Private coaching for passionate but overwhelmed nonprofit leaders.
Feel like you've been thrown in the deep end with little support?
Help is here!
Get personalized, surround-sound support from a five-time executive director.
Coaching is about transformation.
We will get you from where you are to where you thrive. Whether you select a 6-month or 12-month package, as a private coachee, you’ll get:
Accelerated results - 100% of the time is focused on you.
Personalized coaching, goals, planning, and problem-solving.
Help with mindset issues like imposter syndrome, burnout, stress, or other limiting beliefs.
Decision-making support on hiring, firing, managing up, burnout, impostor syndrome, and more.
Confidentiality and psychological safety to say and be who you are and tackle highly sensitive issues.
Accountability partner keeping you on track.
Services & Pricing
Dramatically accelerate your career, confidence, clarity, and results with a private coaching package. Private coaching is for current or aspiring nonprofit executives (director level and above). Custom packages available.
$6,000
6-Month
Private coaching package
A comprehensive assessment where we’ll pinpoint your needs and goals, including your mindset, skillset, and toolset.
12 bi-weekly private coaching calls that work with your schedule.
Access to my field-tested fundraising, board, and leadership curriculum for the duration of our engagement.
Discounts for paying in full in both options
$12,000
12-Month
Private coaching package
A comprehensive assessment where we’ll pinpoint your needs and goals, including your mindset, skillset, and toolset.
24 bi-weekly private coaching calls that work with your schedule.
Access to my field-tested fundraising, board, and leadership curriculum for the duration of our engagement.
Asynchronous support via Slack in between private coaching sessions.
Private Executive Coaching with a Nonprofit Expert
Nonprofit leaders choose to work with me because I’m not an ordinary executive coach.
I am a 34-year veteran of nonprofit leadership. I’ve successfully run five nonprofit organizations and served in nearly every possible role you can imagine. It is this depth, breadth, and longevity that give me a solid foundation to understand and support you.
I know firsthand what it’s like to feel the pressure to be strong and confident in front of your stakeholders, even as you’re overwhelmed and burned out inside.
I’ve felt the loneliness and isolation of nonprofit leadership. I’ve longed for a discreet thought partner and someone to vent about the challenges of nonprofit leadership.
I’ve dealt with overstepping boards, underperforming staff, and massive and unexpected budget gaps. I’ve seen crises, mergers, startups, and collapses.
I found a way through, and I will help you do the same.
With private coaching, I am your discreet and confidential thought partner.
I’ll challenge, push, and support you. We’ll dig deep into your mindset, toolset, and skillset. We’ll identify pain points, root causes, and step-by-step solutions.
And we’ll do it together through three essential steps:
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Our first step together is to diagnose. We need to figure out where you are right now and where you want to be by the end of our time together.
We start with my custom intake questionnaire that quickly gets to the heart of your challenges and aspirations. Some clients have even come away from filling out the questionnaire with greater clarity.
Some of the most common challenges I see among my private coaching clients are:
Dealing with imposter syndrome, feeling overwhelmed, lacking confidence, or other limiting beliefs.
Facing burnout, founder's syndrome, or a career plateau.
Struggling with fundraising and board relations - the perennial needs of nonprofit leadership.
Managing through organizational change and upheaval, or even launching a new nonprofit.
As a new leader, simply figuring out the job of leading a nonprofit! How are all the pieces connected? What is the division of labor between board, staff, volunteers, stakeholders, etc.? What are the best practices?
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Once we’ve got a picture of where you are, we dig in and set goals for our work. From here on out, every aspect of our private coaching is focused on helping you reach your goals.
We’ll develop a step-by-step roadmap for your transformation. By digging in, we create the foundation for your success.
I’ll make sure you build the MINDSET you need to overcome obstacles, the SKILLSET you need to thrive, and the TOOLSET that will accelerate your results and progress.
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This is where the Nonprofit Fixer difference comes through. I’m by your side as you start implementing what we work on together—but not just as your cheerleader or co-pilot.
Drawing on my 30+ years of nonprofit leadership experience, I offer custom tools, advice, and tactics that will help you excel in all three core areas of nonprofit leadership:
Fundraising
Board management
Leadership and team management
Even as we work on long-term challenges, I’m also in your corner, helping you deal with the day-to-day of nonprofit leadership—like messy board dynamics, hiring and firing staff, and making high-stakes decisions about strategies and tactics.
Imagine if private coaching could help you…
prevent even one bad board conflict.
prevent even one burnout-related resignation.
prevent a failed fundraising campaign.
prevent a massive compensation misstep.
My Commitments:
Confidentiality
Accelerated results
Custom step-by-step roadmaps
My Signature Tools
As a private coaching client, you get instant access to my world-class training curriculum and training portal, including tools for fundraising, finance, boards, HR, and more.
70+ powerful tools, templates, swipe files, checklists, infographics, contracts, sample policies, and more, so you get a shortcut to success without cutting corners. There is no need to reinvent the wheel. Steal my vault of resources.
➜ “Executive Director Boot Camp,” a self-paced course jam-packed with insights and practical knowledge on how to confidently run any nonprofit (25+ video lessons).
➜ “Build a Rockstar Board,” a comprehensive on-demand board development curriculum to transform your board this year (25+ lessons). Let the board watch these too!
➜ “Fixer Fundraising Formula” course and my Fundraising Power Pack Ebook, all specifically designed to help you raise more money in more ways more quickly.
From Private Coaching Clients…
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Rosemary has renewed clarity and confidence
"Sean has excellent insight into what it means to be a nonprofit executive director. His materials are fantastic, and his approach to working with the whole person (not just how the job is going) has been precisely what I needed to learn how to do my job well.
“Working with Sean has helped me identify more efficient ways of working and given me confidence and clarity on what my role as an ED should be, rather than trying to do everything all the time. Shared resources have also been helpful, and I can't wait to dig into them.
“Sean has gone above and beyond what I expected, and the value of our interactions has far exceeded the cost."
— Rosemary Blizzard, Executive Director, Ranked Choice Voting Resource Center
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Marcela is thriving as a first-time executive director
“It has been such an amazing journey to work with Sean. As a woman of color,
immigrant, and first-time Executive Director, it is very easy to let imposter syndrome and doubt creep in. However, having Sean in your corner to help ground and unpack those feelings or thoughts has truly been transformational. He is honest while also being kind and has helped me step into my power in ways that I will forever be thankful for.
“With Sean, I have been provided a dedicated space where I receive thought partnership, expert guidance, and a healthy dose of truth serum! Sean has been one of the most encouraging coaches I have encountered and an invaluable resource as our organization goes into one of the most critical election years. My biggest complaint is not having met him sooner!”
— Marcela Barrientos, Co-Executive Director, New York Civic Engagement Table
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Will is raising more money and feeling empowered
“I am so thankful that I was able to access Sean’s executive coaching services. Sean truly is a nonprofit fixer. He has provided me with valuable mentorship and tools that I would’ve never had available without his coaching. He has allowed me to become a confident and resourceful nonprofit leader and executive director. I’m raising more money, leading with clarity, and feeling empowered every step of the way — and I’ve gained a new friend in Sean.
“If you’re a nonprofit leader ready to break free from doubt and take your career to the next level, I can’t recommend Sean’s program enough. Don’t wait. Sign up today and experience this transformation yourself. We all deserve it as Executive Directors.”
— Will Rivera, Nonprofit Leader
☑ With Coaching
Aware of how to avoid basic mistakes
Clear on what really matters in your organization
Equipped with tools and insights from 30+ years of nonprofit leadership experience
Collaborating with your board and working toward a shared vision
A plan and tools to engage your entire organization for successful fundraising
Prepared to ask for the salary you’re worth and the security of an employment contract
Energized and ready to take on your role
Ready to kick ass in your leadership role
× Without Coaching
Afraid of making rookie mistakes
Facing a million little choices
Overloaded with random online resources
Constantly battling your board
Overwhelmed with fundraising challenges
Worried you won’t be able to make ends meet
On the verge of burnout
Doubting your ability to lead
I know firsthand the challenges nonprofit leaders face. I’ve been there.
I spent 30+ years in nonprofit leadership—fundraising, managing boards, managing staff, leading teams—and often felt isolated along the way.
As a nonprofit leader, it can feel like you’ve been dropped in the deep end of a pool and told to swim. You don’t get the training, onboarding, orientation, or support you need to thrive.
This is a recipe for disaster.
Here is a dirty secret: Many nonprofit leaders are in their jobs because they are the only leader willing to do the hard work for the crappy pay.
You step into the public eye, where you face criticism, long nights, and countless hours in meetings or tabling at festivals.
When you dedicate your life to service instead of profit, you deserve more than being dropped in the deep end.
You deserve to have someone in your corner who understands firsthand the challenges you’re facing. Someone you can confide in without fear. Someone solely committed to helping you succeed.
You need a coach who’s been where you are. That’s what I’m here for.
The Three Approaches to Getting Results
The real challenges nonprofit leaders face can’t be fixed by off-the-shelf executive coaching. You need the surround-sound support and real-life expertise that only a nonprofit expert can provide. That’s the Nonprofit Fixer difference.
We tackle all three pillars of nonprofit leadership:
01. Mindset
you need to overcome obstacles as a nonprofit leader.
02. Skillset
you need to thrive in nonprofit leadership.
03. Toolset
that will accelerate your results and progress.
Few executive coaches have firsthand experience leading nonprofit organizations. They can deliver leadership assessments, 360 reviews, or off-the-shelf training rubrics.
But they can’t give you concrete advice when your board chair won’t stop undermining your leadership. They can’t help you strategize fundraising options when you discover an undisclosed budget gap at the nonprofit you just agreed to lead.
Most coaches don’t understand the nuances—and practical next steps to take—when you’re facing a public messaging crisis at your nonprofit, dealing with a sputtering fundraising campaign, or making high-pressure decisions about hiring and firing staff under a microscope.
01. Mindset for Nonprofit Leaders.
What if the biggest obstacle to the success of your nonprofit organization isn’t fundraising, but your own mindset challenges?
In all my years of helping nonprofit organizations, one of the things I have noticed is that many people fall into the role of a nonprofit leader without any nonprofit management training or experience. Sometimes we get drafted to lead an organization because no one else is available or willing to do it.
These are not the best conditions in which to lead—and it’s one major reason why imposter syndrome and other mindset challenges are so rampant among nonprofit leaders.
If you are dealing with any of the following, you are not alone.
➜ Imposter syndrome and limiting beliefs about what you are capable of. You may feel unprepared, unqualified, undeserving, or suffer from anxiety and fear about your ability to meet the challenges of your role.
➜ Burnout and overwhelm. This is not in your head. Burnout is rampant in the nonprofit sector. Addressing it requires specific mindset shifts along with skillsets and toolsets, all of which we will work on.
➜ Lacking confidence and clarity about the role itself. You may be yielding to the board too often, dealing with staff pushback, or struggling to fully step into leadership and decision-making.
With private coaching, you’ll make the mindset shifts you need to overcome internal and external obstacles.
Through our work together, you will:
➜ Be comfortable with the reality that every nonprofit leader makes mistakes - sometimes daily. You’ll stop beating yourself up for making mistakes and not being perfect - and stop letting others do the same.
➜ Start raising money with ease because you aren’t held back by hangups, guilt, and outdated beliefs about asking for money. Even the best fundraising tactics won’t work if your mindset about money is holding you back.
➜ Stop internalizing the message that “giving our all for the cause” is a requirement of successful leadership. Start protecting your mind, body, and energy so that you can become an even better leader.
➜ Stop interviewing for the job you already have – and step into your leadership potential.
➜ Start to see yourself as an innovator and entrepreneur – because yes, nonprofit leaders are often building the plane while flying it.
➜ Stop negative self-talk that holds you back in everything from fundraising to board management.
➜ Start making decisions from a position of confidence and clarity. When you make tough decisions, you’ll know you’re doing the right things instead of simply doing what’s been promised, what’s easy, or what’s convenient politically.
02. Skillset for Nonprofit Leaders.
Too often, in the nonprofit sector “skills building” support is relegated to a group training course and then you’re on your own. This simply isn’t effective when you’re a nonprofit leader.
With private coaching, we build your skillset in an ongoing, hands-on way so that your new skills become something you can draw on in even the most challenging moments.
We do this by combining deep expertise in all aspects of nonprofit leadership with the ability to practice in a safe and confidential environment.
As a private coaching client, you can:
➜ Practice pitching - meaning we hone your fundraising pitch and practice until it sounds and feels natural.
➜ Practice making fundraising asks - generally and for specific meetings with major donors, foundations, corporate funders, etc.
➜ Practice for difficult board conversations - whether it’s firing board members, getting your board to stay in its lane, or holding members accountable for their fundraising commitments.
➜ Practice negotiating on critical issues like salary and employment contracts.
➜ Practice for difficult staff conversations - whether it’s one staff member, a department, or conflicts across teams.
➜ Practice hiring and firing staff - including working through the specifics of your organizational dynamics and style.
➜ Practice responding when you’re confronted with new external challenges - especially if you, your organization, or your community are under attack and you need to respond strategically in moments of crisis communications.
As a generalist nonprofit expert, I’m experienced and qualified to support your skill-buildingin all 10 areas of nonprofit leadership:
☑ Diversity, equity, and inclusion - all ways that the organization addresses DEI
☑ Compliance and best practices - risk mitigation and reputation improvement
☑ Community relations and communication - engaging the public, lawmakers, and media
☑ Programs and advocacy - all the activities designed to reach your organization’s mission
☑ Leadership - the soft and hard skills of being a leader
☑ Fund development - fundraising from individuals, major donors, foundations, corporations, events, online, etc.
☑ Board support and development - creating an engaged, 100% fundraising board of directors
☑ Financial management - budgets and accounting oversight
☑ Human resources - supervising staff
☑ Operations and technology - systems, processes, facilities, and technology
03. Toolset for Nonprofit Leaders.
Unless you work with a nonprofit expert, you will waste tons of time and money on tools and tactics that fail or worse, backfire.
I’ll give you shortcuts without cutting corners. When you’re brushing up your fundraising or management skills, you don’t need a master's program or giant textbooks or years of expensive lectures based on theory.
You want brass tacks, immediately useful tools and tactics from someone who has been there.
This is the only program that tackles all three pillars of nonprofit leadership.
Fundraising
My signature fundraising method teaches you to raise more money in more ways more quickly.
We’ll work through the system together, from perfecting your pitch to shifting your perspective so you (and your team) can learn to love asking for money (yes, it is possible).
You’ll also get my Fundraising Power Pack Ebook, which includes 25+ practical and pro resources to boost your fundraising power.
Boards
My board management system has transformed dozens of nonprofit boards from dysfunctional time sucks into productive governing bodies, effective fundraisers, and executive director cheerleaders.
We’ll do the same for your board dynamics. Using my signature system and tools, I’ll help you build a board that raises money, stays in their lane, supports you, and gives you the support and security you need.
Leadership and Teams
My leadership tools empower nonprofit leaders to say “no” to burnout-level work—without guilt and without dropping balls.
I’ll help you earn more money, get more security, and get more rest while still performing like the world-class leader you are. Imagine earning a six-figure executive director salary with legal protections.
Imagine working only four days a week—without guilt. Imagine having a team that brings you solutions, not problems.
These may sound familiar…
You can’t fail in my private coaching program because I won’t let you. I have NEVER had a coachee leave unsatisfied.
➜ Price
Just because executive coaching in the private sector is pricey doesn’t mean it has to be for nonprofits. I am committed to helping our sector’s leaders succeed at the lowest possible rate for top-flight coaching. I can price coaching affordably because my revenue from other sources helps support my work with leaders. My prices are squarely within reason for most nonprofits.
➜ Timing
The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. And like coaching, the second-best time to plant the seed is today. Every day you wait, prices may go up, and your window for motivation dissipates. There is a reason you are reading this now. You want results sooner, not later.
➜ Investment
You are worth this. Every workplace invests in leadership, training, professional development, and support. You and your employer want results. That comes from making an investment in yourself, your career, your future earnings, your fundraising skills, and your confidence.
➜ Board and Budget
Boards are usually very warm to coaching, as long as it’s affordable. I show leaders how to pay for coaching easily without cutting into existing revenue streams.
➜ Busy
Coaching is one hour every other week. Most coachees say it is their favorite hour on their calendar. They finally get confidential time to feel supported, vent, and get help. Good coaching saves you time. You’ll stop wasting time, money, and energy on tactics that fail or backfire. Stop spinning your wheels. Get support!
➜ Past Coaching Didn’t Work
I guarantee you I am not like your last coach. Few, if any, people have the breadth and depth and passion that I do. Few have the curriculum, tools, and war stories that I do.
➜ Not a Full-time ED
Even if you are not paid, not full-time, or not an executive director yet, coaching gives you the upper hand to land the job, raise the money, and get clarity on your role once and for all.
You have dedicated your life to service. Now let’s give you the tools to thrive. You can stop the burnout. Stop the overwhelm. Stop the poverty mindset.
Become the incredible nonprofit leader you are meant to be.
The Executive Coaching for Nonprofit Leaders FAQ
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If you’re looking for a coach who is actually a nonprofit expert, then we are likely a good fit.
My style is practical, caring, and outcomes-focused. I want you to achieve your goals, and I have an incredible toolbox to help you get there.
If you’re interested in private coaching, I recommend booking a free discovery call with me to discuss your goals and see if we’re a fit. You can do that here -
Most of my private coaching clients are nonprofit executive directors or CEOs. But I can work with founders, CEOs, Board Chairs, and other director-level and above nonprofit leaders.
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No, you do not need to be at a particular skill or experience level. I coach nonprofit leaders who are starting their first nonprofit or taking on their first leadership role, as well as established leaders of major national nonprofits. ALL nonprofit leaders deserve support.
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With one-on-one coaching, you get dedicated time with me, Sean Kosofsky, The Nonprofit Fixer, without interruptions, distractions, or other coaching clients needing my attention. This enables greater customization, time, depth, focus, and problem-solving. It comes at a higher cost because you get me all to yourself. Private coaching calls are also 100% confidential, which is especially important for many leaders that I work with.