About
Twenty-five years of communications expertise channeled for mission-driven impact
Mission
We’re on a shared journey to create a flourishing world. You lead organizations doing the essential work: protecting nature, advancing human rights, building sustainable solutions. We provide communications strategy, websites, and content that help supporters see your impact and invest with confidence.
Values
We fulfill our mission and get results by living these values:
Starting with a deep understanding of audience needs and organizational challenges before proposing solutions.
Story
Reborn in 2025 to meet this moment.
We're living through unprecedented change — climate crisis, political instability, disinformation campaigns, and the paradigm-shifting uncertainty of AI. Yet through it all, organizations like yours are working to protect nature and advance justice. And Helix River is here to help you rise to the challenge.
Founder Ryan Thompson originally launched Helix River Media in 2008, creating websites and videos for small businesses and nonprofits. Ryan paused the business in 2015 to focus on conservation and international development work, spending the past decade leading communications at USAID, Rainforest Alliance, and environmental nonprofits. Out of the ashes of USAID’s destruction, he revived Helix River in 2025 to help mission-driven organizations navigate these complex times.
Today, our small but mighty team combines decades of strategic communications expertise with deep sector knowledge. We provide impact-focused strategic communications so that you can secure the support you need to advance your mission.
Ryan Thompson's professional path spans the arts, entrepreneurship, education, conservation, and international development — each life stage building skills that converge at Helix River. He designs human-centered strategies, creates websites, produces content, facilitates teams, and accelerates it all with AI. This "expert generalist" approach, refined through a decade leading communications at USAID and Rainforest Alliance, now serves mission-driven organizations needing someone who can both envision and implement an effective communications strategy.
Ryan Thompson
Founder and Communications Strategist
Collaborators
Jeffrey Osborn is a creative director, information / UX / brand designer, and visual storyteller – skills developed across advertising, journalism and nonprofit communications. At Graphicacy, National Geographic Magazine, and Cole & Weber Advertising, he has worked with audiences ranging from scientists and policymakers to the general public. He now brings this breadth to Helix River, helping mission-driven organizations translate complex topics into visual stories that inform, engage, and inspire action for people and the planet.
Jeffrey Osborn
Consulting Creative Director
Approach
Human-centered strategy + AI-accelerated delivery
Our Centaur Mode approach combines decades of experience in human-centered design and strategic communications with AI tools that accelerate execution. Humans provide strategic thinking, creative judgment, and quality control. AI accelerates research, drafting, and iteration. The result: senior-level expertise delivered with unprecedented efficiency.
Get in touch
Ready to amplify your impact? We'd love to hear about your communications challenges and explore how we can help. Reach out for a free, no-obligation consultation call.