Why Your Foundation Needs to Consider Outsourcing Graphic Design (And Why That's Okay!)

Let's be real—you're already juggling a million tasks at your organization. The last thing you need is to spend hours wrestling with design software or trying to make your latest campaign look "just right."

Who benefits most from outsourcing graphic design?

You might be wondering if outsourcing is right for your organization. In our experience, these groups see the biggest wins:

• Established foundations looking to level up their visual impact without the mental load of managing another internal team member
• Small marketing and communications teams where everyone's already wearing multiple hats
• Mission-focused marketing directors who want to spend more time on strategy and storytelling and less on design

Why outsource graphic design?

I’m sure you know great design when you see it. It's the kind that makes donors stop scrolling and actually read your content. It's the annual impact report that people actually want to open. It's the campaign that gets shared again and again.

Creating that kind of design takes serious skill and time—two things most nonprofits are short on. And that's perfectly okay! You're busy changing the world, after all.

3 Awesome Advantages of Outsourcing to a Design Company

1. You get your money's worth (and then some)

•  No full-time salary or benefits to cover
•  No expensive software subscriptions
•  Pay only for what you need, when you need it
•  Professional results that attract more funding

2. You tap into a whole team of experts

•  Access to designers who live and breathe foundation communication
•  Fresh perspectives from people who've worked across causes
•  Up-to-date knowledge of what works in digital and print
•  No need to train or manage creative staff

3. You can finally focus on your mission

• Hand off the design headaches
• Stop settling for "good enough" materials
• Get more done without adding to your plate
• Scale up or down based on your needs

Real Results from Foundations Like Yours

Here's what happens when nonprofits outsource their graphic design:

"Working in partnership with Acton Circle has been a wonderful experience. Olivia and the team are extremely talented and have crafted amazing collateral for my organization, East Bay Community Foundation.

Working with them has been a smooth process from initial project intake to final design delivery. One highlight of working with Acton Circle is their excellent facilitation of strategy meetings. They thoroughly capture all the information needed and make translating project needs into a design look like magic."

—Michele Johnson, Marketing & Communications Project Associate, East Bay Community Foundation

"Before Acton Circle, our marketing collateral was all over the map in terms of design and messaging. As a small staff with not enough design expertise or time, we needed help to make our brand feel cohesive. Acton Circle did a wonderful job helping us redesign some of our marketing collateral. Very satisfied!"

—Monica Seely, Senior Director of Marketing & Communications, Orange County Community Foundation

Is outsourcing graphic design right for you?

Ask yourself:

• Does design work constantly get pushed to the bottom of your list?
• Could your team focus more on growing funds and strengthening relationships?
• Do your materials reflect the professional quality donors expect from foundations?
• Is your impact story being told as effectively as your grantmaking deserves?

If you answered "yes" to any of these, outsourcing might be your next smart move.

Making the Switch to Outsourcing: What to Look For

When choosing a design partner, consider:

•  Have they worked with organizations like yours?
•  Do they take time to understand your mission?
•  Can they show examples of nonprofit and foundation work?
•  Do they offer flexible partnership options?

The Bottom Line on Outsourcing Graphic Design

Your foundation does amazing work. Outsourcing graphic design isn't giving up control—it's giving your mission the professional platform it deserves. Every hour you spend struggling with design is an hour you could spend strategically serving your community. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is ask for help.

Also, keep in mind, the right design partner won't just create pretty visuals—they'll help amplify your message and multiply your impact. 

Your work matters too much to let poor design hold you back.

Is your annual report collecting dust or driving donations year-round?

Your annual report should work harder than just sitting on a shelf. Our Annual Report Design Intensive transforms your impact data into a strategic visual story that engages donors long after tax season.

We'll craft a report that serves as your cornerstone content piece—repurposable for social media, donor meetings, and fundraising campaigns throughout the entire year.

Turn your annual report into a tool that drives year-round impact. Explore our annual report design intensive service →