Creating a world together that works better for more people.
About Us
Collective Agency is a development and communications collective based in California. We work with social, racial, economic, and environmental justice endeavors we believe in, and we build agency for these organizations in a spirit of communal learning and growth. We’re great at connecting people and ideas, seeing the big picture, writing convincing prose, and making complicated things simpler. We aim for trust, joy, and high standards in every aspect of our work.
Since our founding in 2021, we’ve secured hundreds of millions of dollars for over 60 clients, winning some of the most technical and competitive grants, supporting successful capital campaigns, and building and streamlining tools for organizational and fundraising effectiveness.
Our Team
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Lauren Hall
PARTNER
Lauren has been working in and with nonprofits in multiple capacities for 20 years, and throughout this time has focused on cultivating experience and skills in resourcing the work. Since co-founding Collective Agency in 2021, she has guided incredible client organizations and leaders in raising over $100 million dollars for projects that make our world more livable and equitable, and our communities stronger and more connected. She is grateful for the opportunity to work at the intersection of justice and possibility. She believes in the power of community to create a more just world.
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Sharyl McGrew
PARTNER
Sharyl enjoys moving between the big picture and the smallest details to help her clients develop compelling and innovative projects.
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Sara Sherman
PARTNER
Sara has years of experience in nonprofit management, small business development, financial operations and marketing. She supports non-profits as they grow, helping to build the systems they need to succeed, including budgeting tools that give management insight into committed and needed funding; accounting; data and grant tracking systems that support easy and accurate reporting to the board and funders; and development of common-sense policies and procedures.
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Jayne Williams
CO-FOUNDER
Jayne is a fast and fluent writer and editor, a planner, a synthesizer of ideas, and a connector of complementary people and organizations.
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Hilary Bass
CONSULTANT
Hilary is a dynamic public sector leader with a proven track record in driving results through innovative public safety initiatives, community development, and strategic collaboration. Known for her expertise in creative placemaking and community engagement, Hilary is dedicated to establishing vibrant public spaces and improved public systems that foster positive societal change. She has secured over $50M in funding for impactful community-based projects, shaping outcomes in public safety, public health, and economic development.
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Fae Comiskey
DESIGNER
As a problem solving sorceress with an eye for detail, Fae loves turning vague ideas into coherent and compelling finished products. She brings artistry, empathy, and a professional skill-set to her design and digital publishing work.
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Emily Cesca
CONSULTANT
Emily has 15 years of experience supporting finance, operations, human resources, and development for nonprofit organizations in a variety of fields including arts and education, health and wellness, and hospitality. Her personal mission is to cultivate order, clarity, and compassion so that organizations can do the important work of carrying out their missions. Emily is also a yoga therapist, avid ukulele hobbyist, amateur singer, and Spanish fluency aspirant.
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Kendall Heaton
CONSULTANT
Kendall loves helping organizations bring their visions into reality by supporting their planning, development, program implementation, and evaluation. She is methodical, a systems-thinker, and committed to creating a more equitable, healthy and joyful world.
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Julie Lanza
CONSULTANT
Julie has worked in nonprofit fundraising for 30 years, helping to empower the missions of nonprofits in the environmental protection and performing arts sectors. Most recently, she served as Director of Foundation Giving at a global climate advocacy organization, managing a grant fundraising operation that grew fourfold during her tenure. Julie loves applying the skills honed in her early career as reporter and editor to craft persuasive narrative that conveys the unique values and strengths of the organizations she works with.
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Susan Mernit
SENIOR STRATEGIST
Innovative and collaborative, Susan brings over fifteen years of valuable experience to her work, including roles as a tech entrepreneur, non-profit Executive Director, and strategic consultant. She adeptly blends creativity with a data-driven methodology to unravel complex problems and devise simple, yet effective solutions.
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Catherine Porter
CONSULTANT
Catherine is an experienced executive and board trustee, and a seasoned organizational development professional who delights in finding the right partners for each growing institution: board members, funders, allies and friends.
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Tavia Stewart
CONSULTANT
Tavia has over 20 years of experience in building and leading community-arts nonprofits as a founder and COO. Her expertise lies in values-centered business infrastructure, program development, project management, writing, marketing, and creative direction.
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Ken Stram
CONSULTANT
Ken is a storyteller, poet, and wordsmith with more than 25 years of experience supporting nonprofit organizations that are invested in solving complex social and environmental challenges. He helps organizations achieve their goals and objectives through a combination of strategic communications, message development, program development, grant writing and management, public relations, and business development activities.