Kobia Consulting

10/01/2026

Applications are open now!

Application for Fearless Fundraising Studio is NOW OPEN and will close on Thursday, October 22, 2026.

Hosted by The Community Foundation Serving Western Virginia in partnership with Kobia Consulting

Please review the Information Page for eligibility requirements and important program details. Application can also be found on the Information Page: https://www.cfwesternva.org/npo-connect/npo-connect-fearless-fundraising-studio/

Applications will be submitted through Foundant Grant Lifecycle Manager. If you do not already have an account, you will need to create one to access and complete the application.

January–March 2027
This three-month, application-based program includes:
-Two virtual sessions per month
-One in-person session per month

💲 Participant Fee: Accepted applicants will be fully funded by the Foundation.

As part of our commitment to strengthen local nonprofit organizations, the Foundation is inviting a small group of nonprofit leaders to participate in a pilot learning community, focused on fundraising strategy and leadership development.

09/25/2026

09/23/2026

My next six week course lead the ask: the executive fundraising accelerator starts Tuesday, October 13 DM me for all the details and to sign up while you can!

09/18/2026

09/18/2026

Grateful to join the Community Foundation of the New River Valley tonight for a celebration of the people who give their time, talent, and treasure to strengthen our community through early childhood education.

09/17/2026

Vision, mission and brand are different, but they are deeply intertwined.

I recently had the opportunity to speak with nine aspiring entrepreneurs participating in Launch Christiansburg. We talked about how mission defines what you do and why it matters, vision describes where you are going, and brand shapes how people experience and remember you.

I shared lessons from Kobia Consulting and Blacksburg Fit Body Boot Camp. While they are very different businesses, both depend on having a clear purpose, understanding who we serve and consistently communicating the value we provide.

A strong brand is about much more than a logo. It reflects what you believe, how you lead and the experience you deliver.

A big shoutout to the Town of Christiansburg, VA for creating this space for emerging entrepreneurs to develop their ideas and turn them into actionable business plans. I loved meeting this group and learning more about the businesses they are working to build!

09/16/2026

Looking forward to working with many new nonprofits in 2027! Secure your spot now. 🚀🙌👏

Hosted by The Community Foundation Serving Western Virginia in partnership with Kobia Consulting

January–March 2027
This three-month, application-based program includes:
-Two virtual sessions per month
-One in-person session per month

💲 Participant Fee: Accepted applicants will be fully funded by the Foundation.

As part of our commitment to strengthen local nonprofit organizations, the Foundation is inviting a small group of nonprofit leaders to participate in a pilot learning community, focused on fundraising strategy and leadership development.

Please review the Information Page for eligibility requirements and important program details: https://www.cfwesternva.org/npo-connect/npo-connect-fearless-fundraising-studio/

📝 Application period:
Opens: October 1, 2026
Closes: October 22, 2026

Applications will be submitted through Foundant Grant Lifecycle Manager. If you do not already have an account, you will need to create one to access and complete the application.

09/16/2026

I had the opportunity to attend New River Community College’s advisory committee meeting last night and left with an even greater appreciation for the opportunities NRCC is creating for our region.

Affordable two-year programs. Associate degrees. Certificates and workforce training. Transfer pathways to four-year universities.

And these opportunities aren't just for students coming directly out of high school. They're also opening doors for nontraditional students looking to learn new skills, change careers, or create a different path forward.

There isn't one right path for everyone. The more quality, affordable options we can provide, the stronger our students, workforce, and communities become.

Grateful for the opportunity to serve, learn, and be part of the conversation.

09/11/2026

25 years later, I still remember what I was wearing.

A black suit with blue pinstripes.

I was a full-time college student in Pittsburgh and working part-time as an associate producer at WTAE. I was headed to class that morning and then to work. I probably had a presentation, which explains the suit.

Then my mom called.

A plane had hit the World Trade Center.

I turned on the television and watched live as the second plane hit the second tower. I can still remember Katie Couric gasping on air.

From there, everything changed.

My high-rise dorm in downtown Pittsburgh was evacuated. There were still planes unaccounted for and concern that one could be headed toward Pittsburgh. That plane would ultimately crash near Shanksville, about an hour away.

I grabbed what I could carry, went into a Catholic church to pray and then tried to figure out how to get out of the city. No cab. No bus. Traffic was at a standstill and people filled the streets.

Eventually, my volleyball coach called and offered me a ride to WTAE.

So I went to work.

I was a part-time employee, but that didn't matter that day. Everyone who could get to the station got there.

The newsroom was chaos and running at full speed. I saw live feeds that never made it on air. I took devastating calls. I remember hearing someone call what was happening "9/11" for the first time. I stayed at the station all night.

The days afterward are more of a blur. But that day isn't.

It reinforced why I wanted to be a journalist: to witness history, ask questions and help people understand what was happening.

But 25 years later, what stays with me most isn't my role in it.

It's the nearly 3,000 people who never came home. Their families. The first responders who ran toward danger. The passengers and crew of Flight 93. The heroes who emerged that day, some who came home and some who did not.

And I remember how we came together.

We grieved together. We prayed together. We helped strangers. For a time, what divided us seemed so much smaller than what united us.

Today, I remember those we lost, those who stepped forward and a country that came together when it mattered most.

I hope we never forget what happened on September 11.

And I hope we never forget who we were to one another on September 12.

09/09/2026

Thinking back to last week and such a meaningful morning with Women of Vision.

Asking has been a thread throughout my entire career. In journalism, I learned to ask the questions that got to the heart of the story. In fundraising, I learned to ask people to believe in a vision and invest in making it possible. And in business and life, I’ve learned that sometimes the hardest asks are the ones we make for ourselves.

What do I really want? What am I willing to change to get there? And what am I waiting for?

Preparation matters. Planning matters. But eventually, we have to take the step, make the ask and be willing to hear the answer.

I loved having the opportunity to share some of my journey with this incredible group of women last week. And the question I keep coming back to is the one I left with them:

What are you waiting for?