References.
I engaged Dani as a personal coach for Resource Development. What I got was a coach for Resource, Board, Organizational and Leadership Development all in one! Dani’s willingness to share her energy, experience and knowledge has been an essential component of the unprecedented successes accomplished by our organization.
Ken Dority, Executive Director
National Alliance on Mental Illness, Greenville SC
It was a great retreat. You were able to read the needs of the board in preparation and onsite and read the room that day. Many thanks!
(The Rev. Canon) Lynn Carter-Edmands
Episcopal Services Foundation | Canon to the Ordinary | Diocese of Southern Ohio
I have had the pleasure and benefit of Dani Robbins executive coaching for the past 6 months. As a new Executive Director, Dani uses practical and proven strategies to offer perspectives around professional and talent development, strategic planning and engaging and leading a non profit board. Dani approaches her coaching with directness, empathy and with thought provoking questions. Her ability to see the humor in almost every situation is refreshing and helps to ease the complexities of being a freshman Executive Director.
Tasha Booker M.ED, Executive Director and Vice President
City Year Columbus
I’ve participated in strategic planning initiatives with a variety of non-profit organizations over the course of my 30 year career. Often the experience is contentious, uninspiring and futile because the plan isn’t embraced by the organization or used to guide decisions. Working with Dani to develop strategic plans for both my employer, WOSU Public Media and Local Matters, where I serve on the board, was the opposite experience—the processes were collaborative and inspiring. In each case, the plans we created are serving as roadmaps for the organizations’ future success. Dani has the rare ability to guide organizations’ leaders through strategic planning in an efficient and effective way.
Karen Olstad, Chief Operating Officer
WOSU Public Media
Dani introduced a key new thought process to our Board. Though we had spent some time in “deep thinking” or strategic sessions in the past, she introduced and then guided us through the “generative” board concept. Reaching beyond the traditional fiduciary and strategic aspects of board responsibilities, we quickly realized how informative and instructive this type of board interaction is. Further, Dani’s insight and ability to work with our board, quickly moved us towards a far more interactive and honest discussion. We found that as a result we had the best and most productive board session we had had in several years. The response was reinforced when several board members called me immediately after the session to reinforce their impression. We now have added generative topics to each of our board meetings and I have added it to my staff meetings.
Scott Caine, CEO
GroundWork group
Dani recently assisted the board and staff of Homes on the Hill CDC with an organizational audit. Her guidance and non-profit management expertise were crucial to our process and planning our next action steps. Dani helped us to identify strengths we didn't know we had and helped us to focus on opportunities for growth. She has an engaging personality and we look forward to the opportunity to work with her in the future.
Jerolyn Barbee, Board Chair
Homes on the Hill
Dani provided a structure that allowed our board and staff to freely explore important conversations around mission, vision, values and approach. Thanks to Dani's support in organizing and leading our planning sessions, our strategic plan has been a north star for the organization.
Michelle Moskowitz Brown, Executive Director
Local Matters
Dani is incredibly dedicated to providing the best possible service for her clients. She is always available to answer questions, provide feedback, and offer guidance when needed. Her work with our Board of Directors has taken it to an entirely new level. With Dani's help, we have improved our skills as leaders, fundraisers, and advocates for 1girl. We are better able to do our jobs and serve children because of what she has provided. Her insight, experience, and knowledge of the field is exactly what any non-profit needs to move to the next level. All social leaders have much to learn from Dani and Non Profit Evolution! On top of that, she is flexible, friendly, and easy to work with!
Shelby Kretz, Executive Director
1girl
Dani has been an outstanding resource for our organization. As we continue to grow the board of directors at Helping Hands Center and move the organization forward, Dani has proven to be an effective and knowledgeable expert in her field. We have gained huge momentum in a short time with her assistance. Our only regret is not finding her a few years earlier!
Erin Nealy, Co-Executive Director
Helping Hands Center
I always enjoy our (coaching) meetings and your feedback and insight. Your help is invaluable to me.
Teresa A. Trost, Executive Director
Community Shares of Mid Ohio
Dani was very creative in working with my board and trustees. Her learning curve was steep but she handled it well. The results were very satisfactory.
Dr. Bob Bowers, Chief Executive Officer
Education Council
Dani helped take Melissa's House to a new level. She got our board organized, our code of regulations completed, our resource development and board development completed. Her knowledge and enthusiasms are invaluable. She is organized, prompt, delivers what she says she will and is committed to the project. More importantly, she keeps me focused and on task. She is my go to person for just about all things Melissa's House. I will always use her as a resource for Melissa's House.
Elaine Goldberg, Founder and President
Melissa's House
Thank you for your leadership at our strategic planning event on Saturday. Your efforts greatly assisted us and kept us on track. I am looking forward to your report, and CATF's subsequent march into the next three years.
L. Robert Thaxton, Chair, Board of Directors
Columbus AIDS Task Force
I have been delighted with Dani's energy, enthusiasm, and expertise. As a new non-profit organization, we have numerous challenges that need to be addressed as we get started. Dani's experience and professionalism have been a tremendous help. She clearly articulates what needs to be accomplished, how she will participate to help us meet those challenges, and then delivers as promised. We are very happy to have Dani on our team.
Doug Sharp, Executive Director
The Lettuce Work Foundation
Dani helped us get to the root of the matter, which helped us grow stronger and more focused.
Dominique R. Jones, Vice President, Community Impact
United Way of Central Ohio
I hired Dani in my role as Board President of Earthtouch Nature Preserve to help us begin to define our fund raising strategy and conduct board trainings. She delivered very high impact training that both raised our knowledge and got us moving forward to start the actual work of raising money. She presented very solid data and facilitated in a manner that promoted dialogue and learning. She also wrote our brochure and fund raising letter to get us started. I would highly recommend her and do plan to hire her again.
Maureen Metcalf, President, Board of Directors
Earthtouch Nature Preserve
Dani is a great coach for me and a cheerleader for the Columbus Metropolitan Club. She helps us focus and understand much more clearly how to identify and target prospect, as well as, refine our techniques in all of our fundraising efforts.
Jane Scott, Executive Director
Columbus Metropolitan Club
Dani was instrumental in seeing our club through an important transition. We contracted with her to get through a short-term crisis, and she brought us out of the crisis stronger then we went in. She was a great investment in the future of our club, and we will continue to rely on her leadership and experience.
Dave A. Dastoli, Board President
Boys & Girls Club of Youngstown
Dani is an outstanding leader and motivator. Her overall understanding of how a non profit works makes her an unbelievable asset to any organization.
Kevin Platz, Executive Director
Orrville Area Boys and Girls Club
Dani really raised the bar for our Boys & Girls Club of Western Reserve here in Akron. She increased visibility and community awareness, expanded programs to underserved areas, and grew revenue during tough economic times in NE Ohio. I have watched her consulting career grow and flourish as she adds value and energizes non-profit organizations and personnel with her incredible enthusiasm and her sharp skills in Board development and strategic planning, executive recruitment and coaching, and resource development and implementation.
Robert A. Kulinski, President
United Way of Summit County
Ken Dority, Executive Director
National Alliance on Mental Illness, Greenville SC
It was a great retreat. You were able to read the needs of the board in preparation and onsite and read the room that day. Many thanks!
(The Rev. Canon) Lynn Carter-Edmands
Episcopal Services Foundation | Canon to the Ordinary | Diocese of Southern Ohio
I have had the pleasure and benefit of Dani Robbins executive coaching for the past 6 months. As a new Executive Director, Dani uses practical and proven strategies to offer perspectives around professional and talent development, strategic planning and engaging and leading a non profit board. Dani approaches her coaching with directness, empathy and with thought provoking questions. Her ability to see the humor in almost every situation is refreshing and helps to ease the complexities of being a freshman Executive Director.
Tasha Booker M.ED, Executive Director and Vice President
City Year Columbus
I’ve participated in strategic planning initiatives with a variety of non-profit organizations over the course of my 30 year career. Often the experience is contentious, uninspiring and futile because the plan isn’t embraced by the organization or used to guide decisions. Working with Dani to develop strategic plans for both my employer, WOSU Public Media and Local Matters, where I serve on the board, was the opposite experience—the processes were collaborative and inspiring. In each case, the plans we created are serving as roadmaps for the organizations’ future success. Dani has the rare ability to guide organizations’ leaders through strategic planning in an efficient and effective way.
Karen Olstad, Chief Operating Officer
WOSU Public Media
Dani introduced a key new thought process to our Board. Though we had spent some time in “deep thinking” or strategic sessions in the past, she introduced and then guided us through the “generative” board concept. Reaching beyond the traditional fiduciary and strategic aspects of board responsibilities, we quickly realized how informative and instructive this type of board interaction is. Further, Dani’s insight and ability to work with our board, quickly moved us towards a far more interactive and honest discussion. We found that as a result we had the best and most productive board session we had had in several years. The response was reinforced when several board members called me immediately after the session to reinforce their impression. We now have added generative topics to each of our board meetings and I have added it to my staff meetings.
Scott Caine, CEO
GroundWork group
Dani recently assisted the board and staff of Homes on the Hill CDC with an organizational audit. Her guidance and non-profit management expertise were crucial to our process and planning our next action steps. Dani helped us to identify strengths we didn't know we had and helped us to focus on opportunities for growth. She has an engaging personality and we look forward to the opportunity to work with her in the future.
Jerolyn Barbee, Board Chair
Homes on the Hill
Dani provided a structure that allowed our board and staff to freely explore important conversations around mission, vision, values and approach. Thanks to Dani's support in organizing and leading our planning sessions, our strategic plan has been a north star for the organization.
Michelle Moskowitz Brown, Executive Director
Local Matters
Dani is incredibly dedicated to providing the best possible service for her clients. She is always available to answer questions, provide feedback, and offer guidance when needed. Her work with our Board of Directors has taken it to an entirely new level. With Dani's help, we have improved our skills as leaders, fundraisers, and advocates for 1girl. We are better able to do our jobs and serve children because of what she has provided. Her insight, experience, and knowledge of the field is exactly what any non-profit needs to move to the next level. All social leaders have much to learn from Dani and Non Profit Evolution! On top of that, she is flexible, friendly, and easy to work with!
Shelby Kretz, Executive Director
1girl
Dani has been an outstanding resource for our organization. As we continue to grow the board of directors at Helping Hands Center and move the organization forward, Dani has proven to be an effective and knowledgeable expert in her field. We have gained huge momentum in a short time with her assistance. Our only regret is not finding her a few years earlier!
Erin Nealy, Co-Executive Director
Helping Hands Center
I always enjoy our (coaching) meetings and your feedback and insight. Your help is invaluable to me.
Teresa A. Trost, Executive Director
Community Shares of Mid Ohio
Dani was very creative in working with my board and trustees. Her learning curve was steep but she handled it well. The results were very satisfactory.
Dr. Bob Bowers, Chief Executive Officer
Education Council
Dani helped take Melissa's House to a new level. She got our board organized, our code of regulations completed, our resource development and board development completed. Her knowledge and enthusiasms are invaluable. She is organized, prompt, delivers what she says she will and is committed to the project. More importantly, she keeps me focused and on task. She is my go to person for just about all things Melissa's House. I will always use her as a resource for Melissa's House.
Elaine Goldberg, Founder and President
Melissa's House
Thank you for your leadership at our strategic planning event on Saturday. Your efforts greatly assisted us and kept us on track. I am looking forward to your report, and CATF's subsequent march into the next three years.
L. Robert Thaxton, Chair, Board of Directors
Columbus AIDS Task Force
I have been delighted with Dani's energy, enthusiasm, and expertise. As a new non-profit organization, we have numerous challenges that need to be addressed as we get started. Dani's experience and professionalism have been a tremendous help. She clearly articulates what needs to be accomplished, how she will participate to help us meet those challenges, and then delivers as promised. We are very happy to have Dani on our team.
Doug Sharp, Executive Director
The Lettuce Work Foundation
Dani helped us get to the root of the matter, which helped us grow stronger and more focused.
Dominique R. Jones, Vice President, Community Impact
United Way of Central Ohio
I hired Dani in my role as Board President of Earthtouch Nature Preserve to help us begin to define our fund raising strategy and conduct board trainings. She delivered very high impact training that both raised our knowledge and got us moving forward to start the actual work of raising money. She presented very solid data and facilitated in a manner that promoted dialogue and learning. She also wrote our brochure and fund raising letter to get us started. I would highly recommend her and do plan to hire her again.
Maureen Metcalf, President, Board of Directors
Earthtouch Nature Preserve
Dani is a great coach for me and a cheerleader for the Columbus Metropolitan Club. She helps us focus and understand much more clearly how to identify and target prospect, as well as, refine our techniques in all of our fundraising efforts.
Jane Scott, Executive Director
Columbus Metropolitan Club
Dani was instrumental in seeing our club through an important transition. We contracted with her to get through a short-term crisis, and she brought us out of the crisis stronger then we went in. She was a great investment in the future of our club, and we will continue to rely on her leadership and experience.
Dave A. Dastoli, Board President
Boys & Girls Club of Youngstown
Dani is an outstanding leader and motivator. Her overall understanding of how a non profit works makes her an unbelievable asset to any organization.
Kevin Platz, Executive Director
Orrville Area Boys and Girls Club
Dani really raised the bar for our Boys & Girls Club of Western Reserve here in Akron. She increased visibility and community awareness, expanded programs to underserved areas, and grew revenue during tough economic times in NE Ohio. I have watched her consulting career grow and flourish as she adds value and energizes non-profit organizations and personnel with her incredible enthusiasm and her sharp skills in Board development and strategic planning, executive recruitment and coaching, and resource development and implementation.
Robert A. Kulinski, President
United Way of Summit County