Date

6-17-2026

Department

School of Communication and the Arts

Degree

Master of Fine Arts in Graphic Design (MFA)

Chair

Chris Clark

Keywords

Non-Profit Communication, Non-Profit Development, Non-Profit

Disciplines

Art and Design

Abstract

This study explores how small nonprofits often fail shortly after they are created because of weak design practices and limited access to professional design tools and skills. Large organizations and nonprofits survive because they invest in strong branding, clear messaging, and long-term design strategy. Small nonprofits rely on volunteers with little to no design training which leaves them with inconsistent branding, unclear visual communication, and materials that fail to build the trust they need to survive. This project will examine the gap through research in the nonprofit areas of communication, visual psychology, accessible design systems, and case studies of successful child focused nonprofits. The results will help create a design toolkit written for small nonprofits with no design background. The goal is to give these nonprofits a straightforward, easy to follow, sustainable system that creates strong imagery to represent their identity and most of all supports long term growth.

Download

Share

COinS