Services
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We provide consulting in the following areas:
Organizational development and change
Organizational assessment and evaluation
Organizational "turnarounds"
Board development
Strategic planning and facilitation
Nonprofit business development (including earned-income)
Resource development (including fundraising)
Leadership and supervisory development
Program development, marketing and evaluation
Capacity building program design and development
Peer learning programs
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Organizations by Design's framework for coaching is rooted in Appreciative Inquiry. Our process guides clients through stages that inspire them to an appreciative and empowering view of themselves and their future.
Our coaching is a shared experience between the coach and the client. Together, we collaborate to build a design for the future, develop strategies, and construct supporting actions for success. Our relationship is one of discovery that solutions that identifies and enhances what works instead of focusing on barriers and pitfalls. This method optimizes individual, economic, and organizational performance.
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Our team is available to help an organization through a transitional period or as a cost-efficient way to introduce top-tier thinking into an organization. We recognize interim and on-demand leadership roles are about providing real hands-on leadership versus a more consultative approach. A strong and innovative leader can make a tremendous impact on an organization and its long term success. We have a solid roster of executives that can help on a part-time or full-time basis on engagements lasting up to a year.
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Board development : Board members are a key part of a nonprofit's success. Board members should be maintained and encouraged to remain engaged and accountable. Board training is essential, and can include topics such as how meetings operate, financial reporting, conflict handling, and best practices.
Leadership and organization development : Executive mentoring and leadership development training can help board members and volunteers grow core competencies. This can help create a team that can better serve the organization.
Strategic planning: Strategic planning is an essential tool for nonprofits. It helps organizations set priorities, allocate resources, and develop programs and initiatives.
Nonprofit governance training : Governance training is essential for the viability of nonprofit organization boards. It helps leaders steer the organization in the right direction through the complex legal and regulatory system in which they operate.
Leadership training : Leadership training for a nonprofit's staff and board leadership can include coaching, peer-to-peer learning, cohort-based trainings, communities of practice, and “learning circles”.
Empower your team
Create a path for yourself
Support your organization
Facilitate growth and sustainability strategies for nonprofits and small businesses through executive coaching, interim leadership, and organizational consulting. Our mission is to provide the support and guidance needed to help your organization thrive.
Read our blog
After many years in leadership and management positions, we find that people expect us to have answers. The reality is, there's always more than one answer. The talent lies in being willing to figure out the one that feels right. We started a blog with the hopes that we and our colleagues can help you find your path, your strategy or your title - the one that feels right. Visit and subscribe to the Creating Our Future with Organizations by Design. (Click the 'Lean More' button below.) And let us know what you think!
Meet the Team
Two strong professionals lead a team of affiliated expert consultants who bring the highest level of topic expertise to provide excellent service to our clients.
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Barbara Heisler, M.Ed, is Organizations by Design LLC's Managing Member and Senior Consultant.
Before devoting her work full time to coaching and organizational consulting, Barbara served as CEO of the innovative arts education nonprofit GlassRoots, where she successfully led the organization through a strategic turn-around resulting in rigorous program offerings, a national reputation for innovation, financial stability and deep community collaboration.
Barbara's professional background includes more than 35 years in non-profit, education and government management. Her work has focused on strategic planning, organization and board development, program design, communications strategy, fiscal oversight, resource development, and grant procurement. Recognized with numerous awards, Heisler has served on several boards including the NJ Center for Non-Profits and the Center for Creative Placemaking, and on committees for Philanthropy New York and the Council on Foundations.
Barbara earned an M.Ed. in Management and Organizational Development from Cambridge College, a Certificate in Small Business Entrepreneurship from Boston University, and a Graduate Certificate in Appreciative Inquiry from Rutgers University- Newark SPAA. Barbara is a sought after speaker, coach and advisor.
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Amie Herman has spent her 30-year career in marketing, organizational development, and non-profit management. After starting her professional life in the international banking and finance arena, she founded her own independent strategic consultancy practice, AG Consulting, working with a diverse group of corporate and non-profit organizations, with a focus on strategic planning, creation of organizational messaging around mission and impact, and as an expert facilitator, to help align leadership teams to support organizational change.
Amie has served in several senior leadership roles in non-profit organizations. Amie’s most recent professional role was as the Senior Director of Development and Marketing for the Madison Area YMCA. She led a team of three development officers, fundraising special events staff and grant writers, as well three marketing and communications staff. She was responsible for directing and implementing the organization’s fundraising strategy including major donor relationships, institutional/corporate support, and the annual fund, as well planning and execution of fundraising efforts for a significant multi-year capital expansion. She worked closely with and helped guide the board and staff outreach activities to meet fundraising goals. Amie holds a bachelor’s degree in East Asian Studies from the University of Virginia.