Brand & strategy for nonprofits
and mission-driven companies
I SEE YOU.
If you're like most nonprofits, your brand is the most underused strategic tool at your disposal. Let’s change this.
Harness your brand to unlock clarity, attract values-aligned partners, and bring your work the visibility—and funding—that it deserves.
SERVICES
Together, we can accomplish a lot.
Whether you're finding your footing, facing a critical decision, or leading your organization through big change, Studio Ess offers three distinct levels of strategic brand support, each designed to meet you right where you are.
START SMALL
Clarify
For small, growing organizations—or anyone— who need a smart minimum viable brand, fast.
2-4 weeks
GO DEEPER
Strengthen
For orgs preparing for a pivotal moment (fundraising, campaign, strategic plan), this helps you sharpen what you’ve got and close the gaps so that you can maximize the moment and show up with confidence.
8-12 weeks
LEAD BIG CHANGE
Leap
For organizations navigating big change (in strategy, leadership, or scale), who want a trusted partner through it. This flagship engagement blends custom workshops, stakeholder insight, and change management strategy to help your brand take root internally and drive sustainable, long-term change.
6-12 months
Ready to elevate your brand?
ESS PRESS: LATEST INSIGHTS
ESS PRESS: LATEST INSIGHTS
The Power of a Big Idea: Your Narrative IP
Nonprofits spend too much time overcommunicating and underinspiring. In order to right this balance, they need to develop narrative IP: an ownable, repeatable story that sits at the heart of your brand and can drive everything from your strategy to your storytelling.
Read more.
Clarity of Purpose: A Compass in a Storm
When the world gets noisy, clarity of purpose is your compass. Your purpose is not just a branding exercise, its a strategic anchor that helps leaders make decisions, stay grounded, and lead with conviction through uncertainty.
Brand Storytelling In An Era of New Power
In a world where power is shifting from old players to new ones, how we tell stories matters more than ever. What does it means to build a brand in the era of new power? Why does your storytelling strategy need to evolve to meet the moment?
Bold
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Clarifying
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Consequential
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Bold · Clarifying · Consequential ·
ABOUT ME
Leading brand strategist for nonprofits and social impact organizations
Hi, I’m Sruthi and I’m the “ess” in Studio Ess.
For over 9 years, I built and led the strategy practice from the ground-up at a social impact branding studio called Hyperakt. In my time there, I led rebrands for iconic organizations like Ford Foundation, Vera Institute of Justice, NYCLU, DonorsChoose, and more.
I’ve worked alongside teams big and small, one-on-one with communications directors, and side-by-side with executive leaders.
I’m a mother to two mischievous and beautiful daughters, co-surfer of life’s ups and downs with my husband, proud and messy homecook, and urban bike evangelist.
Brand I’ve partnered with
In my recent role as Senior Director of Strategy at Hyperakt, I had the privilege of working with incredible nonprofit organizations, helping many of them navigate the complex and high-stakes process of finding and claiming their place in the world.
Ad Council
Amnesty International USA
Center for Urban Pedagogy
Civilla
DonorsChoose
Ford Foundation
Girls Who Code
Google
Hoover Institution
NewSchools Venture Fund
NYC Department of Health
NYCLU
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Skoll Foundation
Supermajority
Vera Institute of Justice
West Wing Writers
Don’t take my word for it. See what others have said.Danielle Toussaint, Chief Communications Officer
“Sruthi is the mastermind to help any organization grow their impact in ways that are resonant and relevant.”
Scott Hechinger, Founder & Executive Director
“By the first call, she had already wrapped her head around the concept we had been working on for nearly a year and understood it in a way that was profound. She is calm, good humored, confident, and authoritative.”
Let’s work together.
Whether you’re looking for clarity or ready for an updated brand, let’s talk about it.