Ideas & Tools » Communications & Development Teams Working Better Together

Communications & Development Teams Working Better Together

An often-overlooked challenge in many nonprofit organizations is the working dynamic between Development and Communications teams. Staff report difficulty reconciling conflicting goals, understanding each other’s audiences and needs, and figuring out effective ways of working together — among other issues.

Some organizations have pioneered creative solutions for working together, while others have created separate spheres in order to just “get by.” We set out to learn more about the dynamic in nonprofits between Development & Communications teams so that we can help organizations knock down barriers to effective collaboration.

And we don’t want to keep all of that learning to ourselves!

Want to learn more and find some inspiring solutions?

P.S. We are continuing to conduct this research and would love to hear from you. You can take the survey here!

Check out the presentation slides here:

Communications & Development Teams Working Better Together
Slides
Alice Hendricks headshot

Alice Hendricks

Principal & Founder

I help nonprofits find creative, people-oriented solutions to complex strategy and technology problems.

I’ve provided executive coaching, organization development, process design, and staffing strategy to nonprofit leaders across the sector. My expertise lies in marketing, online fundraising, political engagement, website strategy, social and mobile media, marketing automation, and brand empowerment. But my particular gift involves identifying the intelligence and wisdom within nonprofits and offering a holistic approach to making organizational change.

In 2008, after years of helping nonprofits as VP of Client Service at Get Active and Managing Partner at Kintera, I co-founded a technology company, Jackson River, out of the belief that the nonprofit sector deserves access to powerful, corporate-scale software for engaging supporters online. We created Springboard, an open, “best in class” software platform for digital engagement. Although in my consulting practice I am firmly technology agnostic, I am often called upon by organizations to help them evaluate solutions to match their ambitious strategies. My advice is informed by many years of “seeing it all” when it comes to CRM and campaign tech, and strong commitments to helping organizations scale and grow their capacity.

I frequently give talks about how to translate corporate concepts like “customer experience,” marketing automation, and customer journeys to the nonprofit sector.

I’m a certified Transformational Coach and a certified health coach. I’m also an Anthropologist and student of Native American culture, binge-watcher of crime procedurals, and mother to two (almost) grown children. By the numbers, I count 20+ years working exclusively with nonprofits; 150+ causes assisted; and too many RFPs and TORs to count.

My personal mission is to help nonprofits thrive in a digital world.