Services
MSH Consultants advances social justice principles through strategic philanthropy with a global perspective. Learn more about our services below
Advancing social justice via strategic philanthropy
Organizational development services
Advising individuals, families, and foundations
Coaching for philanthropic professionals
Tailored learning experiences to deepen understanding.
Strategy
MSH Consultants partners with values-aligned individuals, families, and foundations dedicated to advancing social justice through strategic philanthropy. Our strategic consulting services are tailored to help you refine your philanthropic vision, set actionable goals, and create a roadmap for achieving lasting impact. We work with:
Foundations: We offer expert guidance on designing, implementing, and evaluating grantmaking strategies that are both impactful and sustainable. Grounded in the principles of trust-based philanthropy, we help you develop clear funding criteria, identify potential grantee partners, and establish processes for monitoring and evaluating the impact of your grantmaking strategy.
Family Philanthropy: We support meaningful conversations that align family members around a shared philanthropic strategy. Our strategy work includes external strategies for advancing effective grantmaking and internal strategies for family learning around areas of shared interest. We work within a single family unit, across multiple family lines, and within or between members of different generations.
Community Engagement and Participatory Grantmaking: We believe in the power of community expertise and the use of participatory grantmaking to build and share power. Our consulting services work with you to redesign and reorient your grantmaking strategy based on genuine and meaningful partnerships with the communities and movements you support.
Foundation Development
MSH Consultants specializes in organizational development services that are tailored to enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of your philanthropic efforts. Our expertise is centered around strengthening governance structures to support sustainable, collaborative, and engaged leadership. Our work includes:
Philanthropic Design: We work with individuals, families, and foundations to identify and refine their philanthropic values and goals. We help implement giving plans by designing organizational models that will provide the appropriate level of support needed to meet a range of legal, administrative, and programmatic needs. We have experience designing philanthropic strategies for using a range of giving vehicles (e.g., private foundations, DAFs, intermediary funds, 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), impact investing).
Governance (Re)design: Our governance services strengthen your board and organizational leadership. We offer customized board learning and development programs, governance assessments, and redesign strategies that promote effective decision-making, open dialogue, and sustainable leadership. Our aim is to foster a governance structure that supports dynamic, responsive philanthropy aligned with social justice principles.
Next Generation Engagement: We focus on creating opportunities for intergenerational dialogue, ensuring that your philanthropy continues to evolve and adapt. Our approach includes tailored engagement strategies that explore the legacy and contributions of existing leadership and assess the interests and vision of future generations. We work to create a shared understanding of the perspectives of each generation while designing a process and timeline to adapt roles and responsibilities in a way that supports healthy intergenerational relationships.
Advising
MSH Consultants is dedicated to advising progressive individuals, families, and foundations who are deeply committed to advancing social justice through strategic philanthropy. With a focus on creating sustainable change, our services are designed to guide you through every aspect of your philanthropic journey.
Philanthropy Advising: Our personalized philanthropy advising services partner with clients to reflect on their values, identify areas to deepen their learning, and navigate relationships within their families. We also provide research and support to identify values-aligned giving opportunities.
Family Engagement: Fostering a culture of philanthropy within families can be both rewarding and complex. Our services extend to facilitating family philanthropy engagement, helping you navigate the dynamics of shared decision-making and intergenerational involvement. We offer workshops, family meetings, and educational resources designed to align family members around a common philanthropic vision, instill philanthropic values in younger generations, and harness the collective power of your family to effectuate change.
Giving Plans: Creating a strategic giving plan is essential for maximizing the impact of your philanthropic efforts. We work with you to develop a comprehensive plan that outlines your philanthropic goals, identifies strategic funding areas, and establishes benchmarks for success. Our approach ensures that your giving is not only aligned with your values but also adaptable to the evolving landscape of social justice issues.
Coaching
MSH Consultants offers coaching for philanthropic professionals and leaders.
Career Coaching for Aspiring Philanthropy Professionals: Our career coaching services are tailored for individuals looking to navigate the complex and rewarding world of philanthropy. Whether you are transitioning from another sector or starting your career, our coaching provides the insights, strategies, and tools necessary to align your passions with your professional path. We cover essential aspects such as understanding the philanthropic landscape, identifying opportunities that match your skills and interests, and preparing for the challenges of philanthropy work.
Executive Coaching for Philanthropic Leaders: Stepping into a leadership role within the philanthropic sector comes with its unique set of challenges and responsibilities. We work with new leaders as they navigate these complexities, offering personalized guidance to develop the skills necessary for effective leadership. We emphasize an equity-grounded approach to leadership and focus on areas critical to success in philanthropic leadership, including managing your Board, strategic decision-making, partner and community engagement, and leading teams.
Workshops, Courses and Customized Learning
MSH Consultants offers customized workshops, courses, and learning experiences designed for progressive individuals, families, and foundations eager to deepen their understanding and practice of social justice philanthropy and transformative change.
Our customized learning experiences draw on best practices for adult learning and are tailored to both individual reflection and supporting multi-racial, intergenerational, and cross-class learning. Whether it's one-on-one coaching sessions, custom workshops for families, or tailored training programs for foundation teams, we work closely with you to develop and deliver content that meets your learning needs.