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Improve Team Morale: 3 Strategies for Nonprofits

Improve Team Morale: 3 Strategies for Nonprofits

Your team is working really hard. You know what? I’ll say it. Too hard. They’re surrounded by uncertainty, harm and crises. You’re facing staffing changes. (And we’re seeing an unprecedented spike in leadership turnover, too.) The landscape you’re working in is constantly evolving. It’s so easy for your team morale to take a hit when just one of these things occur.

But when all of them are happening all at once? It’s time to focus on improving your team morale.

You want your team to feel energized and hopeful, knowing their vital role contributes to the bigger picture.

How? Well, here are a few morale-boosters workshops we have hosted for various teams (including our own):

Nonprofit Communications, School District Marketing, Hiring and PeopleKatie Test DavisApril 14, 2026nonprofit team morale, Preventing Staff Burnout, Mission-Driven Leadership, School District Staff Wellness, Nonprofit Workplace Culture, Improving Team Dynamics, Deep Work Productivity, Philanthropy Team Building, Managing Communications Teams, Celebrating Staff Success, Nonprofit Retention Strategies, Science of Flow at Work

Optimize Your 2026 Digital Resources for AI Search Answers

Optimize Your 2026 Digital Resources for AI Search Answers

Today, it isn’t good enough to just throw your information up on the web and make sure it has the keywords you know your audience searches for.

Instead, you need to intentionally lay out information so that it appears in AI search summaries (like Google's AI overviews) and comes up in the right AI search answers. Recent research from UPCEA shows generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini and Google's AI Overviews shape how people gather information, verify details and form opinions.

You pour massive energy into creating beautiful, data-rich resources for your campaigns. It’s heartbreaking when those tools do not reach the families and policymakers who need them most.

So… let’s fix that, shall we?

Mobilize your besties + win campaigns

Mobilize your besties + win campaigns

Too often, we overlook the people who already know us, love us, and can help us accomplish our goals.

It takes an intentional plan to mobilize these champions. As always, we’ve got you.

We’ve included your step-by-step guide for activating your champions at every phase of your campaign below!

Boost your team morale

Boost your team morale

Your team is (understandably) dragging.

You can feel them losing sight of your “why” amidst the chaos and changing priorities.

Team meetings are downbeat and everything feels… hard.

You’re not alone. We’re hearing it from organizations just like yours across the country.

That’s why we designed a special menu of 2026 trainings that naturally foster team connection and positivity.

The ultimate success metric is that your team walks away feeling energized, hopeful, and clear on their priorities and vital role in the organization’s future.

Here are a few options for a morale-boosting team training. (Psst – don’t worry, if these don’t feel quite right for your particular team, we can design a custom training just for you.)

Nonprofit Communications, Hiring and People, About Forthright, School District MarketingKatie Test DavisFebruary 27, 2026team training, morale, burnout, nonprofit leadership, team-culture, burnout-prevention, staff-training, morale-boosters, nonprofit-leadership, team-building, productivity, professional-development

How to message test without breaking the bank

How to message test without breaking the bank

You’ve heard me say it a million times: at Forthright, data is queen .

Now in an ideal world, you’d have thousands to invest in focus groups, interviews and robust surveys to help you answer our question. But for most child and family focused nonprofits, that’s simply not possible.

The good news? You don’t need a five-figure budget to get high-quality feedback. You can move away from guesswork by using the experts you already know: your community.

Here are three ideas that won’t break the bank!

Writing and Messaging, Nonprofit Communications, Communications Campaigns, School District MarketingNiki JuhaszFebruary 27, 2026cheap message testing, how to message test, message testing for nonprofits, social media ads for nonprofits, how to write good messaging, ensuring my messaging is equitable, ensuring my audience likes my messaging

After 5+ rebrands, I’ve noticed a pattern…

In the same way you wouldn't wear pajamas to a keynote speech, an outdated brand can undermine your organization’s credibility. As we enter the new year, it’s time to ensure your visuals – from fonts and colors to photography – match the heart of your mission.

In this post, you’ll learn about:

The Trust Gap: Why outdated visuals make stakeholders wary of your message.
The Brand Audit: 7 critical questions to determine if you need a refresh.
Refresh vs. Rebrand: How to decide between a full visual overhaul (like our work with Positive Childhood Alliance NC) or high-impact small updates.
45-Minute Team Checklist: A step-by-step guide for your next communications meeting to audit your materials and prioritize updates for 2026.

Brand/Materials Creation, Nonprofit Communications, School District MarketingKatie Test DavisJanuary 21, 2026brand refresh, visual identity, nonprofit marketing, brand audit, communications strategy, rebranding tips, graphic design for nonprofits, how to know if your brand is outdated, brand refresh vs rebranding, building trust through visual storytelling, nonprofit brand consistency guide, 2026 visual branding trends, how to conduct a brand audit for your team, impact of professional photography on brand trust

*Don't* launch that big announcement

*Don't* launch that big announcement

I’ve heard it so often throughout my career: an organization that works with children and families is getting ready to launch a big initiative “just in time for Back to School!”

Eek.

Whenever we’re working on big announcement launches for clients — be it a new advocacy campaign, a report or fresh research — we specifically avoid launching during the last few weeks of August and early September.

Why?

Because the already-crowded media market gets so much worse for our clients during back-to-school season. Every organization and their brother, mother and sister is putting out news, striving to get that front-page placement or attention for their work.

School District Marketing, Nonprofit Communications, Hiring and PeopleKatie Test DavisJanuary 20, 2026webite redesign, How to know it’s time to refresh your website, Signs its time to redo your website, Redevelop website, Changing mission on website, Updating website look and feel

How to get people to remember your message

How to get people to remember your message

We all have our favorite stats. (Okay, maybe not all of us. But at Forthright, we have our favorite stats. We’re nerds.) One of mine is about what it takes for people to REALLY remember your message. It’s called the Marketing Rule of Seven, and it’s pretty simple.

A person has to see or hear a message about seven times before it starts to resonate. Add to this number (say… 14 times) if your topic is particularly tricky, such as infant mental health or adolescent brain development.

Today, we’re including tips to make sharing that same, powerful message easy.

Brand/Materials Creation, Digital and Social Media, Communications Campaigns, Writing and Messaging, School District Marketing, Nonprofit CommunicationsNiki JuhaszJanuary 20, 2026how to save nonprofit team time, save foundation team time, how to make communications easier, creating nonprofit materials, creating foundation materials, Marketing Rule of Seven

How to write an effective press release

How to write an effective press release

Press releases are still a fast and easy way to get your news out to lots of media outlets at once.

They're perfect for announcing simple, factual news, especially when you're short on time and can't send individual pitches.

Here are a few tips and tricks to create an effective press release in 2025 (no fax machine needed):

Nonprofit Communications, Media Relations, School District MarketingKatie Test DavisOctober 6, 2025

How to avoid the dreaded "scramble" 🍳

How to avoid the dreaded "scramble" 🍳

It’s a familiar feeling. You know the one…

“OOPS! We completely forgot. It’s time to do that project again.”

It sounds like…

“Oops – we totally forgot to start on the Annual Report and now we need to run a sprint to meet the big donor meeting deadline.”

“Oops – we forgot to do our yearly update of the website, and now an important policy partner is reviewing last year’s outdated information.”

It’s the WORST! I hate it when an annual project that you KNOW (gosh darn it!) happens every year sneaks up on you, and you’re left scrambling to get it done.

So let’s make a pact – eh? This year will be the last year that projects sneak up on you from behind and spook you into action. Here’s how to prevent the dreaded scramble.

Ensure reporters attend your next event

Ensure reporters attend your next event

So you’re going to host an event. And…you think it’d be great if local reporters were there.

Time for a media advisory!

Media advisories are essentially a heads-up to journalists about an upcoming event, such as a media briefing or a conference presentation. (Not to be confused with a press release – media alerts are much more basic.)

Today, we’ll break down when to use them, share some tips and even show you a (Harry Potter-themed) sample…

Media Relations, Nonprofit Communications, School District MarketingNiki JuhaszAugust 7, 2025nonprofit grant proposals, media alerts, media advisories, media relations, how to write a media advisory, example media advisory, when to send media advisory, media alert example, media advisory tips, media advisory best practices, event planning, how to get journalists to attend your next event

Is it time to redesign your website?

Is it time to redesign your website?

The average lifespan of a website is 2 years and 7 months, according to OrbitMedia.

Which probably makes you wonder…When was the last time you updated your organization’s website?

My guess is that it’s been longer than 2 years.

Is it time for a website update or redesign? Maybe.

Here’s how to tell.

School District Marketing, Nonprofit Communications, Hiring and PeopleKatie Test DavisJuly 11, 2025webite redesign, How to know it’s time to refresh your website, Signs its time to redo your website, Redevelop website, Changing mission on website, Updating website look and feel

The lawn sign that changed my life

The lawn sign that changed my life

It’s finally – FINALLY starting to warm up. (Your girl is not meant for the winter.) That means some days, I’ll take a lunch run to enjoy the sunshine.

I was on one of these runs last week, bored and thinking about needing to mix up my exercise routine. And then I passed a lawn sign. It simply said:

Free Outdoor Workout Classes

And then included a QR code.

While I’ve been a TAD dramatic saying it changed my life, this is brilliant marketing.

Here’s why:

Nonprofit Communications, School District Marketing, Brand/Materials Creation, Digital and Social Media, Communications Campaigns, Writing and MessagingNiki JuhaszMay 20, 2025billboard best practices, lawn sign best practices, smart marketing for nonprofits, smart marketing for associations, smart marketing for foundations, how to catch my audience's attention

Why you should share the happy

Why you should share the happy

Data shows that a little happy goes a long way, from building stronger teams to reducing negative feelings overall. Today, we’re sharing how we share the happy at Forthright, along with research-backed tips for how you can share the happy within your own organization!

Nonprofit Communications, About Forthright, School District MarketingNiki JuhaszApril 21, 2025how to build a happier team, compassion fatigue, how to recognize your staff, nonprofit teams, foundation teams, association teams, nonprofit management, foundation management, association management, nonprofit best practices

Our best project management tips

Our best project management tips

You worked so hard on that campaign. It’s so, so close to finished…and then someone comes in and blows it all up. 💥

We’ve all been there. But it doesn’t have to be that way. You CAN have smooth processes and easy review rounds. We promise a brighter future exists.

Today, we’re sharing three tips – tactics we use with our own clients – to make sure your projects have a clear process and a clean launch.

How do we do it? Let’s dive into our special sauce.

Nonprofit Communications, Brand/Materials Creation, Communications Campaigns, School District MarketingNiki JuhaszMarch 19, 2025smart nonprofit project management, how to get design feedback, how to plan a nonprofit project, smart foundation project management, smart association project management, association communications, foundation communications

4 simple ways to make your communications more accessible

4 simple ways to make your communications more accessible

Making your content accessible to people with hearing or visual impairments has never been easier, especially if you think about accessibility at the beginning of a project. Here are four things to start doing today! Bonus: they don’t cost you a penny.

Accessibility, School District Marketing, Nonprofit CommunicationsKatie Test DavisJanuary 23, 2025accessibility, how to write alt text, writing alt text for nonprofit websites, when to write alt text, how to make sure my communications are accessible, accessible communications, equitable communications

Hire the best person for your role

Hire the best person for your role

Many of you are gearing up to make a communications hire in 2025. We’re so excited for all the growth to come!

But in the meantime, hiring and onboarding can be tough. Finding the right fit happens on a lot of different levels. Values. Skills. Culture. Approach. We have a ton of tips in our new (free) hiring guide PDF to help you do this right.

Today, let’s break down how to find the right human for your open communications role.

School District Marketing, Nonprofit Communications, Hiring and PeopleKatie Test DavisJanuary 15, 2025storytelling, how to hire communicators, hiring, determine the job description, write job descriptions, hire the right person

How to set up "media alerts"

How to set up "media alerts"

We’re a few days into 2025, and the news…well, it’s already news-ing. And if I had to guess, you need an easy way to keep up with all of it!

That’s why we’re sharing our recommendations for the best media monitoring tools to use, along with a step-by-step guide for getting started.

Media Relations, School District Marketing, Nonprofit CommunicationsNiki JuhaszJanuary 7, 2025Reaching families without internet access, how to set up media alerts, how to monitor the media, media monitoring for nonprofits, media monitoring for public school districts, media monitoring for foundations, how to set up news alerts, what news alerts sites to use, best news alert sites

Your work is important.

Your work is important.

As child and family advocates, I understand what we’re up against in 2025 (and beyond) and… I’m feeling energized.

The challenges ahead of us are communications challenges, and at Forthright, we’re poised to meet the moment.

Here’s what I see as the work ahead:

School District Marketing, Nonprofit Communications, Most Popular, Communications Campaigns, About ForthrightKatie Test DavisDecember 16, 2024storytelling, community listening, strategic communications, motivation for communicators, how to communicate in 2025, communications as an act of love

How to help overwhelmed parents

How to help overwhelmed parents

Parents and caregivers need our help.

I’ve led work that supports parents and caregivers for two decades.

I’ve also been a parent for nearly 13 years.

And over time, I’ve noticed a growing trend. Parents and caregivers are overworked, overstressed and overwhelmed – and it’s impacting their health.

As communicators and leaders, there are three easy guidelines you can follow to ensure your messages break through the noise to reach this overwhelmed (but critical!) audience.