Client Services - Susan J. Ragusa

Every nonprofit is unique. How I work with an organization is tailored to what the leadership and the mission require. I bring to all of my consulting and strategizing an intuitive feel for emerging trends and my trademark high energy and fresh thinking.

My clients are based throughout the Hudson Valley and metro New York. They vary by size, age and focus. Rather than listing client names*, I believe it’s more valuable to describe types of challenges and how I deliver solutions. Get a sampling here.

Have a challenge to discuss? Let’s connect.

*For names of some current and past clients, check my résumé.

Client Challenge: Startup Support

A dedicated founder with a great idea in need of broad support: as a nonprofit strategist, it’s exciting to help a new nonprofit get underway. The stakes are also high for a startup and I never forget that in filling my consultant role.

Services and Solutions: For an arts-based startup

contributed to development of a strategic plan;
guided board member selection and training;
advised on donor development;
promoted strategic relationships with community leaders.

Measuring Results: The organization is headed toward its first decade and making a mark in the region.

Client Challenge: Executive Coaching

There are many reasons why a nonprofit executive reaches out for individual support through coaching, such as being new to an organization or even to the nonprofit sector. Helping to develop more knowledgeable and confident leaders is among my favorite assignments.

Services and Solutions: For one coaching client, I provided guidance and resources to

enhance working relationships with the board;
build a more visible profile within the community;
prioritize leadership goals;
strengthen decision-making skills.

Measuring Results: The director emerged from our coaching sessions on firmer ground as a leader, with valuable resources on governance and organizational development, and more solid connections outside the organization.

Client Challenge: Board Education

Many factors influence how members are selected for a board. Some come with experience and some learn in place. The more knowledgeable a board, the better its members can serve and be prepared to assume leadership roles.

Services and Solutions: Working with nonprofit boards frequently involves educating and training in

understanding/fulfilling governance responsibilities;
developing effective relationships with executive leadership;
creating structures to maximize board members’ activity/effort/contributions;
advocating as organizational ambassadors and fundraisers;
planning for leadership transitions and organizational change.

Measuring Results: Many outcomes of board education are revealed incrementally through better decision-making. One frequent measure is board members more in tune with their advocacy and fundraising roles.

Client Challenge: Board Diversity

Research confirms that greater diversity — racial, ethnic, gender and age — in nonprofit boards and executive leadership strengthens organizations.

Services and Solutions: My work on board diversity involves

developing forums for raising diversity awareness;
advising on criteria for board selection to ensure diversity;
recommending recruitment strategies for achieving board diversity;
guiding boards transitioning in composition to interact effectively.

Measuring Results: Forums on board diversity — including a series of blogs generating high readership and comment buzz — consistently demonstrate powerful interest, a first step to widespread action and change.

Client Challenge: Donor Development

Turning first-time contributors into recurring donors is one of the biggest challenges for every nonprofit. And it’s essential to meet, to ensure an organization’s sustainability.

Services and Solutions: Strategizing on donor development typically includes

building partner relationships with donors;
educating board members on their fundraising roles;
creating donor campaigns: crowdfunding, peer-to-peer fundraising and events;
developing enhanced understanding of donor motivations to give;
implementing effective approaches to donor retention.

Measuring Results: Clients report changed understanding of how to communicate with and retain donors, including value of going beyond traditional end-of-year appeals to reach donors year round with evidence of effective use of their gifts.

Client Challenge: Signature Events

Well-executed events heighten a nonprofit’s profile. Early experience with creating events in metro New York — and its lively competition for donors — provides valuable perspective on do’s and dont’s.

Services and Solutions: My work on signature events involves

measuring results (i.e., data and anecdotal) and event impact;
assessing/recommending event alignment with mission focus;
using social media to promote/present/create dynamic events;
networking for event partnerships;
advising on before/during/after details to maximize donor development;
presenting small-event ideas for new donor engagement or current donor retention.

Measuring Results: Many successful events that consistently bring in new donors; use social media effectively to create/expand must-attend “buzz”; and reliably measure impact via tracking software.

Three ways we can work together

Consultant On Call

As-needed support

Startups often benefit from having a consultant in place to answer questions and provide advice. But any nonprofit can go through transition periods or have tasks at hand that need sporadic yet ongoing guidance from an outside expert. We agree on terms, format (phone, facetime, email and/or in person) and minimums/maximums.

Project Consultant-Leader

Transformational projects

Significant projects, such as getting an emerging organization underway, or recomposing and educating a nonprofit board, require a dedicated period of time and consistent number of work hours or days to keep the project momentum going from start to finish. I generally cap projects at six months of part-time or full-time work. We negotiate terms based on needs and schedule.

Training Consultant-Presenter

Program/workshop sessions

I develop and facilitate, with special attention to education and training of board members and executive leadership. We determine the number of sessions (single, multiple, series) based on a discussion of your needs.