Sample Projects
Strategic Adviser and Trainer
Client A, a small arts nonprofit, knew they were at a point in their life cycle where they needed to hire a Development Director, but they were unsure of which direction to take and not every board member agreed this was a good idea.
Kristen met individually with each board member to get a read on the culture and feel of the organization. She helped the organization with prospect research and grantwriting, which further informed her understanding of the strengths and challenges of the nonprofit. She led a board training on the separate roles of development, board members, and the executive director. In the end, she helped the organization hire a new Development Director and was integral in the transition and onboarding process for this new hire.
Interim Development Director
Client B, a mid-size cultural institution, was having trouble holding onto its development staff and could not find a solution.
Kristen came in to assess the problem and to fill the role of interim development staff in the meantime in order to ensure a smooth continuation of development activities. She first met with each board member and offered numerous recommendations for changes in board practices. In her time with the organization she brought in new private funding, created a variety of development and marketing materials, and cleaned up the decades-old donor database. She revived the board’s development committee and helped the organization create and hire for a new development department staffing structure that made more sense for the organization’s needs.
Development Database Expert
Client C, a mid-size human services agency, was facing decades of erratic and at times improper Raiser’s Edge use. The years of inconsistent data made reporting and analysis nearly impossible. Major gifts were improperly coded, which led to embarrassment at donor meetings.
Kristen worked closely with the Development Director to re-code and streamline all gifts. After cleaning up 20 years of data, Kristen recommended coding improvements for better tracking and analysis based on the needs of the organization. She created a coding handbook to keep entry and management consistent going forward and trained the appropriate staff in their individual duties and procedures.