Coaching Opportunities 2026

The Foundation's circular symbol next to the words Organizational Strengthening - A program of The Community Foundation.

The Community Foundation has offered coaching sessions with local, regional and national nonprofit experts since 2011. The Foundation offers up to four coaching sessions per nonprofit serving Hancock County at no cost to the organizations each year.

Below are the coaches offering sessions for 2026. Organizations are welcome to bring any problem or obstacle to these coaches for discussion and recommendations.

The cancellation policy is at the bottom of this page. By signing up for a session, you agree to adhere to this policy.

John Carreon sq

John Carreon

Specialties: vision-based strategic planning, advancement, leadership & major gifts, capital campaigns, organizational development, planned giving, board development, leadership coaching.

With almost 30 years of executive leadership experience in both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors, John has developed a career focused on nonprofit sustainability planning and organizational development. For the past 20 years, John has also served as a faculty member for the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. John’s teaching focuses on leadership and major gift development, organizational culture and planning, strategic planning, advancement audit and planning methodologies, ethics of fundraising, and leadership development.

Below are available coaching dates with John for 2026:

  • March 27
  • September 9
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Nita Crawford

Specialties: human resources.

Nita has over 25 years of experience in accounting, business and human resources in the Findlay area. Her education and experience have allowed her to obtain a vast amount of knowledge in accounting, finance, and human resources. She recently retired from her role as Business and HR Manager for RCM Architects, Inc. Nita enjoys working with small businesses, nonprofits and clients to share her knowledge of business and human resources. Making connections and solving problems are some of her strong suits.

Coaching times with Nita will be held on an as-needed basis in 2026. To reserve a session, contact Cassie Turner.

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Joel Kessel

Kessel Strategies

Specialties: executive coaching, strategy and planning, governance, succession planning.

Joel has spent his entire career developing strategies that help move organizations forward. When he recognized the strategy wasn’t the major barrier to success but rather a leader’s courage to lead it, Kessel Strategies made its own strategic shift from communication and strategy work to leadership coaching. Joel brings his unique experiences and lens to each coaching engagement – from the perspective of employee to member of the c-suite, as a board member, a donor and volunteer, and lastly as a communications consultant on the role of strategic messaging.

Below are available coaching dates with Joel for 2026:

  • February 12
  • August 27
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Alysterling

Aly Sterling

Aly Sterling Philanthropy

Specialties: strategic planning, fundraising, grantmaking, board development.

Aly Sterling is the founder and president of Aly Sterling Philanthropy, a nationally recognized consulting firm dedicated to helping foundations and individuals achieve their philanthropic objectives. She has earned numerous honors, including the Sister Kathleen Padden Leadership Award and induction into the Northwest Ohio Entrepreneur Hall of Fame, and led her firm to membership in The Giving Institute. Aly serves on boards focused on education, entrepreneurship, and leadership, and teaches as an adjunct professor at Bowling Green State University. She is also the author of 37: The Year I Stopped Making Excuses, Embraced My Power & Launched My Million-Dollar Business and divides her time between Ohio and South Carolina with her family.

Below are available coaching dates with Aly for 2026:

  • May 5
  • October 6
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Jenn Williams

Jennifer Williams

Williams Nonprofit Consulting

Specialties: advocacy, public funding, government relations, leadership coaching, strategy development, organizational infrastructure/best practices, government compliance.

Jennifer started her career working at the Ohio Statehouse before moving to Washington, D.C. to sharpen her advocacy skills working for a nonprofit association representing government finance officers on Capitol Hill. While working in D.C. Jennifer recognized the need for nonprofit organizations to engage in advocacy to both elevate their missions and educate elected officials on the important role of nonprofits in their communities. Jennifer returned to Columbus to launch Ohio’s first statewide nonprofit advocacy program. Jennifer also served as the executive director of a statewide nonprofit organization leading trainings for nonprofits on infrastructure and management, advocacy and board governance while also serving as a voice for Ohio’s diverse nonprofit sector at the Statehouse.

Below are available coaching dates with Jenn for 2026:

  • February 18
  • March 10
  • April 16
  • May 12
  • July 23
  • September 17
  • October 20
  • November 12
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Coaching Session Cancellation Policy

TCF will remind agencies of booked coaching sessions five days prior to the session. This is in addition to the initial email confirming the appointments. TCF expects that not only staff but also board members will attend each of these sessions. If a change must be made, we request agencies do one of the following items:

  • Provide notice at least 72 hours before the appointment for TCF to make a change.
  • Switch appointments with another agency (we can provide a list of agencies that have appointments within the next few months).
  • Find someone else from the agency who can attend. Ideally, several people (including staff and board) should already be planning to attend each coaching session.
  • Arrange an alternate time with the consultant prior to the scheduled time (this is contingent on the consultant being able to arrange an alternate time)

If an agency must cancel and is unable to complete any of the above, a $250 charge will be assigned to the agency. This is to help cover approximately one-half of the cost of the appointment.

Rationale: Each two-hour coaching session costs TCF at least $500. When a session is scheduled and not attended, the cost to TCF does not change. In addition, staff time and resources are spent attempting to either fill the spot or make other arrangements with the consultant. Given the investment, it is reasonable to expect a commitment from the agencies who are assigned to the appointments. With multiple individuals (both staff and board) expected to attend the coaching sessions, being able to keep appointments is not dependent upon one individual within an agency. While emergency situations may happen, we are hopeful at least one of the four alternatives from the policy above will be able to be completed.

Background: Since 2011, The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation has been offering coaching sessions as part of the organizational strengthening curriculum each year. Given the demand for coaching sessions from the nonprofit organizations in our community, and as a courtesy to the consultants who provide these sessions, a cancellation policy is necessary to help balance demand and scheduling needs.