Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Matt Kamin. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Matt, appreciate you joining us today. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?

I love talking about how Envision Consulting came to be.

So my business partner, Allison Fuller, and I were enjoying a few beverages at a happy hour and were complaining about something at work, I don’t exactly remember what was going on at the time. We managed a homeless shelter at the time, and as much as we loved the job, we wanted more. We starting talking about making a bigger difference and serving more clients, and one of us suggested that we should just start a company to serve nonprofits in crisis. The very next day, I submitted my letter of resignation. She tells me that I quit for her as well, but I don’t remember that part.

I will be honest – When we started our company, we had no client, no business plan, no money in the bank, and had just incorporated online. But we were very well connected in the nonprofit world and as luck would have it, we got a call from a friend who was on the Board of a nonprofit that was running out of money and was ready to shut down. They needed a consultant to fix what was very broken. We interviewed for the job and were hired the next week.

And with that first client, Envision Consulting was official.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

As long as I can remember, I have been passionate about helping people. When I was young, I just knew that I wanted to make a difference, but I didn’t know how. After college, I volunteered in Israel and learned all about fundraising. When I came back to LA, I got my MBA in nonprofit management, moved to New York, took over a homeless shelter at the age of 26, and never looked back.

As a co-founder of Envision Consulting, I have the opportunity to work with nonprofits of all kinds, sizes, and missions. I have worked with organizations ranging from foster youth, disabled adults, domestic violence, children in nonpublic schools, the arts, foundations, and the elderly. I have also been lucky enough to be a founder of Youth for Charity, an organization bringing together teens of different faiths to raise awareness for families living in poverty.

At Envision Consulting, we pride ourselves on our extensive experience in nonprofit strategy and our unmatched recruiting process that creates transitional leadership solutions unlike anything else in the industry. Our search process is a strategic engagement that draws on more than 12 years of experience with hundreds of search and strategy clients across the country. Beyond the search process, On the strategy side of our business, we are the leaders in merger consulting, transformational strategy, Board development, and coaching.

In 2023, Envision Consulting was ranked #1 in the Top Fifteen National Search Firms that work best for women of color by Women of Color in Fundraising and Philanthropy (WOC)®. We were also named a Top Search Firm for Nonprofits by Hunt Scanlon. In addition, we are proud to have partnered with the Center for Nonprofit Management in Southern California to develop the Equitable Nonprofit Workplace Report, which launched In 2022.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

In all honestly, it is incredibly hard to be a small business owner. I am always worried about payroll, or bringing in new clients, or making sure that we have the capacity to do the business. And then there is staff, which can be incredible and also challenging.

There are many days that I want to throw in the towel. Life would be so much easier working for someone else and not having to worry about bills or overhead or payroll. But what keeps me going are two things. The first is the work. I could not do this job if it were not for my clients and their missions. I only work with nonprofit organizations and together, we are truly making a difference and changing lives. I know that what I am doing is actually making a huge impact in society.

And the second is having a business partner. There is no way that Envision Consulting would exist if it were not for our partnership, I have someone to rely on. I have someone who will pull me out of my funk when I need it. And I have someone who will always try to do better, always think of new ideas, and always want to grow.

So when it comes to resilience, it takes both the actual work, and the support from peers to keep going,

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

The most effective strategy for us to grow our clientele is going above and beyond in our work. I realize that everyone says that, but it is absolutely true. In consulting, you are only as good as your last client and therefore, it is all about customer service.

One of the best strategies that I have learned is that all of my clients have my cell phone. And they don’t actually abuse it, but it is the fact that they know that they can always reach me, and that matters. It is vital to make your clients feel appreciated and top of mind. They will be repeat customers and they will be your best referrals.

I also have a podcast called Nonprofit On The Rocks, and it has been fun to interview current and past clients on the show. I know that we have gotten calls from potential clients from the show.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.envisionnonprofit.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/envisionconsulting/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/envisionconsultingllc
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/envisionnonprofit/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/whatdouenvision
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl7yUpjdRICkZIxKd0DO3Fg/videos?app=desktop