leveraging our expertise

new chapter, same book   chapter one   Growing up, I was always a helper. My brother is only twenty-one months younger than me, but…

WHAT IS MARKETING & WHY DOES MY MINISTRY NEED IT? Put simply, marketing is the promotion or selling of a product or service. Within the…

Sitting back   Slow down you crazy child.   Four years ago, I cranked up my red minivan, rolled the windows down and blasted Vienna…

Creativity through Technology (and Oreo cake)   The question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” always excited me as a kid.…

A JOURNEY HOME Typically when considering a college education, future career aspirations and the journey in between, we map out how each step will prepare…

2020. A year of pivoting and pressing in. When we looked back at our top-performing blogs from 2020, it wasn’t surprising to see that many…

I once had a mattress that caved in the middle and became shaped like a taco. Real tacos are great, but I hate bed tacos.…

With great excitement, I recently joined the team at Angel Oak Creative as the new Marketing Account Coordinator and Print Production Manager! You might wonder…

Coronavirus. Just the word sparks a visceral response. The entire world is on alert, and it’s no different here in the Triangle. As the illness…

Danny Rosin Band Together My name is Danny Rosin. I guess I have four sort of prongs to my stool. One is family, another one…

Barbara Jessie-Black CommunityWorx *Since the filming of this video, PTA Thrift Shop has rebranded to CommunityWorx.   My name is Barbara Jessie-Black, and I’m the…

Raeford Williams Healing Transitions My name is Raeford Williams. I’m at Healing Transitions. What I do is the same thing that was done to me…

It seems like there’s a day for every interest and cause! Whether it’s cancer, diabetes, homelessness, hunger or housing, there’s a period of time devoted…

Tom Vande Guchte Storr Office Environments I’m Tom Vande Guchte, CEO of Store Office Environments.  I think it’s the same as with the business. I…

Danny Rosin Band Together   Raeford Williams Healing Transitions   Barbara Jessie Black PTA Thrift Shop   Tom Vande Guchte Storr Office Environments “Are you…

Before anyone is too quick to judge me for creating an Instagram for my dog and calling it “social media marketing,” let me introduce myself.…

Ashton Smith Citrix I am Ashton Smith, and I currently work at Citrix. I’m on our marketing and sponsorship team now, but I’ve been there…

Jesma Reynolds Walter Magazine I’m Jesma Reynolds, and I was the creative director for Walter Magazine for six years. I helped start it, and I…

Lori O’Keefe Triangle Community Foundation I’m Lori O’Keefe, and I am the President and CEO of the Triangle Community Foundation. I have been at the…

Daniel Alexander Mission Triangle My name is Daniel Alexander, and I’m the Area Director for Mission Triangle. I’ve been there for 11 months. Now in…

Daniel Alexander Mission Triangle Lori O’Keefe Triangle Community Foundation Jesma Reynolds Walter Magazine Ashton Smith Citrix I believe that we need to ask ourselves the…

People Matter 2019 started off with four interviews all focused around one important question: “Is your board any good?” What should the relationship between a…

Kristine Sloan StartingBloc When I first started with StartingBloc, we had a board of directors made up of some StartingBloc Fellows, but a lot of…

I’ve been a Carolina Hurricanes fan since the early 2000’s. I really got hooked on them when I attended the 2006 Stanley Cup Final where the…

Susan Ross moss+ross I’m Susan Ross. I’ve been on various nonprofit boards for 35 years and now I run a consulting business where we have…

Chuck Recorr The Harvard 100 I’m Chuck Recorr. In my day job, I’m a managing director at Merrill Lynch — I’ve been there for 47…

My name is Justin Raymond, and I just joined the Angel Oak Creative team as a digital marketing strategist. I’ve always been passionate about marketing.…

Lee Whitman SAFEchild (’03-’09) Band Together (’12-’18) For me, I like my job, I’m good at my job, I spend a lot of time at…

Kristine Sloan StartingBloc   Chuck Recorr Triangle Nonprofit 100 (formerly Harvard 100)   Susan Ross moss+ross   Lee Whitman SAFEchild (’03-’09) Band Together (’12-’18) When…

What’s March Madness and the NCAA Tournament without a few underdogs beating the odds and making it into the Finals? Perennial underdog University of Virginia…

If I had a nickel for every time I’ve heard a client express their desire to be featured in a news story, I would be…

As you may have noticed from our content in March, we’re celebrating #BCorpMonth! In 2015, we decided to see if we had what it took…

I graduated college and started my graphic design career in the same year—1990. That was the same year Law & Order and The Fresh Prince…

Thirty million people watched this year’s Oscars broadcast. That’s a lot of eyeballs on Hollywood’s elite actors, actresses, directors, screenwriters, costume designers and special effects…

Young companies can learn a lot from mature ones. No matter the size — big or small — the ones who have gone before us…

Another Super Bowl starring Tom Brady has come and gone. And can I speak for all of us when I say, thank goodness it’s over?…

Triangle, you gave more than $2 million to support missions in your community this year! This year, we worked with over 14 nonprofits, helping them with their…

We’re taking a shot at predicting five trends nonprofits should focus on in 2019. To sum up these trends in a couple words – they’d be…

Ahhh, the nonprofit annual report. Just the thought of producing one can bring an executive director to tears. There’s the obligatory ED letter, the boring…

We’re celebrating the new year by highlighting the blogs you loved the most in 2018. If you haven’t read these blogs already, check them out!…

1. Centrant: Rebrand CICCAR (Community Investment Corporation of the Carolinas) —> Centrant We loved this fresh, clean brand. The arrows resonate with the company’s drive…

For the average nonprofit management team, phrases like WordPress, SquareSpace, Magento or Drupal might as well be a foreign language. These are all examples of…

Your direct mail has landed in mailboxes, your donors have officially stopped thinking about turkey and stuffing and are instead thinking about Christmas, and you’re…

Mental illness was always a reality in my family, but frequently relegated to back-room conversations. Even when close relatives were in treatment, it was never…

When my dad was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia in 2001, I was a freshman in college. He was only 54, and the idea that…

Triangle, we want you! We have the honor of working with some pretty cool nonprofits. Some may even say they’re incredible. Many of our clients…

“What are you doing here, midget?” The class bully questioned me in 5th grade. “Still haven’t grown?” he asks in 6th grade. “Can you even…

My family and I recently visited Emerald Isle, NC, which was hit hard by Hurricane Florence this past September. Walking the beach, I saw firsthand…

Words can’t begin to describe the pain of a mother burying her son due to suicide. Unfortunately, some of us witness it firsthand—I did nine…

As you’ve likely heard, North Carolina (where Angel Oak Creative is headquartered) and South Carolina took quite a hit from Hurricane Florence. The storm wreaked…

Addiction is a disease. It’s an epidemic in our communities. So how do we best serve those who are seeking treatment for their disease? Many…

We believe people matter. And we know that often it’s the most vulnerable in our community whose needs multiply severely in times of emergency. That’s…

WRAL’s 2017 documentary, Searching for a Fix, features the story of Trinlie Yeaman, a mother doing what any parent would do to save their child from…

The impact of addiction on people’s lives, families and communities is enormous. It’s a huge problem in the Triangle – for all ages and genders.…

I was 34 years old when I entered the doors of Healing Transitions. I was broken and desperate for a dramatic and much needed change…

Who are you, and why are you wearing that trucker hat? “Caitlin Clinard here, founder of Angel Oak Creative, a marketing firm that exists to…

Successfully completing two degrees couldn’t save me from the realities of unemployment. Neither could mid-range experience or knowing the right people. But during my year-long…

Private K-12 schools are in constant student recruitment and retention mode. Admissions is one of the most critical programs in the school for vitality and…

Like many of us, Anissa and her two daughters once lived without fear of where they were going to lay their head each evening. Then…

“I haven’t been able to find a stable job in years and have no idea what else to do. I’m losing hope.” As Deborah* sits…

Have you ever had to live paycheck to paycheck? Do you know what it’s like to experience what appears to be “small problems of everyday…

The picture in Kiona’s hand was hard to look at: in the foreground, a pink and green rug and a white dresser with a lamp…

At Angel Oak, we measure success in many ways. Analytics don’t lie. For example, if we’ve been hired to improve a nonprofit’s digital presence, success…

Unless you’ve been in a total media blackout this week (or in a maple syrup-induced coma), you’ve likely heard that the iconic International House of…

The sound of boots smacking the pavement. The whip of helicopter blades cutting through the air. The sound of an American flag waving in the…

Are you a busy person? Let me guess, you are. We’re all SO busy these days, and we wear our busyness like a badge of…

Man, how many times in your professional career have you asked that question? Is what I’m doing ACTUALLY making a difference? If you’ve never asked…

We do our best at Angel Oak Creative to prove the value of marketing to nonprofits. And my part of marketing is all about the…

At Angel Oak Creative, our sweet spot is campaigns. We love helping nonprofits build and manage marketing strategies that propel their fundraising efforts forward. Though…

For any organization, undertaking a rebrand is no simple or quick task. It’s a labor intensive process that requires change, asking tough questions, developing your…

Have you heard about “A Quiet Place” yet? If not, where ya been? It’s only one of this year’s top-grossing films, earning more than $50 million in…

I literally got mad at my microwave this morning. “How long should it take to reheat a cup of coffee?” I grumbled as I hit…

Often times we think of the word quitting as a negative response – it is giving up on something, it is taking the easy way…

It’s not called March Madness for nothing! There are always upsets in the NCAA Tournament, but 2018 seems to be the year of the underdog.…

Angel Oak Creative works with nonprofits dependent on all types of funding sources. From fee-for-service to individual donors to grant-funded organizations, each one brings with…

It’s that time of year again. Every nonprofit on a calendar year is thinking about their annual report. There are many choices to make when…

Before you say “wait a minute, step on the brakes, this doesn’t apply to me,” let me tell you  – yes, nonprofits, you are a…

Wow! What a game! And I’m not just talking about the God-fearing Eagles taking down the Evil Empire in Super Bowl LII. Yes, the game…

Facebook’s done it again. They revamped their News Feed and it’s making us question our content calendars all over again. As the world’s biggest social…

Triangle, you gave more than $1 million to support missions in your community! This year we worked with 12 nonprofits to help them close out…

Whether you’re a nonprofit executive, development director or donor, you’ve likely heard about the latest tax law passed by the US Congress that’s predicted to have a dramatic…

I’m not sure about you, but I’m an avid fan of professional football. I’m amazed by the athleticism, skill and talent displayed on the field…

Exactly three months ago, I began my internship here. Several Yellow Dog Bakery scones later, I’ve learned a thing or two about nonprofits and what…

Remember how pumped you were last month that your eblast got a 40% open rate and 3% clickthrough rate? Jackpot! Most organizations and businesses invest a…

What better way to celebrate an incredible year than to reflect on what we’ve been learning and growing in as a company? Last year, we…

This Ad Dared Me to #CareEnough Breaking through the noise. Standing out. Going viral. That’s every marketer’s charge. Sometimes it’s the almighty dollar that moves…

Did you know: – Nearly one-third of all annual giving occurs in December – 12% of all giving occurs in the last three days of…

Triangle, it’s time to step up! We have some pretty cool locally-based nonprofit clients. Some would even call them incredible. Like most nonprofits, 12 of…

We know turnover is high for development professionals. What’s more concerning is how much we know and how nothing is being done about it. The…

Your perspective matters The lenses with which you choose to view the world matter. Those lenses are the subject matter of the author Glennon Melton…

My CORRAL story One of the things I love about CORRAL Riding Academy is the seemingly endless number of opportunities there are to volunteer. I…

The Science of Decision Making People drive engagement. Statistics, event announcements and basic information dissemination don’t. At the end of the day, it’s our emotions…

How Have You Been? I couldn’t help but shudder as I listened to Keshune talk to his Father on the phone. A father who was…

Being an entrepreneur comes with its challenges. But with that, there are also many privileges. In this week’s vlog, our fearless leader, Caitlin, shares how…

You may be thinking, ‘She’s just the intern. What does she know?’ But I’m also a young millennial fresh out of journalism school, which kind…

It’s been incredible to see communities come together in the wake of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. From fundraising to mobilizing to action, we have seen…

It’s the feeling of connection between two people. The comfort a child receives from a parent. One of five senses. It’s touch. And we crave…

The Setup My wife is very good at capturing moments. One point of contention in our relationship has always been her incessant pursuit of taking…

The era of online video domination is here. And it’s not going anywhere. Youtube has more than a billion users, almost one-third of all people…

So, you hear about that solar eclipse going down today? For the last two weeks it seems like the solar eclipse has literally eclipsed all…

What kind of leader are you? Are you winging it? Or is something guiding you? Our society is desperately in need of leadership to gather…

5 Tips to Energize Your Communications   One of the biggest challenges for a nonprofit is to keep their communications fresh and engaging. Nonprofits can…

If you live in the Triangle you likely heard of our local YMCA’s chemical spill accident that sent 40 kids to the hospital. Thankfully no one…

Angel Oak Creative’s creative, here. Thought I’d try my hand at writing for a change to try to convince you guys how much visuals impact…

Freedom. It’s what binds us and defines us as Americans. It’s what we celebrated this week on the 4th of July. The great independence day…

Donor Acquisition – The Secret Formula   Struggling with how to get people involved in your nonprofit? Struggle no more. Many clients come to us…

Kevin Durant is a cupcake. You should be too.   “This has been by far the most challenging few weeks in my professional life. I…

It’s Time for a Reboot I’m a mom to two teenagers, wife of 23 years and a social media intern. That’s right. I said intern.…

My Top Takeaways From Leadership Raleigh My very first impression of my Leadership Raleigh class (LR34!) was one of intimidation. These people were legit. I’m…

Is Your Next Campaign Going to Sink or Swim? If you’re in the nonprofit sector, you know exactly how it feels to stress over how…

When it Comes to Media, You’re Wasting Your Time Media coverage has the potential to put you in front of a lot of eyes. For…

In March, I created my own reality show and presented my team with the Ultimate Survivor Challenge. No, they didn’t find themselves in Africa or…

What is it about a great story that moves an audience to take action? My colleagues Seth Crawford and Cate McLeane have written two great…

Stories. They just stick with us. In fact, our brains are wired to love stories and remember their fact claims. Brands that are able to…

Our mission is to… We’ve impacted countless lives through our work… Let me explain our newest program. Our data is telling us that… Just stop.…

Facebook + Video = GAMECHANGER   I was meeting with a friend and mentor for lunch recently, and he pulled out his iPad to show…

Depending on the source, experts suggest it takes between seven and 12 “touches” for a donor to make the decision to support a nonprofit organization.…

Y’all, I recently did three things I’d never done before. Two of them are embarrassing to admit because they shouldn’t have felt so daunting, but…

On March 4th, in an epic 15-lead change game, UNC defeated Duke 90-83. As roused college students rushed Franklin street and celebrated by jumping over…

According to Cate’s 2-part Girl Boss series a few weeks ago, a Girl Boss is smart, innovative, dynamic, efficient, motivated, intelligent…you get the picture. A…

Here at Angel Oak, we’re pretty agnostic when it comes to politics. We may comment on public perceptions or reactions to politics, but that’s about…

When Cate found herself in the midst of a job transition, she realized she had never worked for a female leader, and this bothered her. With aspirations…

I get to work for a woman. And not any woman, but a woman who started and runs her own business. She is a boss.…

Triangle, you did it! You Gave $1,000,000 in Six Weeks In December we challenged you to help eight local nonprofits close out their end-of-year fundraising…

Setting the Stage I’ve wanted to write this post for a while now. Basically, since early December when I checked out our tracking chart for the…

Another year has come and gone. And now’s the perfect time for nonprofits to reflect on and evaluate both the good and bad of 2016.…

Since you liked our seven trends for 2016 so much, we decided to do it again this year! So, we’re taking a shot at predicting…