Resources

• The Future of Search Is Already Here and Nonprofits Need to Be Ready: https://brooks.digital/health-nonprofit-digital-marketing/future-of-search/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencerbrooks/

Contact Spencer

• Email: spencer@brooks.digital

Cynthia shares how VeDA uses a three-year strategic plan paired with a one-page annual action plan to stay focused on their mission without losing flexibility. We explore her impact-versus-effort framework for deciding which projects deserve attention, how tools like Asana and documented processes create institutional memory, and what it means to lead with clarity when everything feels urgent.

If you've ever felt overwhelmed by competing priorities or wondered how to say no to good ideas so you can say yes to the right ones, this conversation is for you.

About the guest

Cynthia Ryan is the Executive Director of the Vestibular Disorders Association, known as VeDA, the leading international nonprofit dedicated to supporting people living with chronic dizziness, vertigo, and balance disorders. For a decade and a half, Cynthia has championed patient-centered education, advocacy, and research initiatives that help people feel seen, supported, and empowered in their health journey. Under her leadership, VeDA has expanded its global reach, launched innovative programs like the Life Rebalanced Live virtual conference, strengthened partnerships with clinicians and researchers, and grown a vibrant community of patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals. With a background in nonprofit management, strategic communication, and community-building, Cynthia brings a deep commitment to elevating the voices of vestibular patients and driving progress in diagnosis, treatment, and quality of life. She is passionate about helping people find clarity in a world that won’t stop spinning—and ensuring that no one faces a vestibular disorder alone.

Resources

• Virtual Vestibular Conference: https://vestibular.org/LRL/ 
• The Better Fundraising Company: https://betterfundraising.com/improve-your-fundraising-capacity/
• National Organization for Rare Disorders: https://rarediseases.org/
• Agile Marketing with Lesli Proffitt Nordström of the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD): https://brooks.digital/health-nonprofit-digital-marketing/agile-marketing/

Contact Cynthia

• cynthia.ryan@vestibular.org
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vestibular-disorders-association
• Twitter: https://x.com/vestibularveda
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vestibulardisorders
• vestibular.org

About the guest

Penny Aronson has more than 15 years of experience in community programming and corporate communication leadership. Penny began her career in corporate marketing and communications, supporting corporate branding strategies. She moved to nonprofit work to support education advocacy, building a cottage school and tutoring service, and operating a freelance business for operations, marketing, and communications for small and medium-sized business owners. She developed relationships with community partners and managed extensive volunteer forces. 

Penny’s vast background includes project management, board relations, and organizational strategy development for HR, training, and operations teams. Most recently before joining the Free Clinic, she individually raised 56% of an organization’s operating budget post-COVID with donations and grants, developed three programs with a 51% increase in participation over one year, created volunteer programs with success, and increased Board involvement and training.

Resources

• https://www.unreasonablehospitality.com/#TheBook

Contact Penny

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/penny-aronson-9136832/

AI isn’t replacing Google yet, but it’s already changing how people search for information online. In this solo episode, Spencer unpacks how tools like AI Overviews and Google’s AI Mode are reshaping search behavior, why trust and visibility still matter, and what nonprofit communicators should be doing to prepare. If you work in health communications or nonprofit digital strategy, this episode will help you understand the future of search and how to stay relevant in it.

Resources

• Navigating the New Normal: Decline in Nonprofit Web Traffic: https://brooks.digital/health-nonprofit-digital-marketing/decline-in-nonprofit-web-traffic/
• AI Search: The Great Platform Shift: https://brooks.digital/articles/ai-search-platform-shift/

Contact Spencer

• Email: spencer@brooks.digital

About the guest

You can often find Dana Snyder in her favorite sweatshirt and comfy pants reading books with her daughter, or drinking a glass of cabernet to wind down after the week with her husband and labradoodle on the couch bingeing Suits! 

Dana grew up in Sarasota, FL, and graduated from The University of Central Florida in 2010 with a Bachelors in Advertising and Public Relations. Her love for philanthropy started as a college student, working on the exec board for Knight-Thon, our largest student-run philanthropy supporting our local Children's Miracle Network Hospitals.

Ever since, she has traveled coast-to-coast working in the Big Apple and Los Angeles working with American Idol, Movember, Dress for Success, The Television Academy, and many more.

Resources

• Podcast: https://positiveequation.com/podcast/
• Non Profit Pro: https://www.nonprofitpro.com/
• Fortune: Nonprofits: You’ll miss them when they’re gone: https://fortune.com/2025/09/07/nonprofits-youll-miss-them-when-theyre-gone/
• Her book Monthly Giving Mastermind: https://positiveequation.com/book
• The Picnic Project: https://www.picnicproject.org/overview
• Unreasonable Hospitality: https://www.unreasonablehospitality.com/#TheBook
• Join her Monthly Giving Slack Community: https://positiveequation.com/monthly-giving

Contact Dana

• Website: https://www.monthlygivingsummit.com/
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/danarsnyder/

Confusing messaging is one of the biggest barriers standing between your nonprofit and the audiences you want to reach. In this solo episode, Spencer shares a practical three-part framework (Problem, Solution, Impact) that helps organizations clearly communicate what they do and why it matters. Drawing on examples like the Fistula Foundation, he breaks down why most nonprofits skip over the problem, how to simplify complex solutions without dumbing them down, and the best ways to show impact with both stories and stats.

Spencer also answers the top five questions nonprofit leaders have about applying this framework, from adapting it across different channels to knowing whether your messaging is working. If you’ve ever worried that your website or communications don’t make sense to outsiders, this episode is for you.

👉 Ready for an outside perspective on your messaging? Book a call with Spencer to explore how to sharpen your communications.

Resources

• Problem, Solution, Impact: The Essential Nonprofit Messaging Framework: https://brooks.digital/articles/nonprofit-messaging-framework-problem-solution-impact/
• Website Messaging with Pam Lowney of Fistula Foundation: https://brooks.digital/health-nonprofit-digital-marketing/website-messaging/
• Fistula Foundation: https://fistulafoundation.org/

Contact Spencer

• Email: spencer@brooks.digital

About the guest

Bess Goggins is the President and CEO of the YMCA of Columbia-Willamette and the first woman to lead the organization in its 157-year history. She began the role in May 2025, bringing nearly 20 years of nonprofit leadership to advance the Y’s mission of community well-being, belonging, and opportunity across the Portland metro and Southwest Washington region.

She previously served as CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Bend, where she led strategic growth and secured a $1.7 million Early Literacy grant from the Oregon Department of Education to expand K–3 tutoring. Bess holds dual bachelor’s degrees in English and Communications and dual master’s degrees in English with concentrations in Technical Writing and Rhetoric. Now based in Portland, she is inspired by the YMCA’s commitment to holistic health, inclusion, and thriving communities.

Resources

• The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker: https://www.priyaparker.com/book-art-of-gathering
• Radical Candor: https://www.radicalcandor.com/
• The Oregonian: https://www.oregonlive.com/
• The Columbian: https://www.columbian.com/
• The Reflector: https://www.thereflector.com/
• The Bee: https://thebeenews.com/
• Portland Business Journal: https://www.bizjournals.com/portland
• Coaching For Leaders Podcast: https://coachingforleaders.com/
• The Art of Manliness Podcast: https://www.artofmanliness.com/podcast/
• Storyworthy by Matthew Dicks: https://matthewdicks.com/Books/storyworthy/
• The Fine Art of Small Talk by Debra Fine: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/93409.The_Fine_Art_of_Small_Talk

Contact Bess

• Website: https://www.ymcacw.org/ 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bessgoggins/
• YMCA CW’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ymca-of-columbia-willamette
• Bess’ email: bgoggins@ymcacw.org

In this solo episode, Spencer explores four common responses he’s seen from nonprofits navigating these changes—compliance first, quiet continuers, resistors, and strategic shifters— and unpacks the deeper leadership questions beneath each choice.

He also shares guiding principles to help leaders chart their path forward, including integrity to mission, accountability to community, awareness of organizational risk tolerance, and consistency between words and actions. At its core, this moment is a test of mission integrity and how nonprofits will be remembered in the years ahead.

Contact Spencer

• Email: spencer@brooks.digital

About the guest

Stephanie has a diverse background in the social purpose sector, having served as an Executive Director, and held previous roles in communications and community engagement. Coupled with her experience as a Board Director, she brings valuable insights into the sector’s challenges and opportunities. Stephanie is dedicated to strengthening non-profits, helping to build capacity, and amplify their impact. She is also an advocate for environmental sustainability and local food systems, and previously ran her own business teaching home gardening and resiliency building skills. She’s often found working in her garden, or stocking up at the local farmers market.

Resources

• Thriving Non-Profits Cohort applications are now open for our Fall 2025 cohort. 
• Scale Collaborative Resources: https://scalecollaborative.ca/resources/ 
• Charity Village newsletter: https://resources.charityvillage.com/subscribe/

Contact Stephanie

• Website: https://www.thrivingnonprofits.ca/
• Email: sjacobs@scalecollaborative.ca

In this solo episode, Spencer unpacks what it means when platforms like ChatGPT and Google’s AI Overviews start answering questions without sending users to your website. He explores how this change challenges traditional metrics like clicks and traffic, and introduces a new way to think about digital impact: visibility and influence in AI-generated content.

This episode offers a timely perspective on how to stay relevant in an evolving digital ecosystem and why being part of the conversation early could make all the difference.

Resources

• Article: When Clicks Disappear: Rethinking Impact in the Age of AI Search
• Article: Is Your Nonprofit Website Traffic Dropping? You’re Not Alone — And Here’s What You Can Do About It

Contact Spencer

• Email: spencer@brooks.digital

About the guest

Teri Wade’s New York-based consulting practice, Mission & Message, specializes in providing communications strategies and services that help nonprofits and social sector organizations raise their visibility and advance their organizational goals. They provide strategic communications planning and implementation, marketing and branding services, and editorial services and content development, including video production. 

Teri has more than 25 years of experience working for and with small- to medium-sized nonprofit and social sector organizations in a range of fields, including education, philanthropy, social research, both as a consultant and leading in-house teams. For the last 15 years she has primarily worked with health and human services organizations. She also provides interim communications leadership and support to organizations while they are conducting searches for permanent communications executive and staff positions.

Resources

• Public Relations Society of America: https://www.prsa.org/
• American Marketing Association: https://www.ama.org/
• The Communications Network: https://www.comnetwork.org/

Contact Teri

• Website: https://www.missionandmessageny.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teriwade/

In this episode, Spencer breaks down what the EAA is, how to tell if your nonprofit is affected, and what to do if you're on the hook. You'll hear real-world examples, a plain-language checklist, and practical steps to reduce risk while improving digital inclusion.

Resources

• The European Accessibility Act: What North American Health Nonprofits Need to Know

Contact Spencer

• Email: spencer@brooks.digital

About the guest

Dr. Kirk Adams is a Professional Speaker and the founder of Innovative Impact LLC., focusing on groundbreaking, high-impact projects that accelerate the inclusion of people with disabilities in the workforce and supercharges a company’s bottom line.

Dr.  Adams earned his PhD in leadership and change. He is known as a master connector of key decision-makers in government, corporate America, the nonprofit sector, and disability advocates guiding them to create collaborative solutions that have a real impact in increasing the employment of people with disabilities.

Resources

• Institute for Sustainable Diversity & Inclusion: https://i4sdi.org/
• Antioch University newsletter: https://www.antioch.edu/category/newsletter/
• Seattle University newsletter: https://www.seattleu.edu/newsroom/
• Aleria newsletter: https://www.aleria.tech/newsletter
• Association of Fundraising Professionals: https://afpglobal.org/
• BoardSource: https://boardsource.org/

Contact Bill

• Website: https://drkirkadams.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirkadamsphd

In this solo episode, Spencer unpacks the real reason most nonprofit websites fall into disrepair (hint: it’s not your website backend or design), and paints a picture of what strong internal ownership actually looks like. You’ll hear a practical, story-driven example of how a well-managed website functions day-to-day and how your organization can start building toward that vision.

Plus, Spencer introduces the five dimensions of digital maturity that shape long-term success online, and offers a few questions to help you assess where you are today.

You’ll learn:

• Why most websites drift out of alignment and how to fix it
• What internal ownership really means (and doesn’t)
• How to spot gaps in your digital maturity
• What steps you can take today to turn your site into a strategic asset

Resources

• Escaping the Redesign Trap: A Smarter Way to Align Your Website With Your Mission
• What Progress Looks Like When You Stop Waiting for the Next Redesign
• Your Website Isn’t Broken. You’re Just Not Using It.
• What Internal Website Ownership Actually Looks Like

Contact Spencer

• spencer@brooks.digital

About the guest

Bill Villafranco is a storyteller and philanthropic leader whose personal journey through grief, addiction, and mental health informs his work in healing communities. He serves as Executive Director of MyFace.org and trustee of the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation, where he champions trauma-informed, emotionally intelligent funding strategies. With a focus on long-term impact, Bill brings a deeply human approach to both mental wellness advocacy and nonprofit leadership.

Resources

• myFace Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myfaceorg/
• Austin Halls: DISABLED music video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ze-J9RTKq6I

Contact Bill

• Website: https://www.myface.org/ 
• Email: bill.villafranco@gmail.com

Diabetes stigma affects nearly 4 in 5 adults with diabetes. It impacts their mental, physical, and social well-being. Spoonful of Laughter is a national campaign that tackles this stigma head-on—not with lectures, but with laughter.

In this episode, guests Brian Fitzgerald of Dancing Fox and Beth Strachan, who collaborated with The diaTribe Foundation to create the campaign, take us behind the scenes of how this unexpected creative approach came to life.

We explore why comedy is such a powerful "Trojan horse" for social change, how the campaign broke through entrenched stereotypes, and what nonprofit communicators can learn about designing bold, emotionally resonant campaigns.

About the guests

Beth:

For over three decades, Beth Strachan has been a professional do-gooder working at the crossroads of social justice, environmental protection, and health. Her narrative change work has helped catalyze the nationwide move toward clean energy; integrate arts, culture, and creative expression into our daily lives; and illuminate structural racism as a root cause of inequity. She has helped lead courageous breast cancer survivors on awe-inspiring ascents of Mount Shasta and Mt. Rainier, uniting communities in a powerful movement to prevent the disease. She helped launch the premier traveling film festival spotlighting women's voices in cinema, raising $8 million for nonprofits across North America. With a family motto of "Non Timeo Sed Caveo" (I fear not, but am cautious), she approaches every endeavor with boldness tempered by wisdom, ensuring that progress is both impactful and sustainable.

Brian: 

Brian Fitzgerald has been a mischief-maker for social change for most of his life. He spent 35 years with Greenpeace doing everything from door-to-door canvassing to going to sea to save whales, stopping a nuclear weapons test in Nevada for four days, and pioneering the organization’s adoption of digital activism back when the web was young. Together with Tommy Crawford, he’s the founder of Dancing Fox, a creative agency based in Amsterdam and dedicated to beautiful disruption, where he advocates for a more invitational, hope-based form of activism. 

Resources:

• Demystifying Nonprofit Budgets: What Every Leader, Fundraiser, and Marketer Needs to Know: https://brooks.digital/health-nonprofit-digital-marketing/demystifying-nonprofit-budgets/

Contact Brian and Beth

• Brian: https://www.dancing-fox.com
• Beth: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethstrachan/
• Brian: @brianfit.bsky.social
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianfit/
• Insta: @brianfit
• https://substack.com/@brianfit
• Beth: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethstrachan/
• https://www.dstigmatize.org/spoonful-of-laughter/
• The Center for Media & Social Impact’s report, How Comedy Works [to Change the World]

In this solo episode, Spencer breaks down why most nonprofits are caught in the “redesign trap,” how to reframe your website as a living program (not a one-time project), and why consistent stewardship, not another overhaul, is the key to long-term digital alignment.

Whether you're a nonprofit leader or comms professional tired of watching your site fall behind, this episode offers a new mindset and a smarter path forward.

Resources

• Article: Escaping the Redesign Trap: A Smarter Way to Align Your Website With Your Mission

Contact Spencer

• Email: spencer@brooks.digital
• Contact form on Brooks Digital Website: https://brooks.digital/contact/

In this episode, Kevin Kleifgen from the American Society for Surgery of the Hand shares his expertise in media production and digital strategy to help small teams get the most out of their content.

You’ll learn how to repurpose a single piece of content into a full-fledged campaign, create compelling videos without a big budget, and use AI to streamline your workflow—without sacrificing quality.

If you're a nonprofit communicator looking to work smarter, not harder, this episode is for you.

About the guest

Kevin Kleifgen is a Digital Swiss Army Knife specializing in digital strategy, content creation, and multimedia production in the nonprofit health care space.

As Digital Project and Content Manager for the American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH), Kevin streamlines content production, enhances user experiences, and leads photography and videography efforts while leveraging limited in-house resources for maximum impact.

Kevin is passionate about helping nonprofit marketers work smarter, not harder by repurposing content effectively, leveraging AI, and implementing scalable content strategies.

Resources

• Matt Navarra: https://www.mattnavarra.com/
• Axios Newsletter: https://www.axios.com/health
• Website for American Society for Surgery of the Hand: https://www.assh.org/s/

Contact Kevin

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinkleifgen
• Twitter: https://www.x.com/kevin_kleifgen
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/kevin_kleifgen

If you’re tired of feeling stuck and want a framework to align your marketing with your nonprofit’s real capacity, this episode is for you.

About the guest

With over 15 years of experience leading nonprofits, launching social enterprises, and working with global NGOs, Graeme Watt has seen firsthand that whoever tells the best story wins. As one of the owners and principals of Anthem, he helps nonprofits amplify their impact by crafting compelling brand narratives that drive engagement and action in an ever-evolving digital world.

Resources

• Almanack of Naval Ravikant: https://www.navalmanack.com/
• Building a Second Brain: A Proven Method to Organize Your Digital Life and Unlock Your Creative Potential by Tiago Forte: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59616977-building-a-second-brain

Contact Graeme

• Anthem Creative: https://anthemcreative.ca/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wattgraeme/
• Email: graeme@anthemcreative.ca

In this episode, Spencer Brooks sits down with Jim Carroll, CEO of The diaTribe Foundation, to break down key budgeting misconceptions, explain how different revenue models shape financial decisions, and share strategies for securing more funding. 

Whether you’re an Executive Director balancing competing priorities, a fundraiser navigating restricted and unrestricted dollars, or a marketing professional making the case for more resources, this episode will give you the insights you need to approach budgeting with confidence.

About the guest

Jim Carroll is the CEO of The diaTribe Foundation after seven years as the Vice President of Finance and Administration at Common Sense Media and 6 years as the Managing Director of Equality California where he led the team to successfully pass over 70 pieces of legislation to achieve legal equality for LGBT Californians. He also worked at an environmental health organization called The Breast Cancer Fund and at the National office of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. Jim graduated from the University of Florida and lives with his husband, Scott, and his yellow Labrador retriever, Atlas, in San Francisco. 

Resources

• New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/
• Axios: https://www.axios.com/
• The Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/

Contact Jim

• Website: https://diatribe.org/foundation
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-carroll-b4004b6/

About the guest

Pat Taggart is the Founder and Chief Creative at SkyBlue Creative, a documentary filmmaker who revolutionizes traditional corporate videos by making them authentic and impactful. At 22, he noticed how smart, charismatic professionals became stiff and nervous on camera, leading him to ditch scripts and replace them with natural, unscripted conversations that bring out genuine stories. His approach has transformed corporate video content across industries. Beyond filmmaking, Pat is a sought-after speaker for organizations like YPO and EO, teaching leaders how to use video to engage employees and customers—even without a professional. Based in Philadelphia with his wife and two kids, he plays a ton of ice hockey and prefers chocolate milk over coffee.

Contact Pat

• Website: https://www.blueskyecreative.com/
• Email: pat@skybluecreative.com 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pat-taggart-1a25a595/

Contact Doug

• Website: https://www.tripwiremedia.com/
• LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/dougdarling

About the guest

Matt has worked in communications since 2013 after transitioning away from the lab bench following completion of his Ph.D. in the field of cancer cell biology. Since then, he has worked primarily in the non-profit sector in the UK helping organizations tell inspiring stories and research and the impact it has on society. Matt has also spent time working for a government regulator in Scotland to deliver public and government facing communications. In 2024, Matt moved to the US with his partner, and currently works at the American Association of Immunologists as their Communications Director. At AAI, Matt leads a team of two to deliver communications for AAI’s membership, the public and the wider community connected to the organization. 

Resources

• Asana: https://asana.com/
• Muck Rack: https://muckrack.com/

Contact Matt

• Website: https://www.aai.org/
• Email: mlam@aai.org
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-lam-phd-52998b70/

About the guest

Deena Pierott, founder and Executive Director of iUrban Teen, is a trailblazer in advancing education and mentorship for at-risk youth, with a particular focus on African American males and other underserved groups. With over 20 years of experience in environmental science, workforce development, and DEI consulting, Deena has become a nationally recognized leader committed to bridging opportunity gaps through innovative STEM+Arts programming.

Resources

• The Business Journals: https://www.bizjournals.com/
• Dallas Innovates: https://dallasinnovates.com/
• Philanthropy Today: https://www.philanthropy.com/newsletter/philanthropy-today
• Google Alerts: https://www.google.ca/alerts

Contact Deena

• Email: Deena@iurbanteen.org
• iUrbanteen: https://iurbanteen.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theinclusionist/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dpierott/
• iUrbanteen on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iurbanteen/

Contact Spencer

• Email: spencer@brooks.digital
• Contact form on Brooks Digital Website: https://brooks.digital/contact/

About the guest

Greg Harrell-Edge is a second-generation nonprofit executive who inherited an unwavering optimism about the potential of mission-driven organizations to achieve impact at scale.

From 2016 to 2024, Greg served as Executive Director of CoachArt, where he led the organization in quintupling its impact on children affected by chronic illness.

Today, Greg is building a content and community platform designed for Executive Directors seeking to create and execute innovative, scalable visions for their organizations.

Resources

• Max Impact Sector Waitlist: maximpactsector.com
• Season 1 , episode 15 of Health Nonprofit Digital Marketing: Building Your Own Tech Platform with Greg Harrell-Edge of CoachArt: https://brooks.digital/health-nonprofit-digital-marketing/building-your-own-tech-platform/

Contact Greg

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregharrelledge/

In this episode, Spencer breaks down a pattern he sees repeatedly: organizations making expensive website decisions based on internal assumptions rather than user evidence. The result? Projects that never get buy-in, or worse, projects that DO get approved but build the wrong thing entirely.

You'll learn:

• The three most common failure modes for nonprofit website projects
• Why "we need more templates" and "we need better design" are symptoms, not root causes
• The two critical pieces of information you need before you can know what to build
• A practical approach to getting stakeholder alignment and user evidence (whether you hire someone or do it yourself)
• How to pitch website projects to leadership with evidence instead of opinions

If you're planning a website project, trying to get budget approved, or working with a vendor right now, this episode will give you a framework to make better decisions.

Resources

• Website Strategy Assessment: brooks.digital/website-strategy-assessment

Contact Spencer

• Email: spencer@brooks.digital

About the guests

Alicia Edwards, MPH, CHES (she/her), is the Syndemics Communications Manager at the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board. She is dedicated to creating culturally relevant health materials for American Indians and Alaskan Natives, honoring her Okanogan Band of the Colville Tribe heritage and upbringing in Okanogan County, WA.

Jerico Cummings (they/them) is a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and serves as the 2SLGBTQ+ Training & Community Engagement Specialist for the Paths (Re)Membered Project at the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board. Personally and professionally, they feel called to spaces where they can exist and support community at the points where indigeneity, sexual orientation, and gender identity all intersect. 

Jane Manthei is the Text Messaging Communications Specialist at the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board. She focuses on projects within adolescent health and suicide prevention. Her work explores different forms of storytelling across multiple media formats and promoting cultural protective factors for Native youth.

Resources

• Them: https://www.them.us/
• Erin in the Morning: https://www.erininthemorning.com/
• CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/index.html
• HIV.gov: https://www.hiv.gov/
• National Coalition of STD Directors: https://www.ncsddc.org/
• Illuminative: https://illuminative.org/
• NDN Collective: https://ndncollective.org/
• Native Health Resources: https://www.nativehealthresources.org/
• We R Native: www.wernative.org
• Paths Remembered: https://www.pathsremembered.org/
• Text NATIVE to 94449 to sign up for We R Native text messages
• Text 2SLGBTQ to 94449 for Two Spirit & Indigiqueer Health Info & Resources

Contact Alicia, Jane and Jerico

• www.npaihb.org 
• @2slgbtq (Paths (Re)Membered account): https://www.instagram.com/2slgbtq/
• @wernative (adolescent health insta): https://www.instagram.com/wernative/
• @npaihb (Board’s primary insta): https://www.instagram.com/npaihb/

About the guest

Lauren Cotter is the Marketing and Communications Director at Community Tech Network (CTN), with over 30 years of experience in marketing, sales, and communications.

Lauren has been instrumental in promoting CTN's mission and impact and growth. She joined CTN as an Encore Fellow during the COVID-19 pandemic. She has since used her expertise in branding, strategic positioning, media, social media, Google Ads, analytics, content and design, and public relations to further CTN's initiatives.

Lauren is passionate about bridging the digital divide and ensuring that everyone, especially seniors, the disabled, and marginalized communities, has access to the digital tools they need to thrive in today's world.

Resources

• Canva for graphics: https://www.canva.com/
• Hootsuite's free version for scheduling social media also has a content calendar.: https://www.hootsuite.com/
• Google Ad Grants: Google grants $10,000 a month for a qualifying non-profit: https://www.google.ca/grants/
• Hubspot has great marketing blogs: https://www.hubspot.com/
• Monday.com: https://monday.com/
• Volunteer Match for volunteers: https://www.volunteermatch.org/
• ChatGPT for help with writing: https://chatgpt.com/

Contact Lauren

• Email: lauren@communitytechnetwork.org
• Website: https://communitytechnetwork.org/

About the guest

Jennifer brings 30 years of nonprofit and retail management experience to the table, focusing on strategy, implementation, and team leadership. Her love of nonprofit work was sparked at Whole Foods Market where she collaborated with nonprofits like the Dallas Museum of Art, the International Rescue Committee, and Whole Kids Foundation. As the Senior Marketing and Communications Manager at the Dallas nonprofit Resource Center, she supported the LGBTQIA+ community for six years. Currently, she serves as the Director of Marketing at Nexus Family Recovery Center, helping women in recovery and their children.

Resources

• Website: https://nexusrecovery.org/

Contact Jennifer 

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennlcollins/

About the guest

Shilpa Alva is the founder and Executive Director of Surge for Water, a nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing the cycle of poverty through access to safe water and sanitation solutions. Since its founding 15 years ago, Surge has impacted hundreds of thousands of people in 12 countries. Shilpa's journey didn’t start in the International Nonprofit world. After graduating from Johns Hopkins University with a Chemical Engineering degree, she joined the corporate world and earned her MBA from the Carlson School at the University of Minnesota. After a successful corporate career in Supply Chain Management, she made the bold choice to follow her purpose and live fully in alignment with it. She went from running the organization on nights and weekends to going all the way in! 

Resources

• Website: Surge for Water: https://surgeforwater.org/
• Shilpa's TEDx talk
• Surge's women-led, women-centered model: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyduyMr-6ag

Contact Shilpa

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shilpa-alva-858b841/
• Surge for Water Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/surgeforwater/
• Surge for Water YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCInQiHpaZ-zee2jDI2Sj52Q

About the guest

With over 15 years of his career engaged in life sciences and biopharmaceuticals, Marco is an established thought leader in transformative healthcare. Marco’s background spans product launches, brand strategy, corporate communications and media relations. Most recently, he transitioned over to the nonprofit space when he started working for HealthHIV.

Marco’s work is impactful and forward-thinking. Beyond the workplace, Marco is an avid fan of Wagner operas and European history, has traveled from Denver to Dar es Salaam, can be recognized in the background of several television shows and loves his mini bernedoodle Apollo. 

Resources

• Website: National Coalition for LGBTQ Health: https://healthlgbtq.org/
• Website: https://healthhiv.org/

Contact Marco

• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/marcowinkler
• Twitter: www.x.com/mwinklernyc
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/mwinklernyc

About the guest

Kenyon Farrow (he/him) is the Director of Communications where he leads AVAC’s communications team as well as our narrative change and strategic communications efforts to help influence key stakeholders, policymakers and the media to expand access to HIV prevention, supporting R&D and programs and advancing global health equity.

Kenyon previously served as the Managing Director of Advocacy and Organizing with PrEP4All, where he helped lead a policy coalition on a National PrEP program and led a campaign to make insurance companies accountable to pay for PrEP services. Previously Kenyon served as senior editor of TheBody.com & TheBodyPro.com and US & Global Health Policy Director with Treatment Action Group (TAG).

Resources

• TheBody: https://www.thebody.com/
• TheBodyPro: https://www.thebodypro.com/

Contact Kenyon

• Website: https://avac.org/
• Podcast: https://avac.org/px-pulse/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenyonfarrow/

About the guest

Melissa Watkins has over ten years of experience in marketing and over five years of experience in nonprofit development and leadership. She currently heads the marketing and development department at the Pacific Autism Center for Education, a nonprofit organization based in Santa Clara, CA, that provides a range of vital services for autistic children and adults. As a dual marketing and development leader, Melissa brings her expertise to drive impactful initiatives at PACE. Melissa holds a degree in Sociology from the University of California, Davis and is currently working toward her Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) certification. She enjoys serving on the Board of Directors for two Bay Area-based nonprofits, running half marathons, and chasing after her 18-month-old twin daughters.

Resources

• Benevity: https://benevity.com/
• Association of Fundraising Professionals: https://afpglobal.org/
• Fidelity Charitable: https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/
• Blackbaud: https://www.blackbaud.ca/
• Unleashing the Power of Gratitude Using Handwritten Thank You Notes with David Wachs of Handwrytten: https://brooks.digital/health-nonprofit-digital-marketing/unleashing-the-power-of-gratitude/

Contact Melissa

Website: https://www.pacificautism.org/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/watkinsmelissa/

About the guest

Betsey O’Brien is an independent writer, editor and speaker focused on the complexities of human health. Her writing and editing practice covers the full spectrum of health, with special emphasis on mental well-being. She has worked with some of the country’s best-known mental health organizations, including the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance and Inseparable, along with individual experts in brain health, eating disorders and trauma-informed care.

Resources

• Mindsite News Daily: https://mindsitenews.org/
• Washington Post Health: https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/
• Medscape: https://www.medscape.com/
• Scientific American Health: https://www.scientificamerican.com/health/
• New York Times Health: https://www.nytimes.com/ca/section/health
• Writing Better Healthcare Content with Betsey O’Brien of Desire Path Marketing Podcast episode: https://brooks.digital/health-nonprofit-digital-marketing/healthcare-content/

Contact Betsey

• https://betseyobrien.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/betseyobrien/

About the guest

Dj Tyson entered non-profit communications after exploring an array of career paths, including four years in the military. A call to serve his community led him to VOA Alaska, a youth behavioral health non-profit, where he is the Director of Communications and Engagement. For over four years, he has used his creative skills and personal connection to the mission to share the organization's story and connect with the statewide community. Dj holds a Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, a Professional Digital Marketing Certificate, and is pursuing a Health Non-Profit Leadership and Management Certificate. 

Resources

• Strategic Communication with Taya Jarman of The Institute for Public Health Innovation: https://brooks.digital/health-nonprofit-digital-marketing/strategic-communication-with-taya-jarman/

Contact DJ

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akdjtyson/
• Email: djtyson@voaak.org
• VOA Alaska: https://voaak.org/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/voa-alaska/
• IG: https://www.instagram.com/voaalaska
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdpgmB0t139vxRUhwnymQUw
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VOAAlaska/

About the guest

Adam Zandman is a seasoned marketer and team leader with agency, non-profit, Fortune 250, and startup experience. In his current role, he is driving the marketing initiatives over at Thrivable, a healthcare market research startup making it possible for the patient voice to be included in every business decision.

Resources

• Lenny’s Podcast: https://www.lennyspodcast.com/
• The Marketing Book Podcast: https://marketingbookpodcast.libsyn.com/
• Thrivable website: https://thrivable.app/

Contact Adam

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/azandman/
• Email: adam@thrivable.app

If you are seeking to use technology in ways that unlock possibilities you’ve never had before, or that lead to big changes in the way you do your work or the impact you make, you don’t want to miss this episode.

About the guest

Karen Graham is a speaker, trainer, writer, and consultant with expertise in technology leadership and innovation, nonprofit software, and digital strategy. Her consulting work includes strategic technology roadmaps, development of knowledge resources, and leadership coaching. 

Karen was the Executive Director of the national nonprofit Idealware, and has held leadership roles in capacity building, arts, and human service organizations as well as a software startup. She holds an MBA in Nonprofit Management from the University of St. Thomas.

Resources

• Minnesota Council of Nonprofits: https://minnesotanonprofits.org/
• Technology Association of Grantmakers: https://www.tagtech.org/
• AI Episodes of Health Digital Non Profit: https://brooks.digital/health-nonprofit-digital-marketing/navigating-nonprofit-landscape-ai/

Contact Karen

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karentgraham/ 
• Website: karengrahamconsulting.com 
• Worksheet: https://www.karengrahamconsulting.com/worksheet 

About the guest

Kelly Stover is the Development Director at Ride Connection, a non-profit organization providing free, accessible transportation options to older adults and people with disabilities in the Portland, Oregon area. Before joining Ride Connection, Kelly worked as the Senior Event and Sponsorship Coordinator for a local health system, Legacy Health, raising funds for six foundations over ten years. Kelly’s work in the nonprofit space began as an event assistant with the storied Portland Rose Festival Foundation in 2005 and has never looked back. Kelly is a graduate of Portland State University, with an Arts & Letters degree with a focus on Communications. While not a marketing professional per se, Kelly’s experience has led to her work in the marketing aspect of nonprofit work, and has been taking on and overseeing more and more marketing projects the last several years. 

Kelly lives in Vancouver, Washington with her husband, Charles, daughters, Sophie and Amelia,  and lab, Autzen.

Resources

• The People’s Nonprofit Accelerator: https://thepeoplesnonprofit.org/

Contact Kelly

• kstover@rideconnection.org 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ride-connection-inc. 
• Twitter: @Ride_Connection
• Facebook: RideConnection 
• Website: www.rideconnection.org

About the guest

Christina is an award-winning collaborator, and leader in strategic communications, marketing, and member engagement. She has extensive experience successfully executing digital marketing and communications strategies including national and international award-winning campaigns. She thrives on engaging with members and stakeholders, generating awareness of organizational activities and industry issues, and enhancing the public profile of organizations. 

Christina is the Director of Communications & Membership at Wounds Canada, a non-profit charitable organization established in 1995.

Resources

• Wounds Canada: https://www.woundscanada.ca/
•  International Association of Business Communicators: https://www.iabc.com/
• Centre for Strategic Communication Excellence https://thecsce.com/

Contact Christina

• christina.locmelis@woundscanada.ca 
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/christina-locmelis/

About the guest

Kyle Taylor is the director of communications for NASTAD, a nonprofit association that works to end the HIV/AIDS and hepatitis epidemics in the United States. He leads NASTAD’s five-person communications team and directs all of the organization’s internal and external communications, including its website, social media, newsletters, and media outreach. Kyle has more than a decade of experience working in communications for public health focused nonprofits and has led the development of two websites for national nonprofits. 

Resources

• Non Profit Technology Conference by NTEN: https://www.nten.org/gather
• Progressive Communicators of Washington DC: https://medium.com/progressive-communicators-of-washington-d-c

Contact Kyle

• https://nastad.org/
• ktaylor@NASTAD.org

About the guest

Taya M. Jarman, MS, APR is an award-winning and accomplished Communications Director at the Institute for Public Health Innovation (IPHI). At IPHI, she has refreshed the organization’s brand to include a robust DE&I and ADA-compliant website, social media ecosystem, and marketing materials to improve health and wellness in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia region. Before IPHI, she served in the state government for 16 years as the Population Health Communications Director for the Virginia Department of Health (VDH). 

Throughout her career, Taya has won over a dozen local and national awards. She was recognized twice as Top 40 under 40 in Richmond’s Style Weekly and nationally in PRWeek.

She graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a Master of Science in strategic public relations and studied abroad in China (Beijing and Shanghai). She also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication and leadership from Christopher Newport University (CNU) and a graduate certification in general management public relations from the University of Maryland Global Campus.

When she’s not working, she enjoys traveling and spending time with her husband, two sons Tripp and Tyler, and a pandemic puppy – Uno the Schnoodle.

Resources

• Axios: https://www.axios.com/
• American Marketing Association: https://www.ama.org/
• Public Relations Society of America: https://www.prsa.org/ 
• Navigating the Nonprofit Landscape with AI – George Weiner of Whole Whale: https://brooks.digital/health-nonprofit-digital-marketing/navigating-nonprofit-landscape-ai/

Contact Taya

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tayajarman/
• Institute for Public Health Innovation: https://www.institutephi.org/

About the guest

Jeff Barrus is the Communications Director at Grantmakers in Health (GIH), a philanthropy-serving organization that supports health funders of all sizes and interests through education, networking, and leadership. Prior to joining GIH, Jeff was Communications Director at the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting, where he led communications on a wide range of journalism and education initiatives. While at the Pulitzer Center, he was part of the team that produced the 1619 Project education network website, which won two 2022 Webby awards. He began his career at National Public Radio in 1998 and went on to serve in various communications roles at nonprofits, think tanks, and universities, including The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, the Atlantic Council, and Johns Hopkins University. Jeff holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Maryland and lives in Washington, DC, with his wife, twin daughters, and three dogs.

Resources

• Chronicle of Philanthropy https://www.philanthropy.com/
• Philanthropy News Digest https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/
• Inside Philanthropy https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/
• Non Profit Quarterly https://nonprofitquarterly.org/
• The Communications Network https://www.comnetwork.org/
• United Philanthropy Forum https://www.unitedphilforum.org/

Contact Jeff

• Grantmakers In Health https://www.gih.org/
• Threads https://www.threads.net/@gjbarrus
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gjbarrus/
• Email: jbarrus@gih.org

About the guest

Howard Pearl is the Chief Executive Officer of Charitable Adult Rides & Services (CARS). He is an accomplished business leader with over 35 years of c-suite experience and is a graduate of Harvard Business School. He has provided services to organizations, including Johnson & Johnson, the Ford Motor Company, and Revlon. Since joining CARS in 2015, Howard has transformed the company culture around gratitude and has led a 500% increase in top-line revenue. Additionally, Howard is leading the charge to expand CARS’ On the Go transportation program nationally to support older adults across the country through transportation solutions and meal delivery services. 

Resources

• Car Easy https://careasy.org/home
• Giving Property: https://givingproperty.org/
• On The Go Rides: https://otgrides.org/home

Contact George

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/howardpearl/
• Email: howardp@careasy.org

About the guest

Nicole Jones is a seasoned marketing expert and storyteller who brings over 15 years of experience in driving impactful campaigns for nonprofits like the Anticancer Lifestyle Program and TechSoup. As the former Director of Marketing at Kintone, she led diverse initiatives from content strategy to branding and social impact. A UC Berkeley Journalism grad, Nicole blends her journalistic insights with a strategic approach, excelling in creating narratives that inspire action.

Resources

• What is an OKR? https://www.whatmatters.com/ 
• Fast Company: https://www.fastcompany.com/
• Stanford Social Innovation Review: https://ssir.org/
• The Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/
• Nonprofit tech for good: https://www.nptechforgood.com/
• HubSpot: https://www.hubspot.com/
• Anti Cancer Lifestyle Program: https://anticancerlifestyle.org/

Contact Nicole

• Email: nicole@anticancerlifestyle.org 

About the guest

George Weiner is the Founder and CEO of Whole Whale, a digital agency that leverages data and tech to increase the impact of nonprofits and for-benefit companies. He is also the co-founder of Power Poetry, the largest teen poetry platform in the U.S, a safe, creative, free home to over 500k poets.

Prior to Whole Whale George was the CTO of DoSomething.org. George is also the host of Whole Whale’s in-house podcast, Using the Whole Whale, where he has interviewed guests from Seth Godin and Avinash Kaushik to representatives from the Mozilla Foundation, Lyft and the Environmental Defense Fund.

In nearly a decade of operations, Whole Whale has worked with over 100 nonprofit and social-impact organizations, spent over $6 million in Google Ad Grants dollars, and supported an additional 150,000+ organizations through free online content and trainings.

Resources

• Nonprofit.ist Network: https://www.nonprofit.ist/
• Cause Writer AI: https://causewriter.ai/

Contact George

• Whole Whale: https://www.wholewhale.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgeweiner/

About the guest

Nikki Hopewell (she/her) is the director of multicultural marketing for Susan G. Komen. She earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees in journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. Nikki has spent more than two decades developing marketing strategies and crafting content in digital marketing and health care marketing and is a passionate diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging advocate. She’s also a former OpEd Project fellow penning national pieces on racial equity in health care and bias in sports. Nikki is committed to creating connections through storytelling, bringing marginalized folks into the mainstream and championing health equity for all. 

Resources

• Harvard Business Review: https://hbr.org/

Contact Nikki

• https://www.komen.org/ 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikkihopewell
• komen.org/healthequityresources
• komen.org/standforher

About the guest

Beth Eisen is a seasoned marketing and communications professional who has successfully raised awareness, engagement, and revenue for many organizations. She is currently the Head of Marketing and Communications at Playworks. Beth has over a decade of nonprofit experience and has also worked at a PR agency, for foreign governments and in the technology sector; she graduated Magna Cume Laude from Rutgers University. She’s passionate about equity, sports, traveling, and animals. If you find her on a Playworks playground, she’ll usually be playing kickball, foursquare, or soccer.

Resources

• Hubspot Blogs: https://blog.hubspot.com/ 
• Chronicle of Philanthropy: https://www.philanthropy.com/ 
• Education Week: https://www.edweek.org/
• Marketo: https://nation.marketo.com/ 

Contact Beth

• Playworks website: https://www.playworks.org/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/betheisen/ 

About the guest

Ryan Deckert is the Vice President of Development at Morrison Child & Family Services, former president of the Oregon Business Association, and a former Oregon State Senator representing District 14. With a background in business development at Hewlett-Packard and an architecture firm, Ryan entered politics as the youngest member of the Oregon House of Representatives in 1997 and later served in the Oregon Senate until 2007. He and his wife Inga live in Beaverton with their three daughters.

Resources

• 2025 Nonprofit Trends: AI, Accessibility, and Team Well-Being: https://brooks.digital/health-nonprofit-digital-marketing/2025-nonprofit-trends/

Contact Ryan

• Website: https://morrisonkids.org/
• Morrison Child and Family Services Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morrisonkids/
• Morrison Child and Family Services LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/morrison-child-and-family-services/?trk=hb_tab_compy_id_1168847
• Morrison Child and Family Services Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Morrisoncfs/

About the guest

Valaree grew up in the real-life town that inspired the television show Gilmore Girls, but has traveled extensively across the United States throughout her life. Valaree earned a Professional Writing degree from Western Connecticut State University and began working for three chapters of The Y upon graduation. From there, her passion for non-for-profit work led her to the Society of Plastics Engineers and the National Organization for Rare Disorders before landing at Uplifting Athletes. Valaree graduated from West Virginia University in 2023 with a Master of Science degree in Data Marketing. Valaree’s personal philosophy is that for-purpose work should be done with purpose and specializes in strategic, data-driven marketing.

Resources

• Sprout Social: sproutsocial.com
• Women in Email Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/womenofemail

Contact Valaree

• Uplifting Athletes: upliftingathletes.org
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/v-machen/ 

This episode delves deep into the ethical aspects of storytelling in nonprofits, focusing on how organizations can authentically share their impact without exploiting the families they serve. MaryBeth provides valuable insights into the importance of matching marketing demographics with program demographics and the power of permission-based storytelling in fundraising efforts.

About the guest

MaryBeth Meyer serves as the Director of Marketing at Pinky Swear Foundation, a non-profit that offers financial and emotional support to children with cancer and their families. 

Before joining Pinky Swear Foundation, MaryBeth held positions at UnityPoint Health – Des Moines and Walnut Creek Church. She also served on the Board of Directors of the Windsor Heights Chamber of Commerce.

MaryBeth's most significant roles include being a partner to her husband, Chris, and a mother to Addison, Owen, and James.

Contact MaryBeth

• Pinky Swear website: www.pinkyswear.org
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marybethmeyer4/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/meyer.marybeth/ 

About the guest

Anna Santos is currently the Chief Marketing Officer at ReSurge International, a global surgery non-profit based in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is responsible for all of ReSurge’s marketing, branding, communications, and content strategy, and recently took the organization through a brand refresh and website redesign. Anna is passionate about helping social change organizations build cohesive brands, raise awareness, and engage communities into action through ethical authentic and inclusive storytelling. 

Anna has a Master of Public Administration in International Development Policy and Practice from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey with a specialization in Intercultural Digital Storytelling for social change. She is also passionate about documentary photography and film.

Anna is originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico and has lived and worked throughout Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Europe. She has over ten years of experience in the social-change space.

Resources

• https://dignifiedstorytelling.com/handbook/ 
• https://pages.devex.com/better-conversations.html 
• https://ethicalstorytelling.com/ 
• https://pledgeforchange2030.org/pledges/authentic-storytelling/
• Watch the Jacob Video

Contact Anna

• ReSurge website: https://resurge.org/ 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-santos-8b488556/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@resurgeinternational 

If you're a communications or marketing director at a nonprofit, you've been in that room. You see what needs to change on your website and in your comms, and what your audience needs. Leadership makes decisions based on different priorities, and you're left implementing something you know won't work.

This episode is about navigating that dynamic (but not in the way you think). Before you can shift leadership's thinking, you need to recognize how your own perspective has been shaped by internal politics and priorities.

In this solo episode, Spencer shares specific ways to make the shift to user-centered thinking yourself, then help leadership see the gap between their daily reality and what website users actually need.

Resources

• The Most Expensive Opinion in the Room Blog Post: https://brooks.digital/articles/most-expensive-opinion/

Contact Spencer

• Email: spencer@brooks.digital

Join us as Eugene shares his wealth of experience and insights, guiding us through the strategies, challenges, and advantages of working with funders, peer organizations, and government entities to amplify your nonprofit's mission. 

Discover how to develop cohesive messaging, establish shared timelines, and harness the power of collaborative marketing to reach broader audiences and drive meaningful change. Plus, we'll discuss the potential pitfalls and benefits of partnership MarCom, and why thoughtful planning is the key to maximizing shared benefits. 

Don't miss this insightful discussion with Eugene Patron on building successful nonprofit partnerships through effective marketing and communications.

About the guest

Eugene Patron is Director of Marketing and Communications at the Fund for Public Health NYC, a public-private partnership that supports the work of the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. His communications and marketing experience includes NYC and national nonprofits, as well as work as a journalist, web producer, and editor. He has an MS in Urban Affairs and an advanced certificate in Leading Change in Healthcare Systems.

Resources

• Nonprofit Tech for Good
• Beta NYC
• Ragan Communications

Contact Eugene

• Web: https://fphnyc.org/
• Email: epatron@fphnyc.org
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/EugenePNYC 
• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/eugenepatron 

About the guest

Bradley directs the Branding & Creative Team, leading a team on the creative design and production of all Rippel branding vehicles. He makes complex concepts easier for all to understand and unifies messaging around Rippel’s shared vision and its initiatives. 

Brad has provided Rippel with branding and visual design support for years as principal of his own award-winning boutique agency. In his 28 years as a professional designer, photographer, and marketer, Brad has worked with a variety of large brands—including Kaiser Permanente, Toshiba, Verio Healthcare, and the San Francisco 49ers—and received multiple international awards for design, print, and marketing.

Bradley serves on portfolio review boards for AIGA, Cal State Fullerton, and Chapman University, mentoring students as they ready themselves for professional careers.

Most weekends, Brad can be found cheering on his daughter’s club court and beach volleyball teams. On his off-time, he and his family love to relax on the Hawaiian island of Kauai.

Resources

• https://rippel.org/ 
• https://rippel.org/podcasts/ 
• https://www.printmag.com/ 
• https://howdesignlive.com/ 

Contact Brad

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradleygirard/ 
• https://twitter.com/RippelHealth
• https://www.youtube.com/@rippelfoundationrethinkhea179/featured
• https://www.linkedin.com/company/rippelhealth

About the guest

Matt is the associate director of media and communications for the National Psoriasis Foundation. He oversees content creation, editorial work, and public and media relations. When he’s not working he’s reading, writing, or running trails in and around Portland, Oregon. He is the father of a third grader with Down syndrome and husband to a working mother in the field of higher education. 

Contact Matt

• https://www.psoriasis.org/ 
• https://www.psoriasis.org/advance/ 
• editor@psoriasis.org 

We explore the challenges and opportunities in addressing healthcare disparities, focusing on the impact of digital therapeutics on mental health and marginalized groups. Autumn discusses her work in advocacy, legislative change, and messaging strategies to promote equitable healthcare access.

Additionally, Autumn introduces the DTA's Evaluation Toolkit, which provides criteria to assess these tools, including clinical validation, data security, equitable access and more. It's a science-based resource to guide adoption. Key factors are evidence of improved outcomes and seamless integration into workflows. This toolkit enables informed decisions to provide patients high-quality, effective digital therapeutics.

Join us for a thought-provoking conversation on these critical issues and gain valuable insights into healthcare equity, digital therapeutics, and compassionate communication in healthcare.

About the guest

As the Director of Marketing and Communications, Autumn leads the strategic marketing, public relations, and media efforts for the Digital Therapeutics Alliance, with the goal of building a unified, knowledgeable, and empowered community of stakeholders worldwide. Her experience spans product development and marketing strategies to advance dynamic, global business initiatives and drive innovation within EduTech, FinTech, Manufacturing, and Digital Health. Prior to her tech career, Autumn held a private practice in family medicine and midwifery, specifically within rural and marginalized communities. Her profound dedication to patient rights, healthcare equity, and social justice fuels her mission to see digital therapeutics reach their full potential to improve patient outcomes on a global scale.

Resources

• DTA's Evaluation Toolkit
• Healio
• Stat News
• Mobi Health News

Contact Autumn

• LinkedIn
• https://dtxalliance.org/

About the guest

Jean is a highly experienced and driven Director of Development with 15 plus years of demonstrated success in leading and managing fundraising teams in the nonprofit sector. As the Development Director at Lines for Life, she is responsible for creating and implementing strategic development and communication plan, leading a data-centric philanthropy team, strengthening grants and contracts, and building successful annual campaigns.

Resources

• https://philanthropy.iupui.edu/index.html 
• https://nonprofitaf.com/ 
• https://www.philanthropy.com/newsletter/philanthropy-today 

Contact {guest}

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jean-mcgowan-213aa420/
• Email: jeanm@linesforlife.org 

Discover how strategic digital communications, data-driven targeting, and compelling narratives converged to create a powerful movement that secured essential rights. We’ll outline the importance of third-party validators, the art of message testing, and the pivotal role of segmentation in driving successful advocacy efforts. Join us for a comprehensive exploration of how nonprofits can harness the digital realm to amplify their advocacy initiatives and foster meaningful change.

About the guests

Callie Riley is the NW Regional Advocacy Manager for Compassion & Choices, and coordinates legislative advocacy and community education work in 9 states in the Pacific NW. She is a longtime community & union organizer in Oregon and Washington, and has worked on issues related to housing affordability, gentrification & displacement, public transit, health equity, land use, and police abolition. She also specializes in preventing burnout among organizers and building resilient organizations. Outside of work, she spends her time organizing mutual aid and community care projects for other queer and trans people, reading saccharine romance novels, listening to black metal and hyperpop, and doting on her adorable cat, Iz. She is based in Brooklyn, NY.

Megan Kovacs is the Digital Advocacy Manager (West) for Compassion & Choices, she leads all digital communications strategy for the Western United States, manages integrated communications plans for state-specific advocacy efforts, overarching regional plans and advertising budget and directs all digital advertising for acquisition, education and awareness. Megan has spent over 15 years working in local, regional, and national non-profits and on political and electoral campaigns to promote social, racial, and economic justice, sexual and reproductive health, bodily autonomy, and gender equity. She is the recipient of the 2015 Judge Stephen B. Herrell Award for Outstanding Collaborative Efforts to End Family Violence. She formerly served on the Board of Directors for Bitch Media, and currently works to provide abortion access in the Pacific Northwest as a board member for the Northwest Abortion Access Fund (nwaafund.org) and co-chair of the Oregon Reproductive Health Equity Fund.

Contact Callie & Megan

• Web: compassionandchoices.org
• Twitter: @CompAndChoices
• Facebook: facebook.com/CompassionAndChoices
• Instagram: instagram.com/compassionandchoices/
• LinkedIn (Megan): linkedin.com/in/megankovacs/
• Email:
• mkovacs@compassionandchoices.org
• criley@compassionadnchoices.org

About the guest

Nicole graduated from Lafayette College in Easton, PA then lived in Paris to learn French and pursue her study of the WW2 Occupation. Ever restless, Nicole moved to San Francisco in the early 90s and started a translation business and started teaching entrepreneurship to youth. That interest brought her to serve as an AmeriCorps VISTA member in Paterson, NJ with foster teens aging out of state care. To fund the teens’ project to create an urban farmstand, Nicole started grant writing in 1997 and secured funding from Rutgers University. Winning that first grant fueled a drive for proposal writing since then to help nonprofits in NY, NJ and for the past 12 years in OR. 

She and her partner John met at CUNY Law School in 2001. In 2011, they co-founded the Homeless Youth Law Clinic where they practiced movement lawyering for unhoused youth in Portland, Oregon. They created the clinic with youth and advocates from the community, those in the foster care to youth homelessness pipeline, immigrant youth and many others with lived experiences. HYLC concentrated on the civil legal rights of homeless youth and the consequences of the criminalization of homelessness. 

Currently Nicole focuses on grant writing, funder relationships, donor stewardship, development, marketing and event planning for the Oregon Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation, a statewide nonprofit based in Portland that offers access to vision and hearing healthcare. 

One of her grant highlights? Capital funding from the Lions Clubs International Foundation to build & furnish an optical finishing lab that edges high quality, low cost new eyeglasses to Oregonians who qualify. Women trained in paraoptometrics while formerly incarcerated at the Coffee Creek Correctional Facility manage the lab and its for profit optical shop, Eye Promise.

Resources

• https://nonprofitaf.com/ 
• https://www.learningtogive.org/resources/foundation-center 
• https://candid.org/ 
• https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/ 
• https://www.freewill.com/ 
• https://www.techsoup.org/ 

Contact Nicole

• nick@olshf.org 
• https://olshf.org/ 
• https://www.facebook.com/olshf/ 
• https://www.youtube.com/c/OLSHF

Amy shares her insights on the different types of online communities they have developed and the importance of tailoring them to the needs of the community. The discussion also covers the critical role of providing trusted information and resources, as well as guidelines and transparency in community moderation. 

Join in to learn more about how online communities can support patients on their healthcare journey.

About the guest

Amy Ganderson is the Senior Director of Digital Strategy at the Colorectal Cancer Alliance. She is a professional marketing leader experienced in various digital marketing channels and functions. Amy has specialized in non-profit digital marketing and strategy for over 13 years, driving awareness and action for important causes. 

Prior to joining the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, she served in digital leadership roles at March of Dimes, United Way Worldwide, and The Nature Conservancy. Amy received her MBA from George Washington University and a B.S. from Cornell University. Amy currently resides with her husband and twins in Arlington, Virginia.

Resources

• https://www.facebook.com/groups/bluehopenation/ 
• https://bluehq.org/ 

Contact Amy

• Web: ccalliance.org
• Twitter: @amyganderson
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyganderson/  

About the guest

A serial entrepreneur, David Wach's latest venture, Handwrytten, is bringing back the lost art of letter writing through scalable, robot-based solutions that write your notes in pen. Developed as a platform, Handwrytten lets you send notes from your CRM system, such as Salesforce, the web site, apps, or through custom integration. Used by major meal boxes, eCommerce giants, nonprofits and professionals, Handwrytten is changing the way brands and people connect. Prior to starting Handwrytten, David founded Cellit, a leading mobile marketing agency. Cellit was sold to HelloWorld in 2012.

Resources

• Growth Hacking subreddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/GrowthHacking/
• AppSumo: https://appsumo.com/

Contact David

• https://www.handwrytten.com/ 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidwachs/ 
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/davidbwachs 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/handwrytten 

This episode is all about engaging, converting, and measuring user experience on your website. Spencer emphasizes the goal of turning casual website visitors into engaged supporters and highlights the importance of guiding patients through the stages of awareness, interest, and action. To achieve this, your website should provide a seamless user experience, keeping visitors engaged and encouraging exploration.

The episode covers how to engage visitors emotionally through storytelling and community involvement. Once users are engaged, their contact information can be used to nurture them as potential supporters. 

Measuring and optimizing the website's performance is crucial, and Spencer outlines key metrics to track, such as search traffic, time on site, bounce rate, and conversion rate. He outlines the need for continuous improvement and the importance of incorporating measurement as a habit and behavior.

A poorly organized site can lead to visitor confusion, frustration, and abandonment. If you want to educate, engage, and turn your visitors into donors, this isn’t what you’re looking for.

In this episode, Spencer shows you how to reorganize your site to encourage patients to browse other pages.

Resources:

• Companion article: How to Organize Patient Resources: A Field Guide for Nonprofit Professionals [Part 4]
• Service: UX Research & Content Strategy

It can be tough for them to find a trustworthy source when it comes to their health. With all of the conflicting information out there, how can they know which site to believe?

In this episode, Spencer outlines seven tips for writing helpful content for patients. These tips will help you earn a visitor's trust and encourage them to stick around your site and explore.

Resources:

• Companion article: 7 Tips for Writing Helpful Content for Patients [Part 3]
• Service: UX Research & Content Strategy

About the guest

Kate Mayne is the Marketing & Events Manager at the Oregon Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation. A dynamic and results-driven professional with a diverse skill set and a passion for making things happen, she is fluent in English, speaks business-level Spanish, and has intermediate skills in Korean.

Known for her efficiency and enthusiasm, she excels in coordinating and managing projects of all sizes. Her expertise lies in planning and executing digital marketing strategies, social media management, and public speaking, ensuring successful outcomes in every endeavor she undertakes. 

Resources

• Organization website: https://olshf.org/
• Organization Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/olshf/
• Organization Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/olshf 
• Organization Twitter: https://x.com/olshf_official 
• Organization LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/olshf 
• Organization YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/olshf 
• Connecting Across Generations for Nonprofit Success with Nicole Mandarano of the Oregon Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation: https://brooks.digital/health-nonprofit-digital-marketing/connecting-across-generations

Contact Kate

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaitlynmayne/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kmayniac/ 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kmayniac  

However, you don't know where to start or what strategies will work best for your organization.

In this episode, Spencer outlines four SEO strategies that nonprofits in the health space use to boost their search traffic.

These strategies are not only effective but they can be easily implemented by any nonprofit with limited resources and time.

Resources:

• Companion article: SEO Strategies to Boost Patient Resource Traffic [Part 2]
• Service: UX Research & Content Strategy

In this episode, Spencer outlines the overall strategy to create a better patient user experience. He examines the problem from the perspective of a new website visitor and the 5-step journey they might take from awareness to engagement with your organization.

Resources:

• Companion article: Creating a Better Patient User Experience for Nonprofit Websites [Part 1]
• Service: UX Research & Content Strategy

Resources:

• The Complete Guide to Nonprofit Website User Experience (UX) [Brooks Digital]
• The Secret of Highly Effective Health Nonprofit Websites [Brooks Digital]
• Service: UX Research & Content Strategy

In this episode, Jed Johnson of Wide Awake International shares why they made the decision to remove themselves entirely from social media.

We discuss how social media conflicted with their values of dignity and love, how they generate awareness without social media, and what it cost them to make the decision.

Resources:

• Website: https://wideawakeinternational.org/
• Email: jjohnson@wideawakeinternational.org
• Article: Nonprofits, It’s Time to Own Your Social Media Audience [SSIR]

Get in touch:

• Website: http://www.invisiyouthcharity.com/
• Instagram / Facebook / Twitter
• InvisiYouth Chat Sessions on YouTube
• InvisiYouth Charity shop on Etsy

Resources:

• The American Marketing Association and their Nonprofit and Cause Marketing Virtual Conference
• Hubspot Academy

Get in touch:

• Website: cgi.edu
• Podcast: Disruptors at Work: An Integrated Care Podcast

Resources:

• Nonprofit Tech for Good
• Beth Kanter

Get in touch:

• Website: https://jcsocialmarketing.com/
• Podcast: https://nonprofitnationpodcast.com/

In this solo episode, Spencer discusses the various digital maturity models available today and outlines a digital marketing maturity framework for nonprofits.

Resources:

• Deloitte's digital maturity model
• Forrester's digital maturity model
• Optimizely: What's the right digital transformation model for your business?
• Digital Leadership's digital maturity model for nonprofits
• Brooks Digital's digital scorecard for nonprofits

In this episode, Kimberly Warner of Unfixed Media Productions shares how she uses film to enable people with chronic illnesses to share their stories. We discuss her personal journey with chronic illness, how sharing stories can bring healing, and her new docuseries Life Rebalanced Chronicles produced in collaboration with the Vestibular Disorders Association.

Resources:

• Health Story Collaborative
• Enabled Disabled podcast
• Disorder channel
• The Journal of Health Design

Get in touch:

• Website: https://unfixedmedia.com/

We discuss the value of tech skills for elders, the unexpected results of bringing teens and seniors together, and how aging folks can add value to those around them.

Resources:

• International Council on Active Aging
• LeadingAge

Get in touch:

• Website: http://www.greenhillscommunity.org/
• Email: nwilkinson@greenhillscommunity.org

In this solo episode, Spencer challenges the popular digital metrics of traffic and stickiness and explains how to find your "smoking gun" metrics instead.

• Article: The Vanity of Nonprofit Metrics
• Article: The Surprising Truth About Digital Metrics for Nonprofits
• Service: Health Nonprofit Digital Diagnostic

In this episode, Greg Harrell-Edge of CoachArt comes on the show to discuss how he built a customized tech platform to match volunteers with kids. We discuss the creation of CoachArt Connect, how CoachArt quickly pivoted to virtual lessons during Covid, and how that unexpected digital pivot is helping them scale nationally.

Resources:

• Masters of Scale podcast
• How I Built This podcast
• First Round Capital blog
• Positive Equation
• Leading Good

Get in touch:

• Website: https://coachart.org/
• Email: greg@coachart.org
• Become a CoachArt Ambassador: https://coachart.org/healthcareambassador

— British MP Jo Cox

Accomplishing something truly great by yourself is a hard road. It's why many nonprofits develop partnerships with other organizations that have similar missions. But doing so is not always straightforward. 

In this episode, Kyle J Rose—a Vice President at the International Diabetes Federation, Head of Strategy at DiabetesWise, and an Advisor at DiabetesMine—comes on the show to share his extensive experience developing partnerships. We discuss his journey that started in engineering, his advice for staying unbiased in partnerships, and how to navigate international relationships.

• Website: https://diabeteswise.org/ and https://idf.org/
• Twitter: @KyleJacquesRose

• Website: https://cholangiocarcinoma.org/
• Email: jennifer.weaver@cholangiocarcinoma.org

• Website: https://fistulafoundation.org
• Email: pamela@fistulafoundation.org

• Article: The Secret of Highly Effective Health Nonprofit Websites
• Article: How Patient Experience Design Creates a Better Website For Your Nonprofit
• Service: Patient-Focused User Experience & Content Strategy
• Thoughts or questions? Email Spencer

• Website: https://www.dbsalliance.org/
• Email: kwilliams@dbsalliance.org

• Website: https://tacanow.org/
• Email: carolyn.baker@tacanow.org

Betsey works with strategic planners, web developers, video producers and others to advance the communications goals of leading health care nonprofits. She has written for many c-level leaders, creating everything from op-ed pieces to keynote speeches to weekly blog posts. 

• Website: https://www.desire-path.com/
• Email: betsey@desire-path.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/betseyobrien/

• Article: 6 Trust Signals For Online Health Information
• Article: The Complete Guide to Nonprofit Website User Experience (UX)
• Service: Patient-Focused User Experience & Content Strategy
• Thoughts or questions? Email Spencer

• Check out The ALS Association website
• Email Morgan
• Connect with Morgan on LinkedIn
• Follow Morgan on Twitter

• Check out the Hormone Health Network website
• Email Lynette

• Check out the NDSS website and TikTok
• Email Sara & Michelle
• Connect with Sara & Michelle on LinkedIn

• Check out NORD’s website
• Email Lesli
• Connect with Lesli on LinkedIn

• See the work of the International Essential Tremor Foundation
• Email Patrick
• Connect with Patrick on LinkedIn

• See Carli’s work: Craft & Commerce
• Sign up for Dollars & Change
• Connect with Carli on LinkedIn