"What makes you think a writer isn't a salesman?" —Kurt Vonnegut
Accolades
HARVARD CLIMATE DIGEST
Not everything a development office does is about fundraising. Since 2023, I have edited this newsletter to showcase how Harvard faculty, students, and alumni are tackling the climate crisis—curating stories, videos, and podcasts to engage and inspire a growing audience of prospective donors. In its first year, the newsletter achieved click-through rates more than double the Harvard average, while building strong cross-campus partnerships and a rich, ongoing archive of Harvard's climate impact.
DIGITAL REPORT OF GIVING
The pandemic required everyone to innovate, both in terms of cost and of reach. Harvard brought their annual Report of Giving, previously a print production, fully online, requiring keen eyes in blue light—notorious for being harder to proof on than print. Here was a note I got from the Creative Director after the project was completed:
Hey John, now that the dust has cleared I want to think you for your excellent copy catches as we were racing to get it done. On more than one occasion I said out loud as I was moving through your edits “GREAT CATCH.”
THE HARVARD CAMPAIGN REPORT
“Why does Harvard need all that money?”
That is the question answered by this massive retrospective, which highlighted the local and global impact of Harvard’s recently completed $9.6 billion capital campaign. Beyond the usual demands of correcting for grammar and in-house style, “The Viewbook” required fact-checking on several claims, call-outs, and infographics, as well as confirming dozens of students, professors, and alumni against the university’s massive database.
Clients
You don't have to be a multinational corporation to hire me, but it helps. Here are a few of the well-known clients I have provided proofing and editing services to.
