Our Story

ABOUT US

Origin and History

Nonprofit GrowthGen grew out of a friendship and a shared conviction: that the skills for fundraising and organizational growth can—and should—be shared with staff who are passionate enough to learn. Yet over time, it’s become harder for leaders and teams to make space for intentional mentorship, even as the need for it has only grown.

In 2017, Mary Ramsay and Mandy Kirchgessner met while working with Bishop Museum in Honolulu. Mandy—an educator and evaluator who had spent years studying how people learn in informal settings such as zoos and museums—found in Mary a kindred spirit: a grant writer whose keen listening and deep empathy shaped every project she touched.

Mary likes to say she “leapt into grant writing” decades ago with little more than curiosity and a pen, and somehow never stopped. Over 40 years later, she’s helped institutions large and small raise millions while mentoring the people who make those missions come alive.

Mandy came to the field through education and research, earning her doctorate while studying how informal learning environments inspire action. As a military spouse, she learned to adapt across places and sectors—carrying projects and partnerships with her wherever she went. That adaptability became the heartbeat of NPGG: the idea that strong systems can thrive anywhere if people are given the tools, confidence, and trust to sustain them.

When they founded Nonprofit GrowthGen in 2022, it wasn’t to create a traditional consulting firm—it was to mentor, teach, and collaborate. They built a model that blends mentorship with strategy, and listening with action. From group mentoring programs to organization support, they have helped ask for over $35M in support, resulting in over $12M in awards.

In 2026, Mary begins her next chapter, stepping into a Senior Consultant role while Mandy assumes full ownership of the firm. The transition is a continuation of the same values that founded NPGG: partnership, purpose, and growth through evolution.

Today, Nonprofit GrowthGen supports individuals and organizations across the country in fundraising, evaluation, and strategic planning—always with the same guiding belief: that generosity, curiosity, and collaboration are what keep our missions growing.