If you’re leading something that matters — and sensing it wants to evolve — you may be navigating questions of narrative, structure, and leadership all at once.
I advise universities, nonprofits, and civic organizations on campaign strategy, messaging, and leadership.
FOUNDATIONS, UNIVERSITIES, ALUMNI, NONPROFIT, COMMUNITY
What I Do
-
I help organizations design and prepare for ambitious campaigns by clarifying the priorities, narrative, and architecture that will carry the work forward. This often includes stakeholder interviews, strategy workshops, campaign framing, and the development of a clear case for support. The goal is to align leadership, donors, and the broader community around a shared vision so that the campaign reflects both the institution’s identity and its moment of opportunity.
-
I work with leaders and organizations to articulate clear, compelling messages that express who they are, what they are building, and why it matters. This can include campaign narratives, institutional messaging frameworks, speeches, editorial work, and website strategy. The focus is on coherence—aligning identity, strategy, and language so that communication strengthens trust, meaning, and momentum.
-
I coach leaders who are navigating complexity, growth, or transition within their organizations. Our work focuses on strengthening clarity, judgment, and presence so leaders can hold difficult decisions, relationships, and change with steadiness. Coaching often accompanies strategy work, but it can also stand alone as a confidential space for reflection, insight, and leadership development.
Lately …
An urban university in the PNW needed comprehensive campaign logic to build a $500 million campaign.
An urban university in the West needed donor and stakeholder research, and campaign and brand strategy to build a $750 million comprehensive campaign.
An organization that leads volunteer and service programs statewide needed a case for support, a three-year philanthropic fundraising plan, and an annual appeal strategy to supplement and sustain programs funded through at-risk federal dollars.
A large urban university needed website architecture, branding, and communications strategy for its alumni association.
A consulting partner needed website architecture, branding, strategy and messaging to differentiate itself from competitors and clarify its offering.
Social entrepreneurs and global nonprofit professionals sought 1:1 coaching support funded by a Silicon Valley foundation.
A candidate for U.S. Congress needed narrative strategy and messaging for a 16-week email campaign to mobilize volunteers, fundraising, and voters.
A statewide network of community foundations needed storytelling training for executive directors new to fundraising.
An edtech company needed 1:1 onboarding strategy and design to help students clarify their goals and maximize success in a fast-paced online learning environment.
About me.
With interests in identity, structure, and expression, I help institutions recognize the patterns shaping their future and design what comes next. I began my career as a reporter for The Phoenix Business Journal, covering tourism, hospitality, and airlines. Then I returned to school for my MFA in creative writing and poetry from the University of Arizona. I’m trained as a coach and facilitator in many modalities, but my most comprehensive coach training is through the Co-Active Leadership Institute and CRR Global. My experience in philanthropy and nonprofits is a rare combination of breadth and depth. In addition to holding leadership positions in advancement in large research and land-grant universities — where fundraising campaigns aspire to raise billions — I’ve also worked for a mid-sized community foundation, and served as executive director of two nonprofits that taught documentary and fine arts to all ages. Each had an annual operating budget under $1 million. As a writer, I publish a newsletter about nonprofit strategy, communications, and leadership, and I’m a contributor to Why Is This Interesting? Recent pieces include The Luxury Ice Cube Edition, The Archery Edition, and Why Is Sedona Interesting?
