A Quick Checklist for Nonprofits in Summer Brand Design

Summer brand design can help nonprofits connect with their communities. Whether you’re planning an event, launching a campaign, or simply staying active on social media your community is experiencing summertime. But as you roll out seasonal content, it’s easy to lose sight of your visual identity in favor of wanting sunny graphics and beachy vibes.

The good news? You don’t have to choose between on-brand and in-season. With a few thoughtful design tweaks, your nonprofit can show up in a fresh, summery way that still feels aligned with your mission.

Here’s a quick checklist to help your nonprofit “summer-ize” its branding without losing consistency or clarity.

Brighten, Don’t Rebrand

Add seasonal accents to your existing color palette rather than swapping it out completely.

• Use brighter tints of your core brand colors for a lighter, more summery feel.
• Try incorporating one or two accent colors. Think of colors like coral, teal, lemon, or sky blue as limited-time highlights in graphics or event materials.
• Keep your logo colors consistent (or only minimally altered for special campaigns) to maintain recognition.

Lighten the Mood with Summer Brand Design

Summer is emotional so use that. Even if your nonprofit tackles serious issues, this is a good time to balance weight with warmth. Consider some adaptations.

• Swapping heavy headlines for a conversational tone in social posts.
• Using photography with natural light, outdoor settings, or real moments of joy and connection.
• Letting visuals breathe by going lighter on text overlays and allow more white space in designs.

Use Seasonal Imagery That Reflects Your Mission

Yes, it’s easy to reach for stock images of sunglasses and sand, but that may not always be authentic to your work. Instead:

• Show your team or volunteers in action outdoors.
• Highlight your community enjoying a summer program or event.
• Use seasonal elements like gardens, parks, sun, or water but only when they support your message.

Think: “What does summer look like through our mission’s lens?”

Summer Brand Design to Simplify for Shorter Attention Spans

People scroll fast in the summer. They’re outside more, working less, and mentally in vacation mode. This doesn’t mean dumbing down your content, just tightening it up to make it concise.

• Use bold, clear headlines that are easy to read even on mobile.
• Stick to one main call to action per graphic or email.
• Favor short videos, carousels, or infographics over long-form content when appropriate.

Add a Summer Signature with Summer Brand Design

Think of a fun, limited-time design element, action or phrase you can weave into summer content. These additions make your summer content feel intentional and unified without overhauling your whole brand.

• Adding a small sun icon or wave pattern as a visual motif.

• Creating a short tagline like “Powered by Sunshine + Purpose” or “Fueling Change All Summer Long.”
• A seasonal content series like “Summer Spotlights” to feature donors, volunteers, employees or impact stories.

Seasonal Summer Brand Design Doesn’t Mean Off-Brand

Nonprofits don’t have to be brand-strict to be credible. With thoughtful and expressive design, you can bring seasonal energy into your visuals while staying true to your voice, your mission and the people you serve. So go ahead and add a little warmth, a little light and a little summer spirit to your brand. Your audience and your team will feel the difference.

There is something magical about the summer season. It’s a time to embrace life’s simple pleasures. The summer sun calls us outdoors. Whether it’s a pool day, kids frolicking across the neighborhood, an evening conversation on the porch swing or a backyard barbecue, summertime brings us countless moments of joy.

The Unique Challenges of Summer Scheduling

The summer months also bring unique challenges to the office environment, particularly in account management positions. Shifting schedules, team member vacations and changing client needs could easily spell disaster. But solid planning and clear communication can ensure smooth sailing around everyone’s summer schedules. And everyone gets to enjoy their well-deserved summer season.

First Things First This Summer: Plan for Team Coverage

• Create a vacation calendar to make it easy to spot potential gaps in coverage.
• Assign a back-up contact for each client.
• Crosstrain team members for better out-of-office coverage on tasks.
• Document client contacts and project status/next steps for the team before leaving.
• Work ahead to minimize workload for others in your absence during vacations.  

Communicate, Communicate, Communicate

• Share your team’s summer schedules with clients to keep everyone informed..
• Always set realistic project deadlines. And remember clients take vacations too. Manageable deadlines for everyone mean less stress and fewer errors.
• Set realistic expectations with clients surrounding response times.
• Send clients a project status document before your vacation so they know what’s going to happen while you’re gone.
• Set up an out-of-office message with emergency contact information.

Ensuring a Smooth Summer Transition

• Schedule internal client meetings before vacation to make sure everyone’s on the same page.
• Create detailed project handoff documents for your team.
• Establish procedures for urgent client needs. (e.g., when to contact vacationing team members)

Remember to prioritize team member wellbeing. Encourage true disconnection for your team members during their vacations to prevent burnout.  

With thoughtful planning and clear communication, summer doesn’t have to mean service interruption for anyone. You can maintain excellent client service while ensuring your team enjoys some well-deserved R&R.

Happy Summer!

Rework old work this summer, and fine tune it to maximize impact. Not every marketing campaign soars on the first try: some fizzle out quietly, lost in the noise of busy inboxes or drowned by shifting algorithms. But summer isn’t just for new campaigns, it’s the perfect time to revisit what didn’t work, rework it, and give it a second chance to shine.

Just like TV networks used to air “summer reruns” to capture fresh audiences, you can reimagine underperforming campaigns with new timing, angles and energy. Because sometimes, the idea was good — just maybe not the execution, the context or the season.

Summer is Primetime for a Reboot Rework

Summer marketing tends to feel lighter, looser and a little more experimental. Audiences are mentally shifting gears, slowing down, traveling, spending time outdoors. Engagement might dip in some channels but spike in others. It’s also when your team might have more breathing room to reflect, regroup, and rework ideas without the Q4 pressure.

Plus, summer is a metaphor-rich season. Think: growth, energy, movement and play. All perfect themes for breathing life into a campaign that maybe didn’t stick the first time.

Review and Rework Without Judgment

Before anything can be reimagined, it needs to be understood. Ask yourself these questions about the campaign.

• What was the goal? Did the campaign aim for awareness, engagement, conversions?
• What worked well? Maybe the visuals were strong, but the CTA was weak. Maybe the story was good, but the audience was wrong.
• What failed and why? Timing? Message mismatch? Channel choice? Lack of clarity?

This isn’t about beating up on your old work. It’s about auditing the content with curiosity and clarity.

Refresh the Angle

Ask yourself what new spin would make this idea more relevant now?

• Update the context? Can you rework the content to connect it to current summer trends, events, or cultural moments?
• Shift the focus? Try telling the same story from a different POV like customer-first, behind-the-scenes or values-driven.
• Simplify it? Strip it down to the strongest insight or benefit and rebuild from there.

Summer is a season when audiences crave ease and emotion. Lean into storytelling that feels breezy, relatable, or joyfully unexpected.

Rework it and Change the Channel

Sometimes, the idea isn’t the problem but the platform is. So a campaign that fell flat as a static Instagram post might thrive as a short-form video. Or, an overlooked blog post might shine as a podcast segment or live Q&A.

Consider a form change-up to maximize your content impact:

• Repackaging email content as a summer-themed downloadable checklist.
• Turning case studies into Instagram carousel “client journeys.”
• Repurposing old webinars into bite-sized reels or quote graphics.

Embrace the Remix

You don’t need to start from scratch in a rework of an old campaign, just remix it. In fact, some of the most iconic campaigns are iterations of past ideas.

• Nike’s Just Do It has been reframed a dozen ways.
• Spotify Wrapped is a reinvention of year-in-review content.
• Coca-Cola constantly reuses its “share” message in seasonal formats.

Take what worked like language, design or sentiment and remix it to fit your audience better this summer.

Failure Isn’t Final, Keep Reworking

Just because something didn’t work the first time doesn’t mean it’s a bad idea. It might’ve just been early. Or undercooked. Or misaligned with the moment.

This summer, take a little time to look back, not to dwell but to rediscover. Great campaigns, like great summers, often come from second chances and a willingness to try something again, only just a little differently this time. So, you got a campaign graveyard? Dig it up. Rework it. You might just find your next big summer win buried there, waiting for its moment.

This week, we welcome Nancy Scott to our team as our newest marketing rocker! She says she is excited to rock on the Porch because she loves the idea of building business through real conversations and trusted relationships. The Porch approach — keeping it real, collaborative, and client-focused — is the kind of environment where Nancy really thrives.

Nancy sat down with us on the Porch for a chat:

1. What drove your decision to be a marketer?

What drew me to marketing is the perfect combination of creativity and problem-solving. I love understanding people — their needs, their motivations, and behaviors and creating strategies to connect brands and people. The problem-solving part of me loves to crunch numbers, comb through data for insights and make charts! 

2. What is the biggest misconception about marketing today?

That great marketing isn’t about social media — viral content, influencers, likes, and flashy ads. It’s about attracting and retaining customers by delivering value, building trust, and creating meaningful connections that lead to long-term brand loyalty.

3. What advice would you give to younger Nancy Scott?

Trust your instincts — and don’t be afraid to make bold moves.

4. What is one of the biggest lessons you’ve learned in your career?

Things shift — campaigns stumble, tools change, projects get delayed, teams restructure — but strong relationships, collaboration, and foundational marketing skills endure.

5. What does good marketing strategy look like?

I love this question! Good strategy is intentional, based in data, and focused on building relationships over time. It’s about knowing your audience and delivering the right message with purpose and consistency.

6. If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would it be?

Italy — hands down. It’s on my bucket list, and I can’t wait to explore it someday. Plus, I’m Italian… so it just feels right.

7. If you could go to dinner with one person, living or dead, who would it be?

My Italian grandmother, affectionately called “Little Nana.” She spent countless hours in the kitchen creating incredible Italian meals. I’d love to sit at her table again and get all her recipes.

8. If you could describe Nancy Scott in three words, what would they be?

Loyal. Honest. Mom.

9. Tell me about a major milestone in your life.

Likely a common answer but becoming a mother to my three daughters is truly the most extraordinary milestone in my life.

10. What is a fun fact about you?

I make the best chocolate chip cookies. Seriously — ask anyone who’s had one.

What’s coming up for Nancy Scott on The Porch?

Well, we sure hope it’s sharing some of those famous chocolate chip cookies, for sure! We’re super excited to have Nancy Scott’s expertise on our team, as our client roster continues to grow and we take on more and more challenging assignments. Welcome Nancy!

During the Eras Tour, every time there was rain, Taylor Swift, one of the greatest entrepreneurs in history, called it a lucky concert. My daughter and I attended the last show in Miami. And it rained.

For so many reasons, I was not a fan of rain. But that night Taylor Swift said, “So we are obviously having a very, very special, unique kind of concert tonight, and that is the kind of concert where it just rains the entire time. That’s what we affectionately refer to as a rain show.”

She went on to inform us that, “This night, tonight, was the very last opportunity we possibly could have on the Eras Tour to have a rain show because every stadium from here on out is indoors.”

And my daughter and I were there. One of the top 10 memories and experiences of my life. An experience when my perspective changed. Thank you, Taylor.

Take This Opportunity

Throughout the last few weeks in Dallas, it has rained.

Sometimes those rains were torrential downpours. Some questioned whether in person meetings should be had. If event dates should be changed. And so on.

At Front Porch Marketing, we are fortunate to work with clients and entrepreneurs who recognize the blessings of rain and what opportunities it signifies. Lucky rain means new beginnings. New opportunities. Fresh starts.

Here are some examples:

1. The stock market. Our clients in the financial industry are stead fast in their actions and spending more on marketing due to the opportunities and shifts in the market. As well as capitalizing on the acquisition of smaller firms by larger ones.
2. Commercial real estate. While this industry continues to be a challenge, we have two clients that are rockin’ new opportunities. One is using the time to further define their brand and opportunities. Another is finding inspiration in some of their down time to create a new business concept and opportunity.
3. A business-to-business company has identified a unique opportunity to enhance their core offerings. And it is ecommerce driven, as well as outside of their core expertise — offering branded merchandise.
4. A nonprofit that wants to further establish itself, and grow beyond its founder. The organization engaged us to refine its mission and define its brand architecture and then rename the organization and develop its identity. From there, we will build a marketing plan to communicate its core offerings to its best target.

Making the Most of the Rain

What are you, as a business owner, entrepreneur or business leader, going to make of a rain show?

Rain or shine, our tenured, passionate and steadfast team, is “enchanted to meet” and work with brilliant business owners who are weathering the storm.

While I still find it hard to believe, I have reached the end of my college experience. With all of the emotions and changes that come with senior year of college, my internship with Front Porch has been a constant that I could always depend on. As I approach my one-year anniversary with the team, I want to reflect on the value that internships bring to college students. 

Real-World Experience 

As overused as the term may seem, internships are without a doubt one of the best ways for students to immerse themselves into the professional space. Although our coursework helps give us an idea of the responsibilities expected from our potential career, nothing beats the real thing. No matter the industry, interns are excited to jump into the professional space with you – there’s no better way to learn than by doing! 

Project Management and Multi-Tasking 

Between my internship, schoolwork, on-campus job and social life, this past year has been anything but boring. Students have spent years juggling their commitments, such as classes, extracurriculars and hobbies. We understand the importance of time management and want to help carry the weight of your company’s day-to-day operations. By getting the opportunity to simultaneously work on multiple client accounts, Front Porch helped me strengthen my multi-tasking skills and feel confident in my abilities. 

Collaboration and Fresh Perspectives 

Like with any partnership, interns develop a sort of symbiotic relationship with the company they work for. Learning from professionals helped me not only start developing my own relevant insights but altered my way of thinking to reflect a more sophisticated and focused approach. Front Porch has always encouraged me to think critically and creatively, welcoming my ideas and asking questions to help me strengthen them. By giving your interns the chance to share their thoughts without fear of judgment, new and unique perspectives can be brought to the table. 

Increased Confidence 

My internship has helped me in many personal areas, especially with promoting myself and networking. I feel more secure in my creative work, as I found myself approaching my educational tasks with a mindset geared toward what a client or other target audience would be looking for. Front Porch gave me many opportunities to engage in client relations and present my work to our partners, which significantly increased my confidence in public speaking. The skills and lessons I’ve learned in my internship have shaped me as a creative professional, and their impact will carry with me into my future endeavors.  

So, with all of that to be said, companies should consider adding an intern or two to their team. Students are happy to gain any experience they can and will be passionate to push your company’s professional goals. Remember that everyone has to start somewhere, so consider being the helping hand who kickstarts someone’s professional experiences — just like Front Porch has been for me. 

As trends change, public relations materials and PR plans from specific periods in a company’s history can become outdated and irrelevant in today’s fast-paced environment. Spring is an ideal time to update older PR materials, including media lists, press release templates, etc.

Focus on these four key areas to prepare the PR strategy for summer.

Happiness is an Updated Media List to Maximize New PR Plans

The media landscape constantly evolves, leading to a regular turnover of editors moving between different publications and those leaving the industry altogether. Given this dynamic environment, keeping media lists with the most relevant and active writers is essential.

This is the perfect opportunity for some spring cleaning! Take the time to research and remove any contacts from lists that result in email errors.

Let the Sunshine in by Deleting Old Press Releases

Spring cleaning is essential for managing old, unfinalized files, particularly the multiple versions of press releases. Now is the perfect time to delete the non-final versions and create space for new files. This process also helps you organize and declutter folders. No one wants to sift through a chaotic mess when searching for a specific release.

Dust off Pitch Strategies for Shiny New PR Plans

Another way to capitalize on this PR Plans cleaning season is by reassessing pitches. Take the time to review what has been effective, identify emerging trends, and evaluate which messages have resonated with the media and which have not. This is an ideal opportunity to adjust and refine any messaging or angles you have found outdated or ineffective in capturing attention.

Revitalize PR Plans This Spring

After reviewing pitches, use that insight to refresh public relations strategies by developing a 6 to 12-month PR plans focused on trade and consumer media. Now is the perfect time to evaluate and improve plans and campaigns for the rest of the year. This evaluation is especially crucial for upcoming product launches or news developments.

Working parents are both rejoicing and feeling dread right now. Spring officially sprung on Thursday, March 20, bringing longer days, warmer nights and blooming flowers. Sure, we’re ushering in more time outside to enjoy nature, but for working parents, it also signals the end of the school year is near. Cue the panic as your thoughts turn to keeping school-aged kids entertained all summer — and figuring out how to pay for it.

Flexible Schedules Help Working Parents

One silver lining of COVID was the increase of flexible work schedules. For some, that means a fully remote environment, while others enjoy a hybrid model, splitting time between the office and home. Some workplaces even allow flexible hours, helping parents coordinate summer schedules and sharing childcare responsibilities more effectively.

Even with the most flexible work setups, the challenge remains — kids at home needing entertainment and work that still needs to be done. So, how do working parents navigate summer?

Set Yourself Up for Success, Working Parents

Start by getting organized. Create a summer activity spreadsheet, structuring it by week, and begin filling it with any pre-planned events. Maybe you’ve already blocked time off for a family vacation or a week at the grandparents’ house. Whatever the case, start with a realistic overview of the dates and gaps you need to fill.

Next, establish a budget. Some camps, especially full-day and overnight options, can be costly, even if you have two working parents in the family. Determine what works for your finances and commit to staying within it.

Now it’s time to explore your local camp options. Chat with your kids about their interests, connect with other parents for recommendations and start your online research. From recreational sports leagues to summer art programs, day camps and overnight camps there most likely isn’t a shortage of options. You might also consider hiring a summer nanny or a high schooler in your neighborhood who is great with kids and looking to make some extra money.

At this stage, start building your list. Make sure to include dates, costs and priorities. Determine what fits within the weeks you need coverage, and your budget.

Other Considerations When Planning Your Kid’s Summer

Alternate weeks of coverage. To cut costs or allow for unstructured downtime, some families with a work-from-home parent opt for weeks with no scheduled activities, giving kids the freedom to play at home.

Opt for half-day activities. Another great way to save money while giving your kids the best of both worlds. An opportunity for structured play with peers for part of the day, followed by enjoying the comforts of home for the rest of the day.

Book early. Many camps offer early bird discounts so the sooner you start researching and securing spots, the more budget-friendly your options will be.

Drop-in activities. Nomatter how well you plan, unexpected work meetings or obligations can arise. Consider camps that offer flexible, last-minute enrollment. They may cost more, but they’re a valuable option to have in your back pocket.

Be Ready to Pivot or Reschedule Plans

No matter how much planning you do as a working parent, unexpected changes are bound to pop up in your kids’ summer activities. Keep in mind that summer is meant to be slower paced, a time for relaxation and making memories with family and friends. It’s okay if every moment isn’t scheduled, and hearing “I’m bored” now and then is inevitable. But by following a few of these tips, you can minimize stress, embrace the unpredictable and make this summer one to remember.

Happy planning for an unforgettable summer!

Spring is the season of growth and renewal — a perfect time to take a fresh look at your marketing strategy and the channel mix you’re using. Just like you’d diversify a garden to ensure a healthy harvest, your marketing strategy needs a mix of channels to thrive. If you’re pouring all your time, budget, or energy into one platform or tactic, you might be missing out on bigger opportunities — and leaving yourself vulnerable.

Channel diversification matters. So learn how to spot overdependence on one channel and what you can do to grow a more balanced, resilient marketing mix.

The Risks of a One-Channel Strategy

Putting all your golden marketing eggs in one basket can feel safe — especially when that channel is performing well. But algorithms change, audience behaviors shift, and platforms rise and fall. If your business relies heavily on a single social media platform, email list, or ad network, you’re one update away from a major disruption.

Common signs of over-reliance:

• Most of your website traffic or new business leads come from one source
• Your engagement drops significantly if one channel underperforms
• You haven’t experimented with new platforms or tactics in over 6 months

The Benefits of Channel Diversification

1. Reach new audiences: Different platforms attract different demographics. Expanding your reach across channels means reaching more potential customers.

2. Mitigate risk: If one channel takes a hit — due to algorithm changes, ad costs, or even a platform outage — you’ve got others to lean on.

3. Learn what works best: Diversification allows for better testing and experimentation. You might discover that your audience responds better to email storytelling than paid search, or that blog posts drive more qualified leads than Instagram.

4. Strengthen your brand: A presence across multiple touchpoints increases brand recognition and builds trust. It adds depth to your brand’s personality. Your brand becomes more than just “that company on LinkedIn.”

Alternative Channels to Consider

• Email Marketing: Email marketing is still one of the most effective and underutilized channels for direct communication.
• Podcast Interviews, Sponsorships or Advertising: Reach niche B2B or B2C audiences where they spend uninterrupted time.
• SMS/Text Campaigns: SMS marketing is quick, direct, and surprisingly effective when used with consent, consistency and care.
• Community Platforms: Slack groups, Discord, or industry-specific forums where conversations already happen about your industry, product, or brand.
• Content Syndication: Republish or distribute your best blog content to new audiences through third-party sites.
• Offline Tactics: Direct mail, branded events, or pop-up experiences still create memorable brand impressions.
• Media Relations: Establishing your brand as a voice of authority in industry newspapers and magazines with a solid media pitch

How to Start Diversifying

1. Audit your current mix: Where is your traffic and engagement actually coming from? What channels are underperforming or neglected?
2. Choose one new channel to explore: You don’t need to launch everywhere all at once. Pick a channel that aligns with your audience and test it intentionally.
3. Repurpose smartly: You don’t need to create new content for every channel. Repurpose blog posts into videos, webinar snippets into social posts, or long-form reports into email series.
4. Measure, refine, repeat: Set clear KPIs for each new channel and compare results. Continue to refine your mix as you gain new insights.

Make Your Brand Channel Resilient

The more varied and strategic your marketing approach, the more resilient your brand becomes. So this spring, take a cue from the season: plant new seeds, test new soil, and watch your marketing bloom in unexpected places. Just remember: marketing, like gardening, rewards those who think ahead and stay adaptable.

Have you tried a new channel recently that surprised you with results? We’d love to hear about it on The Porch!

At Front Porch Marketing, we are grateful to partner with brave, smart, tenacious and passionate entrepreneurs and business leaders on their branding. New, existing and former clients have come to us in the past few months as they are starting new businesses, bolting on to existing businesses or rebranding their current business or organization.

Delivering on Branding

Our best and most successful clients understand the power of their brand. At every touchpoint, they are delivering on their vision, personality, positioning and affiliation.

For existing companies as well as new ones, it is important to consider these things.

Most Important Aspects of Your Brand

1. Your name. It is the first interaction people have with your business or organization. It may be by word of mouth. It could be from a social media post. Or it could be in a conversation with a colleague or friend. This could be a deciding factor if someone wants to engage with your brand, buy from you, be a part of your community. Is it distinctive, easy to say and spell? Weak names are not memorable. They create confusion and limit appeal.
2. Brand architecture. Having powerful brand messaging that encompasses conviction, consistency and connection with these three attributes is critical. This will set apart a weak one from a strong one. If these aren’t defined internally, how can external stakeholders engage and trust in your business or organization?
3. Logo. Does your logo communicate your company’s personality instantly? Are the colors reflective of your brand? Does your logo have longevity? Does your logo need a refresh to stay relevant?
4. Usage guidelines. We see a lot of companies and organizations that don’t have these defined. Any creative work needs to be on-brand. Whether you are executing creative internally or have an external partner, logos in color and black and white, fonts, brand colors, tone of voice, icons, images, need to be defined upfront. Remember, this helps visually communicate who you are at every touch point and is critical.

Why? Getting all these right at the get-go leads your brand to success verses struggle.

An Example of A Strong Brand

A great litmus test for organizations recently shared with us is Locks of Love. This is a case study for brand alignment. Kudos to them! Locks of Love is a nonprofit that provides hair prosthetics to children. What personality and feelings does its brand evoke? How have they incorporated their brand beyond their logo?

What if the organization had named themselves Children’s Hair Prosthetics of Florida? Makes you want to go hmmmm.

Audit Now and Build This Power

Take a moment this quarter to audit your brand. Is it doing the job you need it to do? Can it be optimized or leveled up? Set your revision plans in place now to continue the rest of the year with a stronger look, a stronger voice. Build your network, your customer base, and your future sales on this important marketing foundation.