Blue Shield of California Foundation

We helped Blue Shield of California Foundation move beyond reputation to show its true differentiator: bold, collaborative leadership that takes risks to improve the health and lives of Californians.

Sector

Corporate Foundations

Deliverables

Brand Strategy
Video Production
Visual Identity
Website Design
Website Strategy
WordPress Development

Big foundation, generic reputation.

Challenge

Blue Shield of California Foundation is considered one of the top equity and health-focused foundations in California. And stakeholders were ready for the Foundation to own its position as a leader in the field.

Woman in red shirt holding a baby who is drinking from a water bottle

Smart risk-taking is the differentiator.

Insight

The Foundation already had a reputation for being big and high-impact in the general way of many foundations of its size. What wasn’t as clearly understood is their spirit of exploration and smart risk-taking that emerged as a differentiator in our research. In a state known for innovation, Mission Minded helped Blue Shield of California recognize an opportunity to showcase how they work creatively with nonprofits and strategic initiatives in collaborative and bold new ways—not to advance themselves, but the health and lives of Californians.

Blue Shield of California Foundation website homepage on a laptop with a child and mother in front of a hummingbird mural

‘Further Forward’ as the brand promise.

Journey

The brand strategy we developed captures their unique positioning in the phrase Further Forward, which embodies both their big goals, and the warmth and humanity of their brand.

The resulting visual identity captures the spirit of collaboration and building together that moves a vision forward. New key messages and communication tools helped them launch powerfully to a community excited to embrace them for their shared mission for Californians. This included a video focused on their values and belief that working together Californians can move further forward.

Blue ribbon banner listing "Integrity, Partnership, Possibility, Equity, Dignity" over a gray icon pattern

Programs guided by brand, not press.

Impact

With this bold expression of their values and intended impact Blue Shield of California Foundation was able to use their brand strategy as a powerful guide for decisions on programs and practices, not just communications.

This has made them better collaborators and partners, and helped others better understand how they fit in to the Foundation’s vision. They were so pleased with our partnership they asked Mission Minded to create a second video, this one focused on their creative and high-impact, collaborative focus on reducing domestic violence.

Blue Shield of California Foundation report cover, photo grid with the words reliable, integrity, authentic, trusted, thoughtful

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