Testimonials

Xan Blake brought expertise and insight into our governance process and provided our board of directors with valuable recommendations and ideas on how we could enhance our own board governance for the Princeton Federal Credit Union. Demonstrating her ability to listen and to value our organization, she was able provide us guidance and options on decisions that our board could act upon. It was a pleasure working with Xan, and we have already highly recommended her to other non-profit organizations. She is an exceptional consultant.

I want to thank Xan Blake for partnering with me as we worked with a neighboring affiliate's Board of Directors and staff to conduct an organizational assessment and for continuing to facilitate some very timely and helpful discussions between our two Boards to make this merger come to fruition.

I thank Xan Blake for giving me the opportunity to watch a great leader at work.

Working with Xan was a pleasure from start to finish. She prepared a strategic plan at the start of our project and delivered on each of her stated objectives in a timely, thorough manner. Xan’s ability to successfully work with a myriad of personalities, personal styles and shifting timelines made working with her a breeze. I would highly recommend her services!

We could have never done our Capital Campaign without Xan’s guidance. She did our feasibility study and our planning, and then kept us focused and organized as we marched forward. She’s enthusiastic, upbeat, and smart. What more could you want?

The Blake Partnership conducted a solicitation training for our capital campaign committee and senior staff. The training not only helped motivate all of us, but also took much of the fear out of asking for gifts and empowered many new askers.

Over the two years Xan worked with us, she tackled a myriad of tasks, all aimed at reshaping our Board governance practices. From leading a retreat and workshops, to shaping and revising governance documents, to implementing surveys and making recommendations, Xan was able to do it all with great skill, thoughtfulness and sensitivity. Partnered with Xan, and her vast wealth of knowledge and resources, we were able to enhance our Board's effectiveness exponentially. We are very grateful to have been able to work with her.

I would recommend the Blake Partnership to any organization seeking to secure its mission through thoughtful succession planning. They created an incredibly user-friendly CEO succession plan for our organization which utilizes best practices and is individualized to our needs and strategic objectives.

Xan Blake is a dedicated fundraising professional who can teach you how to master the art of convincing donors that your organization not only needs their support, but also deserves their support.

Xan thoughtfully and skillfully led our board through a process of candid introspection. With her insight and fact-based approach, she helped us to understand what we needed to do to expand and organize our fundraising efforts and to achieve consensus on key governance issues in order to advance our mission. Her comprehensive solicitation training and fund development plan, both uniquely suited to our organization, have energized our board and staff and have provided us with the skills and tools to enthusiastically and confidently embrace fundraising as an integral part of our board and staff roles.

Xan Blake led our board through an extremely professional and engaging workshop on personal one-on-one fundraising that has given our board the confidence and tools necessary to engage in an endowment campaign. The board was impressed with the information presented and is confident that this preparation will allow them to fulfill their campaign goals.

Xan Blake is a consummate development professional whose approach and insight in a feasibility study on behalf of our organization helped guide our campaign planning in important ways. Xan’s years of experience not only as a fundraiser but also in running organizations was of great benefit as she interpreted findings and guided us in making decisions. Xan has excellent judgment and I would highly recommend her in working internally with your organization and with donors and board members.

Xan Blake led an excellent workshop on personal solicitation for our association of professional fundraisers. Our mix of experienced fundraisers and novices alike was no challenge for her. Our attendees all gained insight and tools they will be able to quickly integrate into their work. As a workshop facilitator myself, I was impressed with the way Xan engaged our participants; her presentation was interactive, lively and empowering. I would highly recommend her for training staff and volunteers in the art of fundraising. She will ensure that both learn ways to increase their effectiveness and ability to complement one another in furthering the mission of the organization.

Xan was invaluable at helping me get a handle on the full scope of my responsibilities as a new CEO. She poignantly understands the relationships that a new CEO must navigate, such as with affiliate staff, national office staff, boards of directors, volunteers and colleague CEOs from other affiliates. She is smart, funny, forthright and insightful.

Xan led our board and staff through a comprehensive strategic planning process that enabled us to focus on our priorities, organize our efforts, and allocate our resources. We could not recommend Xan and the Blake Partnership more highly.

Xan Blake is extremely well-versed in all aspects of fundraising for nonprofits. She has a unique style of personalizing her approach to each client and making fundraising FUN!

Xan took our school from start to finish with a successful campaign that exceeded our expectations and our ambitious goal. She led a thorough feasibility study, trained our staff and campaign volunteers, and helped to keep us on target with her wisdom, experience and encouragement.

The Blake Partnership conducted a fantastic board and senior leadership training for us that clarified the work of the board and greatly advanced our understanding of the board-staff partnership. We found the training very encouraging and it will embolden us as we envision the future work of our organization.

We chose to hire Xan for our capacity-building campaign for the individual attention and knowledgeable approach she could bring. She led us successfully through a series of challenges that engaged our trustees and committee to become real fundraisers. Xan came in with creative ideas when we hit the lulls to ensure that we succeeded, over-reaching our ambitious goal. Though we’ve run many successful capital campaigns, this out-of-the-ordinary campaign was a stretch, and her skillful guidance made all the difference.

Xan's frank, astute written organizational assessment of the Arts Council of Princeton was a call to arms. Her presentation of the assessment to the Board was key to its success. She was firm and kind and clear. Xan provided a roadmap. The organization is in a different place as a result.

Xan Blake consulted with our affiliate on our clinical operations including accreditation-related matters. We found her findings and recommendations invaluable. She has an in-depth knowledge about Planned Parenthood operations and about the approach that PPFA takes to its affiliates.

Xan Blake was very helpful to our Board of Directors in assessing our readiness for accreditation and advising us on the steps we had to take to be in compliance with all of the PPFA board accreditation elements of performance. She gave us very good advice on what we were doing right and what we needed to do differently.

Xan Rocks! Xan presents complicated and sometimes challenging topics in a simple, easy to follow manner. Our group left her training feeling delighted, educated and well-informed.

Xan gave us smart and strategic advice from the beginning to the end of our capital campaign. She helped our board and campaign committee stretch and accomplish goals that at first we thought were impossible and she made them possible. Thank you Xan!