Organizational development bridges the gap between where you are and where you want to be.

Organizational Development for Minnesota nonprofits

Strategic planning + hands-on implementation support that actually sticks — so your plan doesn’t just sound good. It gets used. Organizational development and strategic planning help nonprofits get clear about what matters most — and build the internal structure to follow through. This isn’t just a plan on paper. It’s a practical, lived-in strategy that shows up in your meetings, your operations, your messaging, and your results.

I’m based in Minnesota and work with organizations statewide and nationwide.

FIND YOUR CLARITY

organizational
development

Simple, right? Well, not quite.

Clarity is great — implementation is everything

Strategic planning isn’t just mission and vision statements and a document that lives in a folder. It’s turning decisions into action — so your strategy shows up in roles, calendars, meetings, and day-to-day priorities.

That’s why my approach includes organizational development + implementation support. I’ll help you build the roadmap — and I’ll stay involved as you put it into practice.

If your plan needs help turning into consistent action, you may also want to explore Marketing Planning.

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a planner and other stationary nicely organized on a desk
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Let's get started!

Stay focused, stay aligned, stay on track.

Prefer email? Reach me through the Contact page.

71%

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fun fact

of fast-growing companies have strategic plans, business plans, or similar long-range planning tools in place.

As your strategic partner and mentor, we’ll work together to:

  • Move from reactive to proactive, so your organization runs with more confidence and less chaos

  • Define clear, measurable objectives tied to mission-driven outcomes

  • Create accountability that supports—not shames—your team

  • Streamline operations and strengthen collaboration across roles

  • Identify revenue streams that support sustainability and growth

  • Build stakeholder trust through clarity, consistency, and follow-through

  • Align staff, board, and volunteers around shared priorities and messaging

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kristin beltaos sitting on a bench next to a pond

Ways We Can Work Together

No two nonprofits face the same mix of challenges — so I don’t force your needs into a pre-set package. We start with a conversation, clarify what’s getting in the way, and build a realistic plan you can actually use.

Below are the most common ways Minnesota nonprofits engage me for support with organizational development and strategic planning.

When you need clear direction—and a shared plan everyone can follow.

This support is ideal if you’re:

  • stuck in reactive mode and ready for a proactive plan

  • navigating growth, transition, or competing priorities

  • feeling misalignment between staff, board, and volunteers

  • ready to clarify your mission, vision, and measurable objectives

What we’ll build together may include:

  • mission, vision, values clarification (or refinement)

  • strategic priorities for the next 12–15 months

  • 3–6 measurable objectives with clear success metrics

  • decision-making and accountability rhythms

Strategic Planning +
Organizational Alignment for Nonprofits

Implementation Support
(The “Make it Real” Work)

When you don’t just need strategy—you need follow-through.

A strategic plan is only valuable when it shows up in real life: in meetings, on calendars, in responsibilities, in messaging, and in momentum. This is where I roll up my sleeves and help you turn your goals into action.

Together, we’ll translate your big-picture strategy into clear next steps your team can actually follow. I stay with you through the messy middle— so the plan doesn’t just live in a binder; it lives in your day-to-day work.

Implementation support can include:

  • action plans with owners, timelines, and resources

  • meeting structure and follow-through systems

  • internal communication and role clarity

  • simplifying priorities so your team can execute without burnout

  • aligning operations and marketing so you’re not pulling in two directions

When the people leading the mission need alignment, confidence, and a shared way forward.

This is especially helpful for executive directors and founders carrying too much, or boards that care deeply but aren’t sure how to support growth in practical ways.

Common focus areas include:

  • board/staff role clarity and expectations

  • strategic decision-making support

  • planning sessions that create shared ownership (not confusion)

  • leadership communication practices that reduce swirl and increase trust

Board + Leadership Clarity

Custom Organizational Development Support

When you know you need support—but it doesn’t fit in a tidy box.

If your organization is navigating change, capacity constraints, or growth, we can build a custom scope around what’s most urgent and most important.

Custom work often includes:

  • change management and team alignment

  • succession planning and leadership transition support

  • communications systems that support consistency and trust

  • operational streamlining for small teams

  • clarity around services/programs and revenue sustainability

Not sure what you need? That’s normal.

Most leaders don’t come to me with a neat list—they come with a swirl of responsibilities and a sense that something needs to change.

If you tell me what’s feeling heavy right now, I’ll help you name the real priorities and recommend the best next step.

If cost is a barrier, you can also explore The Sunflower Project (my pro bono initiative for small nonprofits).

What happens after you reach out?

After you submit the form, I’ll follow up within 24–48 business hours (Monday–Friday). If it feels like a good fit, I’ll send a short questionnaire, and we’ll schedule a call to clarify goals, timeline, and the proper scope of support.

READY TO START? LET'S TALK
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  • Kristin reworked our foundational language—mission, vision, programs, and key messages—leading to significant website improvements soon to be launched. Her compassionate approach, deep listening, and nonprofit expertise helped elevate our communication and streamline our processes. Thanks to her insights and quick turnarounds, we now have template language and visual tools to enhance our efficiency moving forward. This partnership has been transformational, and on behalf of the Joy Collaborative Board and me, we are deeply grateful for Kristin's dedication.

    Mark Ostrom, Founder, Executive Director & Creative Director, Joy Collaborative, Minneapolis, MN

  • "Kristin is a God send! She worked with my nonprofit Stillborn And Infant Loss Support, and it was an absolute pleasure. Her diligence, patience, and expertise are invaluable. Kristin took a deep dive into our brand, marketing materials, and strategic plan, providing concise deliverables and guidance to set up the business for the next level we envisioned for our team, clients, partners, and supporters. If you are looking for someone who will get it done, with a good heart and knowledge to streamline your marketing efforts and messaging, trust me, Kristin is the woman for the job!"

    Sadija Smiley MBA, Founder & Executive Director, Stillborn and Infant Loss Support, Laurel, VA

  • "Kristin’s coaching and consulting is highly expert, knowledgeable, realistic, honest, and filled with genuine cheer and an AMAZING sense of humor. I would highly recommend her as a resource for all things consulting, writing and marketing-related, both from a personal and business standpoint. Whether you’re celebrating a happy or sad family event, contact Kristin to ensure your moment is captured. Additionally, those thinking of opening a business, entrepreneurs, nonprofits and more, reach out to learn about her guidance and care. Working with Kristin has been both fact-based and heart opening simultaneously. She provides a custom tailored set of “tools” to cope with stress while addressing your everyday household and business needs"!

    Khrysti N., Boca Raton, FL

  • "Kristin is a sharp, reliable and hard-working professional who is tenacious in serving her clients. Her superior communications and interpersonal skills are top notch and a strong contributor to her success. I have had the pleasure of watching Kristin’s career evolve over many years as she has combined her extensive professional skills with her passion for helping people enhance their personal and professional lives via greater knowledge, insight and compassion. If you get the chance to work with Kristin, I suggest you take it – she is a joy to work with and it will likely be a growing experience for you both."

    Judy German, Burnsville, MN

  • "I have worked with Kristin for many years and have been extremely satisfied with what she has done for me and my fine jewelry business. With her organizational skills and professional approach, she helped to grow my small business, all while keeping my eye on what needs to be done today and in the future. Starting a small business can be very stressful. With Kristin's ability to ask the right questions, she was able to pull me back and look at the big picture, avoiding the pitfalls of trying to do too many things at once or getting caught up in the tiny details. I've been impressed with her compassion for working with others and her passion for what she does. It is apparent she truly enjoys it, and it is what will keep me as a client."

    Scott V., Minneapolis, MN

  • "Kristin has been a great help to me as I am working on building up my violin studio. She has come up with some very creative solutions. I know that I am taken care of and she is fun to be around. I hiighly recommend Kristin and her services."

    Kristin Cassada, Minneapolis, MN

  • "I first met Kristin when I was hired as a general contractor to work on a couple of projects in her home. After learning about her business background, I hired her to help develop my messaging and website. Kristin was to write my website copy; but I soon realized that I needed an education on the process leading to a quality website. Her knowledge guided me through the creation of this business tool. Kristin is a talented, enthusiastic and a creative individual who helped me to develop my thoughts into an interesting and informative read. I enjoyed the experience of working with Kristin and believe she would be an asset to anyone looking for a partner in the development of a website or any other marketing tool."

    John Schroeder, Minneapolis, MN

  • "Kristin was a great asset in helping us start up our first business. The bank had asked us for so much information that it soon became very overwhelming. She helped keep us grounded and on track to meet our personal goal of owning our own business. Kristin created an impressive business plan based on the information we provided to her. The bank did not request any additional information from us once they were presented with the business plan. We received a “yes” for the business within two weeks and were ready to close within one month. This was our dream come true, and we owe so much to Kristin for her great work. The bank even complimented us on this being one of the quickest closings they ever experienced for a business purchase. Thank you so much."

    Mark and Becky, Uniontown, OH

  • "I had the pleasure of working with Kristin on a local campaign where I served as the Campaign Manager. Kristin’s professionalism and writing skills were integral to the success of our campaign. She was very flexible and met and sometimes exceeded project requirements. She was reliable and always provided feedback that refocused the product back to the project’s goals. Kristin’s work on the project included all final editing of marketing materials, creating marketing materials, website review and streamlining the communication group’s editing process. Overall, Kristin is a rare find. A person that was more than qualified for the role she served but had the generosity and commitment to manage the project to completion, all while serving in a volunteer capacity."

    Katie, Campaign Manager, Maple Grove, MN

fun fact

95%

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of employees don’t understand their organization’s strategy.

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Let's get started!

Ready to unlock your organization’s true potential—find clarity from the chaos?

Whether you’re an executive director running the show solo, or a team ready to align and grow, I’ll help you create a plan you can actually follow—one that supports your mission and the humans doing the work.

FIND YOUR CLARITY