Posts in School District Marketing
After 5+ rebrands, I’ve noticed a pattern…
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In the same way you wouldn't wear pajamas to a keynote speech, an outdated brand can undermine your organization’s credibility.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  • The Trust Gap: Why outdated visuals make stakeholders wary of your message.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.

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Brand/Materials Creation, Nonprofit Communications, School District MarketingKatie Test Davisbrand 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brand audit, communications strategy, rebranding tips, graphic design for nonprofits, how to know if your brand is outdated, brand refresh vs rebranding, building trust through visual storytelling, nonprofit brand consistency guide, 2026 visual branding trends, how to conduct a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. 

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School District Marketing, Nonprofit Communications, Hiring and PeopleKatie Test Daviswebite 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.

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Brand/Materials Creation, Digital and Social Media, Communications Campaigns, Writing and Messaging, School District Marketing, Nonprofit CommunicationsNiki Juhaszhow 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 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. 

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Brand/Materials Creation, Nonprofit Communications, School District MarketingKatie Test Davisannual communications plan, creating a company calendar, mapping your communications activities, communications calendar, nonprofit communications calendar, annual nonprofit communication to dos, getting organized, communications team organization, project management, annual projects, project planning, organization, marketing strategy, communications, nonprofit management, productivity, workflow, time management
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… 

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Media Relations, Nonprofit Communications, School District MarketingNiki Juhasznonprofit 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. 

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School District Marketing, Nonprofit Communications, Hiring and PeopleKatie Test Daviswebite 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: 

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Nonprofit Communications, School District Marketing, Brand/Materials Creation, Digital and Social Media, Communications Campaigns, Writing and MessagingNiki Juhaszbillboard 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!

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Nonprofit Communications, About Forthright, School District MarketingNiki Juhaszhow 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.

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Nonprofit Communications, Brand/Materials Creation, Communications Campaigns, School District MarketingNiki Juhaszsmart 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.

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Accessibility, School District Marketing, Nonprofit CommunicationsKatie Test Davisaccessibility, 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.

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School District Marketing, Nonprofit Communications, Hiring and PeopleKatie Test Davisstorytelling, 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. 

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Media Relations, School District Marketing, Nonprofit CommunicationsNiki JuhaszReaching 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: 

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School District Marketing, Nonprofit Communications, Most Popular, Communications Campaigns, About ForthrightKatie Test Davisstorytelling, 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. 

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Most Popular, Writing and Messaging, Storytelling, Communications Campaigns, Nonprofit Communications, Brand/Materials Creation, Digital and Social Media, School District MarketingForthright Advisingburnout, parents, parent burnout, parent stress, stress, simple messages, parenting, messaging, audits, communicating to overwhelmed audiences, reaching burnt out parents
Onboard your new hire with ease
Onboard your new hire with ease

So you just hired your new communications director (or other communications teammate, we aren’t picky about titles here at Forthright). First, congratulations! I’m so excited you found a great person for your organization.


Now, let’s set them up for success. Onboarding is just as critical as selecting the right human. 

Studies show that solid onboarding is worth its weight in gold. Research shows that effective onboarding can improve employee retention and productivity by 52 percent and 60 percent, respectively. 

Here are the ingredients of an effective onboarding. 

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School District Marketing, Nonprofit Communications, Hiring and PeopleNiki JuhaszEffective onboarding strategies, Onboarding new communications director, Employee onboarding for nonprofits, 30/60/90 day goals for new hires, Strategic communications planning, Nonprofit leadership tips, Building relationships during onboarding, Feedback culture in nonprofits, Onboarding best practices for nonprofits, Nonprofit employee retention strategies
Keep your momentum
Keep your momentum

Are you finding yourself more easily distracted since the election? Feeling a tad foggier? Not retaining much information? Perhaps a tad more irritable? 

Check, check, check and check on my end. 

If you’re distracted, and we’re distracted, then your audiences are ALSO distracted. 

Yet, if you’re like a few of our clients, the work can’t stop now. If you have urgent information to release, or outreach to do, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. 

Here are three communications best practices from our teammates that are more important than EVER as we communicate during times of upheaval, uncertainty and crisis. 

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Nonprofit Communications, School District Marketing, Writing and MessagingNiki Juhaszhow to write simply, how to advocate after Trump's win, nonprofit advocacy during times of uncertainty, communications during elections
Reach *all* parents in your community
Reach *all* parents in your community

Just Google it. I’ll send you the link. Sign up online. 

These days, we assume everyone has internet access at home. But here’s the thing. That’s still not the case. 2024 Pew Research Center data tells us about a fifth of homes in America still don’t have broadband access. 

We’re including tips to reach these families – while celebrating your district – below. 

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School District Marketing, Communications Campaigns, AccessibilityNiki JuhaszReaching families without internet access, Inclusive school communication strategies, How to connect with all families in the district, Marketing school nutrition programs, Direct mail outreach for schools, Inclusive campaigns for school districts, Building brand awareness in school districts
Hire for comms roles with ease
Hire for comms roles with ease

“What are the best interview questions to ask a candidate for your open communications director position?” 

“How do you manage a communications workload when you’ve got someone out on parental leave?” 

“Who do you tell once a communications teammate gives you notice that she’s leaving your organization for a new job?” 

We answer all these questions and more in our new FREE guide to hiring communicators. 


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Nonprofit Communications, School District Marketing, Hiring and People, About ForthrightKatie Test Davisnonprofit communications, education leadership and history, fractional communications director services, interim communications director, hiring communicators, nonprofit hiring, nonprofit marketing roles, interview questions for communicators
How to give "an exclusive" to a reporter
How to give "an exclusive" to a reporter

Today, we’re tackling one of the most elusive and confusing parts of media relations: the exclusive. 

Simply put, an exclusive is when you offer a story to one single reporter, and promise that you won’t share the story with anyone else until after your chosen reporter shares the news first.

Let’s break that down. 

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School District Marketing, Nonprofit Communications, Communications Campaigns, Media RelationsNiki Juhasznonprofit media coverage, news pitching tactics, offering exclusives, reporter relationships, exclusive news tips, pitching journalists, exclusives in pr, media relations, nonprofit storytelling