How to Brief an Agency When You’re Not Sure What You Need Yet

You know you need help.
You don’t know exactly what kind of help.
Welcome to the great “agency brief” paradox.

For many nonprofit leaders, founders, or ops managers, writing a clear brief feels like being asked to build a rocket… without knowing if you're headed to the moon, Mars, or just downtown.

And that’s okay.
You don’t need to know everything before reaching out.
But here’s what helps.

Step 1: Zoom out before you zoom in

Start with what’s real, not what’s right.

• What problem are you facing?
• What outcome do you hope for?
• What’s frustrating or broken right now?

Don't try to impress the agency. Try to express what’s happening. At Rewav, we work best when we understand your friction—not your figma file.

Step 2: Share your constraints

Time. Budget. People. Platform. Politics.

If you’re low on clarity, be high on context.

Instead of saying “We need a website,” try:
“We’re drowning in email signups we can’t organize. We think a new website could help, but we’re open.”

Instead of “We need an app,” try:
“Our volunteers need a better way to track hours. We don’t know what that looks like.”

You don’t need to solve it. You just need to explain it.

Step 3: Be clear on mission, not just metrics

A good agency will help you refine your KPIs.
But only you can articulate your purpose.

Why does this project matter?
To whom?
And what will change if you get it right?

We’ll help you shape the “how.” But your “why” is the anchor.

Step 4: Share what's worked (or flopped) before

Every brief is better when it comes with receipts.

• What tech tools have you used before?
• What worked great?
• What was a total fail?
• Who’s on board internally—and who’s not?

Think of it like bringing ingredients to a recipe. We can cook with almost anything… but we can’t invent your pantry.

TL;DR: When in doubt, brief with honesty

A great agency doesn’t need a perfect plan. They need a clear picture.

So if you’re not sure what you need yet—that’s the brief.

Tell us what you’re facing, what’s stuck, and what you wish you had.
We’ll help you figure out the rest.

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💬 Ready to talk? We don’t need a perfect deck. We just need your real story.

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