Many nonprofit leaders still talk about Millennials as if they are donors we engage someday down the road. But what if that mindset is already costing your organization meaningful relationships, future leadership, and long-term philanthropic growth? Millennials are no longer emerging donors; now in their late 20s to mid-40s, they are firmly in their peak earning and…
Donors are traveling, spending time with family, and focused on leisure, leading to decreased attention and giving. However, this “quiet” time is actually a golden opportunity to deepen relationships, strengthen loyalty, and lay the groundwork for a successful fall and year-end giving season. Instead of a high-pressure fundraising push, treat summer as a relationship-building season,…
Tampa, FL May 15, 2026 – Mental illness, particularly depression, is a complex public health challenge that touches nearly every community and family. When left untreated, the illness can have devastating effects. However, increasing awareness, fostering open conversation, and dedicating resources to research are critical steps toward healing and prevention. One leader who has championed this…
This month we celebrated National Women’s Day and honor the incredible strength and vision of women leaders, especially those at the helm of mission-driven nonprofit organizations. It is a moment to recognize the profound societal contributions of a sector where women are the driving force, but also to confront the persistent “broken ladders” that impede…
Tampa, FL, February 21, 2026 – Michelle Turman, CEO of Catalyst Consulting Services, has made a leadership gift of $25,000 to Lions World Vision Institute to support the new Vision Health Center scheduled to open in 2027. The 30,000-squarefoot, $16M state-of-the-art center is designed to address one of the region’s most pressing and often overlooked healthcare challenges:…
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a futuristic concept; it’s a practical, accessible tool that is transforming how mission-driven organizations operate. For nonprofits with limited staff and resources, AI acts as a smart digital assistant, automating routine tasks and providing deep insights that allow teams to focus on their core mission—creating real-world change. Here are…
Tampa, FL, December 4, 2025 – Michelle A. Turman, CEO of Catalyst Consulting Services, has made a leadership match gift to USF College of Arts & Sciences to increase paid internships for humanities majors. This marks Turman’s fifth gift to the university since 2017 and will serve as a match towards the recent Andrew W. Mellon Foundation $4.8 million…
Tampa, FL, September 1, 2025 – On July 1, 2025, Florida Senate Bill (S.B.) 700 went into effect, introducing significant limitations on nonprofits registered to solicit donations within the state. This new law, codified at Section 41-46 of Chapter 2025-22, Laws of Florida (Sections 496.401, et al.), prohibits nonprofits, fundraisers, and related entities from accepting…
Tampa, FL, August 29, 2025 – A critical mission is taking flight for the Blue Angels, not in the skies, but in the lives of wounded veterans. Catalyst Consulting Services in partnership with Shumaker Advisors and Pathways to Growth is proud to announce it has helped secure over $3.5 million in state funding to support…
Tampa, FL, August 23, 2025 – Catalyst Consulting Services was recently selected by the University of South Florida as one of 56 businesses leading the charge for phenomenal growth in Tampa Bay in 2025. Named for the university’s founding year, the awards celebrate the 56 fastest-growing businesses owned or led by USF alumni, based on…
Hiring for a development team in the nonprofit sector requires a thoughtful approach from both the applicant and the hiring organization. A successful match hinges on clearly defined expectations, mutual understanding, and a commitment to the organization’s mission. As an executive recruiter and executive leader of nonprofit organizations for over thirty years, I am surprised…
Tampa, FL, July 19, 2024 – Michelle A. Turman, CEO of Catalyst Consulting Services, has made a leadership gift to USF School of Public Affairs to increase capacity for the Nonprofit Leadership Program. This marks Turman’s fourth gift to the university since 2017 and she was inspired to invest in the program based on her thirty-year…
In the ever-evolving world of nonprofit fundraising, engaging donors in a meaningful way is more crucial than ever. Fundraising affinity groups are a powerful tool to foster deeper connections and drive sustained support for nonprofit organizations. These groups, formed around shared interests, experiences, or demographics, offer a personalized approach to donor engagement that can significantly…
In the nonprofit sector, the strategic engagement of volunteers in executive searches can significantly enhance the search process and outcomes. Volunteers bring diverse skills, insights, and connections, enriching the talent pool and helping to align leadership with the nonprofit’s mission and community needs. Volunteer engagement in executive searches involves more than just occasional assistance. It…
In today’s digital era, non-profit organizations must adapt and innovate their fundraising strategies to continue making a meaningful impact. With the vast majority of potential donors active online, leveraging digital platforms is no longer optional—it’s essential. This blog post explores cutting-edge strategies for effective fundraising in the digital age, offering non-profits actionable insights to boost…
Rising Client Demand Drives Expansion in Public Affairs with Shumaker Advisors Tampa, FL, October 17, 2023 – Shumaker Advisors a leading government affairs firm known for its unwavering commitment to advocacy and client success, is thrilled to announce the addition of Catalyst Consulting Services CEO, Michelle A. Turman, MA CFRE as a Vice President as…
The board of directors of a nonprofit organization has to make many decisions, but the most important one is deciding who will be its chief executive officer. If all goes well, a CEO will serve the nonprofit ably for many years, which means that when the board has to return to this topic, it will…
Using Artificial Intelligence to Acquire Executive Talent Make no mistake Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being used in nonprofit organizations daily and rapidly becoming a more powerful tool for two reasons. First, there is more data to process and analyze than ever before. Second, computing power has improved dramatically over the last two decades. Whether you…
Building An Effective Onboarding Program for Your Nonprofit Most nonprofit leaders recognize the importance of Employee Onboarding, but implementing effective onboarding for your organization can seem daunting. An effective program that includes a few essential ingredients can mean the difference, however, between creating intended impact with new employees or losing prized new hires. As an…
Depending on which sector your nonprofit is in, the summer may be the perfect time for your nonprofit, staff, and volunteers to take a break before the fall. Or, maybe it’s the opposite, and it is a crucial period for your fundraising campaigns and you are offering more summer activities. Holidays usually mean well-deserved relaxing…
Tampa, FL, June 1, 2022 Michelle A. Turman, CEO of Catalyst Consulting Services, has made a legacy gift to USF Health in Tampa, Florida. This marks Turman’s third gift to the university since 2017 when she established a study abroad scholarship to enrich educational experiences for students in the College of Arts and Sciences. In…
Rather than just diving into a capital campaign with a very big goal, most organizations begin with a study to evaluate the potential of the campaign. The majority of nonprofits want some degree of certainty that their campaign has the potential for success. While every campaign requires some degree of “building the plane while you’re…
Having a well-written resume, qualitative experience, and confidence in a face-to-face interview isn’t enough to get a job anymore. The prohibitive costs of bad hires and high turnover rates have made it clear for companies that they need to hire better. In fact, it is estimated that up to 75% of all hiring decisions result…
Every organization must transition a long-term and/or founding CEO at some point in its growth. This requires pre-planning on the part of the governance board and an open discussion about succession planning with the current CEO. At Catalyst Consulting Services, we not only conduct executive searches, but work with our clients to ensure that the…
2020 brought challenges that many nonprofits are still dealing with today. Organizations are shifting on sand to strengthen remote operations, revitalize their fundraising strategy, and understand how to embrace diversity and inclusion, but one thing remains constant in executive search practices – change. The ability to revisit the way Catalyst Consulting Services serves as a…
As a leader, do you find yourself planning based on your budget or are you making decisions based on your operational capacity and areas of strengths and improvement? Now that 2020 has come and gone, leaders are trying to assess how they will plan for 2021 and beyond. One of the best tools is an…
Did you know that only 27% of nonprofits have a succession plan in place? Whether a transition occurs due to an unexpected vacancy on the staff or board, or the anticipated transition of a long-tenured leader, being deliberative and thoughtful, and having a plan in place, can help a nonprofit weather the inevitable challenges of…
Despite all of the changes in the field, some things stay the same: Capital campaigns still rely on a few big gifts. Capital campaigns still rely on a pattern of gifts that calls for 80 percent or 90 percent of the money to come from 20 percent or 10 percent of the donors. That’s the…
Mergers can be used strategically by all parties not simply to grow or survive but to accomplish specific mission goals and increase impact. The decision to merge is a big one, and the process of successfully bringing two (or more) organizations together is rarely straightforward. Mergers are a strategy for organizations seeking to strengthen their long-term…
You must have mechanisms in place to prevent burnout before it strikes. For some people, this means waking up early and working out. For others, it’s more about meditation, spiritual peace or writing in a journal. Some people simply need to be home, in a safe space, with family or friends who love them unconditionally and can…
In today’s economic times we are seeing a variety of trends: positions are being eliminated as businesses strive for greater efficiency, mergers and acquisitions are forcing closures of local headquarters, Boomers are coming out of retirement to transition to a second career and millennials are looking for meaningful careers versus having a “job.” During transitions such…
Recently I gave a talk about Leading Change for Organizational Change at a Nonprofit Conference and I was reminded that regardless of industry, we all struggle with how to properly identify a toxic work environment, how to detoxify it (if you can) and how to graciously leave. Emphasis on the last point as in many…
“Power can be taken, but not given. The process of the taking is empowerment in itself” …
We work with passionate individuals who have an interest in starting a nonprofit but do not know where to begin. Here are some fundamentals for forming a new tax-exempt organization. If you need help or would like to see what other nonprofit services we provide, please contact us Catalyst Consulting Services at www.catalystcs.org or 813-839-2282. Form…
Forget the time-honored tradition that younger workers need to “pay their dues” before moving up the ladder of success. These days many young people see no need to wait their turn – and their refusal to patiently stand in line is the right idea, says Michelle A. Turman, author of Jumping the Queue: Achieving Great…
A September 2017 survey from Aon found that while men and women have similar engagement levels, they aren’t experiencing the workplace the same way. When asked whether they wanted to stay with their organization, 72 percent of women who’d been with the company for less than six months said yes. Only 67 percent of men with the same tenure said they’d…
Does this sound familiar to you? You finally manage to take a weekend off from work and become totally relaxed and reenergized. Realizing the value of striking a healthy work-life balance, you vow to work less and take care of your physical and mental health. But then you find yourself back in the office running faster than…
Ensuring a positive employee experience for both men and women begins from day one and to helps reduce workplace conflict, raise staff morale and increase overall productivity. From the point at which an employee is onboarded into a new organization, it is imperative to communicate the vision and mission that drive it every day and…
Does your fundraising program need to be better positioned for future success? Then consider a fundraising assessment by Catalyst Consulting Services to examine your organization’s strengths and opportunities for growth. What is a development assessment? An evaluation of an organization’s essential fundraising elements – including organizational structure, personnel, and procedures; revenue streams, fundraising strategies and…
Are You Ready for A Campaign? Michelle A. Turman, MA, CFRE One of the most common objections to beginning a capital campaign is that the organizational leaders do not feel they are “ready” to begin. How do you know if your organization is indeed ready for a campaign? It’s best to begin with the needs:…
How to Approach and Utilize A Vital Career Tool In the past year, the concept of mentoring has gained new momentum. Thanks to the many popular business and self-help books that have focused attention on this subject, several people have approached me to understand this concept better. Usually, the persons fall into two categories: either…