We are committed to nurturing nonprofit growth and community impact. The Capacity Advisory Pool is a diverse cohort of experts who offer strategic guidance, mentorship, and technical assistance who are available to help you address your organization's challenges and growth. Through the Capacity Advisory Pool, nonprofits can access the tools and knowledge necessary to enhance their capacity, amplify their impact, and create lasting change, at no cost to the organization.
The Capacity Advisory Pool (CAP) is designed to help nonprofits elevate their impact by providing access to expert advice and guidance at no cost to the organization. Eligible organizations serving Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Leelanau counties can receive up to five hours of free consultation, plus an exploratory call to discuss their specific needs and challenges. Services are now available for Manistee County through support from Manistee County Community Foundation.
Our team of consultants is here to offer strategic guidance, helping you navigate complex issues and develop effective solutions. While they provide valuable advice and direction, it’s important to note that they are there to support and guide your efforts—not to do the work for you. This ensures that your organization builds the capacity to implement and sustain improvements independently, fostering long-term success.
Whether you’re seeking help with fundraising strategies, organizational management, or any other area of nonprofit operations, the Capacity Advisory Pool is a powerful resource to help you achieve your goals.
We have created our team with expertise in areas identified as high priorities by survey respondents.
Need support with something that is not on the list? Reach out and we may be able to help you! For more information, contact Kendra Luta.
This program is intended to offer the support needed to work through organizational challenges. This may include guidance, recommendations of next steps, tools, and resources. It does not include hands-on support or implementation services such as strategic planning facilitation, developing fund development plans, or board training.
Chelsea Bay Dennis, Chelsea Bay Design bio
Areas of expertise: Communications; Creative consulting; Graphic design; Branding
"I love being part of the community, collaborating, and using what I am good at for good! Design has the power to educate, raise awareness, and make change in the world, and I am passionate about offering branding, design and creative consulting specifically for environmentally and socially responsible companies and organizations."
Courtney Bierschbach, Solution Weaver bio
Areas of expertise: Hybrid meeting facilitation; Project management; Peer-to-peer fundraising; Automated email communication (Constant Contact)
"I love combining my experience in the nonprofit sector with what I learned in the tech sector to support our region's amazing nonprofits and the important work they do for all of us.."
Laine Blasch, Blasch Consulting bio
Areas of expertise: Decision-making & strategic action; Process improvement & technology implementation
"I am very passionate about supporting non-profits as they seek answers to complex and often times ambiguous projects. My multiple years in the public sector, knowledge, and experience in all aspects of organizational development provide an understanding essential to building positive and trusting relationships."
Jamie Caldwell, CPA bio
Areas of expertise: Tax & accounting guidance; Audit & 990 guidance; QuickBooks Online
"Audit and tax are scary words in the non-profit world and I am excited to do what I can to help the organizations in the area feel better prepared when audit time comes around."
Lucille Chrisman, Coach Works bio
Areas of expertise: Adaptive leadership and coaching; Organizational culture; Communication styles; Strengthening teams & collaboration
"As a coach and consultant, it is exciting to know I am helping support our community in meeting their goals and overcoming barriers/challenges along the way. The Capacity Advisory Pool has a ripple effect beyond the immediate service provided in that it creates a safety net that demonstrates we all matter in this community and you do not need to do it alone."
Elise Loud, Placecraft, bio
Areas of expertise: Community planning; Action prioritization & implementation; Inclusive community engagement
"The scale of this work means that our results are quick, tailored to the client's specific needs, and action-oriented. I love helping clients take a confident step forward without overthinking it too much."
Sarah Ely, Crescent Hill Consulting bio
Areas of expertise: Meeting design & facilitation
"Using Liberating Structures, we co-design a step-by-step roadmap for your meeting in mind. You emerge with a usable script developed according to the meeting's timeframe. Year upon year, clients have routinely felt equipped to plan and facilitate future meetings because of this robust toolkit and initial support through tactical consultation."
Tim Ervin, bio
Areas of expertise: Partnership agreements & collaboration; Fund development; Mergers; Building community fiduciaries
Julie Hay, bio
Areas of expertise: Grant writing & application support; Funding opportunity research; Public-private partnerships (municipal fundraising)
"I'm humbled to be included among such great thinkers and excited to see how this opportunity will allow me to contribute to my community and grow as a human."
Alex Hildebrand
Areas of expertise: Board Development, Decision-Making & Strategic Action, Nonprofit Management, Partnership Agreements, Collaboration & Merger Negotiations, Program Development & Strategy, Theory of Change Development, Evaluation Capacity Building, Organizational Assessment
"I love leaving my client organizations feeling an increased sense of confidence about their own ability to build and maintain a strong organization and navigate challenges as they come. An organization that feels healthy – not strained or in crisis – is one that has the best chance of making a positive difference for those on whose behalf they are working, so I am all about helping you optimize your health."
Michelle Northrup, NM Datum LLC, bio
Areas of expertise: Database management; Salesforce administration; Nonprofit operations
"Nonprofits can gain resources to implement the Salesforce CRM but often lack the capacity to maintain or to use it to its full potential. I want to help bridge that gap by advising nonprofits to ensure that Salesforce works best for them as they continue to serve their communities."
Christie Perdue, The Solvent Group bio
Areas of expertise: Fund development; Communications
"I love working with smaller organizations and getting them started in the right direction with fund development. Always love these meetings!"
Anthony Rupard, Solvent Group bio
Areas of expertise: Fundraising: Annual giving; Major gifts and campaigns
"I have a passion for coaching and supporting nonprofits. I believe nonprofits are a critical engine that helps transform and sustain our communities. My favorite part about partnering with nonprofit clients is helping them scale their mission to new heights."
Rob Stennett, Storyize bio
Areas of expertise: Communications; Digital marketing; Storytelling; End of year giving; Marketing; Video production; Google Ad Words nonprofit grant; Podcasting
"Nonprofits do some of the most interesting work in the world. I love helping nonprofits tell their stories in a way that inspires donors and volunteers. I love helping others discover what you do and why it matters. "
Desiree Worthington bio
Areas of expertise: Fund development; Campaign readiness; Major gift program development
"Non-profit organizations play an important role in enhancing the quality of life in northern Michigan. It is an honor to help strengthen vital missions in our region."
