Hello Reader When I start working with a new nonprofit client, the first thing I do is slow down. Not because there's nothing urgent. Usually, there's plenty of it. But because most of the urgent things are symptoms, not the actual problem. So before we touch campaigns, calendars, or content, we do three things together.1. Marketing & Communications Audit I look at everything: messaging, digital channels, storytelling, and how the team communicates internally and externally. Not to create...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Hello Reader Every two weeks, I'll be sending you one insight, one quick win, and something you don't want to miss. That's the format: simple and consistent, just like I tell my clients their marketing should be. Let's get into it.This week’s Insight: Marketing and communications is not the extra Most nonprofit leadership teams are working toward the same goals: more donors, more monthly giving, more volunteers, more service users, and stronger partnerships. And yet, marketing and...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Reader Happy Valentine’s Day 💗 Nonprofit leaders, I wanted to take a moment today to speak directly to you. Here are five things I genuinely love about you and the way you show up in this work: You care deeply.Not just about results or metrics, but about people, communities, and doing the work with integrity, even when it’s hard and often invisible. You are making real impact.The kind that doesn’t always fit neatly into a report, but shows up in trust built over time, lives changed, and...
3 months ago • 1 min read
Hello Reader It’s been a little while since I’ve been in your inbox. I spent the end of 2025 in Colombia, reconnecting with family, resting, and resetting before the year ahead. I’m back now — grounded, clear, and excited about the work I’m stepping into in 2026. And I want to share this plainly: most nonprofits don’t struggle with marketing because they’re doing it wrong. They struggle because they’re trying to do too much with too little structure. What I see again and again: Marketing that...
4 months ago • 1 min read
I’ve seen many comms plans that look great on paper… but never actually get used. Do you have one like that? Yesterday, I was walking my dog with my two kids. We didn’t have a clear direction of where we were going. What happened? We ended up going in circles. And my kids were disappointed because we never made it to the playground. Doing your marketing and comms without a plan is the same. You go in circles, but you don’t get anywhere. That’s why I love the Big Picture Communications Plan. I...
6 months ago • 1 min read
Hello Reader After working with nonprofits over the last year, with different causes, different sizes, and different missions, one thing has become clear: the marketing challenges you face are often more common and more fixable than you might think. Here are five gaps I see again and again: A lack of clear messaging and brand purpose. Low brand trust due to inconsistency. A poor understanding of their audience. Assuming “everyone already knows what we do”. Talking at their community instead...
6 months ago • 1 min read
Hello Reader Today, I want to share the story of an inspiring organization doing transformative work for newcomers: Passport to Integration. They offer an evidence-based online literacy and well-being program designed to help immigrants confidently navigate the challenges of starting a new life in Canada. When we met, they had a powerful vision, but were struggling with visibility, brand clarity, and strategic direction. As their Fractional Marketing Partner, I supported them to:- Define...
7 months ago • 1 min read
Hello Reader,I hope your week is going well, as I continue to celebrate and reflect on what this year in business has meant to me. I wanted to share what I believe is the biggest gift I have received. One of the biggest gifts my business has given me is freedom. And with that freedom came flexibility. Early on, I thought I needed rigid schedules and tight control to succeed. But I quickly learned that flexibility, not rigidity, is what actually allows me to do my best work. Specific creative...
7 months ago • 1 min read
Hello Reader Today I want to share a story that is deeply personal to me — my partnership with Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association (CIWA). Thirteen years ago, when I first arrived in Calgary, I was a client at CIWA. Fast forward to today, and I had the privilege of returning, not as a newcomer, but as their Fractional Marketing Manager. CIWA was going through a mid-management transition, and like many nonprofits, they needed strategic support to keep things moving forward. Together, we...
8 months ago • 1 min read
