OUR WORK
About Us
Keller-Ferguson & Associates is a nonprofit and education management and communications consultant based in Johnson City, Tenn. KFA was founded in 2010 by Ginger Keller-Ferguson, an experienced grant writer and nonprofit management consultant. With a weekly readership of 30,000 nonprofit and education professionals, KFA is committed to helping small-to-mid-sized agencies and educational institutions do more, better.
Introduction
Keller-Ferguson & Associates has partnered with numerous communication clients and implemented a variety of successful client-facing campaigns designed to educate, inspire and spur action. KFA professionally manages communications and public relations, all types of digital media, branding, marketing and advertising for our varied clients, all with an eye to equity. In this portfolio, you can see representative pieces of our work.
Appalachian Resource Conservation & Development Council
USDA FARMERS MARKET PROMOTION PROGRAM COMMUNICATION & MARKETING
Secured a $500,000 Farmers Market Promotion Program grant from the USDA and served as communication and marketing consultant on the funded project. Included coordination of website and marketing collateral development, event planning, public relations and paid advertising placement, coordination of photography services, direct video production services, media buying, editorial calendar development and implementation.
Project Status
Program active; contract concluded.
Key Partners
Lexy Close, Appalachian RC&D Council
Christian Schmid Design, creative director and graphic designer
Coalition For Kids
AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM FUNDING & READ. KNOW. LEARN. GROW! CAMPAIGN
Funded high-quality after-school programming through grants from the Tennessee Department of Education 21st Century Community Learning Centers and Lottery for Education After-school Programs. Developed message and marketing collateral for READ KNOW LEARN GROW fundraising campaign for program expansion to county schools.
Project Status
Active, long-time client
Key Partners
Randy Hensley, executive director
Sarah Oaks, grants manager
ETSU Arts Initiative
CAPITAL BUILDING CAMPAIGN
Created overall campaign plan to meet $9M fundraising goal to secure matching funds required for a $27M capital building project. Worked with multiple university departments and outside vendors to develop messaging and campaign marketing collateral.
Project Status
Construction underway. Facility expected to open: Spring 2020.
Key Partners
Anita DeAngelis, associate dean for the arts, ETSU
ST8MNT, graphic design
ETSU College of Arts & Sciences
ACADEMIC PROGRAM MARKETING 18 DEPARTMENTS, 3 CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE, 2 MUSEUMS
Served eighteen academic departments, from Art and Design to Biology, Chemistry, History and Psychology, two museums, and three Centers of Excellence in East Tennessee State University's largest college.
Researched funding opportunities and developed grant proposals and supported fundraising activities, including major and planned gifts, as well as special events, to secure the resources faculty and students need to thrive. Created digital and print media campaigns to showcase the College's accomplishments and market academic programs with a special emphasis on collecting students’ personal success stories to create compelling narratives. Served on numerous advisory councils including Bluegrass and Old Time Country Music department council and STEM Hub Advisory Council which was integral in implementing the Northeast Tennessee Innovation Academy, a multi-district collaboration to create a STEM-focused magnet school.
Project Status
Former employer.
Key Partners
Gordon Anderson, dean
Anita DeAngelis, associate dean
Alan Homes, associate dean
Kingsport City Schools
COMPREHENSIVE K12 EDUCATION COMMUNICATION SERVICES
Researched funding opportunities and developed winning grant proposals to increase grant revenues by 184% over 5 years.
Served as co-webmaster, copywriter, and editor of press releases, marketing collateral, and annual reports. Served as a primary media liaison and spokesperson. Co-lead selection and implementation of online content management system.
Monitored legislative updates to maintain policies and procedures in compliance with state and federal regulations. Served as a liaison to the publicly elected members of the Board of Education to create and revise policies and procedures. Worked closely with all central administrators to maintain operating manuals and documentation including Student Handbooks, Employee Handbooks, Nursing Protocols, Emergency Response Plans, School Improvement Plans and all associated forms with a focus on maintain clear and concise communication and user-friendly interaction and accessibility.
Served as a non-voting member of Budget Committee and on a wide variety of ad hoc committees including Federal Programs and Emergency Preparedness.
Project Status
Former employer.
Key Partners
Jane Hillhouse, Hillhouse Creative
Langston Education & Arts Development
GRASSROOTS REHABILITATION OF LANGSTON HIGH SCHOOL IN JOHNSON CITY, TENNESSEE
Managed $500,000 capital campaign for grassroots, startup nonprofit seeking to preserve an historic, pre-desegregation Black high school. Designed and implemented all aspects of campaign from feasibility phase through public campaign. Included coordination of website and marketing collateral development, event planning, public relations and paid advertising placement, coordination of photography and video production services, media buying, editorial calendar development and implementation.
Project Status
Construction underway. Facility expected to open: Fall 2019.
Key Partners
Michael Young, chairman, LEAD
John Birchette, treasurer, LEAD
Christian Schmid Design, creative director and graphic designer
Upper East Tennessee Human Development Agency
DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNICATION STRATEGY & PLANNING
Created organizational logic model, grant prospectus, communication plan, editorial calendar, development plan, annual fund campaign, and project-specific fundraising campaign for Creative Cuisine program.
Project Status
Contract complete. Creative Cuisine program enrolled its inaugural class in May 2019.
Key Partners
Tim Jaynes, executive director
Zombie Tag
A FUNDRAISING EVENT BENEFITING ETSU GENERAL SHALE BRICK NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM & VISITORS CENTER AT GRAY FOSSIL SITE
And sometimes, work is all about fun! Created a full-day fundraising event to benefit the East Tennessee State University and General Shale Brick Natural History Museum and Visitors Center at Gray Fossil Site. Project included: creating event theme and managing all logistics including safety and volunteer engagement, coordination of website and marketing collateral development, comprehensive event planning, public relations and paid advertising placement, media buying, editorial calendar development and implementation.
Project Status
Successful full-day fundraising event
Key Partners
Dr. Blaine Schubert, director, Center of Excellence in Paleontology, East Tennessee State University
Christian Schmid Design, creative director, web and graphic designer
Scott Clark, Shell Media, event planner, media buyer
Additional Clients
Other Organizations We Have Worked With
