Questions we hear a lot
If yours isn’t here, ask it on a call. We like questions.
Questions and Answers
Who do you work with?
Small and mid-sized nonprofits and independent schools. Our clients include arts and culture organizations, civil rights and advocacy groups, community health and environmental nonprofits, and K–12 independent schools.
How are engagements set up?
Two ways. A project has a defined scope and end date, like a development office audit, a board retreat, or a campaign feasibility study. A retainer is an ongoing partnership for organizations that want a strategic advisor on call. Many clients start with a project and stay on.
Can a small organization afford you?
Often, yes. We offer flexible pricing for smaller organizations and grassroots groups, because the organizations with the least room in their budgets often need strategic help the most. Tell us what you can spend, and we’ll tell you what we can do with it.
Do you raise money for us, or just give advice?
Both strategy and hands-on work. We draft case statements, write appeals, build email campaigns, guide database cleanups, and train your board. The one thing we don’t do is solicit major gifts on your behalf. Donors give to people they know at your organization, so we prepare your leaders to make the ask themselves, and we rehearse it with them until it feels natural.
How long does an engagement take?
It depends on the scope. An audit or a messaging project takes weeks; a capital campaign or a long-term board engagement can run a year or more. Every engagement starts with an agreed timeline, deliverables, and check-in dates, in writing, before any contract is signed.
Where are you? Do you work outside Los Angeles?
We’re based in Los Angeles and work with organizations across the country. Most of the work happens over video and shared documents, and we can travel for the moments that are better in person: retreats, campaign kickoffs, and major events.
Why do you still use the words diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and belonging?
Because each one names something specific, and softer substitutes tend to make the work vaguer. These principles run through everything we do, from how we audit a donor database to how we structure a campaign. Read more on our DEIJB page →
Do you have a blog?
We do. It’s called Beyond Giving, and a new post goes up every Thursday, with extra posts on holidays and days of remembrance that matter to the communities our clients serve. Read Beyond Giving →
Ask Us Your Own…
How do we get started?
Book a free consultation. We’ll ask about your goals, what’s getting in the way, and what you’ve already tried. You’ll leave with a few ideas either way.