Linda N. Spencer
Lead Content Strategist & Copywriter

About Linda

From Million-Dollar Campaigns to Million-Word Stories: Where Philanthropy Meets Powerful Storytelling

I’m a global content strategist and storytelling catalyst who bridges the worlds of philanthropy and narrative creation. With over two decades of senior-level experience raising more than $200 million for causes that matter—from inner-city education to international humanitarian work—I found that the heart of both fundraising and storytelling is the same: the power of story to move people to action.

After successfully leading development efforts for organizations like Covenant House International (where I exceeded a $55 million annual goal, raising over $62 million), the Inner-City Scholarship Fund, and the Archdiocese of New York, I transitioned my passion for impact into the world of professional storytelling. I’ve written and edited over 16 million words across books, thought leadership articles, GEO/SEO/AEO content, speeches, and multimedia narratives for purpose-driven leaders and brands worldwide.

My superpower? I understand that whether you ask someone to give $100,000 or buy your book, you ask them to believe in something bigger than themselves. This personal philanthropic foundation and ethos infuse everything I do for strategic impact.

My cross-cultural perspective—having lived or worked in the United States, France, Spain, Greece, Argentina, Brazil, the UK, Mexico, and Central America—brings a global lens to my portfolio career. I’m fluent in Spanish and skilled at crafting narratives that resonate across cultures and contexts.

My expertise includes legacy and thought leadership writing for executives and social entrepreneurs, writing, editing, and coaching full-length books that capture authentic voice and vision, GEO/SEO/AEO-optimized content that drives both engagement and search visibility, social impact storytelling that moves hearts and minds, and cross-cultural content strategy for global brands and leaders.

My client portfolio reflects my commitment to purpose-driven work, including long-term partnerships with Funds2Orgs, Sneakers4Good, Green Sneakers, Chapel & York, High Impact Nonprofit Advisors, and others. Notably, my work with Chapel & York extends beyond content creation—due to my strategic management experience, I serve as a project consultant for their IT/Operations team, streamlining systems and implementing AI and automation solutions for this global international philanthropy firm.

I’ve also advised major nonprofits, including affiliates of Make-A-Wish, United Way, Catholic Charities, and dozens of other impact organizations. When I’m not adding to my portfolio career, I explore life, legacy, and human connection on my Substack, My Red Sneakers, where my philanthropic heart and storytelling skills come together to examine the stories that bind us.

I have a Master’s in Social & Organizational Psychology from Columbia University’s Teachers College and a Bachelor’s in English from St. John’s University. I believe in human-to-human connections and that every story—whether it’s a fundraising case statement or a memoir—can change the world.

Linda's latest articles

Innovative, Virtual Fundraising Ideas

Many nonprofits have a lot more to handle now with the rising needs in their communities. So, that means that fundraising is crucial at this time with fundraisers seeking proven fundraising ideas. With the general unease in communities, nonprofits have had to think fast to maintain revenue. But as we know, donors and the public... READ MORE

Fundraising Online: Reach Your #FundraisingGoals

You may have read that there is so much demand for GoFundMe fundraising online that most fundraisers fail. As professional fundraisers can well imagine, it’s obvious for people to turn to a crowdfunding campaign. However, what most people don’t realize is that successful fundraisers take a lot of promotion and creativity to be successful. Nonprofits understand... READ MORE

Financial Challenges Caused by Lack of Fundraising

Nonprofits, schools, churches and civic groups often face financial challenges brought on by the lack of fundraising dollars. It takes money to accomplish things and make a difference. However, getting funds is not easy. And, it’s especially challenging for groups that have limited resources to both money and people to get the job done. So,... READ MORE

Donate Shoes and Help 300 Million People in Need

The holiday season is in full swing. For instance, Giving Tuesday has just passed. And now we’re in the middle of the most generous time of year. Did you know that Americans are some of the most giving people in the world? Last year, according to Giving USA, Americans gave $427.71 billion to charity. According... READ MORE

Breast Cancer Awareness Fundraising Ideas

As many of you know, breast cancer awareness month is in October. But, the reality is that women get diagnosed with breast cancer throughout the year. And, because of it, nonprofits work every day to ensure that breast cancer is top of mind for their donors through fundraising events and other ideas. So, how can... READ MORE

How to Promote Your YouTube Channel (The Easy Way!)

If you’re looking at how to promote your YouTube channel, you’ve come to the right place. Since I came on board, our team has been working on a YouTube channel for one of our shoe drive fundraising brands. We’re thankful to our supporters who have since followed us and for those that continue to subscribe... READ MORE

Charitable Contributions: Get Grandparents Involved

Are you looking for another fundraising opportunity? Or, did you start a nonprofit for kids, for instance, and you need funds? Then look no further than grandparents! One of the best places to get charitable contributions is from grandparents. Generation X are now grandparents as their Millennial children have their own kids. So, let’s take... READ MORE

Good Fundraising Ideas and Getting Friends Involved

Good fundraising ideas can include your friends! We know that millions of people participate in peer-to-peer fundraising. You see it when friends raise money for their birthday on Facebook. Or, if they run a race, they ask you to support them with their donation page. But, we know that although it’s acceptable to ask your... READ MORE

Arts and Crafts for Kids: Awesome Fall Projects

Fall is an excellent time for arts and crafts for kids. The weather is beginning to cool down, and the kids are back to school. And, yes, one of the things they probably don’t like to do is homework. But, if you give them some arts and crafts and other ideas, it’s a great chance... READ MORE

Stomp Out Bullying: The One Resource for Parents

Now that the kids are back to school, there’s a tough topic to talk about in our communities. And, that’s bullying. It would be great if we didn’t have any bullying in our schools. But, that’s not the case. However, there is one resource for parents in need of guidance. That group is Stomp Out... READ MORE

Must Have School Resources for Parents and Kids

Now that the kids are back in the classroom, we’ve got a list of some the best school resources for parents. We know that every parent wants to make sure that they’re kid has everything they need to excel in life. Of course, having a successful education is where it all begins. So, now that... READ MORE

How to Raise Money for a Cause with Your Board

When you’re looking for how to raise money for a cause, one of the most natural places to start is with your board. But, before we give you our tips about what it takes to get your board fundraising, let’s make sure you have all the posts in our board series. If you run a... READ MORE

Get this free resource by entering your information below.

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Name*