Y'all, I can't believe we're already staring down the end of 2025. It's been a ride (as always).
Our team has been heads-down planning for 2026, and I am SO excited about what's coming next. We're growing, we're learning and we're getting even more focused on how we can best support the entire child-and-family space.
As part of our community, I wanted to give you an insider heads-up on a few big things we're launching.
Read MoreWe’ve all felt that magic moment in a coalition meeting. That instant when two dozen different perspectives click into place behind a brilliant idea. We build coalitions for this very reason – to make change happen that can’t happen when we work in isolation.
I’ve helped manage coalitions, led task forces and been just a quiet participant, so I've also seen the flip side of that magic: the drain of 50 reply-all email chains about scheduling, meetings that drag, alignment that never quite crystallizes.
It’s no wonder this friction saps coalition members’ energy and stalls progress. Coalitions are often powered by passionate people squeezing this work in on top of demanding jobs.
This brings me to the real secret of coalition building. A coalition is only as effective as its internal communications. How we communicate *internally* creates the trust and alignment needed to win *externally.*
Read MoreSomething felt off… I was reading the latest newsletter from a health group I’ve admired for years. While I’ve always felt connected to the leader whose expert voice I trust, this time, her voice was gone.
The warmth and personality were replaced by sentences that felt a little too perfect, a little… familiar. It was the unmistakable voice of careless AI.
That icky feeling was a reminder: When our writing sounds like it could have been written by anyone, our audiences lose connection.
By blindly accepting AI-created drafts, we risk creating "workslop," or low-quality, generic content that does more than just waste time. It leads to a boring, indistinguishable voice that erodes the trust you've worked so hard to build.
Listen, I’m obsessed with AI. It’s a magical assistant that can make our work smarter. (For me, the excitement is in the everyday partnership. Summarize things! Tell me I’m wrong! Make my project plan more flexible!)
✨ But when it comes to content, it’s humans who have that good, good sparkle. ✨
Think of it this way: if any organization could say it that way, then you shouldn't say it all.
Read MoreLately, we’ve seen an influx of nonprofit clients who are coming to us ready to turn their beloved programs into profit centers for their organization. Clients who are taking programs that have historically been paid for by foundations, and instead of solely relying on funding, figuring out ways to make them replicable, accessible and cheaper.
They are rethinking their income streams. While doing that, they are reclaiming their own self-sufficiency.
Ready to reclaim your non-profit’s power and become a yes-for-profit? Here are four phases and some questions to get you started.
Read MoreBefore I joined Forthright, I worked at a DC nonprofit for several years. In my role, I focused on our policy initiatives and external communications. But I also partnered closely with our talented development team. (Hats off to them – that work is not easy.)
While it’s been nearly a decade since then, the key best practices I learned have stood the test of time.
I’m sharing them with you here as many of us gear up for Year-End Giving season.
Read MoreStarting my career in policy, I loved the long and winding wonky road. I believed more detail meant more credibility, and my early training taught me to love a 10-dollar word instead of a perfectly perfect 10-cent word. Our most important job, especially in 2025, is to be generous with our audience's time. That means doing the hard work of making our message simple. Here’s how to make it happen.
Read MoreYou are ambitious.
You want everyone to know your organization – you want the front page of the paper, the brightest billboard in Times Square, every celebrity endorsement.
You need to ensure you have a strong, consistent brand message. Yet you’re a small nonprofit., so (of course) you’ve got caviar dreams on a tuna fish budget.
You know what we say to that? Keep dreaming big.
Here’s our guide to making a big brand splash with a small team.
Read MorePress releases are still a fast and easy way to get your news out to lots of media outlets at once.
They're perfect for announcing simple, factual news, especially when you're short on time and can't send individual pitches.
Here are a few tips and tricks to create an effective press release in 2025 (no fax machine needed):
Read MoreIt’s not just you. It’s… uh… very LOUD out there lately.
In a media landscape buzzing with endless options and digital noise, how do you make sure your organization is heard?
This quick guide will walk you through a proven framework to build a campaign that not only gets noticed, but gets results.
Let's get to work.
Read MoreIn the advocacy world, LinkedIn feels like The Place to Be right now. Partners, funders, nonprofit leaders… decision-makers are all in the room, and the conversation is not quiet.
Maybe your executive director shares bold takes, or your VP of Programs highlights on-the-ground partners.
❓But, is your organization’s LinkedIn page doing what it should be?
If LinkedIn is the room where it happens, are you using this space to drive connections with the people who matter most and the people who make decisions … or is it more like a bulletin board without a strategy?
Read MoreIt’s a familiar feeling. You know the one…
“OOPS! We completely forgot. It’s time to do that project again.”
It sounds like…
“Oops – we totally forgot to start on the Annual Report and now we need to run a sprint to meet the big donor meeting deadline.”
“Oops – we forgot to do our yearly update of the website, and now an important policy partner is reviewing last year’s outdated information.”
It’s the WORST! I hate it when an annual project that you KNOW (gosh darn it!) happens every year sneaks up on you, and you’re left scrambling to get it done.
So let’s make a pact – eh? This year will be the last year that projects sneak up on you from behind and spook you into action. Here’s how to prevent the dreaded scramble.
Read MoreIs it just us or is the conversation about AI… a lot?
Yes, AI is quickly changing the way supporters and advocates connect with your mission. Today, we’re walking you through what this shift means and what you can do about it.
Read MoreThe Forthright team just got back from sunny Orlando, Florida, for the annual Krimes Against Kids conference.
It’s a powerful event that brings together everyone from law enforcement and child protective services to survivor advocates.
Honestly, being in a room with so many people dedicated to protecting children was just incredible. As a firm that only works with organizations that help kids and families, we left feeling totally inspired.
Niki and I even had the chance to present on a topic we're incredibly passionate about: Reaching Families Without Internet Access.
In a world that’s so online, it’s crucial to remember that not everyone has the same level of connectivity.
Read MoreSo you’re going to host an event. And…you think it’d be great if local reporters were there.
Time for a media advisory!
Media advisories are essentially a heads-up to journalists about an upcoming event, such as a media briefing or a conference presentation. (Not to be confused with a press release – media alerts are much more basic.)
Today, we’ll break down when to use them, share some tips and even show you a (Harry Potter-themed) sample…
We’ve all been there. You and your team have poured endless hours into crafting the perfect communications strategy or advocacy plan. You’re proud, you’re excited… but there’s one last step: bringing it to your board.
As a leader at a foundation or nonprofit, you know that board buy-in is so much more than a rubber stamp or a vote of approval. You want early, sustained trust and partnership that turns a great plan into a smashing success. Getting to that feeling of being "all in" together is the result of a thoughtful, ongoing process.
Here are four simple shifts in the way you work to get that process in motion and earn that buy-in… every time.
Read MoreThe average lifespan of a website is 2 years and 7 months, according to OrbitMedia.
Which probably makes you wonder…When was the last time you updated your organization’s website?
My guess is that it’s been longer than 2 years.
Is it time for a website update or redesign? Maybe.
Here’s how to tell.
Read MoreYou’re working on that big grant proposal. I’m talking hours of research, planning and writing to craft that perfect pitch. But before you send it, wait! Did you remember to budget for actually telling people about the great work you’ll do if you win the funding?
Today, I’m sharing why you should include communications in your grant proposal.
Read MoreIf you want to gain attention in the ever-crowded online world, you have to put yourself out there. That is, you have to put your face out there.
There’s research that shows using authentic photos of you and your colleagues is not just a powerful way to get people to pay attention – it can help build trust, too.
Here’s four reasons that will convince even introverts like me to use real photos in digital communications:
Read MoreIt’s finally – FINALLY starting to warm up. (Your girl is not meant for the winter.) That means some days, I’ll take a lunch run to enjoy the sunshine.
I was on one of these runs last week, bored and thinking about needing to mix up my exercise routine. And then I passed a lawn sign. It simply said:
Free Outdoor Workout Classes
And then included a QR code.
While I’ve been a TAD dramatic saying it changed my life, this is brilliant marketing.
Here’s why:
Deepa has supported and led social justice work for over two decades with a focus on immigrant communities. Currently, she is the Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives at Building Movement Project where she develops programs and narratives on solidarity and social movements.
Figuring out where you fit as an advocate – and how you can make the most positive impact – can be tough, especially when things are changing. Every. Single. Day.
We see this challenge, and we simply say: Game on.
That’s why I recently interviewed author, lawyer and activist Deepa Iyer. Deepa is the brilliant mind behind the Social Change Ecosystem Map (pictured above).
This tool helps you (and your organization) find your place in the justice and equity-focused movements we work within every day.
During our conversation, Deepa shared how to find your footing in turbulent times.
We’re including Deepa’s thoughts (from her point of view!) below.
Read More
