Clients and Testimonials

Consulting History of Nonprofit Mergers and Partnerships
since 8/06

Partnership: The Corporation for Supportive Housing/Chicago Office and the Supportive Housing Providers’ Association of Illinois

Acquisition: Work, Welfare and Families and The Center for Tax and Budget Accountability (acquiring entity)

Merger: Abraham A. Low Institute and Recovery, Inc.; now doing business as: Abraham Low Self-Help Systems

Partnership Conflict Resolution: Central City Housing Ventures and Chicago Christian Industrial League

Post-Merger: Research and Development of a New Board of Directors, Chicago Alliance to End Homelessness

Future State Assessments: Several

Workshops and Trainings on Strategic Re-Structuring: Many, ongoing

Other merger and collaboration engagements currently in process.

Testimonials

In an era of fierce competition for scarce resources and ever increasing client need, nonprofit agencies -- and the sector overall -- must create and implement new and innovative strategies to remain relevant and effective.

Jean Butzen has the skills, experience and most important, the vision, to help us create healthier, smarter, more effective and efficient organizations. Her focus has always been doing what's right for the client. And unless our organizations are strong and forward-thinking, and our mission, strategy, values and resources are all aligned, we simply won't be able to do what's right -- and best -- for our clients.

It's nice to do good, but we must do it well. I'm looking forward to working with Jean and Mission Plus Strategy Consulting as we re-envision and re-invigorate our organizations and our sector.
Mark Ishaug, President and CEO, AIDS Foundation of Chicago

Our experience working with Jean Butzen was superb. She understood and translated our wishes into the perfect philanthropic project for us. She communicated clearly and promptly, helped us expand our thinking, followed through, and was efficient in the use of both her time and ours. We recommend her unconditionally and would work with her again.
Jim and Brenda Grusecki, The James P. and Brenda S. Grusecki Family Foundation

On behalf of the Supportive Housing Providers Association (SHPA), I am writing to express our complete satisfaction with Jean Butzen’s facilitation of our partnership agreement with the Corporation for Supportive Housing, Illinois. …SHPA and CSH came together to clarify roles, to develop a plan for working together, and to reduce competition for funding. Jean helped us plan the process for accomplishing this, facilitated the process, helped us over rough spots, and kept on schedule. …All of us who worked on the agreement, staff and board members alike, are pleased with our finished product…Throughout this process, jean listened carefully to what we wanted and reflected that back to us in clear written form. She was very supportive of both entities, but maintained her objectivity throughout. She both encouraged us to think beyond our preconceived notions and listened respectfully when we stated where we could not go. When we got stuck, she gave us a framework for working through our area of disagreement. She helped keep us stay grounded throughout with her steadiness.
Janet Hasz, Executive Director, Supporting Housing Providers Association