NONPROFIT CONSULTING
Helping organizations transform during hard moments of change.
When old tools, old knowledge, or old approaches won’t fit the current problem, I help teams chart a new path forward in line with their values and mission.
WHAT I DO
I work with nonprofits navigating moments that demand something new. Sometimes that's a full strategic plan. Sometimes it's exploring a merger or acquisition. Sometimes it's launching a new initiative or making a hard strategic pivot.
What these moments share is that they require more than a framework. They require a trusted partner who can help a team align and move forward with confidence.
THE SITUATIONS I KNOW WELL
You’re doing something new.
Launching a new initiative, developing your next strategic plan, or making a hard strategic pivot.
You need a customized approach.
Consulting that fits your culture, not a formulaic process applied to everyone.
You need a practical, actionable plan.
A strategy you can act on now, not a report that leaves you unsure of how to get started.
You need a fresh perspective.
New insights and hard questions, backed by decades of experience across nonprofits, philanthropy, and government
You need to translate across new partners.
Navigate new relationships, politics, and perspectives to find common ground.
You want embedded strategic advising.
Ongoing coaching and support alongside consulting for the difficult leadership questions.
SELECT EXAMPLES OF THE WORK
Strategic planning and implementation — $80M pivot
Led a strategic planning process for a national education nonprofit, designed operational processes for implementation, and led a communications sprint to articulate the new direction to funders and partners.
Launching a new initiative in climate — $100M goal
Designed an operational plan to enable a national think tank to raise $100 million at the intersection of climate change and youth.
Launching a new initiative in education
Helped a national nonprofit launch work in two states, building a statewide coalition and passing statewide legislation.
Strategic clarity and communications — $1B+ organization
Helped a global education organization launch a new initiative by clarifying strategic questions and articulating its strategy to funders and partners.
Building an operational plan for national scale
Helped an organization working with foster youth align its operational model as it scaled from one state to seven.
Five year strategic plans
Designed five year strategic plan for a number of local and national organizations, building alignment across leadership teams and boards.
I've spent 25 years as a senior leader and strategist across philanthropy, government, the nonprofit sector, and as a small business owner. That experience shapes everything about how I approach this work. I've sat in the seat my clients are in, and I know what it takes to move organizations forward through genuine uncertainty.
I hold degrees from the Harvard Kennedy School and Georgetown University and was named a Presidential Leadership Scholar in 2020.
ABOUT JUSTIN
If it seems like a fit,
I’d welcome a conversation.
Tell me what you’re navigating.