WRITING FOR SOCIAL IMPACT
Except where noted, my role in the following publications was writer.
STRATEGY GUIDES
WRITE FOR GOOD: A GUIDE TO SOCIAL-IMPACT COMMUNICATIONS: Self-published handbook for NGOs, part of a suite of online resources for year-round learning. Rolling out in 2025.
PHILANTHROPY AND THE SDGs (SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS): Pair of guides for funders on aligning with the United Nations’ global agenda. Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, 2019. Guide I introduces the SDGs, and Guide II gives practical guidance on planning, assessment, reporting, and action.
PRENUPS FOR PARTNERS: Consulting editor on a new edition of toolkit for productive partnerships between change-makers, creatives, and funders. Active Voice Lab, 2018. (I was a co-writer of the original 2009 edition of “The Prenups: What Filmmakers and Funders Should Talk About Before Tying the Knot.”)
STORYTELLING AND SOCIAL CHANGE: Strategy guide for activists, organizations, and social entrepreneurs. Narrative Arts, 2015.
COMMUNICATING FOR IMPACT: STRATEGIES FOR GRANTMAKERS: GrantCraft, 2009. Co-author with Anne Mackinnon. This guide is also available in Chinese and Portuguese translation.
GRANTS TO INDIVIDUALS: INVESTING IN PEOPLE AND THEIR COMMUNITIES: GrantCraft, 2008. This guide is also available in Chinese and Arabic translation.
REPORTS AND POLICY PAPERS
UNDP “TRIPLE WIN” BROCHURE ON PARTNERSHIPS WITH IFIs: Lead writer and editor of a brochure on “How Governments, IFIs, and UNDP Can Maximize Impact for People and Planet,” 2024.
UNDP REGIONAL PROGRAMME FOR AFRICA, 2021 ANNUAL REPORT: Contributing writer. United Nations Development Programme, 2022.
A REGENERATION: UNDP’S SAHEL OFFER: Writer-editor of this document on UNDP’s contribution to the United Nations Integrated Strategy for the Sahel (UNISS), 2021.
‘DEVELOPMENT FUTURES’ POLICY PAPERS: Copyeditor for UNDP’s Global Policy Network, 2019-2021.
UNICEF 2018 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: UNICEF, April 2019. Gathered and organized content from various departments, wrote and revised content, did fact-checking, and worked with colleagues to produce major report.
UNDP ANNUAL REPORT 2017: United Nations Development Programme, 2018. PDF version also available.
UNDP ANNUAL REPORT 2015/2016: United Nations Development Programme, 2016. PDF version also available.
PEOPLE AND PLANET: FIFTY YEARS OF THE UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME: United Nations Development Programme, 2016. Appeared online, as well as in the form of a commemorative book and photo exhibit, which I curated.
CALL TO ACTION: HOW PROGRAMS IN THREE CITIES RESPONDED TO THE PRISONER REENTRY CRISIS: Public/Private Ventures, 2007.
STORIES AND CASE STUDIES
“PLACE PROFILES” ON RACIAL EQUITY AND HEALTH PROJECTS: Convergence Partnership, 2021.
STORIES OF THE UNITED NATIONS TAKING ACTION: I was a writing coach and editor for UN staff around the world who produced stories and blogs about the organization’s work. Part of the UN Development Coordination Office, published 2020-2021.
See a few of the COVID-19 stories I helped on from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cameroon, Lao PDR, Malawi, Mongolia, Myanmar, Namibia, and Zimbabwe (twice).
I supported stories from such places as Afghanistan (crisis response), the Arab Region (gender-based violence), Benin (hotline to register newborns), Brazil (women migrants with disabilities), Costa Rica (Afro-Costa Ricans), El Salvador (gender-based violence), Ghana (water access), Guatemala (disability inclusion), India (violence against women), Indonesia (shackling of people with mental illness), Iraq (young entrepreneurs), Kenya (crisis hotline), Kosovo (climate change), Malawi (UN 75th anniversary, and again on malaria and again on climate shocks), Mexico (trans women mutual support), Myanmar (a career with the World Food Programme), Nepal (radio program for youth education), Niger (rural women), Nigeria (farmer-herder conflicts), Nigeria (security and Boko Haram), Sierra Leone (women’s leadership), South Sudan (humanitarian hub in area hit by conflict), Syria (ten years of conflict), Thailand (girls in tech), Turkmenistan (disability inclusion), Uruguay (brick-makers go green), Uzbekistan (girls and tech), and Viet Nam (photo contest).
I wrote stories about a disability advocate and scholar from Iran (who works on domestic violence against women and girls with disabilities) and several times about the UN worldwide (2020 year-in-review, the pandemic response, UN reform and the pandemic, and disability access on UN websites).
THE TEMPLES AND THE TREES: HOW THE FATE OF ONE OF HUMANITY'S GREATEST TREASURES IS TIED TO THAT OF A MOUNTAIN FOREST: Story and photos for the United Nations Development Programme, 2017.
LONG JOURNEY TO PEACE: CAMBODIA SETS ITS SIGHTS ON FINALLY BEING FREE OF LANDMINES: Story and photos for the United Nations Development Programme, 2017. Also available in French and Spanish translation.
A VEGETABLE TO ROOT FOR: CAMBODIA’S ‘MIRACLE CROP’ OF CASSAVA: Story and photos for the United Nations Development Programme, 2017.
IMAGINE THAT: HOW 'THE VISITOR' HELPS VIEWERS SEE THEIR WAY FROM OUTRAGE TO ACTION: PDF case study of the social action campaign for "The Visitor" film. Active Voice Lab, 2010.