Today we’d like to introduce you to Joseph Disberger.
Hi Joseph, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Joseph Disberger’s journey into creative marketing is rooted in both personal challenge and a deep passion for self-expression. Growing up, he was a piano prodigy and also highly active in sports. But after suffering four concussions and other injuries, participating in sports became more difficult, forcing him to find new ways to channel his energy and creativity.
When his family moved from Colorado to Kansas, Joseph found himself struggling with social connections. Without the familiar support system, he became shy and developed anxiety, which only worsened as he faced the grief of losing several close friends and family. Coping with these changes, he turned inward, spending much of his time in his bedroom. It was here that Joseph began teaching himself a wide range of creative skills. These skills would later become the foundation of his career. From animation to puppetry, he immersed himself in learning how to create art that spoke to others.
This creative journey quickly evolved into a business. Joseph realized that through these unique creative talents, he could not only express himself but also help others communicate and connect with their audiences in new, impactful ways. His personal challenges, while difficult, led him to discover his true passion: using creativity to build relationships and tell stories in a way that resonated deeply with others.
As Joseph honed his craft, he went on to become a leading creative strategist, blending his self-taught artistic skills with business acumen. His ability to think outside the box helped him find innovative solutions for nonprofits and businesses alike, establishing his reputation as someone who could truly make a difference through creativity.
Today, Joseph is the Creative Marketing Executive at Passing Lane Consulting, where he helps nonprofits raise millions through tailored fundraising and marketing strategies. He also runs his own creative company, VIRALVista Studios, which focuses on crafting out-of-the-box strategies for organizations looking to connect deeply with their audiences. Whether it is through custom characters, film series, or unique personal connections, Joseph continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in marketing.
A pivotal moment in his career came when he met billionaire Carolyn Aronson, the CEO of It’s a 10 Haircare. Instead of giving a traditional business card, Joseph presented Carolyn with a custom puppet of her likeness, a memorable and creative gesture designed to make a lasting impression. With the goal in cementing Joseph in Carolyn’s mind, ensuring that their connection would go far beyond the typical business relationship.
Joseph’s story is one of resilience and creativity, from overcoming personal challenges to becoming a recognized leader in creative marketing. His ability to turn adversity into opportunity, along with his knack for building authentic, lasting connections, continues to define his career today.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Passing Lane Consulting:
Passing Lane Consulting is a leading consulting agency for nonprofits, offering a full range of in-house services designed to support organizations at every stage of their fundraising journey. From marketing and grant writing to fundraising strategy and donor solicitation, Passing Lane covers it all. The agency’s specialty lies in a proven seven-step fundraising strategy that has helped raise over $150 million for its clients. Above all, Passing Lane stands firmly on a foundation of ethics, ensuring that every practice within the organization is guided by integrity, transparency, and a genuine commitment to the success of its clients. This ethical approach sets Passing Lane apart from other agencies, creating trusted, long-term relationships with nonprofits and their donor communities.
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VIRALVista Studios:
VIRALVista Studios is a creative marketing agency that specializes in building strong, authentic connections between brands and their audiences. The studio focuses on developing unique and creative communication strategies tailored to each client’s specific goals and challenges. By thinking outside the box, VIRALVista ensures that brands effectively communicate with their audiences in ways that resonate deeply and solve real problems. Through storytelling, custom content, strategic branding, and innovative marketing campaigns, VIRALVista Studios helps businesses and nonprofits not only strengthen their brand identity but also overcome obstacles and achieve long-term success.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
1. Changes in the Nonprofit Industry in the Next 5-10 Years:
At the beginning of 2025, we saw major government policy changes that included significant cuts to nonprofit grant funding. This has drastically changed the landscape because many nonprofits have heavily relied on grants as their main funding source. Without a solid funding foundation beyond grants, a lot of nonprofits are going to struggle, and I believe we are going to see many of them either fizzle out completely or scramble to find solutions.
Smaller nonprofits, especially those with strong leadership but fewer resources, will have a critical choice to make: either adapt or disappear. No nonprofit should rely solely on any single funding base, especially grants, in today’s environment where grant access is becoming more restricted and competitive. It is now more important than ever that nonprofits, particularly their boards, get the education and strategic help they need to build a sustainable funding model.
That is where nonprofit consulting agencies like Passing Lane Consulting play a vital role. Passing Lane does not just tell organizations what to do, they come in and do the work alongside the nonprofit. Whether it is a 16- or 18-month campaign, Passing Lane builds everything from the marketing to the donor relationships needed for a solid funding structure. Our team even directly solicits and builds relationships with donors as an extension of the nonprofit’s own team.
Even after the campaign ends, nonprofits are left with the knowledge, tools, and training to continue growing and sustaining their funding independently if they choose. I believe that over the next five to ten years, we will see a clear split: nonprofits that invest in this kind of foundation and relationship-building will thrive, while others who fail to adapt will unfortunately close their doors.
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2. Changes in Creative Marketing in the Next 5-10 Years:
Over the past 15 years, we have seen businesses slowly open up to social media marketing. What used to be a new, untapped advantage has now become a necessary component of doing business. However, today the social media space is extremely saturated. While social media is still a very viable marketing tool, the days of easy, explosive organic growth are largely behind us, especially for businesses working with smaller budgets of $500 to $1,000 per month.
Standing out in today’s environment requires much more than just posting consistently or running simple ads. It demands creativity, authenticity, and bold moves. I believe that over the next five to ten years, businesses are going to have to find unique and innovative ways to communicate with their audiences if they want to break through the noise.
Even though social media will continue to be important, I predict we will see a greater shift toward companies investing in unique, anuthentic, and creative communication strategies. In a world that is overcrowded with generic content, businesses that find fresh ways to emotionally connect, tell their story, and engage with their audience will rise above the rest.
Only a few businesses will make truly bold moves, but those few will grow faster, create deeper brand loyalty, and ultimately become industry leaders and giants. Creativity, relationship-building, and thinking differently will not just be advantages, they will be requirements for success.
Pricing:
- For Passing Lane Consulting, we build out custom solutions that rival the very best nonprofits consulting agencies. Even though we may offer the same services and more that they don’t, we charge a fraction of our competitors.
- For VIRALVista Studios, our full out campaigns are tailored and require an extensive look at your unique situation to provide a fair quote.
- Video Testimonials, Promo Videos, and or Animations start as low as $200 and go up to $3,000 for our base creative video production services.
- I also offer one on one consulting to a select few. Spots available are few and if spots are full I will keep your info and reach back out to you when I have spots available.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.passinglanellc.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joseph.christof.disberger?igsh=MTh3ODJiM2toMGx4Zw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-disberger-28630a172?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
- Other: https://VIRALVistaStudios.com
