Liz Ruf
Marketer. Strategist. Partner.
I help mission-driven organizations clarify their messaging and build the strategy behind it—whether you're formalizing marketing efforts for the first time, refreshing your existing strategy, or launching a campaign.
Think of me as the pinch hitter of your team. I bring strategic thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and the ability to bridge strategy and execution.
Hi, I’m Liz.
What makes me different.
I've been in the chair you're sitting in.
I've led associations. Sat on nonprofit boards (and chaired them). I've navigated the tension between what you want to do and what your budget allows. I've been a one-woman marketing department and a led a 450-person association. Worked at agencies, higher education institutions, start up orgs—and now I'm consulting alongside leaders like you.
That lived experience shapes everything. I understand the real challenges you face. The competing priorities. Limited resources. The pressure to do more with less. I’ve learned that the best strategy isn't the most complex one. It's the one clear enough to actually execute, simple enough that your team can remember it—and built with the people who have to live it.
I ask better questions. I tell the truth kindly. I connect dots you might not see alone. And I believe that structure—clear strategy, defined priorities, honest conversations—breeds the flexibility and freedom you actually need to do your best work.
What I Do
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Build strategies for campaigns or specific priorities; develop annual communications plans; or serve as your fractional marketing director (retainer).
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Monthly partnership for whatever your organization needs. Marketing, operations, board dynamics, volunteer strategy—you name it.
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One-time facilitated sessions or longer-term engagements to move from vision to action.
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Keynote talks on AI and leadership; facilitation for boards and leadership teams working through real decisions.