Happy New Year, from an Educator’s Calendar

For those of us who have worked in education, the new year doesn’t really begin on January 1. It begins in September.

Our lives have been marked by the rhythm of the school year since we were students ourselves. Now, whether we are educators, nonprofit leaders, parents, advocates, or partners working to improve outcomes for young people, the beginning of a new school year still feels like an opportunity to reset, refocus, and begin again.

So, first and foremost, happy New Year—and happy back-to-school season—to everyone working each day to help young people learn, grow, and thrive.

At For the Good, we are beginning this new year with a tremendous sense of energy and possibility.

Philanthropic advising remains at the heart of our work. We help family foundations and philanthropic partners develop thoughtful strategies, conduct meaningful due diligence, and invest in high-quality organizations creating opportunities for young people and communities. This work is essential to ensuring that philanthropic resources are directed where they can have the greatest and most lasting impact.

I am also serving as acting director of the Windward Institute, helping lead its strategy and expand the reach of its work with educators, families, and schools. That experience keeps me closely connected to the people and organizations working every day to improve outcomes for young people.

This year, we are expanding another important part of our work at For the Good: helping organizations and leaders tell their stories.

Why Storytelling Matters

Throughout my career, storytelling has been central to how I lead, advocate, and build movements.

My own experience with neurodiversity has helped shape the direction of my life. Over the years, I have had the privilege of helping countless young people understand and share their own stories—through ambassador programs, public speaking opportunities, advocacy initiatives, and leadership experiences.

I have seen firsthand what happens when people are given the tools and confidence to tell their stories. Storytelling invites others into a movement. It transforms abstract issues into personal ones. It inspires action while giving people a sense of pride, agency, and ownership over their experiences.

One framework that has deeply influenced my approach is Harvard professor Marshall Ganz’s “Story of Self, Story of Us, Story of Now.” It challenges us to consider three essential questions:

What experiences have shaped who I am?
What values and experiences connect us?
Why is action needed now?

If you have not taken time to develop your own story through this framework, I highly recommend it. Whether you lead an organization, serve on a board, support a cause, or are simply thinking about the impact you want to make, understanding your story can help you communicate with greater clarity and purpose.

Expanding Our Storytelling Work

At For the Good, we are helping our clients uncover the stories that define their work—and communicate them in ways that inspire people to care, connect, and take action.

That includes speeches, donor communications, impact reports, websites, fundraising campaigns, thought leadership, and strategic messaging. We are now expanding this work to include more video and digital content for social media, websites, galas, fundraising efforts, and documentary films.

To help bring this vision to life, For the Good Consulting has partnered with award-winning production company SpoonyVision Studios. Founded in 2013, SpoonyVision brings more than a decade of filmmaking and production experience to this partnership. Its portfolio spans short-form advertising, documentaries, and narrative films and includes projects for NBC and Universal Kids, as well as work connected to HBO. Its clients include iHeartRadio and the YMCA.

Together, we are combining our experience in strategy, social impact, and nonprofit communications with SpoonyVision’s expertise in visual storytelling and cinematic production. This partnership allows us to support a project from its earliest idea through the final cut—helping organizations clarify what they want to say and then bring that story to life in a compelling and professional way.

We have already begun collaborating with nonprofits and schools across the country, and we are excited to continue expanding this work in the year ahead.

As this new school year begins, I hope it is a meaningful and powerful one for you. Whether you are a parent, educator, nonprofit leader, philanthropist, or someone who supports young people in your community, thank you for the role you play in creating better outcomes for all students.

Happy New Year—and here’s to the stories we will tell, the relationships we will build, and the impact we will create together.

Sincerely, 

Marcus & the FTG Team.