The Yunker Group - Helping Others Make a Difference

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Helping Others Make A Difference®

We’re dedicated to helping your nonprofit achieve great results

Founded as Smith Beers Yunker & Company in 1995 on the principle Helping Others Make a Difference®, The Yunker Group offers guidance to volunteer leaders to help them govern more passionately, choose C-level executives more strategically, and steward funds more effectively

Learn More About Us

Our team members provide behind-the-scenes coaching and advice to nonprofit staff, helping them make a greater difference in their vital roles. We believe remaining behind the scenes is imperative in providing nonprofit executive search and fundraising counsel. We never seek recognition or take credit for the successes of those who devote their lives to making a difference in their communities.

Whether assisting seniors, educating children, caring for the poor or disabled, sustaining the arts, protecting the environment, or any other worthy endeavor, it is their work we strive to further and the reputations we seek to enhance. We are proud to be associated with and eager to be of service to all who are involved in the noble work of philanthropy.

What We Do

Although each organization is different, there are certain management and fundraising needs most share in common. The scope of our services is reflected in the following list; however, we welcome your inquiry about any other need you might have as well.

We Help

C-Level Executive Search

Organizations turn to us to help develop CEO succession plan and guide comprehensive CEO and CDO searches.

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We Provide

Friendraising & Fundraising Counsel

Our seasoned Group provides pre-campaign planning and capital and endowment campaign counsel.

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We Facilitate

Leadership Development

Our experienced Group coaches boards on strategic leadership issues, facilitates retreats, and assists in scouting new talent.

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We Coach

Volunteer Coaching

As experienced volunteers ourselves, our Group helps volunteer leaders build confidence in carrying out leadership duties including raising funds.

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We Deliver

Writing and Graphic Design

No Case. No Cash. Our Group’s professional writers help tell your compelling stories and work with designers to promote your organization.

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We Provide

CoffeeCounsel®

The perspective of an objective third-party can be helpful, even if it’s just “over coffee.”

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Who We Serve

We take seriously our mission of Helping Others Make A Difference®

Check us out with organizations we have helped in a variety of ways and learn we’ve developed a reputation for telling leaders what they need to hear, not necessarily what they want to hear. We like Teddy Roosevelt’s admonition, “People Don’t Care What You Know Until They Know How Much You Care.” You will learn we care!

"The process of describing the full scope of our work on paper allowed us to better view ourselves from the perspective of people outside our group. The interviews helped board members think about the Coalition in a more in-depth way and the written piece helps us deliver a consistent message."
- Holly James Molony, ED, Coalition for a Drug-Free Greater Cincinnati
"Although I had experience fundraising as a nonprofit board member, our consultation with The Yunker Group brought what was a loosely formed strategy into actionable clarity."
- John Pfeiffer, Board President, American Guild of English Handbell Ringers
"I appreciated the superb job Judy Smyth did in researching and writing our case for support. The final document was truly remarkable."
- Bob Wehr, Former ED, St. Joseph Orphanage
"Even before we made the decision to retain The Yunker Group, Jim opened our eyes to many things we had not considered. I would suggest that anyone who is seeking creative fundraising ideas would benefit from a CoffeeCounsel session with The Yunker Group."
- Sallie Westheimer, Former ED, 4C for Cincinnati
“I’m not sure people fully recognize the power of storytelling in moving people to action, be it volunteering, giving financial support, or participating in the program. We were very pleased with the work of The Yunker Group and would recommend this process as part of any organizational planning agenda.”
- Barbara Bonifas, Girl Scouts of Western Ohio
“It showed us ways we can work more effectively together. Jim’s quiet, mild manner made it easy for both staff and volunteer trustees to accept the advice that was given because it was offered in such a non-threatening way.”
- Sr. Margaret Stallmeyer, Former President, Thomas More College
“Jim is just such a thoughtful facilitator. He listens so carefully and is so skillful at guiding the discussion in a positive and productive direction. And that’s so important when you’re seeking to build a shared vision that people are going to actually be invested in, and to put the work into reality.”
- Judi Heile, Board Member, Ohio Valley Residential Services
“Jim gave our trustees insight into what their responsibilities are, what other boards are doing, and how our board compares to those of other organizations. I now see our trustees referring back to that guidance and taking initiative in ways they hadn’t before.”
- Cathy Silvers, Thomas More College
“Jim was very open to working with our team which helped build trust that it wasn’t going to be a punitive process or negative process. He was very, very open to our concerns and our requests.”
- Pete Moore, Ohio Provider Resource Association (OPRA)
“Having a third-party person provides more of a safe space for transparency. It gave us an opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to our donors. And it doesn’t put us in the position of being in a conversation and trying to quickly answer or defend. We could just listen.”
- Jon Labbe, Mercy Health Foundation
“It’s clear that The Yunker Group knows its business, particularly as it relates to this type of search. They made it as painless as possible for those of us who served on the committee.”
- Christine Buttress, Search Committee Chair, Pro Seniors, Inc.
“One thing I really appreciate about The Yunker Group is that they specifically work with nonprofits and understand our field. Their niche in the market was certainly a benefit to OPRA and surely to the other nonprofits they serve as well.”
- Trish Otter, Ohio Provider Resource Association (OPRA)
“Honestly, The Yunker Group just blew me away. I had expectations, and they were exceeded at every level. The quality of the candidates, the background they provided and Jim’s facilitation of the interviews … all of it was just phenomenal."
- Laura Kramer, Search Committee Member, Child Focus, Inc.
“What I would share the most with others is what you see with The Yunker Group is what you receive. Their process and delivery were very consistent with what they described upfront during initial conversations.”
- Mike Dunn, Society of St. Vincent de Paul
"They were so reliable and provided a much-needed sounding board for when things weren't going absolutely perfect. They were great at helping us work through any challenges that arose and always helped us get back on course."
- Danielle Gentry-Barth, Cincinnati Youth Collaborative
"As a candidate I felt the process allowed me to show the search committee who I am in a full 3-dimensional way. The tools and methods The Yunker Group uses ensured that the committee members knew not only my technical skills and experience but also the type of leadership I would bring to the job. I have no doubt that this is what created a great match for both the organization and for me!"
- Vanessa Freytag, CEO 4C for Children
“The Yunker Group served as a true partner in understanding our needs, guiding the selection process, and providing an outstanding candidate experience.”
- Kim Chiodi, member 4C for Children search committee and Senior Vice President, Human Resources of Western & Southern
“I value their knowledge of the community; they know all the connections and can see the whole picture very clearly.”
- Ellen Katz, Greater Cincinnati Foundation/formerly The Children’s Home of Cincinnati
“They were able to get our constituents to disclose their feelings with incredible candor. I believe the ability to evoke confidential information reflects on their very professional interviewing skills and their personal integrity.”
- John P. Williams, Community Volunteer
“My experience with them reinforced for me the value of engaging highly specialized professionals for such a need and, then, listening to the advice they provide. In addition to their experience, knowledge and discipline, the most valuable contribution they shared was their professionalism and persistence in supporting a primarily volunteer organization.”
- Nick Vehr, Vehr Communications/World Choir Games 2012
"If you're going to be effective in this business, you need to know what people are trying to do - and Jim Yunker understands that. He also has a wealth of experience and expertise that he can draw from, and that's essential. Jim also respects confidentiality. When you have a conversation with him, you can trust that information won't go any further, and that's important."
- Lee Ault Carter
“They were masterful at striking a balance between giving direction based on their knowledge and expertise and listening to our thoughts and concerns. The fact that they were able to provide such useful guidance in this process may stem from the firm's broad base of experience and extensive knowledge of fundraising management."
- David T. Abbott, Executive Director of The George Gund Foundation/Philanthropy Ohio Board
“During the pre-campaign planning phase, The Yunker Group gave us an honest assessment of our project’s potential for success and, in fact, recommended we shelve a few of our projects. This direction was based on experience and knowledge of the community which was very helpful.”
- Suzy Dorward, YMCA of Greater Cincinnati
"They are just so well steeped in the right fund development and philanthropic circles, which is really the market we were seeking a successful candidate from, and their contacts really assisted us in identifying what I felt was a very strong field of candidates."
- Doug Spitler, Episcopal Retirement Homes
“After interviewing a few other consultants, we believed that The Yunker Group offered the most balanced, reasonable approach to the strategic planning.”
- Jim Hudson, Executive Director, Down Syndrome Association of Greater Cincinnati