A strategic plan serves as a roadmap and as a tool for assessing progress. It should be nimble, responsive to change, and provide practical implementation. It serves as a guide that provides vision, direction, drives actions, and measures progress. It helps an organization achieve its goals and make an impact in an ever-changing world.
Our approach
Each organization is unique and we customize our process to fit your needs and goals. We are flexible, hands-on, and bring broad and deep nonprofit experiences to help facilitate the process. We believe the process should be collaborative and include input and participation from all stakeholders. We promise to build an inclusive planning process.
Recent Clients: Autism Society of Central Virginia (ASCV), Bay Aging, Empowering Culpeper, FOLAR, Goochland Habit for Humanity, KOVAR, United Jewish Federation of the Virginia Peninsula, VAFRE, Virginia Community Food Connections (Fredericksburg), Virginia Law Foundation, Virginia War Memorial. For a full list of Nisenson Consulting Clients click here.
Services
Succession Plan Facilitation and Development (full 3-5 yr plan)
Not ready for a full plan, consider:
Bridging a Strategic Plan. We can help you update and expand your current plan to keep you on track.
Strategic Planning Lite. Strategic Planning takes time. If you would like to work through the process in stages, we can facilitate your mission and vision review, conducting a visioning process, facilitate meetings, trainings, and team activities and help you put the pieces you need for a full plan in place.
Program Services Review. This review analyzes programs to support discussions of expansion, sustainability and changes to current programming.
““Amy did an excellent job ensuring every area of our business and governance were considered within our plan…Amy always insists on a strong implementation plan.” ”
A succession plan strengthens the overall capability of the organization by identifying critical positions, key competencies and skills necessary for business continuity, highlighting potential vacancies and focusing development of individuals to meet future business needs.
Our approach
We customize our process to fit your needs and goals, but maintain a disciplined approach to produce a solid plan. We are flexible and draw on broad and deep knowledge of nonprofits to support the process. We promise to build an inclusive planning process.
Recent Clients: Literacy for Life (Williamsburg), Leadership Metro Richmond, Southside Community Development and Housing Corporation, Virginia Law Foundation. For a full list of Nisenson Consulting Clients click here.
Services
Succession Plan Facilitation and Development
Succession Planning Training
CEO Evaluation
Governance provides consistent oversight, accountability, and checks and balances essential for nonprofit organizations to achieve their goals and ensure long-term sustainability. In nonprofits, the Board of Directors typically fulfills this role. Effective governance ensures actions are always in the best interests of the organization. It can enhance business performance, increase stability and productivity, and unlock new opportunities. Additionally, it reduces risks and facilitates faster, safer growth.
Our approach
We bring nonprofit experience, governance best practices to your unique situation. We can customize training, build new training programs, and support your needs.
Recent Clients: ACTS, Byrd Theater, Cancer Linc, Childcare Aware, Home Again, Housing Families First, Rappahannock Community Service Board, Virginia Community Service Boards, Winchester Congregational Community Action Project, The Woman’s Club. For a complete list of clients click here.
Services
Board Development. How do you get the right people around your board table? Constructing a strong, supportive board is more than an impressive roster.
Board Governance. Boards have legal, ethical, and fiduciary responsibilities. Understanding their role as a board member will help them support your organization.
Starting a Nonprofit. Support for developing bylaws, Articles of Incorporation, board development, and filing IRS and state documents.
Training:
Board Roles and Responsibilities
Building a Board for Fundraising
Culture of Inquiry
Customized Training - tell us what you need.
Amy has guided both public and private foundation grantmaking. She combines her 18 years as a funder with her experience in development to help organizations build sustainable, streamlined, and equitable funding solutions.
Our approach
Amy’s broad experience as a funder and fundraiser helps her craft plans and processes that help all in the nonprofit community achieve their goals.
Recent Clients: Greater Lynchburg Community Foundation, Mary Morton Parsons Foundation. For a complete list of clients, click here.
Services
Develop proactive grant making practices
Establish complete grant acceptance and review processes
Provide interim and part-time executive support (See Interim Executive Director)
Develop policies and procedures
Conduct due diligence on behalf of nonprofit organizations
Establish strategic partnerships with grantees
An Executive Director, President or CEO is the leader of your nonprofit, guides and supports employees at all levels of the organization, implements the organization’s mission. Senior development staff play provide leadership and planning for the organization’s fundraising, marketing, and outreach. Having the right people in these positions is critical to an organization’s success and sustainability. Hiring the right person takes time, experience and expertise.
With years of nonprofit service in the community, Amy has helped many nonprofits find their new chief executive or key development or operations staff. If you need help in finding the right candidate for your organization, contact Amy to talk about your organization’s needs.
Recent Clients: ASK, ASCV, Family Lifeline, Peter Paul RVA, Senior Connections, The READ Center, Westminster Canterbury Foundation. For our complete list of clients, click here.
Services
Job description review and development
Develop policies and procedures for equitable hiring
Conduct searches for key organization positions
Interim ED
Fundraising is essential for non-profits. It raises awareness of the organization, can attract grants diverse financial support, and provide opportunities to cultivate relationships with donors, potentially leading to greater involvement, such as volunteering or becoming board members.
Effective fundraising requires careful planning and prioritization, prompting organizations to assess and optimize their resources and strategies. Fundraising efforts keep the organization moving forward, driving the team’s motivation and passion to achieve more and make a greater impact.
Our approach We work with you where you are to build a plan that fits your current needs and provide templates that will support your future fundraising growth. We add marketing and community engagement suggestions, ideas and if requested, plans to support your fundraising efforts.
Recent Clients: ACTS, Anna Julia Cooper School, Rush Homes (Lynchburg), Senior Connections, Winchester Community Action Program. For a full list of clients, click here.
Services
Leadership development including mentoring and coaching development staff/executive staff
Fundraising assessments, development audits, fund development plans and planning studies
Strategic thinking and implementation plans involving individual and corporate solicitation strategies
Training:
Building a diverse revenue portfolio
Building a Fundraising Board
Grant writing and research
Building a diverse revenue portfolio
Marketing for Fundraising
Navigating support from corporations and foundations
Community engagement is vital to achieving your mission and goals. Building relationships within your community not only raises awareness but also deepens the connection to your cause. This engagement is crucial not just for newcomers but also for your existing supporters. Even your most ardent supporters may struggle to stay connected if the only communication they receive from you is a request for a donation.
Our approach We meet you where you are, crafting a plan tailored to your current needs while providing a flexible template that can grow with your engagement.
Recent Clients: Luck Companies, Winchester Community Action Program (WCCAP). For a complete list of clients, click here.
Services
Develop community engagement strategies and programs that support strategic philanthropy
Establish leadership and structure for employee volunteer programs
Provide best practice information on matching gift and “dollars for doers” programs
Training
Marketing for Fundraising
Strategic Thinking for Non-Executives