Working with clients to:

• explore values, passions, and motivations for action,

• create or revise mission and vision statements to guide grantmaking and operations,

• develop a theory of change that considers a client’s role and opportunity in the funding landscape,

• set strategy and appropriate goals, understanding where key performance indicators (KPIs) are helpful, and where for many justice-related missions, they can be counterproductive, 

• build monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) systems integrated with strategy, and ensuring that feedback and accountability systems drive action, and

• explore approaches to grantmaking through understanding of power-sharing and collaboration techniques. 

Methodology may include:

• facilitation of workshops, including as part of meetings or retreats,

• stakeholder or issue mapping and internal and external stakeholder interviews and analysis,

• trainings for teams to embed strategy, MEL, and feedback into practices and approach, and

• support with communications tools to share mission, vision, and values.

Key Message Communications: supporting clients to reach audiences with key messages, and communicate in clear, compelling, and inspiring ways.

Technical Communications: specializing in both internal and external communications through developing communications strategy and tracking tools, drafting, writing, and communications training.

External communications support may include communications with the public, peers, grantees, or the press.

Natalie’s writing and press | Natalie’s speaking and teaching

Due Diligence and Research: map and evaluate a client’s role in the funding landscape; due diligence to understand and evaluate individual organizations or coalitions within current portfolios or funding pipelines, in preparation for relationship development.

‘Do No Harm’ Risk Reviews: evaluation of philanthropic or mission investing portfolios to explore and address potential risk of harm, with a focus on risks in Global Majority nations.

Safety and Security Reviews: support for clients seeing to create or improve safety and security plans and risk management systems for team and organizational well-being and sustainability and to support at-risk grantees.

Other bespoke consulting support, including research, due diligence, good governance, and assistance with high-stakes meetings and convenings.

Natalie’s writing on mission investing and risk: SSIR | Devex | Stanford Law School Blog

Team Culture Workshops: Workshops evolving team culture to foster values alignment, collaboration, and joy.

Good Governance: Collaboration with boards, principals, and leadership teams to advance good governance policies, tools, and practices that advance organizational excellence while fostering justice internally as well as externally.

This work can include values-aligned:

• advising organizations on governing documents, policies, and procedure development, 

• development of internal communications tools to improve transparency and effectiveness, 

• board reporting and board-team communications tools, 

• design of monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) and feedback systems,

• risk assessment and safety and security policies and procedures,

• due diligence processes, and

• feedback, grievance, and accountability policies and procedures.