About

Hi, I’m Deidre.

I started Kennelly Consulting by supporting small nonprofits — the sector where I spent most of my career raising funds, building strategies, and helping mission-driven teams turn big ideas into real action. I loved that work. I still do.

But after having my second child, it became impossible to ignore a pattern I was seeing everywhere: women running nonprofits and small service-based businesses were carrying far more than just their job description. They were leading teams, leading missions, raising families, and holding the invisible load that comes with all of it. And they were doing it with very little support from a world that still runs on hustle-first expectations.

That’s when I honed in on the audience I serve today — women-led and mother-led organizations who need strategy that understands both their mission and their real life.

Other consulting firms don’t account for the school pickup line, the mental load, the juggling act, or the season of life you’re in. I build strategy that honors the whole person behind the role.

My approach: collaborative, honest, holistic, and zero buzzwords.
My goal: to help you gain clarity, breathe easier, and move forward with a plan that fits the way you actually live and lead.

Values I work by:

  • Clarity over complexity.

  • Honesty over hype.

  • Progress over perfection.

  • Whole-life strategy over hustle-culture pressure.

Experience that Speaks

I’ve spent over 15 years working in and alongside small nonprofits — raising funds, crafting strategies, and helping mission-driven women leaders turn big ideas into real results. I’m a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) and hold a Certificate in Professional Fundraising from Boston University, but my real education came from rolling up my sleeves and doing the work inside small, capacity-stretched teams where leaders wear all the hats.

Before that? I grew up in a small, family-run business, where I learned early on that success takes grit, creativity, and a solid plan — especially when you’re juggling a lot. That experience fuels everything I do today, whether I’m helping a woman-led nonprofit build a sustainable fundraising strategy or guiding a mother-owned small business through a growth plan that actually fits her life.

At Kennelly Consulting, I partner with women-led nonprofits and small businesses that are ready to move from surviving to thriving. My approach is holistic, practical, and grounded in real-life capacity — because leaders who are balancing mission, family, and community need plans that support their whole life, not just their work.

If you’re tired of spinning your wheels and ready for clarity, calm, and sustainable growth, let’s talk.

LET'S CHAT

Testimonies

  • "I had the pleasure of working with Deidre to establish a fundraising plan for C.O.P.E. Family Support Center. For many years our board lacked a blueprint for planning and managing accountability of fundraising roles and responsibilities. Deidre supported our board by offering clarification and guidance that highlighted past successes and focused us on future opportunities. We are a better team as a result of Kennelly Consulting, and we are continuing to grow with every event!"

    Natasha Paddock, Executive Director
    C.O.P.E. Family Suppor Center

  • “Deidre was a joy to work with on a recent fundraising training for Placer nonprofit organizations. She listened closely to what we wanted and delivered a session that was thought provoking and actionable for attendees.”

    -Eileen Speaker, Placer Community Foundation

  • “Deidre knows the in’s and outs of nonprofits and has a real instinct for everything related to organizational development. I’m so glad to see that she’s chosen to help agencies enhance their services on a larger scale by providing consulting services.”

    -Christi Cakiroglu, CC Consulting

  • “Deidre is extremely organized, capable, and fun to work with. She is creative in coming up with new ways to fundraise and spread the message of the organizations she works with. I had the pleasure of working with her on fundraising events and campaigns that all exceeded fundraising goals. I highly recommend working with Deidre!”

    -Camille Cauchois, previously Achieve Tahoe Progam Coordinator