Helping communities, districts and nonprofits grow their footprint.
Grant writing, sponsorship strategy, business district management, consulting and speaking for chambers of commerce, business improvement districts, nonprofits and the organizations that move local economies forward.
Everything a growing organization needs to fund, staff and run its work
Hire me for a single project, a recurring retainer or a fractional leadership role. Every engagement is built around measurable growth: more revenue, more members, more people through the door.
Grant Writing
From finding the right funder to hitting submit.
- Funder research and prospecting
- Letters of inquiry
- Full proposals and budgets
- Post-award reporting
Sponsorship Strategy
Packages companies want to buy, and a plan to sell them.
- Tiered sponsorship packages
- Prospect lists and outreach
- Pitch decks and proposals
- Renewal and activation plans
BID and District Management
Practical leadership for business improvement districts and downtowns.
- Annual operating plans and budgets
- Board governance and reporting
- Property owner engagement
- BID formation support
Chamber and Association Consulting
Stronger revenue models for membership organizations.
- Dues structure and pricing
- Non-dues revenue streams
- Member onboarding and retention
- Program and benefit design
Economic Development
Strategy that connects businesses, municipalities and investors.
- Corporate investor campaigns
- Municipal partnership agreements
- Small business programs
- Workforce and school partnerships
Placemaking and Activation
Programming that brings people back to a place again and again.
- Year-round activation calendars
- Markets and community events
- Public art partnerships
- Programming budgets
Events and Fundraisers
Signature events that grow attendance and raise money.
- Event concept and budgeting
- Fundraising galas and Fund-a-Need
- Host committees
- Sponsor and attendee growth
Nonprofit and Foundation Development
Building the structure behind sustainable funding.
- Fund development plans
- Charitable foundation launch planning
- Board development
- Fractional development director
Built for organizations that serve a place
Extra capacity when your team is full
I take on overflow and subcontract grant work for established firms, under your brand or mine. Your client relationship stays yours.
- White-label or direct contracting
- Strongest in economic development, community, small business and nonprofit program grants
- Federal, state and foundation funder research
- Weekly status updates and one-business-day response time
- No contingency or percentage-of-award fees
- Intake callScope, timeline, budget and an honest read on fit.
- Funder scanA short memo of the best-fit funders and deadlines.
- Scope and quoteA fixed project fee or hourly estimate before work begins.
- Draft and reviseA first draft built to the funder's guidelines, two revision rounds and a final compliance check.
- Submit and hand offSubmission checklist, reporting calendar and a debrief with you.
Practical talks for boards, conferences and member events
Keynotes, panels, board retreats and hands-on workshops. Every talk leaves the room with something they can use on Monday.
Sponsorship That Sells
How to build packages around what sponsors actually want, and how to price, pitch and renew them.
Beyond Dues: Revenue Models for Modern Chambers
Diversifying chamber revenue through investors, programs, foundations and municipal partnerships.
Placemaking on a Budget
Turning public spaces into destinations with year-round activation and smart partnerships.
Grant Readiness for Small Organizations
What funders look for, and how to get your organization ready before the deadline hits.
Urban Core and Suburbs: One Regional Economy
Lessons from leading a downtown district and a suburban chamber at the same time.
Board Retreats and Strategy Sessions
Facilitated planning sessions that end with clear priorities, owners and timelines.
Flexible engagements that fit your budget
Fixed-fee projects
Grant applications, sponsorship packages, operating plans and event plans, quoted up front.
Monthly retainer
Ongoing strategy, grant pipeline management and sponsorship sales support.
Fractional leadership
Part-time executive or development director coverage during transitions or growth.
Talks and workshops
Keynotes, panels and facilitated sessions, in person or virtual.
David Christensen
David Christensen is a Milwaukee-based economic development and nonprofit leader who helps organizations find the money, partners and programs to grow.
He currently serves as Deputy Director of the North Shore Chamber of Commerce, where he leads programming, revenue, economic development and the Chamber's charitable foundation, and as Executive Director of BID 53 | Deer District in downtown Milwaukee. Working across a suburban chamber and an urban business district gives him a rare regional view of how businesses, municipalities and funders work together.
Growth Footprint brings that experience to organizations that need senior-level help without a full-time hire.
Let's grow your footprint.
Tell me about your organization and what you're working toward. The first conversation is always free.