“It’s not what I do, but the way I do it. It’s not what I say, but the way I say it.” Mae West

There are lots of nonprofit consultants out there. What makes working with me different is 1) I’ve worked for 22 years (22!) in, for, around, and with nonprofits and 2) I have a no-nonsense, let’s-not-beat-around-the-bush approach to working with clients.

For every service you see listed, know that my goal is to create real and lasting change for you. It’s to fix things fast while making the change last.

 

SERVICES THAT HELP YOU RAISE MORE MONEY

 

FUND DEVELOPMENT PLANNING

To thrive, nonprofits must have multiple, diverse streams of funding sources—in the form of grants, corporate sponsorships, and individual contributions—to protect your organization and its mission against economic uncertainties and the vagaries of time. Each of these fundraising vehicles has its time and place, and nonprofit staff and board members must work together to establish a fundraising plan that is reviewed and updated on an ongoing basis.  Sometimes that’s easier said than done! I can work with you to design a robust fund development strategy that meets your current and future needs, while being doable relative to your available people power.

 

DONOR RELATIONS

Building relationships with donors and prospects is one of the single most important actions nonprofits can take to ensure fundraising success. But the sector, on average, retains only four out of every 10 donors so there’s some obvious room for improvement in terms of donor happiness.

Donor relations, both before and after a gift is made, is an often-overlooked part of the fundraising cycle. Best practices suggest you communicate with a donor six to 10 times when asking for a first-time gift or recurring contribution. Deciding when and how to make those connections is just as important as what you communicate.

Producing a donor relations plan can help remove the guesswork when unexpected situations arise with a particular donation. Part art and part science, great donor cultivation relies on consistent activity, personalized communications, and a compelling strategy, I can help you develop a donor relations program that grows revenue by boosting donor happiness.

 

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN COUNSEL

If your nonprofit is at the point of embarking on a capital (or endowment campaign), consider talking to me PRIOR to beginning the campaign. (You’ll thank me later.)

Whether you are raising money to fund unique capital purchases such as equipment or vehicles, or raising funds for a new building or the expansion of your current space, you want to consider an endowment as part of the overall campaign goal.

I can serve as campaign counsel to make sure you have a plan in place to raise the money to fund a one-time need for the organization, while strengthening the organization’s fundraising infrastructure for long-term success.

  

SPECIAL EVENTS

Creating special events, and doing them well, can accomplish many different goals for a nonprofit organization. The obvious reason, of course, is to raise money that can be used towards operating costs, program expenses, an endowment campaign, or capital improvements.

But more importantly, events allow nonprofits to showcase their cause and engage with existing and potential supporters. This in turn may help your nonprofit increase financial support from new sources, which is crucial to successful and sustainable fundraising.

To properly stage a special event with profitable results requires a common vision, commitment, and understanding of the simple steps necessary for success. I can coach your staff and volunteers on how to plan and execute just about any type of event. (I can also roll up my sleeves and help get ‘er done.)

 

SERVICES THAT MAKE LEADERS, STAFF, AND BOARDS HAPPIER & MORE EFFECTIVE

 

BOARD DEVELOPMENT

It’s no secret: Nonprofit boards play an extremely important role in the success of an organization. An effective board can steer their nonprofit to victory, while an ineffective board can lead to an organization’s demise.

A strong board is made up of diverse members who are passionate about your nonprofit’s mission, understand and fulfill their collective and individual roles as board members, and have the knowledge and skills required to manage the challenges faced by your nonprofit.

Building a nonprofit board that meets your needs is a continual process of recruitment, engagement, and development. I can work with your organization to develop and implement tools and strategies to help you build a great board.

 

EXECUTIVE MENTORING

Successfully leading a nonprofit organization is no easy feat. Each day nonprofit leaders must weigh the urgency of daily demands against the importance of achieving their nonprofit’s mission and serving its community. Executive mentoring is one of the most efficient ways to grow and strengthen your organization.  I can work with your executive director to help them better manage juggling multiple responsibilities, relationships, and resources while keeping both eyes fixed on your nonprofit’s mission and bottom line.

 

INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SERVICES

Interim executive directors arrive at difficult or transitional times, and help nonprofits make difficult choices. The goal of any interim executive director is to leave an organization in a better place than when they began.

Whether a founder is leaving, the Executive Director is retiring, or your organization has to part ways with the CEO, I can help.  With 20+ years of nonprofit executive experience, I have a track record of being able to understand both staff and board roles during times of transition.  I will work with your nonprofit to liaise between staff and board, and navigate the change management experience for all parties – both inside and outside the organization.

 

STAFF COACHING

To create the greatest mission impact, nonprofits must foster leadership and management talent in their people. Yet the commitment to training can sometimes waver, especially when grant dollars or fees for services come up short at the end of the month. Lack of professional development, however, is one of the leading reasons for the high turn-over in the nonprofit sector.

I can help your organization make staff happier and more productive by identifying its current staff training needs, and then figuring out the best ways to leverage your assets and resources to create a rich learning environment

 

LEADERSHIP TRANSITION

Every nonprofit organization will experience a leadership transition at some point in their existence. And while a smooth succession is the ideal scenario, executive leadership changes are often unplanned and involve high-risk. Risks may include a loss of organizational momentum, a decrease in staff morale or even turnover, and a loss of support from stakeholders.

A nonprofit’s ability to successfully navigate the challenges and uncertainties that stem from executive transitions is key to its survival.  Whether a leadership change is planned or unplanned, I can assist your organization with planning for the next nonprofit leader, onboarding, training, and mentorship

 

Contact me today for a free 30 minute consultation. Together, we can solve whatever challenges you face!