Senior communications strategy that works the way you do, nimble, direct, deeply invested.

Making your mission

impossible to miss.

A public narrative that undersells the worka website, voice, and story that finally match it
Limited comms capacity in-housesenior support without a senior hire
A landscape shifting by the news cyclea reframed story that meets the moment without losing the mission
A disconnect from the cultural conversationa strategy that plugs the work into the zeitgeist, not just the sector
A bank of powerful impact stories nobody's hearinga message architecture that puts every story in front of the audience it moves
A leader with more to offer the fielda deliberate path into the conversations they should be leading

The HYPHEN difference

There’s often a gap between the caliber of a nonprofit’s work and the story being told about it. Not for lack of care, for lack of time; the mission comes first.


But impact that goes unseen can’t grow: the story is how support finds its way to the work. A hyphen connects two things, and that’s where we work: making sure the world sees the impact you have on the communities you serve.

Our offerings

Think of these as ingredients rather than fixed packages; most engagements blend several.

And everything we deliver is built the same way: deep research and analysis underneath, clear and actionable steps on top.

Narrative refinement & development

Sharpening the story you tell about the work, or building it from the ground up for new organizations.

Communications strategy

Where to show up and what to say, across social, media, and every channel your audiences actually use.

Milestone campaign design & communications

End-to-end campaign thinking for anniversaries, launches, and the moments that define you.

Key stakeholder stewardship & communications

Rhythms and materials that keep funders, boards, members, and partners close, informed, and invested.

Thought leadership

A strategic approach to your leaders' time, voice, and visibility, focused on the engagements that actually move the mission.

Brand development

A voice and identity that match the caliber of the work.

Partnership strategy

Finding and activating the collaborations that extend your reach and credibility.

Communications capacity building

Systems, templates, and coaching that leave your team stronger than we found it.

About

HYPHEN Communications was founded by Maya Rubin-Wish, a communications strategist based in San Diego, California.

Maya built her career at The Lede Company, one of Observer's top five PR firms, where she was the second hire on the Social Impact team and helped grow it into one of the industry's most sought-after impact consultancies. Her work there spanned national reproductive rights, global health, and human rights organizations; major cultural and corporate foundations; and leading universities. She has built foundations from the ground up for globally recognized cultural figures, designed giveback strategies for some of the world's most prominent talent, and developed impact programming for household-name brands.

No engagement is a solo act: HYPHEN is supported by an incredible bench of collaborators with deep expertise and even deeper networks across the impact space.

When she's not at her desk, you can find Maya hanging out with her dog, Maverick, who has strong opinions on food and fetch, and none on communications strategy.