Los Angeles, March 11, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cause Communications, the leading purpose-driven nonprofit communications organization, announced today that Vanessa Schnaidt has been promoted to Vice President overseeing programs and innovation initiatives.
In this newly created position, Vanessa will spearhead Cause Communications’ efforts to expand its capacity building services and innovation-focused partnership work. In this role, Vanessa will continue leading Cause’s highly regarded training programs for foundation grantees, working to expand the organization’s offerings to include issue-based trainings (across cohorts) and advanced communications and advocacy training for foundation staff. She will also be charged with growing the organization’s suite of free skill-building resources, including the publication of an updated and expanded Communications Toolkit later this year. Additionally, Vanessa will lead the development of an incubator-style lab for strategic communications, a cross-sector initiative designed to catalyze public discourse and action.
As the only strategic communications nonprofit of its kind, Cause Communications drives positive social change by advocating for “communications for good.” For over 40 years, Cause has helped advance equal rights, greater opportunity, and better health in communities by working with purpose-driven organizations across sectors and silos.
“Vanessa has played a vital role in strengthening and evolving Cause’s growth and field-building efforts since joining the organization four years ago,” stated Cause Communications’ Founder R. Christine Hershey. “It is an honor to work alongside her and I am confident we are poised, now more than ever, to help usher in the next generation of communications leaders.”
“This news is not about a promotion, but rather an increased commitment and capacity to strengthening the field of social impact communications,” added Vanessa Schnaidt. “I am grateful for this opportunity and excited by the prospect of helping more causes tap into the power of communications to increase their impact.”
Vanessa has a demonstrated track record of more than 15 years of achievement in communications, program development, and field-building work, serving in leadership roles at a variety of national nonprofits, grantmaking public charities, and foundations prior to joining Cause Communications. Most recently, she served as the director of communications at Foundation Center (now Candid), where she oversaw the development and implementation of internal and external communications strategies.
Vanessa is on the Board of Directors for the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation, and was selected as a member of the inaugural cohort for Coro’s “Lead LA” program for Los Angeles leaders. Vanessa graduated summa cum laude from Scripps College with degrees in Gender & Women’s Studies and Studio Art, and earned a Masters of Professional Studies in Arts & Cultural Management from Pratt Institute.
Committed to making the power of good communications accessible to all, Cause Communications offers free tools and hands-on training programs to nonprofit leaders and social changemakers so they can build personal and organizational capacity with best-practice communication skills. Cause also offers best-in-class consulting services to purpose-driven organizations working on the most pressing issues of our time.
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About Cause Communications
Cause Communications is dedicated to helping purpose-driven organizations use communications to create positive social change. We strengthen the impact of foundations, nonprofits, socially conscious businesses, and the public sector – having provided consulting, tools, and training to more than 20,000 organizations in more than 25 countries. For additional information, visit causecommunications.org.
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