How to Barbie Without a Baller Budget

How to Barbie Without a Baller Budget

Did anyone have “Billion Dollar Barbie Blockbuster” on their summer 2023 bingo card? Can’t say I saw that coming. But perhaps I should have given the extraordinary marketing efforts that created a pink wave of consumerism and social media buzz in the months leading up...
Backstage with Next Stage: Unpacking Benefits Cliffs

Backstage with Next Stage: Unpacking Benefits Cliffs

When the Next Stage team hosted Justin Taylor from Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont a few weeks ago, we were shocked to learn more about the ‘benefits cliff’ in North Carolina and other states. The term refers to the sudden loss of benefits...
Eastland Replanned: Community Voice is Vital

Eastland Replanned: Community Voice is Vital

Written by: Brooke Lackey In my first week as Next Stage’s Community Voice Fellow, I was given my main task of the summer: to explore the Albemarle corridor, one of six Corridors of Opportunity in Charlotte. I was to get knee-deep in the demographics, history and...
Biggest Marketing Challenges We’re Hearing

Biggest Marketing Challenges We’re Hearing

Written by: Janet Ervin Next Stages does a lot of strategic planning. This means we always have a front-row seat to the current trends that are affecting nonprofit and impact organizations in our community. While marketing has always been a piece of the puzzle, the...
There’s No “I” in Self-Awareness

There’s No “I” in Self-Awareness

Written By: Haley Rafferty Who are you? What is your communication style? Where are you biased? Answering these questions, and others like them, can illuminate your level of self-awareness. For example, I know that I have an expressive face. This can be a good thing...
How We’re Swiping on These Marketing Trends

How We’re Swiping on These Marketing Trends

Calling all digital content creators, social media managers and leaders who moonlight in these roles for their organizations – this episode of “Backstage with Next Stage” is for you. Candice and Susan from our marketing team are taking a look at what’s trending...