Leadership Lessons: 8 Years of Nonprofit Communications (Forthright’s Anniversary)
Written by Katie Test davis
what’s in the Blog
Growth takes patience: As Forthright celebrates our eighth anniversary, we reflect on how building a strong communications agency is a lot like making pottery — both require focus, time, and a willingness to sit through the fire.
Custom-fit over cookie-cutter: Our team's evolution means moving beyond the basics to craft highly personalized, people-first solutions, much like throwing a unique mug for each specific team member.
What this means for you: We are bringing this tailored approach to our partners this year through completely transparent project roadmaps, data-backed strategies, and radical flexibility when your plans change.
It’s the mid-90s, and I’m in school. I’m wearing a pink scrunchie and glitter jelly sandals, my Tamagotchi keychain is hanging off my L.L. Bean backpack. I’m in class, up to my elbows in clay.
Fast-forward.
It’s the early-2020s, and I’m a CEO. I’m wearing leggings and sneakers, my Apple watch and wedding rings sitting on my nightstand at home. I’m in class, up to my elbows in clay.
Now fast-forward one more time.
It’s 2026 and I’m wearing a party hat – because today, Forthright officially turns eight years old.
When we learned that the traditional present for an eighth anniversary is pottery, it felt perfect – and it got me thinking about all the connections between my work as a leader and my work as a potter.
Growing in ceramics and business
Much like ceramics, building Forthright has taken patience, focus and resilience.
Over the past eight years, I’ve pushed myself and our team. We’ve grown smarter, better and have taken on bigger projects with ease. Much like the 9-pound serving bowl I finally conquered a few months ago, growth isn’t always easy, but it’s rewarding.
I’m sure there’s something cheesy in there about surviving the fire, too. Clay only becomes durable pottery after surviving the extreme heat of the kiln. A business like mine builds true resilience by navigating challenges over time. (Since you, too, have faced (and conquered!) those hard times right alongside us as child advocates and leaders, you know just what that fire feels like.)
I keep a scratchpad for ideas for pottery in an app on my phone, just like I keep a scratchpad of ideas for Forthright. So much of communications work is creative – we love inventing something beautiful with our partners that will stand the test of time.
Tangible success
I know how far I’ve come – both as a potter and as a Founder – because for both, the proof is so tangible.
Since 2021, I have made a Forthright mug to gift to my colleagues. It started out as a challenge, attempting to make a set of something that looked somewhat cohesive.
These days, I’m able to customize them to the teammate who is receiving them. For example, Niki gets a smaller mug for her afternoon hot water with lemon, and Zoe, our new-ish Mom, gets the biggest mug I can reasonably ship for all the coffee she needs to keep up with her toddler.
Honestly, the evolution of these mugs mirrors how we’ve grown as a firm. Back in the day, I was just trying to make sure our glaze was consistent. Now, we’re focused on the specialized details that make our partnerships click.
It’s all about that People First value we hold so dear. Whether I’m behind the pottery wheel or sitting down for an account kickoff, my goal is the same: to listen, to understand the "why," and to deliver something high-quality that actually works for you.
What’s ahead
We’ve learned that clarity is kindness – whether that's being upfront about our project roadmaps or making sure a mug handle is the right size.
How we’re bringing that "custom fit" to our work this year:
Tailored Roadmaps: We’ve overhauled our kickoff process to ensure every client starts with total transparency.
Research-Backed Solutions: We use current data to make sure our recommendations actually move the needle for kids and families.
Radical Flexibility: When your needs shift mid-flight, we’re taking the initiative to pivot our plans out loud.
I’m so grateful to have a community of leaders to grow alongside. Thanks for being part of the journey and for trusting us with the work that matters most.
P.S. Curious about the full range of what we can mold for your organization? Check out our services overview here.
About the Author
Katie Test Davis is the Founder of Forthright Advising, a national communications firm dedicated exclusively to organizations that love kids. With nearly 20 years of experience in mission-driven public relations, Katie pairs data with deep empathy to help nonprofits, foundations, and school districts build real trust with their communities. Having successfully grown her own agency over the last eight years – while also spending her free time up to her elbows in clay – she brings genuine, lived experience to the beautiful, challenging work of building resilient teams and crafting custom-fit communications that truly matter.
