Consulting

Lisa Hoffman is a nonprofit coach, consultant and facilitator with 25 years of experience. As a fundraising consultant she specializes in individual giving, with an emphasis on major gifts, and a strategic, practical, creative approach.  She believes that nonprofit organizations must start where they are, building on their unique strengths. As a coach, Lisa brings a wide range of effective communication and relationship skills, deep understanding of the unique non-profit culture, and the ability to help clients build on their strengths and transform their weaknesses.  As a facilitator, she believes in a light touch to guide meetings and retreats that are dynamic, focused, enjoyable and goal-oriented.  Lisa is also an ordained Zen priest, bringing Buddhist practices of compassion, active engagement, and leaving the ego at the door to her nonprofit coaching and consulting.

Since launching her consulting practice in 1997, Lisa has had the privilege of serving dozens of nonprofits ranging in size from $100 million to $24,000 per year budgets. She assists not-for-profit organizations with individual donor programs and campaigns; organizational development; board and staff development and training; meeting and retreat facilitation and much more.  Lisa consistently helps her clients expand board and volunteer involvement in fundraising, raise significantly more money, and enjoy the fund development process.

As a chief development officer, Lisa excelled in launching and building individual donor campaigns and programs, as well as strengthening and expanding existing efforts.  After beginning her career at California Lawyers for the Arts and California Pacific Medical Center, Lisa served as development director at Independent Living Resource Center, The World Institute on Disability, and Bay Area Legal Aid.

Lisa’s current and past volunteer life includes: board member with the Russian River Zendo; adjunct faculty and Advisory Board member, the Foundation Center; faculty with Compasspoint Nonprofit Services, and Fundraising Day, which she has cochaired; former president of the Development Executives Roundtable(DER); capital campaign volunteer with The Women’s Building; and board member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.  She founded FAB (Fundraisers’ Anxiety Busters) a discussion group for staff and volunteer fundraisers, co-sponsored by the Foundation Center and DER, and mentors a group of young development professionals known as “Lisa’s Ducklings.”  Lisa also provides informal pro bono counsel to a variety of local nonprofit executives and board members.

An active volunteer solicitor, Lisa feels that you have to sing in the choir if you’re going to preach to it.