Santa Barbara, Calif. – October 07, 2026 -- California Lutheran University's Center for Nonprofit Leadership will stage a free, three-hour media-training workshop for Santa Barbara County nonprofit staff and board members on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, funded by the Santa Barbara Foundation.
Marketing Maven CEO Lindsey Carnett leads the three-part session on earned media strategy
Carnett, who heads the integrated marketing and PR agency Marketing Maven and also lectures at Cal Lutheran's Center for Nonprofit Leadership, will run the 9 a.m.-to-noon program titled "Building Media Visibility For Your Nonprofit: PR Strategies That Get Results." The workshop takes place at the Santa Barbara Foundation's South County office, 1111 Chapala Street, Suite 200.
Santa Barbara Foundation underwrites the training at no cost to attendees
The foundation's financial support removes registration fees for nonprofit professionals and board members across Santa Barbara County, widening access to PR skills training that is typically commercial. Participants will work through developing story ideas, refining media pitches and identifying appropriate outlets, with direct feedback built into the session.
Panel of local nonprofit leaders shares firsthand earned-media case studies
A panel of Santa Barbara County nonprofit leaders who have secured media coverage will detail tactics and lessons learned, giving attendees applied examples beyond the core curriculum. The agenda also covers repurposing earned coverage across other marketing channels to extend its reach into donor engagement, board recruitment and reputation-building efforts.
"Every nonprofit has stories worth telling, but earning meaningful media coverage requires knowing how to identify those stories and communicate why they matter," Carnett said, adding that her goal is for attendees to leave with PR tactics they can apply immediately.
Registration and additional details are available through Cal Lutheran's Center for Nonprofit Leadership; prospective attendees can also contact Sophia Coffaro or Brewster King directly to confirm a seat.