Why this matters
Every mission deserves a steady beat.
Nonprofit leaders in our region do work that holds our community together. They feed people. They tutor kids. They house families. They show up for people in crisis.
But most small and mid-sized nonprofits are asking their leaders to do two jobs at once — the mission itself, and everything it takes to run an organization behind the scenes: finance, HR, marketing and communications. Without a dedicated team for that back-office work, it lands on the Executive Director.
That's not a sign of a struggling organization. It's a sign of a system that hasn't caught up to what nonprofit leaders actually need.
When leaders spend their days on payroll, compliance paperwork, and social media posts instead of strategy and relationships, programs feel it. When one person carries the HR files, the chart of accounts, and the newsletter all at once, the whole organization becomes more fragile than it should be.
Mission Tempo exists to change that. It gives nonprofit leaders real infrastructure — expert finance, HR, and marketing support they can actually afford — so they can spend less time keeping the lights on and more time doing the work only they can do.
About our partners
Mission Tempo is built and delivered together by three organizations, each bringing a different kind of expertise to the table.
Council of Agency Executives (COAE)
Your Connection to the Program
Only COAE connects local leaders across the boundaries of mission, size, and perspective to enhance the collective power of the nonprofit sector to improve our community. They exist to build effective and diverse leadership, impactful organizations, and a thriving region for all of us.
As the region's longtime convener of nonprofit leaders, COAE is your first stop. Their team gets to know your organization, listens to what you need most, and connects you with the right service partner to start your engagement.
COAE also stays with you throughout your time in the program — checking in and gathering your feedback. They help make sure the program stays responsive to what you actually need, every step of the way.
Causewave Community Partners
Marketing & Communications
Causewave's mission is to make communities stronger by bringing voice to diverse public issues and needs and building capacity within nonprofit organizations. As the host of the Marketing & Communications team, Causewave works alongside participating organizations to build the visibility, voice, and communications tools they need to grow support for their mission — from social media and newsletters to public relations and brand strategy.
Coordinated Care Services, Inc. (CCSI)
Finance & Human Resources
CCSI's mission is to expand potential and spark change in organizations that put people first. As the host of the Finance and Human Resources teams, CCSI works with participating nonprofits to strengthen financial systems, close compliance gaps, and build the HR infrastructure that lets organizations operate with confidence and stability.
Working Together
These three partners already have a track record of trusted, high-quality work with nonprofits in our region — and together, they cover the full range of support a small or mid-sized nonprofit needs to thrive. Shared Services is what happens when that expertise is combined into a coordinated, affordable path forward.
With Gratitude to Our Funders
Mission Tempo wouldn't exist without the generosity of funders who believe in the strength of our region's nonprofit sector.
The development and launch of Mission Tempo was made possible through the generous support of ESL, The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, The Max and Marian Farash Charitable Foundation, and others.
