Through the Noise

Do you know how much is actually going on in your city? Most people walk past some of the most historic and cultural buildings and sites in their city without every really know it. Erica Kritt is the Social Media Assistant for Cultural Tourism DC, and considers herself a specialist at content development. She started her career as a reporter for The Carroll County Times in Westminster, Maryland. A...

What media isn't digital today? Traditional marketing and digital marketing have a huge overlap today. Kat Murti—a digital native and a long-time lover of liberty—is Digital Marketing Manager of the Cato Institute in Washington, D.C., in which capacity she oversees Cato's presence in the online and social media spheres. Prior to joining Cato's Marketing and Communications teams, Kat was employed b...

Giving tablets to kids in schools to help communicate.  Many kids today do not have internet access.  This makes it very difficult for them to communicate with others. Susan Koehler is Executive Director of Hopecam. In two years, Susan has grown Hopecam from helping 25 children each year to 360. Hopecam is a charity that helps kids with cancer stay connected to their friends and classmates.

Pushing the Needle is a new segment where we pair up a nonprofit professional with a vendor or consultant and see what happens! A good fundraiser keeps their donors feeling needed. They keep their donors around with a lot of relationship building and maintenance efforts And, good software can help a fundraiser keep on top of it all. That's why we brought these two together. Heidi is the Director o...

Each year hundreds of thousands of tourists, both international and domestic, arrive in cities all over the world. Many of these tourists opt to stay in hostels not only for the convenience, but more for the experience. There is nothing like exploring a city for the first time while surrounded by others who are doing just that. Netanya Trimboli is the Communications and PR Manager for Hostelling I...

Research and writing on policy issues may not seem like they have applications in the real world. You may hear lots of buzz about different new policies and may see them in action, but what you won't see is the scorecard on how they are doing that can determine their future. Andrew Moylan is executive director and senior fellow for R Street, where he heads coalition efforts, conducts policy analys...

Do you pay with your debit card, credit card, bitcoin, or other electronic method? The answer is most likely yes considering how 70% of retail spending is electronic today. Jason Oxman brings two decades of technology and policy experience to ETA, the global trade association representing more than 500 financial and technology companies in the electronic payments industry. He joined ETA from the C...

Nonprofits are about so much more than just raising money and doing good in the world. They can require a lot of extra attention as well. Here we talk about advancing non profits and increasing their capabilities when they can't focus on the fundraising and board requirements. A leader with more than 15 years of experience in the Metropolitan Washington nonprofit sector, Glen is passionate about a...

Kevin Costner was wrong. If you build it, it will need lots of work. Especially if you are looking to raise money for a good cause. Greg Warner is CEO and Founder of MarketSmart, a revolutionary marketing software and services firm that helps nonprofits raise more money more efficiently. In 2013, Greg coined the phrase "Engagement Fundraising" to encapsulate his breakthrough fundraising formula fo...

People act better when everyone is watching. Someone needs to keep an eye on the government. That may sound crazy but by working with journalists and the media, it is possible. Gabriela Schneider is the Communications Director of the Sunlight Foundation, and is responsible for leading Sunlight's Communications team and external affairs. Gabriela came to Washington, D.C. in the late 1990s determine...

It is one thing to have a non profit that is doing well and making a difference in the world. It is another to know just what that difference is. Results are great but if you don't analyze them you won't know how to move forward. Annette N. Brown is a Deputy Director for the International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie) and heads its Washington office. Prior to joining 3ie, Brown held execu...

If you build it, they don't come. So many great causes today don't know how to raise money online. GlobalGiving is changing that. Kevin Conroy is the Chief Product Officer at GlobalGiving. He manages an amazing team that runs GlobalGiving's technology, marketing, communications, and customer service. He is head-over-heels-in-love with his job. GlobalGiving.org is the world's first global crowdfund...

You may think lots of kids are writing poetry and playing soccar and think how nice it is. But there is more too it then that. These types of programs and others offered by DC Scores are helping kids and building communities. Bethany Rubin Henderson is an award-winning social entrepreneur whose career has spanned the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, including service as a White House Fellow...

Getting into your readers heads can be difficult - especially considering the vast audience of baby boomers and millennials. Learn more about how to write your content (even if its always the same) for your audience Tania Anderson is a senior writer for Bisnow Media, covering technology, associations and nonprofits, and commercial real estate. The DC native's background includes stints at Washingt...

We all know the wonderful organization, Wreaths Across America. Find out more about how they got started and how they spread holiday cheer every year. Born in Concord, NH but moved to Maine in the third grade, so Maine is home. Graduated from Bangor HS and received a BS in Education at the University of Maine Orono. After 7 years of ROTC during high school and college received 2nd Lt Commission in...

  Getting the right information to the right people is an important part of business and marketing. Technology today is helping to make business emails and communications more effective to clients by learning what users might like or need. Noland Chambliss is the Director of External Affairs at Change.org. He manages the company's outreach to strategic communities and influencers, including high p...

  How do you teach play writing? Young Playwrights Theater is teaching just that too students. Learn more about how they are helping bring to the arts to young students today. As the Communications Associate for Young Playwrights' Theater, Jeff Gilliland spends his days promoting events, writing blog posts and designing materials to share the work of YPT and its students with the larger community....

Are you a non profit without a brick and morter office? Learn how an association management company can provide back office support with event planning, program management and more. Carol Montoya, CAE is the principal officer of Potomac Management Resources (PMR), where she is responsible for client service, business development, and human resources. Carol brings her expertise in nonprofit managem...

Sometimes you need someone to help with RFP's. This can be a long and difficult process. That's is where Professional Services Council can help. Stan Soloway is president and CEO of the Professional Services Council. Soloway assumed the presidency in January 2001. PSC has a membership of nearly 380 companies of all sizes, performing services of all kinds for virtually every agency of the governmen...

We had a conversation about how effective is the use of social media and PR for nonprofits. Anne gave us insights into her community engagement efforts, Blake wasn't sure what PR professionals do, and Ernesto pondered how difficult it is to create and manage a nonprofit. One thing we all did agree on is that a nonoprofit is a business and nothing about that is easy.  Anne O'Dell is currently a Can...

This advocacy organization represents women in the world that live in extreme poverty (under a $1.25 a day). Through partnerships and coalitions, they work on Capitol Hill to make sure the U.S. government helps create the conditions for economic opportunity and supporting quality education for all. While their work is focused on policy, they make sure the message is delivered through stories. Laur...

Content management systems can help you to keep control of your site and ward off trolls. Laurence is here with us to teach us about what a content management system can do for a project. Laurence helps organizations develop and implement their Content Management and Information Governance strategies. He has led a wide range of projects including content digitization, Records Management, BPM, and...

We have all attended some fundraising event for charity before in our past.  But have you ever really stopped to think about what those fundraising events were able to accomplish?  Here is a little bit about the good causes behind fundraising. Currently the Director of Development & Organizational Advancement at Cornerstone Montgomery, Heidi is a career development professional who brings an exten...

Diego Torres Coló tells us about the freelancing and independent business opportunities in a tourist town such as Playa del Carmen. We talked about the importance of creating a community of entrepreneurs with the objective of creating a healthier economy and having a better lifestyle. With over 12 years of international experience in different sections of the corporate, tourism and leadership indu...

If you have an idea to help your community but don't want to go through the process of incorporating a charity, there is hope. As Executive Director of United Charitable Programs, Jan does whatever it takes to keep her organization in top condition, to keep up on the latest laws and regulations, to keep her staff and Board happy and humming, and most importantly, to keep pushing for better ways to...