In a lead-up to 2019's Michigan Celebrates Small Business Gala Celebration Jeffrey Mosher spoke with several winning companies from this cycle.
Here he speaks with Sandi Frost Steensma, President & CEO of one of Michigan 50 Companies to Watch in 2019, Kennair Consulting, Grand Rapids, MI
To listen to the full interview please click on the embedded SoundCloud PodCast below!
Sandi Frost Steensma (Shown Right) is President and Founder of Kennari Consulting, a non-profit consulting business specializing in annual fundraising, capacity building and endowment fundraising.
Sandi has more than 25 years experience in successful fundraising, serving as a consultant and/or serving agencies as Development Director and/or Executive Director. She worked as a consultant for Monaghan Associates for eight years and served Hospice of Michigan as statewide Corporate Director of Development and as Executive Director of the Grand Rapids office. In addition to achieving her CFRE nearly ten years ago, Sandi was named to the Kellogg Foundation Action Lab College of Consultants.
Sandi has worked with many types of non-profit agencies including arts organizations, health care agencies, social services agencies, libraries and associations. She has served on the Association of Fundraising Professionals Board of Directors and has trained at local, statewide and national conferences.
Sandi holds her BA from the University of Colorado and her Masters of Management from Aquinas College. She is a graduate of Leadership Grand Rapids and was a 2007 Fellow in the Michigan Political Leadership program at Michigan State University. She currently serves on the Leadership Council of the Small Business Association of Michigan.
Sandi was named one of the 50 Most Influential Women in West Michigan in 2018, 2014, 2012, 2010 and 2008 by the Grand Rapids Business Journal and Kennari Consulting was recognized as a Top Women Owned Business in 2013, 2015 and 2017.
ABOUT Kennari Consulting
Kennari Consulting is one of the largest full-service fundraising consulting firms in Michigan. Sandi Frost Steensma started Kennari Consulting in 2007 because she realized that nonprofit organizations needed more customized, day-to-day, “nuts and bolts” fundraising support as well as campaign coaching. Today, the firm has 15 staff members and serves more than 70 nonprofit organizations with consulting and direct services each year.
The consulting team has been carefully chosen to fill emerging client needs as Kennari has grown. Each staff member brings a wealth of experience in the nonprofit sector, and a specialized area of knowledge. We leverage this experience base to our clients’ advantage by creating unique team combinations for each engagement.
Kennari Consulting has influenced hundreds of nonprofit organizations, helping them achieve greater levels of accomplishment. We focus in five pillar areas of nonprofit service: arts & culture, healthcare, education, social services, and faith-based organizations. We can demonstrate significant expertise, plentiful experience and consistent success in these particular sectors of the nonprofit world. Fundraising is essential to nonprofit survival. Our team’s ability to influence organizations for good has helped them survive a challenging economy, and thrive in a good one.
Kennari Consulting is committed to the success of our clients and to the individuals who work in the fundraising profession. Each Kennari Consulting professional is invested in building the capacity of our clients and providing leadership to others in our industry. We are involved in the community and serve on multiple boards. We work tirelessly to raise the level of ethical and impactful fundraising practices. As seasoned fundraising professionals, we mentor young professionals in our industry to help them reach their highest level of achievement. It is critically important that each senior level professional take it upon him or her self to teach and train the next generation so that highly impactful organizations can be sustained well into the future. We are committed to this mission.
