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.
"This talented team became our partners in facing our future and scaling up our organization to handle our mounting challenges. They thoughtfully applied their deep knowledge to our environment and created practical solutions. Their research was thorough and their recommendations were specifically tailored to our issues. Their sensitivity and understanding of our people, our financial and technical challenges and our opportunities for our future was remarkable. The guidance we received went way beyond our expectations. They gave us the path for our future and, as a result, we avoided mistakes we certainly would have made and we are now way ahead of where any of us thought was possible. We deeply appreciate Suzanne and Kelly’s partnership with the Wentcher Foundation.”
Brian Fitzpatrick, President and Executive DirectorWentcher Foundation
“We would like to thank Next Level NPO for their help and support in conducting an organizational audit for the Holistic Life Foundation. It was under their guidance and assessment of our current operations that we able to set up efficient systems and infrastructure that allow us to function more efficiently as an organization based on their recommendations. It was such a pleasure working with such a professional and experienced organization! Love you so much!”
Andres Gonzales, Co-FounderHolistic Life Foundation
“The Jenner Ogden Community Steering Committee faced an uphill battle as we endeavored to merge two culturally and socioeconomically divergent schools within the Chicago Public School (CPS) system. While the idea was morally sound, it needed to be data driven and inclusive of the entire community. We solicited a consultant group who possessed cultural sensitivity, could remain neutral throughout the process and most importantly a team that was flexible and able to produce a veracious, scholarly and institutionally respected final report. We selected Next Level in 2016 and their final report became the foundation for a unanimous CPS Board approval in 2018.”
Rev. Randall K. Blakey, Executive Pastor, LaSalle Street ChurchCo-Lead Jenner-Ogden Community Steering Committee
“Suzanne and Kelly provided incredible operational expertise and strategic support to the Boulder JCC after we moved into our new 52,000-square foot building on a 10 acre campus. They quickly developed strong rapport with both the JCC Board and Staff. Their work enabled us to unite around a clear set of outcomes and strategic priorities. NextLevel's work has transformed the way we do business at the Boulder JCC, streamlined our operations, and helped increase our revenue and the philanthropic support we receive.”
Jonathan Lev, Executive DirectorBoulder Jewish Community Center
“NextLevel provided extremely valuable advice and support across of a number of projects for our organization. Kelly and Suzanne both worked at the highest level of professionalism, never hesitating to go the extra-mile to help us achieve our objectives. Their commitment and support to our success as an organizational was incredibly motivating for me as Executive Director. I have recommended them to a variety of different social enterprises. They are terrific!”
David Sachs, Executive DirectorThe LEADERship, Baltimore
"NextLevel helped our organization identify some challenging issues and make some difficult decisions at a critical time in our history. In the end, NextLevel put in place the structure and discipline both the staff and board required to grow and serve more children in and around Chicago. We appreciated their straightforward approach and thoughtful partnership. We are again thriving and meeting our mission!"
Catherine Gottfred, PhD CCC/SLP, Founder and PresidentLEAP (Learning Empowers All People)
"When Next Level NPO started working with MERIT, the organization was operating under a fiscal sponsor, serving 50 students with a budget around $100,000. Kelly and Suzanne took the time to deeply understand our staff, board and mission. They helped MERIT develop comprehensive financial policies, a development plan, and a revamped organization structure. Three years later, MERIT is operating under our own 501(c)3, serving almost 250 students and on track to raise almost $1 million this year."
Jake Weinfeld, Ed. M, Director of Operations and PartnershipsMERIT Health Leadership Academy
“The NextLevel team worked with Thread during a period of rapid growth and change to help us develop an organizational structure that could support anticipated expansion, optimally align our current staff to refined positions, and highlight opportunities to add to our team. We valued NextLevel’s candor and grasp of our organization, and asked them to return for a second project focused on hiring for several key positions.”
Sarah Hemminger, Co-founder and CEOThread
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
Restructuring
Improvements
Planning
Strategic Plan
Research Project
Build
Governance
Recruitment
and Redirection