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5 Sites for FREE Non-profit, Non-cheesy Creative Content

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5sitescreative

Between working for a non-profit over the last ten years, helping to start a ministry, and working with churches on a shoestring (ie non-existent) budget, I have become somewhat of a super sleuth. Whether it’s hunting for free stock images that don’t look cheesy, brochure templates or what have you – Google, Pinterest and I have become bosom buddies.

So to all my fellow non-profit marketing/communications hermanos out there – this one’s for you. Here are my top “go-to’s” for creative content…

  1. Creative Market – they literally send you the gift of free goods every week! Fonts, website templates, backgrounds and more – this is a MUST for anyone & everyone. The quality of work is outstanding and I download freebies even if I don’t have an immediate need for them.
  2. Lightstock – they send out a weekly photo, vector and monthly video. They also have really affordable, really quality images available. As a faith-based organization, we love their work!
  3. Creation Swap – this site has a great database of cheap and free stock images, PSD files, and tons of resources for churches. It’s basically a pastor’s dream 🙂
  4. Although the subjects aren’t all relatable to my creative content needs, I found a few really great photos from the resources listed in this blog entry.
  5. Dafont – being a font snob has it’s challenges. Dafont.com gives me hope for the world by blessing us with beautiful typeface. Be sure to do your own due diligence with copyrights!

Bonus gift! My favorite search on Pinterest is “font pairing”. Merry Christmas 🙂

Have you found any other free/affordable resources that you rely on for your organization?

 

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Beach Reading List of 2015

/ gringasarah / 2 Comments
First real "family vacation" last fall lent to some good reading time. Do not be deceived - this is not my everyday!

First real “family vacation” last fall lent to some good reading time. Do not be deceived – this is not my everyday!

Ok, I’ll be honest – it’s more of a “pray to God that nap time lasts 2 hours” reading list. You know – #lifewithatoddler

But seriously, these books have challenged me in my faith, allowed me to escape to a different world, and helped me see this big world in a new, fresh way.

If you are on the hunt for a good book to dive into this summer, here are some recommendations…

Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion

If you know you can only tackle one book this summer, grab this one. Father G invites you into his world on the streets of Los Angeles and in the life of his homies. Have your tissues ready and be prepared to have your heart stretched beyond comfortable limits – to a place of compassion that Jesus exemplified.

Snake Oil: The Art of Healing and Truth-Telling

Author Becca Stevens is a personal hero – having founded Magdalene, a residential program in Nashville for survivors of human trafficking, and Thistle Farms, the social enterprise birthed out of that business. Many friends have gotten into essential oils as a way to bring healing to their families – I’d highly recommend reading this book if that’s you!

Same Kind of Different As Me: A Modern-Day Slave, an International Art Dealer, and the Unlikely Woman Who Bound Them Together

Another book to have your tissues handy for! And don’t read it on the plane without being prepared to sob uncontrollably next to a stranger #reallife

This book will change your life and your perspective of people different than yourself. What would happen if you were able to look beyond differences and find a lifelong friend in someone who’s story is completely different than yours? Maybe initiating that first conversation will be the best decision you ever made.

Enrique’s Journey

I first read this book nearly 10 years ago. But it’s relevance is even more critical today, as our nation has had to recently confront the issue of minors crossing the US-Mexican border. The author traveled alongside the main character, Enrique, as he searches for his mother who left their native Honduras to work in the United States. She does an amazing job in remaining neutral, yet your heart breaks at the big systems and personal decisions that effect this family.

 

What book would you recommend?