Meet Erik, Founder and President

Welcome to The Healthy Non-Profit! Over a 26-year career, I have worked in almost every corner of the nonprofit sector including program & operations, resource development, and executive management. My love for non-profits comes from the difference I’ve seen non-profit professionals and volunteers make in people’s every day lives.

My passion for helping non-profit agencies grow their organizational capacity stems from a tragic story. Earlier in my career, I witnessed what I considered a “blue-chip” non-profit run a successful capital campaign, expand its facility, and serve more clients. However, just a few years after the ribbon cutting ceremony, this agency could not pay its bills and had to sell the building and downsize services. Clients were effected. Donors were upset. And I couldn’t help but think that it
all could have been avoided if the board and staff had received the help they needed to build the necessary organizational capacity to operate in a larger space.

Because those we serve deserve sustainability” isn’t just a cute catch phrase. It is a burning belief and guiding light for me, and it is the reason I founded The Healthy Non-Profit. I look forward to talking with you about your organization!

Experience

Director, Resource Development Club Services
Boys & Girls Club of America

Position Responsibilities and Highlights:
As an internal consultant, Erik worked with local Boys & Girls Club affiliates on:

  • development, planning and implementation of their annual campaign focused solely on individual giving throughout the Midwest region
  • organizational capacity in the areas of resource development, board development, marketing, and planning.
  • Non-profit best practices training

Erik Also Played a Role In:

  • conference session planning
  • managing a conference exhibitors program
  • 2009 and 2010 Employee Campaign co-chair

Executive Director
Boys & Girls Club of Elgin

Position Responsibilities and Highlights:
As the Chief Executive Officer of the Boys & Girls Club of Elgin, Erik was responsible for:

  • finance
  • resource development
  • board development
  • human resources
  • facility management
  • planning
  • program development & implementation.

The Following Were a Few of Erik’s Accomplishments:

  • Doubled the size and diversified the Club’s revenue budget
  • Developed and implemented the following plans and tools: Strategic Plan, Board Development Plan, Facilities Plan, Marketing Plan, Resource Development Plan, Compensation and Benefits Plan, Marketing Plan, Program Plan, Technology Plan, and Internal Financial Control Policies
  • Opened two school-based programs.
  • Doubled individual giving and special event revenue streams
  • Received the Illinois Area Council’s 2002 and 2005 Resource Development Award
  • Received the Illinois Area Council’s 2004 and 2005 Marketing Award
  • Oversight of capital campaign feasibility study and experience with capital campaigning
  • Secured $1 million lead capital challenge gift
  • Named 2003 Executive Director of the Year by The Association of Boys & Girls Club Professionals

District Executive
Northwest Suburban Boy Scouts of America

Position Responsibilities and Highlights:

  • Volunteer/board recruitment
  • Starting new units
  • Recruiting youth
  • District programming
  • District training
  • Fundraising
  • Unit service
  • Doubled the size of the district Friends of Scouting annual campaign
  • Attained “High Fiver” membership recognition

Editor & Operations Manager
Mahomet Citizen newspaper

Position Responsibilities and Highlights:

  • Covered the school district and municipal planning & zoning beats
  • Managed editorial pages
  • Directed newspaper layout & design
  • Supervised and managed editorial, sales and support staffs
  • Developed and managed budget
  • Managed weekly sales goals and projections for sales team

Unit Director
Don Moyer Boys & Girls Club

Position Responsibilities and Highlights:

  • Responsible for managing unit budget
  • Responsible for program planning and implementation
  • Responsible for managing and maintaining facility
  • Responsible for opening new facility as Club’s first director