We work with companies, foundations, and families of all sizes to craft smart, tailored plans that turn big ideas into real impact.  Our services include:

Planning Processes

• Leading corporate, private and family foundations through planning processes to develop and implement high-impact philanthropy programs. Includes creation of strategic frameworks, objectives and outcomes, and actionable program plans.

• Designing iterative engagement and listening processes that reach a variety of stakeholders and organizations to better understand key players, existing relationships, community dynamics, and nuances around community and societal needs.

Philanthropy Strategies

• Advising on and creating philanthropic tactics and identifying meaningful partnerships to advance social and/or business goals and objectives.

• Collaborating with foundations and companies to align philanthropic strategies with their mission, goals, and objectives by assessing stakeholder expectations, key issues, and available resources.

• Analyzing current and emerging trends in philanthropy, including data on social issues, key stakeholders and their connections, change strategies, and funding landscapes.

We design and drive responsive funding strategies that adapt, learn, and deliver. Our services include:

Grants Strategy

• Designing impactful grantmaking programs by incorporating insights from funders, communities, and stakeholders to identify strategic focus areas that address significant needs.

• Developing grantmaking guidelines and criteria to facilitate execution of specific strategic objectives.

• Identifying high impact grants opportunities - connecting dots within or across portfolios for greater impact.

• Creating a framework for impact reporting that enables the development of short- and long-term metrics to tell an immediate and longitudinal story of impact - includes development of logic models, progress reports and grantee success stories.

Grants Management

• Designing and executing all aspects of the grantmaking process, including, RFP development and management, proposal review and evaluation, committee leadership and decision-making, grantee communication and back-office services.

• Acting as an extension of your team, we identify high-impact partners and grantees, put in place the right systems and supports, and track progress to ensure meaningful results.

We design spaces—retreats, cohorts, and convenings—where ideas flow, relationships deepen, insights surface and momentum turns into action.  Our services include:

Learning Spaces

• Designing interactive learning spaces for staff, board and family retreats where families and funders can explore and discuss meaningful issues.

• Developing and implementing engaging learning communities and knowledge-sharing among grantee cohorts.

Community Convenings

• Supporting corporate and foundation clients in strategically convening its priority internal and external stakeholders to foster connections, share learnings and resources, highlight program successes and challenges, and create roadmaps for shared future actions and programming.  

• Creating comprehensive content that includes keynote speakers, panels, breakout sessions, celebratory/showcase elements, and networking opportunities, ensuring that the convening is well-balanced, engaging, and responsive to key issues and needs.

• Implementing ongoing stakeholder engagement, and innovative and interactive activities that leverage learning methods and art activations as a key differentiating factor for companies and foundations to build deeper engagement, and inform emerging opportunities to advance programmatic and business goals.

We guide groups to shared vision, clarity, and aligned action— bringing structure, insight, and momentum to the table. Our services include:

Consensus Building and Decision-Making

• Facilitating corporate, foundation and family planning meetings to build consensus on complex issues such as values, vision, philanthropic goals, and funding priorities.

• Leading and facilitating grantmaking decision meetings, including full oversight of external review committees.

• Leading inclusive conversations that move people—and plans—forward. Includes creating diverse and inclusive spaces where all voices are heard, and ideas are explored through a series of ice-breaker and team-building activities.