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The Cutting Edge

Customized trainings for communicating organizations

Trainings that build the strategic skills of organizations, foundations, and grantees

Trainings that give you an edge

Scan through our training topics below to find the perfect match for your needs.

Choose from our one-, two- and three-day training options, combining any topics from the list below for a customized experience. Each session is designed for active participation using the “learn it, use it, assess it and improve it” model. With real-world examples, dedicated time to work on your current projects and opportunities to address pressing challenges, these interactive sessions focus on delivering actionable strategies — not lectures — to apply immediately.

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  • 01

    Ongoing communication Coaching and support

    Our training doesn’t stop when the session ends. Spitfire provides a lead trainer and a dedicated set of coaches to ensure participants receive personalized guidance during a training. After the session, participants can continue working with their coach through a follow-up bank of coaching hours, reinforcing and expanding on what they’ve learned.

  • 02

    Versatile training formats

    Design a training cadence that matches your needs with our flexible session lengths. Whether you opt for a focused one-day session, an extended two-day training or a thorough three-day program, each format is designed to make the most of our time together.

  • 03

    Progress you can see and measure

    We measure success by what participants take away. Spitfire conducts pre- and post-session evaluations to assess participants’ knowledge and track their growth. This feedback loop helps us ensure participants leave the training better prepared to tackle communication challenges.

Trainings that give you an edge

Scan through our training topics below to find the perfect match for your needs.

Choose from our one-, two-, and three-day training options, combining any topics from the list below for a customized experience. Each session is designed for active participation using the “learn it, use it, assess it, and improve it” model. With real-world examples, dedicated time to work on your current projects, and opportunities to address pressing challenges, these interactive sessions focus on delivering actionable strategies — not lectures — to apply immediately.

    • Using Spitfire’s Smart Chart 4.0® to turn your programmatic strategy into a communication strategy driven by SMART objectives, audiences, messaging and tactics, and measurements for success
    • Creating compelling narrative frames, stories, messages, and other forms of content to inspire your audiences to take action and attract new audiences to join your efforts
    • Working with influencers and content creators to amplify your message and reach new audiences who should see themselves as part of your movement
    • Telling stories that amplify — rather than exploit — people’s lived experiences
    • Ensuring your entire team can talk about your work with a unified message
    • Strengthening your brand through exercises to home in on your organization’s vision and purpose
    • Delivering your message through media interviews, powerful presentations and digital platforms to bring in new audiences who can help advance your work, even in a challenging digital media environment
    • Crafting visionary speeches to convey what is possible when your organization is successful
    • Strategies for recognizing, analyzing and neutralizing misinformation and disinformation using Spitfire’s Just Truth™ guide
    • Scenario planning for opposition pushback while welcoming new supporters into the fold
    • Getting ahead of the right-wing ecosystem to foster productive conversation and de-escalate dangerous situations
    • Restoring trust within your organization and externally using Spitfire’s Replenishing Trust™ tool
    • Crisis communications planning and preparation using Spitfire’s Smart Plan®
    • When and how to put out a public statement on tricky issues

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Bard Prison Initiative logo

Bard Prison Initiative

Media training to share powerful personal stories

The Bard Prison Initiative (BPI) approached Spitfire for support at a crucial moment in its history: The fall 2019 documentary “College Behind Bars,” which Lynn Novick directed and Ken Burns executive produced, would soon highlight BPI’s work providing a college education to people who are incarcerated. Spitfire held four training sessions for BPI staff and alumni, including media and social media training and a messaging workshop. The team also conducted one-on-one coaching with alumni, especially for those writing op-eds and sharing their powerful personal stories of success after their release as they applied their liberal arts education to the world around them. The media and the public positively received the spokespeople and the program, thanks to Spitfire’s preparation that headed off criticisms at the pass.

View Bard Prison Initiative case study