Communications Consultants: I can help round out your team as a subcontractor on a per-project basis. Nonprofit Organizations: We can partner directly on a per-project basis or monthly retainer based on your needs.
"I am driven by two main philosophies: Know more today about the world than I knew yesterday and lessen the suffering of others." - Neil DeGrasse Tyson
Past Projects
Stay Alive and Free
A San Francisco doctor developed a revolutionary program to keep underprivileged kids in school and out of prison, changing the trajectory of their lives. But the organization’s name created confusion among donors and the youth themselves, stifling their growth.
I helped lead a research project that uncovered what made the organization so special. The new name, tagline and messaging was inspired by what youth had to say about the organization and the impact it had on their lives. I also helped them develop new donor communications, including website copy and an annual report, to launch their updated brand.
Substitute teaching is an unloved profession: the pay is low, the training is minimal and it doesn’t get much respect. But students spend nearly one year of their K-12 education with subs, making it essential to invest in this workforce.
I helped a startup nonprofit working to improve the substitute teaching experience articulate and refine their brand and messaging. Equipped with a clear and compelling way to talk about their work, they are able to reach out to school districts and work with them to make substitute teaching better for everyone.
Many students have misconceptions about financial aid for college and believe they’re not eligible for aid. That’s why so many students, especially first-generation college goers, don’t fill out the FAFSA — the free application for federal student aid — leaving money on the table.
In partnership with Wonder: Strategies for Good, I interviewed real high school seniors about their experience filling out the FAFSA, including their advice for next year’s students. I crafted those interviews into stories for financial aid advocates to use for public education and fundraising.
Services: Messaging, messenger recruitment, content creation, training
Spaying and neutering helps reduce the number of pets in shelters, but convenience, cost and psychological factors prevent people from getting their pets fixed.
I helped implement a campaign to increase spaying and neutering in Reno, NV. Veterinarians were trained and placed as media spokespeople, and I developed partnerships with local pet food stores to spread awareness. The successful campaign was replicated in other regions.
Services: Media strategy, partnerships, public education campaigns, training
California’s Prop. 73 and 85 endangered at-risk teens by requiring parental notification for abortion. But traditional pro-choice messaging wasn’t enough to sway voters.
I trained volunteers and organizational spokespeople on the campaign’s unique messaging and developed content for campaign organizing and fundraising efforts. Both initiatives were rejected by California voters.
Violence spreads like a disease, so the same techniques used to stop epidemics can be used to stop shootings. I led the PR implementation for an exciting but controversial approach to stopping gun violence. I oversaw the launch of the organization’s new brand, ensuring implementation across partner sites across the country.
I assisted the founder with an acclaimed TED talk and media trained a number of the organization’s workers, many of whom are formerly incarcerated and subject to media criticism. I also helped manage PR crises to help safeguard the organization’s reputation, as well as the reputation of their funders.
Services: Branding, crisis management, media strategy, messaging, training, video, writing
A legal settlement in California protects students’ basic rights to functional classrooms, qualified teachers and access to textbooks. But many parents are unaware of those rights.
I recruited, trained and deployed parent volunteers to help other disadvantaged parents know their rights and improve their kids’ schools. I also worked with school districts and local congressional staff to help spread awareness.
Services: Messenger recruitment, public affairs, public education campaigns, volunteer management
Children need teachers, social workers and other professionals to ask, “What happened to you?” instead of “What’s wrong with you?” To encourage more youth-serving professionals to become trauma-informed, I helped develop a research-backed campaign to show how to become trauma-informed.
I recruited messengers for a storytelling project and oversaw the production of more than 25 videos and story-gathering interviews highlighting the benefits of being trauma-informed.
Services: Messenger recruitment, messaging, public education campaigns, research, video
California needs more—and more diverse—health workers to care for its growing and aging population. To introduce California’s young adults to jobs in health, I managed a successful advertising and social media campaign.
I recruited real health workers as campaign spokespeople and sent them to engage directly with young adults in schools and at events. To drive more traffic and engagement on the campaign website, I oversaw user experience testing, SEO and website redesigns.
Services: Messaging, online advertising, research, social media campaigns, volunteer management, user engagement strategy
Many health problems require a prescription for social services (e.g., home mold removal for asthma symptoms), not just medication. To kick-start more conversations about this issue, I oversaw a news-making survey of physicians on the value of writing prescriptions for social services.
I led the development of messaging and media materials on the survey. Leading up to the survey’s release, I secured and trained physician spokespeople and managed the multi-person media relations team.
Services: Media strategy, messaging, project management, publications, training, writing
Grassroots organizations on Long Island were struggling to attract individual donors, many of whom give to Manhattan-based organizations.
In partnership with Wonder: Strategies for Good, I oversaw a mystery-donor research project to help the grassroots organizations improve their fundraising. I also developed a written guide and assisted with capacity-building trainings.
Play helps kids focus in school and also teaches important social skills outside the classroom. But many schools face pressure to cut recess due to budget and disciplinary problems.
I helped a national nonprofit expand their recess program to schools across the country by securing media coverage in local markets. As they grew, I was part of the team that helped launch their new name and brand, helping them create a new website, videos and other communications.
Services: Media strategy, branding, messaging, content creation
I'm Tamara Murray and Well-Rounded Communications is my one-woman, nonprofit communications shop. I’ve spent more than a decade helping do-gooders get their message out—and get heard. I believe the best consultants are well-rounded enough to come up with smart ideas and execute them.
Social change is in my blood, starting from my grandmother who went door to door to promote family planning in her small Filipino town. My nonprofit communications journey started with stints in-house with the ACLU of San Diego, NARAL Pro-Choice California and The San Francisco Foundation. I was a vice president at Fenton and am part of the network of freelance strategists at Wonder: Strategies for Good. I love being a consultant because it keeps my experience well-rounded, which helps my clients get the most out of our relationship.
My other passion is experiencing as much of this wild world we live in as possible. My husband and I love to travel: the gritty kind where you push your boundaries. We traveled full time while working for nearly four years, mostly in a minivan-turned-camper. Nowadays, we’re returning the hospitality by hosting other travelers in Santa Barbara, California. I'm always looking for a trail to hike, stranger to chat with, or new song to learn on the ukulele.
Testimonials
During the years I worked with Tamara, I received expert guidance and stellar products, but also learned such an amazing amount that I would credit her with much of my early professional growth. From providing crisis support, helping design a multifaceted communication work plan and investing herself completely in a re-branding launch, Tamara delivered above and beyond at every step.
Tamara is a pro. She provided an incredibly well-refined process to help our team discover and articulate our brand identity. She helped us see things we couldn’t and, almost like a well-trained therapist, helped us reconcile competing ideas and values. The best part? She made the entire process really fun. She genuinely enjoys learning about who you are and what you need—taking the time to do things right, not just get them done.
I worked with Tamara for three years. What impressed me wasn’t her ability to find simple ways to talk about complex problems. It wasn’t her ability to project manage a simultaneous re-brand, messaging refresh and website relaunch. It wasn’t the mastery by which she led conference calls with more coalition partners than you could ever imagine. What impressed me most about Tamara was the fact she could do all those things and still make you laugh.
Tamara is an effective task-master, strategist, and all-around communications expert who is a lot of fun to work with. She keeps projects moving even in the most complicated situations. She rolls up her sleeves, gets to work and helps clients get to the finish line in the most painless way possible.
