Working with nonprofit organizations & philanthropists to

Meeting client goals since 1999

What We Do

NON-PROFIT SERVICES

Pathfinder Philanthropy Advisors works with regional non-profit organizations in the context of strategic planning, organizational capacity building, capital campaign planning and management, community outreach and leadership training. We develop and support an organizational “Culture of Philanthropy” with our clients. In partnership with the staff leadership, board members understand, embrace and act upon fundraising activities of annual, capital, and major donor campaigns in a collaborative and donor-focused effort.

Campaign planning and implementation

Leadership Training

Organizational Capacity Building

Strategic planning

Community Outreach

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“Elaine helped us develop our fundraising pitch deck, which we've used for foundations and major donor meetings; helped train our board and get many members of our board ready and comfortable to join me for donor meetings; helped us develop cultivation, stewardship and gratitude plans; build our language of philanthropy so our asks are respectful and professional; and so much more. Additionally, Elaine's personal and professional commitment to support climate work has been key to building our capability in profound ways; she gets why our work matters, she has helped us tell our story, and she has personally invested her time and expertise in our growing success and we are all the better for it.”

Michelle Stewart

Executive Director Western Resilience Center

“Elaine and I founded the United Recovery Fund in 2016. She facilitated the startup of the organization, built the fundraising program, led the board development process and served as a valued advisor and leader to the whole team. We would not be in business without her dedicated support.”

Margo Walsh

Founder MaineWorks and Co-Founder and Board Chair, United Recovery Fund

“Elaine is the consummate professional. She approaches problems with an intent to solve them but, as we teach our students, she does so after gathering appropriate data, asking questions and applying critical thinking skills. Elaine is an experienced, intelligent and honest consultant who has greatly impacted KSS and our ability to fundraise effectively.”

Ellen Reid

Former Executive Director, Keystone Science School

“Elaine has the ability to bring all of the constituents of a project to the table by promoting a constructive dialogue to understand their mutual goals. She also understands the big picture and is able to apply creative approaches to fundraising opportunities. By having Elaine be a part of our team and facilitate these discussions, we were able to not only have a clear understanding of the opportunity and process of a capital campaign, we were motivated to be successful!”

Susan W. Borst

Former Trustee + Development Chair, Dawson School

“Elaine Walsh Carney has provided our staff with exceptional fundraising support, strategy and training. Her experience and connections have helped in ways that we would have never imagined. She has opened doors to numerous fundraising opportunities and has guided us toward the most strategic approach in each case. Without Elaine’s assistance, our capital campaign goal would have never been met. Her work here on the Wind River Indian Reservation will leave a lasting impression.”

Lisa Perry

Former Chief Professional Officer, Boys & Girls Club of the Eastern Shoshone Tribe

“Elaine Walsh Carney’s support was instrumental in establishing a capital campaign for the Alliance Center renovation. Her expertise, relationships and upbeat demeanor give us the confidence to do our best work. She helped us prioritize our campaign and maturely allocate our time. Elaine is a superstar who helped us realize our potential.”

Jeff Hohensee

Former Director of Strategic Partnerships, Alliance for Sustainable Colorado

“Elaine brings both accountability and a focused approach toward our fundraising program. Her experience, knowledge and skills help guide our efforts and build capacity that will last well into the future. I am fully confident in our ability to attain our ambitious goals thanks to Elaine and her professional, insightful approach to fund development.”

Keegan Young

Former Development Director, American Alpine Club

“From the very beginning, Elaine made our entire team feel confident that we could reach our fundraising goals and helped us refine the skills we needed to make those goals achievable.”

Stephanie Thomas

Former Executive Director, Teton County Search & Rescue Foundation

“Elaine Carney provided us with expertise and guidance during the most formative stages of our planning for a capital campaign. Elaine’s involvement kept us moving forward and held us accountable throughout a challenging phase. As a result, we completed a planning study, deepened relations with our donor community, and developed campaign materials – all of which will support our next steps.”

Skye Skinner

Former COMPASS Executive Director, COMPASS/Aspen Community School

“It was a pleasure to work with Elaine Walsh Carney. She consistently provided sound advice on every aspect of our campaign and was available whenever needed. We could not have asked for better service and we are very pleased with the relationship. In fact, Elaine still remains in touch with us to check on our progress in the final stages of the campaign.”

Mark Cole

Former Executive Director, Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club

“Working with Elaine Walsh Carney on Capital Campaigns and Annual Fund projects generates high energy and produces results for our non-profit organizations. Her knowledge of the fund raising field and her precise organizational infrastructure provide solid ground for any fund raising campaign. She is a skilled trainer and educator working well with volunteers and staff alike. The projects I have done with her have given me courage, energy and enthusiasm to do the work of fund raising free from a sense of obligation, but rather filled with the spirit of giving.”

Agnes Bourne

Board Member, Center for the Arts

“I participated in a series of workshops that Elaine facilitated and found that she had good intuition on when to let the discussion flow and when to redirect/intervene. The end result was that both committees have functioned very well. I credit Elaine’s original work at the front end of theses processes with creating such positive working environments among the volunteer committees. I recommend Elaine without hesitation.”

George H. Gault

Former President, Wyoming Community Foundation
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What We Do

PHILANTHROPY SERVICES

Pathfinder Philanthropy Advisors provides research and counsel on charitable giving, develops philanthropic giving programs and offers strategic management services for small foundations, trusts and philanthropists.

RESEARCH & COUNSEL ON CHARITABLE GIVING

PHILANTHROPY MISSION AND VISION

CORE VALUES DEVELOPMENT

IMPACT OPPORTUNITIES

STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT SERVICES

GIVING PLAN IMPLEMENTATION

Climate Investments

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Sesame Solar

Sesame Solar is revolutionizing off-grid power for defense and commercial operations. Made in the USA, our Mobile Nanogrids combine solar + hydrogen + battery storage to deliver reliable energy anywhere. Deployable by one person in minutes, they eliminate fuel supply chains and ensure critical missions and services stay powered for weeks at a time.

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Native Squared

Native Squared has secured 60,000 hectares of pristine rainforest in the Pacific region with an imminent risk of logging, a high density of endemic species in partnership with indigenous communities who have stewarded the forest for generations. Native also has mangrove restoration projects underway in Philippines and Tanzania and we are scoping further projects in the Amazon and the Pacific.

Our goal is to develop and support an organizational “Culture of Philanthropy” with our clients. Staff leadership and board members will obtain the support they need to act as a team in embracing fundraising for annual, capital, and special project campaigns. We support successful campaigns that are collaborative and donor-driven.

LEADERSHIP

Elaine-Walsh-Carney

Elaine Walsh Carney

Founding Principal

Strategic advisor

Decades of fundraising experience

Skilled and experienced facilitator and negotiator

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Strategic Planning Partner

Ian Symmonds

ISA Founder & President

Strategic advisor to independent schools and colleges

Expert in growth and institutional strategy

Global speaker and thought leader

Contact

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