Coaching

Redefining what leadership looks like.

This is coaching for nonprofit CEOs and first-time C-suite leaders navigating high-stakes transitions. They don’t need coaching; they choose it because the stakes are too high to figure out alone.

Most come to us when something consequential is in front of them: they've just accepted a role they want to navigate well, received an offer they can't evaluate clearly, or are six months into something that isn't going the way they expected. The work is confidential by design. It's the kind of honest, rigorous thought partnership that helps a leader see clearly when the stakes are highest.

Who This is For

The image is divided into three sections: the top left shows an empty theater stage with spotlights; the top right features two professionals, a woman and a man, walking through an office or conference area with confidence, both carrying folders; the bottom section depicts a conference table set with glassware, notebooks, a pen, and a printed agenda for a board meeting on April 26, 2024.

We work with nonprofit CEOs, first-time C-suite leaders, and senior executives navigating consequential transitions. Many are the first or the only in their role, leading in environments shaped by funding volatility, board pressure, and heightened scrutiny.

We have to believe in both the leader and the cause they're serving. That's not a formality. It's how we work.

Two women in business attire reviewing documents and charts at a conference table in a modern office with large windows and city view.

How Coaching Works

A typical engagement runs six months with bi-weekly 45 minute sessions. Between sessions, you have direct access for real-time decisions and moments that can't wait. The work is integrated into what's actually happening, not hypothetical scenarios. Engagements can also be structured as standalone or integrated alongside advisory work.

Results have included significant salary increases, successful CEO transitions, a return of up to 16 times the investment, and active engagement at the nine-figure level of philanthropic investment.

Client Testimonials

  • “As a first-time CEO, having CKF Collective’s partnership gave me real confidence, and the results spoke for themselves. In just three months, we achieved an ROI of 1:16. Their clarity, steadiness, and expertise set us up for long-term success.”

    — Darra Gordon, CEO, Family Equality 

  • “Courtney challenged me with the right questions, helped me strengthen my donor pitch, and guided me through tough leadership conversations. Her empathy and strategic insight transformed the way I lead and balance my life.”

    — Ruchi Kashyap, CEO, Atmashakti Trust

  • “As I stepped into a leadership role at a large cultural institution, I was carrying the pressure of needing to prove myself quickly. Courtney helped me let go of what I was bringing from my previous role and step into this one with clarity, confidence, and a grounded leadership mindset. I didn’t just transition into the job. I stepped into it as a leader.”

    – Senior Fundraising Leader, Large Arts Organization

  • “Working with Courtney has been nothing short of literally LIFE CHANGING!”

    —COO, Workforce Development Nonprofit, Miami, FL

  • “Courtney’s coaching transformed my role and impact inside the organization. With her guidance, I moved from having no meetings with leadership to leading bi-weekly executive and board-level conversations. The portfolio I manage grew from $4 million to nearly $7 million, and her support helped me secure two salary increases. Courtney is direct, strategic, and deeply invested in the growth of the leaders she coaches.”

    — Senior Fundraising Leader, Ballet Company

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Ready to explore whether this is the right fit?

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