We build a path together
About us:
We are your partner, and your supporter. We are skilled practitioners and leaders who will help you explore a new road, tackle big challenges, and leave behind what no longer serves you. From neighborhood projects to national systems, we help leaders on the path to meaningful social change.
What we do:
We guide purpose-driven leaders, teams, and organizations to realize meaningful social change. We can help define your value proposition, sharpen your program strategy, diversify your revenue streams, or transform your organization’s culture.
As your partner, we help you navigate complex problems and realize courageous solutions.
Our approach:
Downie Street knows you have everything you need – the courage, skills and resilience – to be an effective leader and create positive impact in our world.
Our services:
We’ll be with you every step, and it might lead somewhere unexpected.
Our job is to help you optimize those assets and capitalize on opportunities for growth.
What people say:
“Working with Don and Nicole helped me sharpen the big-picture storytelling and strategic framing behind my work—especially for funders and new audiences. They guided me through developing a theory of change and helped me reimagine how to communicate our mission in a way that’s compelling, clear, and widely resonant. What stood out was their ability to zoom out with me and articulate the deep, systemic relevance of our work, while also supporting me in thinking through team leadership and priorities so I could stay focused on what matters most.”
AJ Schaerer, Trans Advocacy & Care Team
“Downie Street’s facilitated sessions are an art form that has been carefully honed through decades of experience and practice. They make it look easy but it is not.”
Emily Cherniack, New Politics
“They asked thoughtful, strategic questions that pushed my thinking and helped clarify the causal links in our model. Their feedback was both honest and empowering, helping me articulate impact with precision and confidence. They created a space where I could learn, challenge assumptions, and build a framework that reflects both our mission and operational reality.”
Tiffany Green, Uprooted Academy
“Working with Nicole & Don helped bring my passion and purpose into alignment. Articulating my vision succinctly and confidently was a struggle before working with Downie Street. Verbalizing the vision led to me being selected for a competitive urban leaders conference. I am proud of my growth and unequivocally know this work will continue to unveil new pathways rooted in my purpose.”
Rashaunda Lanier-Jackson, MURP
“Without question, I am a more effective leader because of my work with the Downie Street team. I now have a stronger toolkit, greater clarity about my role, and a deeper understanding of how to lead with intention. Nicole has been an exceptional coach, blending rigor, direct feedback, practical tools, and empathy. She creates a space that invites honest reflection, encourages accountability, and supports growth.”
Elena Conley-Jones, Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation
Our fellows consistently shared how grounding and clarifying her guidance was. Nicole has a remarkable ability to take complex ideas and help leaders shape them into strategic frameworks, logic models, and theories of change that truly reflect their vision. She brings the same clarity and care to program design – helping fellows strengthen their ventures in ways that were both practical and deeply aligned with their goals. Beyond her technical expertise, Nicole was an encouraging, steady presence for our fellows. Her thoughtful questions, compassionate approach, and commitment to each fellow’s success made her an invaluable partner throughout the program.”
Meg Busse, Roddenberry Foundation
“We could not have been more pleased with the sensitivity, thoughtfulness and insights of the Downie Street team. We received very helpful recommendations to improve our governance structure and relationships with funders, employees and clients. We highly recommend them for similar engagements with others.”
Board of Directors, Ubuntu Center for Peace
“I have never felt more assured and confident in my role as a leader in my organization. I find myself using skills and knowledge that I gathered at the Downie Street work sessions in my current position. Downie Street really helped uplift my confidence in designing a new organization and also understanding many aspects of nonprofit business that were necessary for me to have a realistic view of this plan.”
Nakida M
“Nicole and Don are the real deal. Their facilitation of the Guest House Executive Team Retreat was powerful and pushed us forward. Downie Street’s talent for coaching and facilitation is matched only by the size of their hearts.”
Steve Bauer, Guest House of Milwaukee
“An active listener and supportive coach with deep emotional intelligence, Don is a calming force in the maelstrom. His consistent, enduring commitment to the philanthropic and nonprofit community means he brings perspective, networks, and context to any project in which he is engaged.”
Rusty Stahl, Fund the People
“Working with Don was a key part of both my personal and professional growth during the Leadership Fellows at The Trust. He provided me with tools, advice, and insight that pushed me to think more deeply about my role, myself as a person, and my leadership goals. Our conversations stayed with me each week and found their way into many areas of my life. I am truly grateful for his knowledge, expertise, and patience, and for the thoughtfulness he brought to our mentorship.”
Sarah Kleinke, EMERGE125
“Randall’s team excelled at synthesizing global tools and case studies into a cohesive, usable resource. Improving Your Programmatic Learning Journey is an engaging and indispensable co-creation and learning resource for any impact-driven organization. Besides, they walked the talk of co-creation by facilitating an appreciative and inclusive process from reflecting on objectives to promoting the result. I highly recommend their collaborative and insightful approach.”
Sever Dzigurski, Head of Secretariat, Knowledge Platform on Security and Rule of Law
“Randall designed and facilitated highly effective sessions that engaged government, NGO, and media stakeholders, resulting in the development of new strategic directions and the identification of fresh possibilities for citizen engagement in urban planning and social cohesion.”
Snežana Mišić Mihajlović Governance Portfolio Manager EE, HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation
What people say
