SPARK CHANGE

  • Big kid watching a little kid jump over a stream in the woods

    Helping social impact brands get in front of the right people, in the right places, at the right time.

    Whether it’s building brand equity from the ground up or winning support on an important issue, we help purpose-focused organizations clarify priorities and capture the power of communications for good.

Change doesn't happen with a single message or campaign. It starts with a spark that grows.

Impactful communication requires a delicate mix of elements–the right strategy, the right techniques, and the right people–to create a sustained force that kindles curiosity and spreads into action.

Here to Help

  • Decks and Patios icon

    Strategic Communications Planning

    Stop “winging it” and commit to a smart, focused plan.

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    Content and Campaign Strategy

    Share your story, grow your community base. Measure and optimize.

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    Brand Voice and Narrative

    Show up with power, build trust.

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    Audience Messaging

    Win hearts and minds with words that build connection.

  • Competitive Research and Analysis

    Get grounded in data. Inform your plan with evidence.

  • Revenue Team Enablement

    Empower your revenue generators with the comms they need for growth.

  • Board and Employee Communications

    Engage your most committed advocates.

  • Thought Leadership and Event Strategies

    Elevate your executive voice online and IRL.

  • Fractional Support

    Fill the gaps in marketing and communications teams to get work done.

Hi, I’m Nickie Kluge

As the lead of Kindling Communications, I ensure that every touchpoint takes us one step closer towards a more sustainable, prosperous world for everyone.

With 20 years of experience bringing cross-sector partners together and navigating the intersections of health equity, the environment, climate change, and the clean energy transition, every partnership starts with deep collaboration to merge with the teams and leaders I serve. I uncover what’s holding organizations back from getting visibility and implement ways to reach the next level of growth. As a small shop, we offer the advantage of senior-level expertise without the agency friction. You aren't passed off to a junior account manager. You get a veteran strategist who knows when to zoom out on the strategy and home in to put a plan into action.

LET'S BUILD SOMETHING

Past Projects

At Kindling, we don’t just share stories; we build the infrastructure for movements.

Prescribe Outside

A cross-collaborative team supported the National Park Service’s Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program in developing a three-year community outreach and communications plan for the Philadelphia-based Prescribe Outside partnership initiative, in partnership with the Red Bridge Group. This plan equipped a partnership of pediatricians, recreation providers, community nonprofit organizations, and researchers with community-centered engagement strategies, key messaging, outreach tactics, and operational recommendations to educate health practitioners and families about the benefits of prescribing time outdoors to improve population health and health equity.

Conservation Law Foundation

As the interim director of digital strategy and a marketing consultant, Nickie Kluge, Kindling Communications Founder, supported Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) in shaping policy campaigns, growing its funder base, and driving community action to protect New England’s environment for all people. She developed and implemented a range of content, social media, and campaign strategies and plans to promote ocean conservation, climate justice, and clean energy, and guided the marketing and communications team in translating success metrics into actionable improvement steps.

Heluna Health

As the marketing and communications director for Heluna Health, a national public health nonprofit, Nickie led all branding, messaging, communications strategies, and planning to improve health equity and build capacity for health nonprofits and government agencies. Nickie guided sub-branding, policy messaging, and fundraising campaigns for two direct service programs—an early childhood literacy program and the largest WIC agency in the U.S.

Nickie also supported the organization in a consulting capacity in launching new service lines and expanding board and employee engagement.

Resource Innovations

As Resource Innovations’ first vice president of marketing and communications and subsequently, as a consultant, Nickie led a team to elevate the clean energy implementation firm’s market position and launch new service lines. She brought together company leadership, cross-departmental teams, and external partners to transform the company’s brand identity and narrative, and developed marketing and campaign strategies and plans, a sales enablement initiative, an event strategy, internal communications programs, and more.

Words of Praise

  • "Nickie's leadership style is supportive, collaborative, and empowering, which allowed us to work together effectively and achieve outstanding results. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to have worked with Nickie."

    Barbara Rodriguez

  • "Nickie is one of those rare people who sees the big picture vision and all the details and knows how to develop marketing strategy to demonstrate both."

    Courtney Henderson

  • "Nickie is a solution finder, hard worker, and a dedicated and committed manager. She is a strong marketer who brings a breadth of marketing and programmatic best practices forward for successful campaigns."

    Meighen Speiser