In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel Senior Consultant Joan Bahner talks with author and PR pro Marc Whitt about the public relations in the nonprofit sector.

Marc shares his eight habits that elevate a public relations professional to the masterful level and discusses topics including:

• The changing role of public relations in fundraising for nonprofit organizations
• How and why that role is changing
• How PR for nonprofits is different from PR in the corporate world

About our Guest

Marc Whitt has served nearly four decades in public relations, holding senior leadership and teaching positions at public and private colleges and universities in Kentucky and consulting for numerous corporate and nonprofit organizations across the United States. 

Marc is the author of the critically acclaimed book “PR Lessons Learned Along the Way.” His second book, “When In Doubt, Make Applesauce! Core Habits of the Masterful Public Relations Professional,” was released in November 2022.

During Marc’s 35+ years in higher education, his work has achieved measurable results garnering over 40 honors, including back-to-back CASE Silver Medal Awards for Total Institutional Relations Program. 

In 2015, he received the James C. Bowling Excellence in Public Relations Award. Presented by the University of Kentucky Journalism Alumni Association and UK Department of Integrated Strategic Communication, the award is given to the “outstanding public relations practitioner with ties to Kentucky.”

That same year, he received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Eastern Kentucky University Department of Communication and the EKU Golden Apple Award for Teaching. Additionally, the Kentucky Music Educators Association District 11 presented him with its Friends of Music Award and CASE Kentucky with its Beth K. Fields Service Award for Leadership in Advancement.

In previous years, Marc served on the Association of American Colleges & Universities Advisory Council on Communications and Public Affairs (two of his eight years as national chair), CASE District III (Southeast US) Board, and the International Town & Gown Association Board. He currently serves on the PRCA International University Advisory Council, the PRSA Thoroughbred Chapter Board of Directors and the Kentucky Baptist Foundation Board.

To connect with Marc, go to marcwhitt.com or LinkedIn.