welcome

Working with the staff at Madison Public Schools Foundation Happy September from Mission Forward! How do we make good decisions about the future with change happening so fast? That’s one of the most pressing questions that nonprofit leaders are grappling with today.  Our work in the last few months has involved deep listening, looking for

With Jill Pfeiffer, Executive Director at Briarpatch. It’s been great to work with Jill and her awesome team. Over the past month, I’ve had the opportunity to work with several nonprofits that are at pivotal moments in their growth. The common thread has been helping leaders listen carefully to their stakeholders, identify what matters most,

Nonprofit leaders and boards work in an increasingly uncertain environment. Federal and state funding is being cut dramatically while community needs are increasing. Staff are stretched thin, and leaders are looking for ways to invest in a sustainable future. External chaos is the new normal for most nonprofits.  The moment calls for a focus on

Spring has been busy here at Mission Forward. I’ve been spending a lot of time planting new things in the garden, and while it’s a lot of work, I love seeing what pops up and having fresh veggies throughout the summer. Here are a few updates on recent projects, upcoming trainings, and opportunities to connect.

I have the honor of working with Madison Schools and Community Recreation on their next strategic plan this year. We reviewed thousands of survey and focus group responses to identify the areas we most need to develop, and are working collaboratively to create an actionable plan for the coming three years. One of the things

Reflecting on a year of resilience, collaboration, and meaningful impact across our nonprofit community. “Through Mission Forward, Jeff came to the Community Immigration Law Center (CILC) at a very critical moment.  We had to start and successfully manage an entirely new development program in just a few months.  He was able to assess our need,

When nonprofit leaders gain confidence and clarity, amazing things happen. At Mission Forward, we help boards, staff, and partners align around clear goals and shared accountability — creating momentum for your mission.

“Jeff’s insights were colored with compassion and grounded in practicality. Jeff asked the right questions, listened intently, and provided valuable insights without ever losing sight of our mission. I appreciated having an insightful peer with whom I could confidentially explore solutions to complex but by no means unique challenges. His kind-hearted sense of humor was

“Jeff led an impactful offsite aimed at defining our organizational values and our strategic initiatives,” said board president Sarah Neujahr.  “During the initial planning and offsite, he asked important questions to help us better define our goals and the incremental steps we needed to take to be successful. “His commitment to our organization’s success was demonstrated through his extensive