CLIENTS & CASE STUDIES
How we do what we do is as critical as why we do it.
Through our consulting work, we help progressive nonprofits free themselves of the assumptions, constraints, and traditional ways of working that stand between their people and their mission impact. We do this by helping leaders to articulate and hold sacred individual and organizational values; prioritize human beings over revenue; and develop strategies that help dismantle from within the oppressive systems in which we all operate.
Case Studies
Research Publication Scoping, Planning, and Design; Stakeholder Engagement; Strategic Communications; Developmental Editing and Content Strategy; Graphics and Data Verification; RFP Management; Project Management (2024-2025)
In 2024, the Alliance of Resident Theatres/New York (A.R.T./NY) engaged Skeleton Key Strategies as strategic partner on a comprehensive research project examining the post-pandemic health of NYC’s nonprofit theatre community.
We worked hand-in-hand with A.R.T./NY’s Co-Executive Directors to revamp their approach to gathering member data. This project allowed staff to better understand the membership’s makeup and priorities, tailor their offerings to better serve members, translate findings for a public audience, and build visibility and access to funding for the Off-Broadway ecosystem.
Leveling Up Planned Parenthood's Direct Response Fundraising Campaign Data Strategy
Direct Response Campaign Services Operating Model, Change Management, Project Management, and Data Engineering (2024-Ongoing)
Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) works with Skeleton Key to transform their approach to providing campaign data strategy and support for Direct Response fundraising. In an ongoing engagement, SKS supports PPFA’s transition to an in-house operating model that better serves donor experience and realigns staff and vendor teams for improved fundraising effectiveness.
Aligning Systems and Strategy with Orbis International's Fundraising Vision
CRM Strategy Assessment & Roadmap; Development Operations Team Organizational Design (2024)
Orbis International partnered with Justin and Simone to evaluate their Development Operations team structure and CRM strategy, creating a sustainable roadmap that aligned technology and staffing resources with their global eye care mission while establishing a foundation for data-driven fundraising growth.
Aligning & Integrating CARE USA’s CRM Resources
Cross-Functional CRM Staffing and Reorganization (2023-24)
Over the course of 9 months, Justin worked closely with CARE USA Digital (IT) and Resource Development Departments to reassess the staffing, structures, and workflows supporting CARE’s fundraising CRM on Salesforce NPSP to help reinforce a strong, collaborative partnership between fundraising and technology teams.
A Programmatic Approach to Mobilizing Feeding America's Salesforce CRM Migration
Technology Assessment, Process Improvements & Migration Business Analysis for Grantmaking and IT Teams (2023-24); Salesforce Migration Technology & Staffing Readiness Assessment (2021-2022)
Justin and Simone assessed the entire CRM “program” end-to-end, analyzing the fit-for-purpose of the Salesforce platform and underlying data infrastructure, as well as deep diving into how the product was developed over time. Simone and Amanda later helped the grantmaking team to refactor business processes before “riding along” as an embedded BA supporting their migration to Salesforce.
Transforming Global-Scale Development Operations with
Human Rights Watch
Fundraising Systems & Analytics Team Reorganization (2023)
HRW worked with Justin to transform their Development Operations team roles and structures, for the purpose of aligning them with its new global fundraising staffing model; streamlining cross-team collaboration; optimizing HRW’s fundraising systems and business processes for future growth; and enabling data-driven decision making.
Leading, Evolving, and Optimizing Share Our Strength's
Development Operations
Org Design and Restructure for Fundraising Technology & Operations Team, Workflow Optimization, Embedded Fractional Managing Director (2022)
Justin served in a six-month embedded consulting role leading and transforming the DonorOps team from its former structure to a specialized operational engine comprising Fundraising Product & Technology, Analytics, User Training & Support, Donor Services, and Revenue Operations.
Supporting Farm Sanctuary's CRM Journey from Project Planning to Successful Launch
Technology & Migration Readiness Assessment (2021), Embedded Strategic Business Analysis Support (2023)
We had the privilege to support Farm Sanctuary along their CRM journey from inception to go-live across two different projects. We first created a plan to guide the organization’s Salesforce implementation, then “rode along” during the migration project to provide expert process and project management acumen.
Mapping New Strategic Directions and Organizational Models for SMU DataArts
Strategic Planning, Technology Assessment, Stakeholder Research, and Organizational & Business Model Development (2021)
Facing rising internal and external pressures, SMU DataArts sought our help to define a new strategic operating plan, inclusive of staffing and organizational structure, service delivery model, and data collection mechanisms.
A Paper-to-Salesforce Digital Transformation for Prison Law Office's Client Service Delivery
Business Process Mapping & Optimization, Custom Salesforce Solution Design & Implementation, Training & Change Management (2017)
6-month custom Salesforce implementation, including transforming and migrating legacy Access data into Salesforce, and implementing Conga Composer to enable PLO’s lawyers, investigators, and litigation assistants to quickly and easily customize legal responses based on a variety of logic-based templates. Engagement included user and admin documentation, on-site training delivery, and hypercare support to ensure a seamless transition for all staff.
Our Clients
We come from mission-driven organizations, and mission-driven work remains the drumbeat of everything we do. We are proud to exclusively support nonprofits & NGOs, and the partners who serve them, in making our world a safer, healthier, and happier place to live.
ACLU
Alliance of Resident Theatres/New York
American Immigration Council
Animal Haven
CARE
Catalyst Exchange
Computer History Museum
Farm Sanctuary
Feeding America
Greenpeace
Human Rights Watch
International Justice Mission
Institute for Women’s Policy Research
Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders USA
Mendelssohn Chorus of Philadelphia
National Audubon Society
New York Civil Liberties Union
Orbis International
The Order of the Good Death
Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
Planned Parenthood Federation of America
Prison Law Office
Progressive Workers Union
Share Our Strength | No Kid Hungry
Sierra Club
SMU DataArts
University of Toledo Foundation
Utah’s Promise
Upcoming Events
Nonprofit Technology Conference
DETROIT, MICHIGAN
March 10-13, 2026
Register Here
SKS consultants Justin Birdsong, Simone Carvalho, and Aparna Kothary will present in-person sessions on nonprofit data governance and making confident technology decisions.
Nonprofit Fundraisers Symposium
WASHINGTON, DC
March 25–27, 2026
Register Here
Skeleton Key Strategies will join 300+ fundraising and marketing leaders to explore building resilient strategies that strengthen donor trust, protect revenue, and navigate the challenges facing today's nonprofit leaders.
PEAK2026
ST. LOUIS, MO
March 25–27, 2026
Register Here
Founder & Principal Justin Birdsong and Adrianna Rockford from FEMA will present a session on data frameworks for measuring and monitoring equitable grantmaking outcomes.
