News

Dr. Karen Mitchell has seen too many talented professionals who, despite great potential, do not achieve the kind of leadership success they deserve. What are the barriers that prevent this ultimate success? That is exactly what Karen and I discuss on the tenth episode of the Path Podcast, particularly the three skills in particular that if mastered, can help accelerate leadership opportunities. The first thing we discuss is the ability to project executive presence. What ... [..] read more

What is talent management, and why is it important? Dr. Karen Geiger has worked with dozens of organizations and has seen what makes successful ones work, and what individual leaders can do to advance their career and the organizations they lead. Karen is a teacher and trainer at heart and combines personal experiences as well as those she's had within the corporate, education and nonprofit sectors to offer wise counsel for current and aspiring ... [..] read more

Don Jonas knows that the key to effectiveness in the nonprofit realm is being able to explain the good work you are doing. He has always been a student of nonprofit leadership, and we had a great conversation about communication strategies, mindfulness/wellness techniques, and leadership lessons he's learned during his career. On Episode 8 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, we discussed the factors that influenced his career path and the lateral entry ... [..] read more

Mike & Penny will facilitate today's AFP Charlotte's board retreat, as they hand off the board president role. The retreat will include an implicit bias training, as well us strategic planning updates. The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) represents more than 29,000 members in 227 chapters throughout the world, working to advance philanthropy through advocacy, research, education and certification programs. AFP Charlotte Chapter provides its members opportunities to advance philanthropy by becoming ... [..] read more

Patton is leading the board of CrossRoads Corporation in their retreat today.CrossRoads Corporation is a non-profit organization in partnership with the residents of the Grier Heights neighborhood in Charlotte and numerous other stakeholders of Grier Heights in the revitalization of the neighborhood. [..] read more

While emotion plays a part in telling a compelling story about your nonprofit, Shannon Hinson reminds us that knowing your numbers is both a powerful tool to focus your time and energy as well as the best way to assure much greater fundraising success. On episode 7 of the path podcast, Shannon and I had a great conversation about many lessons she's learned after joining the nonprofit sector as a "lateral entry", and what ... [..] read more

On Episode 6 of The Path podcast, Michelle and I had a great discussion on all three phases of a nonprofit career: getting started and navigating your first nonprofit job; advancing into leadership as you move through your mid-career; and maximizing leadership opportunities once you achieve them. Michelle also shares great resources and tips to stay organized amidst a busy nonprofit lifestyle and how to develop a positive workplace culture.

ABOUT MICHELLE

Michelle Hamilton... [..] read more

PMA Consulting is proud to be a Heart of Silver Sponsor for AFP Charlotte's National Philanthropy Day! [..] read more

One of the challenges of starting a job in the nonprofit sector is the volume of information, skills and experiences you're trying to learn and manage, often without adequate on-boarding support from your organization. If that challenge is one you're facing, or you want to do a better job helping develop your staff talent, this episode is for you. On Episode 5 of The Path Podcast, Mike and I explore five ways ... [..] read more

While nearly 75% of nonprofit professionals are women, less than half of the CEO's in the sector are female, and those in leadership are making 30% less than their male counterparts. Penny and I had a great conversation in episode 3 of The Path Podcast about these and other important topics facing women in the nonprofit community, and topics that are equally important for their male colleagues. She also shares great advice and resources ... [..] read more

Mike is proud to spend the day with the board members of the Charlotte Lesbian and Gay Fund, facilitating their annual board retreat. Positively impacting nonprofits that serve the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, CLGF is a collective giving program that awards grants to organizations that support the LGBT+ community. [..] read more

Patton has the pleasure of joining Cannon School's Advancement, College Counselors, and Admissions teams today for a staff presentation. Cannon School nurtures relationships at the heart of learning and engages the learner in a journey of growth. [..] read more

Today Patton will join the Arts and Science Council's Cultural Leadership Training Program to provide an overview of fundraising and philanthropy in Charlotte.ASC's Cultural Leadership Training (CLT) Program is designed to identify emerging leaders and help them develop into productive volunteers and board candidates for cultural organizations across our community. [..] read more

Christ Church Preschool will host a board retreat today, facilitated by Patton. Christ Church Preschool and Kindergarten (CCK) is half-day program that emboldens each student to develop socially, emotionally, intellectually, physically and spiritually. [..] read more

Patton is excited to be in Fayetteville today to lead the ShineLight connect Foundation board retreat. ShineLight is a unique wellness community created with the distinct purpose of providing a brighter life and future for individuals with autism. ShineLight serves as a guiding light for individuals and their families by leading the way in support and services for individuals with autism. [..] read more

Patton is joining the talented board members at Time Out Youth for their annual board retreat today. Time Out Youth Center offers support, advocacy, and opportunities for personal development and social interaction to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (LGBTQ) youth ages 11-20. [..] read more

Mike is excited to join the talented team at Time Out Youth for their staff retreat today!Time Out Youth Center offers support, advocacy, and opportunities for personal development and social interaction to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (LGBTQ) youth ages 11-20. [..] read more

Patton will be in Raleigh today to lead a board retreat session for North Carolina State University's Friends of the Library board. The Friends of the Library is a philanthropic organization dedicated to enhancing the experiences our extraordinary libraries offer to NC State students, faculty and staff, and the public. [..] read more

Patton and Mike are glad to be a part of Project Life Movement's board retreat. Project Life Movement's mission is to recruit young, healthy, diverse people to join the national stem cell & bone marrow registry on college campuses. [..] read more

Please join us at the 18th Annual Profitable Communication for Nonprofits Workshop, hosted by our friends at IABC Charlotte. PMA team members Penny Hawkins and Mike Blackwelder will be presenting throughout the day. Penny will lead the Innovative Approaches to Fundraising Roundtable, while Mike leads the Stakeholder Relationship Building Roundtable. They both will present the luncheon keynote session, entitled "Back to the Future: What You Wish You Had Done When You Started Fundraising." Hope to ... [..] read more

PMA Consulting is happy to announce Alex Reardon as the new Vice President, Advancement with the Girl Scouts Hornets' Nest Council.

Alex will serve in a highly visible role as a skilled fundraiser, leading efforts such as stewardship, donor cultivation, alumni engagement, and major gifts, in addition to strategic leadership with other organization leaders.

The mission of Girl Scouts Hornets' Nest Council is to build girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world ... [..] read more

The Institute for Philanthropic Leadership wrapped up another successful program last month, with the 7th cohort of Leadership Gift School finishing its spring experience by presenting their major gift case for support to the rest of the participants. Kudos to the outstanding leaders at Renaissance West Community Initiative, Classroom Central, CMS Foundation, Brookstone Schools, A Child's Place, Cain Center for the Arts, South Piedmont Community College and Carolina Breast Friends for the great work ... [..] read more

By: Patton McDowell

We've been fortunate to work with over 200 nonprofit organizations since the firm was founded in 2009. While our team brings unique individual experiences that benefit our clients, I'm sure my colleagues would agree we are constantly learning from the "front line" of the nonprofit world. As I reflect on PMA's first decade of consulting experiences, five themes emerge:

It's lonely being an ED. I find it incredibly ... [..] read more

PMA Consulting is excited to announce that the firms' Managing Director, Mike Blackwelder, is leading AFP Charlotte as Board President in 2019. An active member of AFP for over 10 years, Mike has served on the Board for the past 5 years in various capacities including VP of Membership and chair of the Chapter's first IDEA (inclusion, diversity, equity, and access) Task Force. He also serves on AFP Global's Membership Services and Diversity ... [..] read more