Maisha Timmerman was looking for a way to grow her marketing portfolio while also giving back to the world. She had recently graduated from Mohawk College’s Advertising and Marketing Communications Management program and was looking for what to do next. What started as a casual conversation with CODE’s fundraising and marketing team turned into a transformative experience for both the aspiring marketer and the nonprofit organization.
CODE’s direct mail appeals had traditionally focused on sobering statistics: millions of children without access to education, teacher shortages, and a lack of quality books across sub-Saharan Africa. While factually compelling, this year’s Fall campaign needed a fresh approach to stand out in donors’ mailboxes. Maisha saw an opportunity to apply her marketing education to a cause with global impact.
“Organizations like CODE do incredible work that deserves to be highlighted, and I want to help amplify their vital messages.” Maisha explained. She continued, “Beyond raising awareness, I understand that securing donations is essential for their continued impact, and I love being a part of the marketing process that inspires others to engage with and support the important work CODE is doing.”
Maisha dove deep into understanding the organization’s mission and unique challenges. She dug through CODE’s extensive image bank, reviewed past campaigns, and studied successful campaigns from other organizations and companies.
Her resulting creative concept centered on “Stories to Realities” highlighted how being able to read gives children the opportunity for a better future. It aimed to showcase – through artwork – the futures these children could have with the help of CODE’s supporters.
For CODE, Maisha’s contribution delivered several advantages:
- Modern storytelling techniques that resonated especially with younger donors
- A fresh perspective on communicating impact
- Professional-grade creative work at no cost
Maisha gained equally valuable experience:
- Real-world practice in developing, presenting, and executing creative concepts
- The ability to highlight the project in her portfolio
- Deeper understanding of nonprofit operations and marketing
- Practice in designer-client collaboration
This partnership demonstrates how students can contribute meaningfully to international development while gaining valuable professional experience. CODE is grateful for her creative contribution and, in the future, hopes to offer similar opportunities to other marketing students passionate about global education.
If you are a marketing student interested in collaborating with CODE, please reach out to Erin Gordon – egordon@code.ngo