We help foundations, nonprofits and other organizations get from Point A to Point B.Our mission is helping you succeed. We do that by listening, understanding your hopes and concerns, and working with you to meet your goals. You’ll be assisted by our senior members, gaining full access to their expertise. Our real-world experience informs your deliberations and decisions – from planning to organizational development, building and managing initiatives and special projects, to strengthening the impact of your grantmaking. We also bring you on-the-ground working knowledge of the important issues you care about – education grantmaking (early childhood, K-12 & higher education), civic affairs, human services, homelessness, community and economic development, youth, arts education, environment, nonprofit management and organizational leadership.A sample of organizations we have served include: The Helios Education Foundation (Phoenix, AZ and Tampa, FL), The Thomas H. Maren Foundation (Gainesville, FL), The Doll Family Foundation (Shaker Hts, OH), The Trio Foundation of St. Louis (St. Louis, MO), Exponent Philanthropy (fomerly The Association of Small Foundations, Washington DC), The Stranahan Foundation (Toledo, OH), The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (Seattle, WA), The Ellis Center for Educational Excellence (Phoenix, AZ), The Quail Roost Foundation (Taos, NM), The College Access Foundation of California (San Francisco, CA), Treu-Mart Fellowship Program (Cleveland, OH), The Center on Education Policy (Washington, DC), The Norton School at the University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ).

Manage annual grantmaking process in coordination with Board. Grants made in four cities across the country, and in three grant priority areas.Designed and facilitated 2.5 day board retreat. Conducted evaluation with board members and grantees to learn about Foundation impact and relationships.

*Led strategic review process resulting in board adoption of theory of philanthropy for greater alignment of foundation strategies, priorities, programs and allocation of resources.*Brought team-building management approach to staff of 4.5 positions. Configured staffing structure to align with grant investment strategies and resources. Established standardized staff assessments to develop shared performance objectives. Directed consultant contracts.*Created improved financial management system including more transparent budgeting. Worked with board committee to develop foundation’s first written spending policy. Undertook review of foundation governance and management policies to create further alignment with best practice.*Repositioned Foundation’s investments with low-performing grant recipients, projects and consultants. Guided resuscitation of weak regional college-access organization and restructured it with greater focus and new staff.*Co-managed, with board chair, oversight of 11-month, $2.5 million award-winning historic restoration of foundation’s new home. Shepherded IT upgrade and seamless move into new offices.*Managed special initiatives: community planning effort to improve afterschool and youth leadership services; program and grants management services for local charitable fund focused on youth development; and, regional partnership addressing economic opportunity, talent development and inclusion.

Designed and managed local and national education grantmaking portfolio up to $5 million annually for Ohio’s largest family foundation. Crafted funding strategies in educational equity and improved public policy on urban education issues. Worked closely with school leadership, intermediary organizations, funding partners and others in efforts contributing to measured improvement in student achievement, increased public support for schools and strengthened public policy.

Consulted with foundations and nonprofits in organizational development, program planning and design, research and evaluation. Clients included George Gund Foundation, Key Trust Company of Ohio (for Kenneth A. Scott Charitable Trust), Common Ground: The Cindy Nord Center for Renewal, and others.

Founding program officer for civic affairs portfolio focused on increasing opportunities in disadvantaged communities and on strengthening public service. Grantmaking focused on Lorain and Cuyahoga Counties, Ohio and Columbia, South Carolina.Designed and managed two countywide foundation initiatives.