Inbloom Consulting

08/04/2026

Every great fundraiser starts with one thing: a compelling "why."

Kate Newsome and Monica Small Hershberger had the privilege of leading a fundraising training for the board as part of their board retreat.

It doesn't take much for our team to gush about MidTown. We love grabbing dim sum at Li Wah, taking our kids to the Children's Museum, exploring our creative side at @zygotepress , and sipping boba at Koko Bakery, the list goes on.

That love for MidTown was evident throughout the room.
Together, we helped board members uncover their personal "why," connecting their passion for MidTown to what stories first drew them in.

MidTown's energy, rich history, and unmistakable sense of place emerged over and over as the reasons they believe it's the epicenter of Cleveland.
There was so much enthusiasm for strengthening fundraising skills, and we're excited to see how MidTown continues to grow and evolve while preserving the culture and history that make it so special.

We're grateful for this partnership and for helping boards show up ready to invest in becoming stronger ambassadors and fundraisers. A special shoutout to Ashley Shaw for her leadership in guiding this incredible team and board.

Could your board use a fundraising boost? We'd love to help.

Reach out to Megan Granson at [email protected] to start a conversation about the right fundraising strategy for your board.

07/10/2026

In 1837, City Hospital was the first public hospital system in our nation built to treat anyone in the community, regardless of status or state of need. That hospital is MetroHealth today.

Thirty years later, in 1866, a small group of civic leaders and church members met with a similar conviction that Cleveland needed a hospital for everyone, regardless of their ability to pay. That meeting was the start of University Hospitals.

And the innovations to care for our neighbors continue to grow.

The Center for Health Affairs, now Well Link Health Alliance, gets healthcare organizations talking to each other instead of operating in isolation. Medworks brings preventive care to people who would otherwise go without it entirely. Transplant Households families together during some of the hardest weeks of their lives, far from home, when they need somewhere steady to land.

None of them do this work alone, and that has been true from the beginning. Cleveland figured out a long time ago that the best care comes from a whole community choosing to show up for each other!

07/04/2026

As America turns 250, we're spending the month of July exploring Cleveland’s history of civic, cultural, and philanthropic innovations and legacy. So much of what built America started right in Northeast Ohio, and that’s worth celebrating!

In 1913, Cleveland launched the country's first coordinated charity drive, raising $127,000 for 55 organizations in a single campaign. That model became the blueprint for United Way.

A year later, in 1914, a Cleveland banker named Frederick Goff had a simple but transformative idea: charitable dollars shouldn't be frozen in time, tied to one era's problems. They should move with the community, year after year, responding to whatever comes next. He created the world's first community foundation, right here in Cleveland. Cleveland Foundation opened its doors and has been shaping what philanthropy looks like in America ever since.

Two ideas, one city, and both went on to change how Americans think about giving.

06/26/2026

Celebrating 230 Years of Cleveland Through the People Who Shaped It

We're proud to celebrate Phyllis "Seven" Harris of the , one of the remarkable leaders recognized through the OneCLE Cleveland 230 initiative. We've had the privilege of working alongside Phyllis and witnessing firsthand her unwavering commitment to building community, fostering belonging, and creating meaningful change.

As Cleveland celebrates its 230th anniversary, the Cleveland Public Library's Cleveland 230 campaign is honoring 230 individuals whose leadership, service, and vision have shaped our city's past, strengthened its present, and continue to inspire its future.

Their collective impact reminds us that a city's strength is measured by the people who invest in others. We are honored to celebrate these changemakers and the lasting difference they have made across our community.

Congratulations to Phyllis and to everyone recognized as part of Cleveland 230. We look forward to celebrating more of these inspiring leaders in the months ahead. Thank you for helping make our community stronger.

06/24/2026

WHICH DOOR ARE YOU WALKING THROUGH?

DOOR 1: GROWTH
You're the Visionary.
You see opportunities everywhere.
You get excited by new ideas.
You're always asking, "What's next?"
Your superpower:
Creating momentum.
Your challenge:
Not every opportunity deserves your energy.

DOOR 2: CLARITY
You're the Strategist.
You thrive on focus.
You ask the right questions.
You'd rather have a clear path than a crowded to-do list.
Your superpower:
Turning complexity into direction.
Your challenge:
Not getting stuck waiting for perfect conditions.

DOOR 3: CAPACITY
You're the Architect.
You didn't build a business to create another job.
You value flexibility, autonomy, and intentional growth.
Your superpower:
Designing a business that supports the life you want.
Your challenge:
Remembering that capacity requires systems.

The strongest businesses need all three.
Growth creates opportunity.
Clarity creates direction.
Capacity creates sustainability.

A quick tip:
If you're feeling stuck, don't ask,
"What should I do next?"
Ask,
"What's the one thing that would make everything else easier?"
Start there.

Which door did you choose?
Tell us in the comments: Growth, Clarity, or Capacity.

06/22/2026

You know your mission matters.
The challenge is making sure people truly understand it.

Many organizations are doing meaningful work but struggling to communicate it in a way that feels clear, compelling, and consistent across audiences.

The message exists.
But over time, it can become fragmented across platforms, campaigns, priorities, and internal perspectives.

That’s where marketing starts to feel harder than it should.
At Inbloom, we help organizations step back and reconnect their messaging to the heart of their mission.

Through marketing and communications strategy, we work alongside teams to:
• Clarify brand positioning
• Strengthen storytelling
• Create alignment across communications
• Build messaging that resonates with the right audiences
• Develop sustainable strategies for visibility and engagement

Because effective marketing isn’t about saying more.
It’s about communicating with clarity, consistency, and purpose, so the people you’re trying to reach understand not only what you do, but why it matters.
When the message is aligned, everything becomes stronger:
fundraising, partnerships, engagement, and trust.

Explore Marketing & Communication Services.

Clarify your message and amplify your impact with expert social media strategies, branding, storytelling, and communications strategy tailored to your audience.

06/10/2026

Something new is blooming at Inbloom.

We’re thrilled to welcome Monica Small Hershberger as our newest Strategy Consultant.

Monica has spent her career helping organizations grow through stronger connections, clearer messaging, and meaningful collaboration. With experience spanning community development, marketing, communications, and partnership building, she knows that great things happen when people come together around a shared purpose.

In fact, a former colleague affectionately dubbed her the “Cleveland Pollinator,” and we can’t think of a better fit for someone who spends her days connecting ideas, organizations, and people to help communities flourish.

At Inbloom, we believe growth happens through connection, collaboration, and thoughtful strategy. Monica embodies all three, and we’re excited for our clients, our team, and our community to benefit from her experience, perspective, and passion for making a difference.

Please join us in welcoming Monica to Inbloom.

If you’re in the market for a strategy refresh, tighter messaging, or fundraising support... or if you want to know why there’s a picture of Skyline Chili in this post, she’ll be more than happy to meet you for coffee!

05/11/2026

Every team has resumes.
We thought it would be more meaningful, and a lot more fun, to look at the stories behind them instead.

From awkward haircuts to childhood snapshots and early signs of leadership, our team reflected on the qualities that have stayed with them through every season of growth. The result is a glimpse into the people behind Inbloom, the curiosity, compassion, creativity, and purpose that continue to shape how we serve our clients and communities today.

Turns out… not much has changed.

Meet the team behind Inbloom and the experiences that still inspire the way we lead, connect, and grow.
https://www.inbloomconsulting.com/inbloom-blog/meet-the-team

Mary Woog Herzak Kelly Burrer Rudloff Arlene Watson Kate Newsome Megan Bush Granson

We asked the Inbloom team to share a past snapshot and reflect on what shaped how they lead, serve, solve, and drive growth today.

04/08/2026

The big wins get the spotlight.
But it’s the little things that make them possible.

This month, we’re sharing a behind the scenes look at how a small shift unlocked something much bigger: confidence, alignment, and stronger conversations.

Because when leaders walk into donor meetings unprepared, it doesn’t just slow things down, it changes the conversation.

Confidence doesn’t happen by accident. It is built step by step through intentional preparation.

At Inbloom, this is the work we care about most:
the systems, the clarity, the processes that turn friction into momentum.

Read the full story:
https://www.inbloomconsulting.com/inbloom-blog/the-little-things-that-win-big-how-process-builds-confidence-in-donor-conversationsnbsp

04/02/2026

This week, we had the opportunity to attend The City Club of Cleveland’s forum on Women Leading the Future of AI Innovation in Greater Cleveland.

One thing was clear:
AI is no longer a future conversation — it’s a leadership priority right now.
Across healthcare, banking, manufacturing, and beyond, the themes were consistent:
• Governance and ethics matter
• AI literacy is becoming foundational
• Organizations are actively integrating AI into core operations

What stood out most to us was the Midwest approach: practical, collaborative, and grounded in real-world application rather than hype.

At the same time, much of the conversation centered on large, well-resourced organizations.

The real opportunity? Translating this work for smaller teams, nonprofits, and growing organizations that need practical, scalable strategies now.

At Inbloom, we’ve been thoughtfully leaning into this space and building our own AI governance strategy behind the scenes.

More to come soon. 🌿