Services

A Different Kind of Philanthropic Consulting

Transformative initiatives require more than vision to endure.

They require clear governance, credible positioning, integrated fundraising systems, thoughtful donor stewardship, institutional readiness, and philanthropic architecture capable of sustaining long-term impact.

Purnell Philanthropy® specializes in helping organizations build the structural and philanthropic foundations necessary to responsibly advance emerging work in neuroscience, mental health innovation, contemplative science, addiction recovery, mindfulness, consciousness research, and transformational education.

This work is not simply about raising funds.

It is about building philanthropic ecosystems capable of supporting the future responsibly.

Women and Philanthropy event, Purnell Philanthropy
Board Governance

Strong Boards Build Strong Organizations

Sustained fundraising success depends on board leadership that is engaged, accountable, organized, and aligned around the mission.

When governance structures are unclear, committees are inactive, board expectations are undefined, or giving participation is inconsistent, fundraising programs often struggle regardless of strategy.

Purnell Philanthropy® provides governance assessment, restructuring guidance, and ongoing board development support for organizations seeking to strengthen this foundation before pursuing larger fundraising initiatives.

Services May Include:

  • Governance audit and assessment
  • Board role and committee structure review
  • Trustee expectations and participation planning
  • Recruitment and board composition strategy
  • Board giving participation planning
  • Governance and naming policy review
  • Campaign committee structure
  • Ongoing governance coaching and support
Investment

Ongoing Governance Retainer — $1,800/month

Six-month minimum commitment.

Begin with a Discovery Call
Strategic Advisory Partnerships

Strategic Fundraising Support Designed for Where Your Organization Stands Today

Purnell Philanthropy® offers multiple engagement levels designed to support organizations at different stages of fundraising growth, from foundational planning and governance development to campaign readiness, campaign leadership, and long-term strategic counsel.

Every engagement begins with understanding your organization’s current capacity, goals, leadership structure, donor readiness, and long-term vision. Partnerships are designed to evolve alongside organizational priorities, providing flexibility to focus on the areas of greatest need as opportunities and challenges emerge.

Foundation Partnership
$5,000/month

Approximately 20 hours of consulting capacity per month

Designed for organizations seeking senior-level strategic counsel, governance development, fundraising planning, campaign preparation, and long-term donor infrastructure.

Six-month minimum commitment.

Strategic Growth Partnership
$8,750/month

Approximately 35 hours of consulting capacity per month

Designed for organizations actively strengthening fundraising capacity, cultivating major donors, executing campaigns, and advancing significant organizational growth initiatives.

Nine-month minimum commitment.

Executive Leadership Partnership
$12,500/month

Approximately 50 hours of consulting capacity per month

Designed for organizations seeking the highest level of strategic fundraising, campaign leadership, governance development, and organizational counsel.

Twelve-month minimum commitment.

Additional consulting beyond the selected monthly capacity is billed at $250/hour.

Hourly Consulting

Targeted Expert Guidance for Specific Fundraising Challenges

Hourly Consulting provides direct access to Stephenie Purnell for focused strategic support around a defined fundraising issue, organizational challenge, or philanthropic opportunity.

Common areas of support include:

  • Donor cultivation strategy
  • Solicitation preparation
  • Proposal and document review
  • Board presentations and training
  • Staff coaching
  • Campaign troubleshooting
  • Organizational assessments and second opinions
Investment
Hourly$250per hour
5-session package$1,150
8-session package$1,800
Open journal and pen on a desk, Purnell Philanthropy consulting
Ethical Standards

Purnell Philanthropy® adheres to the ethical standards established by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, including the prohibition against compensation based on a percentage of funds raised.

Compensation is never structured as commission-based fundraising or tied to a percentage of philanthropic contributions.

The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) believes that individuals serving a charity for compensation must accept the principle that charitable purpose, not self-gain, is paramount. If this principle is violated and percentage-based compensation is accepted:

  • charitable mission can become secondary to self-gain;
  • donor trust can be unalterably damaged;
  • there is incentive for self-dealing to prevail over donors’ best interests.

In addition, percentage-based compensation, however administered, can produce reward without merit.

AFP holds that percentage based compensation can encourage abuses, imperils the integrity of the voluntary sector, and undermines the very philanthropic values on which the voluntary sector is based. AFP stands firm with its Standards which prohibits members from working for percentage-based compensation or accepting finder’s fees.

— AFP Code of Ethical Standards

Ready to Find the Right Path?

If you are unsure which engagement is the best fit for your organization, Purnell Philanthropy® welcomes the conversation.

Contact Purnell Philanthropy®