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Building Nonprofit Communications Capacity

4 practical ways funders can help grantees build visibility, trust, and support beyond the grant

Free Live​ Webinar

June 11, 1:00 PM CST

Can't make it live? Register, and we'll send the recording after the webinar.

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For Community Foundations, Regional Foundations, and Capacity-Building Funders

Lori-Headshot-Cropped_Square.jpg

Presented by Lori Bower, President of BowerComm​

REGISTER NOW

Building Nonprofit Communications Capacity

4 practical ways funders can help grantees build visibility, trust, and support beyond the grant​

Free Live Webinar

June 11, 1:00 PM CST

For Community Foundations, Regional Foundations, and Capacity-Building Funders

REGISTER NOW

Lori-Headshot-Cropped_Square.jpg

Presented by Lori Bower, President of BowerComm​

Your grantees are doing meaningful work, but many still struggle to explain that work clearly, reinforce it consistently, and build support beyond your grant dollars.​

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For funders, this creates a familiar pattern. Strong programs continue operating, but the organization itself remains difficult for the community to understand, support, or advocate for. Boards struggle to articulate the mission consistently.​

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Communications happen sporadically. Donor relationships stay shallow. Momentum resets every year instead of accumulating.​

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Many funders can see communications is part of the issue.​

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What is often less clear is how to identify the actual capacity gap — or what kind of support would meaningfully help.​

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In this free webinar, Lori Bower will walk through a practical framework for identifying nonprofit communications capacity gaps and explore four practical ways funders can help organizations build stronger visibility, trust, donor support, and long-term momentum.​

Included With Registration: The Communications Capacity Scorecard​

All attendees will get access to a simple Communications Capacity Scorecard designed to help funders identify where nonprofit communications capacity may be breaking down — and what type of support may actually help.​

In This Webinar, We'll Cover

1. How to recognize when communications is the real capacity gap

We’ll look at the patterns many funders already see:​

  • organizations that constantly re-explain themselves​

  • boards that care but don’t know what to say​

  • inconsistent community understanding​

  • donor relationships that never deepen​

  • communications that only happen when there’s time​

We’ll also discuss how these issues differ from branding, marketing, or tactical outreach problems.​

2. How to match support to the actual need

Not every nonprofit needs the same kind of communications support.​

Some need strategic clarity. ​

Some need message alignment.​
Some need a repeatable communications system.​
Some need implementation support and coaching.​

We’ll walk through a practical framework for identifying the right type of support before time and funding are invested.

3. How funders can structure communications capacity support

We’ll explore several practical models, including:​

  • direct sponsorships​

  • cohort programs​

  • communications capacity grants​

  • shared technical assistance​

  • parallel cohort structures​

The goal is to make communications capacity support practical and fundable without requiring foundations to manage custom marketing projects themselves.

4. How stronger communications capacity helps support continue beyond the grant

The goal is not simply better communications. It is stronger capacity to make progress. We’ll look at how stronger communications systems help nonprofits:​

  • build broader donor support​

  • improve community understanding​

  • strengthen board ambassador confidence​

  • reinforce trust over time​

  • create more consistent visibility​

  • reduce dependence on a small funding base​

Because awareness does not build through isolated moments. It builds through consistent reinforcement over time.

You Should Attend If...

  • You fund nonprofits that struggle to build broader community awareness or donor support​

  • You’ve seen organizations repeatedly return for the same funding without gaining momentum​

  • You want a clearer framework for discussing communications capacity internally​

  • You are exploring cohort models, technical assistance, or nonprofit capacity-building initiatives​

  • You believe strong nonprofit work deserves stronger public understanding and support

Who This Webinar Is For

  • Community foundations​

  • Regional foundations​

  • Family foundations​

  • Rural philanthropy leaders​

  • Program officers​

  • Capacity-building funders​

  • Foundation CEOs and presidents​

  • Associations and intermediary organizations supporting nonprofits​

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Especially those asking:​

“Why do our nonprofit partners struggle to build lasting community support?”​

What You'll Leave With

By the end of the session, you’ll have:​

  • a practical Communications Capacity Scorecard​

  • a clearer definition of nonprofit communications capacity​

  • a framework for identifying communications infrastructure gaps​

  • examples of support and funding models​

  • language you can use with boards, staff, and grantees

About the Presenter

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Lori Bower

Founder & President, BowerComm

Lori Bower has spent more than 25 years helping mission-driven organizations clarify their message, strengthen community understanding, and build communications systems that support long-term momentum.​

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Through BowerComm, Lori has worked with nonprofits, community foundations, healthcare organizations, rural communities, and regional funders across the U.S. Her work focuses on helping organizations move from scattered communication efforts to structured systems that reinforce trust, visibility, and support over time.​

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BowerComm’s signature frameworks help organizations build stronger communications infrastructure, not just more communications activity.

Reserve Your Spot

Free Online Webinar​

June 11, 1:00 PM CST

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