How We Think

At UpCity, we believe organizations and companies are most stable and sustainable when they operate like businesses with heart.

UpCity consultants are highly creative, wickedly sharp and impressively resourceful. We are also professional, fast and affordable.

WE AFFIRM

Delight, prosperity and social innovation

Representative short- and long-term strategic action plans

Efficient, dynamic organizational systems and structures

Diversified revenue streams, including earned income

Fairly compensated employees who relish work/life balance

Professional, collaborative boards

Hearty laughter and candid conversation

WE PROTEST

Martyrdom, scarcity and static thinking

Top-down, long-term strategic plans that collect dust

Absent or fractured structures and systems

Dependence on a single funding stream, e.g., grants

Underpaid staff on the precipice of burnout

Unprofessional, disengaged boards 

Cynicism and murky communication

What We Do

UpCity consultants strengthen and stabilize communities, as well as the nonprofits and businesses that serve them.

Our innovative approaches are holistic in scope and carefully tailored to an agency's specific goals and objectives.

EXPERTISE

EXPERIENCE

EQUITY AND INCLUSION

• Culture assessment and transformation

• Recruitment, onboarding and retention strategies to support diverse teams

• Digital and remote workforce tools to cultivate connection and belonging

ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

• Short- and long-term strategic plan development and implementation

• Board/staff recruitment and training

• Executive coaching, interim management and founder transition support

RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

• Complex, short- and long-term planning

• Social enterprise and earned income opportunities development

• Public relations, marketing and communication, including social media

OPERATIONS  MANAGEMENT

• Team collaboration tool implementation (e.g., Slack, Zoom, project management software)

• Constituent database assessment, recommendations and integration

CLICK TO VIEW UPCOMING

Who We Serve

Our talented team members have worked for and consulted with many reputable organizations around the world:

Africa Bridge

Airway Science for Kids, Inc.

American Lung Association

Assistance League of Greater Portland

Beaverton Police Activities League

Black Parent Initiative

Community Cycling Center

Doernbecher Children’s Hospital

Earthrise at Lewis & Clark Law School

Medical Teams International

Mercy Corps

Multnomah Education Service District

Neighborhood House

OPAL Environmental Justice

OPEN School (formerly Open Meadow)

Oregon Entrepreneurs Network

Oregon Health & Science University 

Oregon Humanities

Peninsula Children's Learning Center

Ronald McDonald House Charities

Portland Community College

Start Making a Reader Today (SMART)

United Way of the Columbia-Willamette

U.S. Peace Corps

Our Team

Rebecca Channer

FOUNDER & PRINCIPAL

[she/her]

A dynamic NGO leader, inclusive team builder, and fluid systems designer, Rebecca brings over 20 years of international experience stewarding diverse communities, families and children.

Rebecca's primary areas of expertise: executive coaching; strategic organizational development; people management; systems design and implementation; and leadership transitions. She is also a head coach for Seth Godin's altMBA.

Rebecca has worked closely with small, grassroots organizations, as well as large, professional companies both in the United States and abroad. She also served as a community development volunteer with the Peace Corps in Namibia.

In her free time, Rebecca is an avid bike commuter (one set of All-City wheels in particular), tireless idea generator, aspiring social entrepreneur, and Chicago-style pizza connoisseur.

S. Kennedy Stonehawk

SENIOR CONSULTANT

[she/her]

During the past 15 years, Kennedy has worked with small and large organizations in the educational realm, tailoring curriculum, programs and evaluation tools to fit audiences from a wide variety of demographic backgrounds.

Kennedy's primary areas of expertise: assessing organizational efficacy and sustainability; program design, development and evaluation; grants research, writing, reporting and compliance; and data collection and analysis.

As a consultant, Kennedy relies on her ability to ask good questions, listen deeply, and observe how all of the details fit into the greater whole of an organization's mission—the bigger story that is always unfolding and evolving.

In her free time, Kennedy is an avid dog lover (one canine in particular), tireless hiker, aspiring winemaker, and vegan breakfast taco connoisseur. 

Testimonials

LISA PERRIN

IT Project Manager,

MACRO.CSS

"Rebecca was hired as CEO at a time of enormous transition in the organization. The project I was managing was already underway when she arrived and she immediately added value. She jumped aboard, got up to speed quickly and provided leadership and support at critical junctures. She was an ideal manager to work for because she trusted me to do my job but was decisive and available when I needed her. She has an amazing ability to get down in the weeds but still see the big picture." 

TANYA OSTROGORSKY

Director of Assessment,

Oregon State University

"I worked with Kennedy for several years and found her to be extremely smart, talented, attentive to detail, and fun. Her dedication to her work and serving her clients will be immediately seen by anyone that spends time with her. She is a leader and is skilled in collaborative group work with the mission of putting her clients needs first."

MICHAEL ACHTERMAN

Program Officer,

Oregon Community Foundation

“Rebecca is a passionate, motivated, and well-organized leader committed to developing and executing complex and challenging projects and initiatives. Her writing and team-oriented approach was key to producing high-quality work. She treats coworkers with tremendous respect and is a true mentor. I highly value Rebecca's talents, visionary leadership, and positive attitude. She is an exceptional asset to non-profit organizations, research groups, schools, and businesses alike.”

Contact Us

UpCity Consulting, LLC

Email

Phone

503.956.2695

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Rates

We offer sliding scale rates based on an organization's budget size, ranging from $125-$195 per hour. Project-based agreements receive a 10% discount.