Capacity-building Services 

Income Development. High Impact = High Income. You need compelling messaging (of 8 words or less) to guide every communication with your individual donors. GrayMatter Solutions for Nonprofits will help you create this message and show you how to move from conducting fundraising as a “not-for-profit” organization into operating as a “for high impact” organization. Such organizations think big, build simply, and act immediately. They abandon the culture of scarcity and sacrifice and adapt a culture of abundance and meaning. This work plan starts with a no-cost 2 hour session with board and staff that will create an impact statement and a compelling donor messaging strategy that each participant can immediately use. Following this workshop, GrayMatter Solutions can provide: (1) a clear, concise, and concrete annual income development plan for cultivating sustainable and diversified sources of income from individuals, workplace federations, corporations, community-based groups, grants and contracts, etc.; (2) a gift chart to focus each fundraising campaign; (3) a board member fundraising expectations agreement; (4) a major donor program; (5) coaching on how to think big, stay simple, and act immediately as a high-impact organization.

Board Development: Engaging Leadership.  All nonprofits struggle at times with board and governance issues—from a lack of suitable candidates to poorly motivated members, little understanding of legal duties, anemic board fundraising, inability to focus on the future, weak committees, improper operational roles, unclear structure, confusing expectations, and lack of passion. GrayMatter Solutions for Nonprofits assists nonprofits on improving their boards and working to create a culture of engagement based on sharing of meaningful work. All technical assistance is based on current research, best practices, and years of experience. The results from a consultation is fewer meetings, greater focus on impact, and clearer expectations all around. Clients receive (1) governance audit; (2) board succession plan; (3) board job descriptions; (4) model board meeting agenda; (5) executive director evaluation guide.

Program Excellence:  Change, not charity.  What is your impact? Is this the impact you want to have or need to have? What greater impact do you wish to have? Organizations that focus on making a high impact through a few mission critical programs are those that thrive. Too often programs and services do not have a clear strategic tie to the mission. And while most do, evaluation of programs is frequently testimonial only and not empirical. GrayMatter Solutions works with organizations to help develop sound program logic models and evidenced-based outcomes measurements grounded in data and best practices. Clients learn how to document, deliver, and demonstrate effectiveness in creating positive mission-focused impact worthy of greater investment. Clients receive a (1) program logic model; (2) outcomes metrics; (3) programs/services/field audit; (4) results-based, high-impact messaging guidance.

Strategic Planning:  How to toss your strategic plan and start seeing the future. The future of the organization is the special concern of the board of directors. Too often boards look back and not forward because they lack the time, knowledge, and skills to forecast the future and plan on how to shape it in ways that boost impact. GrayMatter Solutions for Nonprofits does not write strategic plans that fill large notebooks and sit on a shelf for five years. Instead the process begins with an audit of your current strategic planning and evaluation activities. This audit becomes the basis for developing your existing practices into formal strategic thinking and acting, and learning opportunities at the board, CEO, and key staff levels. Clients receive (1) a future focus audit; (2) written Strategic Action Plan; (3) coaching and guidance on acting with forethought of strategy in all governance functions.