SNYDER STRATEGIES

Nonprofit leaders are being asked to do more advocacy than ever—and many are wondering if it’s really making a difference. As a former Senate staffer turned strategist, I’m here to say: yes, advocacy works. It’s not fast or flashy, but it’s powerful. From smoke-free laws to marriage equality, lasting change happens because people keep showing up.

When nonprofit leaders back out of advocacy because a letter feels “too harsh,” they’re not being strategic—they’re being spineless. In this blog, I share a recent example of a CEO missing the moment to stand with peers and show real leadership. At Snyder Strategies, we help nonprofits build the confidence and clarity to speak up boldly, because staying silent in today’s climate isn’t safe—it’s surrender.

Graduation advice is everywhere—but here’s the one tip you didn’t know you needed: never, ever get rid of a concert t-shirt. These beat-up tees are more than fabric—they’re time capsules of who you were at your loudest and freest. I’ve lost a few greats (RIP Beck 2001, Lilith Fair 1997), and I’m still mourning them. Read this funny, heartfelt ode to the power of holding onto the cotton memories that shaped you.