We’re passionate about nonprofits.
Together, we cultivate growth & forge impact.
At Rising Leaf Strategies, we partner with nonprofits and their leaders, empowering them to flourish in both their missions and careers. Through our meticulously tailored action plans and personalized coaching, we pave the way for sustainable growth and meaningful impact.
Meet Karen
Karen Cook, MBA, has deep experience in nonprofit organizational leadership and management. With several executive roles throughout her career, she has showcased her expertise and dedication to arts, education, community service and development.
As Executive Director, Karen guided the Shenandoah Valley Music Festival as it earned recognition as one of the Top Twenty Events of the Southeast, and the Virginia Literacy Foundation honored her literacy organization with two awards for Outstanding Literacy Organization of the Year. Additionally, Karen's organization received the Celebrate Literacy award from the Virginia State Reading Association
Her keen interest in program assessment led her to obtain several research grants, publish articles and book reviews in adult literacy education, and serve as a research coach and consultant for the Virginia Adult Educators Research Network.
While Director of AmeriCorps Serves Rural Communities in Rice County, KS, Karen also taught Marketing, Financing for Nonprofits, and Business Planning for Nonprofits at Sterling College. In addition, she has consulted numerous community nonprofits in grant writing, policy, and training.
Karen's cross-cultural nonprofit work extends to health and teaching ministries in Honduras and Papua New Guinea. As Placement Director and later Development Manager for the Presbyterian Church in America, and as Grants Administrator for the PCA’s Mission to North America, she has provided regular advice to startups on planning for fiscal health and mission impact.
Meet David
David Cook, a highly accomplished leader in education, arts, and ministry, has an extensive background in nonprofit executive leadership, academic faculty development and management, and faith-based ministry leadership. Serving as Department and Division Chairs at Sterling College, Assistant Dean of Faculty Development at Georgia Gwinnett College, and Chair of Promotions and Credentialing at GGC, David has cultivated deep experience in academic faculty development.
In his roles as President and Director of the Rice County Arts Council, the regionally respected Prairie Arts Show, and the Sterling College and Bridgewater Art Galleries, David developed partnerships with National Geographic, Virginia Commission for the Arts, Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission, and renowned illustrators across North America. He has a deep understanding of running fine arts nonprofits. Through program leadership with the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Virginia Commission for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts, David understands the work of national and statewide nonprofits.
David's initiative in fostering collaboration and community engagement shines in the creation of the Gwinnett County Arts Basecamp. This initiative united sponsors, donors, and participants in grant activities and exhibition events in one of Georgia's most highly populated areas. His efforts were recognized with an individual nomination for the Best of the Year 2012 in Gwinnett Arts.
A seasoned church leader, David founded and trained an executive board in Virginia and administered start-ups and established churches in Kansas and Georgia, emphasizing the importance of board oversight and faith-based ministry. He also served in cross-cultural ministries in South Central Los Angeles and Papua New Guinea.
As a Professor, David has played a pivotal role in the development and success of university and college professionals, recruiting, hiring, evaluating, credentialing, or promoting over 600 full-time employees. His expertise and guidance have been instrumental in helping university employees navigate their career paths and seek advancement within higher education. David has been proactive in developing innovative evaluation and credentialing methods, ensuring fair and transparent processes.
