Is your whole team telling the same story?
Why every nonprofit needs current talking points and an FAQ, and how to keep staff and volunteers saying the same thing.
Read the articleYour mission deserves to be heard.
Most nonprofits and purpose-driven organizations do extraordinary work, and struggle to communicate it. We help you tell your story with clarity and credibility.
We didn't come from the agency world. We came from the nonprofit world. There's a difference.
Who we work with:
NonprofitsPublic health agenciesFoundationsHealthcare organizationsSocial enterprisesValues-driven companies
You shouldn't have to choose between doing the work and communicating it.
- Your programs are making a real difference, but your communications don't show it yet.
- You're stretched thin and wearing too many hats, with no dedicated communications, marketing, or PR staff to lean on.
- Your messaging shifts from platform to platform, and your brand doesn't match the quality of your work.
That's the gap we close, with strategy, hands-on help, and a team that understands your world.
Communications, marketing, and PR, connected.
Most organizations treat these as separate functions. We connect them, so your message is consistent whether it reaches a donor, a journalist, a board member, or the community you serve.
Talk through your needsCommunications
Strategic communications planning, executive messaging, speechwriting, crisis response, change management, stakeholder engagement, talking points, and annual impact reports. We build the strategy and the content that keep your organization speaking with one clear, credible voice.
Marketing
Brand strategy, content creation, social media, email marketing, donor communications, and fundraising collateral. We help you deepen relationships with the people who fund, support, and believe in your work.
Public relations
Earned media strategy, media relations, spokesperson preparation, press releases, thought leadership, and reputation management. We get your work in front of the journalists, policymakers, and audiences who need to hear about it.
One of our most valuable services
Fractional communications leadership
For organizations without a full-time communications director, we serve as that person: strategic counsel, hands-on execution, and leadership presence at the table, without the full-time overhead. It's one of the most underused resources in the sector.
Additional creative services
Campaign development, video production, graphic design, media training, event support, and AI-assisted content workflows that help your team produce more without sacrificing quality.
Michael DeCintiFounder and Principal
We understand your world because we have lived in it.
Our founder spent more than 20 years inside nonprofits, public health agencies, and mission-driven organizations before launching Ethos: advising executives, managing crises, building communications functions from nothing, and learning firsthand what it takes to communicate well when resources are tight and the stakes are real.
Our clients share one thing in common. Their work is bigger than their bottom line. If your mission drives every decision you make, you are exactly who we built this firm for.
Alongside, not at a distance
We sit in your strategy meetings and advise your leadership, as part of your team.
Built to last
We build your team's capacity to communicate well long after our engagement ends.
Honest counsel
We tell you what will work, what won't, and what it will take, before you have to ask.
What our clients say
Our small community nonprofit wanted to host a golf tournament fundraiser and Mike helped us every step of the way. The day was a success and we surpassed our funding goal.
We were so happy with the media training Mike was able to provide our team leaders and volunteers. We wanted to be able to speak more confidently with local media and now we can.
Mike worked with our marketing interns to help us produce some videos for our social media. He helped them through every step of the process and set them up for success to continue to do it on their own.
Mike takes the time to really be a part of our team. He doesn't just work on projects, he makes sure to sit in on meetings to get the full picture and understand what our goals are. And he is always open to feedback.
How working together works
Free consultation
A conversation about your mission, your audiences, and where communications is falling short.
A clear plan
We scope the work, the timeline, and the cost up front, so there are no surprises.
Work alongside you
Strategy and hands-on execution, with regular check-ins with your leadership.
Leave you stronger
Templates, training, and systems your team keeps using after the engagement ends.
Common questions
What kinds of organizations do you work with?
Nonprofits, public health agencies, foundations, healthcare organizations, social enterprises, and values-driven companies. Size doesn't matter as much as mission. We work with small community organizations and large institutions alike.
Do you only work with organizations in North Carolina?
No. We're based in Apex, NC, and work with clients remotely across the country. For organizations in the Triangle, we're happy to meet in person.
What is fractional communications leadership?
It means we act as your part-time communications director. You get senior strategy, hands-on execution, and someone at the leadership table, for a fraction of the cost of a full-time hire.
How much does it cost?
Every engagement is different. We offer project-based work and ongoing monthly support, and we'll give you a clear quote after a free consultation, before any work begins.
Can you train our staff and volunteers?
Yes. Media training, spokesperson preparation, and messaging training are some of the most lasting investments an organization can make, and they're a regular part of our work.
Let's talk about your mission.
Tell us a little about your organization and what you're working on. The first conversation is free, and there's no obligation.
Based in Apex, NC. Serving mission-driven organizations across the country. We respond to every inquiry within one business day.