Cooper Consulting Services, LLC

08/04/2026

An important part of nonprofit work is understanding how elected officials support nonprofits and their causes. Help support the future of your favorite nonprofit, staff and volunteers by stepping out today to vote!

07/29/2026

If you're a solo/entrepreneur looking for a network, consider checking out 1 Million Cups Tri-State. There's something about being in a room of like-minded people anxious to support each other and their businesses. Today our conversations hit on marketing, swing dance, published books, clogging and blue light specials. Who knows what the next meeting will look like!

If you're local and would like to be my guest, reach out. If you're outside our area, try Googling One Million Cups for a chapter near you. Membership and coffee is free, all you're giving is an hour of your time. It's a great place to connect, network and find your people. Hope to see you at our next meeting!

07/28/2026

This morning Indeed pinged me about a job that I was an excellent candidate for. My job. At Douglass. I considered applying just to hear the feedback from HR (and I still might). Obviously my Indeed algorithm has some work to do😂

But seeing the post is honestly bittersweet. This work has been my life for a long time, and I'm deeply grateful for everything Douglass and my previous organization gave me — the chance to lead, to grow, and to serve communities in ways I never expected. More importantly, I'm excited for what's ahead, for them and for me.

I've been asked how did I know it was time? Did I get mad? Was I burned out? Did I not like the work? It was none of those things. Nonprofits everywhere are facing real challenges right now. I've found myself wanting to help in a different way, sitting down with boards and executive directors to plan for the expected and the unexpected, before the crisis hits, not during it. To use the lessons learned to help other leaders and their boards and to stretch my own leadership potential and capacity. Stepping away from direct service means I can reach more organizations, especially the ones whose needs often get overlooked. Stepping away doesn't always mean something bad happened. For me, it means a new adventure, a new way to support nonprofits and to continue to work in the nonprofit space I've lived and loved for 26 years.

If we connected through my time at Douglass or ILRC, I'd love to stay in touch. This next chapter is really just the same mission — working alongside nonprofit leaders and boards and to see where it leads. Many thanks to all of you that have been a part of my nonprofit story.

03/16/2026

In this edition of Mission Matters, we continue the difficult conversations series and emphasize the importance of creating space for these essential discussions. We are also highlighting the Community Foundation of West Central Illinois and Northeast Missouri, along with the concept of fractional leadership.

There's a question I ask boards I work with: "What are you not talking about?" The silence tells me everything. Not because boards lack smart, committed people.

01/03/2026

I'm proud to share that I've officially wrapped up 2025 by achieving certification as a Nonprofit Governance Consultant by BoardSource!

This certification process has deepened my expertise in best practices for nonprofit board leadership, strategic governance, and organizational effectiveness. It reinforces my commitment to empowering nonprofit organizations to achieve their missions through strong, effective, and engaged boards.

As the demand for engaged governance continues to grow in the nonprofit sector, I am more equipped than ever to provide tailored guidance and support in areas such as:

Board development and recruitment

Strategic planning facilitation

Governance assessments and best practices

Board education and training

Succession planning for boards and leadership

I look forward to leveraging this knowledge to further assist my clients in building resilient, impactful, and mission-driven organizations in 2026 and beyond.

Thank you to BoardSource for this incredible program and to my clients and colleagues for their continued trust and support.

01/03/2026

Happy New Year from Cooper Consulting Services! ✨

Cheers to 2026! We’re so grateful to have you as part of our community. Thank you for supporting our company over the past year—we couldn't have done it without you.

We hope your 2026 is filled with joy, health, and plenty of reasons to celebrate.

🎆 Tell us: What’s one thing you’re looking forward to this year?

#2026