Editing for Nonprofits

Nonprofit organizations often have to account for themselves to their stakeholders. I work with health and social justice organizations to compile and edit the writing of multiple program managers into a cohesive document. I rewrite awkward wording, write transition passages, make sure messages don’t contradict each other, and bring forward crucial information.

My edits address relics of the patriarchy, rewriting phrases that tacitly assume male point of view or imply women are second. It’s an approach that applies not only to word choice but to whole documents.

Before opening my editing business, I worked in public health management at state health agencies and national nonprofit associations. I wrote progress reports, issue briefs, federal grant applications, and proposals. I was told my grant applications were a pleasure to read.

Here’s how E before I can help your nonprofit:

Assemble writing from multiple people on your team to create a report from the organization as a whole.
Reduce wordiness.
Break away from clichés and microaggressions based on sex, race, size, ability, sexual orientation, health status, and gender expression.
Take the worry out of punctuation, capitalization, and spelling so that readers focus on your message.
Catch inconsistencies in everything from hyphenation to verifiable facts.
Identify passages that aren't quite resonating.
Connect with the audience.

As an editor, I have developed reports on Black women’s health, legislative agendas, and summary reports for nongovernmental organizations’ conferences. I have edited books for independent authors and publishers on physical activity (equity and inclusion in school sports; dance; critical race studies; yoga; healthy aging; weightlifting for larger people; and running), craftivism, personal finance, and virtual meetings.

Inclusive language is now standard in copyediting—even singular “they.” When I was a college English major, my professor said, “Grammar is sexist. We have to live with it.” I’ve been challenging patriarchal assumptions ever since.

Book a 15-minute consultation

Black and white photo of open book with reading glasses, teapot , and cup. Text says It's your writing. Let's make it dance. — It’s your writing.
Let’s make it dance.

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What does a copyeditor do?

In the copyediting stage, I standardize punctuation, spelling, grammar, and formatting; address awkward word choices; note where meaning or action is unclear; verify spelling of proper names and places; and make suggestions you can approve or reject. I edited in Microsoft Word. The material should be relatively complete before I start editing. All work is confidential.