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LEADERSHIP
Our Leadership Services are designed to support organizations through times of transition and change.
Informed by a deep understanding of the intersections of nonprofit fundraising and strategy, Ostara consultants understand that an organization's success depends on a clear identity and strategic decision, a well-equipped and enthusiastic board, and a keen ability to identify and resolve decision points in a way that is best for the community you serve. Ostara's strategic leadership services highlight the connections between your big picture work and your day-to-day needs.
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Executive Coaching
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Leadership Coaching - all stages of career
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Interim Staffing
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Executive Leadership
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Development Leadership & Staffing
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Succession Planning, Leadership Transition & Hiring Process
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Fundraising Coaching - for executive directors, development staff, or board members
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Board Development & Trainings - including fundraising, governance, board development, roles & responsibilities
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Co-Manage Hiring Process - strategy, planning, process & execution
Case Studies
FamilyWorks Seattle
FamilyWorks operates a food bank and family resource center in North Seattle. They partner with families to alleviate food insecurity and ensure they have resources and support to overcome systemic barriers to equity, build stable communities, and thrive.
In 2022, FamilyWorks was beginning work on a new strategic plan, which included a vision for a new Family Resource Center facility and renovations to their existing foodbank. At the time, they needed both campaign planning support as part of this process, as well as interim Development leadership.
Ostara had an existing relationship with FamilyWorks from some prior planning and facilitation work. With our expertise in annual fundraising, capital campaigns and the food security sector, we customized a team and approach that met their needs for both launching their vision and sustaining their fundraising program and team. Together, we soon transitioned to campaign counsel as they embarked on their most ambitious capital campaign ever, which included new and renovated facilities, expanding critical programming and boosting their investment in staff.
The vision is becoming a reality in phases under excellent leadership as the new Family Resource Center opened its doors in 2023 and fundraising accelerated from public, foundation and private funders. Food Bank renovations are underway in 2024, and the momentum of the campaign has delivered new opportunities to grow their goal and impact in the community. As is always Ostara’s goal, the staff and volunteer team’s capacity to fundraise has also increased, which will ensure financial success through the campaign and well beyond.
In 2022, FamilyWorks was beginning work on a new strategic plan, which included a vision for a new Family Resource Center facility and renovations to their existing foodbank. At the time, they needed both campaign planning support as part of this process, as well as interim Development leadership.
Ostara had an existing relationship with FamilyWorks from some prior planning and facilitation work. With our expertise in annual fundraising, capital campaigns and the food security sector, we customized a team and approach that met their needs for both launching their vision and sustaining their fundraising program and team. Together, we soon transitioned to campaign counsel as they embarked on their most ambitious capital campaign ever, which included new and renovated facilities, expanding critical programming and boosting their investment in staff.
The vision is becoming a reality in phases under excellent leadership as the new Family Resource Center opened its doors in 2023 and fundraising accelerated from public, foundation and private funders. Food Bank renovations are underway in 2024, and the momentum of the campaign has delivered new opportunities to grow their goal and impact in the community. As is always Ostara’s goal, the staff and volunteer team’s capacity to fundraise has also increased, which will ensure financial success through the campaign and well beyond.
Edmonds Food Bank
The Edmonds Food Bank is dedicated to alleviating food insecurity in the Edmonds community by providing food assistance through their mobile food distributions, home delivery and online order programs. In 2022, the Edmonds Food Bank engaged Ostara to provide capital campaign feasibility and planning services to assist with their plan to construct a new facility to meet the growing need for food assistance.
During the feasibility assessment, it was determined that the food bank needed to build out their fundraising program infrastructure prior to embarking on a capital campaign and in 2023, Ostara was invited back to engage in an interim development leadership role to shape the food bank’s fundraising program and strategy.
After conducting a development assessment, Ostara determined that we needed to lead and support the food bank through several areas of direct fundraising work to lay the foundation for future program and campaign success. Ostara partnered with the food bank to develop the fundraising program and program infrastructure, provided leadership and ground support for creating and implementing the fund development plan and managed donor cultivation and solicitation activities.
Throughout our time serving as interim program leadership, Ostara successfully created and launched a fully functional development program with the SOPs and tools necessary to set the incoming team up for success. Ostara led the recruitment, hiring, and onboarding processes for the newly created Marketing and Communications Manager, Director of Development, and Individual Giving Manager positions. Ostara managed the strategy, content creation, and the execution for multiple fundraising campaigns as well as the food bank’s first annual impact report.
During the feasibility assessment, it was determined that the food bank needed to build out their fundraising program infrastructure prior to embarking on a capital campaign and in 2023, Ostara was invited back to engage in an interim development leadership role to shape the food bank’s fundraising program and strategy.
After conducting a development assessment, Ostara determined that we needed to lead and support the food bank through several areas of direct fundraising work to lay the foundation for future program and campaign success. Ostara partnered with the food bank to develop the fundraising program and program infrastructure, provided leadership and ground support for creating and implementing the fund development plan and managed donor cultivation and solicitation activities.
Throughout our time serving as interim program leadership, Ostara successfully created and launched a fully functional development program with the SOPs and tools necessary to set the incoming team up for success. Ostara led the recruitment, hiring, and onboarding processes for the newly created Marketing and Communications Manager, Director of Development, and Individual Giving Manager positions. Ostara managed the strategy, content creation, and the execution for multiple fundraising campaigns as well as the food bank’s first annual impact report.
Bloedel Reserve
Located on Bainbridge Island in Puget Sound, Bloedel Reserve is a 140-acre preserve dedicated to enriching people’s lives through a premier public garden of natural land and designed Pacific Northwest landscapes.
In 2018, The Reserve had recently developed a Master Plan, was midway through a $25M campaign, and without a full development team. Ostara was engaged to provide a development assessment, interim development leadership and campaign management, as well as development hiring counsel. Then in 2021 after the pandemic and another leadership transition, Ostara was invited back to engage in a similar capacity to advance a refreshed vision for the future.
Ostara took a holistic approach to Bloedel Reserve’s multiple goals and evolving needs. We updated our assessment of their development program and campaign plans, including a community survey, a facilitated retreat, and refreshing the campaign case for support. We also partnered to recruit, select and onboard a new Director of Development, while stepping-in with grant writing, interim Development program leadership and development planning during the vacancy.
Because of Ostara’s long relationship with the Bloedel Reserve community and our deep bench of varied expertise, we seamlessly partnered with the board and staff, leveraging 4 different consultants to advance multiple objectives as the project evolved. As a promising new Director of Development was placed, they were able to inherit a refreshed and in-tact team, annual plan, and grants program. Since then, Ostara has shifted to leadership coaching and grants services, and is committed to supporting The Reserve’s future success in whatever capacity is needed next.
In 2018, The Reserve had recently developed a Master Plan, was midway through a $25M campaign, and without a full development team. Ostara was engaged to provide a development assessment, interim development leadership and campaign management, as well as development hiring counsel. Then in 2021 after the pandemic and another leadership transition, Ostara was invited back to engage in a similar capacity to advance a refreshed vision for the future.
Ostara took a holistic approach to Bloedel Reserve’s multiple goals and evolving needs. We updated our assessment of their development program and campaign plans, including a community survey, a facilitated retreat, and refreshing the campaign case for support. We also partnered to recruit, select and onboard a new Director of Development, while stepping-in with grant writing, interim Development program leadership and development planning during the vacancy.
Because of Ostara’s long relationship with the Bloedel Reserve community and our deep bench of varied expertise, we seamlessly partnered with the board and staff, leveraging 4 different consultants to advance multiple objectives as the project evolved. As a promising new Director of Development was placed, they were able to inherit a refreshed and in-tact team, annual plan, and grants program. Since then, Ostara has shifted to leadership coaching and grants services, and is committed to supporting The Reserve’s future success in whatever capacity is needed next.
Lavender Rights Project
Lavender Rights Project elevates the power, autonomy, and leadership of the Black intersex & gender diverse community through intersectional legal and social services. They provide life-saving policy and social change advocacy, comprehensive care, and legal services to Black, indigenous, and LGBTQ+ individuals, with a particular emphasis on supporting Black trans communities. Their three areas of impact (Gender Based Violence Prevention, Housing and Economic Justice) provide stability, joy, and safety for Black gender diverse people in Washington State and across the USA.
As the Lavender Right Project's community impact expanded, so did its requirement for stable and sustainable funding. It became increasingly crucial for the organization that the individuals spearheading this initiative were from within the Black Trans community. Unfortunately, systemic barriers have historically restricted opportunities for Black Trans individuals in the development sector. Consequently, LRP resolved to employ individuals from within the community and provide them with coaches and mentors to bolster their professional growth and development.
The Ostara Group was privileged to be selected to coach and mentor LRP's emerging leaders, assisting in their development while also aiding in the formulation and implementation of fundraising strategies that resonated with their core values.
As a result of Ostara's support and expertise, LRP's revenue has seen a significant increase, marking a major milestone for the organization. But beyond the numbers, LRP staff members have not only grown in their roles but have also been elevated to positions of leadership within the organization and at other organizations in our community.
As the Lavender Right Project's community impact expanded, so did its requirement for stable and sustainable funding. It became increasingly crucial for the organization that the individuals spearheading this initiative were from within the Black Trans community. Unfortunately, systemic barriers have historically restricted opportunities for Black Trans individuals in the development sector. Consequently, LRP resolved to employ individuals from within the community and provide them with coaches and mentors to bolster their professional growth and development.
The Ostara Group was privileged to be selected to coach and mentor LRP's emerging leaders, assisting in their development while also aiding in the formulation and implementation of fundraising strategies that resonated with their core values.
As a result of Ostara's support and expertise, LRP's revenue has seen a significant increase, marking a major milestone for the organization. But beyond the numbers, LRP staff members have not only grown in their roles but have also been elevated to positions of leadership within the organization and at other organizations in our community.
The Russell Family Foundation
The Russell Family Foundation partners with grassroots leaders and community organizations throughout Pierce County and the Puget Sound region, seeking to build a more sustainable and peaceful world for people, places, and communities.
TRFF was looking to provide meaningful, effective support for their grantees that would go beyond a one-time gift. They came to Ostara with a goal to invest more deeply in building resources for the people and systems that sustain the many critical missions of their grantee portfolio.
Ostara custom-designed a diagnostic process to reveal the specific needs and goals of ten participating grantee organizations. Then we created fourteen workshops over four days of training in a four-month period, varying the size and type of learning in ways that were responsive to the grantee’s circumstances. Topics ranged widely across development and grant strategy and tools, to organizational identity and board engagement. We surveyed participants during the process and presented a brief to TRFF on our findings at the conclusion of the process, which led to a reunion series of meetings and coaching opportunities for each participant, later in 2019 and 2020.
Participants provided very positive feedback on the experience, often highlighting the value of the protected space for both learning and peer connection. Ostara was able to form 1:1 connections with each attendee, tailoring resources and conversations to help each individual person as well as the group as a whole. We are thrilled to be invited back for another round of training in 2020 with new grantee organizations. TRFF has honored participant feedback and asked us to double the number of hours spent at in-person sessions, and also include several months of follow up coaching.
TRFF was looking to provide meaningful, effective support for their grantees that would go beyond a one-time gift. They came to Ostara with a goal to invest more deeply in building resources for the people and systems that sustain the many critical missions of their grantee portfolio.
Ostara custom-designed a diagnostic process to reveal the specific needs and goals of ten participating grantee organizations. Then we created fourteen workshops over four days of training in a four-month period, varying the size and type of learning in ways that were responsive to the grantee’s circumstances. Topics ranged widely across development and grant strategy and tools, to organizational identity and board engagement. We surveyed participants during the process and presented a brief to TRFF on our findings at the conclusion of the process, which led to a reunion series of meetings and coaching opportunities for each participant, later in 2019 and 2020.
Participants provided very positive feedback on the experience, often highlighting the value of the protected space for both learning and peer connection. Ostara was able to form 1:1 connections with each attendee, tailoring resources and conversations to help each individual person as well as the group as a whole. We are thrilled to be invited back for another round of training in 2020 with new grantee organizations. TRFF has honored participant feedback and asked us to double the number of hours spent at in-person sessions, and also include several months of follow up coaching.
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