As a former nonprofit Executive Director with over 20 years of experience in leadership roles, I am on a mission to help nonprofit leaders thrive. A 2023 study* confirms what many in the sector have long suspected: being a nonprofit Executive Director can be incredibly isolating, often leading to burnout. I partner with executives and mission-driven leaders who want to break free from this cycle, get clear on who they are at their core, and find more joy in their days.
Nonprofits and their leaders are the backbone of societal progress, tackling critical issues from social justice to environmental protection with limited resources and immense pressure. The passion, dedication, and resilience of these leaders drive positive community change and shape a better future for all. However, the unique challenges they face can lead to burnout and disengagement if not addressed.
My approach provides the support and resources that are crucial for nonprofit leaders to thrive. I offer a holistic combination of thought partnership, tangible assistance, and coaching to support both personal growth and organizational health.
*Understanding nonprofit leader engagement and turnover: A story of job demands and resources Benjamin J. Thomas October 2023
Nonprofits and their leaders are the backbone of societal progress, tackling critical issues from social justice to environmental protection with limited resources and immense pressure. The passion, dedication, and resilience of these leaders drive positive community change and shape a better future for all. However, the unique challenges they face can lead to burnout and disengagement if not addressed.
My approach provides the support and resources that are crucial for nonprofit leaders to thrive. I offer a holistic combination of thought partnership, tangible assistance, and coaching to support both personal growth and organizational health.
*Understanding nonprofit leader engagement and turnover: A story of job demands and resources Benjamin J. Thomas October 2023
I serve as a real-time thought partner and extra set of hands to nonprofit executive leaders. Together, we'll work to reduce feelings of overwhelm, manage overwhelming workloads, boost job satisfaction, and create sustainable leadership practices
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Strategic advisory: One-on-one thought partnership in weekly, bimonthly, or monthly sessions to support goals and combat leadership isolation
Organizational health and effectiveness: Comprehensive organizational assessment and detailed recommendations Board governance: Clarifying responsibilities, designing effective meetings, designing open recruitment processes, and designing committee charters and workplans Human resources: Developing frameworks for hiring, evaluation, onboarding/offboarding, compensation, and professional growth |
Program strategy: Creating impact and evaluation frameworks aligned with organizational capacity, enhancing funding probability through improved program design
Executive Transitions: Preparing for and supporting successful leadership changes and succession planning Facilitation: Designing and leading inclusive and productive strategic planning retreats that energize your team and create clear paths forward. |
testimonials
"Megan's guidance has been transformative for my leadership development and our organization's growth. Her coaching has helped me create a strategic roadmap and implementation plan for our organization which is undergoing significant changes. It can be lonely leading a nonprofit organization through significant restructuring, and Megan has been a partner and mentor in my work as we reimagine our impact and strategy. In addition to leadership coaching and emotional support, Megan also uses her experience as a nonprofit executive director to support project critical to organizational infrastructure. With her support, we have completed an organizational assessment, implemented a project management system and updated the organization's policy and procedure handbook in just 6 months. By working with Megan, I've become more confident in my leadership and more effective in advancing our work, making her coaching an invaluable investment for both my professional growth and our organization's success." -Anonymous
"Working with Megan on assessing our governance systems, developing our board governance manual, and refining how the Canopy board functions was a wonderful process. She was thoughtful and insightful, bringing a wealth of knowledge from her 10 years of experience as an executive director herself. Her deep understanding of governance structures and strategic planning helped us shape a clear, forward-looking framework that will guide our board into the future. What set Megan apart was her mindful and calm approach. She was always available, ensuring that our concerns and questions were addressed with care and precision. She truly went above and beyond, and we are grateful for her invaluable contribution." - Jean-Paul Renaud, Executive Director, Canopy
"Megan was a tremendous asset to our organization during a time of transition, and to me as the organization’s incoming executive director. She helped the board of directors create policies and procedures that were critical to the functioning of the organization. Many of the things I was able to accomplish in my first three months as executive director were because of Megan’s guidance and support. She is an amazing communicator and facilitator, smart and efficient, and a true pleasure to work with! I highly recommend working with Megan and I know I will continue to in the future."
-Rebecca Spector, Executive Director, Tri-Valley Conservancy
"Megan's facilitation services for our tenant strategic planning session were invaluable. Her pre-meeting work was extremely useful and kept us on track for making numerous decisions and achieving significant progress during our short and impactful meeting. Her follow-up was succinct and actionable, enabling the our team to quickly begin addressing near-term items. We are fortunate to have Megan's help and without her, our strategic planning session wouldn't have happened." - Jerry Hearn, Board Chair, Peninsula Conservation Center Management Council
"Megan’s exceptional leadership, charm, and extensive expertise and insight shine through in every role she undertakes. As an event emcee, she exceeded expectations. Not only did she adapt multiple times to unforeseen logistical changes, but she provided unwavering support to the entire team – consistently offering guidance and assistance on both overarching strategies and crucial details." -Andrea Mackenzie, Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority General Manager
"I have big ideas for my organization's growth and next steps but have had some trouble getting grants recently. The process of working with Megan to create a program narrative and logic model and then write a grant was smooth, insightful, and efficient. The seven hours we spent together resulted in a successful $30,000 program grant and a $35,000 organizational effectiveness grant. I feel so empowered having the language we created to apply for future grants on my own!" -Catherine Liu, Founder and Executive Director, CompassPoint Mentorship
"Megan's dedication to our nonprofit's mission and her exceptional leadership qualities while she served as Executive Director left an indelible mark on our organization and my role as the new Executive Director. As a consultant, we leveraged Megan's expertise in nonprofit leadership, indigenous allyship work, DEIB, program development, and grant writing to support us on a project and she delivered exactly what we needed to support my recent leadership transition. Her professionalism, combined with an approachable and engaging demeanor, makes her easy and enjoyable to work with. Megan's extensive connections within the community have further enriched our collaborative efforts, fostering meaningful relationships and amplifying our impact." -Julie Hutcheson, Green Foothills Executive Director
"Working with Megan on assessing our governance systems, developing our board governance manual, and refining how the Canopy board functions was a wonderful process. She was thoughtful and insightful, bringing a wealth of knowledge from her 10 years of experience as an executive director herself. Her deep understanding of governance structures and strategic planning helped us shape a clear, forward-looking framework that will guide our board into the future. What set Megan apart was her mindful and calm approach. She was always available, ensuring that our concerns and questions were addressed with care and precision. She truly went above and beyond, and we are grateful for her invaluable contribution." - Jean-Paul Renaud, Executive Director, Canopy
"Megan was a tremendous asset to our organization during a time of transition, and to me as the organization’s incoming executive director. She helped the board of directors create policies and procedures that were critical to the functioning of the organization. Many of the things I was able to accomplish in my first three months as executive director were because of Megan’s guidance and support. She is an amazing communicator and facilitator, smart and efficient, and a true pleasure to work with! I highly recommend working with Megan and I know I will continue to in the future."
-Rebecca Spector, Executive Director, Tri-Valley Conservancy
"Megan's facilitation services for our tenant strategic planning session were invaluable. Her pre-meeting work was extremely useful and kept us on track for making numerous decisions and achieving significant progress during our short and impactful meeting. Her follow-up was succinct and actionable, enabling the our team to quickly begin addressing near-term items. We are fortunate to have Megan's help and without her, our strategic planning session wouldn't have happened." - Jerry Hearn, Board Chair, Peninsula Conservation Center Management Council
"Megan’s exceptional leadership, charm, and extensive expertise and insight shine through in every role she undertakes. As an event emcee, she exceeded expectations. Not only did she adapt multiple times to unforeseen logistical changes, but she provided unwavering support to the entire team – consistently offering guidance and assistance on both overarching strategies and crucial details." -Andrea Mackenzie, Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority General Manager
"I have big ideas for my organization's growth and next steps but have had some trouble getting grants recently. The process of working with Megan to create a program narrative and logic model and then write a grant was smooth, insightful, and efficient. The seven hours we spent together resulted in a successful $30,000 program grant and a $35,000 organizational effectiveness grant. I feel so empowered having the language we created to apply for future grants on my own!" -Catherine Liu, Founder and Executive Director, CompassPoint Mentorship
"Megan's dedication to our nonprofit's mission and her exceptional leadership qualities while she served as Executive Director left an indelible mark on our organization and my role as the new Executive Director. As a consultant, we leveraged Megan's expertise in nonprofit leadership, indigenous allyship work, DEIB, program development, and grant writing to support us on a project and she delivered exactly what we needed to support my recent leadership transition. Her professionalism, combined with an approachable and engaging demeanor, makes her easy and enjoyable to work with. Megan's extensive connections within the community have further enriched our collaborative efforts, fostering meaningful relationships and amplifying our impact." -Julie Hutcheson, Green Foothills Executive Director
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I am currently booking new consulting and coaching clients.
Let’s talk about your vision. Feel free to email me or schedule a 30 minute call. |
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