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Strategic Consulting

Data, strategy, and AI for mission-driven organizations.

I help nonprofits and education organizations build the analytics they actually use, govern AI responsibly, win the grants that fund the work, and lead the change that follows.

I lead strategy and analytics at DC CAP, I helped found the research function at Common App, and I built the AI governance framework my own organization runs. I bring that mix of strategy, analytics, and hands-on building to a small number of engagements.

Schedule time to meet

How I Help

For mission-driven organizations adopting AI

AI Governance Audits

AI governance for mission-driven organizations.

Most nonprofits adopting AI have no framework for what is safe to hand to a model and what is not. I built one for my own organization and ran the pilot that put it into practice. I help mission-driven organizations adopt AI responsibly: a data-classification standard that protects the people you serve, a fluency model that trains staff to delegate well, and governance that holds up to a board's scrutiny.

What I offer

  • AI governance and data-classification frameworks
  • Responsible-AI readiness assessments
  • Staff AI fluency training and rollout
  • Pilot design and implementation support

Results I've delivered

  • DC CAP enterprise AI governance framework (9 staff, 3 units, 60-day pilot)
  • Four-tier data classification exceeding FERPA and federal-grant requirements
  • 4D fluency model adapted from current research
  • 19 interactive governance pages, public at dccapinnovation.org

For education and philanthropy

Data & Analytics Strategy

Strategy and analytics builds for education and philanthropy.

Most organizations collect more data than they use. The dashboards exist, but they gather dust, and leaders who call themselves "data-driven" often lack clean data, clear outcomes, and the habit of using either. I help close that gap.

The financial scenario model I built for DC CAP's board, hosted at dccapinnovation.org, runs a 53-of-53 verification suite on every figure it surfaces.

What I offer

  • Analytics strategy and roadmap development
  • Salesforce and CRM optimization for program teams
  • Dashboard design and KPI/OKR development
  • Data infrastructure assessment and modernization
  • Training and capacity building for internal teams
  • Ad-hoc data/analytics product development

Results I've delivered

  • Founding analytics environment, Common App (largest U.S. college application dataset)
  • DC CAP Salesforce rollout: $500K+ in annual staff capacity recovered
  • Financial scenario model for a $10M+ organization's multi-year planning
  • Secure analytics pipelines producing branded reports and dashboards

For funders and the funded

Grant Writing & Proposal Development

Translate your impact into funded proposals.

Competitive grants demand more than good intentions. Funders want a clear theory of change, credible evaluation design, and evidence you can execute. Strong programs lose ground when the narrative raises more questions than it answers, or the methodology undercuts confidence in the team. I write the proposals that close both gaps.

What I offer

  • Full grant proposal development (federal, foundation, corporate)
  • Theory of change and logic model design
  • Evaluation framework and methodology sections
  • Budget narrative and cost justification
  • Proposal review, strengthening, and red-teaming

Results I've delivered

  • Long-term relationships with large-scale funders across multiple organizations
  • $600K KPMG AI Impact Initiative grant (built the winning strategy)
  • $50M+ in DC CAP philanthropic commitments, including MacKenzie Scott and Yield Giving (instrumental in)
  • PhD training in program evaluation, causal inference, and quantitative methods
  • Randomized controlled trials on direct admissions and text-message campaigns

For leaders and boards in transition

Organizational Change & Strategic Transitions

Make the change stick.

Restructures, mergers, new strategic directions, leadership transitions. Each one puts strategy and people under pressure at the same time. Change sticks when leaders pair clear frameworks with disciplined communication and real attention to how people experience the shift. Most organizations underinvest in execution.

What I offer

  • Strategic planning design and facilitation
  • Organizational restructuring and team integration
  • Change management frameworks and implementation support
  • Partnership development and optimization
  • Operational efficiency assessment and process redesign

Results I've delivered

  • Integrated four teams into a unified Student Success division at DC CAP
  • National-to-regional partnership pivot: 85%+ first-year retention, 75–95% graduation at established partners
  • Enterprise digital transformation that cut administrative time by more than half
  • New supervision frameworks for cross-functional coaching teams

How We Work Together

Advisory Retainer

Ongoing strategic counsel, typically 3–5 hours monthly. Regular check-ins, asynchronous support, and priority access for emerging challenges.

Organizations wanting a trusted thought partner over time

Project-Based

Defined scope, timeline, and deliverables. Clear milestones and structured collaboration from kickoff to completion.

Grant proposals, strategic plans, or system implementations

Intensive Sprint

Concentrated engagement over 2–4 weeks. Deep immersion to accelerate progress on urgent priorities.

Time-sensitive decisions, board presentations, or funding deadlines

Let's talk about what you're building.

I take on a limited number of consulting engagements so each client gets focused attention. If you're facing a strategic challenge, building new organizational capacity, or managing a major transition, I'd welcome the conversation.

Schedule time to meet

Based in Washington, D.C. Available for remote engagements.