Today we’d like to introduce you to Skyler Womack.
Hi Skyler, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Before Sky Collective began, I was serving in a partnership role at a large church here in Houston. My job allowed me to review countless financial proposals from nonprofits and hear powerful stories of impact every single week.
But as I sat on the other side of those presentations, something started to stand out to me. No matter how incredible the program was—or how critical the need they were meeting in vulnerable communities—it almost always came down to two things:
Whether there was an existing relationship, and how excellent and professional their presentation materials were—whether that was a printed packet, booklet, or digital collateral.
Those proposals would then be forwarded to committees for review, often verified by looking at the organization’s website and digital footprint. What that communicated, intentionally or not, was the level of trust and professionalism behind the organization—whether their donors’ investments would be stewarded well or not.
That’s when it clicked for me: communication and excellent marketing weren’t just about branding—they were about credibility. And I realized that helping nonprofits communicate well might be the most valuable thing I could offer at scale.
So, at the end of 2020, I stepped out of full-time vocational ministry to build something new. My goal was simple—to create a system that would help nonprofits in Houston tell their stories with clarity, excellence, and confidence. For that first year, I worked with many organizations for very little—or often for free—just to learn, test, and refine the model.
Through that season, I began to truly understand the annual fundraising grind, the pressure on executive directors, and the constant feeling that they “should be posting more,” engaging donors more, or doing more—all while managing real impact on the ground.
That’s when our decentralized model came to life: leveraging a network of talented freelancers who could take on meaningful, purpose-driven projects while earning steady income, and delivering top-quality creative work for clients who otherwise couldn’t afford a large agency.
It’s been an evolving journey since then—but one thing has remained the same:
We exist to help mission-driven organizations communicate their story well—because the right message, told with excellence, can unlock the resources and relationships that make real impact possible.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Absolutely not. The first year of starting this business was one of the most challenging seasons of my life—personally and professionally.
Just weeks after filing the LLC, my personal life took a major turn and I went through a divorce. That meant I entered my first year as a founder with no financial safety net, no consistent income, and the daunting reality of bootstrapping this thing completely from scratch. I spent that year sleeping at the office or crashing on a friend’s couch, doing whatever it took to keep the dream alive while I figured out how to serve nonprofits in a way that felt truly valuable and sustainable.
In those early days, our service was far from perfect. I overextended myself and my small core team, trying to deliver everything for everyone instead of focusing on the areas where we could provide the best service fractionally. There were countless lessons learned the hard way—through learning opportunities, long nights, and going back to the drawing board.
Eventually, I moved back in with my parents to save money, heal, and stay hyper focused. That time gave me the clarity I needed to build both personally and professionally. Our small original team stayed loyal through it all, helping shape what I now call Phase One of the company. During that season, we also formed key relationships with companies and people deeply embedded in the Houston nonprofit community—partnerships that still play a vital role in our work today.
It really wasn’t until year three that things began to turn. We finally had the right model, the right team, and the right structure in place. That’s when things began to click—and we started to see the growth, stability, and impact we had been chasing since day one.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Sky Collective is a creative communications agency based in Houston that helps nonprofits, small businesses, and social-impact organizations communicate their mission with clarity and excellence. We specialize in branding, storytelling, fundraising strategy, and digital marketing—everything from logo design and campaign messaging to donor communications, websites, and social media strategy.
What makes us different is our decentralized model. Instead of operating like a traditional agency, we’ve built a network of purpose-driven freelancers—designers, copywriters, web developers, photographers, videographers, and strategists—who collaborate to serve organizations at a fraction of the traditional cost. This model keeps our services affordable and accessible to nonprofits of all sizes while giving our creative partners the freedom to do meaningful work that matters.
We’re also pioneering a new way for nonprofits to think about staffing support in their communications and fundraising departments. Historically, many nonprofits have relied on one part-time employee to manage marketing—someone who may be strong in one or two areas but can’t realistically cover the full range of skills needed for a thriving communications strategy. Through Sky Collective, organizations gain access to a full creative team—offering high-level expertise across multiple disciplines without the overhead of full-time hires.
We’re most proud of the trust we’ve earned within the Houston nonprofit community. Our work is known for being personal, excellent, and mission-centered. Every project—whether it’s a rebrand, campaign, or annual report—is designed to help our clients communicate with excellence, connect deeply with their audiences, and increase their long-term sustainability.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I’ve come to realize that starting anything meaningful begins with risk. For me, risk has never been about gambling—it’s been about vision and conviction. When I left my full time job at the end of 2020 to start what would eventually become Sky Collective, I didn’t have funding, a client list, or even a clear roadmap. I had an idea, a conviction that nonprofits and small businesses deserved better communication support, and a willingness to figure it out one step at a time.
Pricing:
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sky-collective.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/skyler_womack
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/sky-womack
Image Credits
Our very own creative and photographer – Philipephotography
