DEVELOPMENT + FUNDRAISING | COMMUNITY + CORPORATE PARTNERS

Catholic Charities is one of the largest human services providers in the Midwest, serving more than 325,000 people each year regardless of faith, gender, race, or ethnicity. More than 6,000 volunteers support its programs, contributing 200,000 hours annually.

JK Lenner Consulting was engaged to design and conduct an assessment of Charities’ volunteer program, develop robust strategic recommendations and coach staff leaders for execution. Assessment involved conversations with more than 75 stakeholders, focus groups, benchmarking with peer organizations, and review of current research. JK Lenner also provided day-to-day management, operational and strategic leadership to the current staff as the volunteer department underwent strategic re-envisioning. 

CTK Jesuit College Prep is a Cristo Rey model high school serving students with limited economic means on Chicago’s West Side. Through its Corporate Work Study Program (CWSP) students work a day a week for a corporate partner, gaining work experience and exposure to career options. CWSP partnerships provide $2.5 million in revenue to the School, making a safe and high quality college prep education possible CTK students.

In our post-pandemic work environment, with less people in offices to supervise and mentor students, JK Lenner was engaged to redesign the School’s corporate partner outreach and sales capabilities, build the partner pipeline for the coming school year and establish a sustainable strategy to secure this vital revenue stream for the school in the longer term. 

Developed a campaign that fostered relationships with board members and senior staff of over 200 area businesses.

Lincoln Park Conservancy (LPC) is the non-profit champion of Lincoln Park, Chicago’s largest and most visited park. Through its private-public partnership with the Chicago Park District, LPC sponsors community programming, oversees historic conservation and ecological restoration, and mobilizes hundreds of volunteers to care for the park and provide educational experiences to its visitors.

JK Lenner Consulting was engaged by the LPC Board as Interim Executive Director, following the departure of its executive director of six years. Key responsibilities: 

• Board Engagement
• Fiscal Management
• Staff Leadership
• Human Resources

At the end of the engagement, JK Lenner led a successful transition to LPC's new Executive Director, enabling them to continue to develop and grow the organization.