Groundwork Partners

Groundwork Partners is a social impact consulting practice that believes the means through which we pursue
change are equally as important as the results achieved. We work with foundations, nonprofits, and social
impact companies to address strategic questions, implement programs, and create environments that enable
learning, collaboration, and transformational results. In doing so, we create experiences that invite authenticity
and curiosity, apply analytical rigor, address power dynamics, and uplift lived experiences.

Our Services
Groundwork Partners provides a variety of services to leaders, organizations, and networks that operate locally,
regionally, and nationally and seek to meaningfully achieve racial and gender justice, create economic
opportunity, and increase educational equity. Our services include:

Strategic Planning: Customized strategy engagements, designed to help you and your team develop, align on,
and execute your solutions for impact. Questions tackled could include:
● Who does our work center? How have these populations historically been impacted by the issues we
work on? What does an ideal future look like to them?
● What are the external trends and forces impacting our work?
● What are our most compelling aspirations? What unique role can we play to realize this vision?
● What resources, staffing, systems, and processes do we need in place to support our vision?
● What strategic and practical actions should our team prioritize to support our strategic direction?
● How can we involve those impacted by our work and/or responsible for its implementation in the
planning process?

Program Design & Implementation: Tailored support focused on helping partners design, operationalize, and/or
implement programs focused on learning, capacity building, or collective action. Questions tackled could include:
● What are the major goals and activities of this program?
● Who will it serve? How will we uplift their voices? What are this group’s existing assets and needs?
● What are the key skills, knowledge, abilities, and resources needed for this program to be successful?
● What are the steps we need to prioritize to implement this program?
● How can we ensure we implement and continuously improve our program during busy times?

Grantmaking Design & Execution: Dedicated capacity focused on helping grant makers, philanthropists, and
pooled funds design, operationalize, and implement grant-making programs. Questions tackled could include:
● What are this fund’s goals, strategies, and indicators of success? Who will inform and decide upon these?
● How can we design our grant-making outreach, application, and reporting processes so they are
equitable, accessible, and efficient?
● What should our governance structure look like?
● How will we ensure we implement and adapt our strategy during busy times?

Evaluation and Learning: Assessments designed to help organizations and networks better understand their
ecosystem, gauge impact, and improve upon efforts to date; these can be complemented by frameworks and
coaching to guide organizational learning and adaptation. Questions tackled could include:
● What is the ultimate impact we seek to achieve? What norms, conditions, or changes indicate success?
● How could, does, or has our work driven this change?
● What systems, processes, and tools should we use to track progress and measure success?
● What behaviors and processes should we commit to for enabling ongoing learning and adaptation?
● How can we engage grantees, partners, and advisors in learning?
Team & Board Retreats: Facilitated sessions designed to create strategic clarity, alignment, and connection
both across an organization and with external partners. Questions tackled could include:
● Are we engaging our board and team members in the most effective ways?
● How can we make progress and build alignment on important issues in a focused amount of time?

Executive & Management Coaching: Individual coaching and/or facilitated group sessions focused on helping
leaders and managers realize their individual and organizational potential. Questions tackled could include:
● How can I effectively develop myself and my team members?
● How are we preparing our teams to manage up, down, and across the organization?
● How can we create an inclusive, curious, and productive work environment for all our team members?

Our Team
Groundwork’s Founder and CEO, Lauren Marra is a seasoned strategist, facilitator, problem solver, and people
leader who has effectively led complex social change initiatives and cross-functional teams for the past 15 years.
Her experience includes leading the consulting practices at Arabella Advisors and Community Wealth Partners
through historic periods of growth and culture change, spearheading progressive federal and state policy
initiatives at organizations like CLASP and the Economic Policy Institute, providing housing and employment
services to individuals experiencing economic insecurity, and participating in a local giving circle focused on
women and girls. Groundwork frequently collaborates with partners that bring complementary skill sets and
different lived experiences to help its clients achieve their goals and push their thinking forward.

Our Recent Partners

Our partners share a belief in liberation for all people, especially populations historically underserved,
undertapped, systemically marginalized, and yet full of brilliance and dedication.