Nonprofit Communications & PR Firm | Nonprofit Marketing Agency | Forthright Advising

I recently chatted with a central office staff member who was headed to one of her district’s elementary schools…to teach for the day. She shared that in the past year, everyone from the superintendent to school nutrition workers have filled in in the classroom.

As the national teacher shortage rages on, more and more districts are struggling to hire talented team members. As a matter of fact, a recent Gallup poll showed that 61 percent of superintendents strongly agree that recruiting talented teachers is a major challenge.

That’s why today, we’re sharing tips to help your district market your open positions so you can hire the right teachers for your district.

School District Marketing, Hiring and PeopleNiki JuhaszMarch 8, 2022education

Maybe you should quit Instagram.

You have 20 tabs open.

You’ve got your phone in one hand, scrolling through your feeds, while you’re checking your emails on your laptop.

You’re wondering what hashtag you should use.

Put down your phone. Close those tabs. Resist the trending hashtag.

We’re always being told more is better. More social media outlets, more messaging, more fries, more EVERYTHING. But here’s the thing: that’s a lie (with the exception of the fries part.)

Avoid this ESSER III spending pitfall

By showing your community how you’re spending the federal funds and how you’re helping students learn during uncertain times, you can build trust and important relationships in your district. Here are four easy ideas.

School District MarketingKatie Test DavisFebruary 3, 2022education

The results are in...our 2021 client feedback survey

Clear, actionable feedback is a gift.

And at the end of each calendar year, our clients generously take a few minutes to share their candid feedback during our Annual Client Feedback Survey.

Our survey results tell us what we're doing well and should keep doing, and show us where there are opportunities for us to do things differently.

Here’s what we heard at the end of 2021–and what we’re planning for 2022 to better serve you, too.

About ForthrightKatie Test DavisJanuary 31, 2022nonprofit, education

Creativity break! 3 fresh ideas for your '22 annual report

Different year, same annual report. Do you find yourself having similar thoughts as you launch your 2022 annual report process? If you do, you’re not alone–we’ve heard this sentiment from communicators across the country.

Calm the chaos and boost student enrollment

Through her work with district Public Information Officers throughout the pandemic, Forthright senior advisor Lauren knows the challenges districts are facing. Today, she’s sharing a few key tips for how to reach parents amidst the chaos, with the end goal of increasing your enrollment numbers.

School District Marketing, Communications CampaignsKatie Test DavisJanuary 12, 2022education

Why I'm proud to be one of Forbes Next 1000

On Day 1, I decided Forthright would have a focused niche in the child and family space, which meant the teammates who joined me would need to be rockstar caliber. Every single teammate would need to have an extensive background in the issues facing our kids and families today—from early childhood education to teacher professional development to youth mental health.

About Forthright, Most PopularKatie Test DavisJanuary 12, 2022nonprofit, education

Can we just...not?

We, as the smart, amazing people who work on behalf of families and children, are no longer going to spend our precious time on projects that don’t have a proven return on that time investment.

Instead, we’re going to ruthlessly prioritize, and that begins by deciding what we’re going to say no to.

To make saying no as easy as possible, the Forthright team created a new quiz tool to help nonprofit professionals like you figure out what to take off their list.

4 ugly holiday sweaters only education leaders will understand

When we were thinking about what school leaders like you could use for the holidays, the first thing that came to mind was a big belly laugh.

You’ve endured a doozy during the past two years, and beyond napping, endless hot chocolate and a break from scrolling Twitter, we figured you could use a little bit of lolz.

And what’s sillier than ugly holiday sweaters?

School District MarketingKatie Test DavisDecember 14, 2021education

Easy ways to meet ESSER III consultation requirements

The massive influx of federal funds meant to help schools recover from COVID-19’s effects—known as ESSER funding—is a lifeline for districts. But, as any seasoned public employee knows…there’s no such thing as free money. The ESSER III funds come with a few strings attached.

School District MarketingKatie Test DavisNovember 16, 2021education

Are you ready for Giving Tuesday and end of year fundraising?

I get it. Whenever I think about Giving Tuesday and the end of year giving season for our clients, I am hit with a mix of anticipation and excitement, topped with a thin layer of dread. As anyone who has ever worked at a nonprofit knows, while everyone else in the world is settling down with mistletoe and turkey, you’re sprinting full speed into one of the busiest times of year. Never fear— we’ve got your back.

Here are a few tips to make your end of year campaign the best one yet.

School-based communications is an equity issue

Now more than ever, it’s time to invest in our principals, our assistant principals, our front desk staff and everyone in a school who communicates with parents. Our school-based communicators deserve thoughtful leadership from our district offices, clear expectations about communications and the tools they need to do a good job.

School District Marketing, AccessibilityKatie Test DavisNovember 3, 2021education

There’s still time: 4 steps to help finish your Build Back Better advocacy campaign strong

As we push until the very last moment, now is the time to reuse, repurpose and refresh the things you already know are working—to get even more out of the existing strongest messages, messengers and tactics that can take us across the finish line. Here are four things that you can do in less than 15 minutes to sustain—or build—momentum at the end of an advocacy campaign.

Nonprofit Communications, Communications CampaignsKatie Test DavisOctober 28, 2021nonprofit

Our #1 favorite messaging trick...

In many communications initiatives, you just KNOW your target audience is going to find fault with your campaign. They are going to have questions, concerns or downright oppose your work.

Once you explain your vision, they’ll say “what I’m worried about is...” and launch into why they don’t support you. What comes after the “what I’m worried about...” is the concern—in other words, the challenge you need to overcome to gain your opposition’s support.

PART TWO: What to do when your communications director quits

This week, in the second part of our two-part series, we’re diving into hiring. Good hiring takes time, patience and clarity—so the sooner you start the process after receiving a resignation, the better.

Nonprofit Communications, Hiring and PeopleKatie Test DavisSeptember 29, 2021education, nonprofit

PART ONE: What to do when your communications director quits

Americans are quitting their jobs at a record rate. Korn Ferry calls it an “unprecedented string of walkouts”. News headlines nicknamed it “the great resignation.” However you describe it, the employee turnover in every industry, including ours, is so real right now.

3 tips for your social media marketing plan

As the seasons change, we’re all craving a bit of new. Here are a few things to think about as you hit refresh on your social media marketing plan for the rest of the year.

Your fall reading list

So, to get us back in the groove, here’s a fun reading list of the most popular posts for organization leaders like YOU - let them spark your creativity and reconnect you to the work!

Nonprofit CommunicationsKatie Test DavisSeptember 7, 2021nonprofit

Your Fail-Proof Guide to Nonprofit Communication Planning Part Three: Choose effective tactics and track your progress

Since it’s always our goal at Forthright to help make our nonprofit clients’ and partners’ lives easier, we decided to create an actionable guide to nonprofit communication planning. In this three-part series, we’re sharing all of our secrets. We promise you'll walk away eager to plan and ready for success!

How to win your next advocacy campaign

How do you make sure you’re targeting the right people? Friend, let me introduce you to a classic concept called powermapping. Organizations have been successfully using this tested tool for years!

Nonprofit Communications, Communications Campaigns, Most PopularNiki JuhaszAugust 26, 2021nonprofit

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