The Hourglass Sessions. Together, we can reshape the glass.

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    • About
    • Services
      • Projects & Specialites
      • The Hourglass Sessions
    • Results
    • Partners
    • Contact
  • About
  • Services
    • Projects & Specialites
    • The Hourglass Sessions
  • Results
  • Partners
  • Contact
erin mcpartlin consulting

Erin McPartlin Consulting

Erin McPartlin Consulting Erin McPartlin Consulting

Projects & Specialties

Leadership COACHING & organizational development

leadership transitions, Guidance & fractional support

leadership transitions, Guidance & fractional support

Great leaders need thought partners and twin engines. Through coaching, advising, or project consulting, we work together toward 360-degree intentional, purpose-driven leadership with clarity and accountability for the organization.  Erin shares tools, resources, and tangible ideas to help guide your work, build capacity, and lead efficiently and effectively. 


Leadership and Organizational Structure coaching  may include some of the following: 

  • Effective and efficient management practices
  • Goals and KPIs for senior leadership with quarterly benchmarks
  • Communication guidelines
  • On-boarding and off-boarding 
  • Org chart and human capital resource review
  • Talent and succession planning
  • Roles and responsibilities & Performance assessments
  • Board and staff dynamics 
  • A first year-at-a-glance for new leadership and boards
  • Policies, procedures, and language review and recommendations 
  • Tools and measures of work behaviors such as DISC 
  • Workflows and infrastructure
  • Org culture; decision making
  • Program and impact analysis 


Problem Solving -  The needs are endless in the small business and non-profit work environment… and there are often too few people and resources to help. We can work together on special projects such as internal assessments, project management, processes, and staffing. Let’s talk.   

leadership transitions, Guidance & fractional support

leadership transitions, Guidance & fractional support

leadership transitions, Guidance & fractional support

Organizations can be particularly vulnerable during leadership transitions, especially in key roles such as board chairs, executive directors, and development directors.  Erin McPartlin Consulting provides experienced third-party guidance and support for succession planning and critical transitions, aiding your team and board in this delicate navigation. 


With detailed roadmaps and tools, we work together on communication and transition plans that support both off-boarding and on-boarding in a critical timeline.  


Preparing for the transition - Erin works with both incoming and outgoing leaders, boards, and staff in preparation for and throughout the transition. Whether the organization is preparing for a future succession or managing an unexpected change, Erin’s experience and project management can aid smooth and optimal transitions, setting your organization and its leadership up for success. 


Aiding the search - We work together to design the job description and candidate evaluation tools, helping you identify your needs and ideal hires. 


Bridging the search - Erin is experienced working with search firms and can serve as a bridge between the firm and your board/team. 


Stepping in - Occasionally an interim or fractional leader is needed to bridge a transition. Erin's experience as seasoned executive director may be the right fit for your temporary needs, setting the organization and teams up for success. 


Erin is an Associate with Interim Executive Solutions (IES)


Board support & facilitation

Strategic thinking & Planning

Strategic thinking & Planning

Guidance for nonprofit boards and board members.  A skilled facilitator and advisor, Erin’s project management and attention to detail focus on governance for clarity and intentionality to serve the mission best. 


Governance & Guidance - Comprehensive board assessments; identifying needs and recommendations for board evolution and engagement

Retreat & Meeting Facilitation - Special meetings, half or full-day retreats, strategic plan revisits, or kick-offs. Often, these include surveys or one-to-one sessions with individuals in preparation. Erin is a skilled group facilitator who optimizes your valuable time together.

Process refinement - Professional hygiene or tune-ups of your meetings, policies, processes for recruitment and onboarding

Roles & Clarity - Objective reviews of roles, functions,  and potential overlaps/gaps and recommendations

Transitions - Professional and objective guidance for succession planning or during critical transitions such as new leadership (CEO or Chair). Offboarding, onboarding, change management, and communications strategies. 

Composition - Review and guidance on policies, activities, and thought systems that encourage diverse representation and inclusive practices.


Erin is certified in board governance consulting through BoardSource.


Strategic thinking & Planning

Strategic thinking & Planning

Strategic thinking & Planning

Our approach is a strategic framework that clarifies your organizational imperatives with overarching guidelines for your goals, operations, and optimal impact. A robust and well-thought-out framework allows for the capacity and efficiency to adapt to change and respond to opportunities while adhering to your core strategic principles. Inherent to the success of the framework and reaching your goals is annual planning, including frequent analysis of goals and objectives, timelines, and course corrections.


Whether your organization needs a strategic ‘tune-up’ or a new strategic plan, we can work together on a roadmap that addresses the big questions and reaffirms your valuable mission. Services and projects around strategic planning may include:


  • Process & guidance/Project management
  • Refining identity - including mission, vision, guiding principles and values 
  • Comprehensive internal and external analysis
  • Strategic tune-ups and reframes
  • Custom strategic frameworks
  • Topic/subject area-focused committee sessions 
  • Drafting, editing & presenting
  • Retreats with board, staff, and key stakeholders 


Working Together

Customized consulting to meet your needs

At Erin McPartlin Consulting we start with a conversation. We'll take time to learn about one another and how we might work together to best meet your needs. 


The process is just as important as the project. We'll talk about goals, timelines, and a roadmap. Erin offers mini-retreats, a series of sessions or mid/long term engagements to best figure out what's working, what's not, and how we can get there. 


Leadership transitions and strategic planning are typically 3-9 month engagements. 

Erin McPartlin is, quite simply, the best consultant I have ever worked with. She is equal parts smart, deeply knowledgeable of the space, direct, and honest.


Courtney Young, Vice Chair, Board of Directors, Right to Be

Listen to Erin discuss strategic planning on 'The Business of Fundraising' Podcast

Listen to Erin discuss strategic planning on 'The Business of Fundraising' Podcast

Listen to Erin discuss strategic planning on 'The Business of Fundraising' Podcast

Listen to Erin discuss strategic planning on 'The Business of Fundraising' Podcast

Listen to Erin discuss strategic planning on 'The Business of Fundraising' Podcast

Listen to Erin discuss strategic planning on 'The Business of Fundraising' Podcast

watch/Listen to Erin discuss 360 Leadership on the nonprofit show

watch/Listen to Erin discuss 360 Leadership on the nonprofit show

watch/Listen to Erin discuss 360 Leadership on the nonprofit show

watch/Listen to Erin discuss 360 Leadership on the nonprofit show

watch/Listen to Erin discuss 360 Leadership on the nonprofit show

watch/Listen to Erin discuss 360 Leadership on the nonprofit show

  • About
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Erin McPartlin Consulting

200 W. Madison St. Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60606

Copyright © 2023 Erin McPartlin Consulting LLC - All Rights Reserved.



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