At MCE, we provide organizational strategy that blends analytical rigor, deep industry knowledge, independent insight, and hands-on experience. We partner with grantmakers in the arts and arts & culture organizations to uncover opportunities for transformation, guiding them through strategic change and operational growth. Our approach is collaborative, data-driven, and rooted in a deep understanding of the arts and culture sector.
MCE has had the privilege of working with a diverse range of clients, including the New England Foundation for the Arts, Dance/USA, The International Association of Blacks in Dance, Barr Foundation, Heinz Endowments, Intercultural Leadership Institute, Wallace Foundation, Color Congress, and more. Whether enhancing strategy, refining operations, or amplifying impact, we walk alongside our clients to help them reach new heights.
For Grantmakers
Including foundations, federal and state government, intermediary grantmakers etc.
We help foundations, government agencies, and intermediary funders make stronger decisions about where resources go—and why.
At MCE, we partner with grantmakers to strengthen strategy, improve learning systems, and ensure investments are aligned with real community impact. Our work helps funders move beyond compliance-based evaluation toward smarter decision-making, stronger grantee partnerships, and more effective capital deployment.
Whether assessing organizational effectiveness, evaluating programs, monitoring grant portfolios, or refining impact frameworks, we help grantmakers reduce risk, improve outcomes, and fund with greater clarity and confidence.
Operational Assessment
Gain an objective view of your organization’s priorities, effectiveness, and opportunities for growth.
We assess internal operations, stakeholder alignment, and organizational readiness to help leaders make stronger strategic decisions with clarity and confidence.
Program Evaluation
Understand what’s working, what needs refinement, and how your programs create meaningful impact.
Our evaluations help organizations strengthen outcomes, align resources, and build evidence that supports smarter planning and stronger funding conversations.
Impact Reporting Workshops & Impact Measurement Coaching Support
Help organizations and grantees turn their work into clear, credible impact stories.
From logic models to reporting frameworks and data collection strategy, we help leaders build practical systems for measuring, interpreting, and communicating meaningful results to funders, boards, and stakeholders.
Grant Monitoring
Ensure your grantmaking strategies are aligned, effective, and producing the outcomes they were designed to support.
Funders gain clearer visibility into grantee progress, barriers, and performance measures—allowing for stronger decisions and more effective long-term investment.
Strategic Advising + Facilitation
Move from ideas to action with trusted guidance for leadership, planning, and organizational change.
Whether navigating growth, refining strategy, or leading complex conversations, we help leaders create alignment, clarity, and momentum.
For Arts & Cultural Organizations
The Creators Well
A leadership and infrastructure platform for creative leaders building sustainable impact.
Launching Summer 2026
You built something meaningful. Now let’s make it sustainable.
Through The Creator’s Well, MCE offers accessible tools, strategic guidance, and implementation support for arts and culture organizations ready to strengthen impact and build sustainable systems.
Many organizations are doing transformative work but struggle to explain that work in ways funders, boards, and community members fully understand. Others are operating without the internal structure needed to sustain growth.
We help close that gap.
From free resources and practical toolkits to strategic coaching and high-touch implementation support, The Creator’s Well helps creative leaders move from instinct to infrastructure—so their work can grow, endure, and attract the support it deserves.
Because meaningful work should not depend on guesswork.
4 Levels of Engagement
Explore The Well
Explore free resources for reflection, insight, and strategic growth. Engage with tools, conversations, and thought leadership designed to support arts and cultural leaders navigating impact, creativity, and change. Take the Impact Identity Quiz. Explore the Cultural Catalyst Podcast. Subscribe to the Reframing the Narrative Blog.
Strategic Frameworks and Tools
Access the Impact Roadmap Toolkit — a thoughtfully designed collection of strategic templates, frameworks, and tools created to help arts and cultural leaders strengthen alignment, articulate impact, and move their work forward with greater clarity and confidence.
Strategic Alignment Sessions
Strategic Alignment Sessions are personalized one-on-one advising sessions designed to help arts and cultural leaders navigate strategic challenges with greater focus, alignment, and confidence. Whether exploring impact strategy, storytelling, fundraising alignment, program direction, leadership decisions, or organizational growth, these sessions provide practical, culturally responsive guidance tailored to each leader’s unique goals and context.
Strategic Accelerator Coaching Cohort
The Strategic Accelerator Coaching Cohort is a guided leadership experience designed to help arts and cultural leaders strengthen their impact strategy, storytelling, and organizational alignment. Through coaching, practical tools, and peer learning, participants develop a clearer framework for articulating their impact, measuring their impact, and aligning their work with fundraising, communications, and long-term organizational goals.
Strategy
Operational Assessment. Program Evaluation. Executive Recruiting. Impact Measurement Coaching.
Growth
Development Assessment. Donor Prospecting.
Innovation
Program Design. Evaluation Workshops. Grant Monitoring.
Advising
Strategic Facilitation. Leadership Strategy Coaching
Organizational Strategy
Operational Assessment
Need an objective eye to help you review and assess your organization’s current priorities, operations and effectiveness?
Have an operational assessment done on your organization.
What will you learn?
- Factors contributing to your success
- Barriers or hurdles to your success
- Stakeholder perceptions
- Opportunities for growth
Targeted Audience: Artists, Grantmakers, Arts and Culture Administrators and Arts Organizations
Program Evaluation
Wondering about the impact of your program’s efforts?
Program evaluations are designed to help you reflect on the impact of your programs and identify ways to refine your efforts for the future.
What will you learn?
- How to set priorities and work toward common goals
- Focus your energy and resources
- Strengthen operations
- Refine your program identity or strategy
- Identify realistic performance measures for your program goals
Targeted Audience: Artists, Arts and Culture Administrators, Grantmakers, and Arts Organizations
Executive Recruiting
- Need to hire your next executive director or senior leader?
- Want a reimagined process that is human centered and prioritizes your organization’s strategic priorities and goals?
- Concerned about how to ensure that the search is equitable and just?
MCE can help you build critical capacity by identifying qualified and mission-aligned leaders. For our team, recruitment is more than merely filling a vacancy. It is a collaborative learning experience that strengthens organizational culture and process.
What will you learn?
- Ways to balance qualitative and quantitative data to ensure that your ideal candidates possess the skills and experience to excel in the role and fit your organization’s culture, team, and community
- New techniques to strengthen talent acquisition and retention to advance your organization’s mission, values, and practice
- Key insights to support diversity, equity, and inclusion in the hiring process
Targeted Audience: Arts Service Organizations, Arts Nonprofit Organizations, Performing Arts Centers
Growth
Development Assessment
Unsure of who to target for financial support?
We use insights about your organization to research potential funders to support your efforts. Then we help you set realistic fundraising goals.
What will you learn?
- Names of funders aligned with your mission and vision
- Grantmaker funding patterns for your discipline and/or organizational need
- Philanthropic motivations
- Funding calendar and plan
Targeted Audience: Artists, Arts and Culture Administrators and Arts Organizations
Donor Prospecting
Wondering how to reach your financial support target?
We design a strategy to support and achieve your fundraising goals.
What will you receive?
- A strategy and timeline for increasing your donor base
Targeted Audience: Artists, Arts and Culture Administrators and Arts Organizations
“Without the arts, without music, without dance, without drama, without photography, the civil rights movement would have been like a bird without wings.”
~John Lewis
Innovation
Program Design
Need help designing a new or existing program?
Let us provide sound advice to help facilitate your planning process.
What will you receive?
- Thought leadership
- Ways to evaluate your success
- Project coordination support
Targeted Audience: Artists, Grantmakers, Arts and Culture Administrators and Arts Organizations
Impact Reporting Workshops and Impact Measurement Coaching Support
- Looking for ways to document your program or organizational impact?
- Need assistance designing your data collection tools?
- Unclear about how to collect and report data?
Let us support your efforts!
What will you receive?
- Skills Training
- Tailored sessions based on your priorities
- Logic model design
Targeted Audience: Artists, Grantmakers, Arts and Culture Administrators and Arts Organizations
Grant Monitoring
- Looking for ways to determine the efficacy of your grant programs?
- Want to ensure that your measures for success are in alignment with your funded projects?
- Need to test your existing success measures?
What will you learn?
- Grantee Progress and Success
- Grantee Barriers to Success
- Ways to refine your performance measurement indicators
Targeted Audience: Grantmakers and Intermediaries
Advising
Strategic Facilitation
- Looking for an innovative and strategic way to approach your work?
- Needing an objective thought partner to assist with bringing your ideas to life?
Let’s work together to envision what this looks like.
What will you receive?
- Tough Questions to Support Your Thought Process
- Potential Blindspots in Your Strategy and Approach
- Guiding Probes to Determine Planning Steps and Needs
Targeted Audience: Leaders from Nonprofits, For-Profits, Government Agencies, Grantmakers