Perspective. Partnership. Clarity.
The people I work with care deeply about the organizations, families, and communities they serve. They may be shaping a philanthropic strategy, navigating a leadership transition, strengthening an organization, or working through a difficult decision. Over the years, I’ve been invited into these conversations because another experienced perspective can strengthen what’s already there.
I work with families, foundations, nonprofit organizations, boards, and leaders.
Approach
I’ve learned that meaningful work begins the same way. By listening.
Every organization, family, and board brings its own history, relationships, opportunities, and challenges. Before offering advice, I want to understand the situation well enough to know where I can be useful.
You bring deep knowledge of your organization, your work, or your family. I bring an experienced outside perspective—one that can test assumptions, broaden perspective, and strengthen your own thinking. I don’t assume I know your organization better than you do.
The work may begin with a specific question, decision, or period of change. Often, as trust develops, the work evolves. Sometimes that means supporting a CEO through a transition, helping a board navigate a complex decision, serving as a long-term thought partner, or strengthening finance or operations when needed.
The specifics vary. The practice doesn’t.
In Practice
The work takes many forms, but the purpose is remarkably consistent: helping people think through important decisions with greater clarity, perspective, and confidence.
I've been invited into conversations involving philanthropy, leadership, governance, finance, and operations. While the subject matter changes, the role I play is often the same: listening carefully, asking thoughtful questions, bringing another experienced perspective, and helping people move toward decisions they can stand behind.
Families & Philanthropy
I work with families, foundations, and nonprofit organizations as they consider questions of purpose, governance, leadership, grantmaking, and long-term impact. The conversations are often as much about people and relationships as they are about philanthropy itself.
For example:
Advising a family foundation on governance and long-term grantmaking strategy.
Evaluating potentially significant philanthropic investments.
Supporting executive transitions within nonprofit organizations.
Helping families clarify how they want their giving to reflect their values.
Organizations & Leadership
Organizations occasionally reach moments where experience from outside the room is valuable. A leadership transition, a strategic decision, board dynamics, organizational growth, or competing priorities can all benefit from another thoughtful perspective.
For example:
Supporting boards and CEOs through leadership transitions.
Facilitating conversations involving governance and organizational direction.
Serving as a confidential thought partner to executives.
Helping organizations work through difficult strategic decisions.
Finance & Operations
Finance and operations are rarely separate from leadership and governance. Strong systems don't make decisions easier, but they provide a stronger foundation for making them well. Having served as a CFO and COO, I work comfortably where those questions intersect.
For example:
Strengthening financial and operational practices during periods of organizational change.
Advising executive teams on organizational structure and operations.
Helping leaders think through financial decisions.
Providing experienced financial and operational perspective.
About
For more than twenty-five years, I've worked alongside families, philanthropists, executives, and boards.
My experience spans finance, operations, governance, philanthropy, and executive leadership. I've served as a CFO and COO, advised families and foundations, supported leaders through periods of change, and worked with boards on decisions requiring both practical experience and careful judgment.
While the subject matter has varied, the role I've been asked to play has remained remarkably consistent: listening carefully, understanding the larger situation, and helping people think through decisions they will ultimately carry forward themselves.
Gretchen Selfridge
Contact
Every engagement begins with a conversation. If you are considering a decision, transition, or piece of work that might benefit from another experienced perspective, I’d be glad to talk.
Based in Truckee, California. Working with clients in the San Francisco Bay Area and nationally.