VESTEDin Consulting Group LLC

08/17/2026

I’ve always been more comfortable doing the work than talking about it.

Some of that is just who I am. And some of it is that I’ve spent a lot of time hiding this beautifully creative, neurodivergent brain. 🦋

Give me a complex organizational problem, a room full of nonprofit leaders, a whiteboard, and a whole bunch of moving pieces to connect? I am IN MY ZONE. 💪🏽

Tell me I need to stop long enough to take pictures, post consistently, and tell people what we’re doing? Whew!! 🫠🤯

But I’ve liberated myself. 🕊️And I have PLENTY to say about what I’ve learned working with mission-driven organizations over the past 25+ years.

I breathe organizational development. I founded VESTEDin™ Consulting Group, LLC to help build a healthier nonprofit ecosystem.

And for years, I’ve worked behind the scenes with nonprofit leaders and organizations—helping them navigate growth and change, strengthen operations and leadership, and build healthier, more sustainable organizations.

Over the years, more and more questions have come up for me about how our sector approaches capacity-building.

One in particular: Why does capacity-building support create meaningful, lasting change for some organizations—and not for others?

I’ve repeatedly seen that the answer is not simply more training.
Or another strategic plan.
Or another consultant.
Or even more money.
Those things matter.

But something is happening inside organizations that influences whether change can actually take root.

And we’re seeing it in real time.
-Readiness to implement change matters.
-Leadership matters.
-Organizational conditions matter.
-The TYPE of support matters.
-The timing and pace of that support matter, too.

I’ve spent much of my career in the trenches—building systems and frameworks around these questions and helping organizations work through them.
I just haven’t spent nearly enough time talking publicly about what I’ve learned.

So I’m going to do something that doesn’t come quite as naturally to me: let you all into the work a little more. 😉

I’ll share the patterns we’re seeing. The questions I’m wrestling with. The frameworks I’ve developed. What organizations are teaching us. And some things I think our sector needs to rethink about capacity-building altogether.

SOO much is happening behind the scenes. It’s time I started bringing some of it out front. 🩵

01/05/2026

Feel free to share! VESTEDin™ is hiring! 🤩

(2) Senior Capacity Coaches, contract-1099, cohort-based
(1) Cohort Learning and Facilitation Lead, part-time, W-2, potentially eligible for group health insurance
(1) Changemaker Grove Cohort Community Lead, part-time, W-2, potentially eligible for group health insurance

https://vestedinconsulting.com/work-with-us

09/10/2025

Why I Love Nonprofit Organizational Development Work

People often ask me why I'm so passionate about nonprofit organizational development work. The answer runs deep.

~I'm energized by that sweet spot where human potential meets systems change - where helping individuals and teams build power and influence translates directly into greater mission impact for the communities that need it most. There's something beautiful about that ripple effect.

~As a "generalist," I thrive on complexity. Every nonprofit is a unique ecosystem with its own culture, challenges, and opportunities. I love navigating those ambiguous situations, seeing patterns others might miss, and deriving solutions that fit like a glove rather than forcing square pegs into round holes.
My human-centered approach means I get to honor people's lived experiences. Instead of imposing cookie-cutter solutions, I dive deep to understand each client's specific context before crafting something tailored just for them. That discovery process? That's where the magic happens.

~Having "done it all" - from board member to grassroots activator, social worker to philanthropy program officer - I've experienced both the successes and the missteps. Now I get to share those hard-won lessons to help others accelerate their impact and avoid the pitfalls I've navigated.

When organizations gain Clarity, Direction, and Priorities through our work together, they don't just become better implementers - they become more intentional, more sustainable, and ultimately more powerful in serving their communities.

I'm deeply honored to work alongside incredible partners like María Amparo Fernández of Destino Strategy Consulting and Kelli King-Jackson of Kelli King-Jackson, LLC, who share this commitment to strengthening our nonprofit ecosystem.

That's why I do this work. That's why VESTEDin™ exists. Because healthy, high-performing nonprofits create a healthier ecosystem for everyone.

09/04/2025

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to catch up with former grantmaking colleagues and the privilege of participating in a panel, along with Ann Friedman, Ph.D, and Molly Clayton, for the Greater Houston Grantmakers Forum to discuss critical shifts happening in our sector. I spoke on moving from static planning to dynamic, adaptive strategies.

The traditional model of creating rigid 3-5 year plans that sit on shelves simply isn't serving our mission-driven organizations in today's rapidly evolving landscape. Instead, we explored how nonprofits can embrace dynamic planning that builds in flexibility, responsiveness, and continuous learning.

Key insights I discussed:
🎯 The Backcasting Framework for innovative thinking - Start with your North Star vision (desired future) and work backward, creating milestone-based pathways rather than predetermined steps
📊 Quarterly pivots over annual reviews - Build in regular checkpoints to assess, adapt, and realign without losing momentum
🤝 Partnership agility - Cultivate relationships that can flex and evolve as opportunities emerge
⚡ Contingency readiness - Develop clear decision criteria and resource reallocation strategies upfront

The beautiful truth? Dynamic planning actually strengthens organizational capacity because it forces us to build systems, not just programs. It requires clarity of values and vision while maintaining operational flexibility.

Thank you to the Greater Houston Grantmakers Forum for creating space for these vital conversations. When funders and nonprofits align around adaptive approaches, we can create more sustainable impact together.

What's your experience with dynamic vs. static planning? I'd love to hear how your organization navigates this balance. Courtney Taylor ❤️ , thanks for the pics! 🫶

08/25/2025

Monday motivation is in full swing! 💫

The VESTEDin™ team, María A. Fernández, Allison Brooks, and Kelli King-Jackson, ACC, gathered today to strategize and prepare for tomorrow's in-person meeting with the Harris County Public Health Capacity-Strengthening Cohort One. There's nothing like the energy that flows when passionate minds come together around capacity-strengthening work!

Even ♥️Tw***ie♥️ knew this was important business - he made sure to supervise our planning session from her VIP spot at the table. Because at VESTEDin™, we believe in bringing our whole selves to the work, rescue pups included!😉

Shout out to our own María Amparo Fernández for leading tomorrow's session on "Building A Strong Board" to unlock their potential for greater IMPACT, GROWTH, and INNOVATION. This is what human-centered consulting looks like - authentic collaboration, high energy, and the unmatched exuberance that sets our facilitation apart.⚡️

Ready to transform challenges into opportunities! 🍀

Harris County Public Health ***ieApproved

07/21/2025

Feedback That Stings: "Why Aren't You Sharing What You've Learned?"

I'm grateful for the people in my life who love me enough to tell me what I need to hear, not just what I want to hear. My sister-in-law, Grethelia Samuel; Allison Brooks; Charles Thompson; Kelli King-Jackson, ACC; Jennifer Cate, and Yvette Garvin have all been telling me the same thing: I need to share more of what I've learned. 😲

So here's my response. Consider this the launch of VESTEDin™ 2.0.

In "Feedback that Stings: 'Why Aren't You Sharing What You've Learned?'" (full article attached), I reflect on how I was too focused on doing the work rather than sharing my insights from over two decades in the nonprofit sector.

https://www.canva.com/design/DAGtuQb56Fk/fNQDwohvAqzNs59CQ58KUw/view?utm_content=DAGtuQb56Fk&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=h7e15d6d5b3

Key insights I'll be sharing going forward:

1) Why organizational development matters for ALL nonprofits, not just big corporations

2) How an organization's readiness for change predicts success more than its level of need

3) The STEMS framework - how Strategy, Technology, External Relationships, Money, and Servant Leadership interconnect like puzzle pieces

4) Why human-centered approaches work better than cookie-cutter solutions

5) Lessons from rural South wisdom about organizational resilience

6) The SEEDS model - the nonprofit lifecycle from "Planting Seeds" (start-up) to "Bearing Fruit" (driving impact)

Let's build a community for collective learning and growth.

Check out this Instagram Post designed by Bridget Samuel.

04/07/2025

Monday Musings: Finding Balance in the Pause

Sometimes, the most productive thing we can do is rest. My rescue pup, ***ie, teaches me many daily lessons. He knows the art of creating cozy sanctuaries amid busy days, and we all need moments to recharge.

Our passion drives us forward as mission-driven leaders, but our sustainability requires us to honor the rhythm of rest and action. This week, I challenge you to find your "Tw***ie moments" – those small pockets of peace that fuel your more significant purpose.

What sacred pause will you create today to ensure your IMPACT, GROWTH, and INNOVATION remain sustainable? Remember, transformation starts with self-care.

01/15/2025

🎉 BIG NEWS, Y'ALL! 🎉

I am beyond excited to announce that Harris County Public Health has selected my company, VESTEDin™ Consulting Group, LLC, as the Technical Assistance partner for their groundbreaking Capacity Strengthening Program! 💪

Along with my amazing team members Kelli King-Jackson and María A. Fernández, we're bringing a high-energy, human-centered approach to supporting 10 incredible community-based organizations in Harris County! These remarkable organizations are ready to level up their impact on health equity, and we're here for it!

The VESTEDin™ framework is all about meeting organizations exactly where they are - because every nonprofit's journey is unique. From customized assessments to interactive workshops, peer learning, a resource portal, and one-on-one coaching, we're bringing ALL the tools to help these organizations thrive! ✨

Stay tuned for more updates as we embark on the remaining 13 months of this 16-month growth, learning, and community impact journey! 🌟