ebersmith coaching & consulting
Stronger boards, smarter systems, and practical tools that help nonprofits focus on what matters most
We help nonprofit teams across the country strengthen governance, build better processes, and make more informed decisions. Our approach draws on BoardSource-aligned frameworks, LEGO® Serious Play® facilitation, and AI-powered tools built for the real world of nonprofit work.
What We Do
Practical tools, stronger governance, and hands-on facilitation grounded in real-world nonprofit experience and built around how nonprofit teams actually work.
BOARD DEVELOPMENT & GOVERNANCE
Build a Stronger Board
Your board should be a strategic partner, not a source of frustration. As a BoardSource-certified governance consultant, Jeff brings nationally recognized frameworks to help boards understand their role, lead with confidence, and work in genuine partnership with staff.
Your board should be a strategic partner,
LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® FACILITATION
Think Differently
LEGO® Serious Play® is a research-backed facilitation method that helps teams surface ideas, solve complex problems, and build shared understanding, in ways that a whiteboard and a slide deck usually don’t. Jeff is a certified facilitator who brings this approach to strategic planning, team alignment, and board retreats.
Your board should be a strategic partner,
SYSTEMS & OPERATIONS
Make the Day-to-Day Work Better
Nonprofit teams are stretched thin. We help clean up workflows, reduce friction, and put practical systems in place so your people can focus on the work that actually drives your mission forward, including smart, responsible use of AI tools to save time and improve decision-making.
Your board should be a strategic partner,
DECISION MAKING SUPPORT
Prioritize the Right Work
When everything feels urgent, nothing gets the attention it deserves. We help nonprofit teams build practical tools and frameworks, like matrix maps, scorecards, and client feedback loops, so your organization can make clearer, more mission-aligned decisions with confidence.
Your board should be a strategic partner,
About Us
Nonprofit work is complex enough. Your systems shouldn’t make it harder.
We help nonprofit teams work more clearly and confidently, with better systems, stronger governance, and practical tools that fit how your team actually operates. Our work blends nationally recognized governance standards with hands-on facilitation and real-world nonprofit experience.
Founded by Jeff Smith and Brian Ebersole, ebersmith coaching & consulting delivers real-world nonprofit insight, board experience, and clear, actionable strategy to teams across the country.
Meet Your Partners
Practical support shaped by over four decades of real nonprofit experience.
Practical support shaped by over four decades of real nonprofit experience.
Jeff Smith
Principal & Lead Consultant
Jeff helps nonprofits untangle the systems that slow teams down. A BoardSource-certified governance consultant and certified LEGO® Serious Play® facilitator, Jeff brings hands-on nonprofit and grantmaker experience with a focus on board development, organizational decision-making, and practical, day-to-day operations. He also helps nonprofits figure out how AI tools can save time and improve how teams work.
Jeff leads client engagements, develops tools and processes, and helps organizations create sustainable, human-centered workflows that simplify work and strengthen how teams make decisions.
Brian Ebersole
Strategic Advisor
Brian brings 20+ years of leadership across healthcare, government, education, and nonprofit settings. He currently serves as Senior Vice President of Ecosystem Development, guiding major community health and medical education initiatives.
At ebersmith coaching & consulting, Brian advises on systems-level strategy, helping organizations strengthen governance, improve communication, and align decision-making with mission and long-term outcomes. His perspective adds depth in program development, evaluation, executive leadership, and mission-driven decision-making.
Blog
The Step Most Boards Skip Before Recruiting New Members
One in three nonprofit boards has never formally defined what their composition should look like. The difference between an assembled board and a built board starts with one process that almost everybody skips.
Hiring a New Executive Director? Start With Your Organization, Not a Job Description
Your board is hiring a new executive director. Before you post the job, make sure you understand what kind of leader your organization actually needs right now.
Nonprofit Board Service: 5 Questions to Ask Before You Say Yes
Someone just asked you to join a nonprofit board. Before you say yes, make sure you’re asking the right questions about time, fundraising, board culture, and what you’re actually signing up for.