About Us

 Hello! I am Carissa. MissionMend was born from lived experience—the kind of experience that shapes not only your perspective but also your purpose. Years ago, I was at the helm of a nonprofit as its CEO, carrying the weight of a mission I believed in deeply. We were doing good work in the community, but behind the scenes, the reality was stark: our resources were limited, our systems were stretched thin, and our ability to meet our goals was constantly threatened by the lack of guidance, funding, and support. 

As a leader, I often found myself searching for answers I couldn’t afford to buy. Professional consultants were out of reach. Strategic planning felt like a luxury, when in truth, it was a necessity. I saw how this struggle—this constant battle to keep the lights on while also trying to change lives—was not unique to me. Many nonprofit leaders I met were in the same boat: passionate, driven, and creative, but operating without the tools, resources, and connections they needed to thrive. 

Those years taught me two critical truths: first, that no leader should have to navigate the complexities of nonprofit management alone, and second, that connection changes everything. When the right people, strategies, and resources come together, impact multiplies. That’s the philosophy that fuels MissionMend today. 

MissionMend exists to be the partner I once wished I had—the resource for organizations in crisis or transition, the ally for leaders who feel isolated, and the strategist for teams that want to move from surviving to thriving. We provide hands-on support in nonprofit formation, governance, fundraising strategy, board development, and long-term planning. Our approach is grounded in empathy because we’ve walked in those shoes, but it’s also rooted in expertise because we’ve spent years learning what works. 

The nonprofits we work with are diverse in mission but united in their desire to make a difference. We help them clarify their vision, strengthen their infrastructure, and build the connections that will carry them forward. From guiding a new nonprofit through its first strategic plan to helping an established organization navigate leadership change, our role is to bring stability, clarity, and momentum.