Who We Are
The Collaborative Collective partners with nonprofit boards and executives to move beyond today’s challenges and get ready for what comes next.
We work with mission-driven organizations navigating growth, change, complexity, and transition. Sometimes the challenge is clear. Other times, leaders simply know the organization isn’t as ready as it needs to be for what’s ahead.
We come alongside you to discover what’s really happening, build alignment around what matters, and strengthen the structures, practices, and leadership needed to move forward.
We don’t prepare reports. We prepare organizations.
We are small on purpose. That lets us stay close to the work, protect quality, and remain deeply present when it matters most.
Why We Do This
The future doesn’t wait for organizations to be ready. Growth happens. Leaders change. Technology evolves. Funding shifts. Teams and systems that once worked well reach their limits. The question isn’t whether change will come, but whether your organization will be ready to meet it.
We’ve seen what happens when decisions are delayed, when teams lose trust, when systems outgrow themselves, and when good people carry too much for too long. We also know what becomes possible when leaders have clarity, alignment, and the right structures around them.
Our work is rooted in a dignity-first posture and broad community credibility. We listen carefully, name what’s true, and help leaders move forward in ways that protect the humans doing the work.
What it Feels like to Work with Us
You can expect structure without rigidity, clarity without oversimplification, and partnership without dependency. We bring a clear arc to each engagement, set boundaries early, and stay present when it matters most. We don’t rush leaders to answers, and we don’t disappear once decisions are made. We work alongside people, help them carry responsibility thoughtfully, and support the work as it unfolds.
When it’s time to go deeper, we’ll say so. When it’s time to step back, we’ll say that too. Either way, you won’t be navigating it alone.
Our Consulting Eco-System
We are a network of trusted collaborators, not a single personality brand.
Depending on what your moment requires, we bring in consultants with experience across governance, operations, people infrastructure, finance, strategy execution, facilitation and leadership development. Every engagement is led with clear roles, clear scope, and high care for the humans inside your system.
Kevin Bussema
Founder & Lead Consultant
Kristen Bergman
Director of Operations
Dr. Jessica Taylor
Consulting Partner
Mariko Gilman
Consulting Partner
Johanna Ralsten-Cox
Lead Consultant
Tina Brown
Consulting Partner
As Featured In...
Quoted on caring leadership and transparent communication.
Featured guest interview on nonprofit talent retention.
Quoted on collaborative project-management tools.
Discussed importance of proactive, transparent communication during layoffs.