Service Areas

Find the right kind of help.

Nonprofits rarely show up with a tidy label on the problem. Here are the six broad areas CNAC member firms cover — and which firms work in each.

Strategy & Leadership

Strategic planning, board development, executive coaching, evaluation, and interim leadership — the work of deciding where to go and getting the leadership ready to take you there.

Common asks

  • We need a real strategic plan, not a binder on a shelf.
  • Our board needs to grow up — governance, recruitment, succession.
  • A leader needs coaching through a hard season.
  • We're between EDs and need interim leadership.
  • We need evaluation to prove the program works.

Funding & Fundraising

Development strategy, grant writing, major gifts, campaigns, and donor systems — building a funding base that doesn't run on adrenaline.

Common asks

  • Grants are our only plan and we're tired.
  • We're considering a capital or comprehensive campaign.
  • We need a real major-gifts program.
  • Our development data is a mess.

Member firms in this area

Finance & Operations

Fractional CFO leadership, accounting, audit prep, budgeting, and forecasting — financial clarity at the size and season you're actually in.

Common asks

  • Our CFO left and audit is in 60 days.
  • Budgeting is a guess; we need forecasting.
  • We need fractional finance leadership that scales.
  • Federal funds, indirect cost rates, and grants compliance.

Member firms in this area

People & Culture

HR strategy, hiring, compensation, performance, DEI, and team development — for organizations whose mission lives or dies on their people.

Common asks

  • We don't have HR and it's catching up with us.
  • Comp and benefits need to be defensible.
  • Culture or trust on the team has frayed.
  • Leadership development for emerging managers.

Member firms in this area

Story & Communications

Brand, messaging, marketing, media relations, and crisis communications — being clearly heard by the people whose attention matters to the mission.

Common asks

  • We need a brand and messaging that fits who we are now.
  • Something has gone sideways publicly and we need help fast.
  • We're launching a campaign or capital initiative.
  • Outreach to a specific community needs to actually land.

Not sure which area you need?

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