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about us

what makes us different

Our work and results are grounded in fact gathering and research and based uniquely on your organization. We partner with our clients at all stages of our projects, leveraging internal resources whenever possible, and provide candid assessments and thoughtful recommendations. We support leadership through insightful analysis, alternate perspectives, and forward thinking as we work with you and your team. Nothing is cookie-cutter.

our history

In 2013, we set out to determine if there was a broader need for core business support and advice in the non-profit sector in Chicago. What we discovered was immense talent and passion, and the opportunity to work with organizations to improve their leverage of financial and strategic resources, all in support of mission. With thanks to our many clients, now in several states, we have never looked back.

our services

operational effectiveness

Focusing on mission is clearly the most important element of a CEO’s and Board’s job. The challenge is that nonprofits are often asked to do more with less. We partner with our clients to develop or enhance methods and tools for achieving improved organizational and operational efficiency and ensuring that during key inflection points related to transition and/or growth, necessary changes from the organizational and operational status quo are identified and implemented.

financial management

Passion and innovative programming are elemental to any nonprofit’s outcomes, but the numbers need to add up, too.  Boards, funders and partners need assurance that scarce resources are wisely spent, through solid financial information management and reporting.  We assess our clients’ financial condition and information management structures, and partner with them to develop effective tools to help manage financial risk.  We also provide short-term contract financial support as needed to clients implementing a more robust financial management solution.

organization development

Running an effective organization translates to achieving great outcomes with limited resources. We conduct thorough organizational reviews and provide our clients with insightful, candid observations about how the design of their organizations impacts outcomes. We partner with nonprofits to structure the organization to best achieve their missions, while recognizing resource constraints and honoring core values. We work diligently and sensitively to ensure that staff are aligned with meaningful positions where they can make an impact. When needed, we translate our knowledge of the organization into effective recruiting for new or open positions.

transition management

Recognizing and adapting to change is a key success factor for today’s nonprofit.  Substantive change in the form of new leadership, changes in funding, new priorities, or a new operating environment will require an organization to reassess how it works so that its resources can be used most effectively.  We frequently work with new leaders to help strike the balance between passion for mission and accountability for operational soundness, as well as with organizations at other inflection points, to help maintain focus in the face of change.

board effectiveness

A nonprofit’s Board of Directors is a vital, but often underutilized, resource for the organization, and especially for its leader (it’s lonely at the top.)  Through a thoughtful process in partnership with leadership and the Board of Directors, we evaluate the effectiveness of our clients’ Boards, and help them to realize the potential of a high functioning Board through the introduction and implementation of Board best practices, structures and tools.

strategic and business planning

Organizations invest precious time and resources into strategic and business planning, and the return on that investment should be an actionable plan (and not a dust collector)- a ”living” roadmap that signals priorities and values, and provides guidance and meaning to the work of everyone in the organization.  We partner with our nonprofit clients to determine what type of plan will be most impactful, and conduct an inclusive process to develop a plan that the organization can rally around.  We help our clients to translate their visions into action and results.

featured projects

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