A logo with a stylized green letter 'G' shape.

Client‍ ‍Success

80+

Gifts secured

$300M+

Raised across sectors

40+

Nonprofits served

Based in Silicon Valley, we have worked with organizations across the country.

Below is a selection of engagements, organized by service type.

Every organization is named with permission.

BOARD FUNDRAISING TRAINING & COACHING

  • A group of children and one adult observe a cow through a wooden fence at a farm or petting zoo, with green trees and hills in the background.

    Hidden Villa | Environment

    We worked with their board on fundraising culture and shared leadership, helping members understand that strong board fundraising does not mean everyone does the same thing. The board left with a shared understanding of their collective role and individual pathways to act on it.

  • Children playing outdoors, with two girls holding hands and jumping, and other kids standing in the background on a grassy field.

    Upward Scholars | Economic Mobility

    Board fundraising training as part of a comprehensive engagement supporting a Bay Area nonprofit that helps adult immigrants build careers and complete college degrees.

  • An outdoors event with children and a woman at a table surrounded by trees. The woman is handing a navy blue shirt to a girl, and there are various items on the table including lanyards and paper.

    CORA | Safety and Survivor Services

    Facilitated board fundraising training for a Peninsula-based nonprofit providing comprehensive support to survivors of domestic violence and relationship abuse.

  • A group of four children playing outdoors and blowing bubbles.

    CASA of San Mateo County | Youth Development

    Facilitated board fundraising training for a nonprofit that recruits, trains, and supports volunteer advocates for children in the foster care system.

    • “Board members started reaching out, telling their stories, and making introductions without having to be nudged. It's night and day.”

    • — Laura Selig, Board Member

  • Children participating in a drumming activity, sitting on the floor with colorful drums featuring animal designs.

    Suzuki Association of the Americas | Arts / Music Education

    Facilitated board fundraising training for a national nonprofit supporting music educators and families in the Suzuki approach to instrument learning. The organization came with a clear goal: to build a genuine culture of philanthropy within their board and develop a fundraising practice built on true partnership between board and staff. The training gave members a shared framework, clearer individual roles, and a path forward together.

  • Group of eight diverse students in blue graduation gowns and caps standing on steps outside a house, holding diplomas, celebrating graduation.

    Stanbridge Academy | Education

    Facilitated board fundraising training for a San Mateo school serving students with learning differences including dyslexia, ADHD, and related learning disabilities. The training gave board members a framework for fundraising that felt accessible rather than overwhelming, and practical first steps they could act on immediately without waiting for permission or perfect conditions.

CEO/ED & FUNDRAISING LEADERSHIP COACHING

  • Group of women wearing green graduation caps and gowns, holding diplomas and flowers, celebrating graduation outside a building.

    Upward Scholars | Economic Mobility

    A comprehensive engagement with a Bay Area nonprofit supporting adult immigrants through college and career pathways. Work included executive director coaching, development staff coaching, board fundraising training, and major donor strategy. Built a structured donor portfolio system from scratch, with clear assignments, upgrade criteria, and evaluation cycles. Developed a 12-month fundraising curriculum for the executive director tailored to her specific leadership and fundraising goals. Multiple major donors upgraded their giving during the engagement. The organization moved from informal fundraising practices to a structured, replicable system with leadership that owns it.

  • A group of ballet dancers practicing in a dance studio, standing in a line with arms raised and wearing black leotards, pink tights, and ballet slippers.

    Western Ballet | Arts / Culture

    Executive director coaching as part of campaign preparation, helping senior leadership develop the confidence and strategy to lead major donor conversations at a new level.

MAJOR GIFTS STRATEGY

  • A man reading a storybook to a group of children seated on colorful cushions in a library.

    National Summer School Initiative | Education

    Major gifts strategy and fundraising leadership coaching for a national education nonprofit, positioning the organization for six- and seven-figure gift discussions and building the infrastructure to sustain major donor growth.

    • “Shannon is a fundraising expert who positioned us for 6- and 7-figure discussions and major growth.”

    • — Jeff Feinman, Chief of Partnerships

  • Group of six women, including three adults and three children, sitting together on a teal sofa in a living room, smiling at the camera.

    WANDA | Economic Mobility

    Major donor strategy and prioritization as part of a comprehensive campaign engagement, building the systems and relationships needed to move toward transformational gifts.

  • “Shannon's guidance reshaped Army Pink's fundraising strategy from the ground up. She helped me see where we were positioned and what funders would need to trust our model. With her counsel I reworked my outreach and started getting traction with funders and major partner organizations. It made everything click.”

    — Robin Bement, Founder, Army Pink

  • “Shannon gave us the tools and strategy we needed for major gift work. She's a fundraising expert who positioned us for 6- and 7-figure discussions and major growth. I'd recommend her to any leader serious about scaling fundraising.”

    — Jeff Feinman, Chief of Partnerships, National Summer School Initiative

  • “After Katy and Shannon's Board Moves Method training, board members started reaching out, telling their stories, and making introductions without having to be nudged. It's night and day and has taken our effectiveness to the next level.”

    — Laura Selig, Board Member, CASA of San Mateo County and Stanbridge Academy

  • “Working with The Gravity Collective gave us the clarity we needed to advance our fundraising. They brought a sharp, focused perspective that helped us align our vision with a practical yet bold fundraising strategy. The process was efficient, thoughtful, and delivered real value quickly.”

    — Linda Johnson, Executive Director, Creativity Explored

  • "We were so excited to partner with Shannon and Katy to share knowledge with our nonprofit members and partners. Shannon and Katy are the kind of speakers who make a large group feel like a small conversation. The content is sharp and practical, and their ability to hold a room, draw people in, and keep the energy alive throughout is something to see. Our members left the workshop excited with ideas to implement at their organization."

    — Thrive Alliance

  • “Shannon transformed how we approached our capital campaign. She helped us turn our vision into a narrative that resonates with donors, and gave us the skills and confidence to ask for big gifts. The strategic focus she brought has been invaluable.”

    — Alexi Zubiria, Artistic Director, Western Ballet

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN COUNSEL

  • A diverse group of three women and three children sitting on a blue couch in a living room, smiling at the camera.

    WANDA | Economic Mobility

    Built campaign infrastructure and major donor strategy for a Silicon Valley nonprofit preparing to double program enrollment for single mothers building financial stability and long-term wealth. Developed gift pyramid, donor prioritization system, board engagement framework, case for support, and private launch event strategy. Campaign goal: $1M.

  • Group of ballet dancers practicing in a dance studio with white walls and wooden ceiling beams, all wearing black leotards, pink tights, and ballet slippers.

    Western Ballet | Arts / Culture

    Partnered with a Bay Area ballet company preparing for a capital campaign to secure a permanent home. Developed major donor strategy, gift pyramid, and 18-month fundraising calendar. Conducted wealth screening that surfaced significant untapped donor capacity already within their existing donor list. Coached executive leadership through donor cultivation, ask preparation, and live role-play exercises. Helped reframe campaign messaging around child impact and community vision. The organization moved from early campaign planning into active major donor cultivation with a clear strategy, specific ask amounts, and the confidence to make them.

COMPREHENSIVE FUNDRAISING STRATEGY

  • Aerial black-and-white photograph of a small town near a coastline, featuring a cluster of buildings including a factory with two tall smokestacks, houses, and fields, with trees and roads surrounding the area.

    Kohala Oral History Project | Community Development

    Kohala Oral History Project came to us at an inflection point: facing government funding cuts while demand for their services was growing and their profile was rising. We developed a comprehensive multi-year revenue strategy covering all funding streams, designed to drive realistic and sustainable growth through a period of both challenge and opportunity.

  • A young girl with brown hair and light skin sitting in a classroom, looking down at a tablet or device in front of her. The classroom has chairs and desks with other students in the background.

    Homework Central | Education

    Conducted a comprehensive fundraising assessment and growth strategy for a Bay Area nonprofit providing free tutoring and academic support to under-resourced students. Introduced a structured donor assessment framework to prioritize upgrade opportunities and surface high-potential donors already in the database. Reframed the major donor threshold and set a clear growth target, with a sequencing strategy that prioritized upgrading existing donors before pursuing new ones. Introduced wealth screening tools and provided a practical 12-month fundraising plan built for realistic execution, not aspiration. The organization moved from scattered fundraising activity to a focused, prioritized strategy with clear next steps.

BOARD ASSESSMENT

  • Two men embracing in a hug on a city street with colorful buildings and parked cars in the background.

    HomeRise

    Housing / Homelessness

    Conducted a comprehensive board assessment for a San Francisco nonprofit providing affordable housing and supportive services. The work included a full board survey, in-depth individual interviews with board members, and synthesis of findings into a clear written analysis. Delivered findings and recommendations to leadership, giving the organization a clear picture of where the board stood and what needed to shift.

FEASIBILITY STUDY

  • A young man with black hair writing on a whiteboard in a classroom or workshop setting, with other students in the background.

    Creativity Explored | Arts / Disability Services

    Conducted a comprehensive feasibility assessment for a proposed $8 to $15 million capital campaign that would allow Creativity Explored to bring all functions under one roof and expand capacity to serve more artists with developmental disabilities. After interviewing staff and analyzing donor data, delivered a detailed assessment with a clear finding: the question was not whether Creativity Explored could achieve its campaign goal, but when and how. The report identified the path forward, the conditions required, and the steps leadership needed to take before launching.

  • “Shannon gave us the tools and strategy we needed for major gift work. She's a fundraising expert who positioned us for 6- and 7-figure discussions and major growth. I'd recommend her to any leader serious about scaling fundraising.”

    — Jeff Feinman, Chief of Partnerships, National Summer School Initiative

  • “Working with The Gravity Collective gave us the clarity we needed to advance our fundraising. They brought a sharp, focused perspective that helped us align our vision with a practical yet bold fundraising strategy. The process was efficient, thoughtful, and delivered real value quickly.”

    — Linda Johnson, Executive Director, Creativity Explored

  • “Shannon transformed how we approached our capital campaign. She helped us turn our vision into a narrative that resonates with donors, and gave us the skills and confidence to ask for big gifts. The strategic focus she brought has been invaluable.”

    — Alexi Zubiria, Artistic Director, Western Ballet

  • “Shannon's guidance reshaped Army Pink's fundraising strategy from the ground up. She helped me see where we were positioned and what funders would need to trust our model. With her counsel I reworked my outreach and started getting traction with funders and major partner organizations. It made everything click.”

    — Robin Bement, Founder, Army Pink

  • “After Katy and Shannon's Board Moves Method training, board members started reaching out, telling their stories, and making introductions without having to be nudged. It's night and day and has taken our effectiveness to the next level.”

    — Laura Selig, Board Member, CASA of San Mateo County and Stanbridge Academy

  • "We were so excited to partner with Shannon and Katy to share knowledge with our nonprofit members and partners. Shannon and Katy are the kind of speakers who make a large group feel like a small conversation. The content is sharp and practical, and their ability to hold a room, draw people in, and keep the energy alive throughout is something to see. Our members left the workshop excited with ideas to implement at their organization."

    — Thrive Alliance

Trusted by

Logo with a red apple inside a blue schoolhouse icon next to the text 'homework central' in blue font.
Logo for Western Ballet featuring a silhouette of a ballerina in an arabesque pose with arms raised above her head, and the text 'westernballet' below.
Logo for The Trevor Project featuring bold red text and a stylized red paper airplane.
Logo for Upward Scholars featuring a stylized red and orange open book with rays emanating from it, with the text 'Upward Scholars' in blue and 'FAM ARENA' in red underneath.
Logo for 'Hidden in Villa' featuring stylized green text and a drawing of a barn with a rooster on top and a chimney, with detailed wood paneling and a curved base.
Neon sign for Healthcare in action at night, displaying a stylized human figure with a red arrow pointing upward
A stylized graphic of a suspension bridge in red with the text "STAND FOR ACADEMY" beneath it, with some yellow highlights.
Colorful logo with a large purple W and green star, followed by the word 'WANDA' in green and purple letters.
Logo for LifeMoves with black background, gray and blue text, and a green check mark integrated into the letter 'V'.
Logo for Second Harvest of Silicon Valley featuring an orange circle with a stylized wheat stalk, and the text 'Second Harvest of Silicon Valley' in green.
Kohala Oral History Project logo featuring a green stylized palm tree and the text 'Kohala Oral History Project' in green and black.
Text reading "The National Summer School Initiative" in black and blue letters on a black background.
Red text that says 'creativity explored' with black shadow and smaller black text below that says 'ART CHANGES LIVES' on a transparent background.
Logo with the word 'CORA' in purple and blue, and the text 'Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse' underneath.
HomeRise logo with red and gray text and a gray and red geometric icon on a black background
Logo for CASA, the Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children, featuring a stylized human figure holding a heart, with text indicating it is the CASA of San Mateo County.
Colorful logo with the letters 'K' and 'D' and the text 'The Karate School Project'.
Colorful sign with a house icon and text that reads 'Neighbors Helping Neighbors' in bright green.
A neon sign featuring a person with glasses and short hair with the text 'Mariners' and a logo of a blue wave.
Suzuki Association of the Americas logo with a blue graphic of three people, each with a musical note as their bodies, and black text reading 'Suzuki Association of the Americas'.

If your organization is at an inflection point, we should talk.

We offer a complimentary 30-minute introductory call to better understand where you are, what you are trying to build, and whether we are the right fit to help you get there.

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