Snapshot
Audience: Donors, partners, community members, and internal stakeholders
Challenge: Growing design needs without dedicated in-house creative support
Solution: Ongoing outsourced design partnership + accessibility-focused updates
Result: More polished communications and reclaimed strategic time for leadership
Where They Started
East Bay Community Foundation advances racial justice through arts, capacity building, community organizing, and inclusive economic models. As a regional philanthropic leader, EBCF brings together donors and community partners around a shared mission of equity across the East Bay.
As their influence expanded, so did the volume and complexity of their communications. High-quality, mission-aligned design became increasingly essential to reflect the scale of their work and the expectations of their audience.
At the same time, their VP of Marketing at the time was directly managing design tasks in addition to leading strategy. The team needed consistent creative support that could function as an extension of their internal staff.
What Was Getting in the Way
EBCF was experiencing growth without a dedicated in-house design resource to match it.
They faced:
- A growing volume of monthly design needs without reliable creative support
- Accessibility gaps within brand guidelines and donor-facing materials
- Marketing leadership pulled into production work instead of strategy
- Event and community collateral that needed stronger cohesion and polish
What We Built
Acton Circle stepped in as an outsourced design partner, providing both strategic guidance and hands-on execution across print and digital materials.
We enhanced accessibility standards within their brand guidelines, modernized donor-facing assets, and streamlined communications tools to reduce internal friction. Our role extended beyond isolated projects to ongoing collaboration, ensuring the brand remained consistent and aligned as needs evolved.
Deliverables included:
- Updated brand guidelines with accessibility improvements
- Redesigned donor forms, including fillable PDFs to simplify giving
- Branded stationery such as folders and notecards
- Event and CEO launch collateral
- Canva and PowerPoint templates for internal use
- Ongoing support for social graphics, brochures, and presentations
Each asset was designed to reinforce trust and professionalism while supporting ease of use.
What Changed
EBCF’s communications now reflect the credibility of their mission.
The marketing team regained time for strategic leadership rather than day-to-day design execution. Accessibility improvements strengthened donor experience, and event materials carried a more cohesive presence across touchpoints.
The partnership created not just better collateral, but a sustainable creative system that grows alongside the organization.
.png)
