Celeste Carlson is the founder of Growing Good Consulting and the creator of BoardSpark, the training and education arm dedicated to helping nonprofit CEOs and boards lead with clarity, confidence, and shared responsibility. For more than 20 years, she has supported purpose-driven organizations in diverse roles, including a decade as a community foundation program officer where she served as a liaison between donors and the community and saw firsthand that strong, engaged boards become magnets for resources.

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She also led fundraising efforts in volunteer leadership roles, giving her a ground-level understanding of what boards and community champions need in order to confidently open doors and advocate for the missions they care about. She recently completed her MBA and a Certificate in Nonprofit Innovation from the University of Missouri–Kansas City (UMKC), deepening her expertise in strategy, innovation, and social impact. Drawing on both frontline experience and advanced training, Celeste brings a unique perspective to nonprofit education, translating complex board governance and leadership concepts into practical tools and learning experiences through BoardSpark and The Empowered Boardroom.