Stop Sharing Info, Start Meaning-Making with Kristen Grimm

"We’re not just telling stories anymore—we’re helping people make sense of the world."

That’s the powerful message behind this week’s episode of Nonprofit Nation featuring Kristen Grimm, founder and strategist of Spitfire Strategies, a leading communications firm that helps nonprofits, foundations, and social changemakers sharpen their voice and deepen their impact.

In this conversation, Kristen introduces the concept of “meaning-making” — the process of helping people interpret what’s happening around them, understand what it means, and decide how to act. With the world experiencing unprecedented levels of uncertainty, polarization, and complexity, Kristen argues that communicators now face a once-in-a-generation opportunity to help people cut through the noise and find clarity, purpose, and direction.

Drawing on her recently published meaning-making blog series, Kristen shares a timely roadmap for nonprofit leaders looking to rise above the chaos and communicate with resonance. You’ll hear about the different phases of meaning-making, how to spot a "meaning-making window" when it opens, and why now is the time to shift from persuasion to perspective-shaping.

🔍 In This Episode, We Discuss:

• What “meaning-making” really is — and why it's vital right now
• Why traditional messaging may fall flat in today’s environment
• The phases of meaning-making: from recognition to resonance
• Tools to assess your organization's readiness to lead with meaning
• Real-world examples of meaning-making strategies in action
• How small or resource-constrained nonprofits can start this work today

💼 About Kristen Grimm

Kristen is the founder of Spitfire Strategies, a public interest firm focused on advancing racial, economic and social justice, protecting the environment and promoting opportunity for all. She has extensive experience running smart communication and campaign efforts that create lasting social change. A hopeful strategist, she believes progress is always possible, setbacks are sources of inspiration and building beyond the choir is where the real work is. She is the mastermind behind Spitfire’s Smart Chart, Planning to Win, Mindful Messaging and Replenishing Trust, thinks fast in a crisis, is deft at drawing phenomenal visionary speeches out of leaders and is someone you want in your corner when you’re ready to go big. When it comes to storytelling, all you need to know is that her last name is Grimm.

🧰 Resources & Links:

• 🔗 Kristen Grimm’s Meaning-Making Series – Spitfire Strategies
• 🔗 Meaning-Making: An Idea Whose Time Has Come and How to Make It Come to Fruition
• 🔗 Meaning-Making: Approaches to Consider
• 🔗 Meaning-Making: Live Examples We Can Watch Play Out

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