You’re doing work that matters. I help you communicate that work with clarity, confidence, and a unified voice so your mission reaches the people who need to hear it.
Who I Help
I work with people and organizations who are building a better world and need the words to match their impact.
My clients include:
• Non-profits and NGOs • Foundations, grant-makers, and advocacy groups • Social enterprises and purpose-led businesses • Community organisations and grassroots movements • Leaders and founders who want to communicate their mission more clearly
If your work is driven by purpose, equity, justice, or positive change, you’re in the right place.
Problems I Solve
You know why your work matters. But saying it simply and powerfully can be the hardest part.
I help you overcome common challenges like:
• Struggling to explain what you do in a way people instantly understand • A mission or vision that feels meaningful but hard to articulate • Messaging that’s inconsistent across teams, partners, and platforms • Difficulty communicating impact to donors, funders, or the public • Content that feels scattered, reactive, or unclear • Feeling too close to the work to tell the story objectively
I turn complexity into clarity, helping you share your mission in a way that resonates, inspires, and moves people to act.
It’s not enough to save the world — you have to be able to explain why your work matters.
Together, we’ll craft your story of change: the narrative that captures your purpose, your impact, and the heart behind everything you do.
I’ll help you bring clarity to your message and give you the tools to communicate it consistently — whether you’re speaking to donors, partners, the public, or your own team.
Because when your story is strong, your mission becomes impossible to ignore.
The women of the #MeToo movement are seizing their moment
A year after sparking the #MeToo movement by publicly accusing Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein of sexual harassment, actress Mira Sorvino is opening up about what’s next for her: eradicating sexual misconduct in the workplace.
“We are going to change this culture brick by brick,” she told “Morning Joe” co-host Mika Brzezinski at the Know Your Value conference in San Francisco on Saturday. “Our children are not going to grow up into this same rape culture that we did. We are fighting it and we are going to end it,” Sorvino added.
“It’s a very serious decision,” Harris told “Morning Joe” co-host Mika Brzezinski during an onstage conversation at the Know Your Value conference in San Francisco. “Over the holiday, I will make that decision with my family.” Harris, whose husband joined her in the audience, said she is keenly aware of the challenges a barrier-breaking campaign will entail. “Let’s be honest. It’s going to be ugly,” Harris said. “When you break things, it is painful. And you get cut. And you bleed.”
When I talk to colleagues in nonprofits, one of their top critiques about the sector is inevitably that we all feel like we run from meeting to meeting all day long. It’s the way many nonprofit teams collaborate — gathering around a conference table to reach consensus, share progress, and plan new strategies. Given that marcom folks are involved in almost every aspect of an organization’s work and operations, that makes meeting overload even worse for our teams and ourselves.
Six steps toward building a great nonprofit marcom team
I’ve worked on all kinds of nonprofit marketing and communications teams during my career, from a tiny staff of two to a 16-person communications crew spread across an entire floor. No matter how big or how small, the best nonprofit communications teams all shared the same commitment and similar skill sets.
You don’t get that kind of team by accident. It takes careful consideration and planning to find the people you need to serve the organization you already are …and the one you’re hoping to become. Here are some things to consider and questions to ask as you build the ideal marketing and communications team at your nonprofit.
Remembering how to smile: Feeding souls, one portrait at a time
Making someone beautiful for a moment, helping them see themselves through the eye of a camera, doesn’t give anyone the down payment on a new apartment, or erase years of abuse, or take away alcohol or drug addiction.
Before we started taking portraits that day, the development director for the organization we were serving talked about how their staff could provide a blanket for someone who needed it, or shelter, or food. “But what you are doing here,” he said, “is feeding their souls.”
Editorial Shorthand Fails Our Debates on Public Health
The word “ban” is a loaded one, virtually guaranteed to inflame readers’ passions on an issue. By defaulting to shorthand descriptions of policies designed to make people healthier, journalists and their editors help to shape public opinion. If articles like those cited above (and the hundreds of others just like them) used more accurate and nuanced language, it’s likely readers would consider these measures in a more balanced, thoughtful way.
How Can Philanthropy Advance Martin Luther King’s Goals? 13 Leaders Weigh In
Philanthropy is built on capitalism, and that’s what keeps it alive. In 2017, foundations awarded nearly $67 billion, a 6 percent increase from 2016. Those dollars came from profits earned decades ago, and endowments grow because of investments— those endowments themselves directly benefiting from today’s capitalism. If we don’t consider the impact of racism and inequity in the very communities we serve, then those grants can perpetuate the system that oppresses people of color, rather than providing them the support necessary to reach economic parity.
When people of all identities and backgrounds work together to build AI systems, the results better reflect society at large. Diverse perspectives yield more innovative, human-centered, and ethical products and systems.
Current and Former AnitaB.org CEOs Chat About the Future
“One, it’s about the women. The organization is about creating a place where they can thrive. The second is that we’re in this together. And the third is that you are part of a larger ecosystem, and it is together that we can, and will, change the world.”
“As someone dedicated to supporting the work of those devoted to the nonprofit path, Genie is extraordinary: she understands the nonprofit world, she crafts meaningful language, and she sees what is essential and make it shine. I always knew what I did every day mattered, but I didn’t know how to tell my story to others until Genie brought invaluable insight to my work. Genie is patient and brilliant, a combination that makes magic for those with whom she works. And she’s incredibly fun to boot. I recommend Genie whenever I can.”
Julia Sparenberg, Marketing and Communications Manager
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River City Drumbeat, Miami FL and San Francisco CA
Shaping Our Social Media Voice
“Genie was instrumental in shaping the social media voice and content strategy for our independent film as we pivoted from the film festival circuit to virtual outreach during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was a delight to work with her and very helpful for us and our film team.
Marlon Johnson and Anne Flatté, Directors
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AI4ALL, Oakland, CA
Distilling Our Impact with Clarity
“Genie was incredibly skilled at distilling our impact and work into a meaningful and flexible messaging framework that can grow with our organization. Her deep knowledge of nonprofits/mission-driven organizations and her strategic approach were reflected in both the work she produced and the process. Through the process, Genie communicated proactively and was always willing to answer questions, incorporate feedback, or discuss new approaches to the work to fit with our schedule, resources, and needs. It was truly a pleasure working with Genie!”
Tess Posner, CEO
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Upwork, Santa Clara, CA
Distilling Our Impact with Clarity
“Even though we had just met, Genie captured my voice and story beautifully for a speech we worked on together. I’m grateful for her help and support, and recommend her work.”
Zoë Harte, Chief People Officer
About Me
I’m Genie, a communications strategist and storyteller for people and organisations making a difference.
I believe that the world doesn’t just need change — it needs to understand that change. Too often, incredible work goes unnoticed because the story behind it isn’t clear. I help mission-driven leaders and teams craft messaging that’s powerful, consistent, and impossible to ignore.
Whether it’s shaping your brand story, guiding your messaging, or giving your team the tools to speak with one voice, my approach is always collaborative, practical, and rooted in the impact you’re making.
Let’s create messaging that captures your mission, inspires your audience, and amplifies your impact. Together, we’ll make your work impossible to overlook.
GET IN TOUCH
Got questions or plans? Grab a slot, and we’ll tackle them together.
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