Most nonprofits with a $5–20M budget don't have the headcount or budget for a full-time CIO. Honestly, you don't need one. You need someone who's been there, who can move fast as an outside expert, and who costs a fraction of a full-time hire. That's what I do.
I deeply understand your mission and how your organization actually operates, then help you put the right systems, processes, and plans in place to get there. I'm not here to fix your printer. I'm here so you have the right strategy in place.
I build a technology plan that actually matches your mission and your budget cycle, not a generic checklist. Something your board can follow and your staff can live with.
Donor data, client records, grant compliance. I help you put the right protections in place, sized for your organization, not an enterprise budget you don't have.
I've sat on your side of the table and the vendor's side. I'll help you see where you're overpaying, what you actually need, and how to plan your tech budget honestly.
Moving off spreadsheets and outdated tools is a people problem as much as a technology one. I've led this many times, and I'll help you plan it so your staff actually adopts it.
I'll help you explain technology to your board in plain language, so they understand the risk, the plan, and why it's worth funding, without the jargon.
Sometimes the gap isn't the technology, it's how the team around it is structured. I'll help you figure out where that's true and what to do about it.
I promise you this call will be valuable whether or not we end up working together. I love helping nonprofits, that's why I offer it for free.
I take a real look at where things stand: your systems, your vendors, your risks, and find where the highest-leverage opportunities are.
I become your vCIO, your call-a-friend expert, on a retainer that fits your size and budget. Strategy and oversight, not a help desk.
We track real outcomes against your mission, not vanity metrics. I hold myself accountable to what I said I'd deliver.
Founder, Envisionyst
I've been there. Many, many times: first as a CIO/CTO inside three different nonprofits, where I was completely accountable for the outcome, and then as a consultant helping other organizations learn from my mistakes and my successes.
What I keep seeing is the same thing. Nonprofits at the $5–20M level are running real, complex operations, but their technology leadership hasn't caught up. Most can't afford a full-time CIO, and frankly, they don't need one. They need an expert who's done this before, who can move faster as an outside person, and who costs a fraction of a full-time hire.
Whatever you're dealing with right now, a system that just broke, a board asking hard questions about technology spend, or a grant pushing you to grow faster than your systems can handle, what you're feeling is valid. I've seen it many times. I can help you fix it and make it better.
I hear this a lot: "we can't afford a CIO." You're right, and you don't need a full-time one. Here's what I mean by that, and why the sweet spot is usually in the middle.
Read more →I've seen these same five gaps over and over again, across very different organizations. Here's what they are and what to actually do about each one.
Read more →I've sat on both sides of vendor contracts. Most nonprofits are paying for more than they use. Here's how to find it and what to do with the savings.
Read more →I promise you the free 30-minute call will be valuable whether or not you decide to work with me. I love helping nonprofits, that's why I offer it for free.
No pitch. No pressure. Just an honest conversation about what's actually going on.
Because I take this on alongside full-time CIO leadership work, I keep my advisory roster small and only take on a limited number of clients at a time.