Mission-First Messaging Audit for Justice-Motivated Organizations

A quick-reference tool to strengthen any grant proposal, funder update, or public-facing communication before it goes out. Takes about 15 minutes.

Part 1 - The Three Gut-Check Questions

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Question 1 of 3 If someone unfamiliar with social justice frameworks read this, would they still understand who we serve and why it matters? If no, your messaging may be too internally focused. Look for places where outcome-oriented language could make the story more accessible without losing its integrity.

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Question 2 of 3 If someone from the community we serve read this, would they still recognize themselves in it? This is your gut-check. If the answer is no, you've drifted too far. Pull it back before it goes out.

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Question 3 of 3 Are we leading with what we do, or with what changes as a result of what we do? Funders in this climate respond to outcomes. If your messaging is heavy on activities and light on results, that's where to focus your rewriting energy.

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Part 2 - Language Swap Guide

These swaps don't change your mission. They change who can hear it. Use them in proposals, funder updates, and public-facing content.

Instead Of	Try This
DEI programming	Equitable access initiatives / inclusive workforce development
Anti-racism training	Bias reduction in organizational practice / cultural competency development
Marginalized communities	Historically underinvested communities / communities facing systemic barriers
Racial equity	Closing the opportunity gap / economic inclusion
Systemic inequity	Systems that were never built for everyone
Social justice work	Community resilience / economic mobility / workforce development

Part 3 — Pre-Publish Checklist

Run this before anything goes to a funder, your board, or the public.

[ ] Our outcomes are stated in plain language a non-expert would understand
[ ] We lead with results, not just activities or program descriptions
[ ] The community we serve would still recognize themselves in this language
[ ] We've used at least one specific data point or outcome number
[ ] No jargon that requires insider knowledge to decode
[ ] Our mission and the people behind it still feel human and real
[ ] We've reviewed for any flagged keyword terms (see swap guide above)

The Standard We Hold Ourselves To

"I'm no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I'm changing the things I cannot accept." —Angela Davis