Expert Nonprofit Compensation Consulting

Align compensation decisions with mission, equity, governance, and long-term sustainability. Rodriguez Community Group helps small nonprofits and mission-driven organizations create practical compensation philosophies, executive pay structures, and board-ready decision frameworks that support leadership retention, financial stewardship, and organizational growth without distracting teams from mission-critical work.

Nonprofit compensation consulting meeting

Our Nonprofit Compensation Consulting Services

Practical compensation support for nonprofit leaders, boards, and growing mission-driven teams.

Compensation Philosophy

Create clear principles for how your nonprofit approaches executive and staff pay, balancing mission, equity, market realities, retention goals, and long-term financial sustainability.

Executive Pay Governance

Support boards and executive teams with thoughtful pay decision processes, governance structures, role clarity, and documentation for responsible executive compensation oversight.

Pay Structure Planning

Connect compensation choices to strategic finance, budget planning, organizational design, and growth priorities so pay practices remain practical as your nonprofit evolves.

Consultants reviewing nonprofit compensation strategy

Our Compensation Consulting Process

Understand Mission, Roles, and Context

We begin by understanding your mission, leadership structure, financial model, staffing realities, and immediate compensation questions. This creates a shared foundation for recommendations that reflect your organization’s strategy, capacity, and governance needs.

Assess Pay, Finance, and Governance

Develop a Compensation Philosophy

Support Decisions and Implementation

The RZCG Difference

Why Choose Rodriguez Community Group?

RZCG brings executive-level judgment and hands-on support to sensitive compensation decisions.

Expertise

Deep experience in nonprofit finance, governance, operations, strategy, and leadership structures.

Embedded Partner

We work alongside your team, merging executive experience with your organization’s insights.

Practical Fit

Recommendations are designed for small nonprofits balancing growth, budgets, staff capacity, and mission delivery.

Mission Alignment

Compensation guidance connects pay decisions to strategy, sustainability, accountability, and collective impact.

Meet the RZCG Team

Experienced executives supporting nonprofit growth and impact.

Portrait of Luis Rodriguez, Founder and Executive Director of Rodriguez Community Group

Luis Rodriguez

Founder and Executive Director

Luis Rodriguez is the Founder and Executive Director of Rodriguez Community Group LLC, bringing extensive expertise in strategic planning and growth, strategic finance and controls, governance and executive structures, and operations planning. With a mission to deliver purposeful and sustainable outcomes, Luis leads a team of experienced executives dedicated to supporting small nonprofits and mission-driven organizations across the United States. His collaborative leadership philosophy positions RZCG as an integrated team partner rather than an outside consultant, ensuring clients receive hands-on guidance tailored to their unique goals. Luis is committed to helping organizations with up to 50 staff members and $25M in annual revenue strengthen their operational and financial capabilities to increase collective impact.

Portrait of Emma Cartwright, Senior Program Manager at Rodriguez Community Group

Emma Cartwright

Senior Program Manager

Emma Cartwright serves as a Senior Program Manager at Rodriguez Community Group LLC, where she brings deep expertise in strategy consulting, operations and programming integration, human capital systems, and budgeting. With an average of 15 years of experience across the team, Emma exemplifies RZCG's commitment to embedding experienced executive leadership within nonprofit organizations. She works collaboratively with client teams to align operational performance with strategic goals, ensuring that mission-critical work remains at the forefront. Emma's integrated approach to human capital and programming helps small nonprofits build lasting organizational capacity and achieve sustainable growth in service of their communities.

Portrait of Bing Howell, Senior Program Manager at Rodriguez Community Group

Bing Howell

Senior Program Manager

Bing Howell is a Senior Program Manager at Rodriguez Community Group LLC, specializing in stakeholder engagement and change management, scaling organizations, strategic planning, and budgeting. Bing brings a wealth of experience supporting nonprofits through periods of growth and transformation, helping leadership teams navigate complex organizational changes with confidence. As part of RZCG's collaborative approach, Bing works as an embedded partner within client organizations, merging extensive expertise with client insights to develop strategies that are both practical and impactful. His focus on scaling mission-driven organizations equips nonprofits with the tools and frameworks needed to expand their reach and deepen community impact.

Portrait of Daniel Owens, Business Analyst at Rodriguez Community Group

Daniel Owens

Business Analyst

Daniel Owens is a Business Analyst at Rodriguez Community Group LLC, contributing expertise in strategic planning, budgeting, research, and operations planning. Daniel plays a critical role in providing data-driven insights and analytical support that inform RZCG's recommendations to nonprofit clients. His research capabilities and operational acumen help organizations identify opportunities to optimize performance, reduce costs, and align financial strategies with their mission objectives. Daniel's work ensures that every engagement is grounded in rigorous analysis and evidence, enabling small nonprofits to make informed decisions that drive purposeful and sustainable outcomes for the communities they serve.

Portrait of Michael Hardiman, Program Manager at Rodriguez Community Group

Michael Hardiman

Program Manager

Michael Hardiman is a Program Manager at Rodriguez Community Group LLC, with expertise spanning strategy consulting, operations management, change management, and budgeting. Michael brings a results-oriented approach to every client engagement, helping nonprofit organizations navigate operational challenges and implement effective strategies that align with their mission. As an integrated team member rather than an outside consultant, he works closely alongside client staff to manage change thoughtfully and build organizational resilience. Michael's background in operations management and strategy consulting makes him a trusted resource for nonprofits looking to optimize internal systems and achieve meaningful, lasting improvements in organizational performance.

Portrait of Jana Luft, Program Manager at Rodriguez Community Group

Jana Luft

Program Manager

Jana Luft is a Program Manager at Rodriguez Community Group LLC, specializing in project management, stakeholder engagement and alignment, facilitation, and change management. Jana brings a people-centered approach to her work, ensuring that all stakeholders are heard, aligned, and equipped to move forward together through periods of organizational change. Her facilitation skills enable productive conversations and collaborative decision-making across diverse teams, making her an invaluable asset to nonprofit organizations navigating complex transitions. Jana's commitment to inclusive engagement and thoughtful change management reflects RZCG's broader mission of delivering outcomes that are both purposeful and sustainable for mission-driven organizations.

Portrait of Scott Ellis, Senior Advisor at Rodriguez Community Group

Scott Ellis

Senior Advisor

Scott Ellis serves as a Senior Advisor at Rodriguez Community Group LLC, bringing seasoned expertise in strategy consulting, operations and programming integration, human capital systems, and budgeting. In his advisory capacity, Scott provides high-level strategic guidance to nonprofit clients, drawing on deep experience in management and systems consulting to help organizations identify and pursue their most impactful growth opportunities. Scott's integrated perspective on operations and programming ensures that organizational strategies are both executable and mission-aligned. His collaborative approach reinforces RZCG's commitment to working as a true partner embedded within client teams, delivering thoughtful and sustainable solutions for small nonprofits.

Portrait of Sarah Hicks, Executive Assistant at Rodriguez Community Group

Sarah Hicks

Executive Assistant

Sarah Hicks is the Executive Assistant at Rodriguez Community Group LLC, providing essential support across client relationship management, process improvement, project management, and team coordination. Sarah plays a vital behind-the-scenes role in ensuring that RZCG operates smoothly and that clients receive attentive, responsive service at every touchpoint. Her expertise in process improvement helps streamline internal workflows, freeing the broader team to focus on delivering high-impact work for nonprofit partners. Sarah's dedication to organization and team coordination strengthens RZCG's capacity to serve multiple client organizations simultaneously while maintaining the high standards of quality and collaboration the firm is known for.

Portrait of David Castillo, Program Manager at Rodriguez Community Group

David Castillo

Program Manager

David Castillo is a Program Manager at Rodriguez Community Group LLC, with expertise in leadership development and innovation, performance measurement and analytics, strategic planning and community engagement, and transition and success management. David brings a dynamic perspective to RZCG's work, helping nonprofit leaders build the skills and structures needed to sustain organizational growth over time. His focus on performance analytics ensures that client organizations can track progress and demonstrate impact with confidence. David's commitment to community engagement and thoughtful transition management reflects RZCG's broader mission of supporting mission-driven organizations in achieving purposeful and lasting outcomes that serve their communities.

Portrait of Rachel Deaner, Program Manager at Rodriguez Community Group

Rachel Deaner

Program Manager

Rachel Deaner is a Program Manager at Rodriguez Community Group LLC, specializing in financial management, corporate finance, and compliance. Rachel brings critical financial expertise to RZCG's nonprofit engagements, helping organizations strengthen their financial management capabilities and align fiscal strategies with their mission objectives. Her background in corporate finance equips her to translate complex financial concepts into actionable guidance for nonprofit leaders, while her focus on compliance ensures that client organizations operate within regulatory frameworks with confidence. Rachel's work supports RZCG's commitment to delivering sustainable outcomes by building the financial literacy and controls that small nonprofits need to thrive long-term.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is nonprofit compensation consulting?

Nonprofit compensation consulting helps organizations design fair, sustainable, and defensible pay practices for executives, leadership teams, and staff. The work may include compensation philosophy, role alignment, benchmarking, governance processes, budget implications, and board decision support. For nonprofits, the goal is to balance talent retention, mission impact, donor trust, and responsible financial stewardship.

When should a nonprofit review its compensation strategy?

How do you support executive compensation decisions?

Can compensation consulting help with board governance?

What does compensation benchmarking involve?

What types of nonprofits do you typically support?

What deliverables come from a compensation consulting engagement?

How long does a nonprofit compensation project take?

Have Compensation Questions?

Connect with experienced nonprofit advisors for practical guidance.

Build a Mission-Aligned Compensation Strategy

Share your compensation, governance, or leadership planning needs, and our team will help identify the right next step.

Contact Us Today

You can also send us a quick email at michael@rzcommunitgroup.com.