Blog
Lessons from the 2026 Edelman Trust Barometer
The global landscape is now defined by insularity. 7 in 10 people are hesitant or unwilling to trust those who differ from them in values, background, or even the facts they rely on. In this environment, your donors are retreating into "local circles" of trust - neighbors, family, and coworkers - while distancing themselves from institutions. If you don’t understand this and lean into it, this statistic will affect - or is already affecting - your organization.
If Everything Sounds Important, Nothing Actually Is: How to be Heard, Seen and Known in a Noisy World.
At Graf-Martin, we specialize in helping mid-sized organizations move from "noisy" to "known." Sometimes, a high-impact Brand Strategy Sprint is all it takes to align your team, refine your message, and give your community the clarity they’re starving for.
Leaders Navigating Uncertainty: Five Questions to Ask Right Now
We recently sat down with our founder, Ellen Graf-Martin, to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing leaders of values-driven organizations today. Ellen’s not new to this game -- she started Graf-Martin Communications at the bottom of the “great recession” in 2008, and walked with a number of organizations through 2020. Her perspective, honed over 17 years of navigating market shifts, global trends and crises offers a compelling framework for not just surviving, but thriving in uncertainty.
Are We Making Fundraising and Communication Too Complicated?
Are we making fundraising and communications too complicated? Honestly… yes, sometimes.
But the solution is simple: Focus on people. Tell real stories. Streamline your process.
Your donors don’t want to navigate a maze of messages. They just want to understand the impact of their support.
When we give them that clarity, we amplify the mission.
Brand Clarity: The Hidden Key to a Strong Monthly Donor Program
In our experience, many organizations are frustrated with a lack of success in attracting new monthly donors, and feeling like their monthly giving program is the problem. But, here’s the truth: before you can grow a healthy monthly donor program, you need a healthy brand. Read on to learn more about how a clearly defined brand helps build donor confidence and support for your mission.
Brand Consistency: The Key to Building Trust
This Spring I’m connecting with charity leaders who are doing incredible, hope-filled work across Canada. In every conversation we’re talking about what is shifting in the world - and let’s be honest, this is a rapidly shifting world at the moment. What’s important to me is how to support these organizations so they can stay ahead without burning out and ensure they’ve got what they need to make it through this season.
Why Donors Should Fund Brand & Marketing Strategy
Donors rarely get asked to fund Brand initiatives or strategy development, or Marketing Strategy, and I get why not. It’s not what they “signed up for” as a donor, is it?
How’s Your Brand Strategy?
We love working to strengthen organizations committed to hope, generosity and justice. The leaders of these organizations (let’s call them Kim and Paul), don’t just love what they do - they love who they serve, and they love how they get to serve.
