As Executive Director, you wear many hats and take on nearly every responsibility.

I spent five years as the general manager of a performing arts venue, and another five years as the executive director of a Pride Foundation. At the Pride Foundation, I was the first employee the organization ever had, and for a significant portion of that time, I was the only full-time staff member. While we had fantastic board members, volunteers, and contractors, being the only full-time employee was incredibly challenging. I’ve woken up in the middle of the night, worried about next month’s payroll. I’ve worked 100-hour weeks and 20-hour days. I’ve been my own IT department, HR department, and janitor.

I entered nonprofit consulting because I want to help leaders of small to mid-sized organizations navigate the challenges I’ve faced. I truly understand how difficult it can be to lead in these roles.

I also know that organizations can level up—they can increase their capacity, have a greater impact, and reduce the toll on their staff. By strengthening their systems and infrastructure, they can spend more time focused on their mission and less time putting out fires.

Being an Executive Director can feel isolating. In most jobs, you have colleagues to commiserate with, seek advice from, or vent to. But as an ED, you’re surrounded by board members, staff, volunteers, and donors. When something goes wrong, or you’re frustrated with someone in that group, it’s often inappropriate to discuss it with others in your circle.

Being an ED is exhausting. You oversee every aspect of the organization. While everyone involved is passionate about the cause, no one sees the full picture the way you do. It’s hard to explain just how chaotic things can get—figuring out what’s gone wrong with your payment processor, while trying to nail down a caterer for your gala, and then staffing the front desk because of a no-show volunteer. Your to-do list never seems to shrink, and it rarely feels like it’s focused on mission-related work.

Being an ED is overwhelming. Every question you ask seems to lead to ten more. You’re constantly in a chicken-and-egg situation—deciding what system to implement for fundraising campaigns, but needing funds to pay for the system. Every decision impacts others, and it’s difficult to know where to start.

If you’re feeling worn out, in over your head, and unsure who to turn to—I’ve been there. I understand what it’s like to be in your shoes, and I have practical experience with many of the challenges you’re facing. More importantly, I can help you chart a course out of the chaos and build a well-oiled, organized operation. I’m not here to tell you what worked for me and expect it to work for you. Together, we’ll create systems and plans tailored to your organization’s needs—and I’ll guide you every step of the way.

The good news is, things can improve. By the time I left the Pride Foundation, we had secured $1 million in new revenue, opened a community center, navigated through COVID, expanded our staff, and positioned ourselves as a sustainable, stable organization.

Every organization’s journey is unique, and I would love to help guide yours.

I find great joy in helping to bring someone’s vision to life and satisfaction in bringing order out of chaos—two things that overlap when it comes to leveling up a nonprofit. If you’re ready to talk, let’s schedule a free consultation today.