Testimonials

“They were incredibly thoughtful throughout the process, ensuring we ended with a plan that is not only a wonderful roadmap for our organization but also a plan that everyone from our key staff to the board of directors can embrace.”

Boldly Go was a wonderful partner to work with for the development of our strategic plan. They were incredibly thoughtful throughout the process, ensuring we ended with a plan that is not only a wonderful roadmap for our organization but also a plan that everyone from our key staff to the board of directors can embrace. Jeff and Jean were very intentional with their process and were able to conduct a thorough background and information gathering phase, helped us to identify the right stakeholders to engage and synthesize the information in a way that led to a plan that is aspirational and aligns with the goals of the organization. When critical organizational events caused us to pause our work and pivot in the process, Jeff and Jean helped navigate the challenge, wrestle with the situation, provided space to pause and they were able to jump back in with us as soon as possible. They kept us organized, on track and moving forward with an incredibly important project and truly felt like teammates and not outside consultants.

“Their innate ability to interpret and synthesize data streamlined the process and their creativity encouraged us to think bigger and act more courageously along the way.”

The Betty and Davis Fitzgerald Foundation partnered with Boldly Go to lead its staff and Trustees on a journey to develop a renewed strategic vision to reshape our philanthropic priorities.

Working with Boldly Go has been a delightful experience. Kyle’s insightful leadership and deep knowledge in the field have been key to our strategic planning success. Boldly Go not only helped us focus our philanthropic endeavors, but also led us through an impactful learning journey for our Board and our staff. Their innate ability to interpret and synthesize data streamlined the process and their creativity encouraged us to think bigger and act more courageously along the way. Their collaborative method of strategic planning involved community input, significantly contributing to the development of our new mission and vision with a strong emphasis on equity.

We are immensely grateful for the leadership and pivotal role Boldly Go played in our strategic planning process. Their team energized and inspired us throughout the entire process, and as a result, our staff and Board are excited and ready to embark on this next chapter for the Foundation.

“Our Board members and staff had not been through such a comprehensive process before and the results were gold.”

From the Board and staff perspective, Boldly Go led us through a great strategic planning process. The results were insightful, leading us to more focused grantmaking going forward. Our Board members and staff had not been through such a comprehensive process before and the results were gold.

“The work required a fresh perspective on how to implement new models in a changing environment and how to inspire continuity where needed.”

We engaged Boldly Go to provide strategic advice on how to implement a collaborative approach that drives upon the foundation’s goals. The work required a fresh perspective on how to implement new models in a changing environment and how to inspire continuity where needed.

I found Jeff’s coaching to be incredibly balanced. Jeff not only provided a high level of expertise around advancing collective impact goals but demonstrated a deep level of empathy. Jeff’s commitment to equity clearly shines through which was an important factor for our work. Working with Jeff has allowed me to develop a solid strategic plan and have the tools and skills necessary to mobilize action among the team that is authentic. I would recommend Boldly Go to anyone looking to advance audacious goals!

“They helped us develop an ambitious and practical strategic plan that will serve as a clear road map for our efforts”

As Executive Director of the Education Partnership of the Permian Basin, I am profoundly grateful for the work and guidance of Boldly Go Philanthropy in leading us through the creation of our five-year strategic plan.  As a backbone organization based on the collective impact model, we needed to find someone who intimately understood adaptive and complex work. Jeff and his team are experts in this area, as well as experts in project management and facilitation. Most importantly, they helped us develop an ambitious and practical strategic plan that will serve as a clear road map for our efforts to improve educational outcomes in the Permian Basin from cradle to career.

“Remarkable ability to grasp complex problems, articulate clear and actionable solutions”

I’ve known Kyle since his tenure at FSG, where he was a leader in building the organization that Mark Kramer and I founded 20 years ago. Kyle has a remarkable ability to grasp complex problems, from community development to health care, understand the root causes of what is not working for people or communities, and articulate clear and actionable solutions that cut across sectors. Kyle worked with me on a series of important studies and projects that have helped shift mindsets and actions of companies, funders, and NGOs. I wish him great success on his new venture as he continues to support multi-sector actors for social change.

“ability to influence senior leaders, bring people together across divides”

Jeff worked on behalf of The Tow Foundation and a group of other funders to lead a statewide effort to reform the juvenile justice system in New York. The steering group included senior leaders from the governor’s office, law enforcement, state and New York City justice and child welfare agencies, advocates, and the courts. Over the course of eight months, Jeff deftly facilitated the group to align on a common vision and strategy for system reform that was adopted by the group, endorsed by the legislature, and led to lasting reform – positively impacting tens of thousands of young people. Jeff approached this diverse group of leaders in a manner that allowed everyone to be heard and kept the group focused on common goals. His ability to influence senior leaders, bring people together across divides and arrive at compromises and solutions was key to the success of this project. I would highly recommend family foundations or high net worth donors engage Jeff if they want to develop or have someone lead bold philanthropic strategies that deliver results.

“masterful at building relationships”

We engaged Boldly Go Philanthropy to convene leaders from Houston Independent School District and ten local universities and community colleges to better align efforts to improve college-going rates for students impacted by the COVID pandemic. Jeff was masterful at building relationships with local leadership, supporting the group with diverse interests to develop shared goals and priorities, and producing a clear roadmap to set the region up for success. The workgroup was consistently attended by local leaders, which spoke to Jeff’s ability to keep the individuals engaged all while working remotely during a pandemic. I would strongly recommend Boldly Go Philanthropy to peers who are interested in infusing expert support into complex ecosystems in order to develop shared goals and plans for a path forward.

“A new source of inspiration and skilled guidance”

Today, foundations and those with resources need to do more to tackle the massive inequities facing so many people in our country and around the world. That’s why I’m thrilled to see Kyle, who I’ve known for many years and as a fellow Board member of FSG, launch Boldly Go Philanthropy, a new source of inspiration and skilled guidance to help turn philanthropic passion into results for the betterment of society and the planet.

“Partnered on launching a leadership coalition to make Omaha more inclusive”

As Executive Director of Latino Center of the Midlands (LCM), I worked closely with Jeff Kutash in his past role leading the Peter Kiewit Foundation. Jeff and I also partnered on launching a leadership coalition to make Omaha more inclusive. We share a passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion, and a strong belief in the power of community. As a funder, Jeff was amazingly down-to-earth and accessible. His advice and the way he structured our grant helped us improve our strategy, services, and sustainability. Jeff is an inspirational leader in the community and serves as an informal mentor for me – helping me build my leadership capacity, raise LCM’s profile, and make us more effective in serving the Latino community. I have complete confidence in Jeff’s integrity and expertise, and am pleased to recommend him and Boldly Go.

“Profound ability to make philanthropy highly impactful”

I have known both Kyle and Jeff for nearly 20 years, and worked closely with each of them for most of that time. I cannot imagine two people better qualified to manage anyone’s philanthropy. Both Jeff and Kyle have absolute integrity. They also have a profound ability to make philanthropy highly impactful, delivering social progress that vastly multiplies the financial investment. They understand the complex intergenerational dynamics of very wealthy families, as well as the broader ecosystem of leading global philanthropic players. Their vision, creativity, and wisdom are widely respected throughout the philanthropic sector. I recommend their services enthusiastically and without reservation.

“Well-versed and skilled in global philanthropy”

Now, more than ever, what is needed is change, not charity. Smart funders are looking to be more active and affect positive change in their communities and around the world. And they know they can’t go it alone if they want impact. The Boldly Go Philanthropy team is well-versed and skilled in global philanthropy — having lived and worked around the world and advised companies, foundations, and nonprofits — and are up to the task of helping others who want to take their giving to the next level.

“Visionary, bold, and action oriented”

Jeff worked with me and a high-level steering committee to develop a business plan to launch a major national effort to strengthen democracy — a timely and urgent issue. Our group of 13 was diverse, cross-partisan, highly opinionated, and included CEOs of national nonprofits and foundations, former White House officials and Members of Congress, and high profile civic leaders. A tough group to manage! But we emerged with a business plan that is visionary, bold, and action-oriented. Jeff is analytical, strategic, a great writer, a bridge-builder, and one of the most effective leaders with whom I have ever worked. He is also a compassionate, empathetic person, who listens to different perspectives and finds common ground. I recommend him without reservation. He is the kind of person who can tap the ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit of the American people and engage them in effective problem-solving across sector and differences.

“Smart, mission driven, and fun to work with”

I met Jeff ten years ago when he was leading FSG’s education practice, and I was CEO of Greater Texas Foundation. Jeff worked with us to develop our first-ever strategic plan, which led to a multi-year partnership in which he helped craft a statewide higher education plan with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, launch a cradle-to-career collective impact effort in the Rio Grande Valley, and set up a first of its kind scholarship program for early college high school graduates. While Jeff was CEO of Peter Kiewit Foundation, we participated in a small leadership circle of foundation executives. As part of that group, I benefited often from Jeff’s strategic thinking and gentle ability to provide critical advice. Most recently, Jeff and Boldly Go is helping me and my board at the TLL Temple Foundation develop a strategy to greatly increase our impact in rural East Texas. Jeff is smart, mission driven, and fun to work with. I’ve never seen anyone better at moving groups to decisions on critically important issues.

“Knowledgeable, innovative, caring, and a great listener”

I’ve known Kyle for many years, first when he was at FSG and then as he led the Walton Family Foundation. He was a great partner to us on important work to improve the environment, reproductive health, and impact investing. Kyle is knowledgeable, innovative, caring, and a great listener – qualities that make him ideal to provide insight to ambitious philanthropists. And as a former foundation CEO, he knows how to be practical, include multiple points of view, and inspire people to reach shared goals.

“Deep commitment to tackling inequities”

I’ve worked with Kyle in several of my leadership roles – as head of the Medtronic Foundation, Executive Director of the Decade of Diabetes initiative, and now as the CEO of the Siemens Foundation. Kyle brings global experience, a different level of consulting firepower and gravitas to meet with board members, and a valuable perspective on shared value that brought new meaning to our philanthropy and corporate social responsibility efforts. Throughout this period, I’ve gotten to know Kyle and understand his deep commitment to tackling inequities. So, I’m excited about Boldly Go Philanthropy and look forward to seeing him partner with other leaders to create additional impact in the world.