Content strategy

It’s a nebulous term, but here are some projects I’ve worked on under the title of content strategist. My content strategy (or perhaps content design) work has all taken place in the civic tech field.

New Practice Lab’s PFML Blueprints

As of summer 2024, I’m working with New America’s New Practice Lab (NPL) to put together a set of comprehensive “blueprints” aimed at states that have passed paid family and medical leave bills and are now implementing their programs. The blueprints combine lessons learned and best practices from states that already have programs, providing an easier path for states with new programs. I’m the project manager, and am also responsible for the content strategy and design of the blueprints, as well as editing it, writing some sections, and posting it online for a private audience.

US Department of Health and Human Services SimplerNOFOs

I was part of a team at Bloom Works that supported HHS’s initiative to simplify its notices of funding opportunities (NOFOs—similar to requests for proposals). As a member of the content strategy team, I worked very closely with small teams in different divisions of HHS (mainly the Administration for Children and Families). I reviewed and fully edited drafts, coached teams on plain language, worked with them on version control, scheduled and shepherded drafts, and guided them toward publication on Grants.gov. I brought complex, jargon-laden drafts down by at least two Flesch-Kincaid grade levels, typically (a metric I use with significant caveats).

I also provided edits, suggestions, and content design recommendations on the templates each team used for their NOFOs with the goal of making them more user-friendly and readable.

Several months in to this project, the Biden-Harris administration revised its guidance for grants across the federal government, including requiring NOFOs to be written in plain language.

The NOFOs I worked on include: