About Kienker Consulting
Founded in 2016, Kienker Consulting LLC is a southeastern Michigan-based philanthropic consulting firm. Brittany Kienker, Ph.D., and James Kienker created Kienker Consulting to fill a significant need to assist philanthropic organizations in Michigan and beyond, using an approach that combined their practitioner-oriented experiences and academic backgrounds based at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.
In the years since its founding, Kienker Consulting has emerged as a nationally-recognized leader in the field, specializing in providing technical expertise to grantmaking organizations and philanthropy serving organizations (PSOs). In partnership with PSO clients, the staff of Kienker Consulting regularly work with grantmakers of all types, including community foundations, corporate giving programs and foundations, family philanthropy initiatives, private foundations, public charity-based grantmakers, and sponsoring organizations and their DAF programs. As a renowned content expert in the field, Dr. Kienker answers hundreds of questions from grantmakers annually, addressing the technical challenges of foundation governance, grantmaking, operations, and staffing. She also serves as a go-to resource for PSOs nationally, as well as for executives, boards, legal counsel, finance professionals, corporations, donors and their families, and other individuals and organizations involved in grantmaking efforts.
Kienker Consulting frequently partners with institutions nationally to educate current and future leaders, while creating practitioner-oriented resources that address significant gaps in the field. Recent collaborative efforts have included such organizations as:
ARNOVA
BoardSource
Council of Michigan Foundations
Council on Foundations
Donor Advised Fund Research Collaborative
Exponent Philanthropy
Indiana Philanthropy Alliance
Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy
Johnson Center for Philanthropy (Grand Valley State University)
National Center for Family Philanthropy
During the COVID-19 crisis, Dr. Kienker has been an integral part of the Council of Michigan Foundations’ response, spearheading development of its COVID-19 Resource Central webpage content and answering countless questions from foundations and philanthropy serving organizations nationally. The National Network of Consultants to Grantmakers recognized her efforts as part of the COVID-19 response, while other PSOs named Dr. Kienker’s COVID-19 FAQs as a model for the response nationally. Dr. Kienker’s disaster resources are now updated and adapted for disasters of all types, available here.
Our core competencies include:
Consulting: Collaborating with clients to better fulfill their mission and goals through content expertise and practitioner-oriented solutions.
Educational Resources: Developing cutting-edge educational materials around best practices and pressing topics that influence the work of grantmakers and philanthropists.
Facilitation and Presentations: Drawing on nationally-recognized expertise to present customized educational presentations and facilitate strategic discussions to further clients’ philanthropic goals.
Philanthropic Services: Leveraging best practices in grantmaking and fundraising to bridge the financial and strategic needs of foundations and nonprofit organizations.
Research: Utilizing world-class academic experience in philanthropic research and problem solving to best fit the unique, real-world challenges of our clients.
Technical Assistance: Addressing short-form questions that arise for philanthropic organizations, allowing them to apply best practices and cutting-edge knowledge to their pressing situations.
Our differentiators:
Woman-owned consulting business serving foundations, nonprofits, and philanthropy serving organizations, based in the southeast Michigan area.
Experienced researchers formerly based at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, focusing on foundations and nonprofit organizations.
Nationally-recognized expert in grantmaking foundations and donor advised funds.
Full member of the National Network of Consultants to Grantmakers.
Trained through the BoardSource Certificate of Nonprofit Board Consulting program.
Member of the Council of Michigan Foundations’ Consulting Services Network.
Get in touch
Kienker Consulting sets itself apart from other firms that work with philanthropic organizations. Find out if our team is a good fit for your needs.
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Meet Our Team
Principal and Owner
Brittany Kienker, Ph.D.
Dr. Brittany Kienker is Principal and Owner of Kienker Consulting LLC and Knowledge Insights Expert in Residence at the Council of Michigan Foundations (CMF), with more than 15 years of experience in foundations, nonprofits, and higher education. Dr. Kienker leads Ask CMF, answering hundreds of questions every year from grantmaking organizations across the state of Michigan and beyond.
In her roles with CMF and Kienker Consulting, Dr. Kienker is a sought-after expert and advisor to foundations, philanthropy serving organizations, consultants, and researchers nationally. She regularly develops cutting-edge educational resources and presentations designed for grantmakers, in addition to generating the annual Midwest and Indiana Grantmaker Salary Survey Reports. Dr. Kienker is Co-Lead Researcher for the National Study on Donor Advised Funds and Co-Director of the Donor Advised Fund Research Collaborative (DAFRC). She is a full member of the National Network of Consultants to Grantmakers and holds a BoardSource Certificate of Nonprofit Board Consulting.
In collaboration with Dr. Eugene Tempel at the Indiana University Foundation and Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, Dr. Kienker developed nationally-recognized research, presentations, and publications on philanthropy, board governance, and best practices in the nonprofit sector. She has taught graduate and undergraduate courses for the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and Central Michigan University.
Dr. Kienker received her Ph.D. from the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. She also earned a M.A. in Philanthropic Studies (IU), M.A. in Public History (IU), and B.A. in Public History (Western Michigan University).
Education
INDIANA UNIVERSITY
Ph.D. in Philanthropic Studies
M.A. in Philanthropic Studies
M.A. in Public History
WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
B.A. in Public History
Activities & Affiliations
• National Network of Consultants to Grantmakers, Full Member
• Donor Advised Fund Research Collaborative, Co-Director
• BoardSource, Certificate of Nonprofit Board Consulting
• Council of Michigan Foundations’ Consulting Services Network
Visit Brittany on Linkedin ▸
Senior Consultant
James Kienker
James Kienker brings over 15 years of experience in foundations and nonprofits to his work at Kienker Consulting LLC. Throughout his career, Mr. Kienker has provided technical assistance to a diverse array of nonprofits, foundations, and community development organizations through his previous roles as a fundraiser, researcher, program developer, and grants manager. He has also published articles in Giving USA and presented at national conferences, focusing on best practices in philanthropy and fundraising, as well as program development and external partnerships. Additionally, he brings expertise in foundation grantmaking, nonprofit management, accounting and finance, communications and marketing, and web and technology-based solutions.
Education
INDIANA UNIVERSITY
M.A. in Philanthropic Studies
WESTERN GOVERNORS UNIVERSITY
Master of Business Administration
M.S. in Accounting
WESTMINSTER COLLEGE (MISSOURI)
B.A. in History
Activities & Publications
• “Leaders: United States, Great Depression to WWII,” Published in Leadership in Nonprofit Organizations, Kathryn Ann Agard, ed., (SAGE, 2010).
• Giving USA, Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, Chapter Author: “Giving by Request” - 2013; “Giving to Foundations” - 2011; “Giving to Religion” - 2010; “Giving to Religion” - 2009.