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How to create the perfect communications toolkit

How to create the perfect communications toolkit

When we get fellow advocates, board members, families, business leaders, faith leaders, and youth themselves involved in a cause, we’re unstoppable. But our partners and fellow advocates are BUSY. Like...eat some guac, chips and an apple for dinner and call it a well-balanced meal kind of busy. (It's me. I'm fellow advocates).

That's why to get partners involved, we need to make group advocacy easy. That’s where communications toolkits come into play.

Here are some questions and tips to get you started.

Brand/Materials Creation, Writing and Messaging, Media Relations, Storytelling, Nonprofit Communications, Communications CampaignsNiki JuhaszJanuary 20, 2026nonprofit grant proposals, grant proposal best practices, communications in grant proposals, nonprofit communications, nonprofit grant writing, how to write a nonprofit grant proposal

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.

The key to the Marketing Rule of Seven is twofold:

Using the same or similar message to build understanding, interest and buy-in
Repetition, repetition, repetition

You start with your core messaging. You make sure *everyone* in your organization is using it. And then you use it everywhere, over and over. Not only does this save your team time and effort, it helps your audience remember your message, too!

So what does this look like? We’re glad you asked! Here’s just one example of it in action.

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

The real secret to coalition success

The real secret to coalition success

We’ve all felt that magic moment in a coalition meeting. That instant when two dozen different perspectives click into place behind a brilliant idea. We build coalitions for this very reason – to make change happen that can’t happen when we work in isolation.

I’ve helped manage coalitions, led task forces and been just a quiet participant, so I've also seen the flip side of that magic: the drain of 50 reply-all email chains about scheduling, meetings that drag, alignment that never quite crystallizes.

It’s no wonder this friction saps coalition members’ energy and stalls progress. Coalitions are often powered by passionate people squeezing this work in on top of demanding jobs.

This brings me to the real secret of coalition building. A coalition is only as effective as its internal communications. How we communicate *internally* creates the trust and alignment needed to win *externally.*

Writing and Messaging, Communications Campaigns, Nonprofit CommunicationsKatie Test DavisNovember 17, 2025internal communications, coalition communications, nonprofit coalition, communication strategy, meeting facilitation, email strategies, nonprofit leadership

How to edit AI to sound like you

Something felt off… I was reading the latest newsletter from a health group I’ve admired for years. While I’ve always felt connected to the leader whose expert voice I trust, this time, her voice was gone.

The warmth and personality were replaced by sentences that felt a little too perfect, a little… familiar. It was the unmistakable voice of careless AI.

That icky feeling was a reminder: When our writing sounds like it could have been written by anyone, our audiences lose connection.

By blindly accepting AI-created drafts, we risk creating "workslop," or low-quality, generic content that does more than just waste time. It leads to a boring, indistinguishable voice that erodes the trust you've worked so hard to build.

Listen, I’m obsessed with AI. It’s a magical assistant that can make our work smarter. (For me, the excitement is in the everyday partnership. Summarize things! Tell me I’m wrong! Make my project plan more flexible!)

✨ But when it comes to content, it’s humans who have that good, good sparkle. ✨

Think of it this way: if any organization could say it that way, then you shouldn't say it all.

We dare you to say less

We dare you to say less

Starting my career in policy, I loved the long and winding wonky road. I believed more detail meant more credibility, and my early training taught me to love a 10-dollar word instead of a perfectly perfect 10-cent word. Our most important job, especially in 2025, is to be generous with our audience's time. That means doing the hard work of making our message simple. Here’s how to make it happen.

Digital and Social Media, Brand/Materials Creation, Writing and Messaging, Media Relations, Storytelling, Communications Campaigns, Nonprofit CommunicationsKatie Test DavisOctober 15, 2025nonprofit communications, advocacy, clear messaging, jargon, storytelling, call to action, strategic communications, simple writing, core messages, nonprofit leadership

Scaling a strong, consistent brand message

You are ambitious.

You want everyone to know your organization – you want the front page of the paper, the brightest billboard in Times Square, every celebrity endorsement.

You need to ensure you have a strong, consistent brand message. Yet you’re a small nonprofit., so (of course) you’ve got caviar dreams on a tuna fish budget.

You know what we say to that? Keep dreaming big.

Here’s our guide to making a big brand splash with a small team.

Brand/Materials Creation, Writing and Messaging, Media Relations, Communications Campaigns, Nonprofit CommunicationsKatie Test DavisOctober 6, 2025nonprofit marketing, branding, brand consistency, core messages, communications strategy, spokesperson training, marketing on a budget, public relations, nonprofit communications, small business branding, brand messaging, storytelling

🤖 Is AI helping supporters find your org?

🤖 Is AI helping supporters find your org?

Is it just us or is the conversation about AI… a lot?

Yes, AI is quickly changing the way supporters and advocates connect with your mission. Today, we’re walking you through what this shift means and what you can do about it.

Communications Campaigns, Nonprofit Communications, Writing and MessagingKatie Test DavisAugust 21, 2025AI for nonprofits, ChatGPT, AI optimization, mission-driven messaging, nonprofit communications, foundation communications

KAK Orlando Conference Recap

KAK Orlando Conference Recap

The Forthright team just got back from sunny Orlando, Florida, for the annual Krimes Against Kids conference.

It’s a powerful event that brings together everyone from law enforcement and child protective services to survivor advocates.

Honestly, being in a room with so many people dedicated to protecting children was just incredible. As a firm that only works with organizations that help kids and families, we left feeling totally inspired.

Niki and I even had the chance to present on a topic we're incredibly passionate about: Reaching Families Without Internet Access.

In a world that’s so online, it’s crucial to remember that not everyone has the same level of connectivity.

Digital and Social Media, Writing and Messaging, Storytelling, Nonprofit Communications, About ForthrightKatie Test DavisAugust 21, 2025Krimes Against Kids, Florida, Florida communications firm, Florida public relations firm, Florida child advocacy, Communications for Florida advocates, Nonprofit marketing, Children's advocacy centers, Social media for nonprofits, Community outreach, Conference recap, Digital divide

How to fund comms through grants

How to fund comms through grants

You’re working on that big grant proposal. I’m talking hours of research, planning and writing to craft that perfect pitch. But before you send it, wait! Did you remember to budget for actually telling people about the great work you’ll do if you win the funding?

Today, I’m sharing why you should include communications in your grant proposal.

Brand/Materials Creation, Writing and Messaging, Media Relations, Storytelling, Nonprofit Communications, Communications CampaignsNiki JuhaszJune 26, 2025nonprofit grant proposals, grant proposal best practices, communications in grant proposals, nonprofit communications, nonprofit grant writing, how to write a nonprofit grant proposal

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

How to find your trusted messengers

How to find your trusted messengers

In times of mistrust, it’s time to call in the reinforcements and boost your trusted messenger game.

Messengers are the people who influence your target audiences. They can support your work in a variety of ways – from sharing your posts on social media, to posting about your programs on their neighborhood listservs to sponsoring your programs.

Trusted messengers are people, or groups of people, your audiences are most likely to listen to. We’re sharing more strategies to harness their power in this blog.

Brand/Materials Creation, Most Popular, Writing and Messaging, Communications CampaignsEmily SwartzlanderApril 16, 2025trust, messengers, trusted messengers, messaging, audience research, core messaging, audiences, know your audience, finding the right messenger, identifying the best messenger

Why your people are stuck + how to fix it

Why your people are stuck + how to fix it

People are ready to fight back. They are ready to help. They are ready to "make good trouble."

Your audiences are looking for someone to tell them what to do.

If you’re a nonprofit or association leader, the person they are looking to is YOU. 🫵We’re sharing tips for how to do empower them today.

Most Popular, Brand/Materials Creation, Writing and Messaging, Communications Campaigns, Nonprofit Communications, About ForthrightKatie Test DavisApril 7, 2025flooding the zone, overwhelming your audiences, freeze mode, messaging clearly, simplify your messaging, building clarity in messaging, single ask messaging

Unlock stronger coalition comms with a unified brand

A few weeks ago, I wrote about how coalitions can improve advocacy efforts by aligning around core messages and creating easy-to-use resources to better reach your audiences.

Today, I want to talk about the next step in successfully communicating about your coalition: creating a coalition brand.

Most Popular, Brand/Materials Creation, Writing and Messaging, Communications Campaigns, Nonprofit Communications, About ForthrightKatie Test DavisApril 4, 2025brands, branding for advocates, coalitions, coalition comms, advocacy, partnership, how to brand, branding coalitions, coalition branding best practices

Help People Donate Anonymously

Help People Donate Anonymously

I’ll say it – things are pretty 🍌 bananapants 👖right now.

That means we have to adjust how we work and what we share to meet the moment.

That’s why today, we’re talking about a new challenge we’re seeing under the current administration – along with your specific next steps to adjust.

Nonprofit Communications, Writing and MessagingNiki JuhaszMarch 14, 2025donor trends, how to attract donors, new nonprofit trends, how to communicate with donors, 2025 donor relations data, nonprofit communications best practices

Calling coalitions: 3 steps to advocate effectively

Calling coalitions: 3 steps to advocate effectively

Coalitions have the power to create real, lasting change for children and families. And in times of uncertainty (like – you know – right now), coalitions can be particularly powerful.

But to create successful advocacy campaigns, coalitions need thoughtful, data-backed communications that work for all partners involved. On top of that, coalition leaders must ensure your work together is aligned so audiences can understand your vision and know how to take action and support your efforts.

Fortunately, coordinating your coalition’s communications work is as easy as 1, 2, 3.

Nonprofit Communications, Writing and Messaging, Brand/Materials Creation, Communications CampaignsEmily SwartzlanderMarch 7, 2025coalitions, advocacy, coalition comms, toolkits, logic model, partnerships, network, advocates

How to message $ cuts with clarity

How to message $ cuts with clarity

You’ve heard the news. We all have.

“There are major cuts coming to nonprofit funding.”

“Funding is being stripped from federal grants.”

“School districts face funding cuts.”

That leads you to the following question: What should you do when you need to talk about funding cuts…even while the news is still unfolding?

As a leader, your role as a communicator is really critical right now.

The heaviness is real. Freezing or waffling could create panic or more confusion.

That’s why today, we are offering three tips to help you communicate clearly about funding cuts.

Nonprofit Communications, Writing and Messaging, Media Relations, About ForthrightZoe Alexis WhitehornFebruary 26, 2025communications leadership, crisis communications, advocacy', internal communications

Get the right eyes on your new report

Get the right eyes on your new report

So you have new data, and you want to share that information with the world!

A report release can be a wonderful way to get eyes on your organization. But, take it from me – as someone who LOVES a good, ole’ fashioned report release – they can be a TON of work.

Before you start putting pen to paper, I want to share a few key questions to ask yourself as you prepare for your own report release.

Digital and Social Media, Brand/Materials Creation, Writing and Messaging, Media Relations, Storytelling, Communications Campaigns, Nonprofit CommunicationsKatie Test DavisFebruary 17, 2025report, report release, report writing for nonprofits, public relations for research reports, data visualization for reports, education research dissemination, nonprofit report release strategy, early childhood policy report, how to engage stakeholders with data, visualizing data in education reports

Avoid reacting 24/7 in a new year of noise

Avoid reacting 24/7 in a new year of noise

Political transitions can feel like drinking from a firehose. Headlines spark fear, social feeds rile people up, and your team looks to leadership wondering: should we say something about this?

Over the next few months, the noise is only going to get louder and louder.

But here's the thing – you can’t sprint against the wind for months or years at a time.

And you definitely can't let each bill proposal or sound bite throw your communications strategy out of whack and put your team on the defensive line.

Here are three tips to prevent your team from living in reaction mode for the next year (or four).

Storytelling, Writing and Messaging, Nonprofit Communications, Digital and Social Media, Communications CampaignsKatie Test DavisJanuary 21, 2025internal communications, strategic planning, message fatigue, social media, narrative clarity

Clarity internally = clarity externally

Clarity internally = clarity externally

Information overload. Unstable social media climate. And if that’s not enough, nonprofit leaders like you have to wade through polarization and disinformation.

Our audiences are dealing with a lot – so it’s more important than ever to clearly describe your work and your vision for the world.

You shouldn't wait until a press release or web redesign to sharpen the language you use everyday to describe your work.

In fact, every day is a great day to make your messaging strategy clearer, and this work starts internally.

Here’s how to build clear communications inside your organization so your message is clear outside your organization.

Storytelling, Writing and Messaging, Nonprofit CommunicationsKatie Test DavisDecember 12, 2024internal communications, building trust in your organization, why trust is important for your organization, internal storytelling, the importance of learning, why internal feedback is important, internal feedback, centering impacted people, narrative clarity, psychological safety

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.