Lovett and Sons

Strategy + Storytelling Rooted in Community

Category: Blog Post

  • Strategy for the Moment We Are In

    Strategy for the Moment We Are In

    I have been quiet in some places, but I have not been absent.

    The writing slowed down. The posting slowed down. The learning did not.

    The work has still been the cornerstone.

    Over the last year, I have been inside the rooms where people are trying to figure out what this moment requires. Nonprofits. Foundations. Schools. board tables. statewide projects. community conversations. leadership programs. public meetings. cultural work. family work. democracy work. the work of keeping people connected while so many systems around us are shifting.

    And here is the truth.

    A year ago, some of us were preparing for this.

    Now it is here.

    Not everywhere all at once. Not in every corner yet. Not in every system at the same speed.

    But it is here. It is still rumbling. And it will keep moving through every sector, every institution, every organization, every family, and every person trying to make sense of what comes next.

    That is not gloom. It is reality.

    And nonprofit leaders need space to tell the truth about it.

    Many organizations are already stretched. Many teams are already at capacity. Many leaders are holding more complexity than their job descriptions ever named. And the next season will ask even more of people who are already carrying a lot.

    So yes, some of us can move 75 miles per hour.

    Some of us can move 90.

    But if someone on the team can only safely move 25, maybe the real strategy is not forcing everyone to speed up. Maybe the real strategy is learning how to move at 55 together.

    Not because slowing down means we are missing the urgency.

    Because alignment changes what a team can carry.

    Because being on the same page changes the weight of the work.

    Because the goal is not one exhausted person at the front of the room. The goal is a collective that can actually sustain what comes next.

    That is where the work begins.

    Are you fully thinking and strategizing in this moment with the right people, the right voices, and the right lived experience at the table?

    Are you preparing for what is coming, or are you still operating in an old way because no one has helped you name what has changed?

    Are you building plans around what is real, or around what used to be true?

    Are you asking who benefits, who pays, who decides, and who is missing?

    Are you protecting what absolutely cannot break?

    This is where Lovett and Sons can help.

    Not with strategy that sits on a shelf.

    With strategy that listens.

    Strategy that tells the truth.

    Strategy that helps leaders pause, learn, engage, and design.

    Strategy that understands that community is not a vague idea. Community is infrastructure.

    Community is where people get fresh produce.

    Community is where older adults gather and stay connected.

    Community is where children find the retired educator who can help them when after-school programs disappear.

    Community is where artists keep memory alive.

    Community is where people find health care, food, transportation, childcare, books, safety, language, and belonging.

    Community is where the stories live.

    And right now, stories matter.

    The words we choose matter.

    The people we gather matter.

    The way we listen matters.

    I have spent this last season in rooms where my value was not questioned. In rooms where people could see the work, not just the name. In rooms where ideas became constellations, and the work was to connect them so more people could be helped.

    That has become a North Star for me.

    I am less interested in being everywhere.

    I am more interested in being in the right rooms with people who are ready to listen, trust, build, and move with care.

    Because we are in a rapid time.

    AI is changing how we work. Policy is changing how people live. Institutions are being tested. Communities are being asked to hold more. Leaders are being asked to grow in public. And the old ways of pretending everything is fine will not carry us through.

    We have to learn from the people who came before us.

    We have to listen to the people who are coming next.

    We have to make room for people to lead without needing a title first.

    We have to stop interrupting the people who are closest to the truth.

    We have to stop gathering the same voices and calling it strategy.

    We have to admit that this is a heck of a time to be alive, to lead, to parent, to build, to serve, to organize, to create, and to stay rooted.

    And then we have to prepare.

    Wherever you are rooted, prepare.

    Prepare your organization.

    Prepare your board.

    Prepare your team.

    Prepare your community.

    Prepare your people.

    Lovett and Sons is here for that work.

    Strategy and storytelling rooted in community, across Ohio and beyond.

  • Start With the People, Then Build the Plan

    Start With the People, Then Build the Plan

    The strongest strategies usually don’t start with a document. They begin with a conversation.

    It starts with people being invited to speak honestly, and leaders being ready to hear it. That’s where alignment begins. That’s when trust builds. That’s how plans gain the clarity and momentum they need to last.

    More and more, leaders across the sector are choosing to begin this way.

    • A new executive director who walks through every corner of the organization, asking staff what feels unfinished.
    • A funder who calls partners before launching a new program, asking what’s rising in real time.
    • A board chair who chooses to listen quietly in a community meeting and brings back what they heard without translation.

    This is how strategy becomes something people believe in, not just something they’re told to follow.

    Communities know the difference between being asked to contribute and being trusted to shape what’s next. That difference shows up in how the work moves, who carries it, and whether it feels like a burden or a shared vision.

    Listening isn’t a preliminary step. It’s the foundation.

    When listening is woven into the fabric of strategy building, it opens space for deeper ownership. People feel the shift — not just in words but also in how meetings unfold, roles are defined, and decisions are made. It becomes less about managing input and more about honoring perspective.

    Hearing multiple perspectives — especially those that have historically been left out or flattened — makes strategy not only stronger but also more reflective of the world we’re actually working in.

    This kind of approach isn’t about slowing down. It’s about building better.

    With more care. More inclusion. More depth.

    For organizations or foundations looking to lead this way, the opportunity is here.

    Start with the people. Then build the plan.

    And if support is needed — to facilitate, to document, to translate stories into action — Lovett & Sons is here to help.

    🧡Strategy and Storytelling Rooted in Community.

  • Planning for What’s Next Starts with Who’s Already Here

    Planning for What’s Next Starts with Who’s Already Here

    We talk a lot about building capacity. But in practice, that conversation often skips past the people doing the work every day.

    The local activist finding time between shifts and school pickup. The nonprofit staffer juggling operations, outreach, and storytelling — with little time to rest. The neighborhood-based group solving real problems long before funding ever arrived.

    This is where capacity building has to begin. Not in theory — in real time, with the people who are already doing the work. 

    Trust comes first

    Before we talk about tools or timelines, we need trust — the kind built through listening, consistency, and shared experience.

    Capacity isn’t always about hiring more people or applying for bigger grants. Sometimes, it’s about creating space to collaborate across neighborhoods and sectors. It’s about making room to reflect, not just react.

    When that kind of alignment is in place, the right tools become easier to introduce. One of those tools we’re paying close attention to is AI.

    Let tools support the people

    We’ve seen the headlines, but here’s what matters: AI can support capacity when used with intention. For community-rooted organizations short on time, it can help with things like drafting content, organizing records, or summarizing years of data that’s hard to wrangle.

    It’s not about replacing anyone. It’s about making more room for focus, clarity, and the human work that tech can’t do — like building trust, shaping vision, and showing up.

    Strategy that reflects real life

    A five-year strategic plan written without community input is just another document. But a shared vision shaped by real conversations? That can lead to something lasting.

    Strategy should feel lived-in — something people can use, not just review. At Lovett and Sons, that’s the kind of planning we help build.

    What we’ve learned

    We work with nonprofits, community leaders, and philanthropic partners who are ready to:

    • Align their vision with how they work
    • Use storytelling to connect more deeply
    • Build strategy that honors lived experience

    But at the core, it’s always the same belief The people already doing the work deserve support that matches their vision.

    The future starts with us — all of us

    If we want capacity that lasts, we have to:

    • Start by trusting local leaders
    • Strengthen relationships that already exist
    • Use tools like AI with care and clarity
    • Plan together — not for performance, but for real momentum

    The next phase of community work won’t be built alone. It will take conversation, creativity, and planning that feels personal. If you’re looking for a partner to support that process — we’re ready to build it with you. 

  • Rooted in Community Our Conversation on Just Glo

    Rooted in Community Our Conversation on Just Glo

    The best conversations aren’t always planned — and that’s exactly what happened when we joined Gloria Buxton live on her radio show, Just Glo.

    It wasn’t a podcast or a polished interview — it was real, live radio. A space to talk about community, vision, storytelling, and what it looks like to stay grounded in the work. We shared how Lovett and Sons came to be, how strategy and vision unfold in our work, and why the stories we tell — about ourselves, our families, and our communities — hold so much power.

    We’re grateful to Glo for always making space for real conversations and for keeping generations connected through her platform. From the grandkids to the elders, it’s a reminder that the work lives on through the stories, the connections, and the everyday people showing up. THANK YOU, Glo 🧡

    If you missed the show live, we’ve got you covered — we captured the audio so you can listen in.

    Just Glo interviewing Lovett and Sons 6/23/25.

    We’d love to hear what resonates with you — the conversation doesn’t stop when the mics turn off.🧡

    🎧 Tune in to Just Glo every 4th Monday of the month at 2 PM on WSAV-LP 93.7FM, listen2myradio.com (search WSAV), or shilohmbchurch.org.

  • Beyond the Grant — Rethinking Fundraising in Real-Time

    Beyond the Grant — Rethinking Fundraising in Real-Time

    If you’re leading a nonprofit right now, you already know the rhythm: apply, report, wait, repeat. You’ve done the work. You’ve written the grants. And you’ve kept going even when the funding didn’t.

    Philanthropy, in many ways, has carried the sector through seasons of growth and hardship. And for that, we hold deep respect. But relying solely on grant cycles in 2025 is like building a house on sand. The foundation needs to shift.

    There is more funding available than most organizations realize — not always through new grants, but through existing relationships, overlooked opportunities, and untold stories. One of those places is Donor-Advised Funds.

    According to the 2024 Donor-Advised Fund Report by the National Philanthropic Trust, charitable assets held in donor-advised funds (DAFs) totaled $251.52 billion at the end of 2023.

    That same year, $54.77 billion was granted from DAFs to nonprofits, making it one of the highest annual totals on record — even with a drop in new contributions.

    While DAF contributions and grants shifted with economic trends, the payout rate remained steady at nearly 24%. This consistency shows that many donors are still giving — especially when they feel connected to the mission

    This is the time to step back and reflect. Not on what’s missing — but on what’s already present. What connections haven’t been nurtured? What stories haven’t been told? What relationships could deepen if you slowed down long enough to ask different questions?

    We often find that the clarity nonprofits are looking for doesn’t come from bigger goals — it comes from more grounded ones. The moment you shift from “How do we raise money?” to “Who have we already moved?” everything starts to change. It’s not just about funding. It’s about positioning. And that positioning must come from the inside out — your values, your voice, your community.

    At Lovett and Sons, we help nonprofits realign with what’s already working and build the tools to strengthen it. That includes creating a message donors can trust, a structure that doesn’t rely on a single revenue stream, and a storytelling strategy that feels like you — not like a grant proposal in disguise.

    If you’re ready to shift the way you fundraise — not just tactically but holistically — we’re prepared to walk with you. This moment doesn’t need more hustle. It requires more honesty. And your story deserves to be told with intention.

    🧡 Let’s build it together.

    Set-up Time to Chat!

  • Strategy Rooted in Community: The Story of Lovett & Sons

    Strategy Rooted in Community: The Story of Lovett & Sons

    As spring unfolds into summer here in Lorain County, Ohio, we’re excited to introduce Lovett & Sons, officially launching on Friday, May 2, 2025. This endeavor represents a culmination of years dedicated to community engagement, strategic planning, and a steadfast commitment to fostering collaborative solutions.

    About the Founder

    I’m Britt, the founder and principal consultant of Lovett & Sons. Being a native of this vibrant community, I’ve always been passionate about bringing diverse voices together to address complex challenges. Over the years, I’ve honed the ability to facilitate conversations that lead to actionable strategies, recognizing that the most effective solutions emerge when varied experiences converge.

    Our Mission: Strategy Rooted in Community

    Our guiding principle, Strategy Rooted in Community, reflects our belief that sustainable change arises from within. We aim to empower local organizations, leaders, and residents by providing strategic consulting services informed by our community’s unique dynamics.

    A Visual Journey

    The visuals you’ll encounter throughout our platforms testify to our community’s richness. Many photographs have been captured by me, while others are contributions from talented local artists and cherished family members. Each image tells a story, encapsulating moments that inspire our mission.

    Looking Ahead

    As we approach Juneteenth, a time of reflection and celebration, we’re reminded of the importance of community resilience and unity. We’re excited to embark on this journey, not only within Lorain County but also extending our reach across the state and region.

    In the coming weeks, we’ll share blog posts that delve deeper into our vision, values, and the impact we aspire to make. We invite you to join us in this endeavor, share your insights, and collaborate toward building a more connected and empowered community.

    Stay Connected:

    • Website
    • britt@lovettcollective.com

    Thank you for being a part of our story.