Philanthropic and Foundation Consulting
I work with foundations who want to deepen their impact and strengthen their relationships with the communities they serve.
You're already funding good work. But you might be wondering: Are we asking the right questions? Are our grantees telling us what they really need, or what they think we want to hear? How do we move from good intentions to genuine partnership?
These are the questions thoughtful funders ask—and they're the ones I help you answer.
I've been on both sides of this relationship. I founded and grew two organizations, then stepped back and transferred leadership to others, because that’s what was needed. That experience taught me what partnership really looks like—and how much courage it takes to share power genuinely.
I support foundations with:
Program design that goes beyond the pilot phase — Helping you explore innovative models while thinking realistically about sustainability. What does this work need to thrive without ongoing foundation support? How do you build capacity instead of dependency?
Grantee capacity assessments that build relationship — Identifying organizational strengths, opportunities, and areas for growth in ways that support strategic investment and deepen partnership.
Strategy development grounded in community context — Making sure your funding approaches reflect what communities are actually experiencing and saying, not just what looks good in a proposal. I help you design with local realities and relationships in mind.
Strengthening grantee relationships — When communication feels stuck or you sense something's not quite working, I facilitate conversations that help everyone get honest and move forward. This includes coaching nonprofit partners through transitions while helping you figure out how to support them most effectively.
I bring both foundation knowledge and lived nonprofit leadership experience. I'll help you see what's working, where there's room to grow, and how to fund in ways that build real partnership and lasting change.