Glenwood Academy MarComs strategy

As a recipient of the Greer Foundation’s capacity-building grant to participate in a two-day pro bono consulting marathon, a Chicago-based nonprofit residential school by the name of Glenwood Academy—serving young students facing multiple adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) since 1886—was seeking support to strengthen its MarComs strategy to refine organizational messaging across channels and diversify its donor base—specifically targeting younger donors and emerging professionals, without alienating long-term supporters. Across the 12–4 p.m. CST working blocks, our team reviewed the school’s communications, donor journey, and audience research, while gathering context from Glenwood representatives. Instead of offering an overdone marketing audit, we developed a 47-slide, audience-specific, data-informed messaging guide with channel recommendations, a donor journey, and an implementation roadmap.