Megan Chao

Nonprofit Consulting:

Helping Nonprofits Reach Their Goals & Scale Impact

Nice to Meet You!

Biography

I’m Megan (she/her). I am a former nonprofit Co-Founder and US Executive Director of 15 years. I specialize in helping small to mid-sized nonprofits get started, reach their goals, increase operational efficiency, and scale impact. I am passionate about helping organizations embed and implement their organizational values and equity within their operations, fundraising, and organizational culture.

Outside of work, I am the parent to a teenager, a dog and a cat, and enjoy playing volleyball, reading, and gardening in my freetime.

Background & Experiences

I have 15 years of experience in nonprofit management, community-centric fundraising, and international community development.

As a nonprofit co-founder, I had the privilege of leading a nonprofit from a 100% volunteer run grassroots start-up, through a season of rapid growth, to operating as a full fledged international 501c3 with two Boards of Directors and 27 paid staff.

Each stage of a nonprofit’s life has unique joys, challenges, and needs and I feel honored to have been able to learn and lead through many of them. Being part of a start-up, I was intimately involved in all aspects of the nonprofit’s activities including strategic planning, financial management, hiring and supervision, board recruitment and engagement, fundraising, communications, operations, public speaking, and event management.

During my tenure as US Executive Director, I created organizational and programmatic strategy, formalized and managed the organization's development model and strategy including creating an annual Gala and monthly giving program that are still in operation today, led the organization through a rebrand and shifting of core values, and grew the annual income by over 630% in six years.

I hold a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology from Seattle Pacific University* and a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from North Park University.

(*Note, I do not support this institution's policies on human sexuality.).

To see a full list of my experiences, please visit my LinkedIn page.

I’d love to assist you!

Services & Rates

I enjoy helping organizations with a diverse range of projects whether it’s high-level feedback and guidance on strategic priorities or getting into the details of a specific challenge or event. Whatever the scope, I will bring an eye for efficiency, clarity, and equity to your project.

Listed below are my core areas of competency. This is not comprehensive so if you have something in mind that’s not listed, don’t be shy - just contact me!

My starting rate for most projects is $45/hour. However, I offer a sliding scale depending on organizational budget, project goals, and scope.

Let’s have a conversation!

Services & Rates

Leadership

Services & Rates

Development

Campaigns
Annual giving
Major donor programs
Monthly giving programs
Event strategy
Designing and managing guest check-in/check-out experiences
Event sponsorship and table captain collateral
Auction procurement
Communication and marketing plans
Vendor logistics and management
Volunteer management
Day-of and Post-event planning (ie. run of show, program scripting, stewardship)

Services & Rates

Operations

Clients & Testimonials

“Over the 4 years I worked with Megan, she showed incredible tenacity as a leader and executed well against organizational goals, both in seasons of calm and times of turbulence. She is an adaptable and wise nonprofit leader who can deliver well in the details while simultaneously keeping our organization focused on long term strategy that helped us to achieve impact.”

— Emily Kuhn, Senior Program Manager, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

“Megan is one of the most detail oriented people I have ever had the pleasure of working with! Her background in fundraising, strong organizational skills, clear communication and general enthusiasm for our cause took our auction to the next level, helping us to exceed our financial goals while producing an incredible and fun event!”

— Jo Ann Poulias Schmidt, Chair, Ridgecrest Elementary School PTA

“Megan has the rare gift of providing effective holistic support for leaders and their orgs. Unlike people who offer one-size-fits-all solutions, Megan listens deeply and responds with scenario-specific guidance grounded in years of experience and wisdom. I leave every session with greater clarity of purpose and tangible next steps to pursue. I cannot recommend Megan highly enough. If you have the opportunity to work with her, take it!”

— Cami Freeman, Director, The Bridge Care Center

“ My time working with Megan was marked by compassionate, intentional, and thoughtful leadership. She was always true to the vision while leaving room for shifting strategies and embracing the unknown. For five years, I saw Megan gracefully lead an organization through growth, tribulations, successes, and evolutions.”

— Ally, Development Director, Catherine’s Health Center