About our Firm
Essex & Drake has been helping nonprofit organizations raise funds since 1977. Our expert team of professionals is
highly experienced and dedicated to guiding our clients through successful campaigns and fundraising projects. Although
a project may be short-term, we work to build a culture of philanthropy within our clients’ organizations, leaving lasting
impact.
Our Values
At Essex & Drake, we incorporate our values into each client relationship and project. By listening carefully, speaking
candidly, handling information discreetly, and managing effectively, our team members develop productive partnerships
with our clients based on these core values:
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Competency
Ethical Standards
Community-mindedness
Collaboration
Reliability
Services
At Essex & Drake, our clients always work directly with an expert team member who gives each project careful personal
attention and focuses closely on ways to achieve the organization’s objectives. After initial discussions and analysis, we
design each project specifically to fit the priorities, needs and resources of our clients. Questions about our services?
Contact us.
Campaign Feasibility & Planning Studies
Our specialty is helping organizations assess their internal and external readiness before launching a campaign. To
determine the level of success of a potential major capital campaign, we seek factual information through confidential
personal interviews about leadership potential, available financial support, community image, and volunteer and board
strength. The interview process is followed by a comprehensive report and campaign action plan.
Capital Campaigns
We understand that a Capital Campaign is a major undertaking for an organization. Our expert team members assist our
clients with campaign direction including: volunteer leadership recruitment, prospect identification, donor research,
solicitation strategies, volunteer management, campaign budgeting, database gift tracking, collateral materials,
solicitation training, donor recognition and stewardship.
Board & Leadership Coaching
We recognize that board members are being asked to fundraise and yet we know that they aren’t trained fundraising
professionals. We meet board members at their own level of expertise, and through a coaching process, help them
achieve the results they envision. We also work with executive and development staff to develop their leadership and
fundraising skills. We offer group trainings and individual coaching.
Strategic Planning & Retreats
A strategic plan is an important tool that sets a useable roadmap for an organization to move its mission forward most
effectively. We work with our clients to establish the parameters and the essential steps to a results-oriented strategic
session that will set their organization on the right course for the next several years.
Major Giving Programs
We help clients establish and improve their major gifts program as part of their fundraising efforts. Using a donor-centric
approach, we offer direction to identify, research, and cultivate prospects, as well as plan successful solicitation
strategies. Our team members specialize in coaching staff and volunteers in turning current donors into major gift
contributors.
Development Assessments & Advancement Planning
When conducting development audits, we study past fundraising efforts, board participation, special events, foundation
and corporate proposals, volunteer management, donor database management, and the role of staff. These elements
are evaluated in relation to the organization’s fundraising goals and the organization’s long-term plan.
Client References
Marta Weinstock
Former Executive Director, Saratoga Area Senior Coordinating Council
617-834-8743
[email protected]
Joan K. Seppala
Board President, Livermore Valley Performing Arts Center
[email protected]
925-872-9533
Diane Riccio
Youth Science Institute
[email protected]
408-356-4945
Partial Client List
Animals & Environment
Coalition for Clean Air, Sacramento
Full Circle Farm, Sunnyvale
Greenbelt Alliance, San Francisco
Happy Hollow Park and Zoo, San Jose
International Rivers Network, Berkeley
Land Trust of Napa Valley, Napa
Sacramento SPCA, Sacramento
San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory, Milpitas
Solano Land Trust, Fairfield
Wildlife Rescue, Palo Alto
Youth Science Institute, Los Gatos
Arts & Culture
Bay Area Video Coalition, San Francisco
Kathak Dance Company, San Francisco
KTEH Public TV, San Jose
Livermore Valley Performing Arts Center
Nelson Fund (an Advised Fund of Silicon Valley Community Foundation), Mountain View
ODC/Dance Company, San Francisco
Portola Valley Community Center, Portola Valley
San Francisco Cameraworks, San Francisco
San Jose Ballet Silicon Valley, San Jose
San Jose Repertory Theatre, San Jose
South Bay Guitar Society, San Jose
Stagebridge, Oakland
Stanford Jazz Workshop, Stanford
Villa Montalvo Center for the Arts, Saratoga
Education
Blue Oak School, Napa
Carey School, San Mateo
Charles Armstrong School, Belmont
Harker School, San Jose
Harper for Kids, San Francisco
High Tech High Learning, Redwood City
Immaculate Conception Academy – A Cristo Rey School, San Francisco
Lowell High School Alumni Association, San Francisco
Media Enterprise Alliance, Oakland
Napa Valley College Foundation, Napa
Palo Alto Library Foundation, Palo Alto
Public Policy Institute of California, San Francisco
River School Foundation, Napa
Saint Andrew’s Episcopal School, Saratoga
San Rafael Public Library Foundation, San Rafael
SF Giants Community Foundation, San Francisco
Valley Christian School, San Jose
Faith-Based Organizations
Carmel Presbyterian Church, Carmel
Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose, Fremont
Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Campbell
Marianist Province of the U.S.
Montclair Presbyterian Church, Oakland
Old St. Mary’s Cathedral, San Francisco
Presentation Center, Los Gatos
San Francisco Zen Center, San Francisco
St. Clare Parish & School, Santa Clara
St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church, Carmel
St. John’s Episcopal Church, Aptos
St. John’s Episcopal Church, Lodi
Health Care
Children’s Health Initiative, Napa County
Coastside Family Medical Clinic, Half Moon Bay
Diabetes Society of Santa Clara Valley, San Jose
Diabetic Youth Foundation, Concord
healthRIGHT 360, San Francisco
Healthy Moms and Babies, Napa
Hospice of the Valley, San Jose
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, San Francisco
Napa Valley Hospice & Adult Day Services, Napa
Ohlhoff Recovery Programs, San Francisco
School Health Clinics of Santa Clara County, San Jose
St. Anthony’s Foundation, San Francisco
Yellow Rose Foundation, Petaluma
Human Services
American Red Cross, Santa Clara
Bill Wilson Center, San Jose
Buckelew Programs, Marin
Calistoga Family Center, Calistoga
Catholic Charities East Bay, Oakland
Chinatown Community Development Center, San Francisco
Contra Costa County CASA, Walnut Creek
Daytop Village Inc., Redwood City
East Bay Agency for Children, Oakland
Elwyn NC, San Jose
Family Giving Tree, Milpitas
Family Services Agency of San Francisco, San Francisco
Family Services of Napa Valley, Napa
Global Housing Foundation, Napa
Guide Dogs for the Blind, Novato
Habitat for Humanity, Santa Cruz
Habitat for Humanity, Silicon Valley
Housing Choices Coalition, San Jose
John XXIII AIDS Ministry, Salinas
Kinship Center, Monterey
Legal Aid of Napa Valley, Napa
Meals on Wheels, San Francisco
Mission Economic Development Agency, San Francisco
Red Tab Foundation, San Francisco
San Jose Day Nursery, San Jose
Shelter, Inc. of Contra Costa County, Concord
St. Helena Family Resource Center, St. Helena
West Marin Fund, Stinson Beach
Youth Uprising, Oakland
Public Benefit
American Leadership Forum Silicon Valley, San Jose
International City/County Management Association, San Jose
National Council on Crime and Delinquency, Oakland
Palo Alto Library Foundation, Palo Alto
Rosie the Riveter Trust, Richmond
United Way East Bay & Silicon Valley
Senior Housing & Services
Avenidas, Palo Alto
Channing House, Palo Alto
Emerald Glen Homes, Hayward
Openhouse, San Francisco
Peninsula Volunteers, Menlo Park
Stevenson House, Palo Alto
The Redwoods, Mill Valley