“The work of Helmer Ekstrom and Angela Powers allowed us
to get staff and board singing from the same sheet of music. Through the process
they employed it became obvious what our priorities should be. Their facilitation
of our strategic planning process gave focus to the work of the foundation
and stimulated a belief in our ability to become one of the fastest growing
community foundations in the country. They were also fun to work with!”
Terri Lee Freeman, president, The Community Foundation
for the National Capital Region
"Helmer Ekstrom and Angela Powers are the kind of knowledgeable
and thoroughly professional resource people from whose services we have benefited
and whom we are pleased to recommend to the attention of our members."
Martin C. Lehfeldt, former president, Southeastern Council
on Foundations
"Helmer and Angela's vast knowledge of the community foundation
world, coupled with their nimble capacity to facilitate new thinking and thoughtful
conversation made them the perfect managers of our strategic planning."
Ronald V. Gallo, president and CEO, Santa Barbara
Foundation
"Helmer's knowledge of the field gave our board a perspective
of community foundation operations that they would have otherwise never had.
He opened a wide range of possibilities and opportunities."
Nancy Anthony, executive director, Oklahoma City
Community Foundation
“As we sought to take a hard look at jump-starting our
development program, Ekstrom & Associates was the catalyst we needed to
ask the tough questions and engage board and management in reflection and
then action. Angela Powers has been a tremendous resource all the way along
providing technical assistance, coaching and objective feedback which has
been invaluable to our process and progress!”
Joanne Walsh, president and CEO, Visiting Nurse Association
of South Central Connecticut
"These are experienced foundation professionals who understand
the special culture and challenges of philanthropy inside out. Their work
with our development committee was at once tactful and honest. They size up
management situations quickly and accurately and are extremely adept in helping
both boards and staff see their capabilities and limitations more clearly."
Bruce Fraser, executive director, Connecticut Humanities
Council
“Ekstrom & Associates' marketplace analysis and blueprint
for developing our role as the community’s philanthropic center is an
indispensable how-to manual for the Venice Foundation. Their work is especially
valuable to me as the new CEO and I am glad my predecessors had the foresight
to hire them.”
Teri Hansen, president, Gulf Coast Community Foundation
of Venice
"Helmer and his associates combined their practical experience
of working in the philanthropic field, considerable knowledge of the nonprofit
sector research, and expertise in group dynamics to facilitate a productive
discussion with our board of trustees that produced a blueprint for our foundation's
journey into the next decade."
J. Mac Bennett, former president, Central Carolina
Community Foundation
“Our directors were told that Helmer Ekstrom would facilitate the retreat by concentrating on three objectives:
Helmer did advance homework on the unique issues facing Elkhart
County and similar Community Foundations in Indiana; he came in early to garner
firsthand insights to better gain mastery of his dialogue; and finally, he
delivered splendidly on-site and with follow-up on summary materials. Helmer
exceeded everyone’s expectations.”
W. Earl Taylor, president, Elkhart County Community
Foundation
"When a board is primed and ready to go you need a facilitator
that does just that. Gets them going in the right direction. Thanks, Helmer."
Diane Hogerty, former executive director, Community Foundation
Serving Northern Colorado
"The quality, sensitivity and timeliness of Ekstrom & Associates'
work are very high and give current customers every reason to seek repeat
service and new customers every reason to sign on."
Paul Verret, former president, The Saint Paul Foundation
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