Photo by Abel Arciniega of tequila Photo & Designs | IPMM Lead Photographer

I have 15+ Years of Experience in Nonprofit Development, A Theory of Change, and Proof.

There is a lot of fuzzy math in the nonprofit sector. A variety of misconceptions, erroneously held views, self-limiting beliefs, and a whole lot of opportunity to change the future of good work. By rethinking the way we solve problems and deliver value, and

By employing sound strategy, empathy, and efficient grassroots tactics, nonprofits and their dedicated leaders can drive impactful relationships, change, and partnerships with the communities they serve.

I’ve worked in various types of nonprofits and social & artistic ventures, conducting everything from direct actions to annual executive reviews in issues often intersecting with art and activism.

I look forward to learning about your organization, your mission and the work you’re doing to make the world a better place. What’s more, if you’re here, you’re thinking about new solutions.

I really appreciate that.

Theory of Change

It’s not that complex, really. But it is uncanny. There is something about mixing the good will to make the world a better place with the savvy ingenuity needed to succeed as a small business of any tax designation.

As people who envision a better world, we often know WHY we want to work on a particular social issue, and when we pair that with a strategic HOW, we unlock great potential for organizations, especially when we’re always thinking about VALUE, SHARED BELIEFS, and COLLABORATION as keystones to a sustainable, dynamic, and impactful strategy.

Proof

IPaintMyMind is the nonprofit arts organization I founded in 2012 and which currently is growing and typifies the type of outlook I believe in, which is largely a self-funded model in which we do very little fundraising.

My theory of change frees our organizations up to DO THE WORK, not talk about the work so we can fund it.

I’m not promoting pie in the sky stuff I haven’t seen work in my own organization. Most nonprofits meet their unfortunate end well within 5 years of inception. 8+ years into IPMM’s evolution, I’m honored to pass along the know-how I have developed over the last 12+ years working in the nonprofit sector.

I’d love to help your organization sustain its mission for the communities it serves for years to come.

I am happy to offer a FREE 30-minute discovery call to any nonprofit leader interested in learning more! Just email me and we can schedule a time to discuss, thanks!

Me being excited during a conversation about nonprofit program development strategy and the way dialogue with the communities we serve helps us redefine the power structure and put our heroes at the center of their story.

Me being excited during a conversation about nonprofit program development strategy and the way dialogue with the communities we serve helps us redefine the power structure and put our heroes at the center of their story.

SERVICE STRUCTURE for NONPROFIT CONSULTING

Discovery Call

  • FREE Intro + Discovery Call — 20 minute call - overview of my services and frameworks, along with basic overview of your organization

Current State Intake / a la Cart Meeting ($350 per hr)

  • 60 minute mtg with your leadership team

  • Q&A, discussion-based fielding top items from your agenda

Project-Based: Custom & Strategic Problem Solving (Starting at $3,500) - 1 Month

  • Project Based Intake + Evaluation

  • 4-week consultation including kick-off mtg focused on one specific vertical or organizational challenge

  • Up to 4 (four) - 60 minute strategy calls

  • a Slack channel for communication & Google Drive folder for resources

  • New Strategic Single-Project Plan: production of a master document & workbook outlining action items as per that specific strategic vertical and a 6-mo calendar including development & impact goals.

Comprehensive: Sustainable Nonprofit Development Strategy Creation ($9,500) - 3 Months

  • Comprehensive InTake + Evaluation

  • 12-week consultation including kick-off mtg focused on all 3 verticals - Revenue, Marketing, Operations.

  • Up to 12 (twelve) - 60 minute calls

  • Nonprofit ToolKit

  • a Slack channel for communication & Google Drive folder for resources

  • New Comprehensive Strategic Plan Delivery: production of a master document & workbook outlining action items as per each strategic vertical: Revenue Generation, Marketing, Operations and an 18-mo calendar including development & impact goals.

Retainer - Ongoing Support (Starting at $2,500 monthly)

  • Custom Engagement - I’m there when you need me (unlimited).

Schedule a call with me today to see which is the best fit for you.

OTHER STRATEGIC AREAS I CAN HELP WITH:

  • Content Marketing Strategy for Nonprofits

  • Email Marketing for Nonprofits

  • Social Media for Nonprofits

  • Lean Operations

  • Lead Generation

MY STORY LEARNING & WORKING IN NONPROFITS

As a young person I was always interested in how we could make the world a better place. The bilingual immersion magnet school I grew up in was all about Activism + Art. The beauty of that school, in addition to its focus on bilingual immersion, was the way it made experiencing different cultures such a central part of the experience, that it was always happening. It was always baked in.

It compelled us, as students, into action.

Sometimes Life Decides

As an athlete growing up, my activism was secondary until I went to college, got hurt the second day of tryouts, and charted a different path than I thought I might. The Justice and Peace Studies Program at The University of St. Thomas, a program I was completely unaware of when selecting this school, fell squarely into my lap.

I found a place to learn about cultures and engage in new methods of actually building the solutions of the future. I travelled to Bangladesh & El Salvador among other places, and got really riled up about the good we could do in the world if we mixed good will with ingenuity.

Yea, But How Ya Gonna Fund It?

The main sticking point always revolved around funding… sure, there is plenty of work the world needs done, but how are we as leaders of a better future going to fund that work?!

That’s the $400 million question.

I was annoyed that this, the most pertinent of questions, wasn’t given more time and attention in my studies or in the sector at large. Figuring out a way to sustainably fund the work was the biggest rubiks cube of all, and solving it could mean a major shift in the future of good work.

After working with organized labor, people’s groups, and collective actions in favor of workers and immigrants, I went on to work with the Citizen’s Utility Board, delivering information and awareness regarding utilities and their costs to working class Illinoisans’ all over our state.

Art + Entrepreneurship + Nonprofits + Sustainability

After 4 years there, I focused more on content (all while IPMM existed as a blog), and eventually founded IPaintMyMind officially in February 2012, after hosting art shows, film screenings, and concerts all over Chicago.

As IPMM grew, artists sent us art, and we continued thinking about how to sustainably fund an effort to bring art and its incredibly empowering and engaging nature to communities everywhere. A vision that values the humanity and perspective we all share and can contribute, and that was determined to fuel itself through a mix of art and collaboration.

I continued to test and experiment with a model which can be summed up most concisely with the words, ‘Get Art, Give Back,’ in which IPMM mobilizes art services to clients and partners which sustainably funds programs it delivers for FREE or low-cost to the most underestimated communities in Chicago. In short, we connect communities through art, and we do so through a model that doesn’t require we beg, grovel, or fundraise all the time.

IPaintMyMind has been dedicated to that vision ever since, and our impact has only expanded - adding great people to the team, serving more people and communities, and doing it all through art experiences that make us all more creative and connected.

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION’S CHALLENGES, GOALS, AND OUTLOOK.

I’M EXCITED TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR MISSION AND WORK!

FAQ

  • What is a nonprofit strategist and what is nonprofit consulting?

    • A nonprofit strategist helps nonprofit organizations examine, evaluate, vet, test, and consult on new development, operational, programmatic, or revenue generating strategies. In short, we help your nonprofit work better by meeting challenges and building for sustainability.

  • How do nonprofit consulting firms work?

    • Typically a nonprofit consultant will work on a retainer, hourly, or project basis. Their perspective, formulas, frameworks, and workflows are all applied to the evaluation of your organization to solve its most pressing problems.

  • What nonprofit consulting services do you offer?

  • Is a nonprofit strategic planning consultant the same as a 501c3 consultant?

    • Yes. It’s all about assessment and planning for the future. A nonprofit in the United States must have 501(c)(3) status.

  • How long have you been consulting for nonprofits?

    • I have been helping nonprofits with their models, operations, and strategies for over a decade. I also founded and run IPaintMyMind, a nonprofit arts agency that has implemented all the strategies I advocate for. IPMM is a Top-Rated nonprofit as per Great Nonprofits, and was founded in 2012.

  • Nonprofit strategy consulting sounds expensive, what are your prices?

  • We need targeted support, can we work with you on nonprofit management consulting versus say, nonprofit marketing consulting?

    • Absolutely. Part of my process includes identifying need areas, and can be confined to those operational verticals. A comprehensive strategy is often what I recommend, as it helps ensure repairs in certain areas aren’t undercut by leaks in others.

  • Consulting for nonprofits feels broad, do we need someone specific to our slice of the sector?

    • The reality is that nonprofit or charity organizations have a favorable tax status, but this is not limiting their revenue potential. It simply proves that it is an organization the government approves for the greater good. Regardless of what cause vertical your organization is in, revenue generation and value delivery are always of the utmost importance.

  • What is your process for working with nonprofits?

    • I begin with an Introductory / Discovery call to tell you more about my process and perspective, as well as to learn more about your organization. I then offer the various options for working with me, and we embark upon a la Carte, project, or retainer-based approaches. My framework is about getting the org on paper and understanding the current state so we can prioritize problems and solutions.