What we’re thinking
Thoughtful writing about clarity, communication, and momentum
Our essays explore the real communication challenges organizations face — from internal confusion and shifting priorities to sponsorship strategy, accessibility, and trust. These ideas reflect how we work with clients every day.
If communications feel harder than they should, start here.
Some pieces are practical frameworks. Others are reflections drawn from client work. Start with what matches the challenge you’re facing now.
Getting clear on priorities
Building systems that last
Preparing for growth, funding, or change
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When the System is Susan
When readiness depends on one person’s memory and willingness to hold the system together, it is not a system — it is a person. The Operations layer in OPTIC² is the infrastructure that makes funder-readiness sustainable, not just survivable.
The Writer Isn’t the Problem
In many mission-driven organizations, the person doing the proposals thinks they are the problem. They are carrying an organizational infrastructure problem as a personal one. This post introduces the OPTIC² model—six interdependent layers of organizational clarity that make that problem visible and give the organization a way to own it.
The Myth of the “Together” Organization
If you work in or alongside a nonprofit, you may recognize the quiet apology about the state of the website, system, or materials. This piece reflects on where that impulse comes from—and why being unfinished is often a natural result of mission-first work, not a lack of professionalism.
A Simple Marketing Plan for Nonprofits and Small Businesses
A simple, realistic marketing plan helps nonprofits and small businesses stay aligned, focused, and strategic — without chasing every shiny idea or wasting limited resources.
What Nonprofit Brands Need
For-profits trade in confidence; nonprofits trade in trust. Understanding that difference changes how brands should communicate, measure success, and show credibility.
The 4 Rs of nonprofit marketing goals
Nonprofit marketing goals often skew toward revenue and leave other priorities behind. This article introduces the 4Rs framework — Relationships, Revenue, Reputation, and Recruitment — for setting balanced, mission-driven marketing goals.
If this thinking resonates
Many of our clients start by reading one or two essays and recognizing a challenge they’ve been circling for a while. If you’d like help applying this thinking to your organization, we’d be glad to talk.