Fractional marketing leadership for mission‑driven organizations
For twenty years I've run marketing for foundations, advocacy groups and grassroots nonprofits — naming new initiatives, rebuilding donor communications, scaling annual appeals across six channels at once.
I work as a fractional CMO, a campaign partner, or a two-week brand sprint, depending on what the mission needs.
Most nonprofits I meet don't have a messaging problem so much as a triage problem. There are six good things to say and one person to say them. My first job is usually deciding what comes first.
I've led marketing for foundations, social enterprises and grassroots advocacy groups. The work looks different at every one — a naming exercise here, a six-channel appeal there — but the discipline doesn't change: find the sentence the organization can actually stand behind, then build everything else off it.
You get the strategic clarity of a large in-house team and the budget discipline of a shop of one. I'd rather leave your staff able to run the thing themselves than make you dependent on me.
Ed Post
Audience growth
One year
A national education blog, rebuilt as a storytelling engine
Ed Post is brightbeam's flagship publication. Over one year we rebuilt the content calendar around donor-relevant stories, reorganized the owned channels behind it, and put a real signup path in front of readers who had been passing through anonymously.
Six ways to work together
Thirty minutes on AI, with nothing to sell you
Bring one marketing problem. Leave with a plan you can start on Monday. If we're not a fit for the rest of the work, that's fine — the session stands on its own.
Reserve a slot“Cynthia is the kind of CMO who doesn't just execute a strategy, she gracefully shapes and improves it. An organization navigating real transformation would be fortunate to have her on their team.”
CEO, brightbeam
“There are few individuals who can match the tenacity, empathy, and fearlessness of Cynthia. A powerhouse of strategic acumen and infectious enthusiasm, Cynthia is the sort of leader every content team yearns for.”
Content Marketing Manager, Axonius
“Cynthia is a triple threat: she knows great content, has an eye for creative strategy, and understands the nuances of media relations. She understands how content marketing aligns with the overall business strategy and how to create storytelling that inspires action.”
Content Strategist
Where I spend most of my time
Education and youth. K-12 advocacy, charter networks, postsecondary access, youth development.
Foundations and philanthropy. Grantmakers, donor-advised funds and family foundations scaling their voice.
Environment and climate. Conservation groups, climate advocacy, sustainable community development.
Social justice and community. Community development, social enterprise, faith-based and grassroots advocacy.
Tell me what's in the way
A brand sprint, a campaign partner, or a CMO who shows up to the board meeting. Write me a paragraph about where you're stuck.
Start a conversation