Member Spotlight: Mike Slaton
Jan 27, 2025
It was such an honor to interview Mike Slaton for our Mentorship Member Spotlight. Mike founded and owns Slaton Consulting, a consulting business focused on helping small nonprofits level up.
Tell us about your business! What inspired you to become a nonprofit consultant, and what’s the focus of your work?
Mike: Slaton Consulting is focused on helping small nonprofits level up. During my time at the Louisville Pride Foundation, I faced a lot of unexpected challenges as an executive director. When I decided to go into business on my own, I kept thinking about what I needed when I started out as an ED… All of the tools and resources that I wish I had access to and that would have made my life a lot easier. I find lots of people jump into nonprofit work and starting nonprofits because they have a wonderful mission that they care deeply about, but they don't understand all of the operational and business elements and everything that goes into fundraising. I have found over my career that I really enjoy helping people bring their vision to life. My goal with Slaton Consulting is to help nonprofits focus on fulfilling their vision and not have to spend all of their time on the ancillary work that goes into building their organization.
What’s a recent project you’re proud of? How did you help the nonprofit achieve its goals?
Mike: One of my first clients came to me in a panic because they had just switched over to a new database and were totally lost on how to use it. They had several international service learning trips coming up and they were overwhelmed by trying to figure out how to handle the applications, notifications, and payments. I was able to jump in and map out the process that needed to happen and then build all the necessary forms and automations. There was quite a time crunch to get it all done, but we were able to get it taken care of, and the client developed a thorough understanding of how the system worked through the process.
What advice would you give to new consultants just starting out?
Mike: Network, network, network! There are so many organizations out there looking for help, and I’ve gotten some referrals from very unexpected places. Lots of people you know may be volunteers or Board members for an organization that could be your next client.
How has being part of the Relatable Nonprofit Mentorship Community helped you grow your business?
Mike: Being part of the community has been a great asset. There are so many things you need to do to get a business started and it’s great to have knowledgeable mentors and peers to draw inspiration from. The flexible nature of the program and the on demand learning is really good, because everyone is at different stages of business development. There are some courses on email marketing I have flagged to go check out when I have the bandwidth to actually implement that.
What’s next for you? Any exciting projects or goals you’re working toward?
Mike: My goal for the first half of 2025 is to continue to grow my client base, and really hone in on the services that I can best provide. I’d love to launch some e-learning later this year, btu I am trying not to take on too much too fast!
