We’re Relatable
We Loved the Mission—But It Was Breaking Us
We know what it’s like to love the mission but feel trapped by the job.
To give everything to your work—your nights, your weekends, your energy—only to wonder if it will ever be enough.
To feel stretched thin, undervalued, and stuck in a cycle that leaves little room for your own life.
The Cost of Caring Was Our Sanity
That was us, too. We built our careers in the nonprofit sector, believing deeply in the work and pouring ourselves into it.
But over time, the long hours, the relentless pressure, and the feeling that we had no control over our time or future started to wear us down.
We knew we had valuable skills, but we started to wonder:
What if we could use them in a way that gave us more freedom, more stability, and, ironically, an even bigger impact?
We Built Dream Careers That Quietly Became Nightmares
For Cat, the wake-up call came as a program officer managing grants for a $500M private foundation.
She was out the door before sunrise, leaving her daughter with a babysitter, and coming home just in time to tuck her into bed.
The guilt was crushing. Her dream career had hit a ceiling. When panic attacks and depression set in, she knew something had to change.
For Julia, it was the 12-hour days as a Director of Advancement in D.C., managing a $7M annual budget and leading a team of ten.
She was constantly on call, carrying the weight of fundraising goals and donor expectations.
The stress finally landed her in the hospital. That’s when she realized: This isn’t sustainable. This can’t be the only way.
From Panic Attacks and Hospitals to Peace and Possibility
We took a leap.
We didn’t have a perfect plan—just a non-negotiable “no more.”
We started consulting, unsure of exactly what it would look like but absolutely certain we couldn’t keep living the way we were.
Within a year, we had built a six-figure consulting business.
We worked fewer hours, chose projects we were passionate about, and finally felt like our lives belonged to us again.
You Don’t Have to Burn Out to Want Something Better
Here’s what we want you to know:
You don’t have to wait until you’re completely burned out to want something different.
You don’t have to hit a breaking point to realize that your skills are valuable beyond the walls of your nonprofit job.
If you’ve ever wondered whether consulting could give you more freedom, more control, and more balance—it can.
Your Skills Are Valuable Outside Your Job Description
Today, we work 30 hours a week, have control over our schedules, and get to work with organizations we truly care about.
And now, we help other nonprofit professionals do the same.
That’s Why We Built the Mentorship We Wish We Had
If you’re a nonprofit professional thinking about consulting but unsure of where to start…
That’s exactly why we created our Mentorship Program.
We guide you step by step in building a consulting business that gives you stability, flexibility, and the ability to do meaningful work on your terms.
Impact and Freedom Aren’t Opposites. You Can Have Both.
You don’t have to choose between making a difference and living a life that feels like yours.
You can have both.
We’re living proof. And if you’re ready, we’d love to help you get there.Â
Meet the Team
Catalina Parker
Co-Founder & CEO
With over a decade of experience in the nonprofit sector—as an employee, funder, and consultant—Catalina brings a deep, well-rounded perspective to her work as Co-Founder and CEO of Relatable Nonprofit. She holds a B.A. in International Studies from American University and an M.S. in Nonprofit Management from Columbia University. Catalina is passionate about helping nonprofit professionals build values-driven consulting businesses that create impact on their own terms. She lives in South Carolina with her husband, two kids, and their dog. Outside of work, you’ll find her needlepointing, traveling, arranging flowers, or doing strength training at the gym.
Katie Rathburg
Executive Assistant
Katie is the Executive Assistant at Relatable Nonprofit, where she helps ensure everything runs smoothly behind the scenes and our community feels fully supported. Originally from the beautiful Southeastern region of Michigan, she now lives in sunny South Carolina with her husband, three kids, two dogs, and two cats. She holds a degree in Business Management from Rochester College and brings both heart and precision to her work with our team and clients. Outside of work, Katie enjoys practicing pilates, singing, and scouting out the best local spots for lattes.
Our Mission
At Relatable Nonprofit, we empower purpose-driven professionals to turn their nonprofit expertise into thriving consulting businesses—so they can create meaningful impact on their own terms.
Our Vision
We believe the nonprofit sector is broken—and we’re here to help fix it. We envision a future where the most passionate, skilled, and experienced professionals are no longer trapped in underpaid, undervalued roles. Instead, they lead from a place of freedom, delivering bold, effective solutions as consultants. In this new era, nonprofits thrive by partnering with mission-aligned experts who bring fresh thinking, lived experience, and deep sector knowledge.
Our Why
Because nonprofit professionals deserve better—and so do the communities they serve. Because the way things have always been isn’t working anymore. Because real change starts when we stop playing small and start building something new.
