Photo Credit: New York Road Runners and
Theo Cote for La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club
Getting feedback from the organizations we partner with helps us hone our own best practices in consulting. Here’s a sampling of what we’ve heard.
On Interim Development Leadership
“Claudia Zeldin from Growth for Good dropped in like a development Ninja, hitting the ground running and building the management and governance structures that will continue to grow for years to come. She never skipped a beat; kept us all on task when we each had a million other things to do; and thoughtfully onboarded our first full-time development professional.”
On Leadership Change Consulting
“The Children’s Law Center is extremely grateful to Growth for Good and Search for Good. They provided exceptional change management advice and guidance. With their skillful assistance, we recruited an expert interim executive director and then a remarkable new executive director. We are now confidently poised for significant growth and development under new leadership. I would highly recommend Growth for Good and Search for Good to any non-profit organization seeking a change in leadership.”
“Growth for Good was the perfect match for our needs as we expand our development and communications work. Claudia shared extensive expertise to help us organize and upgrade these areas. She was always available for last-minute questions, patient with our pace, and willing to help us adapt best-practice templates so that they fit us perfectly.”
“The value and impact of Growth for Good’s strategy and true hands-on support for Town Hall is practically incalculable.
Their team’s approach and fresh ideas put The Town Hall on a winning track, setting the bar to a new, higher standard.”
“It was so easy to work with everyone at Growth for Good. They made this project approachable, gave guidance throughout the entire process by connecting me with experts, and the result was an incredible website. I wouldn’t hesitate to work with them again!”
“Working with Growth for Good was a great experience as they helped place interim senior leadership support during a time of transition for us. More than that, they were great thought partners on how to approach the work and evaluate success.”
“Growth for Good facilitated our strategic planning process and some essential group decisions around our messaging, theory of change, and staffing structure. Now we have a comprehensive three-year plan that focuses on key priorities and very actionable tasks.”
On Marketing & Branding
“Claudia and her team are wonderful to work with. They listen and they are patient, continuing to offer ideas and suggestions until the client is satisfied. Their expertise and knowledge are unsurpassed. What also makes them stand out is that they research your company AND its competitors so that they can help you stand out. They embrace the mission of the nonprofit and truly care about our agency and its success.”
“As we were looking to launch our board development work, we knew we needed to find the right strategic partner who could meet us where we were, develop relationships quickly, ask the pertinent questions, listen intently, and then provide us with an honest assessment and a clear and practical set of recommendations. Without a doubt, we found that partner in Growth for Good. Katherine quickly grasped the essence of where we were starting from and charted a path that put us on the journey to where we are now: a more engaged and aligned Board of Directors, a strategic roadmap, and a clear vision for the future.”
“Growth for Good was an incredible partner for our digital event. Without their encouragement, I don’t think we would have been brave enough to try something so outside our comfort zone. Growth for Good provided guidance and feedback every step of the way. They helped us refine our vision so that our digital event was user-friendly and easy to navigate, and also warm and intimate. Not only did we raise DOUBLE our initial fundraising goal… we actually had fun while doing it!”
“Growth for Good is unique in that they go the extra mile. The degree of attention and care that they have shown us is above and beyond. We will certainly call on the team at Growth for Good in the future. They are an absolute joy to work with and know!”
On Rebranding and Communications
“Claudia Zeldin’s decades of experience were critical to our success in the early stages of Girl Be Heard. As we rebranded and renamed the organization, Claudia’s marketing, development, and communications skills helped our leadership team quickly troubleshoot challenges and create a solid infrastructure to ensure that Girl Be Heard’s development work could keep up with the dynamic growth of our nonprofit.”
“When so many external firms offer dogmatic approaches to marketing and decision-making, Growth for Good begins with a spark of excitement and igniting passion, encouraging creativity and inspiration. Growth for Good treats you like a partner—and genuinely wants you to innovate and succeed.”
“They provided valuable support and counsel with regards to our corporate, foundation, and government fundraising efforts. We would be happy to work with Growth for Good again!”
“Working with Growth for Good helped RHP accelerate our strategic planning process, and brought us options for the future that we haven’t even considered. The benefits of our work with Claudia will stay with our school for years to come.”
“Katherine is an extraordinary consultant and fundraiser – and one of the few who consistently delivers above and beyond expectations.”
“We have called upon Growth for Good/Claudia Zeldin for various projects over the years. In addition to providing exceptional interim development and event management staff, we also get valuable consulting and coaching along the way. Always competent, smart, reliable, and great to have on my team!”
On Communications Audit & Planning and Marketing Campaigns & Materials
“Claudia was able to critically look at our business and how we communicated our strengths, services, and value. She helped refine our language around mission and core services. In just one year, Claudia conducted market analysis research and did a comprehensive communications audit, plus created a new brand identity. Claudia’s contributions have been critical to our growth.”
On Interim Executive Leadership
“Growth for Good delivered exactly what we needed from an interim development director, and more. In particular, her laser-like focus on the gala led to a 33% net increase in proceeds, despite a very short timeline. Thanks to Joyce and Growth for Good, we had a seamless management transition, secured new institutional funding and are better positioned to raise money than ever before.”
“Claudia helped us create strategic and cost-effective solutions to problems dramatically affecting individuals with disabilities. JFCS now has start-up funding, a sound business plan, and a cracker-jack team in place. These revenue-generating and self-sustaining services will help our agency better serve our community. Claudia has managed this project with smarts and heart!”
On Grant Writing and Campaign Materials
“Growth for Good was invaluable to us during a transition period for our theatre. They were so helpful not only in seeing us through a time when our fundraising abilities were reduced, but also in continuing to be a sounding board for our new strategies and campaigns.”
“We are very appreciative of your market research, marketing plan, and YOU! We also value your lists of partnerships, outreach, and membership strategies. Your consultation has set us on firm ground to proceed. It was a pleasure working with you.”
“Thank you for your guidance and coaching. You truly helped reshape my vision of how fundraising works and gave me both conceptual and practical advice that has led to raising new money, furthering existing relationships, and tracking my work more efficiently. You’ve left me a better fundraiser than you found me, and the children Little Kids Rock serves will be better off for it!”
On Fundraising Planning and Grant Writing and Board Development
“The team at Growth for Good were terrific partners in mapping out an actionable plan for fundraising and board development. They took the time to research past methods and results and then suggested improvements to fundraising systems, communications strategies, and staffing. They also met with the board to get them onboard with the changes we wanted to make. Their work was a game-changer for Behind the Book. By taking a truly collaborative approach that involved board members and staff, our team is now aligned and focused on the same goals.”
What our customized training and retreat clients say about us
“Growth for Good provides an interactive, informed, hands-on and comprehensive experience for non-profits. When so many external firms offer dogmatic approaches to marketing and decision-making, Growth for Good begins with a spark of excitement and igniting passion, encouraging creativity and inspiration.”
“Claudia did a magnificent job! The content of our workshop was exactly right, the materials were tangible and helpful, and most of all she related to the participants and was straightforward. The Foundation’s grantees found this training so valuable.”
“Claudia provided an insightful and thought-provoking workshop on strategies to approach funders and build funder relationship. We plan to incorporate these strategies into our annual work plan.”
“Our staff particularly appreciated learning concrete skills in Katherine’s grant-writing workshop, including the importance of building relationships with funders and of having anecdotes on hand that exemplify program success.”
“Growth for Good’s marketing training was thoughtful and on point – addressing the challenges our association members face. In particular, the PowerPoint presentation was a tremendous takeaway providing a road map for next steps. NJEFP is looking forward to working with Growth for Good at future membership meetings and trainings.”
“Claudia really understands the challenges non-profit leaders face during board recruitment and offered excellent tips on how to be organized through the process and innovative ways to do the searching, interviewing and onboarding. The Center for Non-Profits is grateful for her generosity in time and expertise and looks forward to working again with Growth for Good.”
“Growth for Good led such a great training on Strategic Planning. It was interactive and participants left excited to start their plans. They even mingled at the end!”
“Katherine DeFoyd from Growth for Good engaged us all, made us think, created fun ways for us to interact, offered solutions, and most importantly showed us how to channel our emotions into action and success.”
“What a terrific team! Katherine and Claudia did a great job responding to our needs in planning workshops on grant writing and strategic planning for our staff, and the workshops were a hit.”
“National Dance Institute is unquestionably a stronger organization today because of Growth for Good’s involvement and support.”
“Growth for Good asked the right questions, listened carefully, helped with strategy and provided much-needed capacity during a time of staffing shortage.”
“Working with Growth for Good is like having an extra senior staff member.”
“Growth for Good provided critical management and fundraising guidance to Worldwide Orphans. We were going through an organization-wide and development department restructure and they provided all the support we needed…fundraising, grant writing, board development, and strategic planning for development. Their belief in us as a vital and worthy organization helped our staff step up their game and renewed their efforts.”
“Their ‘Building Fundraising Teams’ workshop was great! Claudia knows her stuff and I especially enjoyed the interaction. There were so many great questions which is always a sign of a great presenter and topic.”
What our workshop participants say about us
“I left your workshop mentally invigorated and professionally recharged. You provided wonderful information guided by real-life experiences.”
“Katherine and Claudia were a seamless team that provided helpful content, a lay of the land, several tools, and a can-do attitude that is encouraging!”
“I found the ‘recruiting effective board members’ webinar hosted by Growth for Good to be extremely informative, and it definitely got my creative juices flowing. I look forward to future interactions with this organization and becoming a better board member for my foundation.”
“Excellent workshop and the group activities were fun. I plan to use the budget template, the proposal sample, and the SWOT analysis to help us raise money. I really learned so much that I can’t say how you guys can improve!”
“The knowledge of the presenters was thorough and very stimulating.They had a great command of the subject and patiently dealt with all of the questions asked.”
“What I learned will help me develop a fundraising strategy that includes more than simply foundation grants. Growth for Good’s facilitators were excellent—well-prepared, knowledgeable, responsive.