Karen Eber Davis is on a mission to help nonprofit leaders generate the ideas and resources they need to fulfill their goals in creative, effective and, whenever possible, brilliant ways. She is an idea consultant, team builder and nonprofit income specialist. As president of a consulting firm, she draws on her full set of skills to help organizations plan and fund their way to excellence. Her firm has attracted such clients as the Ringling College of Art and Design, Circus Sarasota, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Suncoast Workforce Development Board, Habitat for Humanity affiliates and more than 150 local, regional and national organizations. Her consulting work is respected for its innovation and integrity as well a practicality that affirms the spirit and psychology of nonprofit organizations.
Idea Consulting. Karen Eber Davis’ strategic consulting included designing the Sarasota School-to-Work Program as well as funding and launching the Women Resource Center’s Employment Solutions and the ELCA’s Florida-Bahamas Synod Resource Center. Other consultation resulted in funds and services for families, new homes, high-impact education for older adults and cultural activities–to name a few.
Partnership and Team Building. Karen Eber Davis is a frequent leader and speaker at workshops on planning, creativity and grants. She has presented to and helped to build teams with such diverse audiences as the Sarasota Health Department, Catholic Charities stakeholders, Florida-Bahamas Synod, the Early Learning Coalition, Clothes to Kids and the Association of Fundraising Professionals. In addition, she has designed, planned and facilitated numerous retreats for boards and staffs to help them reach challenging new goals. In early 2009, she was awarded The Nonprofit Resource Center’s 2008 Trainer of the Year Award.
Grants and Income. Her activities to increase income and grant-writing skills raise multi-millions every year and involve new ideas that improve organizations and provide them more than money. Her publications for nonprofit organizations include Grant-tastic!, More Local Sources, and Local Sources (now in its fifth edition). These sought-after resources have proved invaluable for organizations seeking competitive funding and in using their resources to the max. Her monthly newsletter, Added Value, provides readers with up-to-date information on nonprofit planning, partnerships and income. Other publications include Help I’m Writing a Grant, How to Run a Great Meeting, How to Enlist Great Help and the blog, Advancing the Nonprofit Sector. She has been published and quoted in the Sarasota Herald Tribune, Advancing Philanthropy, The Lutheran, the Lutheran Link and Charity Channel. You can follow Karen at Twitter: kareneberdavis.
Background: Before founding the firm, Karen Eber Davis developed the Sarasota County Community Development Block Grant Program. Under her leadership, this infant program received the National Association of Counties National Affordable Housing Award for the Down Payment Assistance Program. The ongoing program has helped over 1,800 families realize their dreams of home ownership. She also worked with the City of Ft. Lauderdale and the Florida Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs where she developed the division’s first audit program. In an earlier position with Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Tampa, she developed three youth and children ministries, senior adult and family activities. Her work with the Florida Synod of the Lutheran Church in America supported youth ministries in congregations across Florida.
As a Graduate Fellow, she earned her Masters Degree in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of South Florida with a focus on finance and marketing. She graduated magna cum laude from the University of Connecticut with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. During her undergraduate studies, she participated in two award-winning research projects, one on self-esteem and a second on children’s concepts of sexual identity.
She is a member of the Society of Advancement of Consulting, the Association of Fund Raising Professionals and the Alliance for Nonprofit Management.
As a testimony to her organizational skills, she once planned a six-month cruise to the Bahamas during which, other than fresh produce, the only items that ran out were TP and chicken bouillon.
Call or email today to learn how these skills can be used to help lead your organization to further excellence.