About Kristen Tierney

Kristen is a Strategic Development Consultant and Coach for nonprofits and businesses. 30+ years’ experience as income stream specialist transforming visions into profitable strategies for sustainable growth.

With over three decades in business and nonprofit consulting and entrepreneurship, I specialize in transforming visions into actionable, results-driven strategies focused on revenue generation for nonprofits and small to medium-sized businesses.

As a Consultant and Coach, I offer:

• Strategic Planning: Crafting tailored, realistic plans that drive measurable outcomes.

• Income Stream Analysis: Breaking cash flow barriers through diverse, sustainable revenue sources.

• Message Clarity: Distilling your unique value into resonant, actionable messaging.

• Holistic Problem-Solving: Balancing internal capabilities with external factors for grounded, visionary strategies.

My experience spans multiple successful business launches and collaborations, including art direction for major marketing campaigns, executive coaching, public speaking, and grant writing.

As a 40-year volunteer, I bring a unique sensitivity to the human element in business. I'm committed to helping organizations operate efficiently and successfully while maintaining a lean structure with heart.

Ready to transform your organization through strategic development? Let's connect and turn your vision into measurable, impactful results.

VOLUNTEER

Kristen has been an active volunteer in Connecticut for 40 years, serving a wide variety of nonprofits, primarily in urban communities. Her roles have included board service, program volunteer work, and providing in-kind services in areas such as development, strategic direction, partnership identification and cultivation, funding and market assessment, board development and training, income stream development, marketing, and communication services. Kristen has held notable positions such as Trustee and Chair of the Fairfield Public Library System (2008-2014), Coordinating Council Member of The Keep the Promise Coalition (2012-2018), and a member of Fairfield's first Town Strategic Planning Committee (2017-2020).

The economic downturn in 2008 allowed her to adapt her business income stream model (established 1995) for the nonprofit sector. She founded TDG to offer this model to entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, nonprofits, and social enterprises to help them build strong, sustainable funding foundations. Kristen donates an average of 10 hours a week helping nonprofits raise funds and mentoring young professionals.

Education

Kristen is passionate about learning. As a teenager, she traveled to New York to attend AWED meetings and take classes at FIT in Manhattan. She began her formal education at the University of Massachusetts in Art History and studied Illustration at Parson's School of Design during the summers. She continued her education at NYU in Sports & Event Marketing, and later at Villanova in Project Management. Over the past 35 years, she has completed numerous programs in business coaching, grant writing, fundraising, and development best practices. Learning and applying new knowledge remains a cornerstone of her professional life.

Business Background Highlights

An entrepreneur and coach for over 30 years, Kristen started her first brick-and-mortar business in 1995, achieving 300% growth in the first seven months. She exited the business according to her income stream model that has been the underpinned her work ever since. Her clients have included Fortune 100 companies, advertising and marketing agencies, and hospitals in lower Fairfield County. In 2008, she launched a handbag business that was featured in Vogue (August 2010). She designed and made custom handbags for a Grammy nominee, the Manhattan Historical Society, the Seaport Museum, and a local boutique.

Business Consultant

For over 15 years, Kristen has specialized as a Business and Nonprofit Development Strategist, Coach, and Consultant specializing in income stream analysis, funding sustainability, nonprofit development, strategic planning, communication, branding, marketing, website design, grant research and writing, logic model creation, and social enterprise planning. She is a highly-rated speaker on nonprofit sustainability, funding, development, income stream development, small business funding, branding, market targeting, board roles and responsibilities, nonprofit operations, and social enterprises. Kristen is a successful executive coach and thought partner to solopreneurs, small business owners, executive directors, and C-suite executives. She helps clients navigate organizational strain, change, and growth, creating in-store and online brands, products, appeals, and marketing plans. Her funding model has been successfully used for over 30 years by small businesses and nonprofits.

Kristen has assisted dozens of startups, nonprofits, and social enterprises to thrive using her models. Annually, she coaches and mentors numerous professionals and college graduates transitioning into new careers or navigating economic challenges. Over the past decade, she has provided over $700,000 in in-kind services and support to nonprofits.

Coach & Entrepreneur

Kristen supports and guides professionals and business owners through barriers by identifying effective processes to achieve their goals efficiently. She understands that change and growth are intrinsic components of every business and nonprofit, helping clients feel less isolated and more capable of moving forward. Her models have been used by hundreds of nonprofit and business clients, and thousands have benefited from her talks over the last decade. Kristen's models create strong, stable, and sustainable funding foundations, allowing clients to focus on the aspects of their business or nonprofit they love. Her passion for her work and her clients' success is evident. To learn more, visit Testimonials and Case Studies.

Quotes She LiveS By

Success is opportunity meeting preparation.  - Oprah

No one will ever outwork me.  - Will Smith

Be the change you want to see in the world.  - Gandhi