioned as a systems and infrastructure rebuild from within the board. The focus centered on stabilizing the organization through shared governance, clear ownership models, and scalable operational workflows before addressing visual identity. By formalizing board operations, defining cross-functional responsibilities, and implementing structured request, review, and publishing pipelines, the foundation was established for Film Erie to operate with consistency, credibility, and long-term sustainability.
Results
Stronger brand reflective of organizational footing
Within the year, Film Erie stabilized its financial, governance, and communications infrastructure. Programming broke even for the first time, and marketing shifted from reactive execution to strategic planning. Brand credibility strengthened across sponsors, venues, and regional partners. The organization gained centralized records, operational clarity, and sustainable processes designed to withstand volunteer turnover. Most importantly, Film Erie transitioned from short-term survival to long-term scalability.
YoY reduction in post-festival liabilities
Official social media publishing moved into an approval-based workflow
Reduction in last-minute promotion
YoY increase in active community partnerships
