Are your grant proposals telling the right story? @farratrompeter.bsky.social, co-director, & grant writer & fundraising strategist, Dani Faulkner, explore how nonprofits can move away from jargon and extractive storytelling and toward values-aligned, community-centered fundraising. bit.ly/46d7NCA

Is nonprofit communications finally growing up? 🧠🦆 @farratrompeter.bsky.social, co-director, and @kivilm.bsky.social, founder and chief strategy officer of the Nonprofit Marketing Guide, unpack 16 years of trends, where maturity is showing, and what comes next. bit.ly/4aizoUc

Our annual Words to Avoid 2026 edition is here, crowdsourced from all of you and compiled and curated by Nicole Tufts, copywriter, and Ryan Gerhardt, copy director, highlighting overused and harmful phrases and what to say instead to help you communicate w/ more clarity and care. bit.ly/45Epcnn

A fresh identity for a powerful movement. 💙✊🏽 We partnered with Community Voices Heard (@cvhaction.bsky.social) on a nonprofit brand refresh rooted in community voice, equity, and action. 💙 See the case study: bit.ly/3M51B8R

Belonging isn’t about polishing language; it’s about making space. @farratrompeter.bsky.social, co-director, and Sadé Dozan, vice president of advancement at Borealis Philanthropy, unpack narrative strategy, plain language, and how words can build bridges (or barriers). bit.ly/49UiwTm

AI is showing up across nonprofit work, but many teams are still asking where to begin. @farratrompeter.bsky.social, Cheryl Contee, chief innovation ofcr @ BrightWorksAI.com, & Darian Rodriguez Heyman, founder of Helping People Help digs into practical, ethical ways to put AI to work bit.ly/4jCfsQn

Planning season is here—and seats are filling 🦆 Our "Make your marketing plan" series starts Jan 21. 🎟️ Enjoy 15% off tickets for a limited time 👉 Save your spot: bit.ly/4snpIQm

Ally Dommu, dir. of service development, & Brad Drazen, vice president of communications and marketing at Greater Hartford Gives Foundation, explore a real-world nonprofit rebrand. Why it was needed, & what other foundations can learn about relevance, clarity, & community connection. bit.ly/48XCNHn

The International Rescue Committee partnered with Big Duck to create "Rescue Collective", a unified giving brand that brings monthly, mid-level, and legacy donors into a stronger, more connected community. Learn how a clear giving brand can build belonging and lift retention. 💛 bit.ly/499qE3e

Not every milestone needs a gala. 🎉 Before you plan your nonprofit’s anniversary celebration, ask: Should you even celebrate it? And if so, how big should you go? Ally Dommu, director of service development, shares key questions to ask when deciding 👇 bit.ly/48P82Ei

🎉 200 episodes! 🎉 For this milestone, @farratrompeter.bsky.social sits down with the one and only Vu Le to talk about reimagining nonprofits and philanthropy, challenging “best practices”, and building the future our communities deserve. A bold, joyful, necessary convo. bit.ly/4a0TJio

"What words do you wish nonprofits would avoid? 🛑 Each year, Big Duck rounds up the most overused words, phrases, and #jargon in the nonprofit world and shares the findings in our blog. Got suggestions? Drop them here! 👇

🧠✨ Every brand has bright spots. Do you know yours? @farratrompeter.bsky.social talks with Lyn Wineman, founder, president, and chief strategist at KidGlov, about how nonprofits can find their best brand elements and decide when to rebrand, refresh, or simply raise awareness. bit.ly/4nPME7m

🎭✨ A cultural landmark, reimagined. The Public Theater wanted to honor its legacy and attract new supporters. Big Duck helped refresh their brand to inspire the next generation of audiences and donors. Read the case study: bigduck.com/work/attract...

Your brand is one of your most powerful tools, but is it working as hard as it could? @farratrompeter.bsky.social, co-director, explores how to assess your brand’s effectiveness and know when it’s time for a refresh. 🦆 bit.ly/4hH3Ev8

🦆🎉 Big Duck celebrates 30 years on the pond and 4 years as a worker-owned cooperative! Three decades of strengthening nonprofit voices, four years of shared ownership, and a future full of purpose. 💛

🧠💻 Cybersecurity isn’t just an IT issue; it’s about protecting your people and your mission. @farratrompeter.bsky.social, co-director, talks with Joshua Peskay, co-founder of Meet the Moment, about practical steps nonprofits can take to stay safe, smart, and secure. bit.ly/4hzjEPF

Attracting and keeping the right people starts with your brand. Join Olivia Freire, director of operations & @farratrompeter.bsky.social , co-director, on Nov 4, 1–2 PM ET for a virtual session on how authentic branding strengthens recruitment + retention. bit.ly/48LBNrf

Curious about Big Duck? 🦆 Join our Open House for an informal chat! Get a glimpse into our co-op, engage in Q&A with our team, and more. Perfect for job seekers, career changers, and nonprofits eager to learn more! Wed Oct 22 from 4pm-5pm ET bigduck.com/events/octob...

✨ Joy is a practice, not a prize. @farratrompeter.bsky.social, co-director, talks with Elandria Jackson Charles, chief joy officer at Ayoka Partners, to explore sabbatical care and how small pauses, rest, and reflection can spark joy, at work and beyond. bit.ly/48x0aZD

Want to help inform voters ahead of the Georgia municipal election? 🗳️ Join the SPLC and @faircount.bsky.social for a virtual phone bank and help us talk to Georgia voters about their rights! Register: https://bit.ly/3JbFnR1 #TheSouthsGotNow #VotingRights

Comms isn’t just the garnish, it’s part of the meal. 🍽️ Nonprofits thrive when communications has a seat at the table from the start. Ally Dommu, director of service development, shares why it matters and why it’s time to shift the culture. bit.ly/46XoQYZ

How can philanthropy be more just + effective? @farratrompeter.bsky.social talks w/ Cindy Gibson, principal of Cynthesis Consulting, & Kelley Buhles, owner of Buhles Consulting about participatory grantmaking. What it is, why it matters, & how nonprofits and funders can take action. bit.ly/4nTMyMk

Year-end fundraising campaigns are significant for nonprofits, with up to 30% of individual giving happening in December. Don’t miss our upcoming two-part webinar series on planning, creating, and evaluating your digital year-end campaign. (10/1 + 10/9). Details + registration here: bit.ly/4pDKk5F

JOB ALERT: Big Duck is hiring an Account Manager (salary: $62,500–$70,000). We’re a fully remote, worker-owned cooperative partnering with nonprofits to build strong brands and campaigns. AM's lead projects, manage client relationships, and more. Apply or share: bit.ly/3VQFR1X

J Kelley, senior account manager, is joined by Randi Gibson, graphic designer, and Sandy Zimmerman, design director, to chat about ways nonprofit communicators can give clear, collaborative design feedback that strengthens the final product. bit.ly/46wdHhx

Donor surveys aren’t just tools for gathering data; they’re opportunities to connect and build trust. Menaka Chandurkar, director of strategy, shares practical tips for creating surveys that truly matter. bit.ly/4giguPV

Seats are still open! 🗓️ Sep 9 | Big Duck + @guttmacher.org explore how using data can build stronger, more authentic brands. Save your spot 👉 bit.ly/47qtlgv

Data is a powerful tool for centering equity, driving change & strengthening your brand. On September 9, we’ll join @bigduckcoop.bsky.social to explore how to align data practices with your values & mission—especially for those working in #ReproHealth & #PublicHealth. Register now: gu.tt/4nc8F0a 📅

How do you speak hard truths with heart? 💬 In this episode of the Smart Communications Podcast, @farratrompeter.bsky.social talks with Keyante Love (founder of Good Love Group) about leading and collaborating with candor and care. bit.ly/463yfNU

Is your year-end fundraising campaign ready to go? Join our 2-part webinar this October 1st & 9th, & build a digital campaign that gets results. You’ll leave with tips, tools, and more. For more information and registration. Sign up by Sept 5th and use the code EARLYDuck to save $20. bit.ly/46euHd7

Repro justice. Data equity. Brand alignment. Join Big Duck and @guttmacher.org for a webinar exploring how your brand and data strategy can advance reproductive health, rights, and justice. Details + RSVP: bit.ly/4n3OZfa

🧠 Even the best communications plans can lose steam. Ally Dommu, director of service development, is joined by @farratrompeter.bsky.social, co-director, to talk about how to bring your comms plan to life, make it adaptable, and keep it front and center—even when chaos hits. bit.ly/47CGP8M

Nonprofit communicators wear many hats, and some of the most essential skills often go unnoticed. Ally Dommu, director of service development, shares how to sharpen these important skills, and why investing in these areas can strengthen your team and your impact ✨ bit.ly/3HlkfXN

Gathering feedback is easy—making sense of it is the hard part. @farratrompeter.bsky.social, co-director, is joined by J Kelley, senior account manager, who shares 6 clear steps to consolidate feedback and move forward with confidence. bit.ly/4m40DGB #NonprofitComms #BigDuckPod

Ally Dommu, director of service development, speaks with Brittany DeNovellis, capacity building program manager, at the T. Rowe Price Foundation, about how their capacity-building model supports nonprofit leaders, strengthens communications efforts, and encourages sustainable growth. bit.ly/3IJum9e

Feeling the pressure of your next fundraising campaign? You don’t have to go it alone. Michelle Behar, senior strategist, shares seven practical tips for engaging staff, board, and volunteers to boost impact and build buy-in. bit.ly/4lACnf4

Burnout? Emotional fatigue? Nonprofits are feeling it. @farratrompeter.bsky.social, co-director, and Lan To, senior consultant and executive coach at CRE, talk about CAREpacity—a collective care model that redefines wellness at work.
🎧https://bit.ly/4nANbLL 
#nonprofits #collectivecare #CAREpacity

Rebranding isn’t one-and-done. It’s a practice.
In our latest episode of the Smart Communications Podcast, Sandy Zimmerman, design director, joins @farratrompeter.bsky.social, co-director, to dig into how nonprofits can bring a rebrand to life—and keep it thriving.
🎙️ Tune in: bit.ly/45B3NMJ

Oops moments happen—even at nonprofits. But every mistake is a chance to grow. Guest blogger Joshua Meyer, VP of Market Engagement at Bloomerang, shares tips on how to debrief, gather feedback, and build a stronger org by embracing the lessons that come with missteps. #NonprofitTips bit.ly/4kV14CM

Midlevel donors often go unnoticed—but can be packed w/ potential. 🎧 @farratrompeter.bsky.social , co-director chats w/ Alia McKee, principal at Sea Change Strategies, to share how to engage & grow these loyal supporters through segmentation, intentional stewardship, and fresh data. bit.ly/3ZUyWac

Better feedback = better creative. Giving input on design, copy, or campaigns? Ryan Gerhardt, copy director, shares practical tips to help nonprofit teams give clearer, more actionable feedback—so your creative work can shine bit.ly/43Zq85f

🧠🎧 @farratrompeter.bsky.social, co-director, is joined by George Weiner, head whaler at Whole Whale, to unpack what an “AI footprint” is and how to proactively shape your visibility in tools like ChatGPT and Google’s AI search. bit.ly/4mDM5hH

Legacy giving is evolving. @farratrompeter.bsky.social, co-director, and Lori Kranczer, founder of Link Elevating Philanthropy, explore strategies to meaningfully engage younger donors—Millennials and Gen Z—in shaping your organization’s long-term impact. bit.ly/4du6yRX

How should your nonprofit handle a crisis— whether reputational, external, or unexpected? @farratrompeter.bsky.social, co-director, is joined by Joanna Brody, president of Brody PR, to talk strategy, calm, and clarity in comms. 🎧#NonprofitComms #CrisisComms bit.ly/3YJTthh

Consolidating feedback from colleagues can feel overwhelming—but it doesn’t have to be. J Kelly, account manager, shares this 6-step guide to help you lead a smoother, more strategic review process. 🧭✨ #NonprofitComms #FeedbackTips #ProjectManagement bit.ly/3GN2lwk

Curious about Big Duck? 🦆 Join our Open House for an informal chat! Get a glimpse into our co-op, engage in Q&A with our team, and network with like-minded individuals. Perfect for job seekers, career changers, and nonprofits eager to learn more! Tues, May 20, 4-5pm ET bigduck.com/events/may-o...

🤖✨ @farratrompeter.bsky.social co-director, speaks with Meena Das, CEO of Namaste Data & co-creator of the AI Equity Project, about why equity & inclusion must be part of every AI conversation, the origins of the AI Equity Project, & 3 key findings from that groundbreaking research. bit.ly/4lReMY0

What happens when two mission-aligned nonprofits decide to merge? 🤝 @farratrompeter.bsky.social, co-director & Ami Dar, founder and executive director of @Idealist, explore the Idealist + VolunteerMatch merger & what other organizations can learn from it. bit.ly/3GanuAi

How do you tell the difference between a messaging problem and a strategy problem? And more importantly, how do you fix it? Ally Dommu, director of service development, shares ways to clarify your vision, priorities, and audience before refining language. bit.ly/3R6WmV8