Training Example: Starfish Impact – Review the Data, Give Your Score & Compare to the Real AI Evaluation

Skip to content

[H2] Starfish Fuels Growth, Impact, and Problem Solving
Founded by a business-minded change agent, we serve hundreds of organizations and philanthropists on their road to growth, collective impact, and addressing systemic challenges.

[H1] accelerator program

Our curated, small cohort Nonprofit Board Accelerator Program inspires, expands and supports nonprofit volunteer board leaders. With a focus on the instrumental and oftentimes passionate work of Board Executive Committee Members, the course is expertly facilitated and grounded in peer learning.

LEARN MORE

[H1] Non Profits We Serve

Serving over 100 non-profit organizations around the world.

[IMG: Berman-Foundation_mod]

[IMG: opportunity-fund_mod]

[IMG: social-enterprise-alliance_mod]

[IMG: childrens-partnership]

[IMG: assistance-league-of-LA]

[IMG: painted-turtle_mod]

[IMG: Climate-Action-Reserve_mod]

[IMG: kipp-la_mod]

[IMG: verizon-digital-media_mod]

[IMG: JDRF_mod]

[IMG: keiro_mod]

[IMG: kitchens-for-good_mod]

[IMG: laci-logo-silver-dark-125x125]

[IMG: lift-logo]

[IMG: NAWBO_mod]

[IMG: New-Horizons-Logo_Tagline_25x]

[IMG: NILC_mod]

[IMG: present-now_mod]

CONTACT US TO LEARN MORE

Strategic Planning

Board Recruitment & Development

Board Retreats

Grants Readiness, Program Management & Writing

CSR Planning & Execution

Board Placements

Philanthropic Planning

Philanthropic Advisory Services

Family Retreats

[H2] EXCELLENCE WITH EASE

Our best-in-class team creates bespoke solutions for each unique client’s desired outcomes.Our value is driven by our holistic perspective and team approach allowing our creativity, expertise and multi-lens process to uncover, leverage and amplify your key strengths and opportunities.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR SOLUTIONS

Go to Top

Skip to content

[H1] Contact Us
Reach out anytime to receive our news or send us a note to connect.  We look forward to hearing from you!

[H3] Get in Touch

The best way to reach us is to send a message through this form.  Or, you are welcome to email [email protected] and we will get back to you shortly.

Icomoon-the7-font-linkedin

Twitter

Go to Top

Skip to content

[H1] Nonprofit Board Accelerator

We host year-long facilitated Learning Lunch cohorts, focused on deep learning, sharing and planning with curated peer groups in order to support and enhance your Board Leadership role and nonprofit organization’s success.The space is safe and confidential, and provides an intimate gathering of trusted Board Leaders who endeavor to share ideas and best practices with each other, expand knowledge together, and problem solve about important nonprofit governance issues that affect most organizations and leaders.

[H3] Benefits & Outcomes

Improve your mastery of Board Governance, Fundraising and Leadership practices
Expand your network and build meaningful relationships with peers
Learn and brainstorm new ideas, tactics and resources for your organization
Grow through facilitation by experts in nonprofit business management and governance
Elevate your confidence and acumen as a Board Leader
Create a toolkit for success as a Board Leader

[H3] Benefits & Outcomes

Commit to 10 two-hour lunch-time gatherings offering a mix of guided facilitation and conversation, along with social time to get to know your peers. The location is either a private room in a restaurant or office conference room with delicious lunches provided and chosen with convenience and ambiance in mind.  Your group will meet on the same day of the month for 10 months with optional breaks in December and/or the summer for holidays.

[H2] Join Us

Please join us for our purposefully curated groups. We look forward to discussing your interest and priorities with you.

Register Now

[H3] Program Topics

We will kick-off by getting to know both each other and ourselves better, and exploring why everyone is serving. Before the group starts, we will query the cohort on your priorities and reasons for joining, and what you are most interested in learning about. Topics covered will include:

The Board and Staff leadership relationship*Embracing and planning for authentic JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion) workBuilding and/or redefining your Board teamManaging crisis and riskStrategic planningFundraisingLeadership stylesBuilding your Board Leadership toolkitYour commitment to yourself and your organizationOther ad hoc areas that may emerge at the beginning of or throughout the year

[H3] Program Value

The one-time, up-front program fee is $6,000 and covers the 10 sessions and meals.  All group materials, planning and facilitation is included and you are welcome to bring your own devices and other note taking materials with you.  Your company or the nonprofit you serve, and are learning on behalf of, are welcome to sponsor your participation.  This is a great way for nonprofits to support and provide professional development and peer experiential learning for their Board Leaders.  Many companies also value their executive and employee involvement in the community and like to invest in their social impact and professional leadership development, as well as relationship building with other successful professionals in the community.

[H3] Join Us Today

Go to Top

Skip to content

[H1] Testimonials
We commit our best to each and every client and appreciate their recognition of our work.

×
In my search for the right nonprofit for board service, Marta Ferro guided me in identifying my passion, alerted me to amazing nonprofits in the space in which I wanted to serve, pitched me to the board chair with all of the grace and intelligence for which she is known, and ultimately set me on a glide path to a seat on the board where I most wanted to serve.  Marta and Starfish are shamans of the philanthropic world – connected, respected, and genuine forces of good.  I would not be where I am without them.
Jeffrey S. Horton Thomas
Partner, Labor & Employment Practice Group
Fox Rothschild LLP

Board Placements

In my search for the right nonprofit for board service, Marta Ferro guided me in identifying my passion, alerted me…
READ MORE

×
Marta connected me with one of the most challenging and fulfilling experiences of my life when she recruited me to be part of the board at the Center for Biological Diversity. In 2010, the organization was looking for a Board Treasurer with nonprofit experience as well as accounting qualifications.  Marta is aware of my commitment to the animal rights/animal advocacy movements and thought that my interests, plus my accounting qualifications, might make me a good fit for the CBD.  I interviewed with the organization that spring, was invited on to their Board, and have been working with them ever since.
Stephanie Zill
Board Member
Center for Biological Diversity

Board Placements

Marta connected me with one of the most challenging and fulfilling experiences of my life when she recruited me to…
READ MORE

×
Marta changed my life for the better by understanding my philanthropic goals and introducing me to an organization that was the ideal fit for me.  I wanted to get involved with improving public education in the inner city and didn’t know how to go about it.  Marta introduced me to KIPP LA Prep, a charter school in East Los Angeles.  She helped me get involved and eventually join the board.  Shortly after joining the board, we expanded our goals to impact public education in Los Angeles and formed a regional KIPP Los Angeles board where I was one of four founding members.  Our board and team has raised millions of dollars in private donations and now we have 11 schools serving over 4,000 students, including the best performing public elementary school in Los Angeles.  I am proud to say that we are widely recognized as being the top performing charter organization.  While I cannot take credit for the amazing achievements made by KIPP, Marta can certainly take credit for helping me find a meaningful way to give back which has had a positive impact on my life.
Joe Cilic
Sotheby’s International Realty & Founding Board Member
KIPP LA

Board Placements

Marta changed my life for the better by understanding my philanthropic goals and introducing me to an organization that was…
READ MORE

×
We hired Starfish Impact to create an intensive board self-evaluation process with our organization including creating a customized, in-depth evaluation survey along with a one-on-one interview protocol, all while coaching the board chair and leadership on managing an ongoing program.  We wanted to create an intentional, inclusive experience for our board, allowing members to have a voice through multiple channels.  The results were extremely helpful in codifying this type of exercise, our board culture, strengthening our board’s leadership and ensuring we meet our organization’s goals.
Cristina de Jesus, Ed.D.
President & CEO
Green Dot Public Schools California

Board Recruitment & Development

We hired Starfish Impact to create an intensive board self-evaluation process with our organization including creating a customized, in-depth evaluation…
READ MORE

×
Marta has been a longstanding Partner in the Social Venture Partners Los Angeles community, playing roles from Board Member to Fast Pitch Investment committee team, CNN Heroes coach and LA2050 application reviewer, to Fast Pitch Co-Host in 2019. Her fundraising and strategic leadership in the event co-chair role were critical to the success of our event, as well as broadening our network of funders, presenters, and attendees. Marta has travelled to multiple SVP International conferences, and she joined our first cohort of Anti-Racism for White People: Walking the Walk as well as our trip to Montgomery, Alabama to visit the Equal Justice Initiative and take a deeper dive into anti-racism work.  Marta is a life-long learner, and I would highly recommend her as a partner in any initiative she is dedicated to and passionate about. I love knowing that her involvement with SVPLA inspired her to start two other giving circles including Angeles Art Fund, focused on the intersection of social justice and fine arts.
Christine Margiotta
Executive Director
Social Venture Partners Los Angeles

Marta has been a longstanding Partner in the Social Venture Partners Los Angeles community, playing roles from Board Member to…
READ MORE

×
We hired Starfish Impact in early March 2020 to facilitate a development and growth strategic plan.  Not knowing what the next months would be like, we decided to push forward and use the early days of the pandemic to thoughtfully plan and drive our organization forward.  With the steady and professional guidance of Julie and Marta, and with 15 years of virtual consulting under their belts already, we emerged at the end of the summer with a beautifully executed deliverable that propelled us forward on the successful path we have forged in the past year. THANK YOU for helping us assess our current situation through your outside and expert perspective, research our landscape, and equip us with the tools we needed to create our desired national program expansion and fundraising plans.
Lilian Miller
Executive Director
PRESENT NOW

Strategic Planning

We hired Starfish Impact in early March 2020 to facilitate a development and growth strategic plan.  Not knowing what the…
READ MORE

×
Starfish created a comprehensive strategic development plan for us, guiding our staff and board leadership through the process.  They gave us a new lens through which to view our organization and helped us set specific goals and a plan to reach them.  We then engaged Starfish as our grants program manager and are very pleased with their ability to get and keep us grant ready, and organized in our fundraising.  Starfish manages research, writing, submissions and reporting as well as provides an expert understanding and relationships in the field.
Ken Deemer
Board President
Los Angeles Center of Photography (LACP)

Strategic Planning
Grants Readiness, Program Management & Writing

Starfish created a comprehensive strategic development plan for us, guiding our staff and board leadership through the process.  They gave…
READ MORE

×
We hired Starfish Impact with a tight window of opportunity to plan and facilitate our board retreat. Focused on a deep dive into thoughtful and strategic board recruitment, growth and diversification, Marta and Julie delivered professionally and expertly in a sprint mode, resulting in board and staff leadership consensus around why and who we wanted to add to the team. They also provided us with a number of tools and an action plan to execute.  Their ability to manage multiple perspectives and create an inclusive, safe environment was highly appreciated.  I would highly recommend Starfish as a strategic thought partner, researcher and facilitator when it comes to board governance, growth and development.
Gillian Calof
VP of Operations
Climate Action Reserve

Board Retreats

We hired Starfish Impact with a tight window of opportunity to plan and facilitate our board retreat. Focused on a…
READ MORE

×
I hired Starfish Impact to plan and facilitate our board retreat with a focus on defining our goals for brand and fund development, and moving us in a strategic planning direction towards achieving them.  Within a tight timeline, Jen and Marta planned and facilitated a half-day retreat resulting in our team walking away with a concrete understanding of mutual priorities and goals, and the thinking to propel us forward.  Plus, we bonded as a team in new ways thanks to Starfish’s creative execution.
Iosefa Alofaituli
Regional Director, Southern California
Opportunity Fund

Board Retreats

I hired Starfish Impact to plan and facilitate our board retreat with a focus on defining our goals for brand…
READ MORE

×
Starfish not only developed a strategy for us but also stayed on board to manage the initial execution of the plan.  The team was also very available to advise around other issues and connected us to additional resources outside the scope of their work.  As a result, our business operations and development efforts have been improved and further, the lives of our women and children have been directly impacted through generous in kind donations.  Getting involved in #SupportingOurSector was one highlight that allowed us to engage our support base in a new, creative and valuable way, and positively affected our bottom line at the end of the year.  I can highly recommend the Starfish team if you need additional support, resources and expertise as well as a team that will also understand and care about the human side of your mission.
Debbie Unruh
Executive Director
Elizabeth House

Starfish not only developed a strategy for us but also stayed on board to manage the initial execution of the…
READ MORE

×
I really appreciate Starfish Impact and Julie’s work with Kitchens For Good.  Because of your efforts we are in a strong place with our grants management program and ready to fly on our own.  The systems, processes, research and master grant proposal foundation, as well as grants won, have set us up for continued success.  We are grateful for the expertise and guidance you have provided, and Julie is a true pleasure to work with.
Jennifer Gilmore
Executive Director
Kitchens for Good

Grants Readiness, Program Management & Writing

I really appreciate Starfish Impact and Julie’s work with Kitchens For Good.  Because of your efforts we are in a…
READ MORE

×
It has been a great pleasure working with the Starfish Impact team in helping to create the 3 year strategy plan for LIFT-LA.  They provided great amount of expertise, tools, and insight that helped to engage all levels of our organization in the process- our program constituents, external stakeholders, board members, and staff.  Their framework is structured enough to allow for important formative conversations to happen, that probably would not have happened otherwise, but also flexible enough to be responsive to our particular needs.  For instance, on request, they presented at several board meetings along the way to introduce and give updates on the process.  LIFT-LA has been in good hands with this group—a professional, fun, creative, resourceful, patient and intelligent crew that have been a joy to work with in putting together what I know will be a dynamic growth plan for LIFT-LA.
Michelle Rhone-Collins
Executive Director
LIFT-LA

Strategic Planning

It has been a great pleasure working with the Starfish Impact team in helping to create the 3 year strategy…
READ MORE

×
New Horizons hired Starfish Impact to create a Major Gifts Strategic Plan for the first time in the organization’s 60 year history.  The team delivered a comprehensive narrative plan and numerous attachments providing a Major Gifts road map for New Horizons. We were so impressed we hired Starfish Impact again to execute the plan. Marta, Faye, and Adrienne are strategic additions to New Horizons and provide a unique compliment to our organization bringing an outside perspective to our organization. Starfish Impact’s team approach is a bonus as we get more than one talented brain working on our behalf.st
Cynthia Sewell
CEO
New Horizons

Strategic Planning

New Horizons hired Starfish Impact to create a Major Gifts Strategic Plan for the first time in the organization’s 60…
READ MORE

×
L.A. Kitchen is thrilled to work with Starfish Impact as we launch our dynamic new social business. Marta’s team is wildly professional and super connected, and we’ve seen immediate results since we began working with them. Many talk, few deliver….Starfish Impact delivers!!!
Robert Egger
Founder & CEO
L.A. Kitchen

Strategic Planning
Grants Readiness, Program Management & Writing

L.A. Kitchen is thrilled to work with Starfish Impact as we launch our dynamic new social business. Marta’s team is…
READ MORE

×
Marta and her team at Starfish Impact have taken our organization to a whole new level. Marta’s guidance and expertise have allowed our small, growing organization to establish solid roots and flourish. I feel like I can reach out to Marta for advice on anything…grant research and writing, board development, governance, and more. Since teaming up with Starfish Impact in late 2013, we have secured multiple grants, built solid relationships with foundations and developed a growing network of supporters throughout the community.  Our organization would not be where it is today without the invaluable support of Marta and her team!
Emili Danz
Founder & Executive Director
CITYstage

Grants Readiness, Program Management & Writing

Marta and her team at Starfish Impact have taken our organization to a whole new level. Marta’s guidance and expertise…
READ MORE

×
Marta Ferro could be President of the United States. Every company, every non-profit, every project achieves greater success if Marta is handling the execution. I’ve been inside over 100 companies during my consulting career and no one handles details like she does. If Marta is involved results just show up; and failure, undoubtedly, is NOT an option.
Alice Crisci
Founder & Executive Director
My Vision

Strategic Planning

Marta Ferro could be President of the United States. Every company, every non-profit, every project achieves greater success if Marta…
READ MORE

×
I was the Chair of the Board of Directors for KIPP LA Prep, and we hired Marta to head up our Development efforts for the organization. She was brilliant in her approach to her work, as well as her execution. She quickly assessed the big strategic goals, and formulated a well thought through plan to attain those goals. What was particularly important to us was that her execution was impeccable. She regularly communicated to all stakeholders, and took full responsibility for project management and followed through on all details.
Marta delivered solid results which the entire Bo