In this final episode of Health Nonprofit Digital Marketing, Spencer Brooks shares why he's wrapping up the podcast after 91 episodes and four years. He talks about how his consulting work has increasingly focused on helping nonprofits that provide health information adapt their digital strategy to the rise of AI-powered search, and why that shift is pushing him toward speaking and writing as his primary channels for thought leadership. Spencer also shares where to follow along with his work going forward.

Resources

• The Future of Search Is Already Here and Nonprofits Need to Be Ready: https://brooks.digital/health-nonprofit-digital-marketing/future-of-search/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencerbrooks/

Contact Spencer

• Email: spencer@brooks.digital

Every nonprofit leader knows the feeling of too many priorities, too few resources, and a growing list of "good ideas" that never seem to get done. In this episode, Spencer talks with Cynthia Ryan, Executive Director of the Vestibular Disorders Association (VeDA), about how strategic planning and smart prioritization can help small nonprofits focus their energy where it matters most.

Cynthia shares how VeDA uses a three-year strategic plan paired with a one-page annual action plan to stay focused on their mission without losing flexibility. We explore her impact-versus-effort framework for deciding which projects deserve attention, how tools like Asana and documented processes create institutional memory, and what it means to lead with clarity when everything feels urgent.

If you've ever felt overwhelmed by competing priorities or wondered how to say no to good ideas so you can say yes to the right ones, this conversation is for you.

About the guest

Cynthia Ryan is the Executive Director of the Vestibular Disorders Association, known as VeDA, the leading international nonprofit dedicated to supporting people living with chronic dizziness, vertigo, and balance disorders. For a decade and a half, Cynthia has championed patient-centered education, advocacy, and research initiatives that help people feel seen, supported, and empowered in their health journey. Under her leadership, VeDA has expanded its global reach, launched innovative programs like the Life Rebalanced Live virtual conference, strengthened partnerships with clinicians and researchers, and grown a vibrant community of patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals. With a background in nonprofit management, strategic communication, and community-building, Cynthia brings a deep commitment to elevating the voices of vestibular patients and driving progress in diagnosis, treatment, and quality of life. She is passionate about helping people find clarity in a world that won’t stop spinning—and ensuring that no one faces a vestibular disorder alone.

Resources

• Virtual Vestibular Conference: https://vestibular.org/LRL/
• The Better Fundraising Company: https://betterfundraising.com/improve-your-fundraising-capacity/
• National Organization for Rare Disorders: https://rarediseases.org/
• Agile Marketing with Lesli Proffitt Nordström of the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD): https://brooks.digital/health-nonprofit-digital-marketing/agile-marketing/

Contact Cynthia

• cynthia.ryan@vestibular.org
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vestibular-disorders-association
• Twitter: https://x.com/vestibularveda
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vestibulardisorders
• vestibular.org

People often think of healthcare in terms of symptoms and services, but behind every clinic visit is a deeper story shaped by food insecurity, housing instability, and more. In this episode, host Spencer Brooks talks with Penny Aronson of the Community Free Clinic in Cabarrus County, NC, about how social determinants of health influence care delivery, challenge traditional marketing narratives, and shape the clinic’s outreach and funding efforts. If you’re a health nonprofit communicator working to make the invisible visible, this conversation will help you frame complex issues in ways your community (and your funders) can understand.

About the guest

Penny Aronson has more than 15 years of experience in community programming and corporate communication leadership. Penny began her career in corporate marketing and communications, supporting corporate branding strategies. She moved to nonprofit work to support education advocacy, building a cottage school and tutoring service, and operating a freelance business for operations, marketing, and communications for small and medium-sized business owners. She developed relationships with community partners and managed extensive volunteer forces.

Penny’s vast background includes project management, board relations, and organizational strategy development for HR, training, and operations teams. Most recently before joining the Free Clinic, she individually raised 56% of an organization’s operating budget post-COVID with donations and grants, developed three programs with a 51% increase in participation over one year, created volunteer programs with success, and increased Board involvement and training.

Resources

• https://www.unreasonablehospitality.com/#TheBook

Contact Penny

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/penny-aronson-9136832/