OUR STORY
Small Team. Deep Expertise.
Meaningful Work.
We Are Collaborative By Design.
Since 2005, Substance has built a practice around strategic thinking applied to organizational branding. We’re known for complex rebrands involving multiple entities, dozens of stakeholders, and fundamental change. We also work with clients on focused projects: annual reports, campaign materials, websites, and communications that deserve more than surface-level thinking.
Our clients are partners and collaborators, often becoming long-term relationships. We work directly with your team – no account executives, no layers. We listen carefully and value your institutional knowledge, but we’ll also challenge assumptions and show you the spectrum of what’s possible. Sometimes the most effective solutions push beyond your comfort zone.
MEET OUR TEAM
MATTHEW BRETT
CREATIVE DIRECTOR & FOUNDER
Matthew founded Substance in 2005 and has directed brand strategy for 75+ organizations facing complex transformation. Notable projects include brand strategy for Neovia Logistics’ $1.17 billion operational carve-out from Caterpillar, strategy and launch for Google’s C2C customer cloud community (60,000+ members), and the Thresholds rebrand that generated a 28% increase in contributions.
His strength is navigating the stakeholder dynamics, organizational politics, and strategic complexity that determine whether a rebrand serves or disrupts an organization’s mission. His work has been recognized by Communication Arts, Print Regional Design Annual, Creativity, Graphic Design: USA, and The One Show.
Matthew received his BFA in Graphic Design from Kent State University and has been a guest lecturer and design critic at the University of Notre Dame and Columbia College Chicago. He is also a PADI certified rescue SCUBA diver and painter.
ALYSSA CONRARDY
PROSPER STRATEGIES, CO-FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT
As president and co-founder of Prosper Strategies, Alyssa works to help nonprofits realize the full potential of marketing so that the sector can realize its full potential to change the world. She is recognized as an expert by organizations nationwide for her ability to craft and lead marketing and communication programs that advance missions and drive social change.
Alyssa is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin School of Journalism and Mass Communications, where she earned a degree in Journalism & Strategic Communications with a concentration in Cause Marketing.
LINDSAY MULLEN
PROSPER STRATEGIES, CO-FOUNDER AND CEO
Lindsay is co-founder and CEO of Prosper Strategies, the leading marketing consultancy for nonprofits, where she brings strategic vision and a growth mindset to the firm, its clients, and their missions.
For more than a decade, Lindsay has worked with leading nonprofits and foundations committed to solving some of our country’s and the world’s greatest challenges in education, healthcare, homelessness, workforce development, social services, and more.
Lindsay is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
OUR CLIENTS
