Curious & Candid Communications for Folks Doing Good
If you’re a mission-driven leader, you probably know that a strong communications strategy is the key to getting more people — and the right people — to support the vital work you’re doing. But building an effective approach takes time…and you’ve already received five emails and 10 Slack notifications since you started reading this. You’ve come to the right place if:
You’re struggling to define your story and communicate with clarity and impact in the moments that matter.
You’re ready to take the leap and invest in building a communications strategy for your organization, but you have no capacity or clue where to start.
You need a thought partner to revamp your outdated or ineffective strategy.
You’re looking to elevate your thought leadership and become a stronger ambassador for your brand and cause.
You want to demystify the process of talking to reporters and nail your next media interview.
You want to identify and train new storytellers to amplify your mission.
You need extra hands to create impactful content that fits your voice and vision.
If this sounds like you, or if you have another comms conundrum you’re trying to solve, then let’s talk!
For two decades, I’ve helped organizations and leaders harness the power of smart communications, compelling storytelling, and authentic thought leadership to raise awareness, shape narratives, and achieve their advocacy and fundraising goals. I’ve crafted creative media strategies for some of the largest nonprofit organizations in the U.S., including Habitat for Humanity and Feeding America, and built ground-up plans for emerging nonprofits to secure front-page coverage, influence the news cycle during pivotal moments, and grow their brands.
After spending the first half of my career in-house and over a decade at a digital agency, I know what works well in a consultant-client relationship (transparency! trust! a mutual love of reality TV!) and what doesn’t (unclear goals! overpromising! erratic communication!). Whether I’m engaging teams in a comms planning process, prepping a spokesperson for a big interview, or ghostwriting an op-ed, I approach every project with curiosity, a collaborative mindset, and a healthy dose of candor.
Aside from my experience and impeccable taste in black turtlenecks, why work with me?
💜 Your mission matters. I’ve dedicated my career to supporting organizations and individuals advancing justice, economic opportunity, human rights, public health, democracy, and conservation.
👯♀️ People come first. I’m proud of the real, lasting connections I’ve built with clients over the years. From the start, I’ll focus on building trust—because when the going gets tough, it’s a heck of a lot easier when you have a true partner in your corner.
🤝 Personalized approach. I’ll develop a game plan and content that’s tailored to you and only you.
🏃🏻♀️ Nimble & efficient. You’ll get all the agency-level expertise and support you need—without the overhead.
🙅🏻♀️ Bullsh*t free zone. If you’re paying a consultant to tell you you’re doing everything right, they are getting the better end of that deal. I’ll always share my honest take (even if it’s not necessarily what you want to hear).
😎 Fun required. Even if you roll your eyes at my cheesy puns, I promise you won’t dread our calls. Heck, you might even have a gouda time.
Read more about me here.
Hey There, I’m Katie
How I Can Help
Organizational Communications Planning
I know, I know — you’re sick of planning meetings and want to DO the work. But trying to raise brand awareness, shape the media narrative around your issue, or meet your advocacy or fundraising goals without a plan to ground you is like heading into Jurassic Park without an exit strategy (spoiler alert: it won’t end well!)
I’ll guide your team through an inclusive planning process that'll help identify your unique challenges and opportunities and map out strategies to support your organizational goals. You’ll walk away with an actionable comms plan grounded in ambitious yet achievable goals that everyone in your organization can feel excited about and invested in.
Already have a comms plan, but it’s gathering dust? I can give it a fresh look and turn it into a living document you’ll actually want to use.
Depending on your needs and capacity, as an optional add-on, I can roll up my sleeves and bring the plan we’ve built together to life by engaging journalists on your behalf, creating media materials, and more.
Executive Thought Leadership
Mission-driven leaders are juggling a LOT. When there’s a major grant report due or a marquis conference on the horizon, adding “be a thought leader” to your to-do list probably feels exhausting. But becoming the go-to voice people trust on your issue is one of the best investments you can make to build credibility, attract supporters, and advance your mission.
Thought leadership shouldn’t feel like extra work; it should feel like a natural extension of the important work you’re already doing. Together, we’ll dig into the personal experiences that fuel your passion and expertise, and work to craft messages that make an impact — but still feel authentically you.
Then I’ll build and execute a plan to get your voice heard by pitching you to journalists, developing opinion pieces that actually get placed (yes, they do exist!), securing speaking gigs, identifying awards to apply for that showcase your leadership, and more approaches we’ll brainstorm together.
Storyteller Cultivation
Authentic voices are the heartbeat of any good communications strategy. They connect, inspire, and illustrate the urgency of the challenges you’re tackling in a way that even the most compelling data and charts can’t.
I’ve been fortunate to train dozens of storytellers—including individuals with lived experience, policy experts, and volunteers—to speak from the heart with poise and purpose.
Whether you’re looking to connect with potential supporters, sway an elected official, boost employee morale during a time of transition, or something in between, I’ll help you identify potential storytellers, work with them to develop their personal narratives, and adapt them to reach your audience.
Media Training
The only actual difference between you and the person giving the most impressive TED Talk you’ve ever seen is practice.
Do you want to brush up on best practices or do deeper prep for an important interview or speaking engagement? Or are you hoping to get your spokespeople and storytellers camera-ready? I’ll work closely with you to develop a bespoke training approach to meet your specific goals.
Topics I often cover include: basics of interacting with reporters, what to do before and after an interview, projecting strength and warmth, how to deliver your message clearly and succinctly, and the art of pivoting in tricky situations. And if you really want to up your game, we can tape you or your spokespeople speaking on camera and play it back to discuss feedback in real time.
Content Creation
Need a blog post that sparks conversation, a staff message that builds trust, or a toolkit that drives action? I can create clear, engaging content tailored to your audience and goals.
Whether you have a one-off project or need someone to help you develop a suite of materials every month, I’ll be that extra pair of hands. I’ll jump in quickly, ask smart questions, and deliver polished content with minimal back-and-forth.
From newsletters and opinion pieces to policy briefs and messaging guides, I’ll help you translate your ideas into communications collateral that reflects your voice and values.
Let’s Work Together
Ready to chat? Click below to schedule a complimentary 30-minute discovery call, or contact me directly at katie@3183comms.com. I look forward to meeting you!
