Faith-Based & Spiritual Organizations
Integrating the functionality of business with Your Spiritual Values
If you are like many faith-based and spiritual organizations, you have a strong vision of compassionate service. Your members are deeply committed, grounded in spiritual practice, and motivated by something far greater than individual ego.
But somehow the practical side—money, governance, decision-making, accountability—feels impossibly difficult. Financial struggles are chronic. Decisions get stuck. Business terms and practice can feel at odds with your spiritual values.
The gap between the vision and your day-to-day functioning can be exhausting.
You don't have to choose between staying true to your spiritual heart and building an organization that actually works. In fact, your spiritual values can be the key for creating a unique and effective way of working.
Why I Do This Work
For 20 years, I've been a founding member and part of the organizational leadership of Clear Sky Retreat Center—a spiritual community and meditation center in the Canadian Rockies. I've served as Board Chair, co-Executive Director, and Associate Teacher under head teachers Qapel and Catherine Pawasarat Sensei's guidance.
In 2012, Clear Sky faced near-bankruptcy. Despite everyone's deep commitment and spiritual practice, we were stuck in dysfunction around money, decision-making, and organizational structure. Through hard, messy work—addressing our blocks around money and power, building new governance systems, and learning to integrate spiritual values with operational excellence—we transformed into a thriving, financially sustainable organization.
In most engagements, I collaborate with skilled and trusted partners from Clear Sky to bring additional expertise—whether that's co-facilitation, specialized training, or complementary perspectives that serve your organization's needs.
We lived this, and we know firsthand what it takes to navigate this journey. It's possible to embrace functionality and financial health without losing your heart or compromising your spiritual values.
We integrate three essential elements:
Operational excellence based on heart: Developing approaches to planning, governance, decision-making, and financial sustainability that draw from and align with your spiritual values
Mindful leadership: Deepening the presence and awareness your members already practice, and applying it to organizational challenges
The real, messy deeper work: Getting into and freeing up the blocks around money, power, and hierarchy that keep spiritual organizations stuck
what makes this work different
how we work together
Discovery Conversation - We start with an exploratory conversation. Share what's happening in your organization, what's not working, and what you're hoping to create.
Money & Power Dynamics - Often the leverage point for spiritual organizations is addressing the relationship to money and power. We work with both individual and organizational patterns, freeing up the blocks and shadows that create financial struggle and dysfunctional dynamics.
Business Approaches Based On Heart - Spiritual groups need to be business-savvy to be effective in doing the work of compassion, but we can embrace business on our own terms in a way that aligns - and draws from - our spiritual foundation.
Team Development - Building trust and communication capacity so difficult conversations can happen. Addressing conflicts and stuck places with both spiritual wisdom and practical tools.
Organizational Change - As blocks free up, we co-create new structures and approaches—financial systems, planning processes, accountability frameworks—that support both your spiritual depth and organizational effectiveness.
Ongoing Support - Many organizations want continued support as they implement changes and navigate challenges that arise.
However, there's no rigid formula—we design the approach around your reality and values.
what will change?
When we work together, here's what typically shifts:
Financial sustainability - The poverty mindset and money avoidance transform. Resources flow more freely. The organization becomes financially stable without compromising values.
Clearer structure - Roles, responsibilities, and decision-making processes become workable. People know who does what and how decisions get made.
Greater effectiveness - Planning, accountability, and follow-through improve. The organization can actually deliver on its service mission.
Healthier dynamics - Issues around power and hierarchy get addressed skillfully. Communication improves. The community becomes more functional.
Deeper service - When the organizational infrastructure works, members can focus on what matters most—the spiritual practice and compassionate service that inspired this work.
This isn't magic. It's the result of doing the real work—the sometimes messy, always worthwhile work—of building conscious, functional organizations.
ready to starT?
If you're leading a spiritual organization struggling with money, governance, decision-making, or the gap between your spiritual values and organizational functioning, let's talk.
Schedule a Free Discovery Conversation
In 30-45 minutes, we'll explore:
What's really going on in your organization
The blocks and patterns keeping you stuck
What it might look like to integrate spiritual depth with operational excellence
Whether there's a good fit for working together