Make meaningful progress on the challenges that matter most.
Small-group cohorts that combine expert guidance, peer support, and real-world application so you can turn what you KNOW into what you DO.
You’re the voice of your organization. You shape how your nonprofit shows up in the world — and how it’s understood by supporters, funders, and the communities you serve.
But behind the scenes, communications leadership can feel like a constant balancing act. Too many requests. Too few resources. And never quite enough time to focus on the work that would make the biggest difference.
Whether you’re working on leadership skills, impact messaging, planning systems, or team management, the challenge is finding the time, focus, and support to make actual progress.
That’s where our Mentoring Cohorts come in.
A Different Kind of Mentoring Program
Because the one challenge we all share is managing our limited time, we’ve redesigned our mentoring program into focused 12-week cohorts.
Instead of a one-size-fits-all curriculum, you’ll choose a specialized track designed to create a roadmap to solve a specific challenge.
Each cohort combines expert guidance, accountability, and practical application so you can spend less time collecting ideas and more time putting them into practice.
What Makes These Cohorts Different?
One challenge. One goal. Three months. Instead of trying to tackle everything at once, each cohort is designed to help you in one critical area.
You’ll apply what you’re learning to your real work as you go. No hypothetical exercises. No busywork.
Get expert guidance from experienced nonprofit communications leaders who understand the realities of your job. We are talking about decades of real-world experience — not search or AI results — but real answers.
Structured activities, peer support, and coaching help you stay on track and keep moving forward.
Learn alongside a small group of nonprofit communicators working through similar challenges. Share ideas, troubleshoot obstacles, and learn from one another’s experiences. Never feel alone in the work again, because you can stay in touch with your cohort long after the program is over.
This Isn’t Learning for Learning’s Sake
It’s about:
- Leading instead of reacting
- Getting buy-in from leadership and colleagues outside of communications
- Reducing confusion and internal friction
- Building systems that make your work easier
- Growing into a more confident, strategic communications leader
- You’ll make smarter decisions, create stronger alignment, and stop spinning your wheels.
Choose Your Cohort
Each mentoring cohort focuses on a specific challenge facing nonprofit communicators. Choose the area where that would have the biggest impact on your work right now.
Registration is currently open for the following cohorts:
Level Up to Lead
Starts Monday, August 3rd, 2026
Become a more strategic and confident communications leader.
This cohort is designed for nonprofit communicators who are moving into leadership roles, managing people or projects, and taking on greater responsibility for decisions, planning, and strategy.
You’ll build stronger systems, set healthier boundaries, improve planning processes, and develop the leadership skills needed to guide your team and organization more effectively.
This cohort is for you if:
- You’re moving (or want to move) from a coordinator role to a director-level role.
- You’ve been told to “be more strategic” but aren’t sure what that means in practice.
- You’re gaining responsibility for planning, budgets, or decision-making.
- Staff, interns, contractors, or colleagues look to you for guidance.
You’ll make progress on:
- Leadership and decision-making
- Strategic planning
- Team management
- Boundaries and managing up
- Building systems that reduce chaos and increase effectiveness
Prove It: Impact Reporting
Starts Tuesday, January 19th, 2027
Show the value of your organization’s work more clearly and consistently.
Your nonprofit is doing good work. Explaining how you know — and communicating that impact in compelling ways — is often the harder part.
This cohort helps you move beyond activity-focused communications and communicate what really changed because of your work. You’ll learn how to find the proof points you already have, translate them into compelling stories, and build a repeatable approach to impact reporting.
This cohort is for you if:
- You struggle to explain your organization’s impact.
- You want to go beyond annual reports and year-end appeals.
- You have data but aren’t sure how to turn it into meaningful stories.
- You’re looking for better ways to demonstrate results to donors, funders, leadership, and your community.
You’ll make progress on:
- Finding and organizing proof points
- Translating data into stories
- Impact-focused messaging
- Internal collaboration around reporting
- Building repeatable impact-reporting practices
Real Progress. Real Results.
Nonprofit communicators come to our Mentoring Programs with different goals, challenges, and levels of experience. Here’s what a few past participants had to say about the progress they made:
“Instead of constantly reacting, I now have systems in place that align with our mission and make daily work manageable.” Heather Cook. Communications Manager, Literacy Minnesota
“The mentoring program helped me translate theoretical knowledge into practical leadership skills, particularly in strategic communications planning. The core concepts I learned in the program now serve as the foundation of my tenure as the Director of Communications & Philanthropy.” Jenna Czaplewski. Director of Communications & Philanthropy, Coalition for Children, Youth & Families
“It truly helped us become a well-oiled communications team machine.“ Rilda Means. Director of Community Relations & Marketing, Red Cloud Indian School
“We now have a clear path for where our organization is going, and communications are aligned with our goals for fundraising and programs. We can clearly see how it all fits together and how to get the communications work done together. I’m sure that new problems and struggles will pop up. But I feel more capable of dealing with those challenges. It feels like, ‘What CAN’T we accomplish now?’ “ T. Kebo Drew. Managing Director, QWOCMAP (Queer Women of Color Media Arts Project)
“I came into this program knowing I needed a better plan. I left with a full strategy, stronger boundaries, and a team that finally understood communications priorities.” Sarah Menke. Communications Manager, Turnstone Center
“The Communications Director Mentoring Program gave me structure and prioritized different aspects of the work for my team in particular. I have a roadmap laid out ahead of me, with clear steps and resources, and I can see how I want my team to be functioning years from now.” Tenaya Senzaki. Marketing & Communications Manager, Little Tokyo Service Center (LTSC)
“I went into the program feeling overwhelmed, but I walked away from it with the path ahead of me illuminated, which is really exciting.” Olivia Bowler. Director of Communications, Habitat for Humanity of Wake County, NC
“I’m looking forward to saying ‘Yes’ to more of the things that I know work and setting boundaries by saying ‘No’ to the things that overextend my capacity or exceed the scope of our goals. I feel better equipped to tackle comms and marketing challenges head-on when I encounter them now.“ Anna Mullen. Communications Director, National Farm to School Network
How It Works
Over 12 weeks, you’ll move through the Nonprofit Marketing Guide S.T.E.P. Model — a practical process designed to help you turn ideas into action.
Begin with expert guidance, frameworks, and real-world examples that help you see your challenge in a new way and identify where to focus first. Every other week, you’ll join a live session with your mentor and cohort to learn new frameworks, strategies, and approaches.
Between live sessions, you’ll apply what you’re learning to your own organization. Use worksheets, activities, and coaching support to adapt ideas to your unique situation and priorities. Because the program is built for busy people, you’ll apply lessons at your own pace and in ways that directly support your organization.
You don’t have to figure everything out on your own. Throughout the cohort, you’ll have access to our team for guidance, feedback, and problem-solving support when challenges arise. You’ll also have a small group of nonprofit communicators who understand the realities of your work and can share ideas, experiences, and encouragement along the way. You’ll have people in your corner who can help you keep moving forward.
Refine your work, celebrate your progress, and create a plan for what comes next so your momentum continues long after the cohort ends.
Meet Your Mentors
When you join a mentoring cohort, you’re not just learning from one person. You’re tapping into decades of nonprofit communications experience from the entire Nonprofit Marketing Guide team.
Our mentors have led communications teams, built strategies, managed staff, navigated organizational politics, and faced many of the same challenges nonprofit communicators deal with every day. They’re here to provide guidance, feedback, accountability, and support as you work through the challenges and opportunities unique to your organization.
Kayla Hornbrook
*Lead Mentor for Level Up to Lead
Faigy Gilder
*Lead Mentor for Prove It
Kivi Leroux Miller
CSO & Founder
Erin Malone
Senior Advisor
Kristina Leroux
CEO
Logistics & Investment
Cohort Size
Each cohort is limited to 16 participants to ensure personalized support, meaningful discussion, and plenty of access to your mentor.
Time Commitment
Plan to spend approximately 4-6 hours per month participating in live sessions and applying what you’re learning to your work.
The program is designed for busy nonprofit communicators. Most activities are built around projects and priorities you already have.
Upcoming Cohorts
Level Up to Lead
August-October 2026
Prove It: Impact Reporting
January–March 2027
Investment
$2,000 (You can set up a payment plan at checkout with Klarna or Afterpay if needed)
Your Registration Includes
- Six live 90-minute mentor-led learning sessions
- Guided application activities
- One-on-one coaching on your schedule
- Co-working sessions to move theory to action
- Access to your cohort community of people who ‘get it’
- Essential program materials
- Six months of the All-Access Pass membership (and an additional six months if you successfully complete the certificate requirements)
- An official certificate of completion that’s resume and LinkedIn-ready, when you successfully complete the program.
Ready to Make Meaningful Progress?
Whether you’re ready to become a stronger communications leader, communicate your impact more effectively, or tackle another challenge that matters to your organization, these cohorts are designed to help you turn what you KNOW into what you DO.
Choose the cohort that’s right for you and join a small group of nonprofit communicators committed to making real progress.
