Nonprofit Case Studies

"Working with nonprofits is something that every communications professional should consider, whether they donate their time or receive compensation. There are dedicated, change-making organizations in the world who need skilled communications people to help them accomplish their goals."

- Jennifer L. Jacobson

Strategic communications is the invisible work of nonprofits and it often determines the difference between achieving success or fading into obscurity. While well-known, global nonprofits frequently have exceptional communications campaigns, there are many worthwhile smaller nonprofits who need the same attention, but simply lack the resources, staff, and or budget to achieve the press traction they require.

Jennifer loves working with nonprofits, especially smaller, and niche nonprofits, representing marginalized communities. Jennifer helps these nonprofits develop and run communications campaigns that make an impact and get them closer to where they want to be. Jennifer actively looks for nonprofits that are close to her heart, that champion underserved people and places.

Jennifer is also the founder of Nimbus Haus, a volunteer organization that helps youth express themselves through art. The organization especially advocates for kids in the foster care system and LGBTQ+ youth. For more, visit www.nimbushaus.com

Nonprofits & Causes Jennifer Has Worked With

Lakota People's Law Project is a nonprofit advocating for Indiginous justice. Jacobson Communication volunteers its ongoing expertise, outreach services, strategy, and advisement to help raise awareness of LPLP's stories and causes serving Indigenous communities and causes.

Key Activities & Accomplishments:
• Consultation and advising on outreach and story strategy
• Reaching thousands of leading reporters with story pitches
• Taking complicated concepts and multi-thread stories and condensing them into headline-friendly, engaging content designed to draw in readers and compel them to learn more and take action

Seattle Counseling Service is the oldest LGBTQ-focused community mental health agency in the world, and an important provider of mental health services and addiction recovery for the Seattle LGBTQ+ community.

I had the privilege of working with Seattle Counseling Service on their 50th anniversary year communications planning and community engagement, which included high-concept strategy, campaign development, press relations, and script writing for the end of year Gala.

Key Accomplishments:
• Co-crafted high-concept messaging around 50th anniversary
• Created and launched 50th anniversary press release
• Thought up and co-created the "50th Anniversary Alumni Homecoming Stories" campaign

Happy Hollow Park and Zoo is a thriving amusement park and AZA accredited zoo in San Jose California. The facility is owned and run by the city of San Jose, and the Happy Hollow Foundation is the nonprofit that supports it.

As a lifelong amusement park enthusiast I served on the foundation’s Board of Directors and offered my enthusiasm, communications skills, and time to helping the foundation grow and continue to support the park.

Key Accomplishments:
• Helped with strategic communications planning
• Drove community engagement and interest
• Developed infrastructure and strategy around donor outreach strategy

Directed PR for Worldreader; a global nonprofit dedicated to providing free digital libraries with quality content to people in the developing world. Created promotional campaigns around new operating system launch, as well as our work with The Clinton Global Initiative, Chelsea Clinton's new book for children, and novelist Paulo Coelho. Key stories include AdWeek, PBS Frontline, Voice of America, and more.

Key Accomplishments:
• 650+ Stories in the media
• Over 1 Billion impressions
• Key promotional campaigns for new OS, CGI, and Paulo Coelho

Served on the Board of Directors for the Umunhum Conservancy, a San Jose nonprofit, dedicated to preserving the history of the historic radar station from the Cold War. The tower is the last remaining structure from a defensive Air Force station that protected what was to become Silicon Valley, with one of the world’s most powerful computers and a dedicated team and community living atop Mt. Umunhum in the clouds. Today, the tower remains as part of a public exhibit and park atop the mountain, sharing the history of the mountain, the tower, and the city.

Key Accomplishments:
• Drove press attention that helped Tower earn U.S. Historic Status
• Raised significant public attention via press outreach
• Created highly compelling visual print materials for public events

Worked with Wolfe Video, Sweet Travel, and One Good Love to raise money for the nonprofit, Freedom to Marry, a nonprofit working toward marriage equality in the U.S.

Key Accomplishments:
• High-level planning and crowdfunding campaign creation
• Wrote all customer-facing campaign communications
• Produced promotional donation “ask” video featuring Wolfe Video’s founder

Storytelling & Video Production for Nonprofits

Wrote and produced in-depth video interview a key member of the Born This Way Foundation, a nonprofit led by Lady Gaga and her mother, focused on supporting the mental and emotional wellness of young people.

Wrote and produced an in-depth sit-down interview with Tippi Hedren, film star and president of the Shambala Preserve & The Roar Foundation: A nonprofit dedicated to supporting exotic felines and advocating for legislation to protect them.

Advised on early development for the annual fundraiser video about people supported by Hopelink, a Seattle nonprofit dedicated to helping those in poverty find sustainability. Co-Directed welcome video for live event featuring Dr. Jill Biden.