Your Mission Is Powerful.Let's Make Sure Your Operations Are, Too.
Operational excellence and measurable impact for mission-driven organizations.
Most nonprofits and social enterprises start the same way: a powerful mission, a passionate team, and a drive to change the world.
But somewhere along the way, things get complicated. Programs grow faster than systems. Funders ask for data you don't have. Your team spends more time putting out fires than advancing your mission.
You know you're doing good work—but you can't always prove it. And you know your organization could run better—but you don't have time to fix what's broken.
That's where we come in.
Hi, I'm Stacey D. Burns
I've spent 15+ years helping mission-driven organizations stop spinning their wheels and start seeing real results.
Through SDB Social Impact Consulting, I partner with nonprofits, social enterprises, and government agencies to build stronger operations, better systems, and clearer ways to measure what matters.
Our Philosophy
- Your mission drives everything we do
- Simple systems beat complicated ones
- If you can't measure it, you can't improve it
What We Help You Do
Strengthen Operations
Build systems that actually work—so your team can focus on impact, not firefighting.
Bridge Strategy and Execution
Turn big-picture plans into day-to-day action with clear priorities and accountability.
Prove Your Impact
Develop evaluation frameworks that show funders—and yourself—exactly what's working.
Work Across Sectors
Navigate the unique challenges of nonprofits, government, and social enterprise with a guide who's been there.
What Our Clients Say
“Perhaps her most enduring accomplishment was leading the process to identify, recruit, and successfully transition a permanent Chief Operations Officer for the organization while providing strategic and mindful coaching to me as the CEO… Rather than simply managing the role, Stacey strengthened the organization for the future.”
“It's one thing to feel in your heart that your organization is doing good for the community — it's another thing altogether to find a way to measure that in a way that is valid, objective and reliable while still honoring the human value of community-based work. Working with Stacey's team was a pleasure, from the conversations we had to scope the project through to the final results, because their questions and analyses are based in that shared mission of conveying the value of human capital. The SROI that they calculated is now a key part of our messaging on the value of investing in United Way Suncoast.”
Common Questions
What's the difference between an interim COO and a fractional COO?
An interim COO steps in full-time for a defined period — often while an organization searches for a permanent hire. A fractional COO (or Strategist) works part-time on an ongoing basis, giving an organization executive-level operational leadership without a full-time salary. I offer both, scoped to what your organization actually needs.
Do you offer executive coaching?
Not as a stand-alone service. Leadership coaching happens naturally as part of every interim and fractional engagement — because I'm not coaching from the sidelines, I'm in the operational seat with you, which means the coaching is grounded in the real decisions your organization is making that week, not a separate hour on the calendar.
What is Social Return on Investment (SROI)?
SROI is a methodology for translating an organization's social impact into a defensible, funder-ready number — showing the value created relative to the investment made. My model breaks that value into three tiers (Established, Probable, and Possible) based on how solid the underlying data is, so you're never overstating your case.
How long does an engagement typically last?
There’s no set timeline. Every engagement is scoped around what your organization actually needs — which is the whole idea behind "I stay as long as I’m needed." The best way to get a real answer is to tell me what’s going on, and we’ll figure out the right scope together.
How much does a fractional or interim COO engagement (or an SROI project) cost?
Pricing is scope-based and built around your specific project, not a flat rate — every organization's needs are different enough that a generic number on a page wouldn't be honest. Reach out and we'll talk through what makes sense for you.
What kinds of organizations do you work with?
Nonprofits and social enterprises.
Ready to Strengthen Your Impact?
Let's talk about where you are, where you want to go, and how we can help you get there.