Latest news with #plainlanguage
Forbes
a day ago
- General
- Forbes
Audience First: Deepening Nonprofit Impact Through Clear Communication
Andrew Roberts, President, Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy. In the nonprofit world, mission is everything—we exist to solve problems and serve others. None of us, no matter our wealth of knowledge or resources, can achieve our mission in isolation. Our success depends on our ability to communicate clearly and effectively with a wide range of stakeholders, including donors, staff and volunteer leaders, decision-makers and policymakers and, most importantly, the populations we serve. Over more than a decade in nonprofit leadership, I've seen firsthand how jargon, overly complex language and vague statements can muddle our messaging and ultimately diminish our impact. That's why I believe in the power of plain language. Respecting The Reader Plain language is not about oversimplifying your message. It's about smart communication—delivering your ideas clearly, directly and in a way that resonates with your target audience. Straightforward language signals transparency, respect for readers' time and an authentic desire to engage with them. By being direct about our intentions and our desired outcomes, we can build trust with our audiences. Putting The Audience First A common misconception is that plain language looks the same across all audiences—short words and choppy sentences—but that isn't the case at all. According to the International Plain Language Federation, 'a communication is in plain language if its wording, structure, and design are so clear that the intended audience can easily find what they need, understand what they find, and use that information.' Consequently, a research report aimed at policymakers and funders, an appeal letter to donors and a flyer promoting available services to a local community can and should look very different from one another. Before we write a single word, we should always start by determining the target audience, our desired outcome and the information that will help propel our target audience toward that desired outcome—no more, no less. Reaching Those We Serve This is especially critical when working with vulnerable populations or addressing sensitive issues. If our beneficiaries can't understand the resources we offer, how can we serve them? Clear, culturally appropriate and jargon-free communication is an essential component of impact. It's particularly important that nonprofits working in human services—areas like education, health or food and housing insecurity—consider literacy levels as they craft their communications. Our work at the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy is driven by the knowledge that low literacy is linked with many of today's most pressing issues—often the intractable problems targeted by our fellow nonprofits. Nearly 60 million Americans—28% of adults aged 16-65—read below a third-grade level, finding it difficult or impossible to fill out an application for employment or social services, read a medication label or understand information distributed by their children's school. As we craft communications aimed at our direct service populations, we must take their potential literacy levels into account and tailor them accordingly. Bridging The Clarity Gap I'm fortunate to work with a team of literacy experts who ensure the accessibility of our parent/caregiver-facing communications, making sure that readers can easily find what they need, understand the information and then apply the information in the appropriate context. Below are top tips I've learned from them for communicating with service populations that may have literacy challenges: • Keep sentences short and to the point. Be direct and write in short paragraphs using headings to make it easier to read and find the information that is most important to the reader. • Use a readability tool to check reading level and to screen for overly complex text. The Flesch Kincaid tool is a great starting point. Search online using keywords like "readability checker" to find an option that suits your needs. Be ready to read and revise the text a few times to simplify it. • Avoid industry-specific terminology that may not be familiar to the reader, as well as unnecessary acronyms. • Avoid diluting your communication by including extraneous information that is not relevant to the desired outcome. This is a common pitfall for highly knowledgeable nonprofit executives. • Use simple fonts (like Arial) and use bolding to highlight important information. Avoid the use of script fonts, all caps or italics. By keeping these tips in mind, you can help ensure that your audience understands the first time they read or hear your message. Building Vital Connections As nonprofit executives, it is our calling and our privilege to serve some of our society's most vulnerable populations. It's easy to get caught up in the rush of pushing out resources as quickly as possible, especially when our missions address urgent, overwhelming needs. But using plain language that centers and respects the communication needs of the families and individuals we serve is essential to our work. By intentionally building authentic, two-way relationships with those we serve, we are reaffirming our commitment to keeping them exactly where they should be: at the heart of everything we do. Forbes Nonprofit Council is an invitation-only organization for chief executives in successful nonprofit organizations. Do I qualify?
Forbes
04-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Plain Language Bill Targets $183 Billion in Small Business Contracts
Rep. Nick LaLota, a Republican from Long Island, is making a second push to simplify federal contracts so more small businesses can understand and compete for them. One barrier that keeps small businesses from chasing federal contracts might soon come down. And it's not cost or competition. It's the writing. On Tuesday, the House passed the Plain Language in Contracting Act by voice vote. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Nick LaLota, a Republican from Long Island, now heads to the Senate. It calls on federal agencies to write all new small business contracts using 'plain language' and keywords rather than legalese. If the bill becomes law, it could help level the playing field for smaller firms that want to work with the government but get discouraged by contracts they can't decipher. Many businesses say they need to hire outside legal help just to understand the requirements. That costs money upfront and makes bidding less attractive, especially for firms trying to win their first contract. A 2021 report from the Bipartisan Policy Center found that the complexity of the federal procurement process is one of the top three reasons small businesses avoid bidding on government contracts. The maze of requirements and legal language acts as a barrier to entry, often favoring incumbent firms that already know how to navigate the system. Still, for those that manage to break through, the payoff can be significant. In fiscal 2024, 28.8% of federal contract dollars went to small firms, topping the government's 23% target. That amounted to $183 billion in fiscal year 2024 (which ended on Sept. 30), a new record. But fewer companies are seeing those dollars. Even as total spending has gone up, the number of small businesses winning contracts has gone down. The same Bipartisan Policy Center report showed that between 2010 and 2019, the number of small businesses winning those contracts shrank by 38%. That trend has continued. According to GovSpend, a firm that tracks government procurement, the number of small businesses winning federal contracts fell from 79,116 in fiscal 2023 to 78,677 in 2024. This is LaLota's second attempt to pass the bill. A previous version cleared the House in April 2024 but failed to gain traction in the Senate. If complex language is one of the reasons fewer firms are getting involved, this bill could help fix that. The contracts may still be long, but at least they won't be impossible to read.
Associated Press
23-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Center for Plain Language Announces 2025 ClearMark Award Winners
Winners from government, health care, nonprofits, and the private sector honored for excellence in plain language 'The ClearMark Awards remind us that when communication is clear, everyone benefits.'— Barbra Kingsley RICHMOND, VA, UNITED STATES, May 23, 2025 / / -- The Center for Plain Language is proud to announce the winners of the 2025 ClearMark Awards, which recognize outstanding plain language communication in English, French, and Spanish across North America. This year's awards were presented on May 22 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., following an afternoon workshop on design thinking and communication strategy. The event brought together leaders from government, business, health care, and nonprofit sectors, all united by their commitment to clear, effective communication. Over 40 volunteer judges evaluated entries in categories ranging from websites and printed brochures to legal documents and emails. Judges looked for documents that met the needs of their audiences and used plain language principles like findability, understandability, and actionability so audiences could find, understand, and use the information. Top Honors: 2025 Grand ClearMark Award Winner This year's Grand ClearMark Award went to Alberta Health Services, Canada, for their Immunization Health Topic Website on One judge commented, 'It is great to see an organization truly care about asking real users what they need and then delivering it.' Get the full list of 2025 ClearMark Award winners. 'The ClearMark Awards remind us that when communication is clear, everyone benefits,' said Barbra Kingsley, Chair of the Center for Plain Language. 'This year's winners show what's possible when organizations prioritize their audiences — whether it's a health fact sheet, a government form, or an online tool. We're proud to celebrate the people behind this important work.' The Center also honored winners in two new categories: Best In Awards, which highlight standout work in areas like user testing, visual communication, and leadership in specific sectors. Spotlight Awards, which recognize powerful one-off pieces — like a flyer, web page, or chart — that made a meaningful impact. ### ABOUT THE CENTER FOR PLAIN LANGUAGE The Center for Plain Language is a North American non-profit organization that helps government agencies and businesses write clear and understandable documents. The Center hosts the annual ClearMark Awards for the best communications in plain language and produces the Federal Report Card, which evaluates how well federal agencies are complying with the Plain Writing Act of 2010. To become a member or for more information, visit us at and connect with us on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Barbra Kingsley Center for Plain Language +1 918-939-8551 email us here Visit us on social media: LinkedIn Instagram Facebook X Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
