Professional Coaching for Changemakers

Are you struggling with a lack of support? Is the chaos of this political moment creating hopelessness or despair?

Let’s help you navigate uncertainty and overwhelm and grow your hope, confidence, and ease in your work.

You’ll leave coaching with new skills, tools, and practices you can rely on to support your social movement work, now and long into the future.

Professional coaching may be for you if …

You're struggling with:

  • Burnout and despair caused by systems that hurt.

  • Challenges with volunteers and staff.

  • Unaddressed power dynamics, especially related to race.

  • Conflict and the need for increased equity analysis and practice.

  • Equitable hiring challenges.

You're longing for:

  • Improved coaching skills to support volunteers and staff.

  • Increased trust among your teammates.

  • Someone to talk to and to feel less alone in the work.

  • Strategy that allows you to respond to changing terrain.

  • Greater presence, hope, joy, and energy.

You don’t have to face these issues alone.

If your manager is stretched too thin, if your styles don't mesh, if you don't even have a manager — or want somebody who is more focused on your challenges and growth, coaching is the answer.

As your coach, I’ve got your back. Together, we will laser focus on you and your specific needs.

If you are ready to grow your leadership skills, cut through hard decisions, learn to navigate the political moment, and make changes to move you off the edge of burnout and away from implosion, I am here to support you.

As your coach, I am committed to:

  • Supporting real-time problem solving 

  • Co-developing systems to support strong teams

  • Seeing your strengths

  • Encouraging you to build from what you already know

  • Helping you solve the challenges you’re facing

  • Accompanying you through all the big changes

  • Offering warm presence and support you can lean against

If you long to receive support as you work to transform the conditions in your community, I would love to be your coach.

I am particularly skilled at supporting: 

  • Organizers, campaigners, and others doing political work on the frontlines of movements for liberation

  • New managers developing their approach and learning fast in challenging times 

  • Experienced managers and executives facing the toughest decisions in the current chaos

  • Community leaders and committee chairs

  • Small business owners who are mission-driven and community-focused

  • Educators, healers, and artists doing community change work

Here are the steps we’ll follow together to help you navigate this political moment: 

  • 1. Your Plan

    We begin by creating a written plan tailored to your needs. The plan is also a place for us to dream, brainstorm, and connect in between our sessions, and it will guide us toward your desired outcomes.

  • 2. Meetings

    I’ll invite you to share what is most helpful to you right now and identify what you want to come out of each conversation. We’ll explore options and perspectives, with you ultimately deciding and developing your path forward.

  • 3. Homework

    During our meetings, we’ll agree on action items to support your learning. Action items may include things like reflection exercises, journaling, conversations you’d like to have, and more.

  • 4. Emails

    In between our meetings, I’ll be available by email. We may exchange documents or have a virtual asynchronous conversation.


“Mary Alice’s genius is coaching.
She knows how to ask the right questions.”

–Miranda Ehrlich, Senior Campaign Director, Greenlight America

Rates & Payments

A typical contract includes two meetings per month and covers six months.

I offer a sliding scale to make coaching more accessible. Folks who can pay more help make it possible for me to offer a range of price points.

Sliding scale rates include six-month contracts ranging from $2,400 to $8,400. 

Final rates will be dependent on the agreed-upon role, scope, and resources of the contracting entity. Payment plans are available.

1:1 Coaching FAQ

  • Individuals often ask their employer or fiscal sponsor for professional development funds to cover all or a portion of the coaching cost. Others pay out of pocket, from grant funds, or other sources.

  • The ability to pay more may be indicated by comfortably paying your mortgage or rent, having access to inherited assets and/or wealth, an institution covering the cost of your coaching, or holding privileged identities such as whiteness.

    If you are new to sliding scale rates or would like more guidance to consider your rate, the Green Bottle image and metaphor from Alexis J Cunningfolk may be a useful resource.

  • "I feel like I'm being mentored by Mary Alice in how to do the work with caring and attention to the people and the details."

    –Alix Davidson

  • "In our meetings together, Mary Alice brings great humility mixed with confidence and clear decision making."

    –Josh Bookin, Harvard Graduate School of Education

  • “I appreciate Mary Alice's authenticity, expressiveness, presence and care.”

    –Jen Quest-Stern, community-based counselor

Connect with Me

Let’s meet for a free one-hour discovery session.

  1. Click the button below to fill out an intake form to guide our conversation.

  2. Choose a time to talk.

On our call, we’ll explore your struggles and help you get clear on your next moves, which may include an invitation to work with me.

I look forward to talking with you soon!