The Clarity to Secure Your Next Transformative Gift
The Clarity to Secure Your Next Transformative Gift
Your team is brilliant. Your research is world-class. Studio Brio architects the one thing you're missing: a clear, compelling philanthropic narrative that creates momentum and unlocks capital.
Your team is brilliant. Your research is world-class. Studio Brio architects the one thing you're missing: a clear, compelling philanthropic narrative that creates momentum and unlocks capital.
THE BOTTLENECK
THE BOTTLENECK
Your Team Isn't Missing Talent. They're Missing a Tool.
Your Team Isn't Missing Talent. They're Missing a Tool.
The gap between a brilliant researcher and a passionate donor is the most expensive bottleneck in university advancement.
The gap between a brilliant researcher and a passionate donor is the most expensive bottleneck in university advancement.
It's not for a lack of talent. Your researchers are experts in discovery. Your gift officers are experts in relationships. The problem is they speak different languages. This translation gap costs you momentum, donor confidence, and millions in philanthropic capital.
It's not for a lack of talent. Your researchers are experts in discovery. Your gift officers are experts in relationships. The problem is they speak different languages. This translation gap costs you momentum, donor confidence, and millions in philanthropic capital.
Studio Brio removes that bottleneck. We are not a branding agency; we are strategic partners in revenue generation. We build the bridge between the lab and the donor—architecting a single, unifying narrative that equips your team to close the most important gifts for your institution.
Studio Brio removes that bottleneck. We are not a branding agency; we are strategic partners in revenue generation. We build the bridge between the lab and the donor—architecting a single, unifying narrative that equips your team to close the most important gifts for your institution.
Who This is For
Who This is For
VPs for Advancement
You're preparing for a $500M campaign with significant research components. Your team excels at relationship-building, but you need bulletproof materials for your most ambitious asks—the ones where scientific credibility and emotional resonance must be perfectly balanced.
VPs for Advancement
You're preparing for a $500M campaign with significant research components. Your team excels at relationship-building, but you need bulletproof materials for your most ambitious asks—the ones where scientific credibility and emotional resonance must be perfectly balanced.
VPs for Research
You just secured major federal funding and need the philanthropic narrative to unlock matching gifts. Your faculty are world-class scientists, but translating their work into donor-ready materials requires specialized expertise your team doesn't have—and shouldn't need to have.
VPs for Research
You just secured major federal funding and need the philanthropic narrative to unlock matching gifts. Your faculty are world-class scientists, but translating their work into donor-ready materials requires specialized expertise your team doesn't have—and shouldn't need to have.
Deans of Medicine
You're launching a transformative institute and need a case that commands attention from your institution's most sophisticated donors. You need materials that make you look like the visionary leader you are when you present to the board and president.
Deans of Medicine
You're launching a transformative institute and need a case that commands attention from your institution's most sophisticated donors. You need materials that make you look like the visionary leader you are when you present to the board and president.
If you're building something significant and need the clarity to fund it at the level it deserves, let's talk.
OUR APPROACH
From Complexity to Capital:
A Proven Path
From Complexity to Capital: A Proven Path
01
From Complexity to Clarity
We embed with your researchers to distill years of complex science into a single, powerful human story. We find the signal in the noise.
From Complexity to Clarity
We embed with your researchers to distill years of complex science into a single, powerful human story. We find the signal in the noise.
From Data to Drive
We architect a philanthropic narrative that is both scientifically bulletproof and emotionally resonant. We build the story that gives donors the conviction to act.
From Data to Drive
We architect a philanthropic narrative that is both scientifically bulletproof and emotionally resonant. We build the story that gives donors the conviction to act.
02
03
From Abstract to Asset
We forge that narrative into the core assets your team needs—from the definitive case statement to the high-stakes gift proposal—to walk into any room with certainty.
From Abstract to Asset
We forge that narrative into the core assets your team needs—from the definitive case statement to the high-stakes gift proposal—to walk into any room with certainty.
From Plan to Performance
We don't just deliver a document; we partner with your team to ensure they are equipped, confident, and ready to use the new narrative to achieve their goals.
From Plan to Performance
We don't just deliver a document; we partner with your team to ensure they are equipped, confident, and ready to use the new narrative to achieve their goals.
04
THE DELIVERABLES
What We Create
What We Create
Every engagement produces a complete suite of fundraising materials—not recommendations, not strategy decks, but the actual tools your team uses to close gifts:
Strategic Narrative Frameworks
The core story that positions your research for maximum philanthropic impact
Strategic Narrative Frameworks
The core story that positions your research for maximum philanthropic impact
Case Statements
Comprehensive documents for major initiatives (20-30 pages)
Case Statements
Comprehensive documents for major initiatives (20-30 pages)
Gift Proposals
Tailored proposals for specific principal gift prospects ($1M+)
Gift Proposals
Tailored proposals for specific principal gift prospects ($1M+)
Leadership Talking Points
Clear, compelling language for presidents, deans, and VPRs
Leadership Talking Points
Clear, compelling language for presidents, deans, and VPRs
Multimedia Content
Video scripts, website copy, and donor-facing digital materials
Multimedia Content
Video scripts, website copy, and donor-facing digital materials
Stewardship Communications
Ongoing narrative support to demonstrate impact and secure next gifts
Stewardship Communications
Ongoing narrative support to demonstrate impact and secure next gifts
Your development team gets everything they need to confidently approach eight- and nine-figure prospects.
The Guide
The Guide
Hi, I'm Andy — Founder of Studio Brio.
Hi, I'm Andy — Founder of Studio Brio.
Hi, I'm Andy
— Founder of Studio Brio.
I've spent my career at the intersection of science, strategy, and storytelling. After building and selling a seven-figure business, I found my calling helping research institutions translate complex discoveries into compelling narratives that move philanthropic capital.
At Virginia Tech's veterinary college, I led the narrative strategy for how we communicated scientific impact. My role: work with faculty to understand their breakthrough science, then create the donor-facing materials that positioned it for major gifts—case statements, proposals, talking points, and stewardship communications.
The impact: philanthropic support grew 425%—from $4.9M to over $21 million annually. Faculty who were initially skeptical of fundraising became engaged partners—proactively sharing stories and seeking out opportunities to showcase their work to donors. The breakthrough wasn't in the science alone. It was in finally having a systematic way to translate that science into narratives that inspired major gifts.
That's the system I now bring to other research institutions.
Before VT, I spent 20 years as a founder—building teams, creating systems, and learning what it takes to turn vision into value. Now I bring that same entrepreneurial rigor to help research universities unlock their philanthropic potential.
I've spent my career at the intersection of science, strategy, and storytelling. After building and selling a seven-figure business, I found my calling helping research institutions translate complex discoveries into compelling narratives that move philanthropic capital.
At Virginia Tech's veterinary college, I led the narrative strategy for how we communicated scientific impact. My role: work with faculty to understand their breakthrough science, then create the donor-facing materials that positioned it for major gifts—case statements, proposals, talking points, and stewardship communications.
The impact: philanthropic support grew 425%—from $4.9M to over $21 million annually. Faculty who were initially skeptical of fundraising became engaged partners—proactively sharing stories and seeking out opportunities to showcase their work to donors. The breakthrough wasn't in the science alone. It was in finally having a systematic way to translate that science into narratives that inspired major gifts.
That's the system I now bring to other research institutions.
Before VT, I spent 20 years as a founder—building teams, creating systems, and learning what it takes to turn vision into value. Now I bring that same entrepreneurial rigor to help research universities unlock their philanthropic potential.
"Breakthroughs don't speak for themselves. But the right story—delivered with the right materials—can unlock transformational support."
The Bridge
Studio Brio Exists to Close That Gap — Permanently.
Studio Brio Exists to Close That Gap — Permanently.
We are not a branding agency. We are a strategic partner in revenue generation.
We speak the language of the lab. We speak the language of the donor. And we build the bridge between them—creating a single, unifying narrative that inspires action, deepens understanding, and secures capital.
THE GAP
THE GAP
The Gap Between the Lab and the Donor is Real
The Gap Between the Lab and the Donor is Real
Researchers speak in data and discoveries, but donors need to hear purpose, urgency, and possibility. We help universities transform world-changing science into human stories that inspire giving.
Researchers speak in data and discoveries, but donors need to hear purpose, urgency, and possibility. We help universities transform world-changing science into human stories that inspire giving.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
How is this different from our internal communications team?
What makes your approach different from other consultancies?
Do you work with our existing advancement staff?
How do you ensure scientific accuracy while making it compelling?
What's the typical engagement timeline?
What's the typical investment for an engagement?
How do we get started?
How is this different from our internal communications team?
What makes your approach different from other consultancies?
Do you work with our existing advancement staff?
How do you ensure scientific accuracy while making it compelling?
What's the typical engagement timeline?
What's the typical investment for an engagement?
How do we get started?
LET'S TALK
Ready to Transform How You Fund Research?
Ready to Transform How You Fund Research?
Let's start with a conversation about your most pressing research advancement challenge.
What to expect
We'll respond within 24 hours to schedule a brief discovery call. No obligation, no hard sell—just a conversation about your goals and whether Studio Brio is the right partner to help you achieve them.
Most discovery calls are 20-30 minutes. We'll discuss:
Your current research advancement priorities
The specific challenges you're facing
Whether our approach is the right fit
Next steps if there's mutual interest