I’m Natalia Kay-O’Brien, and my work is cultivating community in the nonprofit sector. I am a mission-driven professional with a heart for social justice. Over my 25+ year career I’ve honed my skills in the nonprofit sector as a convener, communications professional, strategist, community builder, fundraiser, and collaborator.
These days I can be found building community at events I host, like Gather: a happy hour for social good, The Nonprofit Confluence, and Seed Circles, an intimate peer cohort I co-facilitate. I create spaces for nonprofit professionals to meet, connect, and build solidarity across the sector.
I also support nonprofit employees through consultation services designed to provide a psychologically safe space for problem-solving, sound boarding, visioning, strategizing, and achieving clarity.
Hi!
Ways to Work with Me
Available as a one-off, to bring a fresh perspective, clarity, and focus to your work, to be a sounding board or thought partner.
On a project basis, I can provide guidance, assist with planning, and support execution.
Also available as a retainer service for nonprofit leaders, communications and fundraising professionals seeking a steady dose of support coupled with 25+ years experience and know-how.
Communication
Whatever your needs are with communications, I will bring ease to the project.
Support may include strategy development, campaign management, drafting outlines, and copy writing.
Projects include: internal comms, newsletters, community engagement, annual reports, fundraising, and more!
Especially skilled at writing copy in a variety of tones to engage, inspire, and activate.
Nothing builds community better than being together in person.
Events are complicated, but I’ve got your back! Together we will co-create a bespoke and purposeful event, designed to bring your vision to life.
I will guide you through initial concept, create a step-by-step action plan, support execution, and ensure optimal user experience for both you and your guests.
I’d love to introduce you to the Portland nonprofit sector. These sessions are tailored to your interests - I will help you understand the local nonprofit ecosystem, key organizations, and funders. These are ideal for the professional seeking the '“inside scoop” on Portland’s robust community of nonprofits.
Perfect for folks new to the sector or Portland looking to connect as staff, board members, or volunteers.
“Natalia's careful organizing made The Nonprofit Confluence an event where nonprofit professionals can come together to clearly define what we struggle with as a sector and walk away with a sense of optimism and tools to tackle our biggest problems. It's an opportunity that doesn't present itself often, and I look forward to attending next year.”
—Kaitlyn East-Sanborn, A to Z Staffing/Nonprofit Professionals NowEvents
Gather
A quarterly happy hour for nonprofit professionals with a passion for social justice. No program or presentations, just free range networking. Uniquely welcoming and inclusive, Gather is for mission-driven professionals with a heart for social justice to connect with like-minded folx. Whether you need moral support, a dose of inspiration, or are looking for collaborators, this is the event for you!
Seed Circles
Seed Circles are intimate peer cohorts for professionals working in social services. Seed Circles is a facilitated deep dive into the values, gifts, grief, desires, and dreams that ground and guide our work. We co-create psychological safety, shared values, and a shared vision, contributing to sustainability of our jobs and organizations and increased connectivity across the sector.
The Nonprofit Confluence
The Nonprofit Confluence is a new convening for social service nonprofits, designed to build community, identify abundance, increase collective impact, and create a shared vision.
The inaugural Nonprofit Confluence took place on March 19, 2026, as a response to today’s challenging political and economic landscape, creating a space to build community, identify abundance, increase collective impact, and create a shared vision. Hands-on, and interactive, the event centered facilitated dialogue and participants’ wisdom, skills, experience, and creativity.