Nonprofit Experience

Trusted Support for Mission-Driven Organizations

With deep nonprofit experience across sectors, Project Engine supports mission-driven organizations through moments that matter most. From leadership transitions and policy responses to strategic positioning and reputational clarity, we help nonprofit leaders navigate complexity with confidence.

We understand the unique dynamics of nonprofit work—where decisions must balance mission, stakeholders, and sustainability. Whether we’re guiding Boards through sensitive transitions, supporting founders during major milestones, or executing rapid-response strategies in high-stakes environments, we bring structure, discretion, and momentum to every engagement.

Our non-profit experience spans organizational strategy, stakeholder alignment, interim leadership, and change management. At every step, we act as a trusted partner—moving with you from vision to execution, and helping your organization stay grounded, focused, and mission-ready.

Rapid Response to a Policy Threat

When a foundation identified a coordinated effort to influence environmental regulation, we helped them move quickly—building a searchable database, launching a public resource, and equipping stakeholders with the insights needed to respond.

Policy Review

The Situation

A foundation noticed ballot initiatives emerging in multiple states that targeted an environmental issue they championed – raising concerns about the possibility of a coordinated effort to create regulatory restrictions across the country.

Our Role

We worked with the foundation to create a searchable database of legislation about the environmental issue, then made it available to all interested parties.  Our work included researching legislation in multiple states, designing the website and database, creating a marketing campaign, monitoring site use then creating a report the foundation could use with key stakeholders to showcase policy implications.

The Impact

  • 40+ states monitored

  • 1 searchable policy database

  • Used by stakeholders from companies, state and federal governments, NGOs and concerned citizens

“We turned a scattered threat into a centralized, searchable response—empowering stakeholders across the country to act.”

A Thoughtful Leadership Transition

In the midst of a global pandemic, we guided a long-serving nonprofit president through a sensitive retirement process—supporting both her and the Board to ensure a smooth, timely leadership handoff without disrupting the mission.

Leadership Transition

The Situation

In the uncertainty of COVID, a long-standing nonprofit president wanted to retire—but worried her Board wasn’t ready. The field was undergoing significant strain due to funding shifts and leadership transitions at other organizations.


Our Role

We provided counsel to the President, preparing a timeline for her exit; advising on how to inform the Board then briefing the Board on how to lead a search in the current climate. Additional work included identifying a firm to lead the search, screening candidates and providing the timeline which ultimately guided interactions with the organization’s leadership team and Associates.

The Impact

  • Timeline-driven transition

  • Search firm engaged

  • Board equipped for next chapter

“We made space for a graceful exit—while building confidence in what came next.”

Reimagining Mission, Vision & Value

As a regional arts organization evolved, we led a strategic refresh of its guiding statements—engaging stakeholders, aligning the Board, and modernizing its message to reflect a broader, more inclusive identity.

Realigning Mission Workshop

The Situation

A regional arts non-profit had grown dramatically. Its identity hadn’t kept pace.

 

Our Role

Working with a committee of the Board and the CEO, we devised an accelerated process that allowed that Board to consider, revise and sign off on a new mission, vision and values in six months. Specific actions included:  holding a series of interviews to confirm the current brand and reputation of the organization; socializing ideas with Board and staff; creating strawman options; running feedback session; then conducting a series of focus groups with stakeholders to trial the new concepts.


The Impact

  • 6-month mission refresh
  • Large Board engaged (ed 20+ members)
  • Stakeholder-tested language

“We helped the organization find language that matched its evolution—and inspired its future.”