Over 50 Years of Experience & Know-How in the Non-profit Sector.
Hundreds of millions raised for non-profits.
Our History
With over 50 years of combined experience and know-how in the nonprofit sector and having raised hundreds of millions for non-profits, we understand the significance of effective fundraising for nonprofits in the community and the vital role donors play in their success.
At Donor Synergy Consulting, we believe that it’s crucial for organizations to understand both their community and their donors. We bring the support and expertise needed to help your organization thrive by unlocking the unique resources of passionate people who surround them.
We embrace diversity and equality as we support the various organizations meeting the changing needs of communities. We aim to help each organization reach its full potential, as we know a healthy and prosperous nonprofit sector benefits everyone. Fundraising, done well, is transformational. It’s about turning dreams into reality and shaping your organization and the community it serves. Our approach is not one-size-fits-all; we customize our strategies to match the uniqueness of each nonprofit’s mission and the people it serves.
As a dedicated partner, we are committed to your organization’s success. We will tailor our approach to your specific needs, goals, and preferences and continue to offer ongoing support to ensure learning, growth, and success in your fund development efforts to support the organization’s mission.
Kelli Horton, Founder & Principal Consultant
Kelli Horton, CEO and Founder of Donor Synergy Consulting, is an experienced catalyst for change with over 30 years of professional experience. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s in Marketing. Her passion for building strong and stable nonprofits has led her to connect good organizations with good people to drive results. Kelli’s approach includes artful questioning and candid commentary to get everyone involved and achieve transformational solutions.
Kelli’s extensive background in sales, marketing, and leadership has been instrumental in the success of numerous nonprofits. She has managed relationships with trustees, philanthropists, senior executives, and community leaders, leading to significant and lasting philanthropic contributions. Her portfolio includes work with various educational, faith-based, and human services organizations. She has built and supported effective leadership teams, developed programs, and increased organization funding.
Kelli’s expertise and dedication have made her a sought-after senior strategist, providing guidance and support to CEOs and their leadership teams. Her ability to quickly understand a nonprofit development program’s overall view or spend time reviewing data with expertise in building programs from the ground up has been instrumental in her success.
Kelli is passionate about challenging the status quo when it comes to Donor Synergy Consulting’s partners by tapping into others’ genius to achieve innovation and results. She is a truth-teller who delivers insight and solutions that probe deeply beyond the surface. Her commitment to building best practices to drive results has made her a valuable asset to nonprofits seeking transformational solutions.
Kathryn Dimond, Senior Strategic Advisor
Kathryn Dimond is a strategic nonprofit executive with more than 14 years of progressive leadership experience guiding mission-driven organizations through growth, change, and greater impact. Throughout her career, she has successfully led organizations through periods of transition, expansion, and transformation, helping nonprofit leaders navigate complexity while building stronger, more sustainable institutions. Her collaborative leadership style is grounded in strategic thinking, operational excellence, and a deep understanding of the evolving challenges facing today’s nonprofit sector. She is known for strengthening the systems, structures, and relationships that enable organizations not only to meet immediate priorities but also to achieve long-term success.
Kathryn has held executive leadership roles overseeing philanthropy, operations, governance, community engagement, and organizational strategy. She has partnered closely with boards of directors, executive teams, donors, and community stakeholders to align vision with execution, cultivate philanthropic investment, enhance organizational effectiveness, and position organizations for future growth. Her experience includes leading strategic initiatives, guiding organizations through change, building high-performing teams, and fostering partnerships that expand mission impact and deepen community trust.
Earlier in her career, Kathryn held senior leadership positions at the Detroit Institute of Arts, where she established and led the Community Relations department and advanced significant public engagement and partnership initiatives. Her work strengthened relationships among civic leaders, community organizations, government partners, and diverse stakeholders, demonstrating the power of collaboration to advance institutional priorities and broaden community impact.
Kathryn holds a Bachelor of Arts from Michigan State University and completed graduate coursework toward an MBA at Wayne State University. She currently serves on several nonprofit and community boards, reflecting her enduring commitment to strengthening the social sector and supporting mission-driven leaders. Passionate about helping organizations move from reactive decision-making to strategic planning, Kathryn is dedicated to equipping nonprofits with the leadership, structure, and resources needed to thrive in an increasingly complex environment and create lasting change.
Julie King, Creative Services Consultant
Julie King, an honors graduate with a BFA in Graphics and Communications from the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, brings over 30 years of creative leadership in nonprofit and consumer brand marketing.
She has led award-winning awareness and fundraising campaigns across healthcare, senior care, education, human services, domestic violence, animal rescue, and the arts.
With 15 years dedicated to nonprofit marketing and development, Julie is known for turning limited budgets into high-impact results that boost revenue, reduce costs, and strengthen brand presence. Inspired by her personal experiences in fostering, adoption, and community service, she blends empathy with strategy to create authentic communications that inspire action and lasting trust.
Allison Perreault, Creative Lead-Mission & Design
Allison is a creative professional with a strong background in print and digital media. Her collaborative leadership style effectively drives impactful campaigns for Donor Synergy Consulting’s partners from conception to execution, facilitating the seamless integration of marketing objectives.
By consistently developing innovative solutions and crafting compelling stories for partner brands, Allison achieves high-quality results that truly resonate with audiences. Her meticulous attention to detail and commitment to brand consistency allow her to bring creative visions to life while ensuring alignment with broader goals.
Allison earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from Western Michigan University.
Torri Mathes, Marketing Advisor
Torri Mathes is a distinguished professional in strategic communication. She has over a decade of experience in digital marketing, public relations, and management within the municipal and nonprofit sectors. With a focused approach to guiding, streamlining, and executing strategic communication initiatives, she has effectively nurtured meaningful connections and addressed communication gaps while overseeing the marketing and communications efforts for Donor Synergy Consulting’s partners.
As a strategic communicator, Torri is deeply committed to promoting transparent communication, facilitating sustainable collaboration, and enhancing public engagement. She dedicates her efforts to educating stakeholders about the significance of effective communication in both individual and community contexts. This encompasses developing and implementing tailored communication strategies for clients, managing media relations, designing social media campaigns, providing workshops and training for staff, and facilitating sessions aimed at engagement and stakeholder analysis.
Holding a Master of Public Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, alongside certifications in emergency management and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). She is devoted to ensuring that organizations communicate effectively and resonate profoundly with their constituents.