The Sunflower Project: Pro Bono Branding & Strategy for Small Nonprofits
The Sunflower Project badge—a symbol of strategic support, creative clarity, and a belief that small nonprofits deserve big impact.
Pro Bono Branding & Strategy for Small Nonprofits: Introducing The Sunflower Project
Small nonprofits are the heartbeat of our communities. They are often the organizations feeding families, creating safe learning environments, offering arts access, restoring ecosystems, supporting seniors, mentoring youth, and providing culturally grounded programs that larger systems leave behind.
But while their missions are bold, their resources usually aren’t.
Most small nonprofits are led by one exhausted executive director juggling:
fundraising
program management
operations
communications
HR
volunteer coordination
grant writing
storytelling
board management
These leaders care deeply. They work tirelessly. But without support, they burn out.
And their organizations — despite extraordinary impact — struggle to be seen, heard, or funded at the level they deserve.
That’s where The Sunflower Project comes in: a pro bono nonprofit consulting initiative designed to strengthen the voice, vision, and organizational clarity of small nonprofits in Minnesota and across the United States.
This is not a surface-level “freebie.”
It is 60 hours of deep, strategic partnership — a focused transformation over one quarter.
Let’s explore what makes this project different, who it serves, and why it’s changing the game for small-but-mighty nonprofits.
Why Pro Bono Branding & Strategy Work Matters for Small Nonprofits
Passion fuels purpose — but passion alone cannot build sustainable infrastructure.
And sustainability is the Achilles’ heel of small nonprofits.
The sector-wide challenge: Small nonprofits are running on fumes.
Thousands of these organizations:
lack a communications or development staff member
rely heavily on volunteers who mean well but are spread thin
have no budget for professional consulting or rebranding
struggle to articulate their mission in a clear, compelling way
depend on founding leaders who are burned out and under-supported
have outdated websites, scattered messaging, or unclear programs
fall behind larger orgs when competing for grants or donor dollars
Most importantly, they do transformative work, but few people know about it.
Not because the mission is weak — but because the messaging is unclear.
Not because the impact is small — but because the story isn’t being told.
Not because donors don’t care — but because those donors aren’t being reached.
Strategic messaging is not a luxury; it is a survival tool.
But the organizations that need it most are often the ones wthatcan least afford it.
That is why The Sunflower Project exists.
Rooted in Advocacy, Grown Through Purpose
The Sunflower Project didn’t begin as a brand strategy idea — it began as a calling.
Kristin’s early career was shaped by advocacy work with families of children who had special needs. Though structured as a for-profit model at the time, her approach never felt transactional. The work was personal and heart-led. She often charged far less than she should have because the calling was stronger than the business model.
Fast forward: That spirit of service still lives at the center of her work today.
The Sunflower Project extends that same compassion and clarity — not just to individuals, but to entire nonprofits.
It was created for organizations doing powerful, essential work on small budgets. Organizations that care deeply, work hard, and make a measurable difference — but lack the capacity to crisply communicate who they are, why they matter, and the change they make.
The Sunflower Project lifts the helpers.
It strengthens the voice behind the mission.
It creates clarity for leaders who desperately need it.
And it ensures small nonprofits don’t remain invisible simply because they lack resources.
The Capacity Crisis in Today’s Nonprofit Sector
Most small nonprofits are in what we call the “capacity gap.”
They’re not new enough to be considered start-ups, but not large enough to have operational infrastructure.
Some of the biggest barriers include:
1. No Communications or Development Staff
Messaging falls on the ED, who has no time to refine language or manage outreach.
2. No Marketing Budget
Websites remain outdated. Messaging is inconsistent across platforms.
3. Well-Meaning but Overwhelmed Boards
Board members care deeply but often lack nonprofit management training.
4. Limited Donor Reach
Small orgs often rely on the same handful of donors each year, creating instability.
5. No Strategic Guidance
Without clarity and alignment, teams work hard but not always in the same direction.
These nonprofits aren’t failing — they’re under-supported.
What they need isn’t another social media platform or another fundraising event.
What they need is strategic clarity, brand alignment, and messaging systems that help them stand tall in a crowded sector.
The Sunflower Project helps fill that gap.
What The Sunflower Project Offers — And Why It Works
Each quarter, one nonprofit is selected to receive 60 hours of strategic consulting at no cost.
This isn’t a “quick audit” or a generic template. It’s a customized, high-touch partnership shaped by the nonprofit’s unique mission, community, and goals.
Services include:
1. Brand Voice & Messaging Architecture
Most small nonprofits struggle with messaging. They talk in paragraphs when donors need sentences.
That’s why we help organizations:
Clarify their mission in one compelling line
Craft a clear, values-rooted vision statement
Develop a resonant tagline
Create polished, authentic program descriptions
Build key messages for donor campaigns, grant writing, presentations, and board members
Uncover their true brand voice: warm, direct, and distinctly theirs
This is messaging that finally “sounds like us” — but better.
2. Internal Alignment & Organizational Development
You cannot grow externally if your internal structure is chaotic.
The Sunflower Project helps nonprofits:
clarify decision-making protocols
define board and staff roles
identify communication gaps
strengthen team alignment
build sustainable systems
This work reduces burnout, increases collaboration, and helps leaders breathe again.
3. Visual Identity That Matches the Message
Messaging is half the story — the visual expression is the other half.
We help nonprofits:
refine color palettes
establish brand fonts
define imagery and photography guidelines
create cohesive visual elements
align their website and materials with their mission tone
Consistency builds trust. Trust builds donors. Donors build capacity.
What Transformation Looks Like: In Their Own Words
Joy Collaborative (Minnesota)
Executive Director: Mark Ostrom
“This led to significant website improvements. Kristin came with compassion and deep listening skills to challenge, focus, and elevate how we communicate…
It has been a transformational experience. We are in a better place thanks to her partnership and The Sunflower Project.”
Alive & Kickin (Minnesota)
Managing Director: Teri Deaver
“Kristin was a steady guide helping our team explore ways to update our messaging and best represent who we are.
We had fun, moved ourselves forward, and now have excellent options we can build upon.”
Testimonials like these reveal the heart of The Sunflower Project:
It’s strategic, human, clarifying, and deeply supportive.
A Strategic Gift — Not Just a Service
Let’s be clear: The Sunflower Project is not a “free design package” or a quick brand refresh.
It is a strategic partnership grounded in:
deep listening
strong organizational insight
nonprofit sector understanding
brand strategy expertise
messaging clarity
operational strengthening
When nonprofits have strong messaging and aligned systems, everything becomes easier:
donor communication
board engagement
grant writing
program storytelling
visibility
partnerships
fundraising
Brand voice leads to organizational strength — and organizational strength leads to growth.
The Bigger Picture — Why This Matters Now
The nonprofit landscape is shifting rapidly.
Giving is more fragmented
Small orgs must work harder to build trust.
Volunteers and leaders are burning out
Clear messaging reduces workload and confusion.
Funders are demanding sharper outcomes
You can’t express outcomes clearly without strategic communication.
Small nonprofits are absorbing more community needs
They need systems — not survival mode.
The Sunflower Project helps fill this gap by providing the kind of consulting that is usually accessible only to well-funded organizations.
This work democratizes organizational clarity.
And clarity drives impact.
Who’s a Good Fit for The Sunflower Project?
Ideal applicants include:
✔ Executive directors doing everything
✔ New nonprofits needing foundational messaging
✔ Organizations with unclear or outdated branding
✔ Nonprofits with committed but undertrained boards
✔ Organizations preparing for growth but lacking structure
✔ Small teams with big missions who feel invisible
Applicants must have:
A business or strategic plan in place.
(This ensures that our messaging and organizational alignment work builds on an existing vision.)
What Happens After the Quarter Ends?
Recipients are offered an ongoing special rate for additional support if they wish to continue.
Most nonprofits choose to stay connected because clarity creates momentum — and momentum sparks more transformation.
All future work is scoped at a fixed rate to protect small nonprofit budgets while still delivering high-quality services.
Let’s Make Your Mission Unmissable
The organizations served through The Sunflower Project aren’t simply “clients.”
They are movements.
They are change-makers.
They are forces of good in their communities.
Our job is to:
help them rise
help them be seen
help them articulate their mission with confidence
help them inspire supporters to join their work
Small organizations deserve more than survival.
They deserve a strategy that sustains them.
A message that moves people.
And clarity that amplifies their impact.
Apply, Refer, Share
If this sounds like the kind of support your organization needs — or if it reminds you of a nonprofit you admire — here are three easy next steps:
🟡 Apply for the upcoming Sunflower Project quarter
🟡 Encourage a Minnesota or national nonprofit to apply
🟡 Share this blog on LinkedIn, BlueSky, or email
👉 Apply here:
https://www.kristinbeltaos.com/the-sunflower-project
Let’s spread the sunshine.
Because the right words — and the right strategy — can change everything.
