VESTEDin Consulting Group LLC

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! 🌟

05/15/2024

You never know what you don't know until you get a fresh perspective! We all need outside insight to gain clarity, set direction, and prioritize effectively. This applies to us just as much as it does to our clients and organizations. The Harvard Business Review article I came across reveals how the strategic planning tactics we use in business can be just as powerful in our personal lives.

As the former head of strategy for a Fortune 50 company shared, "Knowing the right questions is much harder than having the answers." Just like corporate strategy helps a company succeed, a well-thought-out life strategy helps us live our best lives. We can leverage tools from organizational strategy to tackle life's big questions and make better decisions.

Take a moment to read this enlightening piece and discover how you can apply these strategies to create the life you want. Let's unlock our potential together!😊

In corporate strategy projects, executive leadership teams work through a series of questions to determine how their businesses can succeed. Individuals can use a similar process to figure out how to live a meaningful life. It starts with defining what makes a great life for you and then outlining y...

04/29/2024

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION, INSPIRATION, AND MOTIVATION - April 29, 2024

As I celebrate my birthday today, I reflect on a profoundly personal milestone that continues to shape my life and career. Eleven years ago, on April 27, just two days before my birthday, I faced the heart-wrenching loss of my only sibling, "my brover." "During one of our last conversations, he shared his regrets over unchased dreams. I promised him then to live life to the fullest on both our behalves, which includes prioritizing self-care and personal growth.

This promise has become a cornerstone and has significantly influenced my professional path. By embracing , I have forged deeper, more connections with colleagues and clients, discovering that real strength comes from the courage to be wholly oneself, even in professional environments.

has been another critical lesson, teaching me to navigate setbacks with a clear vision and unwavering enthusiasm. I now see challenges as opportunities to learn and grow.

Living fully means more than just seizing opportunities—it means creating them. In business, as in life, we often confront the fear of the unknown and the lure of the familiar. Yet, I am committed to pushing beyond my , inspired by my promise and as I remember 'my brover' once saying, "The sky is the limit for you!"

Today, I encourage everyone to live fully and fearlessly. Reflect on the promises you've made to others and yourself. Let these commitments drive your ambitions, steer your actions, and energize your interactions. Let's not just exist but thrive—making the most of every opportunity for ourselves and in honor of those who can't.

04/25/2024

Part 5 of 6: The Strategic Planning Implementation Phase

Did you know 60-90% of strategic plans never fully launch? According to the Harvard Business Review (https://hbr.org/2022/06/4-common-reasons-strategies-fail), Andrea Belk Olson points out that while the reasons for strategy failure vary, poor ex*****on is often the culprit. She notes, "Just because a strategy is formulated, doesn't mean it's ready to be handed off to the front line for ex*****on."

In the first part of this strategic planning series, I detailed how I've streamlined the process and made it engaging to set my clients up for success. A pivotal aspect of this is transforming the plan from a theoretical document into an actionable work plan, as Olson terms it, preparing it for ex*****on. I've devised a Google Sheets personalized dashboard to oversee every step, delegate responsibilities, and establish timelines.

This metamorphosis ensures that the strategic plan is not just a document but a practical roadmap to success, with clear tasks, manageable timelines, and inherent accountability.
"

Just because a strategy is formulated, doesn’t mean it’s ready for hand-off to the front-line for ex*****on. Instead of reactively addressing failures during implementation, leaders need to examine whether the strategy was on solid footing in the first place. This requires stripping away assumpt...