Hi. I’m Ted Fickes. I run Bright+3 to raise the impact of progressive nonprofits, foundations, movements, and news and journalism shops.
I also work with individuals in and outside those organizations who are looking for work and are building content strategies and communities.
I've helped organizations and movements grow their communities and revenue with content strategies, digital capacity, and systems improvements. And I do it by centering joy, trust, and value for clients, their teams, and their audiences.
Do you want to build sustainable campaigns, communities, and teams that support and trust each other? Let’s talk.
The fastest way to learn more is to send me an email or schedule an intro call or chat over zoom.
👇Read on to learn more about some of the ways I partner with clients.
Content, Email and Newsletter Revenue Strategy
I help organizations find audiences and develop content and stories that deliver value, increase loyalty, and grow revenue. This includes email programs, newsletters, audio or video. Together we develop advertising and distribution strategies, focus on retention, and help you test, learn and grow impact.
I offer:
- A half-day email list/email program review. You provide context and data. I spend a half day in your content and numbers to create an actionable set of insights and next steps. I’ll also hop on a call with your team to talk through the results.
- Email, fundraising, and digital strategy assessments. These are typically 3-4 week projects that involve interviews with staff, board, supporters, and other audiences. They include content and data analysis. The outcomes are useful for understanding your needs, making better choices about upcoming strategy projects and consulting hires, or preparing program plans and budgets.
- Ongoing campaign planning and implementation, content creation, reporting, and team training. I’ll work directly with you and/or your team to develop calendars, draft and edit content, optimize and test, and deliver advocacy and fundraising programs you and your supporters love.
- Ability to speak tech (and do) tech alongside your teams. I am an accredited Engaging Networks Account Services partner and have also work with CRM platforms like Action Network, ActionKit, Every Action, and Hubspot. In addition, I've built in several CMS and newsletter platforms including Ghost, Kit, MailChimp, WordPress, and more.
Find out more about Bright+3’s email and newsletter work, including past projects and recent clients.
Organizational and Team Leadership
Communications, digital, fundraising, and organizing teams can become siloed, territorial, or find themselves struggling to collaborate. The result is content that doesn’t inspire supporters, slow internal communications, and projects that meet a metric but don’t have an impact. Sound familiar?
To solve for these gaps, challenges, and slowdowns I provide:
- Advisory, consulting and coaching to staff, support, grow, and reward teams who will build and sustain powerful content, community, and fundraising programs.
- Short-term program leadership for roles like digital director, content strategist, communications director, and digital fundraising director. I’ve helped organizations like Narrative Initiative, Greenpeace and others in communications and digital roles lasting several months to a couple years.
- Job listings and recruiting support. The Future Community Jobs network includes over 3,000 engaged and qualified professionals working in progressive nonprofit communications, fundraising, journalism, and technology. Newsletter open rates (over 60%) and click-throughs (over 10%) are great. But what I value most is the feedback from members and subscribers that Future Community Jobs are focused, well curated, and real openings that always provide salary info. Propose a featured job listing now.
Questions? Have a problem you need to solve? Reach out by email or set up a call.
How I Work with Individuals
I’ve been in the nonprofit and movement tech and digital world for over two decades. I’ve grappled with the obstacles, experienced the highs and lows, and talked to or worked with (almost) everyone.
Please reach out if you’re looking for your next role or if you’re a communications/digital leader trying to scope your project or think through staffing.
Here's more about the kinds of work we can do together:
- Curated Job Listings at Future Community Jobs. Find opportunities on our job board. Future Community subscribers will get updates emailed to them once or twice a week.
- Coaching and support for people looking for career guidance and job search help. I offer a free 30 minute advisory call if it looks like I could support. Reach out and let me know. I’m happy to spend a little time reviewing materials in advance.
Paid Future Community members also receive an hour of free coaching/consulting.
I work with a small group of career advising clients on a sliding scale. If you are looking for a partner who will support you over time, reach out and schedule a call. If there’s a fit we’ll talk more about your goals, needs, time, and costs.