DBN Expertise
Debra's clients range from public libraries to community foundations, from large investors to small social service agencies, from rural to urban projects. Past engagements included a range of philanthropy, nonprofits and social enterprises in areas from early childhood cohorts to food systems, rural development to affordable housing, performing arts to advocacy, youth development to older adults, disabilities and mental health to domestic abuse organizations. She works using a systems approach and has a solid understanding of how to connect dots to efficiently find effective pathways toward achieving mission.
She is currently engaged in strategy and design to continually improve a long-term shared outcomes project with a large funder; a client voice data integration plan for a legal aid agency; organizational development to implement a strategic plan for an umbrella educational institution; community engagement strategy for a youth mental health organization, and advisor for senior leadership teams on outcome clarity and data use, executive transition, and managing change.
Debra regularly shares keynotes and plenary speeches and facilitates interactive workshops at local, annual, and international conferences on continuous improvement, outcome management, high performing organizational culture, and change management.
Recognized for her years of work in research, training, management, tool development and consulting in the social sector, Debra is an active Leap Ambassador, a brain trust of leaders working on resources to define and support organizations and leaders on a journey toward high performance.
Prior to founding DBN & Associates, Debra served as the CEO for The Center for What Works for over 10 years. Early in that role, and in partnership with the Urban Institute, Debra led efforts to develop and publish the Outcome Indicators Project to develop frameworks and the first nonprofit taxonomy of outcomes to guide social sector programs. Under Debra's leadership, The Center for What Works received an innovation grant to develop tools and training to help leaders apply the research to practice. This included an eLearning course that she developed in partnership with Cisco Systems. Debra designed client-focused professional services, marked by blended learning (high tech and high touch), to meet the needs of ready organizations to implement outcome frameworks into management practice.
Her core strength is to connect and bridge research to practice, translating primary research into clear, simple, practical tools and services for social change.
She is currently engaged in strategy and design to continually improve a long-term shared outcomes project with a large funder; a client voice data integration plan for a legal aid agency; organizational development to implement a strategic plan for an umbrella educational institution; community engagement strategy for a youth mental health organization, and advisor for senior leadership teams on outcome clarity and data use, executive transition, and managing change.
Debra regularly shares keynotes and plenary speeches and facilitates interactive workshops at local, annual, and international conferences on continuous improvement, outcome management, high performing organizational culture, and change management.
Recognized for her years of work in research, training, management, tool development and consulting in the social sector, Debra is an active Leap Ambassador, a brain trust of leaders working on resources to define and support organizations and leaders on a journey toward high performance.
Prior to founding DBN & Associates, Debra served as the CEO for The Center for What Works for over 10 years. Early in that role, and in partnership with the Urban Institute, Debra led efforts to develop and publish the Outcome Indicators Project to develop frameworks and the first nonprofit taxonomy of outcomes to guide social sector programs. Under Debra's leadership, The Center for What Works received an innovation grant to develop tools and training to help leaders apply the research to practice. This included an eLearning course that she developed in partnership with Cisco Systems. Debra designed client-focused professional services, marked by blended learning (high tech and high touch), to meet the needs of ready organizations to implement outcome frameworks into management practice.
Her core strength is to connect and bridge research to practice, translating primary research into clear, simple, practical tools and services for social change.
"Debra is a leader in the field of outcome thinking, so the information she provides is on-the-cutting-edge. She takes the most current research and thinking related to management and results in the third sector and applies it directly to our work." |