Projects
Old School Square Cultural Arts Center
Delray Beach, Florida
Strategic planning, organizational development, development staff search
Having worked with Executive Director Joe Gillie during her stint at the Palm Beach County Cultural Council, Charlotte was already knowledgeable about the organization. This made her well suited to help lead Joe, his staff and board of directors through the process of developing a comprehensive, five-year strategic plan for this iconic cultural arts center. During this process, she and her team also helped Joe hire the organization’s first development officer to increase the its fundraising capacity. Now, more than halfway through the implementation of its strategic plan, Charlotte continues to provide ad hoc consulting services whenever Joe and his board feel the need for additional guidance, advice, and support.
“Charlotte and her team delve deeply into the business of the clients they serve, working diligently to truly understand the challenges that they face and to develop creative, cost effective ways to address them. The question that any nonprofit facing the need to plan for its future is not, “How can we afford to do this?,” but rather, “How can we NOT afford to do this?”
—Joe Gillie, Founding Executive Director
Old School Square Cultural Arts Center
Cultural Council of Palm Beach County
Lake Worth, Florida
Strategic planning, capital campaign feasibility study, fundraising staffing, cultural industry needs assessment
The Cultural Council of Palm Beach County hired Charlotte and her team to create a five-year strategic plan for the vibrant arts and cultural organization. As a result of a comprehensive planning process, which included board retreats, staff meetings, key stakeholder surveys, external research and more, we were able to deliver a clear, actionable plan that will keep the PBCCC relevant and significant in the ever-changing arts environment.
Our team then conducted a fundraising feasibility study to determine the Council’s readiness to launch a multi million capital drive to renovate its historic Lake Worth headquarters building, a gift from philanthropist Mary Montgomery in memory of her husband, Robert M. Montgomery. Upon completion of the study, we staffed the campaign, managing a campaign to raise $4,250,000 to complete the redevelopment of the building, provide for operating support, and build the endowment.
Most recent work has included two cultural industry needs assessments, the first one completed in 2016 and the second one completed in 2018.
“Charlotte and her team of skilled professionals have worked with us on several projects including development of a new strategic plan, the selection and hiring of the Council’s first development director, the Council’s brand and messaging platform, and a campaign planning study. Two key benefits have been her extensive knowledge and understanding of the Council and its arts and cultural organization members, and her team’s extensive talents and experiences across planning, marketing and fundraising disciplines.”
—Rena Blades, President and CEO (retired)
Cultural Council of Palm Beach County
Arthur Marshall Foundation
West Palm Beach, Florida
Strategic planning, marketing
Charlotte first learned about the Arthur R. Marshall Foundation when she attended an event to introduce the foundation to a broader audience of potential supporters. Its mission of Everglades education, preservation and restoration immediately intrigued her. In response to a request from Nancy Marshall, the foundation’s president, Charlotte helped organize its strategic plan, increase board involvement and commitment, and grow its resources through improved marketing and messaging about its important programs and initiatives. As a result of this ongoing, ten-year consulting role, the foundation has significantly expanded its governing and advisory boards to include numerous people of influence and affluence, grown public awareness of its mission and its programs, and increased its ability to serve a large and diverse community through successful fundraising events and activities.
“Charlotte has been a vital member of our team in her role as counselor to our organization. We value her professional advice and experience, and we honor her ongoing commitment to helping us grow and prosper in the delivery of our important mission.”
—Nancy Marshall, President
Arthur R. Marshall Foundation
Palm Healthcare Foundation
West Palm Beach, Florida
Marketing research, marketing and public relations, feasibility study, capital campaign consulting, grant writing
Charlotte and her team provided an extensive array of consulting services to Palm Beach County’s largest public healthcare foundation. Our work began with a community assessment to determine levels of awareness of the foundation and its mission to serve the healthcare needs of the community, combined with a feasibility study to measure support and resources for additional funding. Over the next five years Charlotte and her team consulted on the foundation’s capital campaign and provided grant writing services, as well as marketing and public relations support.
Downtown Development Authority
Downtown Development Authority
West Palm Beach, Florida
Cultural district marketing research, planning and implementation
Team members identified marketing strategies (advertising, promotion and PR ideas and best practices) used successfully by other similar successful districts that were of interest to participating cultural organizations within the newly defined West Palm Beach Arts & Entertainment District. Through one-on-one interviews and a survey, we tested specific interest and buy-in, to gain insights on the essence of these marketing concepts from those with the potential to participate and support, and to set marketing priorities based upon the results.
We also determined which organizations’ leaders were interested in serving in an advisory capacity, to provide ongoing direction and connection to those entities represented within the district, in order to involve key stakeholders and build consensus from the start.
West Palm Beach, Florida
Cultural district marketing research, planning and implementation
Team members identified marketing strategies (advertising, promotion and PR ideas and best practices) used successfully by other similar successful districts that were of interest to participating cultural organizations within the newly defined West Palm Beach Arts & Entertainment District. Through one-on-one interviews and a survey, we tested specific interest and buy-in, to gain insights on the essence of these marketing concepts from those with the potential to participate and support, and to set marketing priorities based upon the results.
We also determined which organizations’ leaders were interested in serving in an advisory capacity, to provide ongoing direction and connection to those entities represented within the district, in order to involve key stakeholders and build consensus from the start.
Families First of Palm Beach County
West Palm Beach, Florida
Strategic Planning
Through a series of board and staff retreats; an external assessment that included one-on-one meetings, telephone interviews, and an online survey with key funders and stakeholders; and an internal assessment of operations; we were able to assist Families first in developing a new strategic plan in pursuit of its vision of Stronger Families – Stronger Communities.
This comprehensive planning process considered all aspects of the organization, including its organizational structure (professional staff and board of directors); the effectiveness of its program and service delivery; complimentary and competitive relationships and how those affected its operations; its branding, messaging and communications (image, positioning, marketing and public relations); and its finances, including fundraising, ensuring that the plan addressed all aspects of the organization that needed focus in fulfillment of its important mission in serving families and children in Palm Beach County.