Biography
Molly Penn is a highly-respected nonprofit consultant with more than 25 years of experience working with nonprofits and foundations on strategy development. Molly has extensive experience in the arts, human service and social justice, and has worked across many other sectors from environment to community development to education to help organizations become more effective at realizing their missions and have greater impact. She is particularly interested in how effective strategy can help organizations disrupt and rebalance systems of power, privilege and access – whether through cultural reflection, direct service, philanthropy or advocacy. Molly is a skilled and experienced facilitator who has helped organizations develop and implement strategic plans, manage internal change efforts, and strengthen their boards. Molly’s talent at synthesizing complex information and aligning groups around powerful strategy has earned her reputation as a trusted advisor. Molly has worked with over 100 nonprofit organizations of all sizes, from small start-ups to those with budgets of $20 million. Before founding PENN Creative Strategy in 2018, Molly had a track record of 20 years of consulting as well as staff experience in fundraising at major arts and cultural organizations. Molly is a frequent blogger about nonprofit management and has designed and led numerous trainings to improve the skills of nonprofit staff throughout the sector. Molly’s credentials include an MBA in Management from Fordham University, an MA in Arts Management from Columbia University and a BA in Dance from Bard College. She is Lean-certified, Hogan-certified, CCAT-certified, and trained in Appreciative Inquiry, Theory of Change and as a professional coach. Molly has served on the boards of various nonprofits, the national Alliance for Nonprofit Management, and served on the selection committee for Nonprofit New York’s Nonprofit Excellence Awards.
