Nonprofit  consulting & fractional leadership

Starting a nonprofit is easy. Building one that lasts isn't.

I've sat in every seat in the room — executive director, board president, fundraising chair, trustee, volunteer, consultant. I help boards, founders, and development professionals see the whole picture, find what's getting in the way, and build a practical path forward.

See Services and Fees
A young woman wearing a green Bucking Bronco 5K Run/Walk t-shirt with race bib number 37 is receiving a green medal from another person dressed in green outdoors.
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CFRE

Certified Fund Raising Executive & 2026 Ambassador

24
years in the sector
$1.5M
increased in under three years at one school

A REALITY CHECK

”A consistent mission shows up in every channel of a well-run organization: in newsletters, fundraising campaigns and appeals, on a website, on event invitations, in meetings with potential donors and partners, and even at chamber of commerce meetings. External observers should be able to state what your organization does and why in one or two sentences, and, more importantly, your staff and board should always say the same thing.”
Read more in Chapter 5, Your Mission = Your Purpose, The Nonprofit Reality Check
Most nonprofit fundraising goals are budget gaps in aspirational clothing.
Read the chapter that names the problem.
Start a Conversation

What  I  do

How Can I Help?

Here are some ways we can work together.

Annual Report
FROM/
5,500
Increase your visibility. Ensure donor trust through financial transparency. Highlight your programs through mission-centric storytelling.
Nonprofit Startup Consulting
FROM/
1,500
You have an idea to change something. I can help guide you through building a nonprofit that has checked all the right boxes. The amount of money it takes to begin. The steps you need to take to be compliant with the IRS and Charitable Solicitation Registrations. Choosing the right CRM. Building a strong Board. Creating a mission statement during a Strategic Planning Session that focuses on your “why.”

And telling you the truth about when to launch.
Fundraising Plan Creation
Communication & Marketing
FROM/
2,500
A readiness assessment and a twelve-month plan with a goal derived from your actual pipeline and capacity — plus the calendar to execute it.
Everything Else
Not every need fits neatly into a package.
I also work with nonprofits on board development, strategic planning sessions, coaching for new executive directors, campaign and donation appeal writing, as well as event management and revenue growth,  whether that's rethinking an event that's not reaching a goal, or building a new one from scratch. If you want a speaker for your staff retreat, board meeting, or conference, I'm happy to create a talk around the topic you need. Some of this work is a single session; some of it stretches over months. The common thread is honest, practical help from someone who has seen what works and what quietly doesn't. If you have something in mind that isn't listed here, ask me anyway. 

I can also support your organization as a fractional employee for 3-9 months to support your goals while you solidify and define your long range plan.
Book cover of 'The Nonprofit Reality Check' by Sally Ahlsmith Ruecking, highlighting truths about fundraising, leadership, and nonprofit failures.

New Book

The Nonprofit Reality Check

The truth about fundraising, leadership, and why good organizations fail. No one talks about the real challenges — the governance, the hard decisions, the moments that make or break an organization.
This book does.

Fundraise with strategy, not desperation
Develop a board that governs and gives
Create sustainability that outlasts you

Also available for bulk board orders

A smiling woman in a floral dress and green jacket speaks at a wooden podium with a microphone while holding a paper, accompanied by a blonde woman and a man in sunglasses and a light suit standing beside her.

Get in touch

Tell me what you need, and let’s see how I can help

Every engagement starts with a scoping conversation at no charge. If your organization isn't ready for what you're planning, you'll hear that from me before you sign anything.

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