The Work
I help nonprofits build partnerships they can run with good energy. A corporate sponsor, an institutional funder, a brand collaborator, or an in-kind deal: I build the systems underneath all of it.
Together, we work a pipeline that brings the right partners in and stewards a one-time supporter into someone who keeps showing up.
Wherever your program is today, one of these is a good place to start.
BUILD
Ground Floor
Building your partnership program from scratch
Best for: Early-stage or grassroots nonprofits building a partnership program for the first time. One dedicated development staff member, or an ED wearing the development hat.
You've got a few partners and a lot of heart, but nothing underneath to hold it together. We build the whole thing side by side, and run one full cycle together so you've done it once with me before you're on your own. Maybe the right partner is a national sponsor, maybe it's the shop down the street that wants to make something with you. Either way, you walk away with a playbook and a calendar that's yours. One thing I'll say up front: companies move slower than we'd like. You'll finish with a working system and a real pipeline. The first yes usually comes after that, and it comes because the system was there to catch it.
Ready to build something that lasts?
Room Service
RUN
Coaching and accountability for your partnership portfolio
Best for: Nonprofits with an existing partnership program and someone running it, ready to grow it more intentionally.
You've already got partners. What you need is someone in the room with you while you grow them. Every couple of weeks we sit down, look at the portfolio together, find the next right move, and I keep you honest about the goals you set. This is the teacher in me at its most hands-on. We set the term up front, and it wraps up when you can run the whole thing without me.
Ready to do the inside work?
The Residency
FIX
Full assessment and rebuild for a stuck or stalled partnership program
Best for: Established nonprofits with a development team whose partnership program has plateaued or stalled. Ready for a full rebuild.
Your program's been running for years, but something's gone stiff. Same partners, same amounts, nothing new coming through the door. I come in first and give it an honest look, talk to your people, dig into the data, then we rebuild from the ground up together. It's a real commitment on both sides, and it's for teams that are genuinely ready to do the dirty work.
Ready to rebuild?
Is this the right time?
Budget matters less than readiness. Here's what I actually look for.
This works when someone inside is ready to own it, with a second person behind them (often a board member). When your leadership will protect the time, not only pay for it. And when you're willing to look at your own numbers, including the ones that aren't so flattering.
This probably isn't the moment if you need money in the door this quarter, because corporate decisions take longer than that. Or if nobody has the capacity to carry the work after I go, because then I'd be building something that leaves when I do.
Smaller ways in
Not every organization needs the whole build. Each of these is a complete piece of work that stands on its own. Some lead to something bigger, and some are exactly the right size already.
Findings and Recommendations
When you need an honest outside read. A focused assessment of your partnership program that names what's working, what's stalled, and the three moves that matter most, delivered as a prioritized roadmap.
Stewardship System Design
When donors and sponsors feel processed instead of seen. A before, during, and after arc that turns one-time gifts into relationships your team can actually run.
Design and Collateral
When your materials don't match your value. One-pagers, sponsorship decks, impact reports, and case statements, built by someone who does this as an artist, not a template.
Take their word for it
"Joey leads with relationships first. He takes the time to truly understand an organization's mission, capacity, and goals, then works alongside leaders to build fundraising strategies that are both ambitious and realistic. In our work together at What If Puppets, his experience with youth-serving nonprofits and corporate sponsorship development helped us identify where our limited time and resources would have the greatest impact, allowing us to move from ideas to a more sustainable path for growth. Joey is thoughtful, clear, and deeply invested in helping organizations create meaningful, lasting impact."
Meghann Henry
Executive Director, Omaha Conservatory of Music
"When my organization became a corporate partner of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Joey was our primary contact person for the partnership. Joey was very buttoned-up, and nothing ever slipped through the cracks when it came to our partnership benefits. We found the partnership to be very beneficial, largely because of Joey's follow-through. In addition, Joey is a great person, so everyone on our team loved working with him!"
Dave Borchardt
Vice President of Corporate & Community Relations, KC Sports Commission
"Joey brought energy, creativity, and strategic vision to the museum's corporate giving program at a critical time. His ability to build meaningful relationships, connect funders with true needs, and focus on long-term, sustainable success made him an invaluable member of our team. He also served as a fantastic mentor for less tenured staff and was so fun to work with."
Randall Roberts
Associate Vice President of Development, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Ready to build something that lasts?