Marketing, brand, and communications:
Earlier in my career I was exclusively a marketer – that is to say, an anthropologist who studied the environment and people to understand what they need, then turning inward to understand what the organization can or possibly could provide that would uniquely meet those needs, and finally, working to create messages and plans to effectively communicate the solution to the right people. I built some of the most well known and loved brands, created some of the most innovative and effective campaigns, have been a trailblazer in new and digital channels, co-authored a book on attribution modeling, won many awards and generated billions in revenue and market value. Over my 30 year career I have transitioned to doing those things for causes – developing brands, segments, messaging, campaigns, materials, and content that resonates with potential donors, volunteers, members, constituents, boards, and staff.
Whether you need strategic brand, messaging, campaign, events, co-branding arrangements, or analytics improvement, or something more tactical like needing your Google Ads Grant to deliver more, I have done it at world-class levels and I’d love to talk to you about doing it for you.
Fundraising:
I develop integrated, sustainable and diversified fundraising plans, priorities, budgets, KPIs, staff and skill requirements, systems, and processes needed to super-charge your fundraising. I also specialize in developing plans for major annual, capital or endowment campaigns. As a long-time leader in digital transformation, I’ve implemented CRM systems and processes, introduced platforms and plans for peer-to-peer, social, mobile and other newer channels for fundraising. I also establish benchmarks and KPIs, tracking and dashboards for ongoing management.
Program Development:
Product development in the for-profit world is a data-driven and “customer-centric” practice that is ongoing, with constant performance measurement, and persistent evolution. It should be no different with nonprofit program development. My first experience with program development was as a board member of a small nonprofit with a shrinking constituency due to a rapidly changing environment they were not keeping up with. My second was as Executive Director for a new nonprofit where I studied the best practices of leading global food security NPOs and blended elements together to create a set of new programs that were build specifically for the narrow, focused mission of our nonprofit. Each of them evolved considerably as we implemented them, gained feedback, brainstormed new ideas, implemented small tests, measured, evaluated and implemented those adjustments that had the highest impact. I’ve created, evolved and improved programs several times since as consultant and Program Director using the same approach for them that I take to helping you improve your programs.
Impact and Capacity:
“Cause matters. Performance matters more.” When I first started hearing this sentiment from individual and institutional donors, it resonated with me. There are thousands of nonprofits, all with a compelling cause they are fighting to positively impact. As potential donors, employees, and volunteers have more information and options for where they invest their time and money, they are becoming increasingly discerning. You have to have more than a passion for making a difference. You have to have proof you have made a difference and that you have the capacity to continue doing so. As a data-driven marketer and operationally efficient CEO/ED, I have a lot of experience identifying the KPIs that need to be measured, the systems for gathering and reporting the data, and the insight into the staff, skills and systems required to deliver. Sometime, the greatest value I offer in addition to those skills is simply fresh eyes. Myopia is difficult to avoid in nonprofit work. I don’t have that problem as a consultant.
Getting started
Contact me. I’ll look through your site and do some basic keyword and search result research and then we can talk for 30 minutes, free of charge. I’ll share what I’ve found and some high-level recommendations as well as my anticipated initial fee.