Dr. Nelson wants you to know a few key pieces:

He's someone's husband
He's someone's brother
He's some-dog's designated chef

Dr. Nelson situates his work at the intersection of the how and why we have to work. During his undergraduate work, Shane wanted to gain a better understanding how what made organizations move and operate. Then, while studying in his masters program he recognized how the social safety net was changing. More nonprofits were doing the work of the government in the US (neoliberalism) and he co-founded a consulting firm to better address how these organizations could do more with little staff. While growing his business, Dr. Nelson started a Ph.D. program in Policy Organizational and Leadership studies. It was in this program that he became focused on one question what is work?

 

There are a constant stream of buzzwords, conflicting messages, and repeated histories that try to dictate what work should be for all of us -- the degreed vs. non-degreed, rural work, remote work, and eveything connected to, in some way, generating an income. Dr. Nelson's research interests and practical work seek to filter out this stream and provide navigation and clarity to communities and partners.

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Dr. Shane Nelson ise is also the co-founder of Thoughtphil (powered by Reify Solutions), a community consultancy that connects fundraising, research, and community development strategies into sustainable actions for our collective well-being. Dr. Nelson is also the Director of Youth Engagement and Economic Empowerment at LeadersUp. His work supports the organization's mission of empowering BIPOC YAs for a future-proof workforce through his leadership of fellowship programming under the LA Economic Empowerment Alliance.

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Taylor as our leader

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Taylor brings extensive expertise in strategic partnerships, capacity building, and community engagement to drive organizational growth and social impact. With a proven track record of managing multi-million dollar development initiatives and building cross-sector collaborations, she specializes in designing innovative fundraising strategies, stakeholder alignment, and DEI-centered organizational transformation.

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Previously serving as Director of Development & Strategic Partnerships at Fair Chance in Washington DC, Taylor led comprehensive development efforts resulting in $2.5M in revenue through capital campaigns, donor cultivation, and strategic partnerships. As a Senior Advisor with Reify Solutions, she has coached executive leaders and designed custom training programs to advance organizational goals across the nonprofit sector. 

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Taylor holds a Master's in Higher Education from Temple University and is completing her Interdisciplinary Doctorate in Education at Saint Joseph's University. Her commitment to community extends through board service with organizations including the Mazzoni Center and active membership in multiple professional and civic associations.

Key Achievements​

$1.5M+ raised for BIPOC-serving nonprofits (2022-present)

300 individuals placed through Fair Chance Hiring ($12M economic impact)4 cohorts trained in semiconductor and sports/entertainment industries

2,000+ professionals engaged through DEI initiatives

50+ grassroots nonprofits supported

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Leadership Approach

Together, they integrate research, development, data analytics, and capacity building to help organizations exceed their vision. Their work spans intermediaries, direct-service organizations, and social impact partners, with expertise in:

 

Mixed-methods research and evaluation

Data visualization using ArcGIS and Tableau

Strategic fundraising and development

Project management and organizational support

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Both bring academic rigor and practical experience from Temple University, Drexel University, Syracuse University, Saint Joseph’s University, and critical training organizations.