Laura Rhodes - Certified Fund Raising Executive

Founder & Principal

Laura Rhodes, CFRE

Nonprofit Consultant | Speaker & Trainer

"HI, I'M LAURA! And I want to help you find more funders, win more grants and raise more money for your nonprofit. Are you ready?"

Laura Rhodes is a Certified Fund Raising Executive and fundraising trainer who has 20+ years of experience working with – and for – nonprofits.

Laura started her nonprofit career in development and communications. She later served as an interim executive director. As a volunteer, Laura has been a board member, board chair, marketing committee chair and resource development committee chair. And prior to starting her consulting business, Laura was a regional program officer with the American Express Foundation, which awarded $30 million to nonprofits each year.

Having been both a grantmaker and a fundraiser, Laura uses her unique perspective to help nonprofits find more funders, win more grants and raise more money for their cause.

Laura has helped nonprofits raise millions of dollars from grants, events, direct mail and workplace giving campaigns. She also provides prospect research and grant writing support for organizations that want to write their own grants.

She is a popular nonprofit conference speaker and has led workshops and trainings for nonprofit staff and boards across the U.S.

Certifications & Professional Affiliations

What nonprofits say about Laura...

I can't tell you how much your classes have taught me and how valuable they are going to be to our Chamber! Whipping our board into shape is the first item on our list and we wouldn't be able to do that in an effective way if it wasn't for you!
Keri Driggers, Membership Director, Fountain Inn Chamber of Commerce

Laura's quest for excellence never fails to inspire all - whether Board of Directors, staff or volunteers - to move mountains to achieve our mission. She has a unique blend of intelligence, understanding of the broader community, humor and good common sense that combine to support the work of others.
Jennifer Gore, Executive Director, Reading Connections

All I can say is, 'WOW!' You've got this grant writing thing down.
Erica Yaeger, Executive Director, Sci-Tech Discovery Center

Laura's work to help us identify foundations that may fund our work filled an important gap for us. She is professional, and her work is thorough and well researched. I have already recommended her to several other nonprofits, which speaks to my high opinion of her work and of her.
Penelope Pierce, Executive Director, Gallatin Valley Land Trust

Featured Blog Post

"Let's Talk Nonprofit" is a blog by Third Sector Consulting that addresses common questions that nonprofits have. Ready? Great! Let's Talk Nonprofit.

How You Should Be Talking To Your Donors

Penelope Burk literally wrote the book on "Donor Centered Fundraising" in 2003. So, the idea of donor-centricity isn't new. What's donor-centricity, you ask? It's organizing everything you do around the wants and needs of your donor. And in nonprofit communications, there's nothing more important than making the message about your donor. Here are some examples of how a lot of nonprofits talk to their donors...and how you should be talking to your donors. (read more)

Founder & Principal

Certifications & Professional Affiliations

What nonprofits say about Laura...

Featured Blog Post

How You Should Be Talking To Your Donors