For many nonprofit leaders, communication feels like an afterthought, something to address once the real work is done. Yet, in today’s media-saturated world, a clear, emotional, and strategic message is not just a
“nice to have.” It is the heartbeat of organizational growth. As 

 told Stephen Halasnik in their conversation for The Nonprofit MBA Podcast, “It is really hard to read the label from inside the jar.” That metaphor captures a common problem: many nonprofits are too close to their own mission to communicate it effectively to others. This shift highlights why a strong nonprofit marketing strategy is essential today.


Clark’s marketing agency, VIA Studio, has spent almost three decades helping nonprofits and mission-driven organizations modernize their branding, websites, and messaging strategies. His insights shed light on a challenge faced by countless small and mid-sized nonprofits: how to evolve from outdated, fact-heavy messaging to emotionally resonant storytelling that inspires real engagement and real donations.

Read an Executive Summary or Listen to the Podcast HERE: 

https://financingsolutionsnow.com/nonprofit-marketing-strategy/

About Jason Clark, Chief Marketing Officer

Jason Clark is the CMO of eResources/VIA Studio, where he leads a team of developers, designers, strategists, and marketers delivering brand strategy, design, development, and marketing services to clients nationwide.

About Stephen Halasnik, Financing Solutions

Stephen Halasnik is a Managing Partner at 

. Financing Solutions has been the largest provider of lines of credit to small nonprofits in the US since 2012.

Marketing Strategy

Non-profit Marketing

Nonprofit Marketing Strategy: Modernize Your Messaging

15th Annual Holiday Gift Guide for Web & Design Geeks

!

Each year, our team puts together our top, hand-picked gifts to help you explore new ideas for everyone on your holiday list. Our gift ideas include everything from experiences to tangible, practical, (sometimes) affordable, and sentimental gifts.

Happy holiday season to you and yours!

- The VIA Team

I'm a firm believer that half of the fun of gift-giving is in the presentation and thoughtful details. Instead of throwing away gobs of wrapping paper after the holidays, consider using the Japanese art of Furoshiki wrapping to make the wrap part of the gift. The fabric can then be reused as a tote or scarf afterward!

Add some thoughtful detail!

Furoshiki Wrapping

This little kit is perfect to throw in your bag for where ever and whenever inspiration strikes. I love that it includes a little water well, since water brush pens get too wild and wooly for my liking. The reminder to slow down and appreciate the beauty in everyday moments is also a gift in itself.

Portable Watercolor Kit

Since having a baby, there's not much that I value more than a good night's sleep. I haven't tried this weighted sleep mask but keep hearing that it's the cat's pajamas. It's just the type of cozy, treat-your-self gift that I'd love to have under the tree.

Weighted Blanket For Your Eyes.

Nodpod Sleep Mask

And if you’re anything like me, who can resist owning the best, fanciest, most beautiful, feels-amazing-in-your-hands kind of books? I mean, come on. SAME HERE. That’s exactly why you need to check out The Folio Society. They’re basically the Criterion Collection, but for books. And if you don’t get that reference, well, I’m sorry, but we simply can’t be friends.

Who doesn’t love books?

BOOKS!

If you're looking to ensure TSA gives your luggage special attention, then these casket cases should do the trick! Designed for the traveler who is checked out but hasn’t checked in, or for the nearly departed with impeccable taste, these bags are sure to stop your fellow travelers dead in their tracks.

Casket Cases!

Luggage To Die For

If you love scribbling ideas with markers, but your home office doesn’t exactly have the wall space (or budget) for a massive whiteboard, then this desktop organizer might be your new favorite thing. There’s just something satisfying about writing on a surface that isn’t permanent. (Especially for work notes, to-do lists, or that brilliant idea you’ll definitely forget by lunch.) I don’t actually own one of these, but honestly? I think I’d be kind of obsessed if I did. 

Get that brain a'stormin!

Desktop Whiteboard

The best partner Chelsea's sourdough starter could possibly have! This two-piece cast iron cooker really shines when making bread. Bake covered for the first two thirds of the cooking time to rise in moisture, and then remove the top to get it nice and crispy.

An excellent multi-tasker in the kitchen

Lodge Seasoned Cast Iron Combo Cooker

In the last year we've seen a revolution in bike pump tech - and the fine folks at Silca up in Indianapolis are leading the charge. Literally. This rechargeable, electric bike pump fits in the palm of your hand and has a gauge and holds charge for months. No more CO2 inflators freezing your hands or endless manual pumping by the roadside. Are we living the future?

Ben HAS to have a bike tool on his list, right?

Silca Elettrico Ultimate Inflator

Timeless technology plus the timeless sound of Vince Guaraldi - on vinyl! In honor of the 60th anniversary of A Charlie Brown Christmas, throw this on your turntable and watch animated scenes from the movie come to life. 

A Charlie Brown Christmas Zoetrope Picture Disc

Xmas magic for fans of Vince Guaraldi

This 2-in-1 teapot and kettle makes brewing loose-leaf tea effortless — just heat, steep, and sip! Crafted from sleek glass and stainless steel, it’s as beautiful as it is practical.

No plastics here!

Teabloom One-Touch Tea Maker

The Lodge Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven — no seasoning required (thank you, porcelain enamel surface!). Just cook, clean, and keep on experimenting. It’s perfect for soups and quick bread, eventually I'll attempt sourdough.

Lodge 6 Quart Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven

Jumping on the cast iron bandwagon? Same.

Lodge 6 Quart Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven with Lid 

Made from classic seersucker and personalized for that extra-special touch, it’s perfect for girls of all ages. I’ve already gifted two this year, and they were a total hit! Whether your daughter’s off to another birthday party or you’re curating thoughtful bridal party gifts, this little bag makes every occasion feel personal and special. Pro tip: fill it with a face mask and lip gloss for an extra touch of charm!

This isn’t just a cosmetic bag — it’s a gift-giving favorite!

Monogrammed Seersucker Toiletry Bag

The Heavy Mug is a 22lb stainless steel mug built for strength, endurance, and anyone who wants their coffee ritual to double as a workout. A completely worthless and ridiculous gift, but that's what makes it fun!

22lbs of ridiculous

The World's Heaviest Mug 

Brian Eno has been at the forefront of music and culture his entire career. In addition to inventing the genre of (or at least coining the phrase) "ambient music", he has produced many great albums, and is also a visual artist. Here's a chance to own a small original art piece of his.

Brian Eno "Blocks" Original Art

I just love to cook, and I read a lot about how difficult it is to sharpen a knife. With a whetstone that is no longer a chore! The term "whetstone" comes from the Old English word hwettan, which meant "to sharpen," "to incite," or "to encourage."

A sharp knife is a safe knife

Knife Whetstone

Continuing our agency's food motivations, I've recently been dreaming about a rotisserie for my Big Green Egg. I'm super interested in trying out shawarma, gyro meats, or chickens, but I don't want to drop $300 on this guy, which is why I want you to buy it for me. 

Big Green Egg Rotisserie

It features a variety of goodies that may not be easy to pronounce, but go great with tea or coffee. Or if you want something more classic, their white dinner rolls are cat-approved and definitely worth smacking off of somebody’s plate when they’re not looking.

Get a taste of the Dutch capital of Washington State

Lynden Dutch Bakery’s Dutch Sampler

For those of us from the Pacific Northwest, we’re often known for having trees. And with trees comes camping during the nice weather, and power outages during the bad weather. Be prepared for both with the AlpenGlow 250. It offers a variety of modes and light levels controlled by a single button and an accelerometer. Those range from a flickering, warm yellow to a surprisingly bright white that can light up your tent or kitchen. And since it’s rechargeable with a long battery life, you don’t have to worry about burning through batteries.

Biolite AlpenGlow 250

Staying hydrated is important, but half the battle is having water in a form that’s both convenient and enjoyable to drink during a busy day. FreeSip tries to do both as a cold-sustaining stainless steel water bottle, which comes in a variety of sizes and colors, plus features a unique cap that supports sipping or chugging. For an added touch, you can even have your name or custom imagery engraved on it. When in doubt, go for the larger size!

Owala FreeSip Water Bottle

My household has a busy schedule - I coach high school wrestling, my wife has a shifting schedule as a nurse, and then the normal life events like a doctor's appointment. With all of these moving parts, keeping track of who's doing what and when can be a major pain.

In comes the Skylight Calendar. It's a touchscreen tablet that serves one purpose: being a calendar (which it does extremely well). It can pull events from different sources (such as a Google Calendar), you can even send it photos of events (ex, concert flier), and it is smart enough to import it. It can also help with chores and meal planning. 

Skylight Calendar

I used my old Ninja CREAMi constantly and the new, updated version is no different. In Ninja's latest update to the CREAMi, you can make soft serve! The soft serve texture is pretty close to the real thing and it's always mindblowing when it comes out. We make protein-based ice cream and a few other homemade flavors with our CREAMi.

Ninja CREAMi Scoop & Swirl Ice Cream Maker

Soft Serve!

I've used the different variations of AirTags in Wallet, but the Nomad Tracking Card takes the cake. The Tracking Card is an Apple AirTag inside of a credit card, so you get a sleek and slim way to track your wallet. 

Nomad Tracking Card

I’m in my cozy girl era, but as a single Mom to two under five, my capacity is limited. My favorite gifts to give or receive feel thoughtful, useful, and a little indulgent, like small upgrades that make ordinary moments feel like rituals. Here are a few of my go-tos this season.

The aesthetic is so soothing, I buy one for each season and keep it out year-round. Something is grounding about watching your family drift by, adding a few pieces between bites or before bed. And when you're just a few pieces away from the end, watch everyone rally together to finish it like it's the game-winning play. It’s a slow, quiet connection (the opposite of doomscrolling), and it becomes its own kind of rhythm through the year.

Galison Puzzles

This kitchen gadget has been my secret for nearly a decade: serving a meal that looks like Martha Stewart or Ina Garten was here, while putting in the effort of Sandra Lee yule log. The sous vide does all the work, cooking meat at the perfect, even temperature. When it’s done, all I have to do is sear it in a bit of rosemary-infused butter in a cast-iron pan and pretend I planned it that way. For extra credit, pair it with a Rubbermaid bin and lid with a cutout, a low-cost hack for insulation that makes you feel like a professional chef.

(any version!)

Anova Sous Vide

My favorite gift for book clubs, teachers, or new parents...or really anyone who believes books are meant to be shared. It’s a small touch that makes your home library feel magical. In our house, if you love a book enough to buy it, read it, underline it, and dog-ear it, you emboss it, and then pass it on to a friend.

Personalized Book Embosser

Bonus tip for new parents - I CANNOT RECOMMEND THIS 

 ENOUGH. It has saved me thousands of hours in cutting grapes.

As a lover of art, history and art history; this deep dive into the 60s New York underground art scene is an essential read. I've been listening to nothing lately but the podcast A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs (this is a gift guide, not a podcast recommendation list, but I cannot recommend it highly enough for music fans), and this pairs perfectly as an exploration of the massive artistic, cultural and political shifts of the 1960s. If you're a fan of indie-anything, you'll be interested in this history.

Everything is Now by J. Hoberman

I like to cook, but only really because I love to eat; so I'm much better at collecting recipes than at getting creative with the odds and ends left in between eating and meal-planning. This book is an essential resource, then, for making use of every last bit of food I buy. It's helped me both to be less wasteful and also to be more thoughtful about cooking. This book is a very utilitarian resource, with some philosophical ideas interspersed but operating primarily as an index of foods to look up when you find them in your fridge and can't think of a use for them, but if you're interested in more of a meditation on the act of cooking, consider its companion, An Everlasting Meal.

The Everlasting Meal Cookbook by Tamar Adler

I have yet to find a food — especially leftovers — that isn't improved by adding a dose of this stuff to each bite. More of an actual condiment than your typical hot sauce, think of it like Taco Bell sauce for people who feel a little weird about topping their meal with that packet they grabbed for free out of a pile and responsibly stowed away in their junk drawer for a few months since for all we know they're shelf-stable at least until the singularity has us all eating Soylent Green... And with the variety pack you've got every spice level accounted for, from a touch of heat to a serious kick for the adventurous giftee.

Xal approved!

Secret Aardvark 5 Alarm Gift Set

A must-read for the true crime fan in your life, this book explores the stories of people who have met their tragic ends in Yellowstone. Entertaining while also showing appropriate sensitivity, it's exceptionally well researched and serves as a reminder of the awesome power of nature.

Accidents and Foolhardiness in the First National Park

Death in Yellowstone

After a busy day, my favorite way to wind down is with a big bowl of popcorn and working through my endless lists of "to watch" movies and shows. Prepackaged bags of popcorn often tasted stale and had a ton of unpopped kernels. With the HotPop, you pop your own kernels while still getting the convenience of cooking in a microwave. And it's super easy to clean. Warning: you won't be able to go back go prepackaged bags after this.

Original HotPop Silicone Popcorn Maker

Searching for a stocking stuffer so the sock isn't slight? If they like coffee, check out these chocolate covered espresso beans. An absolute lifesaver when entering hand-to-hand combat with the 3pm energy lull.

Coffee Lover's Espresso Beans from Trader Joe's

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Gift Guide

2025 Holiday Gift Guide for Web & Design Geeks

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2025 Holiday Gift Guide for Web & Design Geeks