For funders & the organizations they back
Philanthropy that delivers the impact you intend.
Generous giving and real change aren’t the same thing. After two decades inside major institutions — George Mason, the National Cathedral, Appalachian Voices, and UVA’s Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture — I’ve seen exactly what separates giving that transforms from giving that quietly disappears. I help donors and foundations build the strategy, grantee relationships, and oversight that turn intention into measurable results — and I help organizations on the other side of the table show funders the impact they’re looking for.
Set the direction
Philanthropic Intervention
A high-ROI plan for donors who want to see real impact, fast.
Vision-Aligned Giving Strategy
Clarify what you’re actually trying to change, and fund accordingly.
Build the team around your giving
Grantee Identification & Vetting
Find, evaluate, and recruit the organizations most likely to deliver.
Volunteer Leadership Recruitment
Build a board or expert advisory bench for your foundation — pairs naturally with Elizabeth’s board work.
Program Officer in a Box
A seasoned program officer on call: reporting, metrics, application review, site visits — without the full-time hire.
Demonstrate your impact · for organizations seeking funding
Impact & Strategic Development
Translate your work into the results and reporting funders want to see. I know both sides of the table.
Campaign Readiness
An honest assessment of whether you’re positioned for a major or capital campaign — before you launch.
Leigh Harrison has spent two decades helping philanthropic institutions and nonprofits of every size give with the long view. His advancement work spans the National Cathedral, the George Mason University Foundation — where he led communications for a comprehensive campaign and later served as a liaison for philanthropic grantmakers — UVA’s Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture, and the regional environmental nonprofit Appalachian Voices. A founding member of the Consulting Co-op, he launched his own advisory practice to provide strategic counsel to grantseekers and philanthropists alike. Born and raised in Southside Virginia and rooted in the Charlottesville region, Leigh is a past CFRE who holds a B.A. in English from the College of William & Mary and an M.A. and Ph.D. in medieval studies from Cornell — and he teaches English composition on the adjunct faculty of Piedmont Virginia Community College.
Let’s talk
Let’s talk about your giving — or your campaign.
Whether you’re a funder looking for real impact or an organization getting ready to ask, the first step is a conversation about what you’re trying to achieve.
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