Saint Louis Children’s Hospital, Saint Louis, MO

Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis

EarthDance, Ferguson, MO

Brain and Behavior Research Foundation, New York City, NY

Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, Vienna, Virginia

Alarm Will Sound, New York City, NY

New Ballet Ensemble, Memphis, TN

THE RIVEN COMPANY

Strengthening Institutions. Securing the Future.

Our Role

We serve as counsel to nonprofit leaders and boards. We ask the hard questions, offer alternative perspectives, and present options you may not have considered. Our work is focused on helping organizations build lasting impact and long-term sustainability.

Our Services

Capacity Building

The Riven Company works with organizations to strengthen management, governance, and fundraising performance while building the systems, strategies, and leadership needed for long-term sustainability and growth.

Services may include:

Strategic and development planning
Strengthening Board development and governance
Fundraising strategy and campaign counsel
Organizational and staffing assessments
Development infrastructure and capacity building

Leadership and Board Development

Grounded in decades of nonprofit leadership experience, The Riven Company believes strong organizations are built not only through good strategy, but through thoughtful leadership, trust, communication, and a shared commitment to mission.

The Riven Company works closely with Board Presidents, Executive Directors, Development Directors, and leadership teams to strengthen organizational leadership, clarify governance and management roles, and build stronger alignment between board and staff leadership.

Many nonprofit boards are composed of talented and committed individuals who have had little formal preparation for nonprofit governance, fundraising, or leadership. At the same time, executive leaders are often balancing strategic planning, fundraising, staff leadership, financial oversight, and board relationships. The Riven Company provides practical guidance and experienced counsel to help leaders work together more effectively and confidently.

Services may include:

Develop board and committee leadership
Strengthen the board’s role in fundraising and governance
Support leadership transitions
Facilitate retreats and planning discussions
Provide counsel during periods of growth, change, or organizational challenge

What Leaders Say

Stephanie was an exceptional partner to me and our leadership team at St. Louis Children’s Hospital Foundation. We worked together on fundraising strategy, board governance, and organizational leadership issues, and I consistently found her insight thoughtful, strategic, and deeply informed by her knowledge of the St. Louis philanthropic community.

Tanya Waskiewicz, Chief Development Officer
St. Louis Children’s Hospital Foundation

Working with Stephanie was transformative for our organization. She had an exceptional ability to see our organization’s potential and develop a thoughtful fundraising plan to help realize our success. Her guidance was clear, practical, and actionable for both staff and volunteers, and she remained deeply engaged throughout the process — providing hands-on leadership, insight, and support every step of the way.

Mark S. Wrighton, Ph.D.
James and Mary Wertsch, Distinguished University Professor / Chancellor Emeritus
Washington University in St. Louis

Stephanie was a godsend. We were facing a particularly challenging moment when one of our board members encouraged me to give her a call. It turned out to be one of the best calls I ever made. She worked tirelessly… helping us shore up our fundraising in the short term while also giving us tools that have led to lasting and long-term success. She has an incredible eye for talent and was instrumental in the search and onboarding of our outstanding new Director of Development… I cannot recommend her highly enough.

Tom Ridgely, Artistic Director
St. Louis Shakespeare Festival

Ask Stephanie: Fundraising Hotline

In addition to longer-term project work, Confidential one-hour consultations for nonprofit leaders, board presidents, and development professionals seeking strategic guidance on fundraising, governance, leadership challenges, campaigns, staffing, or organizational direction.

Bring a pressing question. Explore a larger challenge. Or simply use the time to think with a partner.

Learn More About Our Hotline