About Ryan Ripperton Consulting
Have you been asking yourself any of these questions?
We “survived” the pandemic, but now what?
Why aren’t the Board and Staff on the same page?
Does it always have to be two steps forward, one step back?
Do I have to be so exhausted by this work?
If so, you’re in the right place.
I started this company for you.
We all want the same things — for our organizations to be successful, and for the work to be fulfilling. After all, you’re not working in nonprofit — as a staff member or a volunteer — for the glory. You’re doing it because you care.
The truth is that sometimes nonprofit leadership isn’t just hard — it’s deflating. But it doesn’t have to be.
When the executive director, staff, and board are on the same page, all contributing their best work — that’s when the magic happens.
But how do you get to that place, where the organization is aligned, and success breeds more success?
That’s where I can help.
Who is Ryan Ripperton?
I’m a dad. A husband. A musician. A nonprofit leader. A writer, blogger, and aspiring podcaster.
I have more than 23 years’ experience leading nonprofit organizations, over 19 of them as an executive director.
For the last 12 years, I served as the executive director of SPARC, a youth arts education organization in Richmond, Virginia. Now, I’ve handed over the reins there, so that I can help you where you are.
While at SPARC, our team raised over $17 million, expanded the budget by 300%, and increased the organization’s reputation even more. Then we survived the pandemic and laid the foundation for the organization’s next chapter. And none of that happened by accident.
I’ve also served as a nonprofit volunteer — as a board member, officer, and campaign committee member for multiple nonprofit organizations.
My Story
I didn’t grow up in the nonprofit community. I don’t even think I really knew nonprofits were a thing until I was in college.
But as I finished my undergraduate degree in education, something I couldn’t explain was tugging at me.
I told my family, “I want to help people.”
I found work in nonprofit program delivery, first in youth development and then in a national membership association. I ascended to leadership, and found myself as executive director of two nonprofits at the age of 26. Honestly, at first I had no idea what I was doing.
But I’m deeply committed to continuous improvement and lifelong learning. So I went back to school at night to earn an MBA. I read books, went to workshops and conferences, tried some things that worked, and some things that didn’t. I honed my skills by putting my training to work, leveling up our team’s financial performance, mission realignment, external communications, and operational excellence.
When my wife and I had our first child, we decided it was time to look for new opportunities in a new place. In 2010, we moved to Richmond, Virginia, when I was named executive director at SPARC following a national search. The 12 years I spent leading SPARC were the greatest privilege of my professional life so far, filled with both exhausting challenges and inspiring successes.
But as we moved through the pandemic, I thought back to what I said to my parents about wanting to help people.
And I realized, after applying that phrase to my work in nonprofits for over two decades, I was ready to expand it.
Now, I “help people help people.”
Through consulting, I get the privilege of working with you, to help you achieve the levels of success that my colleagues and I have experienced over these two decades. I draw not just on best practices, but also on direct personal experience, to help you and your organization find your way, enjoy sustained success (however you define it), and bring the joy and passion back to your work.
I can’t wait to help you.
You have what it takes to achieve success and maintain balance in your leadership.
My role is to help light the way.