Workhorse Collaborative

Workhorse Collaborative Pittsburgh-based agency specializing in marketing & organizational strategy for Arts and Nonprofits Contact us today for a free 30-minute consultation.
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We craft marketing and organizational plans, untangle webs of financial data, sell-out big events, and help scores of organizational leaders sleep better at night. We launch new brands, triple social media followings, coach hiring and pay negotiations, and elevate artists and nonprofit professionals into the roles they deserve.

Thinking about promoting an employee? Great! Promotions are a wonderful way to make your team feel valued. But also, a w...
06/25/2026

Thinking about promoting an employee? Great! Promotions are a wonderful way to make your team feel valued. But also, a word of caution - never promote without a salary increase.💰

A promotion is a recognition of increased responsibility, meaning it cannot be in title only. Even if one of your people says they’re okay changing their title with no additional compensation, do not take them up on it.

Title inflation with no salary increase is a scourge in nonprofit management— it’s a cosmetic change with negative impact. If they want a title change, then you need to offer professional development opportunities so they can grow their skills in that area and earn an actual promotion.

[ID: A hand holds a stack of cash. The text reads, "Never promote without a salary increase."]

In our experience, an organization’s website is often the number one stumbling block to converting their audience. If it...
06/23/2026

In our experience, an organization’s website is often the number one stumbling block to converting their audience. If it’s slow to load, you’re losing viewers before they even start to scroll. Is your website up to s***f? Find out with this free speed test, by pingdom.com!

Enter a URL to test the page load time, analyze it, and find out what's slowing your website down. Try it out and see what grade you get! Our homepage got a B, so we’ll need to do a little work to get that A+.

Remember: You can spend thousands on beautiful digital ads, but if they drive traffic to a clunky, outdated site, you've just created a frustrating user experience that guarantees those potential customers will bounce faster than a bad Bumble date.

Visit the link in the comments to keep your website speedy. 🏎️💨

[ID: An image of a turtle. The text reads, "Is your website fast enough? Low conversions. High bounce rates. It could be your turtle-slow load speed!"]

📢 Role charters are the new job descriptions, yinz.A role charter is the real-world version of everyone's role, *beyond*...
06/18/2026

📢 Role charters are the new job descriptions, yinz.

A role charter is the real-world version of everyone's role, *beyond* just a list of responsibilities. It clearly maps who makes decisions on each area of your work, accounting for the actual humans and related workflows in those roles and not the idealized listicle you wrote when hiring them. When you hire someone new, revisit that chart to make sure everyone understands what they oversee and whether they need to collaborate on major decisions. This should not be a vibes-based situation — it should be directly addressed with your team and written down.

[ID: Jackie, a white woman with brown hair, holds a variety of office supplies while staring forward with a wide-eyed expression. The text reads, "Stressed about staffing? (We've been there)".]

What is Lorem Ipsum? It's the filler text your designer uses to mock up your brochure because you still haven't sent ove...
06/16/2026

What is Lorem Ipsum? It's the filler text your designer uses to mock up your brochure because you still haven't sent over the real copy. 😛 Your connection to the procrastinating copywriters throughout history, Lorem Ipsum has been used as standard dummy text since the 1500s, and it has remained mostly unchanged over the centuries.

Where does it come from? A classical Latin treatise on the theory of ethics written by Cicero in 45 BC. As in the ethical imperative you have to get that copy drafted before the deadline. 😏

[ID: Lorem Ipsum text presented as a quote from "Lora Ipsum, CEO, Suspendisse".]

We love sharing work tips, but it's just as important to know when *not* to work. The exhausted and overwhelmed version ...
06/11/2026

We love sharing work tips, but it's just as important to know when *not* to work. The exhausted and overwhelmed version of you is not the one your team wants. If you're facing burnout, here are some guiding principles on maintaining your equilibrium:

😵‍💫Stop being the Jane-of-all-trades. You don't have to offer to do something just because no one else will. That's probably how your task list got too full. It’s generous to everyone except you!

🐟Teach some fools to fish. Stop doing all the damn fishing yourself. If they aren't interested in learning or practicing, they don't get to have fish. (Fishing here is a metaphor for, let's say, turning a doc into a pdf.)

🚧Set boundaries in your out-of-office messages. If you tell people that you’re out but it’s totally cool to text you anyway, they will. And if they text you and you actually respond, good luck ever walking that precedent back. Say it in your out-of-office, and back it up by not responding to boundary breakers.

🥪Take lunch. That's the whole note. Take lunch. Wherever, and with whomever, you please.

[ID: A burnt-out match. The text reads, "Feeling a little burnt out?"]

Jackie has supported several executive transitions, and she knows how complicated and delicate this process can be. Ther...
06/09/2026

Jackie has supported several executive transitions, and she knows how complicated and delicate this process can be. There are so many factors to weigh when changing leadership, which is why it's important to have open conversations about it. The more we talk about the good, the bad, and the ugly, the more we can set organizations up for success and avoid some nasty pitfalls.

Check out the link in the comments for some enlightening case studies from Howlround Theatre Commons.

[ID: The text reads "The Changeover: Leadership in Transition" against a black background with purple arrows around the text indicating change.]

Here's Part 2 of our Pittsburgh neighborhood color palette series! We put together additional mood boards for some iconi...
06/04/2026

Here's Part 2 of our Pittsburgh neighborhood color palette series! We put together additional mood boards for some iconic Pittsburgh communities. Did we capture your favorites? What colors would you have picked? 🎨

[ID: Slide 1: The text reads "The Strip. All roads in Pittsburgh lead to the Strip. - Visit Pittsburgh". There are photos of a mural, a brightly colored walkway, Wholey's Fish Market, the Heinz History Center, and a Heinz ketchup bottle, as well as color swatches featuring shades of blue, red, pink, and yellow. Slide 2: The text reads "Hazelwood. Known for its rich history and diverse community. - Nextdoor". There are photos of street art and a tree-lined street, as well as color swatches of yellow, orange, lavender, and green. Slide 3: The text reads "Carnegie. A vibrant community with a unique history make this up-and-comer worth visiting. - Visit Pittsburgh". There are photos of a bustling street, the exterior of a building, and a creek, as well as color swatches of teal, brown, tan, and dark blue.]

We’re trying something brand new this year! 📣3–4 times a year, we’re handing over the mic to an industry expert for an e...
06/03/2026

We’re trying something brand new this year! 📣

3–4 times a year, we’re handing over the mic to an industry expert for an exclusive interview in our monthly newsletter.

🎙️We’re kicking things off with local powerhouse Joanna Obuzor, Vice President of Venue Operations at the Cultural Trust! From pushing dumpsters in a ball gown to managing a multi-year launch for Arts Landing, Joanna has seen it all in her 20+ years in production. In our latest issue, she shares venue-rental intel, red flags to watch out for, and her favorite hidden gem locations in Pittsburgh.

👉Get all the juice (including Jackie and Emily’s reflections on the theater merger news) in our May issue (link below).

[Image ID: A red-orange textured background featuring a microphone. Bold text reads "industry expert" with a smaller subtitle below that says "Workhorse Newsletter Series."

When developing color palettes for a new brand, Emily often draws inspiration from the physical environment the audience...
06/02/2026

When developing color palettes for a new brand, Emily often draws inspiration from the physical environment the audience experiences when they encounter the brand. So we thought it would be fun to put together color palette mood boards for neighborhoods and communities in and around the Burgh!

Stay tuned for our next batch of Pittsburgh palettes! 🎨

[ID: Slide 1: The text reads "Garfield-Bloomfield. Where Little Italy Tradition Meets Bold Creative Energy - Visit Pittsburgh". There are photos of a mural and buildings in the Garfield-Bloomfield area, as well as color swatches with shades of green and orange. Slide 2: The text reads "Mexican War Streets. Beautiful art, architecture, and community gardens are found seemingly everywhere you look. - Discover the Burgh". There are photos of brightly colored exteriors of buildings, and color swatches of light green, purple, yellow, and dark blue. Slide 3: The text reads "Brookline. Brookline boasts one of the most beautiful branches of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, complete with ample meeting space and plenty of kid-friendly features. - NEXTPittsburgh". There are photos of rows of houses, the library, and a restaurant called Red's Good News, as well as color swatches featuring shades of lavender, red, orange, blue, and green.]

Meet Daniel Fleegle, our communications and data strategist!Daniel lives for data-informed storytelling that fosters aut...
05/28/2026

Meet Daniel Fleegle, our communications and data strategist!

Daniel lives for data-informed storytelling that fosters authentic connections. Leveraging 12+ years of experience across the arts, higher education, and journalism, he translates complex information into strategic insight. As the Audience and Communications Manager at Attack Theatre, he nurtured a strong sense of community among performers and the public. At Pittsburgh's Public Source, he grew audiences with meaningful content rooted in journalistic integrity.

When he isn’t using his storytelling skills for organizations, he can be found using them to devise strange adventures for Pittsburgh-inspired D&D campaigns. 🎲🧙🏻‍♂🐉

[ID: A photo of a smiling white man with brown hair. The text reads, "Meet Daniel Fleegle, Communications & Data Strategist".]

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Pittsburgh, PA

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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+14124478209

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