CAUSE COMMUNICATIONS
Communications for Good
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Smart communications has the power to spark change, influence behavior, and strengthen impact. Yet research shows that communications is often the area where nonprofit organizations need help the most. In this environment of 24/7 news, we receive hundreds of requests annually from nonprofits wanting to improve their communications through our free tools and trainings. We are eager to respond. The effective use of strategic communications is one of the most important capabilities a nonprofit can have. Telling stories effectively, ensuring community voices are heard, and making the right asks of the right audiences are skills enhanced by effective communications. When it comes to making an impact, communications is a game-changer. The communications landscape has shifted radically. With the explosive growth of social media and greater access to technology, there are now far more channels organizations can use to communicate, which makes using communications effectively even more vital.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Cause Communications
Cause Communications drives social impact by leading, growing, and teaching best-in-class communications for changemakers worldwide. As the only nonprofit firm of its kind, we provide strategic communications consulting services, marketing campaigns, free tools, and hands-on training programs. Our work includes:
Strategy: Research, Message Development, Communications Plans, Strategic Plans, Coalition Building, Strategic Counsel, Capital Campaigns, Development Communications
Implementation: Branding & Naming Creative Services, Media Relations, Digital & Social Media, Events, Crisis Communications Campaigns, Thought Leadership
Tools and Trainings: Communications Toolkit, Individualized Coaching, Capacity Building Resources, Storytelling Workshops, Media Spokesperson, Digital Lessons
Where we work
Awards
Award of Excellence: Individual-Public Service & Non-Profit 2022
Communicator Awards
External reviews
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of sector award nominations earned by the organization
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Related Program
Cause Communications
Type of Metric
Other - describing something else
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Communications, Graphic Design, and Marketing awards
Number of leadership positions held by organization staff in community initiatives
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Other - describing something else
Direction of Success
Increasing
Hours of consulting time accessed
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Cause Communications
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of hours of training
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Related Program
Cause Communications
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Group trainings, organizational coaching, and workshops.
Number of publications identifying sector best practices
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Cause Communications
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
A stronger use of strategic communications leads to greater visibility, stronger fundraising, and greater impact on specific causes. In this way, our dedication to improving communications across the sector is synonymous with increasing the capacity of the sector to create positive change.
We believe that everyone within an organization needs to be equipped with communications skills, and we are committed to making the power of good communications accessible to all.
Our goal is to continually innovate so our trainings, tools, and resources are practical and accessible, culturally relevant to all staff within a nonprofit organization, and designed to strengthen communications effectiveness at organizations of any size.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Cause Communications focuses on providing communications solutions that meet people where they are and we have developed a widely used readiness matrix to help determine a starting point for them. We have targeted three areas of activity:
(1) Developing, Producing and distributing free, original tools and resources so everyone at every level can access materials;
(2) Hands-on training programs for organizations mature enough to benefit from the in-person coaching; and
(3) Partner projects with other experts and nonprofits so we can advance progress on vital social issues and expand the universe of people touched by the ability to communicate effectively.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
We are a fully staffed communications firm offering consulting services where we provide campaign, branding, fundraising, and marketing expertise and services. Our strategists come from diverse backgrounds, strengths, and perspectives. We also have firsthand knowledge of the unique needs of social impact organizations, thanks to our own status as a nonprofit as well as our team’s leadership experience in the philanthropic, creative, and public sectors.
In addition we offer communications coaching, training, and tools (videos, books, quizzes, games), as well as develop partnership projects whereby helping something being communicated more effectively, something good will happen. These capacity building initiatives ensure a growing body of knowledge for the field and provide access to tools any communicators can use to strengthen their impact.
Cause Communications is the first nonprofit organization focused on communications effectiveness within the nonprofit sector.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Our digital tools, books, and publications have been widely distributed in all 50 states, in more than 45 countries, and on six continents.
Our work has been recognized by "The New York Times", "The Los Angeles Times", "The Chronicle of Philanthropy", and "Stanford Social Innovation Review".
We have trained over 1,000 individuals to use communications more effectively.
Our consulting arm has worked with over 200 nonprofit organizations.
We estimate dollars raised by those we have helped to communicate more effectively to be well in excess of $50,000,000.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
CAUSE COMMUNICATIONS
Board of directorsas of 03/27/2023
Lisa Cleri Reale
Principal, Lisa Cleri Reale & Associates
Term: 2021 - 2024
R. Christine Hershey
Cause Communications
Lisa Cleri Reale
Principal, Lisa Cleri Reale & Associates
Jan Kern
Senior Philanthropy Advisor, Southern California Grantmakers
Sally Lew
EASTWIND Philanthropic & Non-Profit Consulting
Rabbi Barbara Zacky
Director
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? No -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? No -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? No -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? No -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
We do not display disability information for organizations with fewer than 15 staff.