SUPPORTING YOUR WORK TO MAKE POSITIVE SOCIAL CHANGE

Leading a nonprofit organization or community group is gutsy work. You tackle enormous social concerns—ending poverty and hunger, promoting environmental justice, challenging racial disparities, upending gender norms—often with little resources or recognition.

Since 2009, I have consulted with dozens of groups to strengthen the day-to-day operational matters that keep their organizations humming.

I offer strategic planning, fundraising and facilitation services so you can maximize the resources you bring to your mission and impact.


Services

My job is to help clients find solutions that leave them energized to do their most thoughtful work. For each project I apply the best practices in management and fundraising, a keen sense of strategy, and sharp attention to detail.

Above all, I want my clients to know that I’ve been there—I’ve faced the same challenges that prompt them to seek help, and my previous experiences can be leveraged for your benefit.

Work Smarter
Go Farther

Facilitation

Good Meetings Matter

When it’s important for your whole team to be around the table creatively thinking and actively collaborating, I can facilitate the development of your program plans or a community conversation.

As your meeting facilitator, I partner with you to build effective agendas, invite the right mix of constituents, and ensure all voices at the table are contributing and heard. I create the spaces for the active listening and engagement that help spark the new ideas and build the consensus required for meaningful change to occur.

Fundraising

Do More With More

The greater your financial resources, the greater your capacity to generate the lasting change your organization seeks. Successful fundraising is the key to fulfilling your mission. I can help you plan a campaign, research funding prospects, write your proposals, or ask for major gifts.

Strategic Planning

Define Your Direction

From internal project plans to community-based local food plans, your success depends on a solid strategy. As your planning partner, I help to engage your community in intentional, interactive collaboration, making the process of creating a plan as important as the final product. Once complete, these plans become a roadmap for organizational success. They are meant to be use—vital tools for tracking progress and communicating your impact and results.

Projects

Life at a non-profit is more than making plans, it’s about getting all hands on deck to accomplish a shared vision. And that’s my approach as a consultant—I’m around for every step, from broad strategy to execution and oversight.

My passion lies in partnering with organizations to create positive change. I help institutions thrive and fill in the gaps when more management and expertise is needed. Take a look at some examples.

CREATE IMPACT
AFFECT CHANGE

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Strategic Planning

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In 2017, I facilitated a community-based planning process created a shared agenda among network stakeholders across Ohio. “Mapping The Vision for the Future of Ohio’s Food Systems” created an identity and plan that allows network members to better collaborate and strengthen their impact. OFPN now hosts regular webinars providing continuing educational opportunities to connect like-minded food system leaders across Ohio. Check out their upcoming events or recorded episodes.

 

“Amy helped our group see our potential and then reach it!”

—Jill K. Clark, PhD, Associate Professor

John Glenn College of Public Affairs, The Ohio State University

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From 2010-2012, I facilitated a series of strategic planning meetings for Buffalo’s Field and Fork Network that helped align their vision, goals and planned activities and inspire new economic opportunities for farmers and artisan producers in the eight counties of Western New York.

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Since 2013, I have helped to launch, grow and manage a farmers’ market nutrition incentive program in Central Ohio. Produce Perks is now a statewide program that increases affordable access to healthy food for the $1.4 million SNAP recipients in Ohio. In 2018, our efforts also generated over $300,000 in sales for local growers at close to 100 locations statewide. With generous support from local, state and federal sources, Produce Perks Columbus has distributed over $65,000 since 2014, strengthening our local economy while directly benefiting local farmers and SNAP shoppers alike.

 

“Amy is superb. An excellent partner with experience and expertise. She is a food-system leader and has helped develop the nationally recognized Produce Perks program.”

—Tevis Foreman, CEO
Produce Perks Midwest

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Facilitation

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I am thrilled to be working with Food Policy Council experts, Dr. Wayne Roberts and Jonathan McNeice, in 2019-20 to help this established Council create a Local Food Charter and Action Plan that will define its future impact in the Western New York food system.

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Successful social change requires the collective effort of many stakeholders. Too often, we let the dynamics of our diverse perspectives and personalities get in the way of our shared work. In this 2019 webinar series entitled “Managing Effective Teams,” I work with food system leaders on the basics of managing effective teams in order to elevate our collective impact.

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It took countless post-its and sharpies to capture the thousands of voices that contributed the hundreds of ideas that went into this resident-led and resident-driven Local Food Action Plan in 2017. The result: a community-held plan that will guide the investment of municipal dollars in food-related projects in the areas of healthy neighborhoods, urban agriculture, health education, and economic development over the next few years.

 

“I greatly appreciated the time spent with Amy working on the Niagara Falls Local Food Action Plan. She not only brought a high level of expertise to our community, but also inspired many of us through the genuine and customized process that she led us through. Amy was professional, thoughtful and, most importantly, she made certain that the needs of our local community were always the paramount concern.”

—Tom Lowe, Director
IMPACT/ReNU, Niagara University

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Fundraising

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HPIO provides the information and education that help state legislators and agencies create the policies that can lead to better health outcomes for Ohioans. For several years between 2012-2017, I co-wrote and edited all of their proposals and reports to funders in support of their annual budget goals.

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In order to position the young FCLFC to help support City and County leaders in making positive changes in central Ohio’s food system, I facilitated a strategic planning process among council members in 2015. This organizing eventually led to the creation of a City/County Local Food Action Plan that outlines 25 concrete action items in 4 goal areas and aligns the efforts of local agencies and organizations now working to improve the local food system.

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When the city of Bexley, Ohio wanted to reimagine their suburban farmers’ market, I led a community-planning process to determine the best location, format and schedule. Since then, I have actively supported this seasonal market as a fundraiser and devoted shopper.

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Fundraising

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From 2010-2014, I re-designed departmental operations after a thorough comprehensive assessment and planning processes. I managed all of OFRF’s fundraising operations and supported the conversion of their database to a comprehensive customer relations system.

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From 2014-2106, we worked with this innovative charter school network in Columbus to strengthen its major-donor fundraising capacity and prepare for a capital campaign through strategy, planning and coaching.

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Over the past decade, the Sisters of Charity Foundation (SOC) has invested over $1 million in strategic grantee partnerships to improve the health status of residents in Cleveland’s Central Neighborhood. SOC’s support has provided Central with thousands of healthy meals and snacks, a strengthened bike culture, and more opportunities for children to access the National Park and Metro Parks. In 2015, I worked with SOC’s grantee partners to sharpen their proposal-writing skills in order successfully leverage SOC’s investment for new and additional state and federal funding.

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Fundraising

Facilitation

Fundraising

Ocean Champions’ mission is to build the political power necessary to ensure thriving oceans and coasts. In 2011, I worked with this unique national 501c4 organization with a connected political action committee (Ocean Champions PAC) to strengthen their major donor strategy and improve their fundraising results.

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From 2009-11, I wrote several articles for Edible Columbus about my travels in central Ohio’s local food scene.

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When the Conservatory celebrated the launch of their new community garden campus and culinary facility in 2010–the successful results of a $21 million capital campaign–I worked with senior staff and volunteer leaders to help implement a new fundraising dinner and two-day weekend festival. As interim event manager, I helped to secure more than $200,000 in support of the new campus’ activities, oversee marketing and ticket sales, coordinate all event logistics, and supervise volunteer leadership on behalf of this nationally-recognized botanical conservatory.

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About Me

I’VE CONSULTED WITH DOZENS OF GROUPS TO STRENGTHEN THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONAL MATTERS THAT KEEP THEIR ORGANIZATIONS HUMMING

For over twenty years, I have had a rich experience as a leader, fundraiser and facilitator of organizations working for progressive change, raising over $200 million for clients and employers. As a consultant, I provide expertise in strategy and development for a variety of nonprofit organizations, helping clients increase their fundraising potential and build capacity.

I am particularly passionate about and experienced in effecting positive changes in our food system. I have held national leadership positions in this sector including the founding Director of Chefs Collaborative, the first Development Director for Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture, and the interim Executive Director for the Organic Farming Research Foundation.

I reside in Columbus, OH where I manage Produce Perks Columbus, part of Ohio’s statewide farmers’ market incentive program, and volunteer with the Bexley Farmers’ Market and the Franklin County Local Food Council. I am a graduate of Connecticut College and the Cambridge School of Culinary Arts.

Contact Me

I look forward to learning about you and your mission–and how we can make a plan to execute your best work yet.

amybaskes@gmail.com

Amy Baskes Consulting
57 Jefferson Ave
Columbus, OH 43215

My office is in the Jefferson Avenue Center, an eclectic mix of change-seeking, culture-loving, community-minded organizations located in an historic campus in downtown Columbus, Ohio.

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STARTED