Strategic Communications for Mission-Driven Organizations
Bring clarity to your mission. Tell stories with impact.
Strategic Clarity: Your Key to Standing Out
The stories that create real change are the ones directly aligned with your strategy — they show people not just what you do, but its more nuanced and communicates how you make a real difference.
I partner with nonprofit leaders to help you define what you stand for, then turn that into documentary photography and film. Together, we create visual narratives that support your fundraising, reporting, and advocacy, so your work reaches the people who need to understand it most.
So before we make anything, we ensure the foundation is solid. After assessing the “Three Levels of Brand Clarity” and addressing any missing elements, I work with you to build a concrete plan for the most supportive visuals and storytelling.
“Steven’s unique contributions extend far beyond what one would expect from most any photographer. In addition to his gifts as a creative artist and storyteller he has partnered with our teams to openly contribute to our thinking on program strategy and communication planning at many levels. He artfully combines his background and knowledge of our sector along with his skill as a photographic storyteller to empathetically capture the universal humanity within all of us and create compelling content and deliver critical visual impact for our programs.”
Carrie Hessler-Radelet, President & CEO, Global Communities and Former Director, Peace Corps
Vaccination and prenatal care. Bihar, India ©Steven Wade Adams, 2017
A woman in traditional attire herding cattle in a dusty village at dawn with tents in the background and pink sky. Steven Wade Adams 2017.
Face washing in Bale Zone, Ethiopia. ©Steven Wade Adams 2017.
Village life in Bihar, India. ©Steven Wade Adams 2017.
Community health workers caring for young child. Uganda. ©Steven Wade Adams 2017
Trachoma surgery in Karamoja, Uganda. ©Steven Wade Adams 2017.
Family bathing in the Irrawaddy River. Myanmar. ©Steven Wade Adams 2015.
A scenic view of a mountain in the distance with a cloudy sky, surrounded by green trees and bushes. Several cows are grazing among the trees in the foreground.
A teacher and children in a classroom, with colorful educational posters on the wall, including the alphabet and animals.
A woman and a young girl sit on the floor of a small room filled with traditional and handmade items.
A woman holding a child inside a rustic kitchen with mounted pots and pans on the wall, a stove, and various kitchen items visible.
Group of women in traditional Maasai attire sitting inside a community building, engaging with a woman holding a small child, in a rural setting.
Why Organizations Choose to Work with Me
Most communications consultants don’t have actual field experience, and it’s uncommon for photographers to have a deep understanding of the sector or the experience to appreciate the value of tying stories to strategy. I bring both.
My background includes Fortune 50 executive strategy work at Pfizer, more than 20 years in research and development, a scientific foundation (DVM, PhD), and nonprofit board service. I’ve also worked on projects in multiple countries, so I’m used to navigating different cultures, teams, and expectations.
Because of this, I understand your realities and the communication challenges that complex organizations inevitably face. My approach is anthropological and dignity-centered, and the visual narratives we create are guided by strategic clarity and a simple belief: we are more the same than we are different.
Organizations that have Collaborated with Me
Global Communities • PCI India • Center for Catalysing Change/C3 India • Planned Social Concern (India)• International Trachoma Initiative • AfriScout • Casa Materna • Project Kalay International • Boys & Girls Club • Villa Musica
Field experience: US, India (West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan), Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Myanmar, Guatemala
Let's Start a Conversation
Whether you’re navigating organizational transition, clarifying your brand positioning, or developing strategic visual campaigns, I welcome the opportunity to explore how we might work together. I partner with organizations that value strategic thinking, ethical storytelling, and long-term collaboration over short-term transactional relationships.
