Your Thought Partner

Expert storytelling can be powerful catalysts for community engagement and conveying social impact in the opportunity finance sector.

As a strategic communications consultant with over two decades of experience, I partner with senior leaders in impact finance and their nonprofit partners to shape organizational narratives that propel change. My approach integrates deep sector knowledge, academic rigor, and extensive finance industry experience with transformative storytelling. 

This unique combination of expertise allows me to help you develop comprehensive communications strategies that align seamlessly with your goals and values. They amplify the influence of your organization and its leaders to advance your mission in the ever changing mission-driven finance landscape.

My doctoral research on the effects of racialized capitalism on the Black-White wealth chasm in America brings academic rigor to my work. This foundation is combined with extensive experience collaborating with pre-eminent financial institutions and nonprofits like the Urban League of Greater Atlanta, the Junior League of Atlanta, and Boston’s BlueHub Capital SUN.

That provides a unique perspective on for-profit investors and the social welfare and economic empowerment organizations that are part of the community development finance industry.

I also partner with organizations focused on democratizing access to capital, closing the racialized wealth gap, and investing in climate justice, decarceration, food justice, and health equity.

Social change communications planning in inclusive finance requires a nuanced approach that balances impact, compliance, cultural competence, and constituent engagement. 

My comprehensive services are customized to navigate these complexities, positioning your organization as an agent for narrative shift in the field. They include 10 key solutions:

1. Organizational Communication Strategy
2. Strategic Narrative Development
3. Stakeholder Engagement and Advocacy
4. Culturally Competent Communications
5. Executive Communication and Personal Branding
6. Investor and Donor Relations Messaging
7. Issue Management and Reputation Restoration
8. Brand Positioning and Thought Leadership
9. Regulatory-Compliant Messaging
10. Data-Driven Storytelling Strategies

These solutions form the foundation of my approach, but my approach is not prescriptive; it’s collaborative. I explore your specific needs. Then, I help your organization develop communications strategies that not only inform but influence your core constituents, shaping their response, and driving meaningful evolution in the financial inclusion landscape.

At the core of my methods is crafting powerful narratives that can reshape perceptions of your organization, its leaders, and your constituents in the opportunity finance sector. By aligning your nonprofit's story with broader economic justice movements, I help strengthen underrepresented voices in financial discussions.

This can convert your core audiences into active participants in your mission. My expertise lies in developing transformative stories that not only articulate your vision but also inspire supporter action and position your organization to lead industry-wide transition.

When you engage with me, you’re working with a communications strategy consultant who integrates seamlessly into your team. My cooperative style involves:

• In-depth discovery sessions to understand your distinctive challenges and opportunities.

• Close teamwork with your senior leadership to align communications with organizational strategy

• Integration with your existing teams and processes to ensure smooth implementation

• Ongoing guidance and support to adapt to constantly shifting industry dynamics

• Regular strategy sessions to measure impact and refine tactics

This partnership model ensures that your communications strategy is not just implemented, but continuously revised and optimized. We’ll build a dynamic, adaptive blueprint that guides your organization’s mission forward and amplifies your influence in community development finance.

The solutions outlined here are not exhaustive. As an accomplished thought partner with extensive experience social and economic empowerment nonprofit initiatives, I'm prepared to address a wide range of social change communications challenges.

Contact me today for a complimentary 30-minute introductory conversation to determine how we can work together successfully.

(c) 2024. Dahna M. Chandler for UpThink Strategic Communications, Inc., a division of Thrive Media Collaborative, Inc. All rights reserved. This page content may not be reproduced or reposted in whole or in part or used for AI applications without express written permission from the author.