We're focused on two people having coffee, looking down from above, their bodylanguage is relaxed and they appear to be friends or close connections. Only there arms and hands with fingers wrapped around the mugs are in the frame.

The best nonprofit marketing feels like
a conversation between friends.

An old-timey black greyscale photo with a woman in victorian era clothes, she is riding a bike with the really big tire in the front and a small tiny tire in the back. She is blowing a horn and looking at the camera. She is full of personality!

Your nonprofit brand is not just your logo. It's a whole personality.

Your brand has values, opinions, passions, and even quirks.

You have a way of talking about your cause and your work that is unmistakably you.

I help nonprofits find that personality and translate it into marketing and online fundraising that feels human, builds trust, and creates stronger relationships with the people who care about your work.

Learn more. Let's chat.
Learn more. Let's chat.

People rarely become committed donors, volunteers, advocates, or supporters because they saw one great social media post.

Relationships develop over time.

Someone discovers your organization. They begin to understand what you care about. They recognize your voice. They see their own values reflected in yours. They learn how you show up for your community. And eventually, your organization becomes one they know and trust.

Marketing is Relationship-building.

Two young Black women lying on a gray rug in a living room, smiling as they look at the woman on the lefts phone. They are friends enjoying a moment together.

Good marketing gives relationships time to grow.

I work with nonprofits during periods of growth, change, and transition to bring clarity to who they are, how they communicate, and how marketing and fundraising can work together to build the relationships their mission depends on.

Sometimes that means finding the story behind a multimillion-dollar fundraising campaign. Sometimes it's stepping in as a fractional Marketing Director. And sometimes it's joining you when you know something needs to change but haven't quite figured out what comes next.

Two young women caught in a wild moment of freedom. On is sitting inside a shopping cart with her arms out like an airplane and the other is pushing the cart, with one arm holding her hat. They are having loads of fun!

What is it like to work with Michelle?

  • Hiring a consultant might give you the jitters, it’s a big decision and comes with a financial risk. I get it! This is an investment and who you work with matters. My approach is to work together, we will collaborate on the project from the start to finish. I mean it, I will -

    • send you drafts for review,

    • ask you to mark up my work,

    • not be easily offended by your edits

    • be open to your ideas

    Because you own this, I am here to connect the dots of your ideas to best practice.

  • I am a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion in all my work. In our work together, I will -

    • design materials with an inclusive mindset and diversity of people

    • share stories from diverse voices and perspectives

    • respectfully share ideas to improve inclusivity

    • be accessible and inclusive for all abilities in meetings and presentation materials

  • Not everyone understands SEO, website design, social media scheduling and all the technology that keeps popping up.

    • What's the best tools for your organization?

    • Is your social media strategy on point?

    • Is it worth it?

    I love tech! I can help your team understand and use the tools available to help build more efficient processes that work with your budget.

  • I started working remotely before it was cool! Wherever you and your team are located, I am flexible to working with you, remotely. If we need to schedule meetings "outside regular business hours" for my timezone (CEST) to better meet your teams schedule, that's cool!

    Plus, when we have our virtual meetings, you'll meet my office mates - Zorro, Olaf, and Pablo (they're furry and you can find them in my blog, Prose, too).

  • I will get nerdy about your organization! I will read all the documents you share, dig deep into your online presence, and share my findings. You deserve to know everything, and it's part of my process.

    But also you. I'm going to ask you how you're doing and mean it. I'm going to remember if you have kids or dogs, or cool vacation plans.

    You matter just as much as our project together.

Michelle Bergsma headshot: A woman with long, curly hair, most of it is dark brown but the top half framing her face is gray. She is smiling a big toothy grin, wearing a black cardigan over a purple and orange top. Gray background.

Client Testimonials

  • “Michelle you really earned the trust and respect of a client in a pinch, thank you for stepping up and showing them your stuff!!"

    — Associate with ViTreo Group

  • "Thank you again for everything you’ve done on the Case for Support. We’re really happy with how it came together, and I know it will be an incredibly valuable resource for years to come."

    — CEO, wildlife conservation charity

  • "I am too scientifically minded to figure out the 'Why' for this organization. I need you to do that. I need your creative mind to find the story."

    — Campaign Lead, service club

  • “Michelle, this is a goldmine. Well done! It reads so easily and is accessible.”

    — Chapter President, women’s rights nonprofit.

    Quote is in response to reviewing the communications plan.

  • It’s a pretty smart document – well done!" and "Impressively professional"

    — Prospective donor quotes received in testing a clients Case for Support.

Let’s chat.
Book a discovery call today.

mb@michellebergsma.com
+31 6 39 43 3015

…………………………………………………………………

Based out of the Netherlands.
Available for remote work wherever you are.