Marketing and Communications Archives - Spokes

Effectively Communicating Impact

March 19, 2026 by Jordan Jerkovich

In an increasingly competitive grants landscape, we’ve been thinking a lot about how nonprofits can effectively communicate their impact. In fact, we’re excited to collaborate with Carsel Consulting Group to offer an upcoming workshop, Using Data to Strengthen Your Story for Funders, on May 20—save the date!

We’ve also been following Blue Avocado, where they recently polled readers on how they communicate impact. Responses ranged from data dashboards and formal reports to storytelling that centers real experiences.

How language shapes the way we think

November 26, 2024 by Michael Simkins

There are about 7,000 languages spoken around the world — and they all have different sounds, vocabularies and structures. But do they shape the way we think? In this fascinating TED Talk, cognitive scientist Lera Boroditsky shares examples of language — from an Aboriginal community in Australia that uses cardinal directions instead of left and right to the multiple words for blue in Russian — that suggest the answer is a resounding yes. It’s just 14 minutes long and worth every minute! Click the photo to view at TED.

How accessible is your website?

July 26, 2024 by Michael Simkins

We’re all aware of the need for public spaces to be accessible and of the many accommodations that help to make them more so. But what about our websites? They are one of our most powerful communication tools. Our websites need to be accessible too.

Here are four things you can do to increase the accessibility of your website:

Use accessible website templates

Why: Many website builders (like WordPress, Wix, or Squarespace) offer templates that are designed with accessibility in mind.
How: Choose templates labeled as accessible or compliant with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). These templates often include built-in features like proper heading structures, color contrast, and keyboard navigation.

Add alt text to images

Why: Alt text provides descriptions of images for people using screen readers, making visual content accessible to those with visual impairments.
How: Ensure that every image on the website has descriptive and relevant alt text. This can be done manually through the website’s content management system (CMS).

Ensure text is readable

Why: Clear and readable text is essential for users with visual impairments or cognitive disabilities.
How: Use high contrast between text and background colors, choose readable fonts, and maintain a minimum font size of 14-16 pixels. Avoid using images of text whenever possible.

Implement keyboard navigation

Why: Some users rely on keyboards rather than a mouse to navigate websites.
How: Test the website to ensure that all interactive elements (like links, buttons, and form fields) can be accessed and used via keyboard alone. This can often be done through the tab key. Ensure the focus indicator is visible when navigating through elements.

For more information:

Introduction to Web Accessibility
How to Make Your WordPress Website Accessible – a short video, and the suggestions apply regardless of whether or not you use WordPress.

Who Can I Add to Our Email List?

March 11, 2024 by Michael Simkins

If someone gives me their email, may we add them to our email list? Or if someone has their email on their public website, may we subscribe that address?

We all want to build our contact lists to be sure we get the word out about the great work our nonprofits are doing and how people can be involved. That said, there are legal requirements you need to know and follow.

First, it is simply a best practice, and often legally necessary, to get permission from people before adding them to your list. If you’re having a conversation with someone, ask, “May I add you to our email list?” Odds are, they will say yes. If they say no, you probably wouldn’t want them on your list anyway. The main point is don’t assume because the person happened to share their email with you for some purpose that it’s OK to subscribe them to your list.

What about those email addresses you find on an organization’s website? Clearly, the emails are there for use by the public to communicate with the organization, but that doesn’t give you permission to subscribe them to your email list. You might, however, send them a single email that explains why you think they might want to receive your emails, and include a link for them to subscribe themselves.

Even when you have permission to include a person’s email in your list, be sure each of your marketing emails (e.g. your newsletter, announcements or programs or fundraisers, etc.) includes a link for people to opt out of receiving future emails.

Resources for further information:

Beyond the Thank You Letter

October 16, 2022 by Michael Simkins

We all have some way of thanking our donors formally for gifts to our organizations. It might be an email or a postal letter. But then what? Are you done? Not if you want that donor to make the next gift.

Gillian Cole-Andrews recently shared ideas for making an annual calendar for continuing to engage your donors.

January. No one wants to give money in January. Send a “pre-tax letter” that thanks the donor for gifts made during the year, with a total figure of what was given.
February. This is the “lybunt” and “sybunt” month. That means you will write to your donors who gave to you last year but not this year, and those who gave to you some year but not this year. Write and thank them.
March. It’s “tour month.” Find a way to bring significant donors to see what you do, whatever it is.
April. Event month. Well, according to your organization’s calendar it might be a different month, but take advantage of whatever annual event you do to engage your donors in ways that reinforce their understanding of your mission and your work. If you have a big party, make it mean something in terms of what you do.
May. This can be your “annual appeal” in contrast to your end-of-year appeal.
June, July , August. Can you celebrate an anniversary? Of your organization’s existence? Of a program?
October. Send your impact report. Remind people that you exist and what you do and accomplish.
November. Tie a solicitation to something happening this month. Thanksgiving? Susan B. Anthony? Military Family Month?
December. This is your end-of-year annual appeal.

Certainly you can juggle some of these around or substitute different activities. The point is to create a annual plan for yourself to make donor appreciation and cultivation manageable.

For further reading: