“Yes, she raised more money than we had before… What the brief message leaves out is Shelly's professionalism, her connection to the audience, her time with us before the event to really understand and integrate our mission and develop her own messaging to relate it to our guests. Shelly is a joyful person and it translates to her work and her personal interactions.”
Christine B. Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), ColoradoCase studies
Work that moves people.
Every organization is at a different stage. Find the one that looks like yours, and see what's changing.
What clients say
In their words
“Shelly's energy and enthusiasm truly light up a room… What makes Shelly especially effective is her ability to connect with people and authentically convey an organization's mission. She thoroughly prepares, does her research, and goes out of her way to understand the purpose behind the event… Our events with Shelly exceeded fundraising goals, and guests always had a wonderful time.”
Julia B. Former Director of Advancement, St. Bede Abbey and Academy“Thank you for going above and beyond our wildest expectations in raising over $200k!”
Laurel W. Co-Founder“Whatever money you spend to partner with her, you will easily make that back during your auction.”
Dan H. Former Director of Development“You stepped up on that stage, took control and rocked the house!”
Wayne B. Tennis Coach, Author and Speaker“The energy in the room was electric.”
Debra P. CEO“Our community felt inspired... so much of that is due to the coaching you brought.”
Kay A. Skyland Camp for GirlsFind the stage that looks like yours, then see what changed.
Start with LaunchingWhat Would Shelly Say?
How a startup nonprofit for the partners of touring musicians is growing, with its 501(c)(3) status, a funded micro-grant and support from the music industry.
The challenge
Two co-founders see a need nobody else is meeting: support for the partners who hold life together while someone they love is on the road. They have the vision. What they need is the nonprofit playbook: how to become a 501(c)(3), how to ask for money and how to turn a free community into a funded one.
What the work covers
- Getting official. Guiding the founders all the way to 501(c)(3) status.
- Funding the first grant. Raising enough to launch the first micro-grant for members.
- Learning the ask. Coaching the founders to ask donors and sponsors with confidence.
- Building partnerships. Music-industry and referral partners who bring in donors and in-kind gifts.
- Writing grants. Finding the right funders and writing proposals that make the case.
- Digital fundraising. Online giving, recurring donors and an online auction.
The result so far
The founders now ask each other “What would Shelly say?” before anything new reaches the board. Good advice lives in their heads, exactly where it belongs.
From Back Office to Front of Mind
How a national nonprofit is building a sharper brand, a real lead pipeline and fundraising support for every client it serves.
The challenge
Group 36 does the work most nonprofits can't live without, yet few people know its name. A misunderstood service and a small team mean great work can go unseen.
What the work covers
- Sharpening the brand. One clear idea: “They change the world. We make it tax-deductible.” Then messaging for all three service lines, each aimed at its own buyer.
- Building the pipeline. Article-led campaigns across six social accounts, free lead magnets, LinkedIn and Google ads, and targeted outreach to past grantees in Philadelphia and Denver.
- Closing the deals. Proposals, scopes of work and discovery calls that turn prospects into signed clients.
- Advising founders. Strategy and fundraising coaching on individual giving, major donors and grants, plus sponsor and donor development plans.
- Opening new markets. Constantly reviewing new opportunities that grow into new lines of business, so the network keeps expanding.
- Running the machine. Website management, partner relationships and repeatable processes a small team can run every week.
The result so far
Every lead is screened for fit, so the clients who sign are the right ones.
42Leads from social
9Clients closed
16More in pipeline
Where the Second Gift Begins
How accurate gift entry, campaign tracking and personal thank-yous keep a Denver nonprofit's donors coming back.
The challenge
Every gift sets off a quiet chain of work: record it, code it, assign it, thank the donor. Get it right and nobody notices. Get it wrong, with a restricted gift in the wrong fund, a campaign nobody can measure or a thank-you that shows up weeks late, and the team loses track of what's working while the donor wonders whether the gift mattered. Nationally, fewer than half of donors give again the next year.
What the work covers
- Recording every gift right. Each gift entered and assigned correctly: corporate, grant, restricted or unrestricted, so every dollar goes where the donor meant it to.
- Coding every campaign. Campaign codes on each gift, so the team can see what every appeal raised and which ones are worth running again.
- Thanking donors fast. Acknowledgment letters with the right tax language, out while the gift is still fresh.
- Calling donors. Personal thank-you calls that tell donors their gift arrived and made a difference.
- Notes from the President. Personal notes to major donors, so the people who give the most hear from the top.
- Spotting patterns. Watching how and when donors give, and bringing it to the team before it shows up in a year-end report.
- Supporting events. Hands-on help with events, with every event gift recorded, coded and thanked like any other.
Why it matters to you
After twenty years raising money on stage, this is a close look at what happens after the gavel falls: how each gift is put to work on the mission, and how the thank-you sets up the next one. That's why your donor and sponsor strategy gets built with both ends of the gift in mind.