ABIGAIL SINGER
Nonprofit Consulting & Facilitation
STRATEGIC PLANNING
Those of us who are committed to systemic, transformational change are up against a lot of barriers. If we're going to be successful, we need to be strategic!
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Since my early days of community organizing, I've been hyper focused on strategy. I love helping groups develop a plan to get from point A (where you are now) to point B (realizing your goals) that is grounded in your vision, values, and a realistic assessment of your capacity.
I believe in emergent strategy, a recognition that our world, ourselves, and the conditions of our ecosystem are always changing. To be successful, in addition to a well-designed strategy, we need to be able to adapt and adjust as we move forward.
Grounded in the specific needs of each group, I help organizations identify points of leverage and develop strategies that are "right sized" - detailed enough to act as a meaningful guide, but not so dense that the plan cannot change when conditions shift and a different approach is needed.
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I believe a great strategic planning process not only charts the path forward; it also builds relationship, investment, analysis, and collaboration, strengthening the organization and its members in the process.
As a strategic planning consultant, I design and facilitate inclusive, participatory strategic planning processes that harness the collective wisdom of the group.
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ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
How we work together is inextricably linked with the impact we're able to have in the world. As an organizational development consultant, I help groups align their structure, process and culture with their mission, vision and values.
So much goes into organizational effectiveness: strategy, funding, leadership, recruitment and retention, organizational culture, relationship to feedback and conflict, the list goes on. Many of these elements stem from an organization's systems - whether those systems have been designed intentionally or have developed organically. ​
I work with organizations to better understand the systems they have in place, and design new systems to achieve the outcomes they desire. As part of this process, I help groups develop systems to care for their people and foster a culture of inclusion, sustainability, and care.
Based on the unique needs of each group, I conduct an organizational assessment and collaborate with group members to design a process of organizational change. Depending on the group's needs, I may also support the implementation process through coaching, facilitation, and/or evaluation.​​
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FACILITATION
​I work with groups to design and facilitate processes that enable them to meet their goals - whether those goals involve developing a strategic plan, revamping their decision-making process, or navigating a conflict.
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I've been facilitating group work in various formats for the last 25 years. I take a holistic approach to facilitation, cultivating group processes that are effective, efficient, empowering and equitable. I strive to equalize the airtime so that all participants can offer their wisdom and perspective for the benefit of the whole, especially those whose voices have been systematically pushed to the margins.
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Holistic facilitation acknowledges expertise, emotion, positional power, lived experience, time and capacity restraints, and organizational goals and priorities - working with all of what's in the room to arrive at the best possible outcome.
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As an anti-racist facilitator who also benefits from white privilege, I strive to be transparent and accountable in my facilitation. Like all of us, I am always learning, and I welcome a culture of giving and receiving feedback.
When a group's process is well designed and participants have what they need to engage fully, the whole group benefits. The decisions and outcomes of the process also tend to be stronger, more nuanced and more inspired.
I am available for short and long term facilitation engagements. If your organization is looking for outside facilitation or support with designing an inclusive, participatory process, feel free to reach out!
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SHARED LEADERSHIP
Shared leadership, or co-leadership, is one of my areas of focus. I have a deep appreciation for the diversity of skills and experience that are needed for an organization to run effectively, and I believe groups operate at their best when all of their people have opportunities to learn, contribute, lead, and thrive.
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By sharing power and decentralizing decision-making, organizations can increase efficiency, avoid burnout, create opportunities for professional development, and embody the values of equity, inclusion and democracy.
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Of course, every organization is different, and the path to shared leadership is different for everyone. There are many forms of co-leadership, from a worker-owned collective to a more traditional organizational structure with two (or more) Co-Executive Directors. I can help you determine your organization's level of readiness for a more horizontal structure, what type of structure will work best, and what groundwork needs to be done in advance to ensure you'll be set up for success.
If your organization is considering making the transition to shared leadership (or already has and is looking for a partner to help you evolve and iterate), I'd love to talk!