Sarah Emmert Consulting

Strategic Planning • Facilitation • Capacity Building • Community Engagement • Systems Change

Bringing people together. Creating lasting change.

I help organizations engage the right people, build alignment and turn complex challenges into practical strategies that create lasting impact.

Supporting government, philanthropy, nonprofits and cross-sector collaboratives throughout California.

About Sarah Emmert

Sarah Emmert, MA, is a social impact consultant who helps organizations and communities navigate complex challenges, strengthen collaboration and turn ideas into action. Her work spans strategic planning, facilitation, community engagement, capacity building and systems change, with particular depth in justice, community safety, prevention and cross-sector collaboration.

Learn more about Sarah → Curriculum Vitae

WHAT I HELP WITH

Strategic Planning & Implementation

I help organizations move from assessment and planning through implementation, accountability and continuous improvement.

Organizational & community-wide strategic planning
Organizational assessment
Implementation planning
Public policy
Results-Based Accountability
Evaluation & continuous improvement

Facilitation, Leadership & Collaboration

I design and facilitate processes that help teams, partners and cross-sector collaboratives build shared understanding, navigate complexity and move forward together.

Inclusive facilitation
Leadership coaching & development
Team development
Cross-sector collaboration
Multidisciplinary & multi-partner initiatives

Community Engagement & Capacity Building

I design meaningful engagement processes and provide practical support that strengthens organizations, partnerships and community participation.

Community engagement strategy
Focus groups, interviews & surveys
Community events & town halls
Youth & lived experience engagement
Workshops & learning sessions
Technical assistance & organizational capacity building

Leadership & Project Design

I help organizations and partners shape complex initiatives, coordinate people and processes, and turn ideas into action.

Project & initiative leadership
Program development
Event planning & design
Meeting & process design
Stakeholder coordination

MY CORE PRINCIPLES

Equity-Focused & Systems-Oriented: I consider how policies, practices and systems shape opportunity and outcomes, with attention to who is most affected and where change can make a meaningful difference.
Culturally Responsive: I adapt how I work with people and organizations to their context, experiences and ways of knowing, creating conditions for meaningful participation and honest dialogue.
Collaborative & Goal-Aligned: I bring people together around shared goals, create space for different perspectives and help groups move from discussion to action.
Community-Centered & Inclusive: I design processes that make meaningful participation possible for the people closest to an issue, including people with lived experience and those who are often left out of decision making.
Capacity-Building & Sustainability: I focus on building knowledge, skills, relationships and systems that organizations can carry forward beyond the consulting engagement.
Prevention-Focused & Data-Informed: I draw on data, research, community knowledge and lived experience to understand challenges, identify opportunities and develop practical strategies.

RECENT PROJECTS

County of Santa Cruz

Strategic Planning & Community Engagement

Designed and facilitated community and staff engagement supporting development of the County’s 2026–2032 Strategic Plan, following completion of the 2018–2024 Strategic Plan Foundational Review.

West Marin Fund

Technical Assistance & Capacity Building

Provides ongoing technical assistance to Collaborative Impact Projects, supporting Results-Based Accountability, collaboration, evaluation, sustainability and organizational capacity.

United Way Fresno & Madera Counties

Strategic Planning

Supporting an inclusive strategic planning process designed to clarify priorities, strengthen alignment and guide future action.

Community Action Board of Santa Cruz County

Organizational Capacity Building

Provided organizational assessment, leadership support, staff capacity building, program development and implementation planning during a period of organizational transition.

Santa Cruz County Probation
Event Coordination
Coordinated the Transformations in Juvenile Justice: Reflecting on the Past & Shaping the Future event, bringing together stakeholders to reflect on the County's juvenile justice history & consider the future.
Sonoma County Progressive Tribal Alliance
Strategic Planning Retreat Facilitation
Facilitated a strategic planning retreat to support organizational alignment, priority setting & future direction.
Santa Cruz County
Results Count 101 Workshop Facilitation
Facilitated Results Count 101, introducing participants to Results-Based Accountability concepts & tools for improving results.
Temple Beth El
DEI Session Facilitation
Facilitated a session supporting dialogue, learning & reflection around diversity, equity & inclusion.

WHO I WORK WITH

Government & Public Agencies
Nonprofits & Community-Based Organizations
Philanthropy & Funders
Education & Youth-Serving Organizations
Justice & Community Safety Partners
Cross-Sector Collaboratives

LET'S WORK TOGETHER

Looking for support with strategic planning, facilitation, community engagement, capacity building or a complex collaborative initiative?

Let’s talk about what you’re working on and how I can help.

Email: sarahemmert.consulting@gmail.com

Follow Me on LinkedIn

I also partner with the Impact Launch team.

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