Partnership for Sustainable Growth
Impact Ilk Brands works with non-profits and SMBs to build the brand, systems and revenue structure for long-term stability and growth.
I’m Emily.
I help mission-driven organizations grow with purpose.
In executive leadership roles at The Michael J. Fox Foundation and Partnership to End Addiction, I grew annual revenue year over year and led high-impact fundraising and public service initiatives with partners including Nike, The Lumineers, Michael J. Fox, Paramount, Meta, Google and Elizabeth Vargas.
Earlier in my career, I spent a decade at The New York Times, Thomson Reuters, Ziff Davis and Time Warner, developing deep expertise in audience growth, marketing infrastructure, content strategy and digital revenue models.
What’s an “ilk?”
A group of people who share similar characteristics and traits
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When Strategy Doesn’t Stick
Why Risk Peaks After Strategic Planning Many organizations invest significant time and energy into developing strategic plans. On paper, the vision is clear, the priorities are sound, and the ambition is real. And yet, six months later, something feels off. Progress is uneven. Teams are stretched. Revenue hasn’t kept pace. And the organization has less…
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When Growth Stalls, the Problem Is Often Structural
Growth often stalls not because organizations lack effort, but because the structure beneath that effort is misaligned. What many leaders perceive as a campaign or messaging challenge is often something deeper. Across organizations of different sizes and missions, I see the symptoms vary. But the pattern remains the same: brand, systems and revenue strategy are…
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How Lessons from the Sandwich Generation Can Help Non-Profits Raise Money: Part Two
A series on caregiving, fundraising and the future of nonprofit sustainability Read the first installment here. For me, living in the squish of the sandwich generation has revealed unexpected benefits. I’ve learned how it mirrors the tough realities of nonprofit leadership, especially for those leading fundraising. It’s helped me cultivate a belief in radical interdependence: the idea that missions…
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Three Steps for Building Long-Term Donor Trust & Mutual Value
Earlier this month, I posted the first article of a series exploring what the “squish” of the Sandwich Generation can teach us about leadership, fundraising and nonprofit sustainability. If you missed it, you can check it out here. In the piece, I draw a parallel between caring for family members and donor stewardship, arguing that sustainable fundraising…
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How Lessons from the Sandwich Generation Can Help Non-Profits Raise Money: Part One
A series on caregiving, fundraising and the future of nonprofit sustainability If you work in a lead fundraising role at a nonprofit or social impact organization, you’re no stranger to feeling squished. You likely serve multiple stakeholders and juggle many balls, much like the “sandwich generation” – the roughly 54% of Americans in their 40s with both…