The Consultant Ilir Zherka, founder of Civica, specializes in public policy, strategy, capacity building, and advocacy. Drawing on decades of experience as a nonprofit leader and executive director, he now leads projects with a flexible network model — pulling in subject-matter experts as needed. The SIAN Format That Converted: Demonstrate Thinking, Don’t Just Present Rather than a standard presentation at a SIAN Read More
How SIAN Helps Consultants Win Business: Grainger Marburg’s Leadership Coaching Case Study
Executive Summary (TL;DR) Leadership coach Grainger Marburg grew his consulting practice through SIAN by building trust in small-group settings, earning a warm, right-fit referral from a longtime member, and delivering a tailored training series that delighted the client. Result: qualified business, stronger reputation, ongoing community support. The Consultant A former nonprofit CEO turned executive Read More
March 11th, 2026: In-Person Happy Hour (Berkeley)
Join your fellow SIAN Members and Guests for an in-person happy hour sponsored by Risk Strategies (Part of the Brown & Brown Team). We miss seeing you! So come hang out with your local Social Impact Advisor Network friends! We'll be at Cellarmaker Brewing in Berkeley at the recommendation of our hosts, Risk Strategies (Part of the Brown & Brown Team). Please contact Deborah at sian@fairlightadvisors.com Read More
Healthcare for Nonprofits: How to Stay Mission-Driven Amid Rising Costs
Nonprofits are facing skyrocketing healthcare costs, shifting regulations, and tough choices. Here’s what three experts say about navigating this storm without losing sight of your values. If you work in the nonprofit sector, you’ve probably felt the squeeze between rising healthcare costs, shifting rules, and ever-tightening budgets. At the January Social Impact Advisor Network meeting, three experts shared candid Read More
Redefining Global Partnerships: Insights from SIAN’s November Meeting
At the November meeting of the Social Impact Advisor Network (SIAN), members explored a transformative approach to international development. The discussion centered on a recent trip to Kenya and the collaborative efforts of US-Africa Initiatives (USAFI), TuiFUND, and The Giving Exchange (TGE)—organizations committed to bypassing traditional aid bureaucracy and empowering grassroots communities.This wasn’t just a Read More
Recurring: Monthly SIAN Virtual Social Hour
Social Impact Advisory Network (SIAN) Social Hour - Guests Invited! We founded the Social Impact Advisory Network (SIAN) with a group of like-minded professionals who serve the nonprofit community as consultants, board members, Nonprofit Leaders, donors, and local public officials to bring increased awareness to the importance of investing in a nonprofit organization's infrastructure to promote long-term stability Read More
October 22nd: SIAN In-Person Cocktail Reception (New York)
October 16th: SIAN In-Person Happy Hour (OAKLAND)
September 11th: Part 2 – AI for Nonprofits (Interactive Session)
Join us for Part 2 on AI! Artificial Intelligence is rapidly entering the nonprofit space—but how can it be used in ways that actually strengthen mission, not compromise it? In this practical and thought-provoking session, Dr. Lydia returns to guide participants through realistic operational use cases for AI in nonprofit settings—from admin streamlining to service delivery support and strategic planning Read More
What’s On Your Mind? Let’s Network & Discuss! / August 14
We all need that time to catch-up with colleagues, discuss what’s on our minds & our clients’ minds. There is A LOT going on right now. Let’s meet, have breakouts and discuss! Thursday, August 14, 2025 12:00 PM 1:00 PMGoogle Calendar ICS Read More
