Hi Reader, "Hiring a consultant always ends up being a lot of work for us," one nonprofit executive director told me. Then she hired me. She wasn't wrong about the work, but she also understood that putting in the effort on a messaging guide now is an investment in a more effective and efficient future for your organization. The messaging guide process asks real things of your team: a detailed questionnaire, strategy calls, and honest reflection on who you are and where you're headed. It's...

Hi Reader, In leading your nonprofit, have you ever thought, "we address a serious problem, so we need to sound serious?" So many leaders like you have told me they don't want to risk sounding too casual in their marketing or fundraising materials. And I get it. More often than not, we deal with serious topics that deserve to be treated seriously. But there's a difference between being serious and being sincere, and confusing the two can make your communications feel distant, even when your...

Hi Reader, You've got a new website on the horizon. Or a campaign in progress. Or a board that keeps asking why the brochure isn't done yet. So you move forward, because that's what leaders like you do. But when materials come before messaging, you're putting the cart before the horse, and even the best executed materials fall flat. Here's how to get them back in order.Rooting for you, Jordana P.S. If you're gearing up for a new website, a campaign, or any major communications push—and you're...