Brand whisperer. Cause evangelist.
Hi, I’m Colin.
My background as a creative writer taught me to recognize and capture great stories. As a journalist and a professional copywriter, I listen closely when people talk about what matters to them. And my skills as a brand strategist align with my professional intention: to empower organizations to succeed by communicating the good they’re doing in the world.
I work with nonprofits, B Corps, and purpose-driven businesses to:
- Express their mission or alignment with the triple bottom line
- Effectively communicate it to their customers, partners, donors, or employees
- Create systems that support it for the long run
- Unify and align their brand across all platforms
The short version: I help great causes and companies by developing, delivering, and maintaining clear and effective communications programs. I align them with the powerful magnetic north of good business practices and generous global giving. Along the way, I provide leadership, creative thinking, excellent prose, and a collaborative spirit as I facilitate transformation of the organization, its team, and the planet.
Looking for my résumé? Perhaps some writing samples? For Case Studies, keep scrolling…
Clients
Case Studies
Testimonials
Responsive, creative, energizing – those words describe what it’s like to work with Colin. Colin creates marketing materials that boost my confidence so I can take action and move my business forward. I contacted him nearly 15 years after our first project because I knew I could trust him. Because he gets it: my vision, my product, my excitement, my concerns. He doesn’t work for me, he joins me for the ride!
Colin was responsible for all our marketing and coursework writing and editing for my online relationship program, and I couldn’t be happier with the results. He was able to transform my initial copy into something wonderful — to strike just the right tone and message where needed. He saw the need for a new logo and helped us find a good design for it. He was ultra-reliable and worked well to any deadlines, delivering consistently great work. I am very happy to recommend him.
Colin is the first person I call when I’m developing any kind of editorial project. He asks the right questions, understands the big picture, identifies details others have overlooked, and delivers top-quality content on or before the deadline. I’m always blown away by his insight and execution, though by now I’ve come to expect nothing less from Colin.
Colin was a consultant for two years at USA and wonderful to work with. He interacted skillfully with our board members, and his contribution to our endowment campaign was essential in shaping the identity and branding of the organization. And he always delivered on time and on budget.
It has been my pleasure to work with Colin on a variety of projects. His talent as a writer and communicator has made him an essential member
of our team. He created a style manual for the Foundation that has resulted in consistent written communication from all the staff. We are grateful for his contributions to our marketing and our fundraising. Everyone loves working with him, because he challenges us to think big thoughts.
Colin’s vision for healthy growth made significant positive and lasting changes for MKPLA. His experience with written and branded communications helped us elevate and align our outreach materials and make our message consistent. His passion and commitment served as an inspiration for those inside and outside the community. He is a leader among leaders, and a man I trust and admire.
My Process
1. I don’t walk in with premeditated solutions.
2. I watch and listen. Closely.
3. I help you to recognize the power of your brand.
4. Along the way, I solve problems.
5. I help you manage details while keeping the big picture in focus.
6. I acknowledge the value of human relationships.
News
A Vision for Giving
Have you ordered your Warby Parker glasses yet? I got my first pair delivered last week, and they’re awesome. High-style, high-quality eyewear, a great price, and excellent customer service. And the best part? For every pair of glasses I buy, the company gives away a...
End-of-Year Appeals: A Template
This year, make year-end online giving a lot more straightforward. Here’s a four-email template, courtesy of Classy.org, that can maximize your donors’ participation in year-end fundraising. The basic rules? Keep it simple, short, and focused. 1. About a month out,...
Big Ideas vs. Big Picture
A colleague recently pointed me to Michael Hobbes’ feature in the New Republic, which has a provocative title: “Stop Trying to Save the World.” It’s a great piece about the challenges inherent in foisting Western ideas (and ideals) on the complex matrix of...