Chesterfield Consulting
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Education & nonprofit consulting

We collaborate with schools, districts and nonprofit organizations to help bring strategic visions to life, from grant writing and program development to hands-on coordination and planning.

  • 20+ yearswhere schools, colleges, employers and community organizations meet, getting them moving in the same direction
  • Since 2011running Chesterfield Consulting: strategic planning, partnerships, grant writing and project management
  • M.A. Public PolicyCSU Monterey Bay, through the Panetta Institute for Public Policy

What we do

Six ways in, from the first grant to a program that runs on its own.

PROGRAM PLAN Strategic planning Partnerships Grant proposal Workshops Program launch
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  1. Grant writing

    Researching and writing winning proposals to fund your mission.

  2. Strategic planning

    Building roadmaps that support growth and sustainability.

  3. Program management

    Overseeing implementation to ensure smooth operations and goal alignment.

  4. Program coordination

    Streamlining initiatives and maximizing efficiency across teams and projects.

  5. Workshop development & facilitation

    Empowering individuals and teams through custom-designed workshops.

  6. Professional expertise

    Offering trusted guidance grounded in real-world experience.

Selected work

Most of this work sits where schools, colleges, employers and community organizations meet, getting them moving in the same direction.

  • Pajaro Valley Unified School District

    CTE and work-based learning

    Managing development of an online platform that connects high school students with career technical education and work-based learning, and coordinating the education, workforce, business and community partners involved.

    2021–now

  • BayICT Partnership

    Events, communications, AI pathways

    Coordinated the BayICT Tech Talks, produced the newsletter and helped run conferences for the Bay Area partnership connecting employers, educators and students around tech careers. Worked extensively on AIDA, the region's AI and data analytics pathways initiative.

    2021–25

  • Santa Cruz County Office of Education

    Outreach and partnerships

    Senior Community Organizer for Census 2020 outreach and FosterEd Liaison, building partnerships among the County Office, school districts, families and community organizations.

    2019–21

  • Cabrillo College

    Program coordination

    Coordinated Summer CyberCamp for middle school, high school and college-age students across Santa Cruz County.

    2020

  • Work4Youth

    Strategy, facilitation, fund development

    Strategic planning, workshop development, meeting facilitation and sustainability planning for a cross-sector youth workforce initiative.

    2011–14

Sarah Ferguson

More than 20 years in workforce development, K-12 and higher education, nonprofits and community partnerships.

  • 2002–2008Santa Cruz County Office of EducationProgram Coordinator for countywide youth health and wellness, environmental education and juvenile diversion programs, with partnerships across four counties.
  • 2006Master's in Public PolicyCalifornia State University, Monterey Bay, through the Panetta Institute for Public Policy.
  • 2011Principal, Chesterfield ConsultingStrategic planning, program and partnership development, grant writing and project management.
  • 2013Co-founded the Santa Cruz Women Leaders NetworkAlongside board seats with the Pleasure Point Business Association and Think Local First.

Planning a program or a grant?

Tell us what you're working on and we'll be in touch.

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