Black and white logo of Red Barn Collective with a barn door icon and the text 'Red Barn Collective'.
A young woman with long brown hair, wearing a red jacket, black pants, white socks, and sandals, sitting on a curb outside a glass-front building, looking down at her phone and smiling.

Nonprofit communications with a plot twist

Red Barn Collective is a communications and marketing agency created for nonprofits. After 20 years in advertising helping major companies sharpen their message and pad their bottom line, I chose to take those skills out of the boardroom and put them to work for missions that matter.

Now nonprofits get seasoned strategy and hands-on support without the price tag of a large agency.

Two women sitting on a brown couch having a conversation, with one woman holding a smartphone, in a room with large windows, blinds, indoor plants, and wooden furniture.

Our Approach

Red Barn Collective provides communications and marketing support designed specifically for nonprofits. I help clarify your core message, strengthen donor and community communications, support campaigns, and guide fundraising events from early positioning through run-of-show. Whether you are preparing for a major appeal, launching a new initiative, or planning a gala, I ensure your message is clear, cohesive, and aligned at every step.

What makes Red Barn different is the structure. I lead the strategy and manage the day-to-day work directly, and when additional expertise is needed, I bring in trusted creative professionals with nonprofit experience. This collective model gives you senior-level guidance and the right support at the right time, without the cost of a full in-house team or traditional agency. Every plan is shaped around your mission and scaled to fit your goals and budget.

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A large red wooden barn with white trim and a white sliding door, situated on a grassy field with a clear sky in the background.

OUR MISSION

Nonprofits deserve access to the same tactics and strategies that have helped major companies grow their revenue and build customer loyalty for decades.

Because when mission-driven organizations get that same kind of amplification, our whole community benefits.

Red Barn Collective exists to help level that playing field.

Our Services

  • Clarifying who you are, what you do, and why it matters.

    • Brand + messaging development

    • Campaign development + execution

    • Annual or key moment communication planning

    • Website copywriting, UX + SEO strategy

    • Social media strategy + execution

    • Internal communications, including messaging workshops + training

  • Strategic and hands-on support for appeals, initiatives, and growth moments.

    • Annual giving campaign planning and execution

    • Major appeal messaging and materials

    • Multi-channel campaign coordination

    • Donor communication strategy + planning

    • Board and leadership messaging support

    • Timeline and communication roadmap development

  • Support that strengthens both the message and the moment.

    • Event positioning + theme development

    • Script writing + program messaging

    • Run-of-show planning +speaker preparation

    • Donor journey planning from invitation to follow-up

    • Sponsorship messaging + materials

    • Post-event donor communications

  • Steady, experienced support without hiring an internal team.

    • Fractional marketing + communications leadership

    • Monthly planning, priority alignment + reporting

    • Content development + oversight

    • Coordination of design, digital + creative partners

    • Communication audits + improvement plans

    • Scalable support based on season and need

Have something else you need? Let's talk.
Headshot image of Amy Goran, founder of Red Barn Collective and advertising and communications director serving nonprofits with marketing and communications strategies

Red Barn Collective is led by Amy Goran, a communications leader with two decades of experience helping organizations clarify their message and move people to action. Before launching Red Barn, Amy built campaigns for national brands, advised executive teams, and led award-winning storytelling initiatives, including 3M’s DEI report, which received the 2021 Ragan Communications DEI Award. Her work has also been recognized by AdFed of Minnesota and the American Heart Association for its impact and clarity.

But Amy’s commitment to nonprofits is not a side note in her career. She served as Executive Director of a nonprofit supporting local fashion designers, leading Minneapolis–St. Paul Fashion Week and the Voltage: Fashion Amplified fundraising events. She also co-produced a major fundraising initiative for five years, helping raise more than $500,000 for the American Heart Association and earning their Communication Impact Award for storytelling and media outreach. She understands firsthand the pressure nonprofit leaders face, because she has sat in that seat.

Today, Amy brings together the strategic discipline of advertising and the lived experience of nonprofit leadership. She knows how to shape a message, plan a campaign, and execute a fundraising event that connects. More importantly, she understands how to do it within real-world nonprofit constraints. Clients work with her not just for polished communications, but for clear guidance, steady partnership, and work that strengthens both mission and momentum.

Meet the Founder

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