Spotlight on Our Spool: Partners celebrate Thread's 10th anniversary

Four Key Partners Share Why They Value Thread—and How Our Work Complements Theirs

Jonathan Kaufman, Co-Founder and Principal, Third Plateau

We started Third Plateau almost 15 years ago and, in that time, I've have had the chance to work with dozens (if not hundreds) of partners in the space. I can state with zero hesitation that Thread Strategies is my all-time favorite and hands-down the best strategic partner we've ever had. It's not even close.

Third Plateau is an impact consultancy that works with nonprofits throughout the country and all over the world. Our work focuses on organizational strategy, research, and leadership development, which means I get the fun job of working with incredible and inspiring people to help them articulate their dreams and design a plan to deliver on it. To bring those dreams to life, though, those leaders need access to capital, and Thread Strategies is the most effective team I've ever seen at making that possible.

While it's easy enough to recognize that the team at Thread is full of sharp, brilliant fundraising minds, my admiration for what they do rests on two key pieces: 1) they are relational in everything they do, enabling clients to rightfully feel that Thread is fully on their team, not just an external consultant going through the motions; and 2) Thread genuinely cares about the impact of their work and therefore looks to build the capacity and capabilities of their clients to ensure long-term success, not just flash-in-the-pan minor wins. For our clients that are looking to transform their communities to help make a profoundly better world, Thread is the only development team we recommend, as they are in a league of their own and deliver results time and time again.

To the Thread team - congrats on your 10 years and the amazing impact you've been able to make possible in that time, and here's to many more decades together of deep partnership and meaningful impact!

Andra Stratton, Program Manager, Rare As One, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative

I first started working with Thread Strategies in 2021 when we contracted with them to support the Rare As One Network, a community of grantees that work to drive research in the rare disease space. They’ve continued to be our partner in supporting this community ever since, and I’ve valued the way the Thread team brings both expertise and empathy to every aspect of their work. Their team truly understands the realities that very small nonprofits face and they meet these organizations where they are, offering practical, personalized support that strengthens their fundraising capacity in lasting ways. Whether it’s one-on-one coaching, group training, or hands-on help, the RAO grantees consistently report that their work with Thread empowers them with tools and strategies that actually work. As most of these organizations are led by people who are issue-area experts but new to the nonprofit space, we’ve especially appreciated seeing how this support has allowed the rare disease organizations' leaders to build their confidence in fundraising.

Matt Gayer, Executive Director, Spur Local

We love Thread Strategies for their partnership and authenticity. There are a lot of answers I could give here, and part of the answer is definitely that Thread drives real results for our partners who have worked with them which I'm grateful for. But underneath the actual performance, and why I appreciate working with them as a partner each year on our National Nonprofit Summit, training opportunities, and related programs, is that Loree and the team truly care about their partners. They approach the work relationally, with experience as nonprofit professionals themselves, and are invested in strong outcomes.

I first partnered with Thread in 2017 when I joined the team at, what was then, the Catalogue for Philanthropy. We were expanding our capacity building programs for local nonprofits and Loree and Thread were an integral, joyful, and critical partner to designing some of the early thoughts that went into how we might help small nonprofits fundraise and communicate more effectively. Fast forward today, Thread and Spur Local both remain committed to thinking through practical ways of expanding nonprofit capacity to grow sustainably.

Thread goes deep on fundraising strategy, and that is a level of capacity our team doesn't have. When partners ask for a consultant they can trust to dive into their fundraising plans with, I am grateful to have Thread to often recommend. Increasingly as well, in a complicated time for fundraising, I appreciate the sharing of learning between our team and theirs so we all can stay focused on how to support critical community organizations. I am grateful to have Thread's thought leadership at this time especially.

Carlyn Madden, CEO at Good Insight

Thread Strategies has been such a valued partner to Good Insight over the years. As an executive search firm serving nonprofits, it's helpful to have a great resource for fundraising assessments and professional counsel to refer our clients. We've worked hand-in-hand with Loree and her team on many occasions, including helping long-tenured executives shore up their fundraising efforts before their departure, or as our new placements come in and need assistance resetting their development priorities. A values-driven partner like Thread Strategies feels like a natural extension of our mission to connect good causes with great leaders. I'm always confident that our clients will be in great hands with the Thread team.