About

why choose advancement digital?

Results-driven marketing with a personal touch

Prevent costly mistakes by engaging us to develop and implement your digital strategies, plans, systems, tools, and campaigns. Our clients love us because we are smart, creative, and always looking to optimize results. We are nimble, responsive, steady, diligent, and thorough. Here are a few more reasons clients choose to work with us:


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Time savings

With our monthly support, you’ll create time for you and your staff to devote to other mission-critical tasks. We also can mentor staff and grow capacity with trainings on specific topics. ​

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Friendly support

Our capable team ensures that your projects run smoothly. Organized and methodical, we will respond to requests outside of regularly scheduled meetings by the next business day. 

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Cost-effectiveness

We charge an initial setup fee followed by a recurring monthly fee based on our agreement and the scope of work. Monthly ad spend is an additional sum paid directly to Google and/or Meta.

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Improved results

We can start with a shorter commitment, however the most valuable insights and results occur over months and years. Nearly all clients have chosen work with us for multiple years.

meet our founder & President

Kathleen Banks, MA, CFRE, CFOP 

Kathleen launched Advancement Digital (a division of Advancement Communications, Inc.) as a boutique marketing and fundraising agency to provide busy business and nonprofit executives with digital strategies and solutions that grow relationships, trust, and revenue.


Kathleen's expertise has been honed over more than twenty years in leadership and consulting roles across the nonprofit sector with well-known organizations both large and small. She brings to each client a track record of success in traditional and digital fundraising and marketing, from major gifts, corporate and foundation grants, board recruitment and management, to email marketing, donation page optimization, web development, and donor stewardship. Individually and collaboratively, her thoughtful attention to donors’ philanthropic interests has resulted in millions in meaningful gifts and grants for several top New York institutions.


A Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) and Certified Fundraising Optimization Professional (CFOP), Kathleen has twice served as interim CEO for regional nonprofits in transition, and currently serves on the Community Advisory Board of WMHT Public Media. She holds a master’s degree in performing arts administration from New York University, and a bachelor’s degree in music from Ithaca College.


Registered as Fund Raising Counsel in New York State.

Connect with Kathleen on LinkedIn.

clients & former employers

Expertise born from experience with top institutions

With more than twenty years of experience in leadership and consulting roles in marketing, fundraising, and communications with well-known organizations, large and small, we've seen what works — and what doesn't. This perspective allows us to see both your challenges and your opportunities.


testimonials

What people say

"Kathleen's team managed rebranding of the Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley’s communications and PR at the beginning of my tenure, adding new energy to our visual brand while improving our public visibility. Kathleen has a talent for uncovering donors’ philanthropic motivations, and she is able to translate that into compelling visual storytelling. Her nuanced understanding of the big picture, combined with an ability to outline a path forward and bring vision to reality, will be of great benefit to any nonprofit or small business."

"It is my pleasure to recommend Kathleen. She wrote the Harkness Eye Institute's newsletter "The Viewpoint" for several years as well as a book about our scientific advances. She is an excellent writer, with a intuitive understanding of what will interest and entice potential donors. She has excellent interpersonal skills and is able to work with, and bring out the best from many personalities. One of Kathleen's strengths is her outstanding ability to get up to speed quickly with sufficient depth, on new scientific/medical topics, and then to translate and communicate that content for a variety of audiences."

"I have had the pleasure of working with Kathleen for over 15 years in different capacities. Kathleen is dependable, efficient and very detail-oriented. She has a warm, cheerful attitude and exceptional abilities. In additional to her creative talents, she is very knowledgeable and skilled in the areas of development, campaigns and fundraising."

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

FAQ

  • Is the Discovery Call you're offering really free?

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    Yes, it is! We offer you a free 20-minute marketing consultation and basic website audit. This will help us understand where your marketing currently stands and how we might be able to help. We'll also send you off with a customized checklist of some action steps you can put to use right away.

  • What sectors do you specialize in?

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    Over the years, we've had the good fortune to gain both broad and specialized knowledge from working with businesses and nonprofits spanning many fields:  


    • Academic Medicine
    • Arts
    • Community Foundations
    • Foundations
    • Education
    • Engineering/Technical
    • Environmental
    • Faith
    • Food Security
    • Healthcare
    • Higher Ed
    • Historic Preservation
    • Human Services
    • Law and Legal Firms
    • Museums
    • Music & Dance
    • Military
    • Public Broadcasting
    • Scientific
    • Tourism & Destinations

  • What is your process for working with clients?

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    Busy leaders know how important it is to focus time and energy on accomplishing the high priority tasks and activities that move you and your staff forward. 


    Here's how we can help:


    Expert Coaching: We work with you to clarify your target audiences, competitors, personas, services, donor journeys, campaign strategies, and more. We listen, ask, powerful questions, advise, and support you in finding the right path forward.


    Strategy & Planning: We roll up our sleeves and work side-by-side with you every step of the way to create strategies, plans, timelines, goals, and objectives, resulting in clear tasks, assignments, deadlines, and agreements. 


    Forward Focused Solutions: We seek first to understand, and then translate and convey your unique value proposition (UVP) in compelling and powerful ways, developing measurable, tailored solutions.


    White Glove Service: We take pride in providing you with high quality, personalized attention and support. 

  • How can I get started?

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    Getting started is easy — just click the button below to book your free 20-minute Discovery Call. Fill out a form with some information about your business, and then choose a time that works for you. Once you've booked your time, you will receive a calendar invitation with a zoom link by email. We look forward to speaking with you!

    Book Your Call