Big Duck

IMAGE ID: Blue background with white text: How to leverage your anniversary campaign to engage supporters (two-part series). April 16th and April 21st, 2-3 pm ET

Don’t miss the early bird! 🐥 Planning a milestone anniversary? Make it more than a celebration. In our 2-part webinar series, learn how to turn your anniversary into a strategic campaign that engages supporters and inspires action. Save 10% with code EARLYDUCK by 3/13. Register: bit.ly/4syuhH3

IMAGE ID: Green graphic with image and text: The Smart Communications Podcast EP206 How can you use science to engage donors?

Planning a big campaign this year? 🎉📣 @farratrompeter.bsky.social, co-director, talks w/ Cherian Koshy, author of Neurogiving, about how neuroscience can strengthen anniversary, capital, + year-end appeals without sacrificing ethics or trust. bit.ly/4rZyNOL

Beyond the grant: how funders can invest in nonprofit capacity - Big Duck See how funders can support nonprofits with equitable, trust-based capacity building that fuels long-term success.

Grants matter. But if funders want transformational change, investing in nonprofit capacity is just as critical. From trust-based listening to training and coaching, Michelle Behar, senior strategist, shares how to move beyond restricted funding and support long-term impact. 👇 bit.ly/4789Iso

IMAGE ID: Green graphic with image and text: The Smart Communications Podcast EP205 Why is it important to change how you talk to funders?

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

IMAGE ID: Green graphic with image and text: The Smart Communications Podcast EP204 Is the field of nonprofit communications coming of age?

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

Words to Avoid – 2026 edition - Big Duck Explore Big Duck’s Words to Avoid 2026, an annual guide to nonprofit language that’s overused, vague, or harmful, with tips for clearer, more effective messaging.

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

IMAGE ID: CVH at work. Whether it’s on the streets or in the halls of New York’s capital, CVH members show up making a strong and unified impression.

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

IMAGE ID: Green graphic with image and text: The Smart Communications Podcast EP203 How to bridge belonging in your narratives?

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

IMAGE ID: Green graphic with image and text: The Smart Communications Podcast EP202 How can you put AI to work for your nonprofit?

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

Blue image with white text: Make your marketing plan four part series, Jan 21-Feb 11

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

IMAGE ID: Green graphic with image and text: The Smart Communications Podcast EP201 How do you approach rebranding a 100-year-old nonprofit?

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

IMAGE ID: IRC giving program branding on yellow background. Learn how a clear giving brand can build belonging and lift retention. 💛

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

Is your nonprofit’s anniversary worth celebrating? Here's how to decide. - Big Duck Should your nonprofit celebrate its anniversary? Learn how to decide, define goals, and create an approach that fits your capacity and vision.

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

IMAGE ID: Green graphic with image and text: The Smart Communications Podcast EP200 How can we reimagine nonprofits and philanthropy?

🎉 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! 👇

IMAGE ID: Green graphic with image and text: The Smart Communications Podcast EP199 How can you find the best parts of your brand?

🧠✨ 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

IMAGE ID: Gray image with branding assets. Attracting support for a cultural landmark: how The Public Theater reimagined its brand. Read the case study

🎭✨ 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...

Is your brand working for you? How to know when it’s time to refresh it. - Big Duck Reflect on whether your nonprofit brand still fits who you are and where you are going. Learn when and how to refresh your brand for greater impact.

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

IMAGE ID: Graphic with the Big Duck logo and text: “Celebrating 30 years of helping nonprofits communicate powerfully — and 4 years as a worker-owned cooperative.”

🦆🎉 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. 💛

IMAGE ID: Green graphic with image and text: The Smart Communications Podcast EP198 What do you need to know about cybersecurity?

🧠💻 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

Event graphic promoting Big Duck’s virtual session on how nonprofit brands can attract and retain great people, happening November 4 from 1–2 PM ET.

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

October Open House - Big Duck Be a part of our Open House and connect with people and nonprofit organizations eager to discover more about Big Duck.

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...

IMAGE ID: Green graphic with image and text: The Smart Communications Podcast EP197 How can you find joy?

✨ 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

More than a megaphone: Why nonprofit communicators need a seat at the table - Big Duck Discover why communications must play a strategic role from the start, not just amplify work at the end to maximize nonprofit impact.

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

IMAGE ID: Green graphic with image and text: The Smart Communications Podcast EP196 How can you engage in participatory grantmaking?

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

Blue graphic with text: How to plan, create, and evaluate a year-end fundraising campaign. Webinar promo October 1 and 9 from 1:00-2:30p ET https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1442387673359?aff=oddtdtcreator

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

Account Manager - Big Duck We’re looking for an Account Manager to join our remote, worker-owned agency that develops brands, campaigns, plans, and workshops for nonprofits. Account Managers at Big Duck keep projects moving, bu...

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

IMAGE ID: Green graphic with image and text: The Smart Communications Podcast EP195 What does effective design feedback look like?

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

Using surveys to get answers and deepen donor relations - Big Duck Discover how to create engaging donor surveys that provide valuable insights and strengthen relationships with your supporters.

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