Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Betsy Rhame-minor. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Betsy, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

I didn’t set out to be an entrepreneur in college, or even for quite a while afterward. I majored in English literature in both undergraduate and graduate school, because it was my favorite subject. Two internships in college helped me know that I wanted to be in writing and communication. My first two jobs were in newspaper journalism, and it helped me develop very valuable, specific skills: researching, interviewing, and combining information from the two into informative and interesting content. As the newspaper industry began to change, I moved into marketing and communications and enjoyed that too.

Then an out-of-state move had me job searching during the economic downturn in 2008 and 2009. In the meantime, I kept getting approached for those needing writing and editing help, and I took on projects while I continued job searching. It wasn’t too long before I stopped job searching and started my entrepreneurial life.

I’d never taken a business class (I still haven’t) and learned as I went. I also learned about how to identify my ideal client and the kinds of projects that will be the most successful. Along the way, I got interested in moving away from writing for businesses to writing for educational and nonprofit organizations, and there I found a home.

In 2012 I joined forces with an acquaintance, now close friend, Lori Lee Davidson, and we created Nonprofit Media Solutions, LLC to address the holes we saw within communications in the nonprofit sector. Then, in 2017, Lori rejoined the corporate world and left NMS in my hands.

I work with small to mid-sized human services nonprofits to provide grant prospect research, grant writing services, and communications coaching.

It’s a community I love. I enjoy connecting with executive directors and knowing why they created or head their particular organization and cause. There’s always a story there, and it’s always a good one. I get so much satisfaction from working with my clients and seeing them succeed.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I enjoy helping my clients identify their key audiences. I thrive on taking taking a mountain of information and drilling down to the most important pieces to share in the right places. Whether it’s creating a winning grant proposal or helping a nonprofit communicate effectively with their individual donors, I love helping to get the messaging just right.

I’ve found that executive directors are often passionate about their cause and their organization, and often find it challenging to sit behind a desk to create communications and grants. But, they are the best person to tell me about their organization. I like to take their words and energy and make them into words that will resonate with others, getting them to take action (make a gift, donate in-kind goods, volunteer for an event, etc.).

I’m most proud when I can:
– advise a client on how to communicate about tough subjects, or communicate during a crisis,
– assist a client in winning funds from a private/corporate/family foundation,
– uncover potential funders, and
– watch a client be successful on their own after we’ve worked together in a communications coaching relationship.

I get to know my clients and their organizations inside and out, and I love being their champion.

Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?

I get to know my clients and their organizations inside and out, and I love being their champion. I feel very fortunate that starting up my business didn’t take too much investment. I was able to jump right in with a basic laptop, an at-home office, and a few other supplies. As I’ve grown I’ve invested more in technology and have outsourced some tasks that are too labor-intensive for me and slow me down. Over the years I’ve gotten connected with others who can fill these holes for me.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I always knew I was capable and could use my strengths professionally, but the entrepreneurship piece required a level of resilience that I didn’t know I had. Working for myself has been wonderful in many ways but can also be isolating and a bit unpredictable. I continue to draw on advice from a business coach I met with in my earlier years of being on my own: she promised me that the universe would send me what I needed. So far she’s been right. Sometimes I don’t know what’s coming up next when I finish a big project, but something always does.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.nonprofitmediasolutions.com
• Instagram: @nonprofitmediasolutions
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NonprofitMediaSolutions/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsyrhameminor/
• Other: @nonprofitms.bsky.social

Image Credits

Coliene Bell, Sweet Tooth Photography