Good vibes, mutual support - Consultant Donorly Employee Review

Prior to working at Donorly, I was really struggling to find nonprofit work that was engaging and stimulating. I had worked for some really condescending and unsupportive managers in previous positions, so I was expecting more of the same from Donorly. I was pleasantly surprised to find that this wasn't the case. At Donorly I met wonderful colleagues who were supportive, thoughtful, and intellectually curious. I felt like I was really part of a team. My opinions, strategies, and ideas were taken seriously and I had never experienced that before in my career. Being a boutique consulting firm on the smaller side (about 30 or so employees ) I was given ample freedom to work on projects that I felt would benefit the company or would help other consultants better serve their clientele. The level of knowledge sharing and work sharing across the team was immense. It really was their -- to lean on a cliche -- "secret sauce." Sandra Davis was easily the best boss I've ever had. Her direct and open style of management was a breath of fresh air. I felt that I could tell her the truth whenever I messed up or was struggling with something. And more importantly, she would always stick up for and defend her consultants if a client leveled any unfair criticism at us. She really does have excellent leadership qualities that empower the staff. I can honestly say that I grew professionally working at Donorly, and my confidence in my abilities is higher than ever. I highly recommend this firm.

Like any company, there are always areas for improvement. Central to Donorly being somewhat small, it did sometimes feel like The Sandra Davis Show and the president would involve herself in more projects than was needed. I realize they are probably going to hire a chief of staff at some point so that the president can take a step back from granular day-to-day activities. On a related note, I think the Donorly staff -- perhaps as a symptom of dreaming big -- take on a lot of what I would refer to as "side quests", as in projects that get started and don't see a lot of follow-through. Just some minor critiques and what I hope will be constructive criticism.

The company is intentional about fostering a fair, inclusive, and anti-racist culture, which creates a positive and respectful work environment. The team is full of talented and supportive coworkers who are always willing to collaborate and help each other. The remote work setup offers flexibility, making it easier to maintain work-life balance.

Due to the small team size, employees are sometimes thrown into projects without adequate training or the specialized skills needed, which can be overwhelming. Leadership has a strong, specific vision, which is valuable but can sometimes lead to delays in progress when adjustments or new ideas are needed. In practice time tracking practices put in place for support create an anxious and overworked staff.