.png){kind=small}
Meet Celeste
Celeste Carlson is the founder of Growing Good Consulting and the creator of BoardSpark, the training and education arm focused on helping nonprofit CEOs and boards lead with clarity, confidence, and shared responsibility. With more than 20 years of experience working alongside purpose‑driven organizations, she specializes in board governance, CEO–board partnership, and nonprofit capacity building so organizations can grow and scale without burning out their leaders.
Her passion comes from being “inside the work” with nonprofits and social service agencies, not just advising from the sidelines. Celeste understands the pressures, constraints, and complexity of nonprofit leadership, which is why she brings a business‑minded, practical approach that turns big ideas about governance, strategy, and board engagement into usable tools, conversations, and repeatable practices.
She recently completed her MBA and a Certificate in Nonprofit Innovation from the University of Missouri–Kansas City (UMKC), blending advanced study in strategy and innovation with her real‑world nonprofit experience. Today, through Growing Good and BoardSpark, she helps leaders move from feeling isolated and overwhelmed by disengaged boards to feeling supported by a strong, aligned leadership team.
Celeste is currently empowering the Kansas City community with her husband and daughter in tow. When she’s not working with clients or teaching, you can usually find her in a great coffee shop, networking with other innovative leaders, or volunteering in the community.
Growing Good Consulting is a proud member of the following:
Press