About

About Us

Pope Coaching & Consulting is a nonprofit fundraising firm that specializes in working with BIPOC and LGBTQ led nonprofits. Mike Pope PC&C’s Lead Consultant brings over 15 years of fundraising experience to this session.

Most recently, he helped raise millions for the University of Chicago’s undergraduate scholarship program, giving deserving students the opportunity to attend a world-class institution.

But Mike’s passion extends beyond large, well-resourced organizations. He saw firsthand how smaller nonprofits, especially those led by BIPOC and LGBTQ leaders, often struggle to access the same high-level fundraising strategies that larger nonprofits can afford. That’s why he started coaching and consulting, to give smaller organizations the tools and knowledge they need to succeed.

Our Values

Let’s Change the World Together

At Pope Coaching & Consulting, our values aren’t slogans on a wall. They guide how we show up for our clients, our partners, and each other. We believe real change happens when people feel seen, supported, and equipped to do their best work.

01 Empathy First

We lead with understanding, not assumptions. We know nonprofit work is personal. It’s rooted in lived experience, community responsibility, and often, sacrifice. Before offering solutions, we listen. Before proposing strategy, we seek to understand context. Empathy helps us design support that is realistic, respectful, and sustainable, not performative or extractive.

02 Relationships Over Transactions

We don’t just deliver services, we build partnerships. Fundraising, leadership, and growth are deeply relational. We invest time in knowing our clients, their teams, and the communities they serve. Trust matters. Continuity matters. Long-term impact matters. Our best work happens when relationships are mutual, honest, and grounded in shared purpose.

03 Collaboration Is the Work

We believe change happens together.
We don’t come in as saviors or experts with all the answers. We work alongside our clients, co-creating strategy, sharing knowledge, and building capacity. Whether it’s with a board, a staff team, or a solo nonprofit leader, we believe collaboration produces stronger outcomes than top-down solutions.

04 Integrity in Every Step

We do the work the right way, even when no one is watching. From fundraising ethics to how we use technology, we prioritize integrity. That means clear communication, responsible strategy, and honoring the trust placed in us by donors, funders, and communities.

05 Practical Impact Over Perfection

We value progress that can actually be implemented. Our clients don’t need lofty plans that sit on a shelf. They need systems that work with the staff, time, and resources they have right now. We focus on what’s actionable, adaptable, and aligned, because real impact is built step by step.

What This Means in Practice

We listen deeply before we advise We design with, not for our clients We value people as much as outcomes We tell the truth, even when it’s hard
We design with, not for our clients
We value people as much as outcomes
We tell the truth, even when it’s hard
We build systems that respect real-life constraints