Podcast appearances and mentions of eric ressler

Social impact leaders are visionaries — but getting others to see what you see isn't easy. When your work hasn't caught up to your ambitions, how do you win over funders, staff, and partners who need proof before they commit?In this episode, Eric and Jonathan explore what it really takes to sell a bold new vision — even when the work is still taking shape.➔ Why internal conviction is the first — and most underrated — step to building external trust. ➔ How to frame your future vision when your current reality doesn't match it (yet). ➔ The power of showing instead of telling — and what that looks like with no budget. ➔ Why funders are often more excited by possibility than proof — and how to use that to your advantage. ➔ A real-world playbook for prototyping your vision, building buy-in, and navigating the messy middle.If you're leading through change, launching something new, or reinventing your organization's direction, this conversation will help you craft a message that inspires belief — before the results are in.You don't need to have it all figured out. You just need to sell what's possible.Episode Highlights:[00:00] - Eric and Jonathan kick off with a definition that goes beyond mission statements.[01:12] - Jonathan shares real talk about leading through transition at the Seymour Center.[02:13] - Eric maps the vision lifecycle from insight to realization.[05:13] - Why writing one too early can backfire—and what to do instead.[07:02] - Eric recounts Cosmic's pivot to social impact and what it took to bring his team along.[11:48] - Jonathan's tips for gaining internal and external buy-in.[14:48] - Funders and stakeholders appreciate realism—if you frame it right.[18:35] - A smart messaging pivot that worked for Seymour Center.[19:56] - How DIY prototypes and low-budget demos helped seed a big vision.[24:17] - A thought-provoking exchange on fluidity, revision, and what comes next.[28:42] - Two different leadership styles—and how to make both work for you.Quotes:"It's a vision of a new way of what could be, but what is not yet true." – Eric Ressler [00:00]"You as the executive… you really, truly, deeply in yourself believe in the potential." – Jonathan Hicken [04:51]"Vision and mission statements sometimes get an outsized amount of attention… I'd rather see more time on having a compelling vision." – Eric Ressler [05:13]"The single best way to sell a vision when you're not delivering yet? Start prototyping." – Jonathan Hicken [19:56]Resources:Article - How Your Purpose, Vision, and Mission Can Guide Better Brand StorytellingPodcast - How to Stop Planning and Start DoingListeners, now you can text us your comments or questions by clicking this link.*** If you liked this episode, please help spread the word. Share with your friends or co-workers, post it to social media, “follow” or “subscribe” in your podcast app, or write a review on Apple Podcasts. We could not do this without you! We love hearing feedback from our community, so please email us with your questions or comments — including topics you'd like us to cover in future episodes — at podcast@designbycosmic.com Thank you for all that you do for your cause and for being part of the movement to move humanity and the planet forward.

Not all “no's” are equal—and if you're in fundraising, you know that firsthand.In this episode, Eric and Jonathan unpack the three types of objections every social impact leader will face: the silent no, the vague no, and the hard no. They explore why each shows up, what it's really signaling, and how to respond in a way that transforms rejection into relationship. Whether you're navigating donor hesitancy or partner pushback, you'll walk away with practical tools to shift conversations from confusion and avoidance to clarity, trust, and—yes—sometimes even a yes.Episode Highlights:[00:00] - The 3 types of objections: Silence, vagueness, and direct no's[01:42] - A real-world win: How reframing a donor's “no” unlocked major funding[03:03] - Ghosted? Strategies for re-engaging silent prospects[05:59] - Automated follow-ups that work: Respectful nudging and content-driven touches[07:19] - Low-effort asks: Using newsletters to reignite dormant conversations[08:22] - The “breakup email” that gets responses: Permission to say no[10:43] - Why silence feels personal—and how to shift your mindset[12:04] - Vague rejections: How to politely mine for clarity[13:08] - Exact language that invites honest feedback[15:17] - Is it just the money? A powerful question to uncover root issues[17:43] - When “scaling down” won't serve you—or them[19:17] - Invite donors into partnership: What funders really want[21:07] - Objections as insights: What “no” reveals about your positioning[22:19] - Flip your mindset: Think 70% about what they want to hear[24:06] - Fit-first fundraising: 3 guiding questions before accepting money[25:19] - Mission creep warning: Why not all dollars are worth it[27:20] - The takeaway: Always try to get to a direct “no”—and know why it happenedQuotes:“You have to become an irresistible fundee—for them.” –Jonathan Hicken [22:32]“Funders want to make an impact on something they care about. Period.” –Eric Ressler [23:25]Resources:Article - Want Foundations to Fund Your Work? Speak Their Language. Here's How.Article - How to Embrace (and Own) Your Nonprofit's Digital FundraisingArticle - 8 Reasons Why Donors Aren't Giving on Your Nonprofit's WebsiteArticle - Funders: Your Obligation to Social Impact Goes Beyond Giving MoneyListeners, now you can text us your comments or questions by clicking this link.*** If you liked this episode, please help spread the word. Share with your friends or co-workers, post it to social media, “follow” or “subscribe” in your podcast app, or write a review on Apple Podcasts. We could not do this without you! We love hearing feedback from our community, so please email us with your questions or comments — including topics you'd like us to cover in future episodes — at podcast@designbycosmic.com Thank you for all that you do for your cause and for being part of the movement to move humanity and the planet forward.

Social impact leaders are scaling back, funding streams are evaporating, and public trust is eroding. In this candid kickoff to Season 4, Eric and Jonathan hold space for what's really happening in the field—and why this moment demands courageous communication, community resilience, and reimagined leadership. This isn't a time to shrink. It's a time to show up.The surprising parallels to early COVID-era chaos (and how that can inform today's crisis response)Why you might need to ‘scale back' strategically—and how to do it without losing your sense of purpose.The key to rallying donors, partners, and staff using open communication and powerful impact stories.The #1 mistake leaders make when forced to let go of talented people (hint: it involves your support network)Whether you're facing sudden federal cutbacks or seeking to maintain momentum in a tough environment, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you adapt without compromising your impact.Don't let external forces derail your organization's good work. Tune in now and learn how to protect your mission, inspire your team, and stay resilient. Even when the odds feel stacked against you.Episode Highlights:[00:00] - View from the field: What social impact leaders are experiencing right now[01:50] - The ripple effects of federal policy shifts: Retrenchment and risk mitigation[03:40] - “It feels like early COVID again”: Chaos, fear, and identity crisis in the sector[06:20] - The grift narrative: Online misinformation and the backlash against nonprofits[07:23] - Getting hyper-local: The strategic (and risky) pivot toward smaller spheres[08:38] - Unprecedented losses: Real-world stories of scale-downs and shutdowns[10:28] - Why the blame game backfires: Compassion over critique[13:17] - From freeze to activation: What separated resilient orgs during COVID[15:47] - "Now is the best time": Standing strong in your community[18:22] - A call to funders: Emergency support is urgently needed—again[19:25] - Action steps for leaders: Reconnect, recommit, and re-partner[21:34] - Leading through contraction: Compassionate downsizing and clarity of mission[23:53] - Over-communicating with intention: The power of transparency and storytellingQuotes:“Now is the best time to stand up for science… for a community that's trying to protect itself from a changing environment.” – Jonathan Hicken [00:15]“We need to be better at getting these stories out in a way that actually cuts through.” – Eric Ressler [07:07]“There's almost this feeling that we're not allowed to be successful or be optimistic right now.” – Jonathan Hicken [11:30]“Organizations that activated quickly—even imperfectly—came out stronger.” – Eric Ressler  [13:50]“Start to prepare to help the people on your team land on their feet.” – Jonathan Hicken [22:25]Listeners, now you can text us your comments or questions by clicking this link.*** If you liked this episode, please help spread the word. Share with your friends or co-workers, post it to social media, “follow” or “subscribe” in your podcast app, or write a review on Apple Podcasts. We could not do this without you! We love hearing feedback from our community, so please email us with your questions or comments — including topics you'd like us to cover in future episodes — at podcast@designbycosmic.com Thank you for all that you do for your cause and for being part of the movement to move humanity and the planet forward.

We are living through the biggest shift in media and marketing of our lifetimes. Misinformation spreads faster than ever, trust in institutions is crumbling, and social impact leaders are left navigating a fractured, chaotic digital landscape.So how do you build credibility, mobilize communities, and create real impact when attention is scattered and trust is eroding?In this episode, Eric and Jonathan break down the new realities of marketing and media—the rise of digital tribalism, the fine line between authenticity and performance, and why the old marketing playbook no longer works.Episode Highlights:⏳ [00:00] A Changing Landscape – Why today's media environment is unlike anything we've seen before. ⏳ [02:46] Misinformation, AI, and Media Silos – How rapid shifts in digital communication are reshaping public trust. ⏳ [06:29] The Attention Economy is Broken – We have more information than ever—so why do people feel more disconnected? ⏳ [09:40] Should Your Organization Speak Out? – The pressure to comment on every social issue vs. staying mission-focused. ⏳ [12:48] Authenticity or Performance? – The rise of “authenticity washing” and why your audience sees through it. ⏳ [17:14] The Death of Traditional Marketing – Why the old broadcasting model no longer works—and what's replacing it. ⏳ [21:24] From Broadcast to Relationships – How social impact leaders can shift their approach to build real trust. ⏳ [26:00] The Future of Digital Trust – How organizations can navigate the chaos and create meaningful connections.Notable Quotes:"We are in the middle of the biggest shift in media and marketing of our lifetimes." – Eric Ressler [01:26]"I know that my reaction to the world as it is, has been to sort of shrink my sphere of attention and sort of align my attention with where my ability to make impact overlaps." – Jonathan Hicken [07:31]"If we don't actually take action on the things we say, is it really authenticity—or just another marketing play?" – Jonathan Hicken [12:48]Resources:The LookoutArticle - Don't Build Your Brand on Rented LandArticle - Top 10 Mistakes Social Impact Websites MakeArticle - Develop a Distribution-First Mindset to Win in the Attention EconomyArticle - How to Defeat the 3 Toughest Challenges All Nonprofits FaceArticle - 4 Scroll-Stopping Digital Experiences to Inspire Your Nonprofit's ContentListeners, now you can text us your comments or questions by clicking this link.*** If you liked this episode, please help spread the word. Share with your friends or co-workers, post it to social media, “follow” or “subscribe” in your podcast app, or write a review on Apple Podcasts. We could not do this without you! We love hearing feedback from our community, so please email us with your questions or comments — including topics you'd like us to cover in future episodes — at podcast@designbycosmic.com Thank you for all that you do for your cause and for being part of the movement to move humanity and the planet forward.

If you've ever felt like your messaging isn't quite landing — like people don't get it or aren't inspired to take action — you're not alone. We hear it all the time: “We're struggling to tell our story.”But here's the thing: your story isn't the story that matters most. The real question is: How do you craft messaging that actually moves people?In this episode of Designing Tomorrow, we're breaking down the last messaging framework you'll ever need.We cover:The biggest messaging mistake most nonprofits and social enterprises makeWhy clarity beats complexity—and how to simplify without losing depthHow to reframe your messaging to make your audience the heroThe five key pillars of messaging that inspires actionA real-time messaging workshop where we apply this framework liveBy the end of this episode, you'll have a clear, practical framework to refine your messaging, cut through the noise, and drive real impact.Episode Highlights:[00:00] Introduction – The No. 1 messaging struggle we hear from social impact leaders.[02:26] The coherence problem – Why your messaging feels all over the place.[02:45] Stop being vague – How unclear, academic language turns people away.[03:36] Shift the narrative – Why your organization's story isn't the most important one.[05:04] What does success look like? – The messaging shift that changes everything.[06:18] Articulating the problem – Making your cause relevant and urgent.[08:10] Know your audience – How to align your message with what people care about.[10:19] Paint a vivid vision – Why great messaging starts with a powerful, clear vision.[11:56] The power of a point of view – Why your philosophy shapes your messaging.[13:14] Voice, tone, and personality – The secret to making your messaging feel human.[19:48] Live messaging workshop – Real-time messaging strategy in action.[31:40] Key takeaways – The essential pillars of messaging that move people.Quotes:“Your story is not really the story you want to be telling. The story you want to be telling or planting seeds around is how can you get involved in helping us move our mission forward?” – Eric Ressler [03:36]“I think also another thing that can happen is that we try to capture too many ideas or too many perspectives or too many audiences all and try to just get it all into one thing. And then what we end up with is a word or a phrase that doesn't actually really mean anything.” – Jonathan Hicken [02:26]“The hardest thing to do, and I've tried, is to get AI to capture your voice. That is really hard.” – Eric Ressler [13:14]“I mean, the seminal example of a vision statement is Dr. Martin Luther King's ‘I Have a Dream' speech.” – Jonathan Hicken [10:19]“Can you imagine a world where young children are not scared of climate change but motivated to actually participate in the solution?” – Eric Ressler [29:38]Listeners, now you can text us your comments or questions by clicking this link.*** If you liked this episode, please help spread the word. Share with your friends or co-workers, post it to social media, “follow” or “subscribe” in your podcast app, or write a review on Apple Podcasts. We could not do this without you! We love hearing feedback from our community, so please email us with your questions or comments — including topics you'd like us to cover in future episodes — at podcast@designbycosmic.com Thank you for all that you do for your cause and for being part of the movement to move humanity and the planet forward.

The way we work is changing — fast. Remote work, shifting boundaries, and evolving expectations have reshaped what it means to work in the social impact sector. But are nonprofits keeping up?In this episode, Jonathan and Eric dive into the unique challenges mission-driven organizations face in building a sustainable, healthy work culture. From balancing remote flexibility with team cohesion to tackling burnout in a sector known for overwork, they explore what leaders must do to attract and retain top talent while staying true to their mission.Plus, Jonathan issues a challenge to nonprofit leaders: Can we be the best at work-life balance?Episode Highlights:[00:00] The Work Culture ShiftHow expectations around work have fundamentally changedWhy nonprofits struggle with remote and hybrid models[01:00] Jonathan's Story: Fired for Remote WorkThe personal experience that shaped his perspective on workplace flexibilityWhy remote work remains more challenging for social impact organizations[04:07] The Benefits & Drawbacks of Remote WorkEric's experience running a fully remote creative agencyHow remote work can improve deep focus but challenge collaboration[10:29] The Energy of Mission-Driven TeamsCan remote teams maintain the passion that fuels social impact work?The hidden costs of losing in-person connection[15:29] The Tech & Infrastructure ChallengeWhy some nonprofits struggle with digital transformationHow tech gaps impact remote and hybrid team success[21:43] Remote Fundraising: Does It Work?Can major donor relationships thrive without in-person connection?What nonprofits can learn from virtual client relationships in other sectors[26:57] More Than Just Remote Work: The Bigger ShiftWork-life balance, burnout, and rethinking work as identityWhy social impact leaders must prioritize a sustainable work culture[35:27] A Challenge for Nonprofit LeadersJonathan's call to action: Nonprofits should lead in work cultureHow flexibility and balance can be a competitive advantageQuotes:"The biggest challenge for social impact teams? So much of our work is fueled by passion. Remote work makes that harder." — Jonathan Hicken [09:43]"People are no longer willing to sacrifice their entire personal life for work—and that's a good recalibration." — Eric Ressler [27:38]"If we can't pay the highest salaries, we must lead in work culture. Let's be the best at balance." — Jonathan Hicken [35:27]Listeners, now you can text us your comments or questions by clicking this link.*** If you liked this episode, please help spread the word. Share with your friends or co-workers, post it to social media, “follow” or “subscribe” in your podcast app, or write a review on Apple Podcasts. We could not do this without you! We love hearing feedback from our community, so please email us with your questions or comments — including topics you'd like us to cover in future episodes — at podcast@designbycosmic.com Thank you for all that you do for your cause and for being part of the movement to move humanity and the planet forward.

Is your organization's purpose secretly undermining its impact?In our latest episode of Designing Tomorrow, Jonathan and Eric tackle a provocative question: When does your purpose become a problem?We explore the hidden mistakes that can trap even the most well-intentioned social impact organizations, including:• Relying on wishful thinking instead of hard facts• Letting processes become more important than outcomes • Falling into dogmatic, crusade-like thinking• Overvaluing passion at the expense of skills when hiringThese traps can slowly erode your effectiveness and relevance without you even realizing it. Left unchecked, they may even lead to your organization becoming obsolete.But there's hope. We discuss practical ways to recognize the warning signs and realign your purpose for maximum impact.This episode is a must-listen for any social impact leader who wants to ensure their organization's purpose remains a powerful force for good, not an anchor holding them back.Episode Highlights[00:05] Concept of "purpose becoming a problem" in social impact work[01:23] Wishful thinking, often driven by a single donor, can mislead organizations[02:10] Donor diversification can help with a social impact organization's resilience[03:59] Your historic purpose may lose relevance over time[06:10] Sticking to outdated processes can stifle organizational growth[08:33] "Crusading" and dogmatic approaches [11:24] Exploration of how passion-driven hiring can sometimes overshadow skill-based hiring[13:12] Hiring practices, the balance between passion and necessary skills in building effective teamsQuotes"[Some] organizations are driven by wishful thinking and not brutal facts." -  Jonathan Hicken [01:23]"Some organizations are built on a house of cards, with one donor propping the whole thing up." - Eric Ressler [03:26]"I think in most cases an 'us vs. them' mentality is lazy marketing." - Jonathan Hicken [10:46]ResourcesNina SimonSanta Cruz Museum of Art & History How We Define Social Purpose BrandsSocial Enterprises: Own Your Purpose-Driven DifferentiatorHow Your Purpose, Vision, and Mission Can Guide Better Brand StorytellingDefeat Mission Creep and Master Your Nonprofit's Messaging to Maximize Impact*** If you liked this episode, it really helps a new podcast if you can help spread the word. Share with your friends or co-workers, post it to social media, “follow” or “subscribe” in your podcast app, or write a review on iTunes. We could not do this without you!We love hearing feedback from our community, so please email us with your questions or comments — including topics you'd like us to cover in future episodes — at podcast@designbycosmic.comThank you for all that you do for your cause and for being part of the movement to move humanity and the planet forward.Listeners, now you can text us your comments or questions by clicking this link.

Dive deep into the world of marketing and social entrepreneurship with guest Eric Ressler, founder and creative director at Cosmic. Cosmic is a social impact creative agency that has helped nonprofits and social enterprises thrive by integrating marketing strategies that move humanity forward. Eric shares his wealth of knowledge on how to elevate your social enterprise's marketing game and how to better communicate your impact to the world. Learn the difference between transactional and brand-building marketing, the importance of relationship and community-building, and why aligning your mission with effective communication is key to long-term sustainability.  Key Takeaways:  The Power of Marketing in Social Impact: Eric emphasizes the importance of viewing marketing as a pillar of your social impact organization's strategy. Marketing isn't just about sales, it's about building awareness, educating, and inspiring your audience to support your mission.  Brand-Building vs. Transactional Marketing: Eric explains the shift toward transactional marketing due to advancements in data analytics, but warns of the dangers of relying solely on metrics like engagement and reach. The real value lies in long-term relationships and community-building efforts.  Content Strategy and Distribution: Learn how to effectively package your content for different platforms and audiences, maximizing the reach and engagement of every piece of content you create.  The Importance of Consistent Communication: Eric shares how crucial it is to keep your supporters in the loop about your impact, and how even small organizations can build a solid marketing strategy without an in-house marketing team.  Inspirational Moments:  [00:28] – The concept of a brand-building approach to marketing, emphasizing the importance of community building in the social impact space.  [02:58] – The power of communication as a tool for sustainability, highlighting how organizations often forget the critical role of marketing in making long-lasting change.  [10:45] – The difference between transactional marketing and relationship-building marketing, and why social impact organizations should focus on long-term brand loyalty.  [15:32] – Discussion on how small nonprofits can leverage storytelling to create emotional connections with their audience, even with limited resources.  [22:14] – Valuable advice on how nonprofits and social enterprises can focus on their content distribution and repurposing to get the most out of their efforts.  Meet Our Guest - Eric Ressler:  Eric applies his experience working with social impact organizations across the globe to help modern social impact leaders and brands navigate our rapidly-changing, digitally-driven world. As host of the Designing Tomorrow podcast, he challenges listeners to adopt a new playbook to reach their true impact potential.  As the Founder and Creative Director of Cosmic, the creative agency for modern social impact brands, he brings extensive expertise to helping social impact organizations create and build brands, embody a digital-first culture, and develop brand strategies that win in the attention economy.   Website: Cosmic Podcast: Designing Tomorrow LinkedIn: Eric Ressler  Inside Scoop:  Eric Ressler believes marketing is not a luxury but an essential component of any social impact strategy. His approach to content creation and distribution focuses on maximizing engagement through thoughtful packaging and channel selection, ensuring that nonprofits and social enterprises communicate effectively. Eric also stresses the importance of collaboration when working with external partners and marketing agencies - to treat them as strategic partners rather than delegating tasks without deep involvement.  Important Links:  Join the Social Impact Level Up Collective for community and support DIYers dream—hop in our University for templates and FREE resources: University  Website: WendieVeloz.com  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/social-impact-level-up/support

Social impact orgs aren't known for being great at branding and marketing.But it's NOT just about limited resources — there's a deeper story here.There's some big obstacles in the way, like:→ The "overhead myth" that just won't die (KILL IT WITH FIRE)→ A false dichotomy between choosing to invest in fundraising OR marketing (you need both)→ The "scrappiness fallacy" worn as a badge of honor (you don't look more “authentic” because your brand sucks, sorry!)→ Challenges connecting the ROI to the mission (not always easy!)→ A cultural zeitgeist that views marketing as "dirty" (bad marketing ruining it for all of us)But the culture around this is changing, and it's happening fast. More organizations are recognizing the power of strategic brand building and storytelling. And the ones that are investing accordingly are outpacing their peers massively. In this week's episode Jonathan and Eric dive into all of this, and:• Why marketing should be considered a program cost, not overhead• How fundraising and marketing can (and should) work synergistically• The importance of internal champions for brand/marketing efforts• Why "staying hidden" rarely serves your missionFor leaders in the space: If you're struggling to get buy-in or funding for this work, you might be pitching it wrong. We discuss how to make a bulletproof case that connects to your impact and financial sustainability.The social impact sector needs to embrace brand and marketing as important tools that help us reach more people, tell better stories, and ultimately, create more impact.Episode Highlights[02:07] Prioritizing Marketing[03:32] The Internal Champion[04:33] Breaking the Overhead Myth[06:40] Marketing's ROI is Misunderstood[07:33] Branding Beyond the Visual Identity[09:09] The Synergy of Marketing and Fundraising[11:06] Examples of Successful Brand Building[13:31] Overcoming Your Resistance to Marketing[15:41] The Role of Digital Tools in Brand Building[17:11] Final ThoughtsQuotes“The overhead myth that is apparently never going to fully die in the space [and it] is partially responsible for this.” - Eric Ressler [05:37]“The minute we sit down [with a donor], we're having a different kind of conversation... How can we accelerate this?” - Jonathan Hicken [12:31]Resources:Dan Pallotta's websiteBeyond Aesthetics: The ROI of Brand BuildingRethinking Your Unhealthy Relationship with Social Impact MarketingIs Your Social Impact Marketing Strategy Built on a Strong Foundation or a House of Cards?*** If you liked this episode, it really helps a new podcast if you can help spread the word. Share with your friends or co-workers, post it to social media, “follow” or “subscribe” in your podcast app, or write a review on iTunes. We could not do this without you!We love hearing feedback from our community, so please email us with your questions or comments — including topics you'd like us to cover in future episodes — at podcast@designbycosmic.comListeners, now you can text us your comments or questions by clicking this link.

Branding is about far more than just slick, eye-catching aesthetics.What truly transforms an organization is a brand built on vision and strategy. Without a clear strategy, positioning, and messaging, the aesthetic elements like logos, fonts, and colors won't do anything to create lasting impact.Branding goes beyond visuals. It's about aligning every aspect of the organization with its purpose, values, and audience.A successful rebrand requires more than just a great logo—it demands a strategic mix of:→ Brand Strategy→ Positioning and differentiation→ Messaging→ And, of course, the aesthetic elements like fonts, colors, photography, and logosIn this episode, we break down the difference between approaching branding as a purely aesthetic exercise versus a deeply strategic process, and how a well-thought-out rebrand can help your social impact organization create meaningful change.Episode Highlights[00:00] Introduction to the Branding Spectrum [01:01] Cosmetic vs. Strategic Branding[04:40] Color and Visual Identity [09:27] Tone, Voice, and Messaging [12:21] Target Audience and Niche [16:11] Mission, Vision, and Values Quotes“A really good brand should hit a lot of different points on the spectrum from cosmetic to strategic.” - Eric Ressler [00:30]“Logos are absolutely important, but all of the other things that make a brand are significantly more important than the logo.” - Eric Ressler [01:41]“The logo can be very powerful as a symbol or a fingerprint for your brand, but it is not your full brand.” - Eric Ressler [02:37]“Sometimes we can hide behind the work we put into the logo a little bit. It carries no weight or purpose if you're not backing it up with real world action.” - Jonathan Hicken [03:48]“Potentially getting your audience right is one of the most difficult steps in this process.” - Jonathan Hicken [13:14]“Target audience is one of the very first things we do. It's very preliminary in our work.” - Eric Ressler [13:20]“The number one thing I wish I would have been ready to do going into rebranding efforts was be prepared to adjust the mission and vision and values.” - Jonathan Hicken [18:23]Resources:In Depth: Social Impact Branding Navigating a Rebrand: Nine Common Mistakes to AvoidWant to Scale Your Social Impact? Your Brand is the FuelBeyond Aesthetics: The ROI of Brand Building*** If you liked this episode, it really helps a new podcast if you can help spread the word. Share with your friends or co-workers, post it to social media, “follow” or “subscribe” in your podcast app, or write a review on iTunes. We could not do this without you!We love hearing feedback from our community, so please email us with your questions or comments — including topics you'd like us to cover in future episodes — at podcast@designbycosmic.comListeners, now you can text us your comments or questions by clicking this link.

Do you ever feel like you're just STUCK?Like no matter what you try or how hard you work you just can't seem to get traction?We've all been there before, and it's NOT a fun space to be in. Here's the thing: there are going to be sticking points in your social impact journey. That's pretty much guaranteed. What worked on day 1 — or year 1 —  won't necessarily work for year 3, or year 5. What worked when you were brand new and had a $500k annual operating budget won't work to get you from $5m/yr to $50m/yr.But there's a powerful way to overcome these sticking points: Learn to build a social impact flywheel.A flywheel takes some initial effort to start and spin up, but then it builds momentum and continues to propel your work forward with minimal effort once it's going. You can't just build one big impact flywheel. You need to build a bunch of them that all work together. Jonathan and Eric go into this in detail in our latest episode of Designing Tomorrow. If you're feeling stuck right now, you don't want to miss this one.Episode Highlights[01:11] - Flywheel concept from Good to Great and its relevance to social impact[05:27] - Positive feedback loops and their application in social impact organizations[06:16] - Creating positive feedback loops and examples of effective stakeholder engagement[09:38] - Importance of showing the impact of financial contributions[12:05] - Providing immediate feedback for donors and participants[14:06] - Immediate feedback to help maintain donor and participant engagement[20:21] - The idea of multi-threaded value to enhance retention and momentumQuotes"I think the idea and the concept of a flywheel is very alluring, right? Because it's like, okay, if we can get this flywheel built and we do all this effort at some point it starts to build its own momentum and then we can, you know, reduce the effort." - Eric Ressler [03:25]"One of the mistakes that we make most commonly, and I think one that if we correct it would get that positive feedback loop going, get that flywheel turning is to make this feedback more immediate." - Jonathan Hicken [14:06]Resources:Article - How To Power Up Your Content Strategy When You're Short on Time and StaffArticle - How to Increase Supporter and Donor Action Using an Engagement PyramidArticle - Nonprofits, Master the 3 Pillars of Digital Engagement for Maximum Social ImpactArticle - How to Build a Next-level Content StrategyGood to Great - by James C. Collins  AllBirds*** If you liked this episode, it really helps a new podcast if you can help spread the word. Share with your friends or co-workers, post it to social media, “follow” or “subscribe” in your podcast app, or write a review on iTunes. We could not do this without you!We love hearing feedback from our community, so please email us with your questions or comments — including topics you'd like us to cover in future episodes — at podcast@designbycosmic.comListeners, now you can text us your comments or questions by clicking this link.

Far too many social impact orgs are giving their power away — and they don't even know they're doing it. There's a fundamental tension in the social impact space. A tension between the generosity that powers this sector and the need for social impact brands to leverage their power so they can make a true impact. But when this healthy tension strays out of balance — in either direction — the results can be disastrous. Relying solely on the generosity of your supporters leads to the common “hat in hand” position that leaves many incredible organizations begging for money/resources and stuck in the scarcity mindset/starvation cycle. Too much focus on power (this is rarer, but it does happen) means that bigger, more established organizations suck up resources and leave smaller (and sometimes more impactful) orgs begging for the scraps of available funding within an issue area. And giving your power away can happen with the smallest of well-intentioned actions. From how you craft your donation appeals, to how you position yourself in your niche, to how you develop your team's internal culture. Today, Jonathan and Eric break down all the ways that social impact orgs are unknowingly giving their power away and how to strike a healthy balance between the generosity that powers your work and strength in your approach to reaching your mission.Have you ever felt like you've given your power away, or felt powerless in your social impact work? Then this episode is a must listen.Watch on YouTube or listen wherever you get your favorite podcasts.Episode Highlights[00:00] - Introduction and Topic Setup[01:15] - Exploring Power in Social Impact[02:24] - Personal Experiences with Power Dynamics[04:05] - The Power Crisis in Social Impact[06:04] - The Trap of Transactional Marketing[12:00] - Brand Building as a Power Tool[08:01] - Balancing Values with Financial Necessity[14:47] - The Importance of Credibility and ReputationQuotes"Power really is the ability to influence behavior or change the course of events, and when used wisely, it can shape the future, especially in the social impact space." - Eric Ressler [01:15]"As an executive director and marketer, questions of power often arise in conversations with influential stakeholders, whose power could move the needle significantly for the organization I serve." - Jonathan Hicken [02:24]"One big way that social impact organizations are giving their power away is by practicing transactional marketing and fundraising, which might hit short-term goals but comes with long-term costs." - Eric Ressler [06:04]"Another side effect of too much transactional marketing is that it becomes about the organization rather than the impact you're seeking, which dilutes your power." - Jonathan Hicken [06:32]"Building a solid brand and marketing muscle can help your organization build credibility and authority, which opens up new opportunities, resources, and, ultimately, power." - Eric Ressler [15:10]Resources:Article - Brand Building: An Authentic Approach to Growing a Fierce, Loyal, and Supportive Community*** If you liked this episode, it really helps a new podcast if you can help spread the word. Share with your friends or co-workers, post it to social media, “follow” or “subscribe” in your podcast app, or write a review on iTunes. We could not do this without you!Listeners, now you can text us your comments or questions by clicking this link.

**CORRECTION: we mistakenly published the wrong audio for this episode. We've corrected the audio and reposted this episode hereCore brand values aren't just fluffy words you put on posters. But without the right approach, that's all they'll ever be. Core brand values — when done right — can be absolutely transformative for your organization's culture, effectiveness, and impact. But you can't just come up with 5 words that all start with the letter “R” and call it a day. So how do you create core values for your brand that ACTUALLY make a meaningful impact for your team? Jonathan and Eric have some ideas — and some things to watch out for — in this week's episode of Designing Tomorrow. Episode Highlights[00:00] Discussing a disappointing experience at a museum and how it led Jonathan to reflect on the importance of core values[01:32] This episode is for executive directors and board members looking to build meaningful core values[03:39] First tip: Core values should be easy to remember and not lame to repeat, using his organization's value "Find Out" as an example[05:54] The importance of backing core values with specific behaviors and evaluating them regularly[07:34] Emphasizing the need for continuous evaluation, suggesting quarterly reviews rather than annual ones[09:35] The fluidity of core values and the necessity of adapting them as an organization evolves[11:35] Fifth tip: Use core values as a foundation for hiring decisions and team building[14:23] Focus on one core value per year to allow teams to deeply integrate and embody itQuotes"I've seen a lot of core values out there, and I'm not really sure how many of them are actually enacted by their organization." - Eric Ressler [01:00]"Core values need to be easy to remember or not lame to repeat. It has to be something that somebody would actually say in their day-to-day life." - Jonathan Hicken [03:39]"You have to back these values with specific behaviors...what does a five out of five on the 'Find Out' value actually look like when you show up to work?" - Jonathan Hicken [05:54]"To me, these are the brand values, but to you, they're the team values. I think they're the same thing." - Eric Ressler [10:18]"When these values are done excellently, it's clear how they're driving impact." - Jonathan Hicken [10:29]"I challenge you to think about how the brand, the rebrand, the strategic plan you're putting together, makes its way to your team and what that's going to look like in people's day-to-day jobs." - Jonathan Hicken [13:56]Resources:Article - Nail Your Brand Strategy with this Simple FrameworkVideo - Demystifying Strategic Planning: Insights from a Seasoned ExpertArticle - Create Better Social Impact Messaging by Finding Your Brand Voice*** If you liked this episode, it really helps a new podcast if you can help spread the word. Share with your friends or co-workers, post it to social media, “follow” or “subscribe” in your podcast app, or write a review on iTunes. We could not do this without you!We love hearing feedback from our community, so please email us with your questions or comments — including topics you'd like us to cover in future episodes — at podcast@desiListeners, now you can text us your comments or questions by clicking this link.

What makes an EXCEPTIONAL social impact marketing team?Often, when we get this question from clients, they are trying to determine what ROLES to hire for. But that's putting the cart before the horse. Instead, it's best to think about the QUALITIES and CULTURE of a successful marketing philosophy for your brand. Because you can build a highly-skilled marketing team and still totally flop if:↳ You don't have vision as a brand↳ You don't let them create BOLD, scroll-stopping content↳ You micro-manage and add arduous approval processesIn today's episode of Designing Tomorrow, Eric distill's what he's seen work the best when building out your in-house marketing team at your social impact org. And at the end, he outlines how he would structure the marketing department for social impact orgs at different sizes. Jonathan STRONGLY disagrees with his recommendations at first, but starts to come around towards the end. Eric hopes to get him eventually. Watch on YouTube or listen wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Episode Highlights[02:15] - The importance of brand strategy[05:05] - Knowing your audience deeply [07:55] - Creating scroll-stopping content [13:42] - Balancing cadence and quality [17:14] - Evaluation and curiosity in marketing [20:45] - The role of leadership in marketing success [22:47] - Building marketing teams across different organizational sizes [24:26] - The role of content in marketing[28:06] - In-house capacity vs. agency support [31:54] - Challenges of scaling a marketing teamQuotes:"You have to understand who you're talking to. Who are you actually speaking to, who's reading this?" - Jonathan Hicken "If you start to just do marketing... and just putting content out there for the sake of putting content out there, but there's not a solid brand strategy... you're kind of setting yourself up for failure." - Eric Ressler "At the end of the day, if you or your marketing team are not spending time with the people that you're serving... you're never going to get it." - Jonathan Hicken"We need to find ways to get more creative and more emotional, sometimes more fun with our content, even if that feels intuitively wrong." - Eric ResslerResources:Rethinking Your Unhealthy Relationship with Social Impact MarketingIs Your Social Impact Marketing Strategy Built on a Strong Foundation or a House of Cards?Podcast - We Are For Good — Nonprofit Trends That Matter in 2023: Marketing is MissionMarketing Isn't Overhead, It's an Impact MultiplierEthical Storytelling Resource - Maria Bryan Creative*** If you liked this episode, it really helps a new podcast if you can help spread the word. Share with your friends or co-workers, post it to social media, “follow” or “subscribe” in your podcast app, or write a review on iTunes. We could not do this without you!We love hearing feedback from our community, so please email us with your questions or comments — including topics you'd like us to cover in future episListeners, now you can text us your comments or questions by clicking this link.

Your brand is not your logo. It's not your fonts, or your colors, or your voice. It's not your content. It's not your mission. Your brand is:↳ Whether you come through on the promises you make to your community↳ The actions you take↳ How your team shows up each and every dayBut what happens when you paint a picture of those values and promises, but don't come through on them for your community?And how can you ensure that your brand values and promises are EMBODIED by everyone on your team in real life? In today's episode of Designing Tomorrow, Jonathan shares exactly how he and his team have done this at the Seymour Marine Discovery Center and his past roles in his social impact journey. Eric and Jonathan emphasize the need for consistent brand experiences across all interactions, especially during rebranding efforts. The conversation provides practical strategies for ensuring that both internal and external communications reflect an organization's core values and promises.Episode Highlights[00:00] - Eric and Jonathan discuss the disconnect between brand promises and actual delivery, reflecting on past experiences at a B2B software company.[01:01] - They delve into how nonprofits can enhance donor retention by embodying their brand effectively in real life.[02:00] - Eric and Jonathan talk about the risks of rebranding and the importance of internal alignment.[07:12] - They offer tips on storytelling for nonprofits, emphasizing the need to balance vision with authenticity.[10:04] - The discussion turns to making supporters the heroes of the story rather than the organization itself.[13:02] - Jonathan shares a real-world example of how a small change at the front desk of an educational center reinforced a community-focused brand.[14:55] - The impact of inconsistent brand experiences and the importance of aligning internal actions with external messaging. [17:27]- Methods for assessing how well employees embody the brand, including coaching and feedback mechanisms.[21:08] - The concept of "pulses" for obtaining customer feedback and compares it to traditional surveys.[25:18] - Embodying the brand is crucial for authenticity and long-term success.Quotes"You want your supporters to be the hero of the story, not your organization. The focus should be on how they can make a meaningful impact." — Eric Ressler  [09:44]"If your brand's promise isn't met in real-world interactions, there's an instant lack of trust and credibility." - Eric Ressler [15:38]"Every single human being who's a part of your organization is in some way embodying and creating your brand." - Jonathan Hicken [16:12]Resources:They Said - pulses / mini surveys Storybrand by Donald MillerCreate Better Social Impact Messaging by Finding Your Brand Voice Unexpected Ways a Rebrand Can Supercharge Your Team Culture*** If you liked this episode, it really helps a new podcast if you can help spread the word. Share with your friends or co-workers, post it to social media, “follow” or “subscribe” in your podcast app, or write a review on iTunes. We could not do this without you!We love hearing feedback from our community, so please email us with your questions or comments — including topiListeners, now you can text us your comments or questions by clicking this link.

In this bonus episode, we're kicking off Season 2 with a new co-host, Jonathan Hicken.Learn about Jonathan's path to social impact, from being raised by peace corps parents in Venezuela to his current role as Executive Director at the Seymour Marine Discovery Center, a marine science museum. You can also learn a bit more about Eric's journey from design school dropout to accidental entrepreneur and what sparked his decision to focus his work at Cosmic fiercely on social impact. Jonathan and Eric cover a lot of ground in this season, and we can't wait to get future episodes out into the wild soon. 

Welcome to Purposely Short, a weekly episode, featuring one of our friends or past guests and their expertise on a certain topic. This weeks episode features Eric Ressler founder of Cosmic a creative agency for social impact organisations and brands. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mark-longbottom2/message

Guest: Eric ResslerIn this enlightening episode of Untapped Philanthropy, hosts Kerrin Mitchell and Tim Sarrantonio welcome Eric Ressler, the creative force behind Cosmic, to discuss the dynamic intersection of digital innovation and social impact. Delve into a conversation that challenges conventional nonprofit narratives, advocates for a reimagined approach to social impact branding, and emphasizes the crucial role of digital engagement in building community and driving change.To learn more about Cosmic, visit: designbycosmic.comTo learn more about Fluxx, visit: fluxx.ioTo learn more about Neon One, visit: neonone.comEpisodes of Untapped Philanthropy are edited, mixed, and mastered by Rocket Skates Recording.

Why do some social impact brands thrive, while so many others fail to get traction, build support for their cause, and make meaningful progress towards their mission?Meet Designing Tomorrow, the show for modern social impact leaders and brands, hosted by Eric Ressler, Founder & Creative Director of Cosmic.Think of it as a modern playbook for navigating our rapidly-changing, digitally-driven world that you can use to reach your true impact potential. New episodes drop every Tuesday, and we hope you enjoy this preview of episode 1.Follow + subscribe to Designing Tomorrow on your favorite podcast platform or catch the Video Versions on Youtube. We've included the links below! We'll be listening right along with you. Designing Tomorrow Website Watch on YouTubeListen + Subscribe on AppleListen + Subscribe on SpotifyFollow Designing Tomorrow on LinkedInSupport the showSupport the ShowIf you love the podcast, you'll love Good Friends, our listener support community here at We Are For Good. Not only do you get these perks, but you're hanging with the most rabid fans who are restless to grow the Impact Uprising. This movement of believers are powering our free content and community with their monthly support, and Whoa Nelly, are we excited to invite you in.Learn more today at weareforgood.com/friends. Join the We Are For Good CommunityYou can think of it as the after-party to each podcast episode

In this episode, Rick interviews Eric Ressler, Cosmic's founder and creative director, a social impact creative agency. Eric is a social impact hero dedicated to helping organizations shape their desired future and propel humanity forward. He believes in the power of compelling impact storytelling, brand awareness, and inspiring action, partnering with a diverse range of organizations in climate action, education, social justice, sustainability, arts, culture, and tech-driven social impact. Eric emphasizes the importance of balance, remaining focused, calm, and open to new experiences to stay creatively fueled in pursuing meaningful change. Join us as we delve into Eric's journey and insights on driving impactful change through storytelling and creative advocacy. This episode is a MUST-LISTEN!

Why do some social impact brands thrive, while so many others fail to get traction, build support for their cause, and make meaningful progress towards their mission?Now imagine, for a second, what kind of impact you could create? With truly sustainable revenue and resources. With deeper engagement and relationships with your community. With more influence in your social impact category.Welcome to Designing Tomorrow, the show for modern social impact leaders and brands, hosted by Eric Ressler, Founder & Creative Director of Cosmic.Eric brings his experience and insights working with social impact organizations across the globe directly to you, navigating our rapidly-changing, digitally-driven world with a new playbook to reach your true impact potential.Each episode, we do a deep dive into the strategies, mindsets, and behaviors top social impact brands use to play and win in the attention economy. And we're going beyond high-level concepts. We cover the specific tools and tactics you can use, today, to make meaningful progress toward your mission.Join us as we explore how social impact organizations can transform into category leaders, multiply their impact, and propel our sector forward.New episodes of Designing Tomorrow are available each Tuesday wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Or find the video versions on our YouTube channel. Let's design a better tomorrow, together.

In this episode, I welcome Eric Ressler - a digital designer helping social impact organisations myceliate their stories into the world through Design by Cosmic. If you've ever wondered about what goes into the behind-the-scenes of a social action group or wanted to start your own, this is a must-listen!As an organisation designer, Eric goes into the nitty-gritty of what the most important steps for catalysing real world change are - from how to activate people through online platforms to the significance of taking a moonshot once in a while.Design by Cosmic supports organisations focused on making real world change hone down their impact story, their branding and their messages. If you're interested, check out their manifesto for social impact leaders!Support the showThis podcast is an initiative of the Permaculture Education Institute.Our way of sharing our love for this planet and for life, is by teaching permaculture teachers who are locally adapting this around the world - finding ways to apply the planet care ethics of earth care, people care and fair share. We host global conversations and learning communities on 6 continents. We teach permaculture teachers, host permaculture courses, host Our Permaculture Life YouTube, and offer free monthly film club and masterclass. We broadcast from a solar powered studio in the midst of a permaculture ecovillage food forest on beautiful Gubbi Gubbi country. I acknowledge this is and always will be Aboriginal land, pay my respects to elders past and present, and extend my respect to indigenous cultures and knowledge systems across the planet. You can also watch Sense-Making in a Changing World on youtube.SUBSCRIBE for notification of each new episode. Please leave us a 5 star REVIEW - it really it does help the bots find and myceliate this show.

Eric Ressler is the Founder and Creative Director at Cosmic, a Social Impact Creative Agency. Cosmic empowers social impact organizations to catalyze real-world change by helping them nail their impact story, build brand awareness, and inspire action. Key Takeaways:It shouldn't be an issue if either a “nonprofit” organization is making a profit, or if it's failing. Most for-profit businesses take a lot of years before they take off and it's only right that we give nonprofit businesses the same kind of consideration. Our current digital era has allowed for information to be free and flowing to the point that it can be overwhelming to most people. Information is no longer at a premium, attention is. Since attention is finite, that is the thing that we compete for in this new “attention economy”. Building your brand is foundational to your organization's success - it can either boost your growth or hinder it. Embrace boldness, but not just for boldness's sake. Your messaging, actions, and decisions have to reflect the brand and core values of the organization. If the branding foundation is strong, then everything else that you do is going to have a bigger impact. However, if you don't have that luxury, you can still make a lot of progress just by getting the right messages out to the right people in a way that's informative and inspiring.  “I think we need to embrace failure and learn from failure as a sector and not like sweep those things under the rug when they don't work, but publish them and say, ‘We tried this, here's why we tried it. Here's why we thought it had potential. Turns out it didn't work. For these reasons, let's like all learn from this experience together.'” “Information is no longer at a premium, what's now at a premium is attention. If you understand that, you are playing in the attention economy where our attention is being bought and sold by large corporations.”  “You have a brand, whether or not you think you do, and the more that you can dial in that brand - your visual identity, your impact story, your niche - that foundational kind of brand-building work is either going to supercharge everything else that you do or hold back everything else that you do. ” - Eric Ressler Manifesto for Today's Social Impact Leader: https://designbycosmic.com/manifesto/Free Insights and Resources: https://designbycosmic.com/insights/ Reach out to Eric Ressler at:Website: https://designbycosmic.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cosmiceric/  Ask for and receive all you want need and deserve without feeling rejected, ineffective, or pushy. Learn to manage your mindset, lead yourself and others more effectively and have the meaningful conversations that drive your most important work.  Get your free starter kit today at www.theinfluentialnonprofit.com Book your quickie intro call with Maryanne here!  Connect with Maryanne Dersch: https://www.courageouscommunication.com/connect

Eric Ressler is the co-founder of Cosmic, a creative agency working with ‘for purpose' and mission driven organisations across the USA. Eric and Cosmics journey, marked by a significant pivot from commercial and silicon valley startup clients to a commitment to empowering mission-driven organisations only. Despite struggling at school, Eric Ressler has gone on to have a successful career driven by a passion for creativity in various forms, from music and stop-motion animation to videography and traditional art. Eric has also been willing to change with the times, innovate and stay relevant developing his expertise in digital media as demand for this increased. Eric's early design work began through freelancing and consulting work, primarily focusing on digital experiences, websites, and brand development. Eric's freelancing endeavours gradually expanded, leading him to form his own design firm. The journey culminated in the birth of Cosmic in 2009, which initially thrived in the vibrant co-working space of NextSpace in Santa Cruz. The demand for their services grew, and the team expanded to meet the growing needs of clients, ranging from startups to established B2B and B2C brands. During their initial years, Cosmic worked with a diverse clientele, including Silicon Valley startups, enterprise brands, and non-profits. While they were motivated by the projects they undertook, many of these engagements were profit-oriented and followed traditional business models. The shift to purpose Eric and his team at Cosmic began to reassess their mission and values. They realised that making a positive impact on the world did not solely depend on being a non-profit. Market-based and innovation-based approaches could be equally effective. This revelation prompted Cosmic to pivot towards a social impact-focused niche. They decided to deepen their expertise and experience in this sector and concentrate all their efforts on organisations with a mission to make a difference. Today, Cosmic has firmly established itself as a Social Impact Creative Agency. Cosmic is committed to helping social impact organisations catalyse real-world change by perfecting their impact story, building brand awareness, and inspiring action. Cosmics work centres on their self-published mission driven digital manifesto. Central to this is the following beliefs   build brand awareness organize a coalition of deeply impassioned supporters lead the conversation around the issues you care about most A digital-first model also allows you to: build organisational capacity break the starvation cycle create a sustainable revenue stream --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mark-longbottom2/message

Welcome to Eggs! the Podcast, featuring the best and brightest minds in business leadership, entrepreneurship, and technology. Today, we're breaking into the digital landscape of social impact with Eric Ressler, the Founder and Creative Director of Cosmic — a trailblazing Social Impact Creative Agency. Eric stands at the forefront of innovation, where technology meets social good, steering organizations through the currents of the attention economy to make a real-world splash. On this week's show, we'll learn how a digital-first approach can empower social change, the secrets to engaging a digital audience with compelling narratives, why acting like a digital media company can be a game-changer for social impact leaders, and so much more. Please join us in welcoming to the show Eric Ressler.Guest: Eric Resslerhttps://designbycosmic.com/----Credits:Hosted by Michael Smith and Ryan RoghaarProduced by Ryan RoghaarTheme music: "Perfect Day" by OPMThe Carton:https://medium.com/the-carton-by-eggsFeature with Zack Chmeis of Straight Method up now! https://medium.com/the-carton-by-eggs/zack-chmeis-35dae817ac28The Eggs Podcast Spotify playlist:bit.ly/eggstunesThe Plugs:The Showeggscast.com@eggshow on twitter and instagramOn iTunes: itun.es/i6dX3pCOn Stitcher: bit.ly/eggs_on_stitcherAlso available on Google Play Music!Mike "DJ Ontic" shows and infodjontic.com@djontic on twitterRyan Roghaarhttp://rogha.ar

Eric Ressler's insights underscore the critical role of brand building in a nonprofit's success. He encourages NPO's to maintain a clear brand identity, engage with their communities, and strategically use their expertise to drive real-world change and revenue growth. As he aptly put it, "The brand is not something you just do and then it's done. It requires constant building, curation, and attention." Host Jarrett Ransom had the pleasure of speaking with Eric Ressler, the founder and Creative Director of Design by Cosmic, a social impact creative agency. Eric shared valuable insights on the importance of brand building for nonprofits and its impact on achieving real-world action and revenue generation. Eric highlights the essence of understanding a nonprofit's unique niche within the social impact landscape, emphasizing the need to focus on specific strengths and avoid mission creep. He points out that organizations should consider their brand as a dynamic relationship between the community and the organization, not just a logo or visual identity. Eric affirms that building and nurturing this relationship is an ongoing process that requires attention and consistent efforts. He also addressed the fear some nonprofits have about taking a stance on divisive issues, acknowledging the challenges of navigating politically charged topics, and emphasizing that organizations should engage in issues within their expertise and advocate for what aligns with their mission and values. Watch on video: https://bit.ly/3MtwiBsFollow us on the Twitter: @Nonprofit_ShowSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

In this episode, Eric Ressler delves into the fascinating intersection of branding and the changing dynamics of donor generations. You'll gain invaluable insights on how to effectively communicate your organization's mission, values, and impact in a way that resonates with the diverse and evolving generations of donors.Design by Cosmic: A Social Impact Creative AgencyFollow us on social media!YouTubeInstagramLinkedInHGAFundraising.comIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating! Reach out to bailey@hgafundraising for guest speaker inquiries.

One of our values at Disruptive CEO Nation is doing business while still being able to deliver social good, but in a cluttered market and constant noise, how do change agents get the attention they deserve? Enter Eric Ressler, the founder and creative director of Cosmic, a social impact creative agency based in Santa Cruz, California. Cosmic serves non-profits, B Corps, funders, and organizations dedicated to advancing humanity.   Eric discusses the importance of authentic messaging and their team's unique approach to creative design and he even shares insights into an organization that they are currently helping in Morroco.   Here are some of the stops we made in our conversation: -Introduction to Cosmic and its mission to serve social impact organizations. -The concept of the attention economy and its relevance in today's digital world. -The why behind Cosmic's manifesto and tips your organization can take in developing your own. - Balancing the creative process with sustainable work-life balance. Think rest equals better business results. - Eric's journey from a freelance designer to founding Cosmic. -The role of AI in content creation and the importance of human connection. -Distribution channels, focusing on email as an owned channel, and building authentic communities   Eric Ressler is the Founder and Creative Director at Cosmic, a Social Impact Creative Agency. Eric launched Cosmic in 2009. Cosmic empowers social impact organizations to catalyze real-world change by helping them nail their impact story, build brand awareness, and inspire action. Cosmic is a distributed team of creatives, strategists, and technologists with roots in Santa Cruz, CA but working around the world.   A self-taught photographer and cinematographer, Eric operates the camera on Cosmic's photo and video shoots. He's also one of our primary video editors and colorists. His musical background frequently comes into play during the video post-production process.   Connect with Eric   LinkedIn Eric: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cosmiceric/ LinkedIn Cosmic: https://www.linkedin.com/company/design-by-cosmic-inc-/ Website: https://designbycosmic.com/   Connect with Allison: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/ Website: DisruptiveCEONation.com Twitter: @DisruptiveCEO  #digitalmarketing #branding #socialgood #Bcorp #CEO #startup #startupstory #founder #business #businesspodcast #podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join this panel of modern impact thinkers as we explore how to build evolved methods to grow the digital influence of your organization. We're diving into marketing and branding, working with influencers, flexing content in various mediums and platforms, leveraging the power of media to build digital community, and helping nonprofits look to the horizon for evolved methods to grow their digital influence. This is the panel you've been waiting for to get your mission's story out in the wild.Today's GuestsSarah Adolphson, Co-CEO, Artemis AgencyCarolina Garcia Jayaram, Executive Director, The Elevate Prize FoundationEric Ressler, Founder, Design by CosmicNick Lynch, Co-Founder and CEO, Collidescope.ioEPISODE HIGHLIGHTSWhat is the attention economy? (2:50)How social media is democratizing impact. (5:00)Marketing is mission and mission manifested. (7:45)The power of turning marketing into action (9:00)Ways marketing can drive impact 12:35Shifts the sector needs to embrace these digital strategies (17:05)How to identify win-win partnerships (27:00)Influencer Marketing (29:30)One Good Thing (34:10)Eric: We need to fund this work and this work needs to be part of our core strategy for the organization.Carolina: Don't focus so much on the media part of this focus more on developing your story.Sarah: Trust the artists.Nick: You have to start with the story.For more information + episode details visit: weareforgood.com/episode/446.About our Sponsor: Foster AvenueAs a philanthropic communications consulting and creative agency, Foster Avenue sees how campaign communications are facing a revolution these days. And luckily, they're sharing their insights. They are sharing a 10-point checklist for creating campaign communications that meet the moment. And we want to get this checklist into your hands so you can start refining your messaging right away.Learn more today at www.fosteravenue.com/goodSupport the showSupport the We Are For Good PodcastWe believe education is for everyone. We strive to make our teaching as forward-thinking, accessible, affordable and inclusive as possible. Your generous support will help power the #ImpactUprising, free resources and community for change-agents globally. Join the We Are For Good CommunityYou can think of it as the after-party to each podcast episode

Your donation page is critical, but it's only part of the experience your donors should have with you. Setting up your donation page for conversions is great and then it's all important to ensure they are building continued trust with you. This helps with better retention and more financial sustainability for your organization.  What you'll learn: → value of a frictionless donation page → power of integrating elements into your website. → creating a ways to give page. → having different donation pages for different campaigns Want to skip ahead? Here are key takeaways: [7:36] Before you build your donation page ensure your messaging is pulled together. This will help you connect better with your donation page and prioritize what you really need on that page. That user experience can also help you determine the tech tools you need to be successful. This can also help you build out the actions that hapen once a donation is given. [15:39] Embed as much as you can on your website. When you have your forms and essential elements on your website, instead of sending them somewhere else, it builds trust and makes a better user experience. It is also easier to control. Put your video on the left and donation form to the right so it catches people's eye right away. [19:13] Create a Ways to Give page with additional information people may want. Add a button below the donation page for people that might want more information so they can make a donation decision. This page should include contact information and more details about all the options they have like crypto, stocks, mail a check, etc. [23:29] Give as much attention to your donation page as you do on your follow up. Nurturing is critical and it starts right after they give. Share the latest and greatest in your zone of genius and keep top of mind with your donors. [30:58] Create different metrics for your online giving. Understanding your goals for online and individual gifts will help you determine your follow up plan and how it fits in with your entire fundraising strategy. Resources [quiz] Should You DIY Your Website? Eric Ressler Founder and Creative Director, Cosmic Eric is the Founder and Creative Director of Cosmic — a Social Impact Creative Agency. He believes that the social impact sector must change in order to take advantage of the benefits of the information era. Today's websites, digital tools, and platforms make it easier for social impact leaders to quickly and efficiently communicate ideas and reach people aligned with their mission across the globe. Yet, many of the strategies and approaches in the social impact space are still based on what worked well in the pre-digital era. This leaves many organizations under-resourced, siloed, and struggling to reach their full impact potential.Today's social impact organizations have strong missions and inspiring visions. In order to accomplish their goals, they need to update their communications philosophies, focus their digital strategy, and discover how a well-thought-out brand strategy can help them rise above the noise, connect with supporters and advocates, and win in the attention economy.Eric and Cosmic are on a mission to help social impact leaders and organizations develop a digital-first culture that leads to adopting the tools of the information era in order to reach their desired future state and move humanity forward. Learn more: https://designbycosmic.com/  Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-first-click Learn more about The First Click: https://thefirstclick.net Schedule a Digital Marketing Therapy Session: https://thefirstclick.net/officehours   

Today, our social feeds are flooded with so much information, it has become increasingly challenging to cut through all the noise making it all too easy to miss valuable information. That is why creating captivating content that compels people to pause their scrolling and engage with the message is so important. In the world of social impact organizations, creating meaningful change requires more than just a noble mission. It demands strategic thinking, effective communication, and a compelling brand that captures the attention of the audience. By mastering this art, social impact leaders can effectively amplify their voices and generate the desired impact. On this episode of RENEWables, we sat down with Eric Ressler, the visionary founder and creative director of Cosmic, a design agency focused on empowering social impact organizations to catalyze real world change by helping them nail their impact story, build brand awareness, and inspire action.  Learn more about this intersection between marketing, branding, and social impact and how it serves as a call to action for organizations to prioritize their brand strategy and digital experiences as integral components of their overall business strategy. By adapting to the attention economy, social impact organizations can elevate their message, connect with their target audience, and create positive change on a larger scale. Tune in and subscribe. Show Notes:Website https://designbycosmic.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/designbycosmic Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/company/2830454

Eric Ressler, the Founder & Creative Director of Cosmic, is an entrepreneur with a creative bent and a proponent of sustainability. In 2012, he founded Cosmic, a pioneering firm in the sustainability sector that works with clients to create powerful branding and marketing strategies that advance sustainability and spark positive change. Prepare to be inspired by Eric's innovative approach to merging creativity and sustainability for a brighter future. Discussion Points: Q1. What sort of myths, bogus strategies, or misconceptions would you like to set the record straight on? 1:35 Q2. What are nuggets for successfully implementing a 4-Day Workweek in an agency? Tips for people who want to get started with it? 7:11 Q3. How do you effectively manage and set expectations for upcoming talent within the agency? 14:06 Q4. What are the tech-stack do you use to manage internal work processes? 18:59 Q5. How do you establish your pricing model with clients? 22:08 Q6. Could you share insights about your agency's niche and how you established it? 27:57 Q7. What are some of the challenges you have faced as an agency? 34:01 Q8. How do you stay on track and ensure you're not missing out on important tasks as agency owners? 40:23 Q9. What excites you about the future? 45:52 Show notes: Creativity is something that you can't brute force. You can grind, hustle, and push hard for a certain amount of time, but you also need time to rest, rejuvenate, and reflect on real life, where you draw inspiration from. 2:49 It's more helpful to come fully prepared, fully rested, and fully creative each day during a four-day workweek, rather than working five, six, or seven days a week and functioning at only 60%, that's not beneficial. 6:16 Deadlines and tight turnarounds are not deal breakers for a four-day week. It's about ensuring each team member shows up at their best every day. 12:31 I don't think a four-day work week necessarily will work for every organization. I think it'll work for 90-plus percent of agencies. 11:15 We work with clients in sprints, breaking down projects into weekly cycles with key deliverables, goals, and success metrics. We present sprint reviews, gather feedback, and work in iterative cycles. 19:24 We'd been an agency for about seven years, and we'd been doing a lot of work with startups, b2b brands, and b2c brands near Silicon Valley in Santa Cruz at the time we were working out of an office. 29:40 We've also just found that the types of clients that come to us need more of a holistic partner, they don't want to hire us just for one thing, and then have to find other agencies to do other parts. 32:30 Building expertise happens through doing enough work for similar clients that you start to see patterns, and you start to understand more about that space than any other agency working in general. 36:57 I go into deep learning mode, devouring books, podcasts, and articles, seeking answers, inspiration, and ideas. 42:19 Change can be scary, but it can also be interesting and lead to more just and equitable ways. 47:09 Myth Busted -  One needs to work long hours and give up their personal life in the agency business.   Links - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cosmiceric/ Company website: https://designbycosmic.com/

In this episode, I'm very pleased to welcome Eric Ressler, Founder and Creative Director of Cosmic, a creative agency that is exploring how digital experiences can spark real world change. They empower social impact organizations by helping them nail their impact story, build brand awareness, and inspire action. Eric shares what it takes to embrace and stick with a new purpose and strategy – and why doing so was both the toughest and best thing they've ever done.

Eric Ressler is the Founder and Creative Director of Cosmic — a Social Impact Creative Agency. He believes that the social impact sector must change in order to take advantage of the benefits of the information era.Today's digital tools and platforms make it easier for social impact organizations to quickly and efficiently create a platform, communicate ideas, and reach people aligned with their mission across the globe. Yet, many of the strategies and approaches in the social impact space are still based on what worked well in the pre-digital era. This leaves many organizations under-resourced, siloed, and struggling to reach their full impact potential.Today's social impact organizations have strong missions and inspiring visions. In order to accomplish their goals, they need to update their communications philosophies, focus their digital strategy, and learn how a well-thought-out brand strategy can help them rise above the noise, connect with supporters and advocates, and win in the attention economy.Cosmic is always looking to help social impact leaders. We empower social impact organizations to catalyze real world change by helping them nail their impact story, build brand awareness, and inspire action.Connect after the interview…LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cosmicericWebsite: https://designbycosmic.comDuring the interview we discuss…Challenges in funding for social impact organizationsThe starvation cycle and breaking free from itFuture of social impact fundraisingImportance of digital strategy for impact organizationsCoherent branding and its benefitsBranding's relevance amid other prioritiesPhilanthropists' role in supporting impact organizationsOverhead percentage as a flawed effectiveness metricClaim your free gift!We're giving away a one-year membership to the world's #1 business book summary service for leaders! Our gift will help you stay on top of the latest ideas, decide which books to read next, and engage your teams.To get your gift:Leave a rating or review on your favorite listening channel.Take a screenshot of your review.Share the screenshot on LinkedIn, and mention either “Allison Dunn” or “Deliberate Directions” and the “Deliberate Leaders Podcast”.=============Allison DunnExecutive Business CoachDeliberate Directions + Executive Business Coaching + Training Center3003 W Main Street, Suite 110, Boise ID 83702(208) 350-6551Website https://www.deliberatedirections.comLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisondunnPodcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/deliberate-leaders-podcast-with-allison-dunn/id1500464675

Welcome BACK, Y'ALL!!! In this episode, we'll be diving into the world of Cosmic - a full-service digital agency that helps businesses build and optimize their online presence. In this episode, we'll explore the company's unique approach to digital design and development, and learn how they have helped numerous clients achieve their online goals.Cosmic is a team of experienced designers, developers, and strategists who work collaboratively to create effective and compelling digital experiences. They specialize in website design, development, branding, and marketing, and have worked with a wide range of clients, from startups to well-established brands.Join us as we speak with the team at Cosmic (the founder, Eric Ressler) and learn about their creative process, their philosophy on digital design and development, and how they stay ahead of the curve in an ever-evolving industry. Whether you're a business owner looking to enhance your online presence or someone interested in the world of digital design, this episode is not to be missed.For more details, go to https://designbycosmic.com/ Starting Your Nonprofit Doesn't Have To Be Hard Or Scary. In Fact, I Created These Tools And Affordable Resources To Ensure Your Journey As An Executive Director Is Simple As A, B, C.Download Your Free Nonprofit Startup Workbook HERENext, Learn The Exact Steps To Scale Your Nonprofit The Right Way So You Can Achieve Wealth At A Higher Speed. Learn How Our Team Has Supported Other Organizations/Businesses Earn Over $20M In Funding: CLICK HERE

On Episode 386 of Impact Boom, Matt Scott of CauseMic discusses his methodology for creating enterprises that experience transformative growth, and effectively utilising cause marketing strategies to generate a social impact. If you are a changemaker wanting to learn actionable steps to grow your organisations or level up your impact, don't miss out on this episode! See our website for the interview transcript and links to the initiatives and resources mentioned throughout the podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, then check out episode 334 with Eric Ressler on communicating social impact And connecting with philanthropy opportunities -> https://bit.ly/3UZvmbk The team who made this episode happen were: Host: Indio Myles Guest: Matt Scott Producer: Indio Myles We invite you to join our community on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram to stay up to date on the latest social innovation news and resources to help you turn ideas into impact. You'll also find us on all the major podcast streaming platforms, where you can also leave a review and provide feedback.

Meet Lindsey. She's a fierce advocacate for folks on the margins, she builds human-centered, anti-racist systems to inform strong adult school climates. She's the executive director at The Teaching Well, a nonprofit wellness organization founded on Ohlone land in Oakland, CA. They're a majority BIPOC, identity-forward team, we believe we can no longer bypass the educator to get to the student. Lindsey fights with the strength of her ancestors behind her for the liberation of her own children and young people everywhere. Don't miss the story of this incredible organization and human.Today's GuestLindsey Fuller, Executive Director, The Teaching WellFor more information + episode details visit: weareforgood.com/episode/409.About our Sponsor BloomerangSupport for this show is brought to you by our friends at Bloomerang. Bloomerang offers donor management and online fundraising software that helps small to medium nonprofits, like First Tee of Greater Akron, a nonprofit empowering kids and teens through the game of golf. To listen to the full interview with First Tee of Greater Akron visit bloomerang.com/weareforgood.About our Sponsor VirtuousVirtuous helps charities reimagine generosity through responsive fundraising, volunteer management, and online giving,  and we love it because this approach builds trust and loyalty through personalized engagement. Learn more today at virtuous.org.Cosmic specializes in designing + building websites that help social impact + climate action organizations build brand awareness, nail their impact story, and turn digital advocacy into real-world actions. Schedule a free 25 minute consultation with, Eric Ressler, Cosmic's Founder and Creative Director at designbycosmic.com/good We're so excited to announce the launch of Fundraising is Funny - a new podcast launching in the We Are For Good Podcast Network with our good friends Lynne Wester and T. Clay Buck.Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, or you can come find them at fundraisingisfunny.com - Can't wait to see you there. Support the showSupport the We Are For Good PodcastWe believe education is for everyone. We strive to make our teaching as forward-thinking, accessible, affordable and inclusive as possible. Your generous support will help power the #ImpactUprising, free resources and community for change-agents globally. Join the We Are For Good CommunityYou can think of it as the after-party to each podcast episode

Meet Brett. As a founder, he's passionate about improving education and goes deep to understand problems and create solutions. With his brother David, he founded Remind.com which is now used by 30 million active users who send billions of messages to families with the goal of giving students an opportunity to succeed Together, they also founded Omella in 2019 after seeing the difficulty educators have collecting money. He's, in his own words, obsessed with helping customers. Tune in for Brett's formula for building a company (or organization!)LearnBrett's formula for building a companyProven tips for acquiring + retaining customersHow to set KPIs and actually track themFor more information and episode details visit: weareforgood.com/episode/408.About our Sponsor BloomerangSupport for this show is brought to you by our friends at Bloomerang. Bloomerang offers donor management and online fundraising software that helps small to medium nonprofits, like First Tee of Greater Akron, a nonprofit empowering kids and teens through the game of golf. To listen to the full interview with First Tee of Greater Akron visit bloomerang.com/weareforgood.About our Sponsor VirtuousVirtuous helps charities reimagine generosity through responsive fundraising, volunteer management, and online giving,  and we love it because this approach builds trust and loyalty through personalized engagement. Learn more today at virtuous.org.Cosmic specializes in designing + building websites that help social impact + climate action organizations build brand awareness, nail their impact story, and turn digital advocacy into real-world actions. Schedule a free 25 minute consultation with, Eric Ressler, Cosmic's Founder and Creative Director at designbycosmic.com/good We're so excited to announce the launch of Fundraising is Funny - a new podcast launching in the We Are For Good Podcast Network with our good friends Lynne Wester and T. Clay Buck.Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, or you can come find them at fundraisingisfunny.com - Can't wait to see you there. Support the showSupport the We Are For Good PodcastWe believe education is for everyone. We strive to make our teaching as forward-thinking, accessible, affordable and inclusive as possible. Your generous support will help power the #ImpactUprising, free resources and community for change-agents globally. Join the We Are For Good CommunityYou can think of it as the after-party to each podcast episode

Eric Ressler learned how to use his creative talents to impact social causes. His media and design firm is geared towards motivating organizations and individuals to care more about call-to-actions. Eric joins Gary S. Cohn of Painted Rock Advisors to discuss the power of a well-produced mission and what it takes to go beyond grabbing the attention of viewers. ------------ GUEST: Eric Ressler | www.DesignByCosmic.com HOST: Gary S. Cohn | Painted Rock Advisors | (510) 402 - 8877 | paintedrockadvisors@gmail.com ------------ This is a Mr. Thrive Media production | email: Chaz@MrThrive.com | stay connected on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn

In this episode of The UnNoticed Entrepreneur, Eric Ressler, founder and CEO of Cosmic, a social impact creative agency, discussed about cause-based marketing, entrepreneurship, and the challenges that social impact businesses face. Eric also shares two inspiring case studies of successful social impact businesses and talks about the technology they use to amplify their messaging.He explained that his clients include nonprofit organisations, social enterprises, foundations, and sometimes even government organisations that all exist to create a positive impact on humanity and discussed the challenges that social impact organisations face such as funding, lack of internal capacity and expertise, and the need to build a strong brand and have an understanding of the potential of marketing. In terms of technology, Ressler mentioned that they use internal project management tools like Asana, and integrated CRM or marketing automation platforms like HubSpot to help their clients amplify their messaging. He also discussed case studies of organizations they've worked with, such as STEM from Dance and Let's Green California.Finally, Eric explains the importance of creating a visual identity that resonates with the audience and focusing on producing valuable content to make a name for yourself in the social impact space.The UnNoticed Entrepreneur podcast is sponsored by Prowly, the all-in-one software for leveraging PR activities.  Boost the media relations game for your business - get more coverage while saving time and money on everyday tasks.Support the showAm I adding value to you?If so - I'd like to ask you to support the show.In return, I will continue to bring massive value with two weekly shows, up to 3 hours per month of brilliant conversations and insights.Monthly subscriptions start at $3 per month. At $1 per hour, that's much less than the minimum wage, but we'll take what we can at this stage of the business.Of course, this is still free, but as an entrepreneur, the actual test of anything is if people are willing to pay for it.If I'm adding value to you, please support me by clicking the link now. Go ahead, make my day :)Support the show here.

In this episode of The UnNoticed Entrepreneur, Eric Ressler, founder and CEO of Cosmic, a social impact creative agency, discussed about cause-based marketing, entrepreneurship, and the challenges that social impact businesses face. Eric also shares two inspiring case studies of successful social impact businesses and talks about the technology they use to amplify their messaging.He explained that his clients include nonprofit organisations, social enterprises, foundations, and sometimes even government organisations that all exist to create a positive impact on humanity and discussed the challenges that social impact organisations face such as funding, lack of internal capacity and expertise, and the need to build a strong brand and have an understanding of the potential of marketing. In terms of technology, Ressler mentioned that they use internal project management tools like Asana, and integrated CRM or marketing automation platforms like HubSpot to help their clients amplify their messaging. He also discussed case studies of organizations they've worked with, such as STEM from Dance and Let's Green California.Finally, Eric explains the importance of creating a visual identity that resonates with the audience and focusing on producing valuable content to make a name for yourself in the social impact space.The UnNoticed Entrepreneur podcast is sponsored by Prowly, the all-in-one software for leveraging PR activities.  Boost the media relations game for your business - get more coverage while saving time and money on everyday tasks.Support the showAm I adding value to you?If so - I'd like to ask you to support the show.In return, I will continue to bring massive value with two weekly shows, up to 3 hours per month of brilliant conversations and insights.Monthly subscriptions start at $3 per month. At $1 per hour, that's much less than the minimum wage, but we'll take what we can at this stage of the business.Of course, this is still free, but as an entrepreneur, the actual test of anything is if people are willing to pay for it.If I'm adding value to you, please support me by clicking the link now. Go ahead, make my day :)Support the show here.

Welcome back to our Friday Series,  9️⃣ Trends that Matter in 2023 Today we're breaking down Trend #4: Marketing is Mission. Marketing is no longer a facet of your mission, it IS your mission manifested. Eric Ressler, Founder and Creative Director at Cosmic, is joining us for the conversation to break down why communication, design and marketing are keys to organizational success. Join us as we explore how the way you attract, market and find your believers is mission work.

How to market yourself or your business and create a social impact with Eric Ressler Eric Ressler is the founder and CEO of Cosmic.  Cosmic is a Social Impact Creative Agency. We empower social impact organizations to catalyze real-world change by helping them nail their impact story, build brand awareness, and inspire action.

Join Jon and Becky as we kick off our 9 Nonprofit Trends That Matter in 2023 Series! This is the primer for the trends we believe nonprofits should prioritize in the new year and beyond. We'll dive deeply into each topic over the course of the coming weeks to ensure you're informed and activated. We're sharing how you can shift your mindsets to meet the moment, tips for success and examples of who's already doing it well in the sector.Episode HighlightsEmbracing evolution in 2023 (1:00)How do we center our work in joy? (2:00)Tone setting + mindset work this year (5:00)9 Nonprofit Trends That Matter in 2023 (10:00)1. Prioritizing Self Growth2. Trust-Based Philanthropy + Leadership3. Giving is Identity4. Marketing is Mission5. Community is Core6. Humanize the Digital Experience7. Be a Change Agent8. Lock Arms for Impact9. Normalize RestFREE Workshop: 9 Nonprofit Trends That Matter in 2023Join the We Are For Good CommunityStart Learning Today in We Are For Good PROFor more information and episode details visit: weareforgood.com/episode/371.About our Sponsor Neon OneTechnology alone can't solve the challenges nonprofits face. That's why Neon One provides software that empowers you to manage constituents all while giving you the resources and support you need to connect to what matters most - your people and their passions. Learn more about how Neon One is helping nonprofits create stronger connections by visiting neonone.com/weareforgood.About our Sponsor CosmicCosmic, a Social Impact Creative Agency, specializes in helping social impact and climate action organizations build brand awareness, nail their impact story, and turn digital advocacy into real-world actions. Step boldly into 2023 with a free 25 minute consultation with our good friend Eric Ressler, Cosmic's Founder and Creative Director. Sign up at: designbycosmic.com/good Start Learning Today on We Are For Good PRO

Building social impact movements is hard. Bringing people together, across society and sectors to engage with and take action on an issue is a golden ticket to creating long term lasting impact. How do you do it? Meet Social Impact Pioneer Devi Thomas. During our conversation Devi shares her wisdom and experience in successfully developing and delivering social movements and campaigns. Rarely does someone so generously gift their secret sauce as Devi does during this conversation. She takes us step by step through creating a movement. This podcast a masterclass in movement building, and also a deep dive into Devi's work building, accelerating and advocating for the non-profit sector. Devi says: “Not-for-profits are a misnomer - I consider myself to be an active part of the problem-solving sector.” Named one of 2022's Top Women in Communications, Devi Thomas is a social impact visionary. With 20+ years of experience overseeing communications and global campaigns, she is a particular expert in communicating around social and environmental impact –creating movements - encouraging people to really take action. Buckle up, we will be hearing from a real master in social impact communications. Devi is the Global Head of Industry Solutions at Microsoft Philanthropies, Tech for Social Impact. Championing innovative non-profits and connecting technological support and solutions for them. She has previously worked with Salesforce and the UN, beginning her career as a journalist. Links: Bryan Stevenson, Equal Justice Initiative: https://eji.org/bryan-stevenson/ UN Foundation, Shot at Life: campaign https://shotatlife.org Devi Thomas, Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devi-thomas/ If you liked this podcast, try: How to communicate social impact with Eric Ressler: https://businessfightspoverty.org/eric-ressler-social-impact-communications/ and A Sustainable Business Guide with David Grayson, Chris Coulter and Mark Lee: https://businessfightspoverty.org/david-grayson-chris-coulter-and-mark-lee-the-sustainable-business-handbook/

If you've seen the news lately, it's easy to get overwhelmed with all of the problems we are currently grappling with. Economic downturns, racial injustice, wars on distant shores, natural disasters that ravage the lives of the innocent. In times like these, I like to turn to my “why,” or the purpose that is driving my work forward. I can be encouraged to know that, at least in my own little corner of the world, I am doing some good to improve people's lives at work. That's why I've enjoyed my conversation with today's guest, Eric Ressler, who has a keen eye for macro changes and helps individuals take action in micro ways that have a big impact. Eric is Founder of Cosmic, a Social Impact Creative Agency that empowers social impact in organizations to catalyze real world change by helping them nail their impact story, build brand awareness, and inspire action. When we focus on what drives us, we can do great things, no matter the challenges. I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did! Connect with Eric: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cosmiceric/ Cosmic: https://designbycosmic.com/contact/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/socialresponsibilityatwork/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/socialresponsibilityatwork/support

175: How Can Nonprofit Leaders Succeed in the Attention Economy? (Eric Ressler)SUMMARYWith the distractions of instant access to information, are you effectively capturing the attention of the right people in a sustained, authentic, and meaningful way to move your mission forward? Eric Ressler explains what the attention economy means and how it has affected nonprofit organizations in episode #176 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership. Eric shares why organizations struggle to find, grow and maintain funding and you can cut through the noise and better communicate your message. Learn why traditional strategies and approaches are not working in this attention economy and how to leverage the full power of a global digital culture.ABOUT Eric Ressler is the Founder and Creative Director at Cosmic, a Social Impact Creative Agency. Cosmic empowers social impact organizations to catalyze real world change by helping them nail their impact story, build brand awareness, and inspire action. Eric got his start in design from a very young age, and after leaving a design program in San Diego early to pursue freelance work, cut his teeth running a freelance business in the digital design space. After organically building a strong roster of clients, he discovered a passion for the social impact and philanthropic space. Through working with numerous organizations across this sector, he found that often their missions and visions are strong, but their efforts are stymied by ineffective communications philosophies and practices. Now, Eric and Cosmic are on a mission to help social impact organizations across the globe navigate a rapidly changing world.EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES Red Rising by Pierce BrownLearn more about Eric and the work Cosmic is doing hereTake our Podcast Survey and let us know what you want to hear!Check out Patton's new book Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership: Seven Keys to Advancing Your Career in the Philanthropic Sector

On Episode 334 of Impact Boom, Eric Ressler of Cosmic discusses how to grow your social impact in the attention economy through effective impact storytelling communicating progress, needs, and organisational challenges.

We're completing part deux of our Friday #AMA series focusing on helping small shops with a focus this week on determining when it's time to stay or go at your current nonprofit. Posed by our small shop queen, Rachel Bearbower, addressed the elephant in the room that many COVID survivors are feeling right now. Do I stick it out or move on? We'll talk through some questions to ask yourself, address compassion fatigue/burnout, and how to socialize an upcoming transition. Come hang with us!Episode OverviewLeave us a voicemail! (2:00)Rachel Bearbower's questions: “When the founder is ending their tenure with their organization and they don't quite realize that it's time for them to move on. What do they do?” and “If you are an ED and it's time to go and you're ready to go. What are some of the steps that you should be taking?” (2:40)Many of us are in an existential place asking questions (3:35)Questions to ask yourself as a leader (7:20)Differences between burnout versus compassion fatigue (13:05)Aila Malik's four practical questions for leaders to ask themselves today (17:05)What is my core belief?How strongly do I believe in this mission? What needs to be true in my workplace to become an evangelist about this? How are you lifting others that you can pass the torch to?Dr. Ryan Bisel's Hallmarks of Great Leadership (18:55)Focus on meaningTake building trust seriouslyBe approachable, vulnerable + relatableBuild community amongst your team Develop two-sided messages Ensuring a smooth transition for the organization and for yourself (21:05)Consider sharing values and culture with your predecessor (25:25)For more information and episode details visit: www.weareforgood.com/episode/314About our Sponsor FeathrNonprofits of all shapes and sizes turn to Feathr to grow their campaigns with targeted digital ad tools that reach people, whenever and wherever they are online. And they just happen to be some really incredible people too. Use Feathr to grow your end of year fundraisers.  Learn more about their solutions for nonprofits at feathr.co.About our Sponsor Neon OneTechnology alone can't solve the challenges nonprofits face. That's why Neon One provides software that empowers you to manage constituents all while giving you the resources and support you need to connect to what matters most - your people and their passions. Learn more about how Neon One is helping nonprofits create stronger connections by visiting neononAbout our Sponsor CosmicLooking to nail your impact story, build brand awareness, and inspire action for your cause today? YOU can connect directly with Cosmic's Founder and Creative Director, Eric Ressler for free Office Hours. Don't miss this incredible opportunity friends! Visit designbycosmic.com/good to sign up today

Episode HighlightsOtisa's story and journey to where she is today (2:30)How to bake equity into hiring practices (9:15)Missteps leaders are making in hiring decisions (19:35)De-biasing the workplace (25:00)A powerful story of philanthropy in Otisa's life (35:00)Otisa's One Good Thing: Figure out how to incorporate play and joy. (39:00)For more information and episode details visit: www.weareforgood.com/episode/312The We Are For Good Podcast is co-hosted by Jonathan McCoy, CFRE and Becky Endicott, CFRE and welcomes the most dynamic nonprofit leaders, advocates and philanthropists to share innovative ideas and lessons learned 3x a week!Want to hear insider details and to get our best roundup of tips, freebies, resources and show notes from each episode? Join the Good Community - it's free! Visit www.weareforgood.com/helloAbout our Sponsor FeathrNonprofits of all shapes and sizes turn to Feathr to grow their campaigns with targeted digital ad tools that reach people, whenever and wherever they are online. And they just happen to be some really incredible people too. Use Feathr to grow your end of year fundraisers.  Learn more about their solutions for nonprofits at feathr.co.About our Sponsor Neon OneTechnology alone can't solve the challenges nonprofits face. That's why Neon One provides software that empowers you to manage constituents all while giving you the resources and support you need to connect to what matters most - your people and their passions. Learn more about how Neon One is helping nonprofits create stronger connections by visiting neonone.com/weareforgood.About our Sponsor CosmicLooking to nail your impact story, build brand awareness, and inspire action for your cause today? YOU can connect directly with Cosmic's Founder and Creative Director, Eric Ressler for free Office Hours. Don't miss this incredible opportunity friends! Visit designbycosmic.com/good to sign up today

You asked, we responded! This Friday we're launching a quick two-part #AMA Friday series focused on helping small shops beginning with How Cultures Can be Changed & How Leaders Can Help. Our small shop queen Rachel Bearbower left a message on our voicemail asking some tough questions that we know are on your mind too - you want to see your organization modernize and evolve, but leadership may not agree. We'll break down the myths, the fallout of not listening to staff, and the incredible opportunity sitting before brave small (and big!) shop leaders. Even if you're not a small shop, there's plenty to be learned from these topics. Come hang with us!Episode HighlightsLeave us a voicemail! (10:10)Rachel Bearbower's question: “What you are seeing working inside small shops, small organizations that are really shifting the culture and making a huge difference for their staff, their volunteers, even their board members? (2:10)Tonesetting (3:20)Alignment of values and culture (9:00)Pro tips for leaders to intentionally shape culture (10:30)Slushie runs (15:00)Focus on telling the story of impact (22:45)Nonprofit organization's culture examples (25:00)For more information and episode details visit: www.weareforgood.com/episode/311The We Are For Good Podcast is co-hosted by Jonathan McCoy, CFRE and Becky Endicott, CFRE and welcomes the most dynamic nonprofit leaders, advocates and philanthropists to share innovative ideas and lessons learned 3x a week!Want to hear insider details and to get our best roundup of tips, freebies, resources and show notes from each episode? Join the Good Community - it's free! Visit www.weareforgood.com/helloAbout our Sponsor FeathrNonprofits of all shapes and sizes turn to Feathr to grow their campaigns with targeted digital ad tools that reach people, whenever and wherever they are online. And they just happen to be some really incredible people too. Use Feathr to grow your end of year fundraisers.  Learn more about their solutions for nonprofits at feathr.co.About our Sponsor Neon OneTechnology alone can't solve the challenges nonprofits face. That's why Neon One provides software that empowers you to manage constituents all while giving you the resources and support you need to connect to what matters most - your people and their passions. Learn more about how Neon One is helping nonprofits create stronger connections by visiting neonone.com/weareforgood.About our Sponsor CosmicLooking to nail your impact story, build brand awareness, and inspire action for your cause today? YOU can connect directly with Cosmic's Founder and Creative Director, Eric Ressler for free Office Hours. Don't miss this incredible opportunity friends! Visit designbycosmic.com/good to sign up today

It's the final epsiode of our Enneagram Friday series, and we're betting you just might have been waiting for this one. Kishshana Palmer, CFRE is back to talk about how to utilize the Enneagram with your donors. She's bringing stories and examples, and they're ones we can relate to. Still haven't taken the free test? No sweat - find it here and report back!Jon #9 - The PeacemakerBecky #2 - The HelperJulie #2 - The HelperToday's GuestKishshana Palmer, Speaker, Educator, Trainer, Coach and Recovering Fundraiser, and Founder of The Rooted CollaborativeEpisode OverviewTone setting for the final Enneagram conversation (2:00)Importance of knowing yourself (3:40)Breaking down limiting beliefs with the Enneagram (12:30)Examples of different Enneagram types in fundraising scenarios (15:30)Kishshana's One Good Thing: “Be awake, be present.” (13:30)For more information and episode details visit: www.weareforgood.com/episode/308The We Are For Good Podcast is co-hosted by Jonathan McCoy, CFRE and Becky Endicott, CFRE and welcomes the most dynamic nonprofit leaders, advocates and philanthropists to share innovative ideas and lessons learned 3x a week!Want to hear insider details and to get our best roundup of tips, freebies, resources and show notes from each episode? Join the Good Community - it's free! Visit www.weareforgood.com/helloAbout our Sponsor Neon OneTechnology alone can't solve the challenges nonprofits face. That's why Neon One provides software that empowers you to manage constituents all while giving you the resources and support you need to connect to what matters most - your people and their passions. Learn more about how Neon One is helping nonprofits create stronger connections by visiting neonone.com/weareforgood.About our Sponsor FeathrNonprofits of all shapes and sizes turn to Feathr to grow their campaigns with targeted digital ad tools that reach people, whenever and wherever they are online. And they just happen to be some really incredible people too. Use Feathr to grow your end of year fundraisers.  Learn more about their solutions for nonprofits at feathr.co.About our Sponsor CosmicLooking to nail your impact story, build brand awareness, and inspire action for your cause today? YOU can connect directly with Cosmic's Founder and Creative Director, Eric Ressler for free Office Hours. Don't miss this incredible opportunity friends! Visit designbycosmic.com/good to sign up today

Eric Ressler is a social impact pioneer – listen to Eric's expert insight into why social impact communications needs to up its game and how we can go about this. Eric is the Founder and Creative Director at Cosmic, a Social Impact Creative Agency. Eric packs this podcast with his expert experience in developing highly impactful communications on social and environmental issues. You will gain a practical guide on developing a branding and communications campaign that spurs on action. From strengthening your businesses brand through values and actions to reframing the climate catastrophe to one that we can all take positive action towards today – to alleviate negative impacts now. If that wasn't enough for one podcast Eric also lifts the lid on his personal experiences of growing up, living, and working in California. Eric provides us with a deeply honest assessment of how California experiences environmental and social issues – from drought and fire to homelessness and drug addiction. Eric shares his thoughts on the challenges of tackling Federal inertia and the opportunities State and local led action can provide. Get ready to hear about how state level progress on climate and social issues could be tackled – through fronting up to the need for collective support not just promoting individualism….and the power of voting with our choices. Links: LGCA Campaign case study: https://designbycosmic.com/work/lets-green-california/ Live Site: https://education.greencal.org/ Cosmic's Insights tab: https://designbycosmic.com/insights/ Cosmic's Manifesto: https://designbycosmic.com/manifesto LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cosmiceric/

It's Enneagram Friday! Our Peacemaker and Helper hearts are geeked out around the enthusiasm and noise for our Friday Enneagram series. And now we're moving from theory to application with the nonprofit leadership expert of our hearts: Kishshana Palmer, CFRE! Kish breaks down how to use the Enneagram internally with your fundraising shop: how it helps give grace to each other, how to flex it amidst team dynamics, and the good/bad/ugly she's seen with different types over the years. Still haven't taken the free test? No sweat - find it here and report back!Jon #9 - The PeacemakerBecky #2 - The HelperJulie #2 - The HelperFor more information and episode details visit: www.weareforgood.com/episode/305The We Are For Good Podcast is co-hosted by Jonathan McCoy, CFRE and Becky Endicott, CFRE and welcomes the most dynamic nonprofit leaders, advocates and philanthropists to share innovative ideas and lessons learned 3x a week!Want to hear insider details and to get our best roundup of tips, freebies, resources and show notes from each episode? Join the Good Community - it's free! Visit www.weareforgood.com/helloAbout our Sponsor Neon OneTechnology alone can't solve the challenges nonprofits face. That's why Neon One provides software that empowers you to manage constituents all while giving you the resources and support you need to connect to what matters most - your people and their passions. Learn more about how Neon One is helping nonprofits create stronger connections by visiting neonone.com/weareforgood.About our Sponsor FeathrNonprofits of all shapes and sizes turn to Feathr to grow their campaigns with targeted digital ad tools that reach people, whenever and wherever they are online. And they just happen to be some really incredible people too. Use Feathr to grow your end of year fundraisers.  Learn more about their solutions for nonprofits at feathr.co. About our Sponsor CosmicLooking to nail your impact story, build brand awareness, and inspire action for your cause today? YOU can connect directly with Cosmic's Founder and Creative Director, Eric Ressler for free Office Hours. Don't miss this incredible opportunity friends! Visit designbycosmic.com/good to sign up today

All nonprofits have concrete reasons for existing, but many still struggle to receive the attention their mission deserves online. In this episode of the Strategic Nonprofit Podcast, host Trista sits down with Eric Ressler to discuss the importance of designing nonprofit communications in a way that catalyzes change, increases social impact and enhances your digital … Designing NPO Communications To Catalyze Change & Digital Activism Read More » The post Designing NPO Communications To Catalyze Change & Digital Activism appeared first on AMC NPO Solutions - Governance Training and Strategic Planning.

In this episode, we're happy to have Eric Ressler as a guest! He's the founder and creative director at Cosmic, which is a social impact creative agency. He's an expert in branding and has vast experience in the non-profit world. We'll be talking about the mindset non-profits need when thinking about branding and other aspects of their digital presence, and how beneficial this can be for them. Check out the show notes by visiting https://wowdigital.com/040

Eric Ressler is the Founder and Creative Director at Cosmic, a Social Impact Creative Agency that empowers social impact organizations to catalyze real world change by helping them nail their impact story, build brand awareness, and inspire action by helping future-thinking social impact organizations understand the paradigm shift and rethink their model and approach to multiply their impact.

This week on the Nonprofit Build Up®, Nic is talking with Eric Ressler, Founder and Creative Director of Cosmic, a social-impact creative agency with a mission to help organizations that aim to move humanity forward fulfill their goal by refining their approaches towards design and communications. He has substantial experience with brand and digital-based strategies and has worked on projects on a national *and* international scale. Listen in as Eric shares insight on how to use storytelling and branding to not only communicate your organization's mission, but also connect with those who can work with your organization to help create meaningful impact.

Summary: In today's podcast episode, Eric Ressler from Cosmic and Stephen Halasnik from Financing solutions (https://financingsolutionsnow.com) discuss strategies that nonprofits can use to build their brand and visual identities. These solutions help nonprofits highlight and communicate their purpose through marketing and branding strategies.

When you're striving to create an impact with your venture, you need to have consistency in presenting your business. Having purpose-driven design and branding is key to effectively communicating what you're doing and how your customers can lend a hand. So how do you do that? Today's guest has the answers you need! Eric Ressler is the Founder and Creative Director at Cosmic, a Social Impact Creative Agency. He joins Corinna Bellizzi to discuss the importance of having a clarity of purpose in the social impact space. Eric shares tips on how you should go about building your brand and constructing your website to optimize your reach. Tune in and get great insight to help you care better! Join the Care More. Be Better. Community! (Social Links Below)Website: https://www.caremorebebetter.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCveJg5mSfeTf0l4otrxgUfgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/CareMore.BeBetter/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CareMoreBeBetter LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/care-more-be-better Twitter: https://twitter.com/caremorebebettr Clubhouse: https://www.clubhouse.com/club/care-more-be-better ~Join us live each week for open conversations on Clubhouse!~ Support Care More. Be Better: A Social Impact + Sustainability PodcastCare More. Be Better. is not backed by any company. We answer only to our collective conscience. As a listener, reader, and subscriber you are part of this pod and this community and we are honored to have your support. If you can, please help finance the show (https://www.caremorebebetter.com/donate). Thank you, now and always, for your support as we get this thing started!Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review & share! https://www.caremorebebetter.com/

When you're striving to create an impact with your venture, you need to have consistency in presenting your business. Having purpose-driven design and branding is key to effectively communicating what you're doing and how your customers can lend a hand. So how do you do that? Today's guest has the answers you need! Eric Ressler is the Founder and Creative Director at Cosmic, a Social Impact Creative Agency. He joins Corinna Bellizzi to discuss the importance of having a clarity of purpose in the social impact space. Eric shares tips on how you should go about building your brand and constructing your website to optimize your reach. Tune in and get great insight to help you care better!   About Eric Ressler Eric Ressler is the Founder and Creative Director at Cosmic, a Social Impact Creative Agency. Cosmic empowers social impact organizations to catalyze real world change by helping them nail their impact story, build brand awareness, and inspire action.   Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cosmiceric/ Guest Website: https://designbycosmic.com/   Timestamps:  0:00 - Introduction 2:16 - How Cosmic started and its mission on social impact 4:53 - Social impact organizations 8:29 - Separating genuine companies from greenwashing and purpose-washing organizations 11:21 - Fairtrade certification 15:28 - Snickers, TOMS Shoes, Bombas socks, and Patagonia 24:35 - Optimizing marketing dollars 28:07 - Investing money on digital media 31:17 - Building a coherent resonant brand in the modern age 38:52 - Maintaining a real legacy 41:29 - Avoiding a state of apathy 43:38 - Cosmic's mission on creating a healthy working environment 47:32 - Conclusion   Join the Care More. Be Better. Community! (Social Links Below) Website: https://www.caremorebebetter.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCveJg5mSfeTf0l4otrxgUfg Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/CareMore.BeBetter/   Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/CareMoreBeBetter  LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/care-more-be-better   Twitter: https://twitter.com/caremorebebettr   Clubhouse: https://www.clubhouse.com/club/care-more-be-better   ~Join us live each week for open conversations on Clubhouse!~   Support Care More. Be Better: A Social Impact + Sustainability Podcast Care More. Be Better. is not backed by any company. We answer only to our collective conscience. As a listener, reader, and subscriber you are part of this pod and this community and we are honored to have your support. If you can, please help finance the show (https://www.caremorebebetter.com/donate). Thank you, now and always, for your support as we get this thing started!

"Because that's the way we've always done it." (That common response is cringeworthy.) Let's find a way to do good better. Let's start with your digital marketing. Let's start today. Cosmic Founder and Creative Director Eric Ressler has extensive expertise in brand development and digital strategy development and execution for profit-driven companies and social impact organizations. Over the years, he has delivered complex web and brand projects for national, international, and local brands. He is constantly exploring new ways to use design and technology to help his clients build awareness, increase engagement, get more donations, and reach their goals.More About Cosmic:  https://designbycosmic.com/Connect with Eric on LinkedIN:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/cosmiceric/ Support This Podcast! Make a quick and easy donation here:https://www.patreon.com/dogoodbetterAbout The Official Do Good Better Podcast:Each episode features (fundraising expert, speaker, event creator and author) Patrick Kirby interviewing leaders and champions of small & medium nonprofits to share their successes, their impact, and what makes them a unicorn in a field of horses. Patrick answers fundraising questions and (most importantly) showcases how you can support these small nonprofits doing great big things!iTunes: https://apple.co/3a3XenfSpotify: https://spoti.fi/2PlqRXsYouTube: https://bit.ly/3kaWYanTunein: http://tun.in/pjIVtStitcher: https://bit.ly/3i8jfDRFollow On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DoGoodBetterPodcast/Follow On Twitter: @consulting_do #fundraising #fundraiser #charity #nonprofit #donate #dogood #dogoodBETTER #fargo #fundraisingdadAbout Host Patrick Kirby:Email: Patrick@dogoodbetterconsulting.comLinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fundraisingdad/Want more great advice? Buy Patrick's book! Now also available as an e-book!Fundraise Awesomer! A Practical Guide to Staying Sane While Doing GoodAvailable through Amazon Here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1072070359

Today Ian interviews Eric Ressler from Cosmic. He will share some of his insights in the world of making brands more impactful and visible to the customers. Eric starts off by introducing himself and what type of business he runs. Ian and Eric then talk about how many of his clients are not NGOs, who we often associate with doing good in the world. Eric then explains also about how some B-Corps ask for his services. Ian and Eric both then discuss how you can make brands separate from each other so the consumer has a clear idea of what they are going to buy. Eric then continues to talk more about if it is alright for a non-profit to be very profitable and what's the “limit”. Ian then asks about what the main focus area of such organization be and Eric answers with ease and Eric also continues by taking a closer look and guiding the audience through a process of initial assessment. Eric ends the episode by inviting questions and leaving important links in the description. Parts: Guest Intro (0:07) Not Only NGOs (3:25) B-Corps (6:00) The Art of Difference (11:06) Help and Profitability (18:07) Activity Focus (22:12) Initial Assessment (29:40) Guest Outro (37:15) About Eric Ressler and Cosmic: Eric launched Cosmic in 2009 and has been helping organizations launch, pivot and re-invent themselves ever since. He's led the strategic growth of Cosmic - keeping it small, responsive, professional and fun. As Creative Director, Eric has extensive expertise in digital design, brand development, digital strategy, brand extension and brand maintenance. Over the years, he has delivered complex web and brand projects for local Santa Cruz organizations, lifestyle brands and international brands. Know more about Eric Ressler here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cosmiceric/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/design-by-cosmic-inc-/ https://designbycosmic.com/ ///////// Have a question you want us to answer? Tell us what you want answered on a future episode: https://www.petermanfirm.com/youtube-question-submission/ ///////// Want to work with us? Connect with us about your project: https://www.petermanfirm.com/connect/ ///////// Learn about Ian Peterman's process for developing successful products by downloading the Peterman Method™: https://www.petermanfirm.com/peterman-method/ /////////

On this week's episode of A Modern Nonprofit Podcast, CEO Tosha Anderson invites Eric Ressler as her guest. Eric Ressler is the Founder and Creative Director at Cosmic, A Social Impact Creative Agency. Eric Ressler expresses his opinions and expertise about, “The most effective ways to expand visibility and maintain funding in your business.” Why do so many social impact organizations struggle to find, grow, and maintain funding? Eric breaks this question down and gives listeners tips to implement in your own processes. What does the future of social impact fundraising look like? Eric goes into the importance of your digital footprint and doing it in an authentic way. We cover why does social impact organizations invest in their digital strategy and platforms? We also hit on why should social impact organizations concern themselves with their brand when it seems like there are more important things to focus on? Finally why is the overhead percentage the wrong metric for assessing a social impact organization's effectiveness? This episode is a wonderful conversation and a must listen. Reach out to Eric Ressler @ eric@designbycosmic.com Website: designbycosmic.com

Eric Ressler is the Founder and Creative Director at Cosmic, a Social Impact creative agency. Eric got his start in design early, and and cut his teeth running a freelance business in the digital design space. After organically building a strong roster of clients, he discovered a passion for the social impact and philanthropic space. Through working with numerous organizations across this sector, he found that often their missions and visions are strong, but their efforts are stymied by ineffective communications philosophies and practices. Now, Eric and Cosmic are on a mission to help social impact organizations across the globe navigate a rapidly changing world. Cosmic helps future-thinking social impact organizations rethink their model and approach to accelerate their impact through brand-building and messaging. In this podcast, Eric talks about driving change in the social impact category by encouraging clients to think of themselves as a brand first and adopting a digital-first strategy. Website: https://designbycosmic.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cosmiceric/ --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/shobhana-viswanathan/support

Meet Eric. This musician chased his passion for doing good, telling a compelling story and weaving it all together through brilliant creative into building Cosmic, a Social Impact Creative Agency. He's talking us through how to build a Digital Media Platform to promote your cause and stepping us through the Engagement Pyramid. He's also talking through vision statements, and we're trying not to maintain our composure and refrain from drooling all over Cosmic's heart-stirring manifesto. If you're looking for an incredible digital storytelling episode, this one is your jam.Episode HighlightsEric’s story and journey to where he is today (2:30)The digital revolution (7:20)How organizations can move to become a brand that people love (10:00)Focus on your unique niche (11:00)Eric’s advice for where to begin (13:30)Elevating the conversation and building a platform (19:00)Planting seeds and working for a better future (24:00)Eric’s opinion on mission and vision statements (26:00)The engagement pyramid (28:29)A powerful moment of philanthropy in Eric’s life (31:00)Eric’s One Good Thing: Be curious.For more information and episode details visit: www.weareforgood.com/episode/124The We Are For Good Podcast is co-hosted by Jonathan McCoy, CFRE and Becky Endicott, CFRE and welcomes the most dynamic nonprofit leaders, advocates and philanthropists to share innovative ideas and lessons learned 3x a week!Want to hear insider details and to get our best roundup of tips, freebies, resources and show notes from each episode? Join the Good Community - it's free! Visit www.weareforgood.com/helloAbout Our Sponsor VirtuousYou know we believe Everyone Matters - and we’ve witnessed the greatest philanthropic movements happen when you SEE and activate donors at every level. Here’s the thing, Virtuous created a fundraising platform to help you do just that. It’s much more than a nonprofit CRM. Virtuous is committed to helping charities reimagine generosity through responsive fundraising. We love it because this approach builds trust and loyalty through personalized engagement.Learn more about Virtuous at www.virtuous.org/

Eric Ressler is the founder and creator of Cosmic by Design, a design agency that helps social impact organizations look better, tell their stories better and become digital wizards and overall increase their engagement and impact. In Episode 17 of Season 8, listen to how Eric dropped out of college and freelanced his way to creating a super successful design agency whose sole purpose is to assist mission driven organizations win in the attention economy and master digital tools for positive change. Check out previous seasons & episodes of our Award-Winning Social Change Career Podcast.  ***Episode recorded on April 29th, 2021 Key Links Cosmic by Design Eric's LinkedIn One of Eric's favorite campaigns ***New product*** PCDN.global is launching our first ever online workshops on all this career of change. First workshop was February 1st, stay tuned for more information on the next career PCDN.global career workshop.   Join our free PCDN Impact Career Chats Book a session PCDN Coaching Services Become an insider and join the PCDN Career Helping Line   Subscribe to PCDN.global's Daily or Weekly Newsletter This episode was brought to you thanks to the Rotary Peace Fellowship: Are you an existing or emerging peace leader looking to take your career to the next level? You might be eligible to receive full funding to pursue a MA or professional certificate in peace & conflict studies. Learn more about Rotary Peace Fellowships at https://www.rotary.org/en/our-programs/peace-fellowships

Moving beyond the "starvation cycle"...what does the future of social impact fundraising look like? Join me with my guest Eric Ressler, the Founder and Creative Director at Cosmic, a Social Impact Creative Agency. Cosmic empowers social impact organizations to catalyze real world change by helping them nail their impact story, build brand awareness, and inspire action. Cosmic helps future thinking social impact organizations understand the shifting digital paradigm in order to rethink their model and approach to multiply their impact. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eric Ressler is the Founder and Creative Director at Cosmic Inc., a social impact creative agency. Cosmic empowers social impact organizations to catalyze real-world change by helping them nail their impact story, brand awareness, and inspire action. Eric got his start in design from a young age. He left a design program in San Diego early to pursue freelance work. He organically built a strong roster of clients and soon discovered a passion for the social impact and philanthropic space from working with numerous organizations across that sector. Eric found that the social impact and philanthropic industry often have strong missions and visions, but ineffective communications, philosophies, and practices can hinder their efforts. Now, Eric and Cosmic are on a mission to help social impact organizations worldwide navigate a rapidly changing world. In this episode… Is your nonprofit organization struggling to find, grow, and maintain funding? If your answer is yes, then your organization is dipping into a starvation cycle where you're under-resourced and your donor engagement, marketing, and communications are almost non-existent.  And according to Eric Ressler, the Founder and Creative Director of Design by Cosmic Inc., says the problem will only get worse. Why? Because many nonprofits and social impact organizations are yet to build the digital-first culture required to win the attention economy, reach new donors, and spread their ideas more fully. Listen to this episode of The Philanthropy212 Podcast with Penny Cowden as she hosts Eric Ressler, the Founder and Creative Director of Design by Cosmic, to talk about how nonprofit and social impact organizations can get out of the starvation cycle and how they can find, grow, and maintain new funding. They also discuss why nonprofits are struggling in a highly-digital environment, how a digital-first culture would help fix that, how they can begin to adopt this culture, and more.

Eric Ressler is Founder & Creative Director at Cosmic, a social impact creative agency in the Bay Area. We sat down recently to discuss how brand and digital engagement can impact a nonprofit's ability to scale revenue.While some in the nonprofit sector believe brand will always be in conflict with an organization's ability to raise revenue, Eric doesn't share that point of view. In fact, he's got some great insights into how the two can work hand-in-hand (alongside digital engagement) to both increase awareness of your cause AND help you raise significant amounts of money.Special offer from our episode sponsor, Velocity Strategy Solutions: You have people working in ways they've never worked, with people they don't know, and for managers and leaders they've never met around projects they may not understand.The reality is the only thing your competitor doesn't have is your team. But if you don't utilize them well and position them for success, you'll send them looking for better opportunities elsewhere. It's time to optimize your talent.You can use the code RAINMAKER to get your FREE personalized talent assessment from Velocity Strategy Solutions today! 

Eric Ressler is Founder & Creative Director at Cosmic, a social impact creative agency in the Bay Area. We sat down recently to discuss how brand and digital engagement can impact a nonprofit's ability to scale revenue.While some in the nonprofit sector believe brand will always be in conflict with an organization's ability to raise revenue, Eric doesn't share that point of view. In fact, he's got some great insights into how the two can work hand-in-hand (alongside digital engagement) to both increase awareness of your cause AND help you raise significant amounts of money.Special offer from our episode sponsor, Velocity Strategy Solutions: You have people working in ways they’ve never worked, with people they don’t know, and for managers and leaders they’ve never met around projects they may not understand.The reality is the only thing your competitor doesn’t have is your team. But if you don’t utilize them well and position them for success, you’ll send them looking for better opportunities elsewhere. It’s time to optimize your talent.You can use the code RAINMAKER to get your FREE personalized talent assessment from Velocity Strategy Solutions today! 

Eric Ressler is the Founder and Creative Director at Cosmic, a Social Impact Creative Agency. Cosmic empowers social impact organizations to catalyze real world change by helping them nail their impact story, build brand awareness, and inspire action. By and large, the traditional strategies and approaches in the social impact space are still based on what worked well in the pre-digital era. This leaves many organizations under-resourced, siloed, and struggling to reach their full impact potential— because they are not leveraging the power of our current global digital culture. Cosmic helps future thinking social impact organizations understand this paradigm shift and rethink their model and approach to multiply their impact. Eric got his start in design from a very young age, and after leaving a design program in San Diego early to pursue freelance work, cut his teeth running a freelance business in the digital design space. After organically building a strong roster of clients, he discovered a passion for the social impact and philanthropic space. Through working with numerous organizations across this sector, he found that often their missions and visions are strong, but their efforts are stymied by ineffective communications philosophies and practices. Now, Eric and Cosmic are on a mission to help social impact organizations across the globe navigate a rapidly changing world. I'm excited to hear from you, how does this resonate with you and your journey in life? Please feel free to comment below, or send me a private message via our contact form. Some great takeaways:Take the next step and commit Make a difference however small it may seemWe need to g=have a unified global effort to fight this crisis we're all in______________________________________ Life & Leadership Coaching & Mentoring for Leaders, Entrepreneurs and Politicians to Build their Brand with Joy, Integrity and Passion. MAKE SURE YOU DON'T MISS AN EPISODE OF THE CHANGE MAKERS PODCASTSUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHANNEL ON APPLE PODCAST, STITCHER or SPOTIFY The Change Makers Podcast RSS Subscribe to The Change Makers Podcast Get the latest transformational out-of-the-box Leadership and Personal Branding Tips, Insights, Tools & Stories from other changemakers delivered directly to your inbox. First Name Last Name Email Address Sign Up We respect your privacy. Great to have you on board!