Creating a world together that works better for more people.

About Us

Collective Agency is a women-led consultancy working with nonprofits and public agencies. Our services include fundraising, planning and leadership, board development, financial and grant management, and communications.  We aim for trust, joy, and high standards in every aspect of our work.

Since our founding in 2021, we’ve secured hundreds of millions of dollars for over 60 clients, winning some of the most technical and competitive grants, supporting successful capital campaigns, and building and streamlining tools for organizational and fundraising effectiveness.

Our Team

  • Lauren Hall

    PARTNER

    For two decades, Lauren has dedicated her career to strengthening nonprofits, with expertise in strategic fundraising and resource development. As co-founder of Collective Agency since 2021, she has helped visionary organizations and leaders secure over $100 million in funding for initiatives that enhance community resilience and advance social equity. She believes in the power of community to create a more just world.

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  • Sharyl McGrew

    PARTNER

    Sharyl enjoys moving between the big picture and the smallest details to help her clients develop compelling and innovative projects.

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    Sara Sherman

    PARTNER

    Sara has years of experience in nonprofit management, small business development, financial operations and marketing. She supports non-profits as they grow, helping to build the systems they need to succeed, including budgeting tools that give management insight into committed and needed funding; accounting; data and grant tracking systems that support easy and accurate reporting to the board and funders; and development of common-sense policies and procedures.

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  • Jayne Williams

    CO-FOUNDER

    Jayne is a fast and fluent writer and editor, a planner, a synthesizer of ideas, and a connector of complementary people and organizations.

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  • Hilary Bass

    CONSULTANT

    Hilary is a dynamic public sector leader with a proven track record. She is dedicated to establishing vibrant public spaces and improved public systems that foster positive societal change. She has secured over $50M in funding for community-based projects in public safety, public health, and economic development.

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  • Caroline Christman

    CONSULTANT

    Caroline brings 15+ years of expertise in project management and fundraising, specializing in multi-benefit initiatives that merge conservation, education, and public safety. She woks with public agencies and nonprofits to secure funding for multimillion-dollar initiatives, with proven success in grant writing, community engagement, and translating complex technical projects and scientific ideas for general audiences.

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    Fae Comiskey

    DESIGNER

    As a problem solving sorceress with an eye for detail, Fae loves turning vague ideas into coherent and compelling finished products. She brings artistry, empathy, and a professional skill-set to her design and digital publishing work.

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  • Emily Cesca

    CONSULTANT

    Emily has 15 years of experience supporting finance, operations, human resources, and development for nonprofit organizations in a variety of fields including arts and education, health and wellness, and hospitality. Her personal mission is to cultivate order, clarity, and compassion so that organizations can do the important work of carrying out their missions. Emily is also a yoga therapist, avid ukulele hobbyist, amateur singer, and Spanish fluency aspirant.

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  • Kendall Heaton

    CONSULTANT

    Kendall loves helping organizations bring their visions into reality by supporting their planning, development, program implementation, and evaluation. She is methodical, a systems-thinker, and committed to creating a more equitable, healthy and joyful world.

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  • Jeanie Kirk

    CONSULTANT

     Jeanie has nearly 15 years of nonprofit fundraising and consulting experience, including roles at The Nature Conservancy, environmental and social justice organizations in New Orleans, and at the Prison University Project. In 2019, she launched MADRE Linen while continuing to support higher education in prisons and abortion rights initiatives. Jeanie believes there is a place where storytelling combined with transparency and generosity can leverage humanity's potential to embrace a healthy relationship with our planet and with each other.

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  • Susan Mernit

    SENIOR STRATEGIST

    Innovative and collaborative, Susan brings over fifteen years of valuable experience to her work, including roles as a tech entrepreneur, non-profit Executive Director, and strategic consultant. She adeptly blends creativity with a data-driven methodology to unravel complex problems and devise simple, yet effective solutions.

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  • Catherine Porter

    CONSULTANT

    Catherine is an experienced executive and board trustee, and a seasoned organizational development professional who delights in finding the right partners for each growing institution: board members, funders, allies and friends.

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  • Tavia Stewart

    Tavia Stewart

    CONSULTANT

    Tavia has over 20 years of experience in building and leading community-arts nonprofits as a founder and COO. Her expertise lies in values-centered business infrastructure, program development, project management, writing, marketing, and creative direction.

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  • Ken Stram

    CONSULTANT

    Ken is a storyteller, poet, and wordsmith with more than 25 years of experience supporting nonprofit organizations that are invested in solving complex social and environmental challenges. He helps organizations achieve their goals and objectives through a combination of strategic communications, message development, program development, grant writing and management, public relations, and business development activities.

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