Meet the team behind Working Strategies and learn about our approach to nonprofit consulting
Jeff brings over three decades of nonprofit leadership experience to organizations seeking sustainable growth and strategic clarity. As founding executive director of the Alaska Community Foundation, he led the organization’s development from concept through initial operations, gaining firsthand insight into the complexities of building mission-driven organizations from the ground up.
Jeff brings cross-organizational insight that comes from both leading nonprofits and systematically studying how they work. His experience spans arts organizations, community foundations, education, and health—combined with twelve years teaching graduate students and guiding research methodology for over 100 thesis projects examining fundraising strategy, organizational effectiveness, board governance, leadership development, and capacity building. This combination helps him identify patterns across organizations and recognize which solutions actually work in different contexts.
Jeff specializes in helping nonprofits facing critical transitions or growth opportunities by building strategic clarity and organizational capacity. He works with nonprofit leaders to develop confident leadership at all levels, strengthen organizational systems, and create resilience necessary for sustained impact.
Jeff holds a Master of Arts degree in Philanthropy and Development from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. He remains committed to continuous learning, regularly engaging with nonprofit professionals and staying current with evolving best practices in the sector. Through his company, Working Strategies, Jeff helps nonprofit organizations build the capacity and resilience necessary to achieve their missions in an increasingly complex operating environment.
My approach to consulting has been shaped by decades of experience working with diverse teams and organizations. This philosophy reflects my commitment to creating positive, sustainable change through ethical partnership.
I work alongside your team as trusted partners, building solutions collaboratively rather than imposing external recommendations. This methodology ensures strategies align with your organizational culture while building internal capacity throughout our engagement, creating sustainable outcomes that continue after our work concludes.
I provide direct, honest communication about both opportunities and challenges facing your organization. This foundation of trust enables productive conversations about difficult issues and ensures our recommendations address real circumstances rather than idealized situations.
I ground my recommendations in systematic analysis combined with practical wisdom from three decades of nonprofit leadership experience. This approach ensures strategic decisions emerge from solid evidence and proven frameworks rather than assumptions or passing trends.
I measure success through your team’s increased capabilities and confidence to lead change independently. My methodology focuses on knowledge transfer and skill development throughout our engagement, ensuring your organization can sustain and adapt strategies long after our partnership concludes.
I approach each engagement with intellectual curiosity and responsiveness to your unique circumstances. This learning orientation allows us to adapt proven frameworks to your specific context rather than applying standardized solutions.
Working Strategies collaborates with experienced consulting professionals to provide specialized expertise and additional capacity for complex engagements. Our network includes seasoned practitioners with complementary skills in areas such as financial management, technology systems, and specialized program development.
As we develop partnerships with additional consulting professionals, their profiles and expertise will be featured here.