WisCorps: Rebranding for Growth and Gen Z Engagement

WisCorps is a nonprofit headquartered in La Crosse, WI, serving the Upper Midwest for 15 years. Built on a partnership with AmeriCorps, the organization operates a Conservation Crew Program and an Individual Placement Program, which depends on partners ranging from local nonprofits to state and federal agencies. WisCorps projects include invasive species removal, trail construction and maintenance, environmental education, and other conservation-focused initiatives.

With a new director joining in 2022, WisCorps experienced significant growth and set ambitious goals. This renewed leadership inspired a need for a brand identity that reflected the organization’s evolving vision. Following the 2023 rebrand of its sister division, The Nature Place, WisCorps partnered with BWdB for a comprehensive identity overhaul, designed to resonate with Gen Z participants and attract new partnerships across the Upper Midwest.

Our collaboration with BWdB included new brand guidelines and a fully redesigned website, and improved overall user experience to manage 80+ onboarding and exiting participants annually. We also created an ADA-compliant application, Field Guide, to streamline communication from participants in remote locations, eliminating the need for printed documentation.

Year-one results of the rebrand include:

• 50% increase in applications for the Crew and Individual Placement programs

• 12% growth in partnerships

• 46% increase in online donations