Why Bring Celeste In?

Nonprofit CEOs and board members are often passionate, but tired, caught between big expectations and limited time and support. A BoardSpark session gives them practical encouragement, clear next steps, and a healthy dose of “you’re not alone.”

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Celeste blends real-world nonprofit experience, board governance expertise, and a warm, relatable teaching style. Audiences walk away with tools they can use at the very next board or leadership meeting, not just inspiration that fades after the event.

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Ideal Speaking Formats

You can utilize Celeste as a speaker or trainer in a variety of settings:

• Symposiums and leadership summits
  High-impact keynotes or plenary sessions that reframe how leaders think about board engagement, governance, and CEO–board partnership.

• Lunch & Learn sessions
  Compact, content-rich sessions that fit into a 60–90 minute window, ideal for chambers, foundations, corporate partners, or nonprofit networks hosting their grantees or members.

• Conference breakout sessions
  Interactive, practical workshops designed for small‑ to mid‑sized nonprofits, with concrete tools attendees can take back to their organizations.

• Board or CEO roundtables
  Facilitated learning conversations where executives and board leaders can compare experiences, ask candid questions, and leave with new approaches.

• Social and service clubs (Kiwanis, Rotary, women’s networks, professional associations, etc.)
  Mission-centered talks that connect board leadership and community impact, perfect for member organizations seeking meaningful, educational programs.

• Private organizational trainings
  Custom sessions for a single organization’s board and leadership team, delivered as part of a retreat, strategic-planning day, or annual meeting.
   

Signature Speaking Topics

From Passive to Powerful: Turning Your Board Into a Strategic Asset

Many nonprofit leaders feel caught between a board that's either checked out or overstepping. This interactive session uses real (anonymized) scenarios to diagnose common board challenges and walks through a proven framework to shift boards from passive observers or micromanagers into strategic partners. Participants will leave with tools to clarify board roles, establish accountability, redesign meeting structures, and create habits that keep the board focused on mission and growth.​

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Board Fundraising in Rural and Small Communities: 10 Plays That Actually Work

 In small towns and rural areas, board members often feel pressure to be major gift solicitors, but the context is completely different—smaller donor pools, overlapping relationships, and limited development infrastructure. This session flips that pressure into a menu of simple, relationship-focused fundraising actions that every board member can do, from coffee chats and gratitude calls to peer-to-peer engagement and community events. Participants leave with 10 ready-to-implement plays, sample scripts, and a calendar to roll them out.

The 90-Minute Nonprofit Health Check: Are We Truly 'Fundable'?
Funders don't just evaluate your mission, they evaluate your organization's readiness to steward resources responsibly. This interactive session walks participants through a simple 8–10 item diagnostic covering governance clarity, financial health, program clarity, storytelling, data systems, board engagement, ED stability, and compliance. Participants score their organization, identify the 2–3 highest-impact gaps, and leave with a practical 90-day action plan to strengthen fundability, whether they're pursuing grants, major gifts, or both.

Better Meetings, Better Decisions: Redesigning Board Agendas for Impact
Board meetings often become 90-minute reporting sessions where decisions happen in parking lots and nothing moves forward. This interactive session walks through the anatomy of a high-performing board meeting: consent agendas that protect strategic time, clear decision-making authority, generative discussion on 1–2 key strategic questions, and accountability check-ins. Participants redesign their own upcoming board agenda during the session and leave with templates and confidence to implement change.

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Executive Director + Board Chair: Building a Strong Partnership

The ED–board chair relationship is the foundation of organizational health. When it works, the whole org flows. When it's misaligned, everything else suffers. This session uses a "what we wish we'd talked about sooner" framework to cover expectations, communication rhythms, handling feedback and conflict, navigating transitions, and celebrating wins. Participants explore real scenarios, draft partnership agreements for their own orgs, and leave with tools to strengthen alignment and prevent burnout for both leaders.

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What Audiences Can Expect

Event organizers can expect:

• Engaging, story-rich content grounded in real nonprofit experience

• Clear, practical tools and frameworks that participants can immediately apply

• A tone that is honest and challenging, yet compassionate and encouraging

• Content tailored to the size, maturity, and context of your audience

Participants can expect to leave with:

• Greater clarity on roles and responsibilities

• New language and tools for engaging their boards

• Permission to lead differently, without carrying everything alone

Next Steps

To explore bringing Celeste in as a speaker or trainer for your next symposium, Lunch & Learn, conference breakout, or member event:

• Email celeste@growinggoodconsulting.com with your event date(s), audience type, and desired topic(s).

• Share whether you’re seeking a keynote, breakout session, board training, or a series of sessions.

• You’ll receive a brief menu of topic options, formats, and investment ranges, along with a link to schedule a conversation to finalize the best fit for your group.