
Expertise
Maximize the social return on every investment.
We help philanthropic and social investors — individual donors, family foundations, private foundations and corporations — identify the best possible nonprofit partners to maximize investments and achieve social-impact goals.
01Discovery
We meet the leadership team — family members of a small foundation, trustees of a large private foundation, or senior executives activating community affairs and CSR platforms — to determine collective values; the issues they most want to impact and why; the brands and content they wish to align with; and the level and horizon of investment.
02Visioning
Using design thinking, we ideate with the core team to create a vision of the future state that further engagement in the social sector can produce.
03Partner Selection
We design criteria for optimal nonprofit partners — those that actualize the funder’s values and vision and yield the highest social-impact return — then research candidates, vet them with our GSII© scoring, and interview trustees and executive teams.
04Partner Agreements & Performance Goals
Once partners are selected, we help structure agreements and performance metrics to measure the effectiveness of the collective team — often designing beta tests for the partnership before a full roll-out.
Due diligence
Vetted with the Gold Standard Impact Index©
NPL counsels family offices, fund managers, social investors and private foundations on legacy and impact goals — and recommends strategic investments in vetted nonprofits using the GSII©, our proprietary scoring of organizational performance and social-impact return.
Foundations & funds we’ve advised
- The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta
- The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
- The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
- The Ford Foundation
- The Texas Women’s Fund
- Private family foundations & donor-advised funds
“I have been so impressed by how Laurie, Jim and their team creatively approach their clients’ opportunities. They are innovative, out-of-the-box thinkers with flawless execution. What a great asset they are to this work.”

“Based on NPL’s enthusiasm for The National Geographic education mission, the Kirkegaards skillfully galvanized leaders with diverse and opposing points of view around a common call to action — producing a stellar visionary award program that attracted Governor William Winter, James Barksdale, Senator Thad Cochran, Ellen Ratner, Haley Barbour and other leaders, and forged new thinking around our greatest statewide education challenges.”
Put your capital to work where it counts
We’ll bring the diligence — you bring the vision.
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