At MCE, we provide organizational strategy that blends analytical rigor, deep industry knowledge, independent insight, and hands-on experience. We partner with 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.
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