Shannon Dixon works with non-profits, start-ups, foundations, universities, non-profit coalitions, and cities. Rather than working within defined models, which she finds restrictive, Shannon uses strategic and collaborative processes along with critical thinking to serve her clients best.
Services
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Strategic Planning
- Strategic planning - full, multi-year organizational plans
- Organizational and board assessments
- Annual staff work plans
- Coalition creation, planning, and assessment
- Partnership development and planning
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Board Development & Governance
- Board improvement processes: recruitment, orientation, structuring, assessment, policy development
- Merger support
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Communications
- Annual reports
- Speech writing
- Press releases
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Coaching
- Executive directors and other staff
- Board members
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Program Planning
- Research and facilitation of decision-making
- Partner development
- Community input and engagement processes
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Group Learning & Action
- Learning convenings (small conferences)
- Ongoing facilitation of peer groups and/or coalitions
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Revenue Generation
- Grant research and grant writing (local foundations, corporations, and federal grants)
- Grant compliance and tracking
- Case statements
- Conversation guides to gain individual gifts
About
In business since 2005, Shannon MB Dixon focuses on building organizational capacity to create productive impact. She works with a variety of clients ranging from city departments, established regional and national non-profits, start-up organizations, foundations, universities, hospitals, and non-profit coalitions. This consultant values and requires thought partnership with her clients to produce unique and meaningful deliverables. She specializes in deep listening and productive dialogue that results in clear pathways for addressing complex problems. Robust project management alongside thoughtful and thorough facilitation of team members co-creates solutions that have the buy-in necessary for impactful implementation.
Prior to consulting, she had an eclectic career in the non-profit sector. She was first introduced to community-based work as an AmeriCorps VISTA working for a community development corporation in Memphis, TN, just south of Downtown. That experience grew through subsequent positions, most notably as a program officer at the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis and as a project manager for the UrbanArt Commission, a non-profit that facilitates public art throughout Memphis neighborhoods. Along the way she also worked with arts organizations and voluntary disaster relief agencies.
She holds a B.A. in Sociology and a M.A. in City and Regional Planning, both from the University of Memphis.
Past and Present Clients
I am so thankful for the expertise Shannon brings to a project. She is flawlessly able to bring groups together, encourage collaboration, facilitate the process, and meet team goals all while strengthening the professional growth of the individuals involved. Our project would not be where it is without her guidance and support.
Lauren McCann
Director of Community Programs
Le Bonheur Community Health & Well-Being
Shannon Dixon is a thoughtful changemaker. She is planful and organized — critical and often overlooked components of operationalizing the goals of social movements. We worked with Shannon to plan Grassroots Grantmakers’ On The Ground, a national learning gathering in Brooklyn, NY in 2015. The time we spent together was productive and important; Shannon is uniquely able to dig into key questions around equity and inclusion while also moving the learning gathering forward on time. On top of all that, Shannon is relaxed and kind, making everyone she works with at ease. She is a joy to work with.
Erin Barnes
Founder and Executive Director, ioby
Shannon is the real deal! We have worked with many consultants and she is the one we will go back to whenever we need one in the future. She is a good listener and has excellent judgement as to when to step forward as well as when to step back.My favorite strength of Shannon’s—of which there are many—is her uncanny ability to glean the essence of the essence during a process and articulate clearly in writing where the process is leading. I encourage anyone who is searching for a client-focused, smart strategic planner to include Shannon among those under consideration.
Dan Bowers
President, ArtsBuild