our approach.
Founded in 2020, Concentric Strategy works alongside nonprofits to develop strategy, navigate changes, embody inclusion, and create healthier, more sustainable organizations.
We believe the future of the nonprofit sector depends upon our ability to engage authentically with communities and to reimagine governance, programming, fundraising, and operations through an equity-focused, people-centered lens.
We develop thoughtful processes, tailored to each client. Our approach has roots in several frameworks:
ecosystems.
Organizations are more like gardens than machines. We nurture small-scale interactions that lead to large-scale impact.
adaptability.
Creating and implementing strategy is a living process that unfolds over time. Our work is responsive in real-time, centered around clear vision and goals.
inclusion.
We champion Universal Design and antiracism. We seek to uproot harmful power dynamics and create brave spaces for learning and creativity.
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We owe tremendeous gratitude to the following thinkers and ideas. We highly recommend reading more about each.
Ecosystem-based systems change — "Emergent Strategy" by adrienne maree brown applies principles from the natural world and human relationships to movements for social changes. brown writes that strategy is “building complex patterns and systems of change through relatively small interactions.” Nurturing organizational wellbeing requires being fluid in the face of constant change, understanding the interconnectedness of many elements (people, processes, policies, resources), and being thoughtful and intentional at every step.
Real-time adaptability — "The Nonprofit Strategy Revolution" by David La Piana creates a method for embedding strategic thinking across an entire organization. In his model, carrying out strategies or plans isn’t a list of checkboxes executed by leadership; it’s a living process that unfolds over time. Plans are oriented around a "north star" of values and vision, allowing implementation to be adaptive and responsive in real-time.
Nothing about us without us — This statement from the disability right movement articulates powerful self-advocacy. It ensures that those affected by decisions are themselves involved in the decision-making. Re-centering power and autonomy within and among marginalized peoples is the foundation of our work around antiracism, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
“I feel incredibly excited by the tangibility of the Strategic Plan. The process Melinda presented allowed the committee to think expansively and then ground ourselves in the practicality of our organization. And further articulating just what matters most ... and finding ways for this organization to flourish has been a challenging but joyous puzzle.”
—Delaware Shakespeare
IMAGE: Melinda Steffy next to a sign that reads "Art is a human right."