Welcome to Edes Gilbert Consulting
Do you want to implement best practices in your nonprofit organization?
I serve the boards of arts, education and women's organizations and offer nonprofit consulting services in the following areas.
Board Governance - Boards need to be structured to meet the current and future demands of a rapidly changing world using best practices and procedures.
Strategic Planning - Plans should include clear objectives for next 1-5 years coupled with realistic program and financial plans to advance toward the organization's mission. (view recommendation)
Organization & Processes - The board and administration need to establish an atmosphere with processes that are transparent, accountable, and flexible..
I am committed to these core principles and bring over 22 years of direct experience leading organizations that report to boards as well as nonprofit consulting to organizations for 10. I have served on the boards of large organizations like TIAA-CREF in New York City and of small ones such as Bay Chamber Concerts in Rockport, Maine.
If you need an objective third party to lead a project in one of the areas above, please call or email me.
Testimonials
Thank you so much for facilitating the Board-Head retreat. The reviews from trustees on your work are outstanding,...
Edes is so wise. She listens. She doesn't jump to conclusions. I seek her advice on other matters as well.
Edes' work is outstanding. The strategic plan that she helped us develop is the centerpiece of our accreditation efforts.
Her experience and knowledge were crucial in helping us identify the most important opportunities and challenges facing Episcopal.(see full letter)
Throughout our planning process, Edes Gilbert provided wise counsel,broad context and, when required, a challenging voice all with an encouraging presence. She helped us design a process that matched Trinity's moment in its history....................Trinity is fortunate to have found in her a thoughtful advocate to help guide us into the future
Edes immediately helped us identify and prioritize critical goals to move our institution forward. Her broad experience lends perspective and insight, her pleasant demeanor wins over all constituents, and her high integrity ensures credibility, clarity, and excellence. It has been a pleasure to work with her.
Over the past 20 years, I have had the privilege of working with Edes on numerous projects. In each instance, the organization benefited from Edes’ broad range of experience and expertise. She is a consummate professional and approaches each new situation thoughtfully and with the highest ethical standards. Simply put, Edes Gilbert is the best!
After developing our strategic plan on our own in 2006, we retained Edes Gilbert to guide Packer in our planning for the period of 2011 to 2016---and we are so glad that we made that decision! Edes was with us every step of the way, from conceptual ideas to final text, drawing on her extensive expertise in independent school leadership and her exceptional interpersonal and organizational skills. All of our various constituencies loved working with Edes: trustees, faculty, parents, and administrators. She helped calm the waters when people became too territorial or entrenched and always had an idea to get us back on track when we became stuck. Importantly, she has unending patience, a great sense of humor, and is terrific fun to work with. So long as we can coax her back, I would never consider developing a strategic plan at Packer without her.
