Bill Toliver

After 20 years of developing successful marketing communications programs for Fortune 500 clients like Westin Hotels, Hewlett-Packard and Apple, Bill Toliver has spent the last several years bringing non-traditional thinking to organizations involved in social change.

As executive director of The Matale Line, Toliver has helped a number of national and international nonprofits, foundations and NGOs—from UNICEF to the Oprah Winfrey Foundations —reframe their approach to strategic decision-making and communications.

Toliver has a reputation for helping organizations undergo a lasting form of self-reflection that can be used to improve branding, strategic planning, communications and fundraising. His expertise and intimate understanding of social issues stems from growing up in the developing world. By the age of 18, he had traveled to more than 30 countries.

As inspirational as he is provocative, Toliver has had the opportunity to deliver keynotes and seminars to a range of leaders and agents of change—among them, National Council of Nonprofit Associations, United Way of America, The Netherlands Development Organisation, Der Deutsche Fundraising Kongress, and Center for Nonprofit Excellence.

• 7. Doing Well by Doing Good

  Companies have an opportunity to play a far more important role in creating progress in the world, if they had the courage to see social responsibility as something more than an effective marketing or employee retention strategy. This presentation provides an inspirational look at the role corporations could and sometimes do play if they had the courage to live closer to their own values and commitments.

• 8. Reality

  A stunning and inspirational look at the real-life circumstance of people around the world, and the important difference we could each make if we saw ourselves as brothers and sisters, rather than global competitors for the earth's resources. Simple decisions we make in our everyday lives could have profound impact on the lives of others, and increase our quality of life at the same time.

• 1. The Turning Point in History When History Failed to Turn

  A compelling study of powerful social movements that failed, with particular emphasis on the “People’s Spring of 1848.” The discussion will provide important lessons for what will be required to sustain current-day social movements through the Middle East, and with the Obama Administration.

• 2. Leadership in the 21st Century

  An ironic look at how leaders have become profoundly ineffective in the 21st Century—just when we need leadership most. How political vitriol, servant-based management philosophy and political correctness have left leaders across the spectrum afraid of their own shadows.

• 3. From Gandhi to Google: Building Social Movements in the 21st Century

  An insightful discussion on how the marriage of traditional consumer marketing and social movement building can bring about just the kind of support your organization needs. Bill will demonstrate effective movement building efforts around the world, and dissect the essential ingredients of each.

• 4. Of Marketers and Messengers

  Most nonprofits have a healthy aversion to traditional consumer style marketing strategies and sales tactics. It seems unsavory to consider things like “branding,” “market position” and “competitive advantage” when your mission is about the future of our environment, or funding for the arts, or the wellbeing of children. Bill will encourage us to hold on to that healthy skepticism, while at the same time offering a model for communications that merges the tactics of traditional consumer marketing with the best strategies of social movement building. He’ll take us on a fun and informative journey through some of the most effective social movements and nonprofit campaigns over history and help us see how there is a way to build a critical mass of support for the causes we hold so dear.

• 5. Swimming Against the Current of Todays Politics, Economics, and Headlines

  Politics seem deadlocked somewhere between “Yes we can” and “Over my dead body.” Economics have left all of us worried about of our next paycheck much less our retirement plans. Headlines that provide hourly reminders of revolutions and tsunamis, terrorism and global warming. It’s no wonder that today’s social change organizations are having a hard time getting air time—much less lasting support! Bill will offer some key strategies to rally people around your cause. Regardless of what might be in the headlines, or which way the political or economic winds may be blowing.

• 6. Ten Critical Mistakes Non-Profit and Civil Society Organizations Make

  The U.S. and England are often seen as leaders in innovative communications and fundraising techniques for non-profits and civil society organizations. However, they've also taken many decisions that have created very consequential—though often unforeseen—mistakes.  This keynote address provides a frank look at the problems that can arise when “consumer-style” marketing tactics, and “business-style” leadership models are too quickly applied to organizations devoted to social change. This session will provide a fun and informative illustration of how these mistakes were created, and provide sound practical advice on how you can avoid making them yourself. The session will be targeted toward a wide range of people involved in communications, fundraising and non-profit leadership.

• The most engaging and entertaining speaker I have heard in a long time. Unexpected insights that proved to be quite relevant. Unorthodox, inspiring.

  Association of Fundraising Professionals

• I thought Bill Toliver had a great presentation and true passion. It was very exciting to listen to - the highlight of the conference. What a refreshing change from the usual conference speaker.

  American Marketing Association

• I learned more in 90 minutes than I did in any college class I’ve ever taken. This is one of the best speakers I have ever heard. I’ve never even thought about a fraction of what Bill opened my mind up to today. Thank you.

  Good Samaritan Society