Concentric Strategy

We're grateful to have an amazing roster of clients. Here's what we're up to this month:

⛪ Wrapping up a final report on organizational structure for Partners for Sacred Places, following a series of interviews and staff retreat earlier in the spring.

📍 Jumping into year 4 of writing the annual report for The Foundation for Delaware County.

🎵 Returning to design the season materials for our favorite Chestnut Street Singers.

🌱 Building on our past marketing work to create a fun interactive display for Bartram's Garden when they're out tabling at events.

PICTURED:
-Breakout group during retreat facilitation.
-"There is a conversation in the room that only these people at this moment can have." by adrienne maree brown.
-Screenshot of last year's annual report.
-Mock-up of a button for a prior Chestnuts season.
-The visitor's map brochure we designed for Bartram''s Garden back in 2021.
-Photo of plants and historic buildings at Bartram's Garden

 

Partners for Sacred Places
Foundation for Delaware County
Chestnut Street Singers
Bartram's Garden

June 30 ➡️ July 1

I've spent my entire career in the nonprofit arts sector, so the shift from June 30 to July 1 has always carried a lot of weight. The end of the fiscal year and start of the next. The shift from visioning, planning, and budgeting to now implementing the next season of programs. A (sometimes rare) moment to rest, as yesterday's urgency fades and the next opportunities have yet to begin.

Yesterday, I said goodbyes at CultureWorks CultureWorks Greater Philadelphia, after more than 2.5 years as Co-Executive Director. It's been an honor to help steward this remarkable organization that provides such essential services to the arts and culture sector.

Today, I'm stepping back into my role as a consultant and facilitator with Concentric Strategy. I'm looking forward to sharing my expertise, skills, and creativity with a wide range of organizations across the region. 

Moving through the transition with gratitude, abundance, nourishment, and intentionality. 🙏🏼💚

It's a season of changes. We're saying goodbyes at CultureWorks Greater Philadelphia and returning to full-time client work at Concentric Strategy with a heart full of gratitude. 💜

# # #
(Reposted from CultureWorks Greater Philadelphia)

Please join us in a warm send-off for Melinda Steffy, who is leaving her position as Co-Executive Director at the end of June.

Melinda joined CultureWorks in 2023 to help shape a new co-leadership model and oversee our fiscal sponsorship program. In her time here, she has helped weave a deeply member-driven mindset into the fabric of our organization — through a comprehensive policy overhaul, the launch of our annual Member Summit, and steady, attentive support for project directors. We are profoundly grateful for her thoughtfulness and her commitment to this community.

As Melinda begins this next chapter, we wish her every success. She'll continue her work in the field at Concentric Strategy Concentric Strategy.

What’s next for CultureWorks? Ariel Shelton will remain as Executive Director. Over the next year, we are prioritizing increasing capacity across the staff team to deepen support for our project directors and community members, while preparing to return to co-leadership in the future. Feel free to contact us if you’d like to learn more about our transition plans or the current CultureWorks programming.

Looking for consulting support for your organization? We bring an ecosystem mindset that helps nonprofits thrive. 🌱

Now booking projects for September and beyond!

🟠 Strategic planning
🟠 Facilitation
🟠 Communications

It was such a pleasure to be part of the 2026 LeadLab cohort. ✨

While the official theme of the weekend was "courage," a very close secondary theme that emerged was "intentionality." I loved the intention behind every aspect of the experience.

A group of people spanning career stages, sectors, backgrounds, and professional interests.
A range of ways to engage, from whole group discussions to small group deep-dives to individual reflection.
A whole lot of care for the experience of the people in the room.

I walked away with new connections to peers, new ideas for the future, and a healthy boost of courage to guide the journey.

Thanks

Watching the NASA Artemis launch earlier -- and listening to the exceptional detail of the live audio -- was deeply moving in ways I didn't expect. For all that we human beings cause so much harm, we are also capable of incredible things. 💫

(And perhaps sometimes those two things are closer together than we realize.)

Welcoming spring, attending to this season of growth 🌱

"What you pay attention to grows"
from by the brilliant

A reminder 🌱

"you are not a machine. you are more like a garden. you need different things on different days. a little sun today, a little less water tomorrow. you have fallow and fruitful seasons. it is not a design flaw. it is wiser than perpetual sameness. what does your garden need today?"
Joy Clarkson

It was great to be at the conference today, repping and . Naturally, I forgot to take any photos while I was there. 🤷🏼

But there were a lot of gardening metaphors (my fave!) so here's me with my houseplant jungle, a screenshot of my communications planning template + cupcake-themed prompt, and info about the workshop I facilitated.

It's a challenging time in the nonprofit sector, and I'm grateful to have been in the room with so many excellent change-makers and thought-leaders from across the state. Deepening roots indeed.

Aw, there's a little Co- Executive Director love-fest over at . Curious about how this leadership model works? Considering it for your org? We'd love to chat!