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Optimize Your 2026 Digital Resources for AI Search Answers

Optimize Your 2026 Digital Resources for AI Search Answers

Today, it isn’t good enough to just throw your information up on the web and make sure it has the keywords you know your audience searches for.

Instead, you need to intentionally lay out information so that it appears in AI search summaries (like Google's AI overviews) and comes up in the right AI search answers. Recent research from UPCEA shows generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini and Google's AI Overviews shape how people gather information, verify details and form opinions.

You pour massive energy into creating beautiful, data-rich resources for your campaigns. It’s heartbreaking when those tools do not reach the families and policymakers who need them most.

So… let’s fix that, shall we?

How to land a conference speaking spot

How to land a conference speaking spot

Thinking about speaking at a conference? It’s one of the best ways to build your organization’s brand and share your expertise.

But getting your session idea accepted can feel like a total mystery.

That’s what we’re here for.

This is your simple, four-step guide to help you find the right conference and write a proposal that gets a big, enthusiastic YES.

Nonprofit Communications, Communications CampaignsKatie Test DavisApril 6, 2026conference speaking, public speaking, thought leadership, professional development, nonprofit leadership, education leadership, conference proposal, call for proposals, school communications, leadership, speaking tips, networking

The Power of Personal Relationships

The Power of Personal Relationships

As part of our client partnerships, we conduct research. This looks like stakeholder interviews, surveys, full communications audits… you name it, we’ve likely done it.

Every now and again, we see a trend emerging. And this is one of those times. Over the past couple of years, we’ve heard more and more about the power of personal relationships.

Here’s what we’ve learned – and what to do about it.

Nonprofit Communications, Communications CampaignsNiki JuhaszApril 6, 2026how to build personal relationships with donors, donor relations, how to stand out as a nonprofit, donor retention, nonprofit annual report ideas, how to build trust with donors, how to build trust with supporters, how to build trust with coalition, coalition management, coalition communications

How Forthrighters get our focus back

How Forthrighters get our focus back

We all want to do our best work. But our brains have a literal limit on how much fuel they have for deep thinking. When we’re always on, constantly distracted or simply switching tasks, we slow ourselves down and drain our energy... fast. For example, research from the University of Chicago found that just having a smartphone nearby reduces our “available cognitive capacity.”

That’s precious brain space we’re wasting. As child and family advocates, we don’t have that kind of energy to spare right now.

Let’s protect our headspace instead.

Here’s how.

Nonprofit Communications, Hiring and PeopleZoe Alexis WhitehornApril 6, 2026Remote work productivity tips, Deep work for nonprofit leaders, Managing mental energy at work, How to improve focus while working remotely, Strategies to reduce cognitive load, Professional productivity habits for advocates, Avoiding remote work burnout, Intentional communication in the workplace, Sustainable productivity for mission-driven teams, Overcoming digital distractions

Creating stability in uncertain times

Creating stability in uncertain times

News breaks.

Funding is cancelled.

New legislation is enacted.

How do communicators like you find steady ground while everything feels like an earthquake?

We get it. It’s a lot.

Yet charting a stable course on unsteady ground is something we’re pretty darn good at here at Forthright. (In fact, we have data to prove it. We heard from our clients in our 2025 client happiness survey that we’re a shelter in the storm.)

So how do we do it? Let’s break it down.

Nonprofit Communications, Communications Campaigns, About Forthright, Hiring and PeopleKatie Test DavisApril 6, 2026team burnout, communications strategy, breaking-news response, nonprofit communications, workflow protocols, advocacy communications, finding focus, time management, crisis communication, child family advocacy

How we write fool-proof talking points… every time

How we write fool-proof talking points… every time

You have a meeting with your board in an hour. You’re presenting at a conference in a month. Your executive director has a local news interview tomorrow.

And you’re staring at a blank page, trying to figure out how to condense years of work into a three-minute segment.

Talking points help you bridge that big-picture vision (the deep work! the passion!) with the specific moment you’re in, the audience you’re talking to and your goals.

Here’s how we do it.

Writing and Messaging, Media Relations, Communications Campaigns, Nonprofit CommunicationsKatie Test DavisFebruary 27, 2026communications director, mission alignment, interview questions, advocacy-tips, nonprofit-leadership, message-consistency, child-advocacy, strategic-communications, storytelling, communication-tools, foundation-strategy, family-advocacy, effective-messaging

2025 Client Survey Feedback

2025 Client Survey Feedback

We send a client survey every year, but this time, after a tough 2025 for all of us, the results hit differently.

What we found was that, in a year marked by twists, turns and uncertainty, you valued our steadiness and trusted our strategies. Our results showed we were the steady hand our partners could rely on.

I’m also incredibly proud to share that our Net Promoter Score jumped 11 points this year. We remain way (way) above the industry standard. But, as always, I want to show our work and dive deep. So here’s a closer look at what we learned from you in our survey this year.

Most Popular, About ForthrightKatie Test DavisFebruary 27, 2026Client Survey, Agency Insighta, 2025 Trends, Net Promoter Score, Reliability, Client Trust, Data-Drive Strategy, Strategic Communications, Partnership, Resiliience, Process, Transparency, Agency Culture

Mobilize your besties + win campaigns

Mobilize your besties + win campaigns

Too often, we overlook the people who already know us, love us, and can help us accomplish our goals.

It takes an intentional plan to mobilize these champions. As always, we’ve got you.

We’ve included your step-by-step guide for activating your champions at every phase of your campaign below!

Boost your team morale

Boost your team morale

Your team is (understandably) dragging.

You can feel them losing sight of your “why” amidst the chaos and changing priorities.

Team meetings are downbeat and everything feels… hard.

You’re not alone. We’re hearing it from organizations just like yours across the country.

That’s why we designed a special menu of 2026 trainings that naturally foster team connection and positivity.

The ultimate success metric is that your team walks away feeling energized, hopeful, and clear on their priorities and vital role in the organization’s future.

Here are a few options for a morale-boosting team training. (Psst – don’t worry, if these don’t feel quite right for your particular team, we can design a custom training just for you.)

Nonprofit Communications, Hiring and People, About Forthright, School District MarketingKatie Test DavisFebruary 27, 2026team training, morale, burnout, nonprofit leadership, team-culture, burnout-prevention, staff-training, morale-boosters, nonprofit-leadership, team-building, productivity, professional-development

Federal, state or local? How to pick your lane

Federal, state or local? How to pick your lane

You know those conversations you find yourself having over and over again?

Here’s a key question that’s spinning on repeat (across various clients) here at Forthright:

“Where should we focus our efforts to influence child-and-family focused policies? Should we concentrate on the federal, state or local level?”

It’s a great question, especially in the Year of Our Lord 2026.

Let’s dive in.

Communications Campaigns, Nonprofit CommunicationsKatie Test DavisFebruary 27, 2026Advocacy Strategy for Nonprofits, Child and Family Policy Influence, Government Relations Strategy, Legislative Advocacy Campaigns, State vs. Federal Policy Strategy, Power Mapping for Advocacy, Local Government Policy Influence, Setting Advocacy Goals, Targeting Political Decision Makers

How to message test without breaking the bank

How to message test without breaking the bank

You’ve heard me say it a million times: at Forthright, data is queen .

Now in an ideal world, you’d have thousands to invest in focus groups, interviews and robust surveys to help you answer our question. But for most child and family focused nonprofits, that’s simply not possible.

The good news? You don’t need a five-figure budget to get high-quality feedback. You can move away from guesswork by using the experts you already know: your community.

Here are three ideas that won’t break the bank!

Writing and Messaging, Nonprofit Communications, Communications Campaigns, School District MarketingNiki JuhaszFebruary 27, 2026cheap message testing, how to message test, message testing for nonprofits, social media ads for nonprofits, how to write good messaging, ensuring my messaging is equitable, ensuring my audience likes my messaging

How Forthright interviews for mission-alignment

How Forthright interviews for mission-alignment

We’ve all been there. You’re in an interview with a candidate who has a stellar resume. They have the skills. They have the experience. They say all the right things.

But you walk away wondering: Do they actually get it?

Will they understand the nuance of your advocacy work? Do they have the empathy to tell stories that honor your partners?

At Forthright, we believe that mission alignment is just as important as technical skill. But you can't just hope for it. You have to interview for it. Here’s our guide for how to do it.

Hiring and People, Nonprofit CommunicationsKatie Test DavisFebruary 27, 2026communications director, mission alignment, interview questions, nonprofit hiring, STAR method, equitable hiring, cultural fit, values-based hiring, how to make smart hiring decisions, how to hire communicators, how to hire foundation leaders, hiring smart foundation leaders, hiring association communicators

After 5+ rebrands, I’ve noticed a pattern…

In the same way you wouldn't wear pajamas to a keynote speech, an outdated brand can undermine your organization’s credibility. As we enter the new year, it’s time to ensure your visuals – from fonts and colors to photography – match the heart of your mission.

In this post, you’ll learn about:

The Trust Gap: Why outdated visuals make stakeholders wary of your message.
The Brand Audit: 7 critical questions to determine if you need a refresh.
Refresh vs. Rebrand: How to decide between a full visual overhaul (like our work with Positive Childhood Alliance NC) or high-impact small updates.
45-Minute Team Checklist: A step-by-step guide for your next communications meeting to audit your materials and prioritize updates for 2026.

Brand/Materials Creation, Nonprofit Communications, School District MarketingKatie Test DavisJanuary 21, 2026brand refresh, visual identity, nonprofit marketing, brand audit, communications strategy, rebranding tips, graphic design for nonprofits, how to know if your brand is outdated, brand refresh vs rebranding, building trust through visual storytelling, nonprofit brand consistency guide, 2026 visual branding trends, how to conduct a brand audit for your team, impact of professional photography on brand trust

How to create the perfect communications toolkit

How to create the perfect communications toolkit

When we get fellow advocates, board members, families, business leaders, faith leaders, and youth themselves involved in a cause, we’re unstoppable. But our partners and fellow advocates are BUSY. Like...eat some guac, chips and an apple for dinner and call it a well-balanced meal kind of busy. (It's me. I'm fellow advocates).

That's why to get partners involved, we need to make group advocacy easy. That’s where communications toolkits come into play.

Here are some questions and tips to get you started.

Brand/Materials Creation, Writing and Messaging, Media Relations, Storytelling, Nonprofit Communications, Communications CampaignsNiki JuhaszJanuary 20, 2026nonprofit grant proposals, grant proposal best practices, communications in grant proposals, nonprofit communications, nonprofit grant writing, how to write a nonprofit grant proposal

*Don't* launch that big announcement

*Don't* launch that big announcement

I’ve heard it so often throughout my career: an organization that works with children and families is getting ready to launch a big initiative “just in time for Back to School!”

Eek.

Whenever we’re working on big announcement launches for clients — be it a new advocacy campaign, a report or fresh research — we specifically avoid launching during the last few weeks of August and early September.

Why?

Because the already-crowded media market gets so much worse for our clients during back-to-school season. Every organization and their brother, mother and sister is putting out news, striving to get that front-page placement or attention for their work.

School District Marketing, Nonprofit Communications, Hiring and PeopleKatie Test DavisJanuary 20, 2026webite redesign, How to know it’s time to refresh your website, Signs its time to redo your website, Redevelop website, Changing mission on website, Updating website look and feel

How to get people to remember your message

How to get people to remember your message

We all have our favorite stats. (Okay, maybe not all of us. But at Forthright, we have our favorite stats. We’re nerds.) One of mine is about what it takes for people to REALLY remember your message. It’s called the Marketing Rule of Seven, and it’s pretty simple.

A person has to see or hear a message about seven times before it starts to resonate. Add to this number (say… 14 times) if your topic is particularly tricky, such as infant mental health or adolescent brain development.

Today, we’re including tips to make sharing that same, powerful message easy.

Brand/Materials Creation, Digital and Social Media, Communications Campaigns, Writing and Messaging, School District Marketing, Nonprofit CommunicationsNiki JuhaszJanuary 20, 2026how to save nonprofit team time, save foundation team time, how to make communications easier, creating nonprofit materials, creating foundation materials, Marketing Rule of Seven

Custom winter + spring workshops for your team

Custom winter + spring workshops for your team

By popular demand, we're re-opening our training opportunities for 2026!

Our trainings have been called “an excellent investment." Also: “polished and downright perfect."

Here’s a (sampling of) what we’re offering starting in January.

About ForthrightKatie Test DavisJanuary 20, 2026nonprofit training opportunities 2026, nonprofit communication workshops, professional development for nonprofits, nonprofit staff training, nonprofit capacity building training, simplify nonprofit messaging, nonprofit crisis communication plan, media relations training for nonprofits, school district storytelling training, student enrollment marketing for school districts, personalized nonprofit training, connecting with prospective parents school

Make hiring your easiest task in 2026

It’s officially mid-January. You have your 2026 strategic plan ready. You have big goals for the children and families you serve. You can see the path forward.

But a vision is only as good as the people who execute it.

As a founder, I know the specific dread of looking at an ambitious plan and realizing you don't have the person-power to make it all happen. You want to launch that new campaign, or maybe you want to deepen relationships with donors. But when a critical communications role is empty, those big ideas stay on the shelf.

The reality is you don't have time to pause your mission. And you definitely don't have time to sort through hundreds of resumes to find the right person to help.

You need a partner who just gets it.

Nonprofit Communications, Hiring and PeopleKatie Test DavisJanuary 13, 2026brand refresh, nonprofit hiring, communications search, mission alignment, executive search, G.U.I.D.E. method, communications director, capacity building, equity

3 steps to hire amazing comms leaders

3 steps to hire amazing comms leaders

We know how hard you work to keep your mission moving. Most of you are running on lean teams with zero capacity to spare.

The search for a comms leader is super high-stakes…

When you don’t have the right teammates, progress stalls. You miss opportunities to connect with funders or supporters. You lose momentum on critical advocacy campaigns. And the burnout on your existing team starts to creep up.

Here’s how to get those birds chirping peacefully again.

Hiring and People, Nonprofit CommunicationsKatie Test DavisDecember 16, 2025communications director, nonprofit leadership, hiring, equity, mission alignment, staff retention, interview questions, communications strategy, how to hire, how to hire for nonprofit jobs, how to hire a good communications director

Plan smarter in 2026 🚀

Plan smarter in 2026 🚀

I’m not the first person to tell you that more change is coming.

We need to take all the skills we’ve developed over the past few years and be nimble.

Right now, we’re telling most of our clients to create a three-month communications plan instead of an annual plan.

Simplify by breaking the work into quarters and be honest about what’s realistic with your capacity.

Here’s how to make it happen.

Communications Campaigns, Nonprofit Communications, Hiring and PeopleKatie Test DavisDecember 10, 2025strategic planning, communications plan, request for proposal, hiring consultants, nonprofit marketing, quarterly planning, capacity building, 2026 planning, agile methodology, nonprofit leadership