Who are we?
The most consistent nonprofit consultants - hands down.
Jean Block, Principal - National/Southwest
Jean began her experience with the nonprofit sector in 1955 when she was 13 years old. She organized a backyard carnival which raised nearly $500 and she was hooked. She has served as leadership staff for several nonprofits, including the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of New Mexico, a local hospital and the United Way of Central New Mexico. And, in the years since organizing that carnival fundraiser, Jean has been a volunteer leader with numerous local, regional and national nonprofits, including health and human service organizations, membership organizations, performing arts organizations, and advocacy groups.
In 1995, Jean formed her own consulting company to enable her to share her expertise in nonprofit management, fundraising, planning and Board development with a broad range of local and national nonprofits. She now travels extensively in the US, teaching workshops and consulting with nonprofit of all sizes and scope.
Jean has written two well-received books on nonprofits: Fast Fundraising Facts for Fame & Fortune, now in its third printing, and The ABCs of Building Better Boards, in its second printing.
In 2003, an opportunity to learn about social enterprise led Jean in a new direction. For three years, she taught the PathFinder program for the National Center for Social Entrepreneurs, helping 25 nonprofits on the road to self-sufficiency.
In 2006, Jean formed Social Enterprise Ventures, LLC to build on her extensive knowledge base of nonprofit management and social enterprise training.
Contact: Jean Block
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Phone: 505-899-1520
Email: jean@jblockinc.com
Web: www.jblockinc.com
Amy Cole Buehler, Senior Consultant - Missouri/Southern Illinois
Amy has been working in St. Louis Nonprofit community for nearly 20 years and has extensive experience in fundraising, grantsmanship, strategic planning, development department audits, board development, and special project management including capital, annual and major giving campaigns. She has served as the Executive Director for both the Animal Protective Association of Missouri and Therapeutic Horsemanship. In 2008 Buehler founded Development on Demand! a consulting firm dedicated to working alongside non-profit organizations in the St. Louis Metropolitan area to further their strategic goals through capacity building, planning, training, board development, fundraising and coaching. In the spring of 2008, Amy was added to the faculty at Washington University in St. Louis as an instructor in the Nonprofit Management Masters Program where she helps to design curriculum and teaches several courses throughout the year.
Amy is a graduate of the University of Missouri Columbia and holds both BA and MA degrees in Political Science. She has served as President of the St. Louis Regional Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), President of the Community Service Public Relations Council (CSPRC), board member of the Metropolitan Association for Philanthropy (now Gateway to Giving) and the Nonprofit Services Center.
Amy lives in West St. Louis County with her husband Bryan and two sons, Cole and Sam.
Contact: Amy Buehler
Location: St Louis, Missouri
Phone: 314-520-2029
Email: amybuehler@prodigy.net
Laura Musbach Drake, Senior Consultant - Idaho
Laura Drake has been serving non-profit organizations throughout the Saint Louis community since 1994. Her full-time development positions have included opportunities at diverse organizations including a small social service agency, large cultural institution and a mid-sized social service agency.
She began doing freelance development jobs and consulting in April 2000. For the last five years, Splendor Event Services has focused primarily on non-profit and benefit special event services including galas, dinners, auctions, golf tournaments, educational breakfasts, cultivation events, friend raisers and reception fund raisers. Laura s focus on special events allows development officers and agency staff to focus on the day-to-day fund raising goals of the organization while she coordinates and plans with volunteer committees, venues and support staff.
Laura holds a Bachelor of Journalism degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia, has been a member of the St. Louis Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) since 1995 and was a Board member of the chapter from 2000-2003 and again from 2006-2008. She has also been a member of the St. Louis Community Service Public Relations Council, has been through The Grantsmanship Center Workshop, Metropolitan Association for Philanthropy Workshops, AFP local and national conferences and United Way training.
Contact: Laura Drake
Location: Sun Valley, Idaho
Phone: 314-647-2637
Email: llmdrake03@gmail.com
Cindy Kane, Senior Consultant - Florida
Cindy is the owner of GW Group, LLC, a Florida based consulting group with a focus on “Solutions for Long Term Success”. Cindy has more than 20 years experience in business and consulting with for-profit and non-profit organizations with technical expertise that includes grant writing, sustainability planning and social enterprise training. As a skilled facilitator, Cindy has the proven expertise to lead organizations in the development of business plans, social enterprise earned income ventures and sustainability plans. Ms. Kane provides workshops to non-profit organizations focusing on sustainability planning, operational planning, grant writing and social enterprise.
Cindy is a graduate from the University of South Florida in Tampa with a degree in Education and a graduate of the University of Tampa with a degree in Computer Science.
Cindy’s community service includes serving in leadership capacities on the Boards of the United Way of Hillsborough County, United Cerebral Palsy, Hillsborough County Civil Service Board, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay, USF Alumni Association Finance Committee, Executive Women’s Golf Association, Commission on the Status of Women and the League of Women Voters.
Contact: Cindy Kane
Location: Tampa, Florida
Phone: 813-295-9595
Email: cindy@gw-group.us
