Meet Rae Lynn Humphreys of Grand Rapids

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rae Lynn Humphreys.

Hi Rae Lynn, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
At Más, we believe in the power of authentic storytelling to connect brands with their audiences. We’re passionate about helping small businesses and nonprofits, especially those owned and led by women, Black, Brown, and Queer folks, find their voice in a noisy world.

We elevate minority-owned businesses by providing them with the tools and strategies they need to succeed.

We amplify entrepreneurs’ unique stories and support them in building meaningful connections with their communities.

We ignite a movement for inclusive growth and lasting impact.

We’re storytellers, strategists, and champions for the underdogs. We’re more than just marketers. Our approach is deeply rooted in:
– Multiculturalism: We celebrate the beauty of diversity and understand the nuances and intersectionality of multicultural markets.
– Authenticity: We believe in the power of genuine connection and strive to reflect the true essence of our clients’ brands.
– Storytelling: We craft compelling narratives that resonate with audiences and leave a lasting impact.

Más emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic in response to the challenges faced by businesses owned by people of color. The closures of countless culturally rich and historic businesses exposed a gap in the digital expertise needed to navigate a rapidly evolving landscape. These losses were more than financial—they were losses of community, identity, and history.

Más became a way to fight for a more inclusive economy, where every voice is heard, and every dream has a chance to thrive. Alyson Ramirez (she/her) launched MásPR in 2021 to provide accessible communications and public relations services to local businesses and nonprofits in Detroit and Grand Rapids.

Through the years—and a few presidential shifts, a cross-country move, and countless other monumental moments—Más grew in inclusivity and the range of services offered. The transition from MásPR to Más Marketing + Co. was intentional — to amplify the voices of those excluded from traditional opportunities.

Today, Más Marketing + Co. offers a full suite of digital marketing services, aimed at supporting small businesses and nonprofits owned/led by Black, Brown, Queer, and Women community members from the West Coast to the Fresh Coast. This growth was fueled by the addition of Rae Lynn Humphreys (they/them), a bilingual copywriter and fundraising development maven with over a decade of communications experience and a Master’s degree in the field. Their meticulous attention to detail and passion for community engagement make them an invaluable asset to Más.

At Más, we are compañeres, driven by our core values of celebrating multicultural diversity, fostering connection, and impactful storytelling that reflect the essence of our clients’ brands. We bring years of expertise, and the lived experiences needed to create authentic campaigns, strategies, and conversations. Think of us as an extension of your team—invested in your success and ready to build with you.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road—but every challenge has strengthened our commitment to making marketing accessible and equitable.

At Más Marketing + Co., we built our agency around a self-selected sliding scale pricing model. It’s one of our proudest innovations because it allows small nonprofits and early-stage businesses—especially those led by women, Black, Brown, and Queer entrepreneurs—to access professional, high-caliber marketing regardless of budget. This model truly levels the playing field, helping mission-driven organizations reach and engage communities that might otherwise go unheard.

But that commitment also comes with real challenges. Because we operate on thinner margins, our cash flow is more complex, and we can’t always access traditional funding streams. A lot of time goes toward financial management—invoicing, tracking payments, projecting cash flow, and researching funding opportunities. Those are necessary tasks, but they pull me away from what I do best: working directly with clients, building relationships, and developing creative campaigns that amplify underrepresented voices.

It creates a frustrating cycle: the more time we spend managing finances, the less capacity we have to serve clients and grow the business. At the same time, our model makes it harder to qualify for loans or grants because our revenue fluctuates based on accessibility—not profit maximization.

We also face logistical challenges as a small, two-person team. My co-owner lives in San Francisco and still works full-time at another job, so we’re constantly navigating time zone differences and limited shared work hours. We make it work, but balancing a growing business with those realities can be exhausting.

Recently, we’ve been navigating a particularly difficult period where every dollar feels like a choice between three critical needs: completing our trademark process, investing in tools that would streamline our operations, or finally paying ourselves for the strategic work we’ve been absorbing for months. We’re often forced to pick one or two—and delay the rest.

What would help most are funding opportunities designed for mission-driven businesses like ours—flexible, low-interest microloans or grants that don’t penalize us for prioritizing impact over profit. With that support, we could complete our trademark, invest in better systems, pay ourselves fairly, and reinvest in our own marketing so that more organizations know we exist.

Even with the financial and logistical hurdles, we’ve never questioned why we do this work. Our model is proof that equity and excellence can coexist—that professional marketing doesn’t have to be a privilege reserved for those with big budgets. We’re building something sustainable, one challenge at a time, and the ripple effects are already visible: stronger organizations, more equitable opportunities, and communities confidently telling their own stories.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
We’re the co-owners of Más Marketing + Co., bringing more than 25 years of combined experience in branding, communications, and creative strategy. What makes us different isn’t just what we do—it’s who we are. Our lived experiences, cultural backgrounds, and shared commitment to equity shape the way we lead, create, and build community through storytelling.

Rae Lynn (they/them) is a neurodivergent, queer, nonbinary Michigander and proud Mexican-American who brings both creative vision and strategic depth to every project. As our Lead Copywriter + Creative Development Strategist, they specialize in crafting messages that blend data, emotion, and authenticity—helping brands communicate their mission in ways that move people to act. With more than 16 years of experience across the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors, Rae Lynn has led integrated campaigns, written countless grants and brand narratives, and helped organizations align their communications with equity-centered values. Their strength lies in seeing the big picture—connecting creative storytelling to measurable impact and helping organizations translate their “why” into meaningful engagement.

Alyson (she/her) is our Lead Branding + Multicultural Communications Strategist and the grounding force behind our strategic direction. As an Afro-Latina from the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, she brings nearly a decade of experience designing and executing multicultural communications and DEI-driven branding initiatives. Alyson has worked across a variety of sectors—including finance, nonprofit, agency, and consulting—building a reputation for precision, insight, and cultural fluency. Her expertise spans narrative branding, 360-degree communications planning, and developing inclusive frameworks that ensure messaging resonates across diverse audiences. She’s especially skilled at bringing structure to creative processes, fostering meaningful partnerships, and leading campaigns that don’t just reach people—they reflect them.

Together, we’ve built something that’s both strategic and heart-centered. One of the things we’re most proud of is La Colectiva—our growing network of freelance creatives, photographers, and writers who share our passion for intentional, values-driven marketing. From the West Coast to the Fresh Coast, our collective brings stories to life that reflect the richness of identity and lived experience. Rooted in equity, La Colectiva celebrates the full spectrum of who people are—across race, gender, sexuality, disability, language, and culture.

We’re good at what we do because we lead with empathy and collaboration. We know how to bring talented creatives together, create space for authentic stories to emerge, and craft campaigns that are as diverse and dynamic as the communities we serve.

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
We’re both avid readers and lifelong learners who find inspiration in stories that challenge norms and expand perspective.
That Black Couple is a boldly honest podcast about what it means to be Black, queer, and polyamorous in an anti-Black world. Hosted by two brilliant millennial storytellers, it dives into everything from toxic masculinity and race to parenting, money, and surviving predominantly white workspaces as radical dreamers.
The Marginalian by Maria Popova is another favorite—her essays blend science, philosophy, and poetry in a way that reminds us why meaning and creativity matter in both work and life.
Some of the books that have shaped how we think and create include:
Babel: An Arcane History by R.F. Kuang — a stunning exploration of knowledge, power, and colonial resistance that asks if reform is ever enough, or if real change demands revolution.

Before We Were Trans by Kit Heyam — as a nonbinary queer person, this book reminded me that our stories didn’t begin with modern language. Queer and trans people have always existed, even without the words we use today.

The Deep by Rivers Solomon — a lyrical, haunting story about memory, identity, and survival that explores the power and cost of remembering.

As a labor of love, we also created ¿Qué Más?, a quarterly multicultural digital magazine blending exclusive insights, strategies, and stories to amplify voices and messages across cultures. “¿Qué más?” in Spanish means “what else?”—because there’s always more to share: more ideas, more stories, more ways to grow.

For us, this work is puro amor—a mix of nonprofit corazón and business brains, dedicated to uplifting the communities where we live, work, and play. We believe knowledge should be accessible becaure sharing it can be a game-changer. Not every business or nonprofit can afford a contractor, so we share our insights freely to help others thrive and tell their stories in authentic, impactful ways. Each issue even includes our book recommendations and highlights local, independent bookstores we love, because we believe in the power of stories to connect and transform communities.

Pricing:

• Tier 1: Full Cost of Services (100%) $120–$150 per hour This tier reflects the full value of our services, including strategic expertise, dedicated project management, and high-quality execution. It’s designed for established organizations with consistent funding or revenue and the ability to invest in robust marketing, communications, or consulting services. This tier is a good fit if your organization: Has an annual budget exceeding $500,000 Operates with stable or recurring funding (e.g. grants, contracts, revenue streams) Has worked with external consultants or creative agencies in the past Can allocate funds for strategic or capacity-building initiatives Prioritizes high-quality deliverables and long-term impact
• Tier 2: Mid-Range / Shared-Cost Tier (75–85%) $95–$115 per hour This tier is intended for mission-aligned organizations that have moderate budgets or are in a growth phase. It offers access to our full range of services at a rate that balances affordability with sustainability. We reserve a limited number of Tier 2 slots for organizations doing meaningful community work that may not have the same financial capacity as larger institutions. This tier is a good fit if your organization: Has an annual budget between $200,000–$500,000 Has some experience working with external consultants or contractors Can allocate funding toward marketing, outreach, or capacity-building efforts Is committed to collaboration but may have limited internal staff or resources
• Tier 3: Community Partner / Subsidized Tier (50–65%) $75–$90 per hour This tier is designed for grassroots organizations, early-stage nonprofits, or community-led initiatives operating on limited budgets. We offer this rate to ensure that important work is not excluded from high-quality support due to funding limitations. This tier may be a good fit if your organization: Has an annual budget under $200,000 Operates with limited or project-specific grant funding Has minimal staff or is volunteer-led Would not be able to access this level of service without reduced pricing
• Can’t Afford These Tiers? Let’s Talk. We understand that even with this sliding scale, our services may still be out of reach for some. If that’s you—we see you. We’re open to tiered, phased, or pay-as-you-go approaches that meet your needs and respect your reality. This could look like: Completing one core project now (e.g., logo, messaging, or website audit) Returning later for additional phases when your cash flow increases Spacing out deliverables over time to make payments manageable Our goal is to be a long-term partner, not just a one-time vendor. Let’s work together to build something sustainable—at a pace that works for you.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://somosmasmarketing.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/somosmasmarketing/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/masmarketingandco/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/más-marketing-co/