Foundations

These foundations are present or past clients who continue to draw upon KLMayer's resources.

The Heinz Endowments

Through a competitive process, KLMayer was selected to guide The Heinz Endowments Education Program through a strategic planning process. The resulting plan provides a framework for the allocation of resources within SW Pennsylvania and in the Pittsburgh Public Schools with a focus on educational equity for low income and African American students. The planning process was a joint effort with two of KLMayer's collaborators, Hillary Loeb, PhD. and Carolyn Cohen of Cohen Research and Evaluation. Elements of the plan included a landscape review, literature reviews, articulation of underlying assumptions and a theory of change model as the underpinnings of the strategic goals and objectives. KLMayer addressed questions about how to create broad deep change in challenging economic times for the greatest number of students, how to influence and complement strategic alliance agendas within the Pittsburgh Public Schools and how to foster the success of African American boys while considering systemic change in large urban systems. Website.

Paul G. Allen Family Foundation

KLMayer was approached by this family foundation to help determine some strategic entry points into a new funding arena: public education. The result was an education initiative called the New Teacher Project. Funded by the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation and coordinated by the Center for Strengthening the Teaching Profession, the initiative focuses on keeping new teachers in our schools through mentoring practices and induction into the profession that supports teachers through the crucial first five years. It has attracted $5 million in funding as well as partners like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and multiple school districts across Washington state. KLMayer also worked on a $2-3 million high school education initiative to link rigorous academic learning to internships, with the thought that students who engage with early career aspirations are more motivated to pursue post-secondary education. Website.

The Martinez Foundation

Dr. Mayer was contracted to develop a strategic plan to guide this relatively new Foundation with a vision to bring more diversity to the teaching corps in Washington State. The Martinez Foundation was eager to create a five-year roadmap aimed at building organizational capacity in the Foundation bolstering its programming and sustainability plans. With the leadership of KLMayer, the Martinez Foundation refreshed its commitment and belief that every student regardless of race, ethnicity or socio-economic status deserves access to an excellent education. The consequences of the status quo are economically, socially and morally impermissible. The mission of the Foundation is to prepare and support diverse and highly qualified teachers who will raise expectations, accelerate learning and close the achievement gap. The Foundation grants scholarships and promotes an innovative social justice curriculum for aspiring teachers. Website.

Weyerhaeuser Company Foundation

This corporate foundation hired Kristina to evaluate its entire education giving program, which has an annual budget of close to $10 million. After reporting on this, she helped refresh the Foundation's grantmaking application and reporting requirement structures, and introduced a logic model to ensure more accountability for outcomes and impact on student learning. In parallel, Kristina developed a tool for grantseekers to help them to write clear objectives, goals, outputs, etc. She also developed a walk-through protocol for Weyerhaeuser executives and volunteers doing site visits, to make such visits more effective and consistent. Website.

Satterberg Foundation

Kristina was initially hired to do a board development workshop on strategic philanthropy. As a result of that success, the Foundation hired her to work with their board's grant guideline committee. Together, they redid the grant applications for invitational and capacity building grants as well as the reporting requirements, and created a guide to applying that eases the process for grantseekers. Website.

Jefferson County Community Foundation

A group of Jefferson County, Wash., residents came together in 2004 interested in filling a vital community need, but none of them had much experience in philanthropy. However, they knew enough about community foundations to know it was a good idea for their community, and they knew that KLMayer had the experience to guide them toward the goal of establishing one. Kristina accepted their offer to take charge of the project, and within two years, the Jefferson County Community Foundation (JCCF) had nonprofit status, a working board, educational outreach programs, a plan for developing long-term fundraising, and investment strategies. Website. Learn more about this project here.

Whitefish Community Foundation

KLMayer was in charge of all aspects of training during this Montana community foundation's annual nonprofit training day. The training Kristina offered focused on fund development, creating an effective board and grantmaking, and included facilitating an on-the-spot review of 10 grant proposals. Website.

Campion Foundation

"Leveraging resources, taking informed risks, investing in leaders and seizing opportunities"—the Campion Foundation's long-term, capacity-building focus makes them unique. KLMayer led the foundation in several months of strategic planning, developing strategies for Campion's program areas of wilderness preservation, ending homelessness in Washington State, and strengthening nonprofits, and also framing specific work plans that enable staff to carry out the foundation's vision. Website.

Giving Circles Hosted by Jefferson County Community Foundation

KLMayer facilitated the launch of Giving Circles as a part of the Jefferson County Community Foundation that aims to help individuals see what they can do when they come together. Through group facilitation and coaching, Kristina helped the inaugural group - Women Who Care Giving Circle - develop its vision, funding criteria, and understanding of philanthropic standards of practice—things like due diligence, transparency, and how to use creative vehicles like matching grants to augment the group's giving power. Through these Giving Circles, Kristina aims to both invigorate longtime donors and open the world of philanthropy to newcomers. Website.

Port Townsend Public Library Foundation

KLMayer worked with the Port Townsend Public Library Foundation board as a whole and one-on-one to develop their roles as fund-raisers and library boosters. Through role-playing and scenario-planning, Kristina strengthened the board's internal relationships and its links with other library volunteers so that all could work as one in service to library goals. Website.