Sometimes the biggest barrier to getting help is simply not asking. Strong non-profit communication helps teams share challenges, connect resources and invite community partners into meaningful solutions. When we combine clear information, human stories and a specific ask, communication can build trust, mobilize support and create lasting relationships. What problem is your non-profit trying to solve alone that your community would gladly help solve with you?

HiP Strategic Non-Profit Consulting is growing up! After 20 years in business, we are undertaking a vital review, revision, and revitalization of our brand, approach, and service. Our internal process reflects what we do with our clients. Since last October, we’ve assessed our strengths and opportunities and how to best meet clients’ needs. We’ve conducted this analysis within the framework of what matters most to us: family and community. 2024 is all about unrolling change!

Planning is required to run successful campaigns. Learn how to craft a community engagement plan to discover stakeholder needs.

Choose who to invite to stakeholder conversations, by defining the purpose (WHY) of the conversation and what it is you want to learn.

What does true non-profit collaboration look like? It’s more than sharing a table—it’s putting community needs ahead of organizational interests. When non-profits collaborate, share resources, build partnerships and make decisions together, limited funding can create greater collective impact. We saw firsthand what’s possible when organizations choose cooperation over competition. What could your community achieve if organizations stopped competing and started collaborating?

What does 20 years of non-profit consulting in British Columbia look like? For HIP Strategic Non-Profit Consulting, it’s been a journey of strategic planning, community engagement, collaboration and organizational development—all rooted in helping non-profits and communities thrive. Along the way, the work evolved, but the purpose stayed strong. What becomes possible when you build a career around the work that matters most to you?

With Movember at an end and December now in full swing, it is often a time of joy as well as a time to reflect on what we, as community members, do to give back/pay it forward. Here are just a few ideas: Volunteer: With the holiday season approaching, a number of local organizations are looking for volunteers to help run their holiday events and campaigns. Consider the following: Operation Red Nose - help people get home safely from holiday parties by giving them a ride Sa

COVID-19 tested non-profit leadership, crisis management and organizational resilience in ways few could have predicted. Boards and Executive Directors faced difficult decisions about staffing, finances, service delivery and long-term sustainability—while still supporting their communities. The lessons remain relevant for non-profits preparing for future uncertainty. If your organization faced a major crisis tomorrow, would you be ready to respond—and recover?

Great non-profit storytelling isn’t just about having a powerful story—it’s about telling it in a way people remember. A simple storytelling framework can help non-profits create clear, compelling impact stories for fundraising, social media, video and community engagement. Know your audience, your message and the change you want to highlight. Are your stories capturing attention—or getting lost in the noise?

Non-profit storytelling can show funders, donors and communities the impact of your work—but protecting client confidentiality and consent must come first. From past-client stories and testimonials to infographics and community initiatives, non-profits can share meaningful impact stories without compromising privacy. It takes intention, creativity and trust. Are you telling powerful stories about your impact without putting the people you serve at risk?

Successful non-profit grant writing is about more than a strong funding application. Combining data, impact storytelling and funder relationships helps non-profits demonstrate results, build trust and open doors to future funding opportunities. The strongest relationships are built long before—and continue long after—the grant is submitted. If your next grant application disappeared tomorrow, would your funders still know the value and impact of your work?

For busy non-profit leaders, networking can feel like one more thing there’s never enough time for. Yet building community partnerships with local businesses can open doors to volunteers, Board members, expertise, social enterprise opportunities and stronger community connections. It starts by making time for relationships—not just asking for support. What opportunities might your non-profit be missing because you haven’t made time to build the relationship yet?

Networking for non-profit leaders takes time, energy and resources, so it’s worth asking whether your efforts are creating real value. Strategic networking should build community partnerships, referrals, collaboration and relationships that help move your organization forward. Sometimes that means showing up; sometimes it means choosing a different room. Is your networking actually building the connections your non-profit needs—or are you simply going because you always have?

Trust in non-profit organizations isn’t built through one big gesture. It grows through everyday conversations, transparency, respect, honesty and follow-through. For Boards, Executive Directors and teams, strong organizational trust creates the foundation for collaboration, psychological safety, engagement and shared leadership. But trust can take years to build and moments to lose. What is your organization doing every day that adds—or removes—trust?

What if the people your non-profit needs are already waiting to be asked? Strong non-profit community engagement creates opportunities to involve community members, volunteers and interest holders in meaningful conversations, co-creation and decision-making. When people know their ideas are valued, participation can grow into deeper relationships, advocacy and long-term support. When was the last time your non-profit stopped talking to your community and started creating with

How do non-profits attract and retain great staff when workloads are growing and resources remain tight? Non-profit burnout, fair compensation, employee retention and workforce sustainability aren’t simply HR issues—they affect organizational capacity, service quality and community impact. Boards and Executive Directors need to think differently about how they invest in their people. What is the real cost to your non-profit when your best people decide they can’t afford to st

Strong non-profit community engagement shouldn’t begin when you need input for a strategic plan. Consistent interest holder engagement helps build trust, strengthen community relationships and create people who are invested in your organization’s future. An intentional community engagement plan can make participation part of how your non-profit works every day. What would change if you stopped engaging your community to plan—and started planning to engage?

Strong non-profit community engagement starts long before you ask people to participate. Building relationships with businesses, community leaders, partners and interest holders creates trust, expands your network and opens doors to collaboration, expertise and support. The strongest non-profit leaders invest in these connections consistently—not only when they need something. Who could help move your mission forward if you simply reached beyond your usual circle and asked?

Better non-profit communication starts with better conversations. When staff, Boards, leaders and community partners get curious, listen to understand and explore different perspectives, they build trust, strengthen collaboration and create healthier organizational cultures. Even small changes in the questions we ask can change the relationships and results we create. If your relationships reflect the quality of your conversations, what are yours saying about your non-profit?

Strong non-profit communication starts with creating a culture where people feel they truly belong. When staff, Boards, volunteers and community partners feel respected, included and safe sharing different perspectives, trust grows and collaboration becomes stronger. Belonging encourages better conversations, new ideas and shared solutions. Does everyone at your table feel their voice matters—or have they simply been invited to sit there?