A Boutique Firm with Deep Expertise Elevating Nonprofits

Through the power of partnership, we help you develop new resources to achieve greater good

Our mission is to help you grow.

Our Mission

Just Cause partners with mission driven organizations and bold leaders who have world class expertise to transform communities.

As a women-led development strategy firm, we bring decades of experience and tailored solutions to drive growth, scale impact and create long-term sustainability. Whether crafting high-level strategy or rolling up our sleeves to tackle immediate tasks at hand, we pave the way for you to break new ground in your fundraising.

What We Do

Our Services

Fundraising Strategy

We take a deep dive into your organization to understand your unique strengths and opportunities, helping you identify priorities and navigate your way forward wisely.

Empower Your Board

Your leadership is your greatest advocate and the key to achieving fundraising success. We bring new approaches to inspire a commitment to fundraising.

Find, Grow, and Engage Donors

We will help you uncover new donor prospects, guide you in opening doors and provide creative strategies for building connections.

Capital Campaigns

We are with you through each milestone, helping to determine goals, shape your campaign, recruit leadership, craft messaging, and put plans into motion.

Coaching Sessions and Training Labs

Our coaching is tactical and strategic in nature, empowering you with new insights and resources to help your team, leadership, and organization thrive.

Key Partners

Nancy and Lisa are not only allies in our mission, but they have also been key partners in Impact for Equity’s organizational journey. Just Cause’s work with us began shortly after we changed our name from BPI to Impact for Equity, and Lisa and Nancy’s ability to think strategically while providing grounded, practical support has made a world of difference. Their invaluable partnership has been crucial to our growth and impact.

Cara Hendrickson Executive Director, Impact for Equity “

Devoted

Just Cause helped us to re-launch our capital campaign after a pause due to the pandemic. We not only met our goal, we surpassed it. They were instrumental and devoted to us every step of the way: developing the next critical steps in our campaign plan, identifying new donor bases, establishing an incentive program, creating clear and powerful messaging, and navigating obstacles. Because they each bring their own expertise and points of view, it's like getting two for one

Marilyn Perlman “Imagine the Possible” Campaign Chair, North Shore Congregation Israel “

Exceptional

Lisa and Nancy are exceptional. Never before have we worked with consultants who have taken the time to study our organization and its complexities in such depth before jumping to recommendations. They were committed to thoroughly understanding us to give us a feasible path for growth. Their work was so game-changing for us that we hired them again to support our member organizations.

Katherine Brown President and CEO, Global Ties U.S. “

Stellar Reputation

Just Cause has a stellar reputation. Their outstanding work with the Forest Preserve Foundation confirmed my commitment to serve the board. That confidence was well-placed. Their guidance has helped us significantly grow our fundraising capacity.

Tom Lanctot Board Member, Forest Preserve Foundation “

Creative

Our organization was just four-years old when we contracted with Just Cause. Lisa and Nancy worked with us to create a development infrastructure from the ground up. With their help, we hosted a tremendously successful fundraising event and created a development position. As important as the product was the process. They are warm, generous, creative, persistent, and deeply invested in our success. They care about me and my work. They are a resource and an ally.

Jenny Soble Executive Director, Illinois Prison Project “

Practical

We had committed to a big expansion and needed help structuring a campaign. Just Cause helped us determine feasibility, strategize our campaign target, evaluate our donor lists, have conversations with board members, and helped us find staff we needed. What I appreciated most was their flexible and practical approach. I was running a lean organization and Nancy and Lisa came prepared not only with high-level strategy, but also rolling up their sleeves to help me with the immediate tasks at hand.

Paige Ponder Former CEO, One Million Degrees; Current Senior Executive Director, The University of Chicago Urban Education Institute “

Learn More in Our Case Studies.

Explore our recent successes.

We’re eager to learn more about you and how we can work together!

Let's Get Started

JUST CAUSE is certified as a Women’s Business Enterprise by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), the nation’s largest third-party certifier of business owned and operated by women.