Reilly Emerging Media
Strategy. Development. Communications.
Consulting Services
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Strategy
I partner with mission-driven leaders to develop strategic plans that align organizational capacity with goals and financial sustainability. Whether navigating growth, transition, or transformation, I bring deep expertise in media, journalism, startups, and nonprofits to help you clarify your vision, identify opportunities, and build a sustainable plan. By combining strategic thinking with practical implementation—we ensure your strategy translates into actionable steps that advance your mission and strengthens your organization.
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Development
Strong philanthropic partnerships transform organizations and communities. Beginning with a deep understanding of your mission and values, this work starts with creating compelling assets and strategic frameworks that open doors—moving to aligned opportunity research, relationship cultivation, proposal development, and impact reporting.
Past collaborations have established funding partnerships with both large philanthropic organizations such as the Ford Foundation, Google News Initiative, or Robin Hood Foundation, as well as local community foundations and small family foundations.
Other advisory support includes designing strategies for individual donor programs, membership and subscription initiatives, corporate partnerships, and startup fundraising.
Teams and organizations—especially those building from the ground up—need systems, know-how, and confidence to grow their funding independently. This approach builds that capacity: the narratives, templates, pipelines, and program frameworks that can make raising revenue and resources into an ongoing strength for you and your team.
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Communications
Powerful storytelling drives connection, engagement, and impact. I help mission-driven organizations craft authentic narratives that inform, inspire, and move audiences to action. From strategic messaging frameworks to grant proposals, annual reports to program content, I bring both creative writing expertise and deep understanding of what resonates with stakeholders, funders, and communities. Whether you need to articulate your impact, clarify your value proposition, or amplify your voice, I create communications that honor your mission while advancing your goals.
Select Clients & Collaborators
The Bureau of Investigative Journalism - Non Profit Etruscan Press - Non Profit
City Limits News – Non Profit MAKE: Magazine
The Highlands Current-Non Profit Mother Jones Magazine - Non Profit
The Lakeville Journal- Non Profit The Atlantic
Millerton News - Non Profit Parenting Magazine
CLARIFY News - Non Profit Parent & Child Magazine
World Science Festival – Non Profit Nylon Magazine
New York Times Upfront Magazine Vibe Magazine
Martha Stewart Living Magazine Organic Style Magazine
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About
Fran Reilly is Principal and Senior Consultant of Reilly Emerging Media. Having led organizations as a publisher and executive director, she understands the challenges, priorities and opportunities leaders face today, bringing a deep understanding of the underlying business models, opportunities for philanthropic partnerships, and proposal writing expertise. Earlier in her career she was a business development executive on multiple national media startups, including Founding Consumer Marketing Director and Executive Vice President of Parenting Magazine, Founding Consumer Marketing Director of VIBE Magazine, a JV with Quincy Jones, and Founding Consumer Marketing Director of Martha Stewart Living Magazine. As a Vice President at Scholastic, she directed the launch of The New York Times UPFRONT Magazine and led the turnaround of the consumer brand, Parent&Child. She was Vice President Marketing & Development at Rodale Publishing. Fran began her career at The Atlantic Monthly and was then Associate Publisher of Mother Jones Magazine, overseeing fundraising and consumer marketing. She served as Executive Director and Publisher of City Limits News, New York City’s oldest nonprofit investigative news agency, increasing revenue 300%. While there, she co-founded CLARIFY News, a reporting internship program that gives high school students from underserved communities an opportunity to gain writing, critical thinking, and workforce development skills through the lens of public service journalism. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing.