Words & Pictures.
Leadership & Experience.

"I've had the pleasure of working with John for the past 20 years --- he's simply one of the best creative minds in the business -- he has great experience and skills in both offline and digital creative. Great writer, very creative, but understands the most effective way to craft and present an offer for each client, great manager of people. He's great with clients and is a welcome addition to any strategic discussion --- even those focused on data!"

Roger Hiyama
Community Leader, Delve Deeper, 2025 Max Hart Award Winner, ANA Nonprofit Federation,
2023 DMAW President, 2021 DMAW Hall of Leaders

Decades of Creative Leadership in Direct Response Fundraising

My journey began as a copywriter and designer, giving me an appreciation for both the art and science of donor communications. I founded a creative studio that served the direct response fundraising community for over 17 years. I was the Marketing Director for a nonprofit environmental policy think tank, and for the last 20 years, I served as a senior creative and marketing executive for four of the nonprofit industry's leading fundraising agencies.

As a VP/Creative Director, my teams created award-winning donor marketing campaigns that raised millions for some of the most recognizable nonprofit organizations in America.

As a Chief Creative Officer, I built and mentored high-performance creative departments, while helping craft agency creative vision and strategy that inspired donors and deepened engagement with their preferred charities.

As a Marketing Director and Chief Marketing Officer, I brought leading charity and partner brands to the unique nonprofit marketplace.

RECENT RECOGNITIONS

2025 Bridge Conference Co-Chair
2024 DMAW Hall of Leaders Honoree
2021 DMAW Volunteer of the Year

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

• Donor and member marketing strategy

• Creative team leadership training and mentorship

• Fundraising campaign and content development

• Organizational marketing

"John has an incredible creative mind and knows just about everything there is to know about direct marketing fundraising. He's a gifted creative director, writer, editor, and presenter and has a skill for building relationships and cultivating young creative talent. He's a rare breed that can attack a job from any angle -- from concept to copywriting to art direction. I've been lucky enough to work with him three times in my career, and his mentorship has been invaluable."

Angie MacAlpine
Senior VP Creative, TrueSense Marketing

Elevate your team's creative performance with strategy, mentorship, and hands-on experience.

With more than four decades in integrated, multi-channel direct response fundraising, I bring expertise and perspective to today’s creative and marketing challenges for direct response fundraisers. My range of services include flexible support for nonprofits and agencies that need senior-level creative leadership, fresh thinking, or practical training for their internal teams.

SERVICE OFFERINGS

• Creative mentorship and team coaching

• Strategic audits and creative planning

• Campaign and content development

• Interim or fractional creative leadership

• Collaborative workshops and training

• Copywriting and graphic design for digital and print media

Donor communication and campaign strategies: Authentic, ethical, mission-focused messaging and offers that resonates with donors, demonstrates the impact and value they represent to organizations, and ultimately motivates them to support.

Effective, creative team management and workflows: Aligning team strengths with the organizational challenges they need to solve, and improving performance with one-to-one mentorship and training.

Creative services: Copywriting, graphic design, and creative direction support as needed.

Marketing support: Editorial and visual execution for new business development including RFP responses and pitches, collateral, donor/member products, and publications.

AREAS OF FOCUS

"John is simply the best – he writes and designs effective fundraising materials. He interprets data and business scenarios to develop strategic plans. He knows how to manage and mentor creative teams. He works well with clients, establishing rapport and trust."

Becky Graninger
Author, former Chief Marketing and Development Officer, Feed the Children

Let's Connect

If your agency or nonprofit organization could benefit from more effective donor communications and greater mission impact, I’d love chat about how I can deliver leadership, strategic insight, mentorship, or other creative services to your creative team.

Use the form below or contact me directly at info@jrtcreative.com

"John brings an enviable dexterity to the business, rushing headlong to solve thorny marketing problems while staying focused on the people (clients, teammates, constituents) behind the numbers. He offers candor when asked and discretion when needed, and a full measure of authenticity all along the way. Among the most enjoyable agency partners I've yet known."

Mark Weninger
Principal, Weninger Haus