Empowering NonProfits to Thrive

Pamela Puleo Provides Expert Consulting for Your Mission's Success

Services

What I do

I teach, organize, counsel, mentor, support, and encourage.

Stakeholders and situations may differ, but the challenges and opportunities from nonprofit to nonprofit are similar. Communications, philanthropic, and volunteer management theory is consistent from sector to sector while application of that theory may be different for each organization. Clients can be confident in my ability to apply core theory and my experience to create success for any organization.

Philanthropy

I assist organizations in building their capacity through philanthropic planning and implementation. From building new programs and creating annual giving plans to major gift solicitation, capital campaign management, and legacy giving, I have done it all and can guide organizations to create success and sustainability.

Communications and Public Relations

Communication and visibility are vital to people understanding and supporting an organization’s mission. There are as many methods to communicate as there are audiences to reach. Working with organizations, I develop a matrix model, which sets forth communication goals, audiences, key messages, methodologies, and timelines. I am especially thoughtful about the budget constraints that face nonprofits and work to achieve the largest impact for the dollar.

Board Development and Volunteer Management

Great nonprofits have great leadership, which begins with the board. Often, board members are unclear on their roles and their impact on success. I work with boards to further alignment and engagement. This is especially true in fundraising where boards play a vital role and training is foundational to their success in that role.

I love volunteers and what they bring to the work of nonprofits. Working with volunteers requires a dedicated plan that includes appropriate policies, recruiting with integrity, providing orientation and training, and supporting with feedback and recognition. Some of my most challenging and my most inspiring moments have occurred working with volunteers. I help organizations navigate the volunteer landscape to build sustainable partnerships.

Mentor

I provide guidance and counsel to non-profit executives and staff to foster the success of their organizations by helping them grow as professionals. It could be as simple as sharing a different perspective or as involved as an ongoing relationship to build knowledge, expertise, and confidence.

About

WHO I AM

From an early age, I was destined to work with charitable organizations. Even as a youth, I held a passion for community service.

With 40 years’ experience in the not-for-profit sector, I have led volunteer boards and staff teams in developing and implementing strategic and operational plans in philanthropy, public affairs, communications, and volunteer management.

My professional experience supported the American Cancer Society in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire and Concord Hospital, a regional health system in New Hampshire. Throughout my career, I served in both staff and executive roles. From my time as one-person shop building a new program to a position where I managed a division of more than 30 staff members, I have remained committed to and excited by the work of charitable organizations.

Concentrating in non-profit public relations, I received a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication from Boston University. My Master’s Degree in Management from New England College focused on non-profit leadership. Following graduation, I was an adjunct professor in the program, which required me to be contemporary in my knowledge and creative in applying my experience.

I often said that the only thing that would make my career better is if I could share my experience with many organizations and, thus, Puleo & Company was born.

Philosophy

Working together

Organizations that contract with Puleo & Company are assured that the Company principal is on board for their project.

As a purposely small consulting firm, Puleo & Company engages personally with each client, assuring dedicated attention to their project and its goals.

I believe in growing the abilities and capacity of staff and volunteers so that the organization is in a stronger, better position for the future. Sharing my knowledge and experience while we work together creates the understanding and foundation so that the organization can carry on once the contract ends.

Positive relationships and consistent communication are keys to successful consulting arrangements. I prefer to be a partner rather than simply the hired expert. Clients will find me to be open, honest, and respectful with both my assessments and my counsel. The best clients are those who reciprocate those values and behaviors.

Over the years, I have been fortunate to work with some amazing professionals who now join me as subcontractors on projects. From designers, writers and marketing experts to other fundraising professionals, collectively we provide the talent and experience to make your project a success. They are my “& Company” and I am grateful that they join in to bring clients a full compendium of services.

Thompson & Associates

As a consultant with Thompson & Associates, I partner with non-profit organizations to provide confidential values-based estate planning education and support to their donors and others as part of their planned giving efforts. It is a valuable service, offered free by the nonprofit, which brings peace of mind to the planning clients as they create estate plans that reflect the in-depth conversations that the process allows. As a result of showing clients how they can meet goals for loved ones, nearly 80 percent of the estate plans include charitable giving.

Testimonials

What my clients say

I have held Pam in the highest esteem for years, and I am so grateful to her for sharing her knowledge, genuineness, and commitment to the practice of Development. Her boundless energy is contagious. She is not just an empathetic leader, but a beacon of mentorship, and a trustworthy donor advisor. Pam is rich in talent, compassion, and skills. She is a valued non-profit leader and mentor. I'm deeply thankful to her for generously sharing her time with me, and I believe she will do the same for your organization.

I have known and worked with Pamela Puleo for many years, as a colleague, client and collaborator. She is the consummate professional, yet has a keen sense of humor. Her years of experience and the volume of knowledge she has acquired provide clients with all the benefits of a top-notch consultant. She is strategic, smart, skilled and savvy. Her network is vast and her insights discerning. I enthusiastically recommend Pamela if you’re looking for someone to guide your organization through successful fundraising.

Pam was very helpful. She was professional, well-informed, fair, honest, and patient.

Pam facilitated a Board training session for Families Flourish Northeast’s annual meeting. As a budding nonprofit with many large hurdles to clear, Pam and her team effectively framed the work ahead in a way that was informative, comprehensive and inspiring. Pam’s vast knowledge and experience in non-profit development and donor relations, which she passionately shares with clients, is evident.

Projects I've worked on

An organization who had a stalled campaign called upon us to re-launch. When we learned that there had been no readiness study performed and little outreach to would-be volunteers, we moved ahead with a traditional campaign approach for this traditional organization. In the study, we found lots of passion for the project and a willingness to become personally engaged, which resulted in an our providing campaign planning and management services for a $5 million capital campaign.

For another organization, the readiness study results revealed that in fact they were not ready to conduct a capital campaign. More work needed to be done solidifying the project, particulars, creating visibility and identifying the top ten lead donors. We conducted a board retreat to assist the organization in answering key questions in preparation of moving forward and also provided board training on what a capital campaign encompasses and the role of the board and volunteers.

A healthcare organization in northern New Hampshire requested a readiness study proposal. We provided the proposal, but were relieved when in just reviewing the proposal the organization determined they were not ready for a campaign. The proposal was adjusted to work with them over a five month period to create the foundation of a broad-based philanthropy program.

Guidance for Success

Words of Wisdom: So Many Books, So Little Time!

Early in my career, I accessed periodicals and books sharing best practices and new opportunities for nonprofit organizations. Rather than

Affinity Beats Ability Any Day!

If I had a nickel for every time throughout my career someone suggested that we reach out to Bill and

Providing Expert Consulting for Your Mission's Success