What I do
Through Grace Social Sector Consulting, I work with nonprofit organizations and associations that want to become more strategic, effective and innovative for greater mission impact. My passion is helping organizations cultivate healthy, inclusive cultures that live their values, fostering learning, creativity and results.
Working with me
I partner with organizations using a collaborative approach to help you focus on your most critical issues, to support you in identifying your strengths and to facilitate you imagining new options and choosing a way forward.
I enjoy helping people tap into their creativity to solve the challenges that face them. Some of my favorite sentences start with, “what if we were to…?” And I want to have some fun along the way. I believe that the best teams and organizations laugh together as they work together. Fun for me includes questioning conventional wisdom and imagining new possibilities.
I am known for my candor. People describe me as someone who speaks my truth and is down-to-earth. People appreciate my perspective and seek out my advice.
I love to learn, and this helps me get to know your organization and its strengths and challenges quickly.
Background
I grew up overseas and learned at an early age that cultures vary and there are few absolutes. Living in the world between my home American culture and European culture, I became a student of history, culture and language. I continue to be fascinated with ways to better understand human organizing systems and the cultures that emerge within these systems.
I also grew up the younger sister of a brother with special needs. Observing how the world treated him, interacted with his difference and how in many cases systems were not set up with him in mind helped me appreciate the challenges of those that our society marginalizes.
Both of these experiences drew me to the nonprofit sector. Nonprofits are an expression of how our democracy works – self organizing groups promoting their vision of a social good. At the same time, nonprofits are often hampered down by a lack of resources, having to answer to and manage the politics of multiple stakeholders and bottom lines. I believe that nonprofits represent our best solution for working on social problems as they exist for a greater good and can be incubators of social experimentation.
I have worked in the association and nonprofit sector for over 20 years working with education and social change organizations. I graduated from Swarthmore College and have a Masters in Organization Development from American University. I have completed BoardSource's Certificate of Nonprofit Board Consulting. I am licensed consultant with the Standards for Excellence Institute, an accrediting organization for nonprofits. I also have a certificate in design thinking from University of Virginia's Darden School of Business.
I have expertise in innovation, the design and facilitation of learning programs, both in person and online, as well as organization and leadership development. I speak frequently on nonprofit and associations strategy and innovation topics.
Learn more by by going to Grace Social Sector Consulting's website!
Hear the Podcast!

Welcome to the Mission Impact Podcast
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See Recorded Content, On-Demand, Below

Managing Leadership Transitions with Liz Woolfe, by Mission Impact
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Uncertainty and Emergence with Arielle Goodman, Jenny Hegland and Jessica Srikantia, by Mission Impact
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Why learning design is important to nonprofits with Nancy Bacon, by Mission Impact
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Organizational healing with Nyacko Perry, by Mission Impact
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The Pandemic and the Nonprofit Sector with Liz Scott, by Mission Impact
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How to avoid key grant seeking mistakes with Michelle Nusum-Smith, by Mission Impact
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Operations and Hiring with Bobbi Russell, by Mission Impact
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Working with Volunteers with Peggy Hoffman, by Mission Impact
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Associations and their Benefits with Shelley Sanner and Alanna McKee, by Mission Impact
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Mind, Body, Spirit, Emotions and Identity with Becca Bartholomew, by Mission Impact
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Nonprofit Executive Searches with Carlyn Madden, by Mission Impact
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Authentic marketing for your nonprofit with Stu Swineford, by Mission Impact
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Digital transformation and associations with Elizabeth Engel, by Mission Impact
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How to Hire a Nonprofit Consultant with Heather Yandow, by Mission Impact
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Investing in the next generation of nonprofit leaders with Andy Robinson, by Mission Impact
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Nonprofit Leadership with Keisha Sitney, by Mission Impact
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The Nonprofit Executive Director-Board Chair relationship with Mary Hiland, by Mission Impact
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Technology and nonprofits with Moira Edwards, by Mission Impact
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Community engagement for nonprofits with Cinthia Manuel, by Mission Impact
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Fundraising Fundamentals with Sabrina Walker-Hernandez, by Mission Impact
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Strategic Partnering for Nonprofits with Rebecca Murphy, by Mission Impact
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Organizational Values with Rosalind Spigel, by Mission Impact
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Program Evaluation with Wendy Wolff, by Mission Impact
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Identity and the Nonprofit Sector with Tip Fallon, by Mission Impact
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Wellness in the Workplace with Peter Lane, by Mission Impact
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Storytelling and Relationship Building with Kristin Bradley Bull, by Mission Impact
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Preventing Burnout in the Nonprofit Sector with Beth Sperber Richie, by Mission Impact
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Influencing Decision Makers for Nonprofit Leaders with Kathy Patrick, by Mission Impact
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Communication matters with Carol Vernon, by Mission Impact
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