Lori S. Warren

REDF is a philanthropy that invests in employment social enterprises―purpose-driven businesses that provide jobs, training, and support to people breaking through barriers to employment.

• Rebuilt marketing/communications department, including establishing a myriad of foundational marketing principles/practices that greatly increased impact.
• Hired/nurtured a talented team and created an environment that kept them happy, challenged, and working at REDF longer than they did anywhere else.
• Established department as a vital (and beloved) strategic partner, using mark/coms to help program teams deliver on their KPI's.
• Brought relentless asset-framed perspective to all communications, conveying the strength, perseverance, and untapped talent of the people we served.
• Partnered with photographers, graphic designers, videographers, website builders, and PR experts to take REDF’s branding to the next level.
• Led two website rebuilds and two graphic identity refreshes.
• Played an active role in REDF’s internal DEI work, including asking hard questions and helping people feel comfortable being uncomfortable.

KIPP, the Knowledge is Power Program, is a national network of free, college-preparatory public charter schools dedicated to preparing students in under-served communities for success in college and in life.

• As a senior member of a five-person team, responsible for building/maintaining KIPP's brand and supporting the marketing of 162 charter schools around the country.
• Led effort to redesign the Report Card, the organization's signature fundraising annual report.
• Led planning sessions with senior executives to gain support and build consensus
• Developed a narrative framework and edited copy. Managed complex creative development and production process involving cross-functional teams.
• Developed a more focused and effective report, reduced mailing/printing costs by 50%.

Member of the senior leadership team, led all marketing and communications efforts for this 100+ year-old, $135 million philanthropy.

• Managed $1 million budget and staff of five developing and producing high volume of content for traditional and social media to support fundraising and community-building efforts.
• Led comprehensive rebranding effort, transforming communications efforts from tactical/event-driven to strategic/brand building.
• Partnered with consultants to design research, analyze results, and create a robust brand architecture.
• Conceived a"big idea" that repositioned the organization's history to appeal to a new generation of potential donors, while reinforcing the loyalty of existing donors.
• Guided the development of an advertising campaign that generated over 2M impressions, fostered community buy-in for new fundraising model, and helped reverse a multi-year decline in annual campaign donations.

Implemented the communications function for this $5 million research, consulting, and legal organization dedicated to building economic health in under-invested communities.

• Led a complete rebranding effort, delivering a new name, tagline, graphic identity, and website.
• Functioned as a thought partner to 15 person program staff. Wrote and edited copy for research publications, policy briefs, website, and marketing materials.
• Partnered with PR consultant to develop/execute a communications plan that delivered a dramatic increase in media coverage, including an op-ed in the Washington Post, coverage on CNN and NPR, and feature articles in Bay Area outlets.
• Provided input on research design, edited, and led the dissemination of "From Hidden Costs to High Returns. Unlocking the Potential of the Lower-Wage Workforce." (Perfect Resume - please add this hyperlink to the title of this report: https://nationalfund.org/wp-)content/uploads/2016/10/HiddenCosts-HighReturns-1.pdf

Full service design, advertising, and strategy firm servicing the nonprofit sector.

• Recruited by agency partners to transform business model from for profit to nonprofit clients. Led account management, brand development, research, and new business development functions.
• At a time when nonprofit branding was in its infancy, adapted David Aaker's Branding Planning Model to guide the rebranding of Earthjustice, the nation's leading public-interest environmental law firm. Led to agency being awarded advertising and design for the organization's national and 10 regional offices. Win helped establish Underground's nonprofit credentials and led to unprecedented growth.
• Developed strategy to win new business which included US PIRG, PSI, SF Dept. of Environment, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Implemented the discipline of using qualitative research to increase the effectiveness of advertising campaigns and win new business.

Managed strategic and creative development of clients including Sutter Home Winery, Carl's Jr., Heublein Wine Group, Finlandia Vodka, and The New Yorker. Campaigns received numerous creative and strategic awards including a Gold Effie, Ad Age The Best, Adweek Top Ten, and inclusion in Graphis Annual.