UPDATED Messaging Templates - "Offering" Not "Partnering"
Critical Tone Shift: We're Doing This Anyway, Would You Like to Include Your Community?
MAJOR CHANGE: Based on strategic guidance, we are NOT asking for partnerships. We are offering/informing them of a well-being resource for their community.
Core Messaging Principles
❌ OLD APPROACH (Don't Use):
- "Would you partner with us?"
- "Can we work together?"
- "Looking for collaboration"
- Asking for permission or help
✅ NEW APPROACH (Use This):
- "I'm reaching out to inform you / let you know"
- "We're offering this to DC residents, including your community members"
- "100 cities are participating, thrilled for DC to be represented"
- Tone: We're doing this whether you join or not. I'm including you/offering you the opportunity to let your people know.
Key Phrase Shifts:
| ❌ Don't Say | ✅ Do Say |
|---|---|
| "Partnership opportunity" | "Well-being resource offering" |
| "Would you partner with us?" | "I wanted to let you know / inform you" |
| "Can we collaborate?" | "We're offering this to your community members" |
| "Looking to work together" | "I'm including you in this" |
| "Free wellness program for your building" | "Meditation service offering for [Community Name] community members" |
Template 1: Property Manager / Apartment Buildings
Subject Line:
Meditation Service Offering for [Building Name] Community Members
NOT "Partnership Opportunity" or "Free Wellness Program"
Email Body:
Dear [Property Manager Name],
I'm reaching out to inform you that the Art of Living Foundation, a global
nonprofit educational organization in special consultative status with the
United Nations, is offering complementary meditation sessions on World
Meditation Day - December 21st, 2024 - to all DC residents, including
members of [Building Name / Community Name].
These 30-60 minute sessions are intended to bring peace, calm, and
connection (OR: belonging) amid the holiday stress and uncertain times.
Over the week leading up to World Meditation Day (Dec 16-21), we're
offering daily sessions at our national headquarters across from Meridian
Hill Park (2401 15th St NW, 20009).
I'm reaching out in case you may like to let the residents of [Building
Name] know about these sessions.
Alternatively, if you would like to host a complementary meditation session
at your apartment community, we would be happy to arrange an instructor for
you - again, at no cost.
100 cities in the United States are participating in World Meditation Day.
We're thrilled for DC to be well-represented.
Please let me know if you'd like more information, a schedule of sessions,
or would like to arrange a session for your community.
With gratitude,
[Your Name]
[Title]
Art of Living Foundation - DC
[Phone]
[Email]
www.artofliving.org
Critical Elements:
- "I'm reaching out to inform you" - not "ask you"
- "including members of [their community]" - makes them feel included, not solicited
- Give them TWO options:
- Their residents can come to you (low effort for them)
- You can come to them (if they want to host)
- Social proof: "100 cities participating"
- Frame: This is happening. Would you like to be part of it?
- NO politics: "uncertain times" not "current administration" or anything partisan
- Connection OR belonging - choose one, both work
Template 2: DC Public Libraries
Subject Line:
Meditation Service Offering for [Library Name] Community Members
Email Body:
Dear [Library Manager / Community Programs Coordinator],
I'm reaching out to let you know that the Art of Living Foundation, a
global nonprofit educational organization in special consultative status
with the United Nations, is offering complementary meditation sessions on
World Meditation Day - December 21st, 2024 (a UN-designated day) - to all
DC residents, including members of the [Shaw / Mt. Pleasant / Petworth]
community.
These 30-60 minute sessions are intended to bring peace, calm, and
connection amid the holiday stress and uncertain times.
As [Library Name] serves as a vital well-being resource for the community,
I wanted to inform you of this opportunity in case you'd like to let your
patrons know.
Over the week leading up to World Meditation Day (Dec 16-21), we're
offering daily meditation sessions at our center across from Meridian Hill
Park (2401 15th St NW).
Alternatively, if [Library Name] would like to host a complementary
meditation session for your patrons in your community room, we would be
happy to arrange a certified instructor for you - at no cost to the library.
100 cities in the United States are participating in World Meditation Day,
and we're thrilled for DC to be well-represented.
Would this be of interest to your community? I'm happy to discuss details
at your convenience.
With gratitude,
[Your Name]
[Title]
Art of Living Foundation - DC
[Phone]
[Email]
www.artofliving.org
Template 3: Follow-Up Phone Script
Timing: 3-5 days after email if no response
Opening:
"Hi [Name], this is [Your Name] from the Art of Living Foundation. I sent you an email earlier this week about World Meditation Day on December 21st. Did you have a chance to see that?"
If YES (they saw it):
"Great! Just wanted to follow up. We're offering complementary meditation sessions to DC residents that week, and I wanted to make sure [Building Name / Library] community members knew about it. Would you like me to send you a schedule, or would hosting a session at your location be more convenient for your residents/patrons?"
If NO (they didn't see it):
"No problem! Let me give you the quick version: We're a UN-affiliated nonprofit offering free meditation sessions during World Meditation Day week - Dec 16-21. We're including [their community] in this. Your residents/patrons can either come to our center across from Meridian Hill Park, or if you'd prefer, we can arrange an instructor to come to you at no cost. Would either of those work for your community?"
If "I need to think about it":
"Of course! What questions can I answer that would help you decide? ... I'm happy to send over our nonprofit documentation and insurance certificate if needed. When would be a good time to follow up?"
If "What's the catch?":
"No catch at all. We're a nonprofit educational organization, not a commercial business. Our mission is to bring stress-relief tools to communities. The only thing I'll mention is that some people ask about our courses after experiencing the sessions - but there's never any pressure. Many just enjoy the free meditations, and that's wonderful."
Template 4: One-Page PDF for Property Managers
[Design in Canva - professional, clean, calming colors]
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ │
│ MEDITATION SERVICE OFFERING │
│ For [Building Name] Community Members │
│ │
│ [Peaceful image: meditation, calm setting] │
│ │
│ WHAT: │
│ Complementary guided meditation sessions │
│ (30-60 minutes) │
│ │
│ WHEN: │
│ World Meditation Day Week: December 16-21, 2024 │
│ Daily sessions available │
│ │
│ WHO: │
│ Art of Living Foundation │
│ Global nonprofit educational organization │
│ Special consultative status with United Nations │
│ │
│ BENEFITS: │
│ • Reduce stress and anxiety │
│ • Find peace amid holiday season │
│ • Connect with community │
│ • Science-backed (100+ peer-reviewed studies) │
│ │
│ ──────────────────────────────────────────── │
│ │
│ TWO OPTIONS FOR YOUR RESIDENTS: │
│ │
│ Option 1: Join us at our center │
│ 2401 15th St NW, 20009 │
│ (across from Meridian Hill Park) │
│ [Schedule of daily sessions] │
│ │
│ Option 2: Host a session at your building │
│ We provide certified instructor │
│ You provide community room │
│ Completely complementary - no cost │
│ │
│ ──────────────────────────────────────────── │
│ │
│ WORLD MEDITATION DAY │
│ December 21, 2024 │
│ 100+ cities in the US participating │
│ Millions meditating globally for peace │
│ │
│ ──────────────────────────────────────────── │
│ │
│ CONTACT: │
│ [Your Name], [Title] │
│ [Phone] | [Email] │
│ www.artofliving.org │
│ │
│ "Bringing peace, calm, and connection to DC │
│ communities during the holiday season" │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Template 5: Short Flyer for Residents (If Building Agrees)
[5.5" × 8.5" - for bulletin boards, under doors, email blast]
┌───────────────────────────────────┐
│ │
│ FREE MEDITATION SESSIONS │
│ For [Building Name] Residents │
│ │
│ [Calming image] │
│ │
│ WORLD MEDITATION DAY WEEK │
│ December 16-21, 2024 │
│ │
│ Find peace, calm, and │
│ connection this holiday season │
│ │
│ ✓ Reduce stress & anxiety │
│ ✓ Science-backed technique │
│ ✓ All experience levels welcome │
│ ✓ Completely free │
│ │
│ WHERE: [Your building OR │
│ Art of Living Center] │
│ │
│ WHEN: [Specific date/time] │
│ │
│ Led by certified instructors │
│ from Art of Living Foundation │
│ (UN-affiliated nonprofit) │
│ │
│ [QR CODE for RSVP] │
│ │
│ Questions? [Your phone/email] │
│ │
└───────────────────────────────────┘
Note: Simple, resident-focused. No organizational jargon.
What NOT to Include
❌ Avoid These Words/Phrases:
- "Partnership"
- "Collaboration"
- "Work together"
- "Sponsor"
- "Promote our organization"
- Anything about recruiting for courses (that's too salesy)
- Political references
- Religious language (keep secular/universal)
- "Ancient practice" without science backing
✅ Use These Instead:
- "Offering"
- "Service"
- "Resource"
- "Well-being"
- "Community"
- "Complementary" (not "free" - sounds more professional)
- "Including you/your community"
- "Inform you / let you know"
- Science-backed, evidence-based
- Peace, calm, connection, belonging
Tone Guidance
From the Strategic Advisor:
"You be very direct. I'm offering you this. I am including you in this. is the message. I'm not asking you to do anything. I'm saying we are doing it, whether you join us or not. And I'm offering you the opportunity to put this in front of your people, right? You're not saying that, but that's how they're going to receive it. Like, oh my gosh, you included us. You thought of us. Thank you."
Key Mindset: - Abundance, not scarcity - We're valuable, not needy - They're lucky to be included, not doing us a favor - Professional, warm, but not supplicating
Collateral Checklist - UPDATED
For Property Managers:
- [ ] Email template (customized with building name)
- [ ] One-page PDF "Meditation Service Offering"
- [ ] Phone follow-up script
- [ ] Insurance certificate ready to send
- [ ] Nonprofit 501(c)(3) documentation
- [ ] Schedule of WMD week sessions (Dec 16-21)
For Libraries:
- [ ] Email template (library-specific)
- [ ] Phone script
- [ ] Room reservation form filled out
- [ ] Certificate of insurance
- [ ] Instructor credentials
- [ ] Program description (for their approval process)
- [ ] Flyer (digital + print) for patrons
For Residents/Patrons (if venue says yes):
- [ ] Short flyer (5.5" × 8.5")
- [ ] Social media post text
- [ ] Email blast copy
- [ ] QR code for RSVP (links to Eventbrite)
Graduate Ambassador Messaging - UNCHANGED
Note: The Ambassador messaging (see original file 04) stays the same - that's personal outreach to friends, different tone is appropriate there.
Quick Reference: Core Message
For ALL outreach:
"Art of Living Foundation, a UN-affiliated nonprofit, is offering complementary meditation sessions on World Meditation Day (Dec 21) to all DC residents, including [your community]. These sessions bring peace, calm, and connection amid holiday stress. Your [residents/patrons/members] can join us at our center, or we can arrange an instructor for you at no cost. 100 cities are participating - thrilled for DC to be represented."
Adapt for audience, but keep that core structure.
Paige's final note: This tone shift is CRITICAL. You're not a vendor asking for a favor. You're a UN-affiliated nonprofit offering a valuable service to the community. They should feel grateful to be included, not like they're doing you a favor. Big difference. Practice this mindset before every call/email.