Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Rosenthal.
Hi Lauren, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My journey into nonprofit work began with a simple observation that became impossible to ignore.
From my earliest days volunteering, I felt drawn to the nonprofit world. As I developed my skills in creative storytelling, I continued offering pro bono work wherever I could. But the more deeply I engaged with these organizations, the more I witnessed a troubling pattern: brilliant missions with limited voices. Growing organizations were struggling with limited communications, not because they lacked vision, but because they lacked resources.
I saw talented teams doing transformative work, yet unable to tell their stories effectively. And I knew this wasn’t just about aesthetics or marketing, but it was directly impacting their ability to raise funds and expand their reach.
That gap became my calling.
I stepped in as a website strategist and designer, determined to bridge the divide between powerful missions and powerful communication. This work evolved into Studio Humankind, a creative agency I built specifically to amplify the voices of nonprofits who are changing the world but are struggling to be heard.
Today, I focus on making professional digital platforms accessible for numerous causes. Through affordable services and ready-to-use website templates, I help grassroots organizations establish credibility, reach wider audiences, and ultimately secure the funding their missions deserve. Every site I create and every template I design is rooted in the belief that their work deserves to be heard.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
When I launched Studio Humankind, I needed to think about how to share the value of this work for grassroots organizations, as both societal and technological changes meanwhile have often reshaped how we connect and communicate, forcing me to reimagine how I serve clients in an increasingly digital-first and fast-paced world. Beyond that, I’ve navigated the persistent challenge of funding limitations, both my own as a business owner and those of the organizations I’m committed to serving.
The most delicate struggle, however, has come through education. I’ve spent countless hours helping passionate founders understand that a strategic digital presence isn’t about visuals alone; they’re about ensuring that a single mother can easily discover vital resources at midnight, or that a potential donor evaluating a nonprofit’s credibility on their phone can both discover and trust their mission. Every conversation about investment in design is truly a conversation about who gets left behind when we don’t prioritize how we show up in an accessible way for all.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a website strategist and designer dedicated to translating mission-driven stories into conversion-focused digital experiences that drive measurable action, funding, and engagement. I’ve made it my purpose to design quality websites for grassroots organizations so that they benefit from strategic design, storytelling, and conversion-driven approaches otherwise provided in investment-heavy processes.
I offer easy-to-customize templates through a new front-end design platform called Showit, which integrates with WordPress, giving organizations the power to manage and evolve their own websites in-house without an ongoing technical investment. On top of that, I provide services for organizations to hire me to develop their templates, as well as offer ongoing design sprints for additional one-off needs or ongoing updates.
What I’m most proud of is the ripple effect. Every site I’ve built has become a bridge, connecting a midnight Google search from someone in crisis to life-changing resources, or transforming a skeptical visitor into a committed monthly donor. I’ve worked with organizations like the International Rescue Committee, Make-A-Wish Foundation, and emerging grassroots nonprofits across the globe. Seeing a growing organization like Restoring Hope describe their new website as “the perfect bridge from what we have been to what we are becoming”…that’s the impact that fuels me.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
My best advice is to approach networking as relationship-building. The mentors and connections that have shaped my journey didn’t come from formal “networking events”, but rather emerged from genuine curiosity and showing up consistently in spaces where my values aligned.
I’ve also found that specificity matters more than volume. Instead of trying to connect with everyone in the nonprofit sector, I’ve focused on building relationships within specific communities, such as website design platforms like Showit, fundraising innovators, and organizations working with equity-based causes. When you’re genuinely invested in a niche, conversations feel natural rather than forced, and people are more willing to share knowledge and open doors.
Also, don’t underestimate the power of online communities. Some of my most valuable connections have come from engaged participation in nonprofit or design groups and showing up consistently in digital spaces where my community gathers. In our increasingly remote world, proximity isn’t just physical anymore, so I always strive to keep that in mind as I continue forming valuable, ongoing relationships.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://studiohumankind.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/studiohumankind
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/studiohumankind
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenmuthrosenthal/
Image Credits
Portrait: Among the Pines Photography
