Leah Epstein
SENIOR ADVISOR, FUNDRAISING, COMMUNICATIONS & ORGANIZATIONAL STRATEGY
Leah Epstein brings more than 25 years of executive leadership in weaving together fundraising, communications, stakeholder engagement, and organizational strategy to her role as Senior Advisor at Catalyzed Impact. Throughout her career, she has translated vision into action — helping nonprofit and mission-driven leaders align priorities, sharpen difficult decisions, and mobilize the people and resources needed to move complex organizations forward.
Leah didn’t always see the value of outside consultants. But she came to understand what experience has taught her again and again: an outside perspective can see things that are nearly impossible to spot from deep inside the organization. That conviction now shapes how she operates — both as principal of her own firm, Braided Consulting, and in her advisory work — combining senior-level judgment with practical execution so leaders leave every engagement with clarity, confidence, and tools their teams can actually use.
Before becoming a consultant, Leah served as Chief Development & Engagement Officer at MAGNET, where she helped secure more than $20 million in funding, led fundraising, communications, and government relations, and played a key role in shaping the organization’s strategic direction and public profile. Earlier in her career, she held fundraising, communications, and programmatic roles at University Hospitals, Gross Schechter Day School, the Jewish Federation of Cleveland, and the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington.
At Catalyzed Impact, Leah offers strategic advisement in:
Fundraising Strategy & Revenue Growth: Campaign readiness, major gift strategy, and building development infrastructure that scales.
Strategic Communications & Brand Positioning: Sharpening organizational messaging so funders, staff, and stakeholders understand not just what an organization does, but why it matters.
Organizational Strategy & Change Management: Helping leadership teams navigate growth, transition, and competing priorities with practical, actionable plans.
Stakeholder & Government Relations: Building and sustaining relationships across funders, boards, and civic and government partners.
Team Development & Leadership Alignment: Coaching leaders and teams to work with greater clarity and cohesion.
Leah holds a bachelor’s degree from Emory University and a Master of Public Administration from Cleveland State University. She is a graduate of Leadership Cleveland’s Class of 2024 and serves on the boards of Birthing Beautiful Communities and Evergreen Cooperatives. When she’s not helping organizations find clarity, Leah is busy with two teenagers, baking challah (yes, braided bread), walking her dog, hiking, and reading good fiction.
Early in her career, Leah Epstein didn’t fully understand the value of consultants. It took more than 25 years of leading fundraising, communications, and organizational strategy inside complex nonprofits for her to see what she now knows well: an outside perspective can spot what’s nearly impossible to see from deep inside the work. Ironically, it was that early skepticism that drew her into consulting. She knew exactly what it felt like to be handed drop-in commentary, and she was determined to do it differently.
Leah believes meaningful partnerships begin with trust, curiosity, and a genuine understanding of each organization's unique mission and goals. She is passionate about helping nonprofits strengthen relationships, communicate their impact, and develop sustainable strategies that position them for long-term success.
With a collaborative and thoughtful approach, Leah works alongside clients to navigate challenges, uncover opportunities, and build practical solutions that create measurable results. She is energized by connecting people, fostering collaboration, and helping organizations move from vision to action.
As a Senior Advisor, Leah helps organizations:
Align strategy, messaging, and resources during periods of growth and change
Prepare for and execute fundraising campaigns with confidence
Strengthen board, donor, and stakeholder relationships
Build internal alignment across leadership teams and departments
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