What We Do

At its core, our work is relational. We have extensive experience as fundraisers, and we are community-oriented people, so relationship building permeates everything we do here at Ostara. The more we can foster strong connections and conversations, the more successfully we see our clients achieve their mission.

Over the years, Ostara developed a sincerely collaborative culture, and we believe that cross-pollination of services and expertise is one of the keys in our ability to effect organizational change. Here are some examples of the way our services work together:

• Our grants consultants are uniquely trained to draw connections between grant work and broader initiatives in your organization. Too often grantwriting happens in a silo. We integrate grantwriting with the big picture, be it a capital campaign, your strategic plan, or building your next annual budget.
• Our campaign consultants look at organizational readiness for a campaign, assessing board development, annual fund, major gifts, and organizational culture.
• We integrate strategic planning with development planning; this helps you not only define your next chapter but also map out how you will fund it.

Ostara emphasizes collaboration behind the scenes to build this mindset, which we collectively refer to as the Braintrust. We believe more brains are better than one, and we create regular opportunities for our team to learn from each other, our clients, and outside expertise. We protect time for deeper thinking about integration of our work and services, always aiming to stay relevant in service to our clients and the sector.

Custom-Built Change

Our process is to listen carefully to your needs and custom design a project to help you achieve your goals. We don’t believe one-size-fits-all; we will apply best practices to your unique circumstances in a way that fits your culture, mission, and experiences. We will center your work and the voice of the community you serve.

We work with nonprofits of all sizes and we are committed to your ultimate success. Ostara has a variety of consultants with different specialties and rates. We match you with the consultant who is right for your project. We check in with you regularly, solicit feedback to inform project deliverables and change course as needed to best serve your organization’s needs.

What It Feels Like

When working with Ostara consultants, you can expect collaborative, empathetic partners. You will gain a new perspective, skills, and tools as a result of partnering with Ostara. We meet you where you are right now, creating tailored solutions that match what we hear from you. We have worked with hundreds of nonprofit leaders, we have been where you are, and we know what it is like to wear many hats, to face many conflicting pressures, and to want the very best outcomes for your community. We are here to help you do what you do best.

Communication, Travel, and Technology

Ostara values face to face interaction as much as possible. We are also committed to environmental sustainability and keeping costs within your budget. For this reason, we will utilize phone, email, and video conferencing for some of our interactions. You can expect regular face to face meetings, prompt email responses during business hours, and regular check-ins via phone, video, or in-person with us throughout the project. Let’s have a conversation about what works best for you.