Julie Masson, CCO for Nonprofits
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Think Like a CCO
Every nonprofit comms leader deserves a coach. Most have never had one.
Most comms leaders are figuring it out alone, with no one above them who understands the work and no budget for a mentor who does. The Nonprofit Comms Club changes that: regular 1:1 time with a former nonprofit CCO, plus a room of peers who get it.
Affordable coaching for the comms leader who's done figuring it out alone
It's not that you're bad at your job. It's that you're doing it alone.
As a nonprofit communications leader, the people around you have likely mistaken "the person who makes things happen" for "the person who just executes."
So they dump comms requests on you and move on, never realizing the strategic thinking it actually takes to do this well. The harder you scramble to keep up, the more it confirms their idea of you as the help instead of the comms leader.
That's not a you problem, it's what happens when a nonprofit treats communications like a service desk instead of the strategic function it is. And you're trying to untangle all of it as the only person in your organization who sees it.
When You're Stuck Reacting
Even experienced nonprofit communicators find themselves:
✖️ Functioning in "survival mode" because you're a one-person show, responding to immediate requests with no time for long-term planning
✖️ Simply delivering campaigns or messaging, rather than shaping them strategically
✖️ Unable to drive meaningful impact or align communications with broader organizational goals
✖️ Lacking a trusted network to test ideas or validate decisions
✖️ Being the only person who truly understands strategic communications and feeling isolated because of it
✖️ Knowing you should be thinking more strategically but spending most of your day reacting to whatever lands in your inbox.
When You Have Backup
A mentor and a community will help you:
✔️ Get out of reactive mode and start shaping campaigns from the beginning, instead of just fielding requests that land on your desk
✔️ Get real-time input from people who've actually sat in your chair and done this work.
✔️ Finally know you're on the right track, instead of lying awake wondering whether you're doing this right.
✔️ Walk into your boss's office with a clear plan and the confidence to back it.
✔️ Know exactly what to say when leadership asks "Can't we just post more on social media?"
✔️ Make the case for the budget, the hire, or the title you've earned, and actually have it land with the people who decide
Coaching, community, and a former CCO in your corner.
Your membership is really about one thing: getting the support you've never had as a solo comms leader. You get direct access to a former nonprofit CCO when you're stuck, peers who actually understand the work, and the practical guidance to start leading instead of just executing.
1:1 Sessions with Julie
Your coaching sessions. Book a 1:1 with Julie whenever you need help thinking through something: a stakeholder who's hard to work with, a message you can't crack, a strategy you have to present to leadership. You'll get real-time support, not generic advice.
Expert Trainings & Member Master Classes
Quarterly trainings from senior-level communications leaders with deep nonprofit experience, plus member-led masterclasses where experienced communicators share their specialized skills. All recorded and waiting in the library.
Monthly CCO Roundtables
These monthly live calls are your time to interact with Julie and other members around a specific nonprofit comms leadership topic. We talk about things like advocating for bigger budgets or helping leadership understand your value.
Think Like a CCO Course
Julie's self-paced course that walks you through the exact system she uses inside nonprofits: build a strategic calendar, audit your channels, and create a messaging calendar that puts you in the driver's seat instead of reacting to your inbox.
The Community
A private, always-on space to ask questions and get input from other nonprofit comms leaders in real time, as the challenges come up. Drop in when you need a sounding board, or just to see how others are handling the same things you are.
BONUS: 1:1 Career Strategy Call (Annual Members)
Annual members get a private 30-minute Career Strategy Call with Julie to step back from the day-to-day and look at the bigger picture: where you want to go as a nonprofit comms leader, what's holding you back, and what your next step looks like.
You're ready for a coach in your corner if...
You're in a communications leadership role or striving to be
All members are communications leaders at every level, from solo communicators running it all to directors, VPs, and CCOs leading teams.
You want to move from order-taker to strategic partner
You're tired of delivering campaigns and messaging instead of shaping them, and you're ready to align communications with where your nonprofit is actually trying to go.
You want to influence decisions, not just execute them
You're ready to stop being reactive and start thinking strategically about how communications can drive your organization's mission forward.
You want peers who get it
You're done being the only one who understands this work. You want honest input from other nonprofit comms leaders who know your reality, the constraints, the culture, and the unique challenges of mission-driven work.
You're thinking about what's next for your career
You know this role won't be your last. You want to grow as a communicator and a leader so that when the right opportunity comes along, you're ready for it.
Whether that's a promotion, a bigger role at a new organization, or finally stepping into the title (and compensation) that matches what you're already doing.
You work in-house at a nonprofit
You're on staff at a nonprofit (or functioning as in-house even if you're technically a contractor), doing the day-to-day work and navigating the organizational dynamics that come with being inside a mission-driven organization.
How to join
Apply
Fill out a quick application so Julie can learn about you, your role, and what you're looking for. It takes two minutes, and it just keeps the Club full of practitioners doing the actual work. The Nonprofit Comms Club is intentionally small, with a limited number of new members joining each month.
Get Approved
Julie reviews every application personally within 24 hours (M-F). If you're a fit, you'll receive a personal invitation with a link to join whenever you're ready.
Jump into the Club
Get instant access to Julie and the community while you connect with peers who get it. Annual members will also schedule their private Career Strategy Call with Julie.
Become the comms leader your nonprofit can't run without
The Nonprofit Comms Club gives you what you've been missing as a solo leader: peers who get your reality, honest guidance when you're facing a tough call, and the practical know-how to start leading instead of reacting.
Find Your People
When you're the only person in your organization who truly understands strategic communications, it's isolating. You need peers who get it—people who understand why that "quick request" isn't quick, why budget constraints require creative solutions, and what it's like to balance mission and marketing. That's what this network gives you.
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Connect with other members in the community platform. They become your built-in peer network of nonprofit communicators at a similar stage
Search the member directory to find communicators by role, organization size, cause area, and location
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Connect in the community platform whenever you need input, validation, or just want to share what's working
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Join monthly CCO Roundtables to learn from other members' challenges and hear how they're solving similar problems
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Think Like a CCO
Moving from reactive execution to strategic leadership isn't about working harder, it's about thinking differently. The Club gives you the practical guidance and real-world systems to lead with confidence, even before you have the CCO title.
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Attend quarterly expert trainings and Member Masterclasses from experienced communications leaders with deep nonprofit experience
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Access the Think Like a CCO course, a 6-week self-paced training to shift from reactive execution to strategic leadership
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Use templates, frameworks, and resources from the course that you can implement immediately
Never Make the Tough Decisions Alone
You shouldn't have to second-guess yourself when it matters most. Whether you're about to present a strategy to leadership, launch a sensitive campaign, or navigate a tricky situation with your ED, having someone who's been in the CCO seat review your approach gives you the confidence to move forward.
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Run draft messaging by Julie before your board meeting or campaign launch
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Gut-check your strategy before presenting to leadership
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Get a second set of eyes on that tricky email or difficult conversation
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Get help from Julie and the community the moment a challenge hits, not weeks later at a conference
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Get pre-launch reviews before major initiatives like annual plans, rebrands, or sensitive communications
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Learn from seasoned communications leaders
Throughout 2026, you'll learn from four seasoned communications leaders in quarterly live trainings. Sessions are scheduled at various times for our global community, all recorded and available to rewatch. Each training is interview-style with pre-submitted member questions and live Q&A.
D.J. Jordan, SVP at Pinkston
Policy + PR & Media Comms
Chelsea Sobolik, Former Director of Policy and Government Relations
Government Relations Comms
Brent Bowen, Owner Sparkcade Marketing
Generative Search Optimization
Stephanie Roberts, CCO at Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems
Crisis Comms Planning
You're Not Alone Anymore
Allyson Howell
Comms Director at Patients' Rights Action Fund
"I was functioning in "survival mode" for quite some time because I am a one-woman show. I have been in communications for over three years, but I don't have a degree relevant to my work as Communications Director. This gave me the tools and training I needed to move from surviving to thriving. I feel more equipped to take ownership of my department due to Julie's expertise, and I feel less alone after meeting other nonprofit communicators. I believe I will reap the benefits for years to come."
Nick Friend
Communications Director at Community Provider Network of Rhode Island
"I joined the Nonprofit Comms Club because I was looking for a community of people who understand the unique joys and challenges of nonprofit communications. It’s energizing to be surrounded by people who care deeply about mission-driven work. I have found a place to learn, share ideas and connect with people who do similar work. If you are looking for a community, this is the place for you."
Crystal Stine
Director of Communications
"In 6 months, I've not only been able to become a strategic partner instead of a service department, but I've had the tools, resources, and data to share with my team - and the support of Julie AND the NCC community. If you are a non-profit comms director, especially if you are a team of one, I highly recommend this investment."
Alicia Somers
Connections & Communications. Director
Keystone Church
"I am already a more confident communicator and strategic partner for my church. It's been a wonderful thing knowing that when I take a plan to leadership, I've already had other eyes on it, other experts vetting it."
WATCH TESTIMONIAL
Join the Club
The Nonprofit Comms Club is application-only, and most members invest in it themselves, because it's about their own growth, not just their current role. Here's what surprises people: coaching from a former CCO usually runs hundreds per session. This is a fraction of that, for a whole year.
Quarterly
$50/month
Your membership includes:
✔️ 1:1 sessions with Julie whenever you're stuck on something specific
✔️ Monthly CCO Roundtables to work through real challenges with Julie and other members
✔️ Full access to the private Nonprofit Comms Club community
✔️ Quarterly expert trainings and member masterclasses
✔️ Access to the Think Like a CCO course
✔️ A member directory to connect with other nonprofit comms leaders
✔️ Ongoing strategic support from Julie and the community
Best if you want to keep things flexible.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the application process like?
After you fill out the application, Julie will review it within 24 hours (M-F). If you're a fit, you'll receive a personal invitation with a link to join. Once you join, annual members will schedule their private career strategy call with Julie to talk through your goals and where you want to go as a comms leader.
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What if I can't attend the live sessions?
All monthly Office Hours, quarterly trainings, and Member Masterclasses are recorded and posted in Circle, our community platform. Access them anytime. Due to the global nature of our community, we offer a variety of live call times to serve members in different time zones.
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How much time will this require each week?
As much or as little as you want! Schedule a 1:1 with Julie as needed, pop in for quick advice, join live calls, or dive deep into trainings. Some members are really active in the community while others lurk and attend live calls to take it all in.
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Can I really ask questions anytime?
Yes, you really can. Post questions in the community whenever they come up and get responses from Julie and fellow members. For real-time problem-solving, bring questions to monthly Q&A calls. This isn't 24/7 emergency support, but it is having a strategic sounding board available when you're facing decisions that matter.
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I'm not a Director or CCO yet. Is this still for me?
It's EXACTLY for you! This community is specifically designed for nonprofit communicators at every level who want to move to the next level—whatever that next level is for them. Whether you're a team of one or part of a small comms team, you belong here.
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I lead comms at a church. Is this a community for me?
Yes! We have several church comms leaders inside the community and they even have their own, private dedicated space to interact about comms challenges specific to the church world. Select that you work in church comms on the application form.
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Can I cancel if it's not a great fit for me?
If you're unsure, start with the quarterly plan at $149/quarter. You can cancel anytime. That said, the biggest growth happens with consistent support throughout the year, which is why many members choose the annual plan.
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What makes this different from a Facebook group or LinkedIn community?
This isn't a free-for-all Facebook group or a public LinkedIn forum. It's a private, curated community where only vetted in-house nonprofit communicators can join. Your boss won't see your questions. Consultants aren't pitching you. And instead of endless scrolling, you get structured training and expert CCO guidance.
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What's the difference between NCC membership and the Think Like a CCO cohort?
NCC membership gives you year-round access to the community, trainings, Office Hours, CCO Strategy Sessions, and the Think Like a CCO course. The cohort is a separate 12-week experience where Julie leads six live discussion sessions with a small group of 10-15 comms leaders, working through the Think Like a CCO framework together. The cohort runs twice a year and is available as a standalone experience for $695. You don't need to be an NCC member to join a cohort, and NCC membership does not include the cohort.
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Meet Julie Masson,
Founder of the Nonprofit Comms Club
Hi, I'm Julie Masson.
I'm a former Chief Communications Officer with 18 years of experience leading nonprofit communications at every level from social media manager to CCO. I've worked with faith-based organizations, non-partisan policy groups, education nonprofits, and more.
The Nonprofit Comms Club exists because I've been there. I know what it's like to be understaffed and figuring it out as I go. But limited resources shouldn't mean limited strategy. Every nonprofit deserves a communicator who can think like a CCO, even if you're a team of one, even if you're just starting out
Whether you're trying to earn a seat at the table in your current role or preparing yourself for the next opportunity in your career, this community will help you get there.
You don't have to figure it out alone anymore.
Ready to join us?