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Pendulum is about creating continuing momentum for each of our clients.

Practical thinking isn't enough to achieve this goal, it requires innovation at every point along the way.

We help nonprofits, foundations and corporations strengthen their brands, create sustainable growth and engage leaders to make real cultural change.

Testimonial Pendulum was tremendously helpful whether it was fundraising, board development or strategic planning... an essential ally for any Executive Director and Board.

—Ashley Katz Dejong
Executive Director,
Patient Privacy Rights

Services We Offer

Every organization faces unique challenges and opportunities. Identifying them is only the first step, maintaining a sharp
focus on them is where you win. Our commitment to focusing on the unique, means every solution for each of our
clients is entirely customized.

Pendulum specializes in bringing innovative and measurable solutions to nonprofits, foundations and companies.
From strategy and resource development to training and communications, we ensure that each client is successful in increasing their efficiency and impact.

Resource Development + Management

With over 1.5 million nonprofits competing for resources it is critical for every organization to have a strategic sustainable plan. We can help you achieve your mission by creating strategies to engage supporters, increase awareness and ensure your impact is long-term.

  • » Fundraising and Awareness
    Audits & Plans
  • » Cause Marketing
  • » Constituent Management
  • » Brand Development
  • » Event Strategy & Execution
  • » Earned Income/Social Enterprise Development
  • » Capital Campaign Planning & Implementation
  • » Integrated Online Marketing & Fundraising

1

Organizational Planning + Development

Without core systems and leadership you can’t excel. We provide analysis and comprehensive solutions addressing strategic priorities, resource implications and performance measures.

  • » Policies & Procedures Development
  • » Program Development/Evaluation
  • » Mergers
  • » Strategic Planning
  • » Systems (Database, HR, Legal, Technology)
  • » Staff Transitions: Search, Interim Placements & Training
  • » Executive Coaching
  • » Board/Committee Development
  • » Staff Training

2

Strategic Philanthropy + Corporate Social Responsibility

In this era of increasing social responsibility within the consumer, corporate and civic environments, your goals are driven to make a significant impact. Regardless of your size or if you are just beginning in your philanthropic outreach / CSR program we guide foundations, corporations and individuals to ensure you make the best return on your investment.

  • » Grantmaking
  • » Issue—Based Research
  • » Partnership Assessment & Development
  • » Employee Engagement
  • » Site Visits
  • » Measurement & Reporting

3

Case Studies

The Challenge

National advocacy group was
at a critical growth point in their development and needed additional focus and funding to get to the next level.

Our Strategies

  • » Fund & Communication Plans
  • » Strategic Planning and Retreat
  • » Board Development
  • » Executive Coaching
  • » Systems Development

The Results

We reshaped the organization’s priorities and created a guide for their new operations, funding and communications plans. In conjunction, we secured seed funding that leveraged $19 billion in stimulus funds.

Patient in Hospital

The Challenge

A national advocacy group was a at a critical growth point in their development and needed additional focus and funding to get to the next level.

Our Strategies

  • » Fundraising and Awareness Audit / Plan
  • » Strategic Planning and Retreat
  • » Board Development
  • » Executive Coaching
  • » Systems Development

The Results

We reshaped the organization’s priorities and created a guide for their new operations, funding and communications plans. In conjunction, we secured seed funding that leveraged $19 billion in stimulus funds.

Patient in Hospital

The Challenge

Universities, community colleges, healthcare providers and economic development partners needed to collaborate to create a long range plan to attract funders and innovation to the state to address healthcare training.

Our Strategies

  • » Resource & Communications Plan
  • » Market Research
  • » Event Strategy & Execution
  • » Project Management
  • » Long-range planning
  • » National Conference
  • » Brand Development

The Results

Comprehensive statewide feasibility study and long-range plan for regional healthcare collaborative for over 70 partners (IE, University of Texas, Texas A&M, Christus Healthcare). The collaborative continues to reach milestones in the plan and secure funding.

Photo from familyeldercare.org

The Challenge

For over 30 years, Family Eldercare has met the needs of older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers in Central Texas. Spurred by the challenges of the impending ‘elder boom’ (quadrupling growth from 2010 to 2030), funding was needed to build capacity to meet the need.

Our Strategies

  • » Fund & Communications Plan
  • » Systems & Process Audit/ Plan
  • » Event Strategy & Execution
  • » Executive & Team Coaching
  • » Project Management
  • » Capital Campaign Planning & Implementation

The Results

After a comprehensive audit, we created systems, training and development for the staff and board to secure $4.5M in funding. The organization knows how to acquire, upgrade, and renew donors at all levels, to communicate with multiple audiences and better leverage their board and committees in fundraising activities.

The Challenge

Develop, execute business plan for start up organization created to improve the quality, affordability and accessibility of child care in Central Texas.

Our Strategies

  • » Business & Fund Development Plan
  • » Strategic Planning
  • » Board Development
  • » Program Development/ Evaluation
  • » Grantmaking
  • » Cause Marketing
  • » Brand Development
  • » Systems / Policies Procedures

The Results

Successful launch of $4.5 million child care workforce initiative focused on training for entry-level workers, fellowships, scholarships, job placement and a public education campaign. Founding member of partnership of statewide advocacy group, Texas Early Childhood Coalition (tecec.org), which has over 6,000 member organizations driving legislation and securing $125 million in funding. The Fund merged with the National Association of Child Care Professionals to have a larger impact.

Photo from tilonia.org

The Challenge

Friends of Tilonia, Inc. was established to provide marketing and business development assistance to the crafts section of the Barefoot College, in Tilonia, Rajasthan, India. Created over 40 years ago, the College improves the lives of India's rural poor by addressing basic needs for water, electricity, housing, health, education and revenue generation. This social enterprise needed assistance with their e-commerce expansion and awareness in the United States.

Our Strategies

  • » Fund & Awareness Plan
  • » Strategic Planning
  • » Earned Income/ Social Enterprise
  • » Event Strategy & Execution

The Results

Crafts are currently sold through retail shops and other outlets in India, Europe and Canada, generating $250,000 in income for more than 400 rural artisans in 50 villages who market their crafts in conjunction with the College. The Barefoot College is hailed by Fast Company magazine as “the best thing going” in rural development.

Our Clients, Past & Present

Pendulum specializes in bringing innovative and measurable solutions to nonprofits, foundations and companies.
From strategy and resource development to training and communications, we ensure that each client is successful
in increasing their efficiency and impact.

Civic +
Education

Nonprofits + Foundations

Rollover Clients In Blue
To View Testimonials

The firm’s excellent work resulted in a level of communication and information sharing among over 70 colleges and healthcare institutions across the region which has not existed before.

Their efforts have contributed to strong partnerships to secure federal funding and a actionable long-range plan.

Gary Allen
Workforce Solutions (Texas)

Susan is professional through and through—she is strategic and able to execute projects that get the results envisioned. Her tenacious follow-through keeps staff and committees on committed timelines.  She is positive and polished and has the depth of knowledge and experience that truly assists moving projects and campaigns forward.

Karen Langley
Former CEO, Family Eldercare (Texas)

Pendulum was tremendously helpful whether it was fundraising, board development or strategic planning.  Susan is incredibly adaptable and unflappable; an essential ally for any Executive Director and Board.

Ashley Katz Dejong
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PATIENT PRIVACY RIGHTS (TEXAS, WASHINGTON)

We needed a consultant that was able to assist us with all aspects of our startup and strategic planning needs. Susan is a first-rate consultant who delivers on her commitments, is very easy to work with, and has a high level of knowledge and expertise.

She is very detailed and her work meets very high standards. Every bit of her advice has proven to be both practical and useful. I give her my highest recommendation and would contract with Pendulum again on the next project.

Dianne Bangle
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SHOES FOR AUSTIN (TEXAS)

Susan's passion for helping non-profits, foundations and boards is clearly reflected in her work. Besides being a creative and out of the box thinker, she's an expert in strategically transforming organizations. She is a gentle, gracious and knowledgeable consultant who is brilliant at interpersonal skills. She helped us develop practical and effective strategy to raise more money and continued to support us through implementation. Her efforts have resulted in a nuts and bolts approach to fundraising that is also scalable and has helped us maximize our relationship with current and potential donors, and in turn transform the lives of hundreds more orphaned children in India. I would recommend Pendulum and Susan's expertise to anyone looking to innovate and grow!

Caroline Boudreaux
Founder, The Miracle Foundation

Susan brings spirit and a sense of purpose to her work. She is vivacious, smart–and thinks strategically. She was a great sounding board at a very early stage of our organization's development.

Ellen Fish
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF TILONIA (NEW YORK, INDIA)

About Us

The Company

Pendulum opened its doors with a mission to provide the type of strategic guidance that leads to dramatic change for our clients. We are passionate about our work and only represent clients and projects that we believe in ourselves.

Our experience and understanding is key. We began inside organizations, actually working with a range of consultants. We've served as develop-ment and marketing executives, CEOs, board members and program staff.

Our strongest assets are our diversity of experience and our reputation. Over the years we have served various constituencies covering a broad range of social issues. These efforts have created a successful track record in developing and managing complex teams and programs, building effective multi-organization collaborations, raising fund and awareness, guiding key leaders and creating effective strategy and evaluations. What differentiates our firm is how we help our clients activate your plan. We don’t tell you what needs to be done. We give you strategies and assistance to ensure your success.

Founder and President

Susan Shaw, President, has over 18 years of diverse experience in the social sector leading organizations focused on women and children’s issues, education, workforce develop-ment, persons with disabilities and social enterprise ventures.

Susan Shaw

She founded Pendulum in 2005 after successfully launching several start up organizations, generating up to $8 million annually, leading organizations and boards with budgets of $25 million and teams of 500.  Driven by her passion to make a difference, she strives to serve as a catalyst of change and has a deep sense of the needs and challenges that organizations face.

Staffing and Pricing

We can tailor a project to meet your needs and provide a greater return on your investment by outsourcing with proven consultants, vendors and organizations internationally and in the U.S. as needed by specialty or region.

Pricing can be by project, retainer or time-based. All work begins with a no-cost consultation that is designed to quickly clarify a project's needs, scope and goals in terms that everyone can rally around. We believe the greatest successes are often the greatest collaborations, and they each start on day one.

Staff resumes, references and detailed case studies are available upon request. info@pendulumconsult.com

Contact Us

Please fill out the optional form below if you’re ready to begin talking about your project.

 

Email Address

info@pendulumconsult.com

Telephone

(512) 394-7683