Communicating Impact at Work: Building a Brand That Moves a Mission

Early in my career, I learned that communication isn’t just about what you say — it’s about how your message multiplies impact. Serving as Communications Specialist was a relatively small role in a community nonprofit, but even small roles can provide powerful examples for resumes, cover letters and interviews.

In 1996, I joined Massachusetts Families for Kids (MFFK), one of about a dozen grantees in a national initiative funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF) to improve child welfare outcomes. The initiative aimed to change how the public and the child welfare community thought about children in foster care — putting the child’s perspective at the center of decision-making. MFFK was responsible for leading that mission within Massachusetts, collaborating with other nonprofits and state agencies to drive progress, while also aligning with the national initiative.

Even in a smaller organization, this work provides a clear example of the C.A.R.E. Model — Context, Action, Results, Effect.

Context

At the time, Massachusetts had many organizations working on child welfare, each with its own materials and messaging. MFFK had a strong mission and partnerships, but lacked a consistent, recognizable brand. To amplify our impact statewide, we needed a clear, unified voice that could be seen and understood by policymakers, partners and the public.

Action

As Communications Specialist, I developed and led a branding and communications strategy for MFFK. I designed, reviewed and branded all public-facing materials and publications, ensuring consistent messaging and storytelling.

We took our message on the road with a statewide bus tour, bus wrapped in MFFK branding, bringing visibility to communities and policymakers. I also collaborated with consultants to produce a video highlighting children’s stories and the importance of family permanency.

To stay aligned with the national WKKF initiative, I coordinated with their communications team so our Massachusetts messaging complemented the broader, nationwide effort. 

Results

The consistent branding and storytelling elevated MFFK’s visibility as a credible voice in child welfare reform within the state. Our work reached new audiences and was featured in The Boston Globe, helping draw attention to the systemic challenges children faced in finding permanent families.

Effect

Even a small role can be a force multiplier. Strategic communication helped MFFK’s statewide mission gain traction, amplified our partnerships, and contributed to broader conversations about child welfare and family permanency.

The takeaways for your career: small roles in larger systems can showcase real impact. Your C.A.R.E. examples don’t have to come from leadership positions — they come from thinking strategically, aligning your work with a bigger mission, and communicating results clearly.

Which smaller roles in your career have given you big impact? How do you communicate it? Let’s talk about your telling your story and communicating value through impact. Reach out for a free 20-minute Discovery Call.