A group of people sitting on lobster crates at a makeshift table on a sandbar

Ways We Help

We want to ensure non-profits are able to honor their missions and preserve the trust of their constituents and stakeholders while establishing the systems and strategies to enable and encourage success in times of inevitable change and challenge. We offer tools, resources, and guidance to help organizations balance institutional flexibility with mission-focused commitment.

Understanding & Analysis

Information and understanding are the bedrock of successful organizational practice. The relative success of leadership decision making is deeply dependent on access to timely, reliable, and actionable data; the availability of good information greatly facilitates the implementation of effective programs and authentic engagement. Some areas where Peterhouse Advisors supports clients on these issues include:

data analytics
current and emerging operating environment dynamics
stakeholder and market research
comparables / peer identification and understanding
futures modeling / scenario planning

Strategic Planning

Operations Optimization

Brand, Narrative & Stakeholder Experience

Leadership & Governance Support

Mission-Directed Programs and Partnerships

Crisis Management

Blue and white tile. Image by Jan Suchánek

More About Peterhouse

Financial strategy is essential for non-profits. Although not in pursuit of profits, organizations must design systems and practices that foster financial stability and success to ensure they have the resources necessary to continue serving their stakeholders and communities. Peterhouse offers strategic advising, highlighting opportunities for growth and big-picture financial optimization.

Foundationally, non-profits exist to favorably impact their communities. Many times, for many organizations, the qualitative nature of these desired impacts can make the evaluation and quantification of their relative successes quite challenging. Peterhouse Advisors can assist non-profit leaders in actively assessing their programs and services. We can help evaluate performance and identify possible adjustments and opportunities to ensure that programs are most effectively advancing the organization's mission objectives. Our work in this area includes:

existing program data development and analytics
program cost / impact analysis
stakeholder research
new program modeling, design, implementation, and structured assessment
partnership identification, evaluation, and development

Preparedness and capability are never more critical than when managing crises. Whether an organization is looking to preemptively prepare strategies and plans or respond most effectively in active crisis situations, Peterhouse Advisors can rapidly assist in managing the process. Our support can include:

response readiness planning
critical issues and information assessment / understanding: operating, financial, and structural
plan-of-action development: crisis response, execution, and management
leadership crisis preparation and communications training
stakeholder (internal & external) message planning, outreach, and communications

As the demands and pressures on non-profit leaders continue to grow, organizations' impacts are increasingly dependent on thoughtful, confident, and proactive leadership. Peterhouse offers a variety of tailored executive and governance level support to maximize the capabilities and effectiveness of organizational leaders including:

leadership advising, coaching, skills development, and support
confidential counsel, concept challenge, and pressure testing
leadership support in change management
governance support: best practice identification and implementation
interim management transitional support

Whether an organization is looking to optimize existing operations, advance new capabilities, launch a new initiative, or support new partnerships, Peterhouse Advisors can offer guidance in designing and managing effective systems and practices including:

operations design and optimization
operating plan development, sensitivities identification, scenario planning, and budget modeling
organizational change management
organizational redesign / reorganization
contract / negotiations, strategy and support

Non-profit organizations require more than vision to successfully impact their communities. They advance largely based on successful execution of thoughtful, structured, mission-driven strategies supported by a firm grounding of financial understanding and prepared leadership. Whether updating an existing operating strategy in support of mission, modeling or testing new avenues for impact, or considering a substantially new strategic approach, non-profits can access support tailored to their needs from Peterhouse Advisors. Our work in this area includes:

mission testing and alignment
operations and program planning / opportunity identification
critical issues / sensitivities analysis, planning, and management
budgeting and financial planning
strategy challenge and pressure testing / red teaming

How stakeholders see, understand, and experience an organization and its programs broadly influences that organization's opportunity for success. By ensuring programs, brand narrative, communications, and interactions resonate with communities and stakeholders, non-profits can cultivate authentic engagement, increase perceived organizational value, and deepen impact. At Peterhouse, we believe that thoughtful, active optimization of stakeholder experience should be a critical goal in the forward planning of any non-profit organization. We can assist with:

stakeholder experience / engagement review, assessment, and opportunity identification
brand understanding and influence
organizational narrative testing, value articulation, and messaging
stakeholder engagement development and implementation
community cultivation and communications ressonance

data analytics
current and emerging operating environment dynamics
stakeholder and market research
comparables / peer identification and understanding
futures modeling / scenario planning