Today we’d like to introduce you to Lili.
Hi Lili, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’m a lifelong Marylander, and in many ways my story has always been rooted in community. I grew up in Montgomery County, was educated in Maryland public schools from first grade all the way through my doctorate, and started my career in education and nonprofit work because I cared deeply about people having access to the resources, opportunities, and support they need to thrive.
Before founding Black Dog Philanthropic, I spent more than a decade working in education, nonprofit leadership, and community-based organizations… my entire career has been in fundraising and development, starting in graduate school! As my career evolved, I realized that the part of the work I loved most was helping organizations tell their story, strengthen their relationships, and build the kind of fundraising strategy that actually makes their mission sustainable.
In 2022, Black Dog Philanthropic was established from that vision. I wanted to create a firm that felt different from the traditional consulting model… practical, thoughtful, warm, and deeply rooted in the belief that nonprofits deserve excellent strategy without losing the heart of why they exist.
What started as a small consulting practice has grown into a firm that now supports organizations across Maryland and beyond with fundraising plans, capital campaigns, grants, board training, strategic planning, and culture of philanthropy work. Over the last several years, I have helped raise more than $21 million for organizations doing meaningful work in their communities… but the greater impact comes from putting the “fun” in fundraising and helping folks realize it’s not as scary as it seems.
I feel so grateful that I get to do work that sits at the intersection of strategy, storytelling, and service. I like to say that I get to work with the best of humanity every single day, and it couldn’t be more true!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Most definitely not! I think people sometimes see the polished version of entrepreneurship, but building a business requires a lot of faith, grit, and willingness to figure things out in real time.
One of the biggest challenges was making the leap from working within organizations to building something of my own; there’s a lot of vulnerability in that. You’re suddenly responsible not only for the quality of the work, but also for the business model, the compliance, the finances, the client relationships, the marketing, the systems, and the long-term vision. It can be incredibly empowering, but it can also be lonely and overwhelming.
I’ve also had to learn how to trust my own voice. Like a lot of women, especially younger women in leadership spaces, I spent plenty of time over-preparing, over-explaining, and wondering if I had earned my seat at the table. Over time, I realized that my perspective, lived experience, education, and track record all matter. The work speaks for itself, but I also had to learn to advocate for myself with the same clarity and confidence that I bring to my clients.
There have also been very practical challenges. Learning how to scale, how to price work appropriately, how to protect my time, how to hire, and how to build a business that is sustainable instead of simply busy. Those lessons haven’t always been easy, but they have made me a much better consultant and leader.
I’m proud that the road has not been perfectly smooth, because it has made the business more intentional. One of my favorite phrases is, “you win, or you learn,” and that couldn’t be more true when starting a business and a brand! Black Dog Philanthropic wasn’t built from a generic template; it was built from experience, mistakes, relationships, and a very real belief that good work deserves good strategy.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
My business is Black Dog Philanthropic Consulting. We work with nonprofits, public agencies, private philanthropy, and mission-driven organizations to help them strengthen fundraising, clarify strategy, and build more sustainable philanthropic cultures.
Our work includes fundraising assessments, development plans, capital campaigns, grant writing, board training, strategic planning, major gifts coaching, and culture of philanthropy work. At the core, we help organizations answer some really important questions. What story are we telling? Who needs to hear it? What relationships do we need to build? What resources will make this mission possible? And how do we create a plan that people can actually follow?
I think what sets Black Dog Philanthropic apart is that we are both strategic and deeply practical. I’m not interested in handing an organization a beautiful plan that sits on a shelf; I want to create tools, language, systems, and strategies that teams can actually use. I also understand that nonprofit leaders are often carrying a lot. They’re managing programs, staff, boards, funders, community needs, and constant urgency. Our job is to bring clarity, structure, and momentum without making the work feel more overwhelming.
I’m proud that Black Dog Philanthropic is known for being thoughtful, direct, collaborative, mission-centered, and most importantly, fun. I believe fundraising isn’t just about asking for money; it’s about helping people invest in the kind of world they want to live in. That belief shapes everything we do.
Brand-wise, I am most proud that Black Dog Philanthropic feels like me. It is smart, warm, highly relational, and grounded in abundance over scarcity. I wanted to build a firm that takes the work seriously without taking itself too seriously. Our clients are doing incredibly important work, and they deserve a partner who can bring both expertise and humanity to the table.
What I want readers to know is that philanthropy doesn’t have to feel intimidating or transactional. At its best, it is about connection, trust, and shared purpose. Black Dog Philanthropic helps organizations build the strategy and confidence to invite people into that purpose.
What does success mean to you?
I think there are a lot of ways to measure success, especially in fundraising. Most people go straight to dollars raised, and of course, that matters. Organizations need resources to do their work, and I’m always proud when a client reaches or exceeds a fundraising goal.
But for me, the deeper measure of success is whether the organization is stronger after our work together. Once the engagement is over, can they do it on their own? Do they understand the strategy? Do they have the language, tools, confidence, and systems to keep going without me in the room?
That’s also one of the reasons I love teaching classes and leading trainings. There’s this incredible “a-ha” moment that happens when something clicks. A board member realizes fundraising isn’t about asking everyone they know for money; a nonprofit leader finally sees how their story connects to donor motivation; a team starts to understand that philanthropy is really about relationships, not transactions. Those moments are such a defining measure of success for me because they mean the work is becoming sustainable.
I don’t want to be the kind of consultant who creates dependency. I want to help people build confidence and capacity. Success is when a client says, “We get it now. We know what to do next.” It’s when they feel clearer, braver, and more equipped than they did when we started.
So yes, success can be measured in dollars raised, grants secured, campaigns completed, and goals met… but my primary measure is whether the people I work with are able to carry the work forward. If they can keep building relationships, telling their story, and inviting people into their mission after I leave, that feels like real success.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.blackdogphilanthropic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackdogphilanthropic
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blackdogphilanthropic
