Our Story
Garrett and Amethyst are a husband and wife duo committed to ending housing insecurity one story, one supporter, and one strategic campaign at a time.
Collaborators since their first days at university, they have rooted their life’s work in shared values of relationships, authenticity, and integrity—values that now drive People First Communications. What started as a shared passion for justice has evolved into a proven methodology that helps nonprofits amplify their impact.
Garrett's strategic fundraising and coalition-building experience has secured millions of dollars for housing nonprofits, while Amethyst's research-informed storytelling transforms supporters from donors into deeply engaged advocates. With dual expertise in development and communications they raise more than funds—they builds movements that create lasting change for people experiencing housing insecurity.
Garrett (G), CFRE & PMP
Co-Founder & Lead Strategist
Builder. Planner. Strategist.
Supporting social impact organizations addressing basic human needs is Garrett's professional North Star. With a belief that everyone can and should be a philanthropist, his inclusive and relationship-based fundraising approach has mobilized missions into movements.
Garrett is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) and Project Management Professional (PMP) who has led fundraising campaigns that have secured millions of dollars for nonprofits. Before People First Communications, he helped end homelessness for families as Director of Development for CATCH Idaho. He has worked with hundreds of nonprofits in various capacities, including his service with the Idaho Nonprofit Center as Training and Programs Manager and founding a nonprofit in the rural Nevada community he grew up in. Garrett earned his master's degree from the London School of Economics where he researched political campaign messaging, and his bachelor's degrees from Washington State University where he cultivated his drive for social impact.
He is a reader, foodie, and traveler who is working through the classics and his ever-growing bucket list.
Amethyst (Am), MSc Psychology
Co-Founder & Lead Storyteller
Storyteller. Researcher. Connector.
Understanding how stories shape human connection and drive collective action is Amethyst's passion. She specializes in bringing nonprofit supporters closer to missions through research-informed, people-centered storytelling and personalized communications, transforming donors into informed and integrated advocates one story at a time.
Amethyst has led high engagement, multi-channel marketing campaigns through her work with People First and beyond. At Washington State University, she rebranded large-scale communication campaigns that increased special population enrollment by nearly 40%. In partnership with the U.S. Embassy, she created nationwide programming and communications for Fulbright Hungary’s EducationUSA Advising Center. Amethyst earned her master’s degree from the University of Edinburgh where she developed her Social Psychology research background, and her bachelor’s degree from Washington State University where she honed her love of storytelling.
An avid daydreamer, adventurer, and creative, Amethyst believes in making the world smaller through the transformative magic of storytelling.