Communications
Capacity-Building Program
A complimentary communications resource for Walton Family Foundation grantees in Northwest Arkansas. Developed to provide relevant, capacity-building support for grantees’ communications opportunities and challenges.
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Join Our Group Video Calls
Smarter Grant Writing: Save Time with Generative AI
July 9, 2025 • 11:00 a.m. CT
Led by Lannie Byrd
Grant writing can be time-consuming, but new tools can help. In this practical webinar designed for WFF grantees, we’ll explore how generative AI (like ChatGPT) can support your grant writing process.
You’ll learn how to:
• Draft proposals more efficiently
• Reuse and adapt existing content
• Brainstorm language tailored to funder priorities
• Avoid common AI pitfalls
Whether you’re brand new to AI tools or looking to sharpen your approach, you’ll leave with actionable tips and examples you can use right away.
Lannie Byrd has been part of the mhp.si team for over 11 years, where he keeps things running smoothly as the chief operating officer. As a partner and COO, he handles the day-to-day operations, making sure both the client and product teams are on track. He’s also the go-to strategist for key clients, bringing his A-game to every project.
With more than 25 years of experience in marketing tech, Lannie has done it all – from leading breaking news coverage at regional media outlets to coding his own content management system. He led strategy on national omnichannel media campaigns. Storytelling is his thing, and he loves pairing the right tools and tech with the right message to help clients reach their audience and crush their goals.
Lannie holds a master’s degree in journalism and strategic media from the University of Memphis and a bachelor’s degree in mass communications and political science from Ouachita Baptist University. He’s even spent some time in the classroom, teaching mass communications courses.
Lannie and his wife Jennifer are both Arkansas natives. Jennifer, a former high school teacher of over 20 years, is now pursuing her Ph.D. at the University of Memphis, where she’s also a teaching fellow. They have three adult children.
10 Tips for Better Social Media Videos (Even on a Shoestring Budget)
August 20, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. CT
Led by Grace Vance
Join us for “10 Tips for Better Social Media Videos (Even on a Shoestring Budget)”—a practical, idea-packed presentation tailored for nonprofit organizations.
You’ll get real-world advice on how to create effective, attention-grabbing videos using tools and resources you already have—no big budget or professional equipment required. Learn how to hook viewers in the first few seconds, use storytelling to inspire action, and make the most of content you’ve already created.
We’ll cover free tools, simple filming and editing techniques, and creative ways to showcase the real people behind your organization. Whether you’re just getting started with video or looking to do more with less, this session will leave you inspired and equipped with strategies you can put into practice right away.
Bring your questions—and walk away with fresh ideas to elevate your video content on any budget.
Grace Vance is a skilled Gen Z producer and social media manager with a proven track record across a wide range of sectors, including state government, AmeriCorps programs, higher education grants, and more. She brings a strategic, audience-first mindset to every project she touches.
Grace also serves as a community lead for Youth250, a national initiative by History Made By Us, where she advises major organizations on engaging young people in meaningful and lasting ways.
At mhp.si, Grace wears many hats—from ideation and scripting to production coordination—assisiting creative direction across all content studio video shoots. Her passion lies in helping clients and mission-driven organizations connect with new audiences, especially through compelling short-form vertical video.
Whether it’s a 15-second reel or a full-scale production, Grace knows how to make ideas resonate—and get results
Building Your CRM For Long-Term Success
September 17, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. CT
Led by Lexie Lybrand
Looking for a CRM can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to. In this session, we’ll walk through how to strategically evaluate CRM platforms based on your organization’s size, structure, and long-term goals. You’ll learn how to identify the functions your CRM should handle (like donor management, volunteer tracking, or event engagement), how to avoid feature overload, and how to set your team up for long-term success.
Whether you’re shopping for your first CRM or preparing for a switch, this session is designed to help you make the leap with confidence.
In her fifth year at mhp.si, Lexie Lybrand spearheads the Marketing Automation practice for clients across all industries. She combines a technical skill set with a deep understanding of customer experience to tackle the age-old marketing question: how to deliver the right message, to the right audience, at the right time.
Her focus is on aligning marketing, sales, and service teams, often diving into client CRM systems to optimize tool utilization and identify new opportunities. She lays the groundwork for omnichannel campaign execution and sales enablement initiatives to support client growth and success.
Lexie holds a marketing degree with an analytics concentration from Louisiana Tech University’s College of Business, where she also served as a campus University Innovation Fellow through Stanford University’s d.school program gaining hands-on experience in design thinking.
Program Resources
- PDF: Refining Your Messaging Presentation
- PDF: Strategic Public Relations Presentation
- Video: Strategic Public Relations Video
- PDF: Social Media Strategy Presentation
- Video: Social Media Strategy Video
- Video: The Importance of Executive Visibility
- PDF: The Importance of Executive Visibility
- PDF: Strategic Use of AI
- Video: Strategic Use of AI
- PDF: CRM & Email Mastery for Nonprofits
- Video: CRM & Email Mastery for Nonprofits
- PDF: CRM & Email Resources Handout
- PDF: Social Media Advertising Strategy & Best Practices
- Video: Social Media Advertising Strategy & Best Practices
- PDF: Organic Search and Generative AI: What Does It Mean For Your Website?
- Video: Organic Search and Generative AI: What Does It Mean For Your Website?
- PDF: Maximizing Impact with Limited Resources
- Video: Maximizing Impact with Limited Resources
- PDF: Crisis Communications 101: Tips and Best Practices for Navigating a Crisis
- Video: Crisis Communications 101: Tips and Best Practices for Navigating a Crisis
- PDF: How to Get Press When There’s No Breaking Story
- Video: How to Get Press When There’s No Breaking Story
- PDF: Message Framing, Focus, and Discipline for Nonprofits
- Video: Message Framing, Focus, and Discipline for Nonprofits
- Resources: Message Framing, Focus, and Discipline for Nonprofits
- PDF: Retargeting on a Budget
- Video: Retargeting on a Budget
- PDF: Smarter Grant Writing: Save Time with Generative AI
- Video: Smarter Grant Writing: Save Time with Generative AI
One of the mhp.si team members will reach out within 2 business days to schedule a time that works for you.
Questions or Concerns?
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