Strategic Planning

Archer County Museum and Arts Center (Texas)

County museum looking to revive a local museum that closed in 2017, restore a historic jail, and launch a major capital campaign. Continuing assistance in fundraising and policy development.         

We worked with Melissa to help us create our first strategic plan. She reviewed our policies, traveled to see our facilities, and spoke with staff and board members to get a feel for our organization. She then facilitated a group discussion about our priorities for the future of the museum. It was incredibly helpful to have a knowledgeable, outside perspective to guide this conversation. After the meeting, she identified and outlined tangible steps in moving forward. She also provided many applicable examples of other museums in similar situations and successful programs and ideas to consider implementing. She was able to connect us with a few of these organizations to learn more. I highly recommend working with Melissa! She was an invaluable part of this process and we have plans to continue consulting with her for our next phase of interpretation planning.

Callie Lawson, Executive Director

The Writer’s Garret (Dallas)

With a new mission statement and several long-term board members preparing to roll off the Board, this literary arts organization needed help in redefining the board’s role and responsibilities as they continue to grow and evolve.

Partnering with Prycer Consulting has benefited The Writer’s Garret. Melissa’s work with our board was thoughtful and constructive. As a result, the board had a necessary conversation regarding shared values and goals, laying a foundation for strategic growth and meaningful support for the organization’s programs. The materials she helped shape and shared with the board have provided The Garret with several actionable steps to take towards realizing objectives identified as priorities for organizational sustainability.

Aaron Glover, Executive Director

Other Strategic Planning Clients include:

Coryell Museum and Historical Center (Gatesville, TX) All-volunteer museum preparing for downtown revitalization and general sustainability.

Fort Bend Museum Association (Richmond, TX) Museum with relatively new director, reshaping priorities after ending a long-term management agreement with another organization.

Manassas Museum System (Virginia) Municipal museum currently undergoing major renovation. Assisting as they update permanent exhibits, rethink governance/staffing structure, and establish policies for the updated museum.

Museum of North Texas History (Wichita Falls, TX) Small local museum ready to create their first strategic plan. Also assisted with executive transition plan.

Project Transformation North Texas (Dallas) Assist literacy organization centered in the United Methodist Church with post-Covid planning.

Readers 2 Leaders (Dallas) Assist organization providing literacy support in Dallas ISD to adjust and stabilize after rapid growth.

Tails ‘N’ Trails Museum (Nocona, TX) All-volunteer museum building sustainability and planning for expansion.

The Writer’s Garret (Dallas) Assist with board engagement through strategic planning process.

Fundraising

Readers 2 Leaders (Dallas)

Served as Interim Director of Development for 8 months. Updated policies, procedures, and systems. Assisted with Grand Opening Party for Capital Campaign. Led EOY campaign (doubling gifts) and North Texas Giving Day. Assisted with onboarding and training of two new Development staff members. Assisting with strategic planning in 2023.

I highly recommend Melissa as a nonprofit consultant; she has truly been an invaluable support to Readers 2 Leaders during a key time of transition. With Melissa’s leadership and support, we updated and strengthened our Development plan and stabilized many aspects of our department (including maximizing our donor database as well as grant management process). She also provided critical support in onboarding and vetting two new members to help us build a strong Development team. Melissa is able to think about strategy and long-term vision, but is equally willing to help with day to day logistics and details that are necessary to maintaining operations. I found both types of support incredibly valuable. I would 100% work with Melissa again on future needs and projects, and am grateful for her partnership and support!

Norma Nelson, President and CEO

Melissa provided the calm amid a storm at my organization. As my temporary supervisor, she established processes for my work where before there had been confusion and inefficiency. In collaboration with the development department, she cleaned out the backlogs that were making our calendars, task managers, and filing system inefficient sources of stress and left us with clear systems to keep things moving smoothly long into the future. With curiosity and clarity, Melissa helped reset the expectations of the team to help us focus our time and energy on the best possibilities for funding sustainability and growth. I am a happier and more effective employee because of Melissa’s leadership, creativity, and investment in my team.

Adrian White, Grant Writer

Bell County Museum (Texas)

Fundraising Planning  Assess systems, establish goals, and create fundraising plan. Implement database and refine mailing lists. Ongoing board training.

Thank you for creating an outstanding fundraising plan, CRM database, and communications strategy for BCM. I believe your work with our staff and trustees will help launch BCM into a new era of inclusion, accessibility, and enhanced fundraising. It is a joy working with you.

Coleman Hampton, Executive Director

Other Fundraising Clients Include:

Dallas Jewish Historical Society (Texas)  Fundraising Planning   Establish goals, develop case for support, and assess systems. Ongoing board training.

City of Richardson – Miss Belle’s House (Texas) Feasibility Study With M. Gale and Associates, conduct feasibility study for capital campaign to remove and restore the historic Belle House.

Historic Mesquite, Inc. (Texas)  Fundraising Systems   Merge systems, implement new database, and assist with membership renewal.

Irving Archives and Museum (Texas) Fundraising Coaching. Assist with database implementation plus coaching support for new development staff.

Texas Health Resources Foundation (Texas) Grant Writer. Assist with grant writing and management during staff transition.

Writer’s Garret (Dallas)  Annual Campaign and Database Implementation  Assist literary nonprofit with first annual campaign, supporting Rail Writers program. Use existing data to begin implementing donor database.

Wood-Library Museum of Anesthesiology (Schaumburg, IL) Fundraising Services: Draft fundraising plan, including a case for support. Implement donor database. Assist with annual campaign.

Other Projects and Services

Dallas Jewish Historical Society

Served as Interim Executive Director after unexpected death of ED. Assisting with fundraising support, data management, and program planning.

Melissa Prycer came to work with DJHS as a fundraising consultant in early 2023. Her role pivoted as suddenly as the agency’s needs following the death of DJHS’ executive director. Her willingness to step up, and the fact that she had the knowledge and training to make a difference, made ALL the difference to DJHS during a period of extreme transition. Melissa’s years of experience in education and non-profit leadership allow her to hone a creative, yet digestible approach to non-profit and museum management. Her attention to detail, keen intuition, and commitment to transparency can and have helped clients, including DJHS, recognize and reassess opportunities for improvement while breathing fresh air into what is working. After working with Melissa closely for several months, I can say with all confidence that she has the skills to propel her clients in any direction they wish to go.

Jessica Adams, Archivist

Leonard’s Museum (Fort Worth)

Assess collection of the Leonard’s Department Store as part of preparation for transfer to Texas Wesleyan University. Work included developing database, identifying items, and historical research.

You made this an easy process and were exceptionally kind and professional to work with. You were timely and hit all the deadlines and produced documents that were helpful to the process and will facilitate moving forward. We didn’t really know how to proceed but we knew there was work to be done, and you helped us to figure it out. We are very appreciative.

Vicki Andrews, North Texas Community Foundation

Rockwall County Historical Foundation (Texas)

Served as Interim Executive Director for 5 months. Guided Board in strategic planning process. Established basic collections care policies. Provided guidance on governance issues. Implemented membership CRM database and led a lapsed member campaign, more than doubling current members of RCHF. Prepared the organization for new leadership.

Melissa has been working with the Rockwall County Historical Foundation for the past several months and we could not be happier!  She guided us as we evaluated our current state of operations and she helped us draft a number of vitally important documents and policies. Melissa’s insight has made a huge difference in our ability to head in the direction of our goals and to identify strategic priorities that will benefit the historical foundation for years to come.  As the board president, I could not be more pleased with the results of Melissa’s work – she is an absolute delight to work with and we have all learned so much from her! 

Sarah Keeney, Board Chair

Additional Clients Include:

Buffalo Bill Museum and Library (Denver, CO) Collections Assessment. Assess a potential artifact donation, currently located in Texas.

Fort Caspar Museum (Casper, WY) Feasibility Study Assess the impact of a potential major acquisition on operations, funding, and attendance.

National Park Service (Bent’s Old Fort, Sand Creek Massacre, and Amache) (La Junta, Co)Volunteer Assessment: Assess the volunteer program, primarily at Bent’s Old Fort. Also look at ways for the staff of these three historic sites to better collaborate and improve interpretive services.

Southern Gateway Public Green Foundation (Dallas) Historical Research Services: Research individuals being considered for inclusion in park design.

St. Jude Chapel (Dallas, TX) Historical Services: Organize archives, creating a finding aid and identifying gaps in the collection. Draft a historical narrative to be used in future visitor orientation materials.

Whitney Plantation (Edgard, LA) Disaster Plan. Draft a disaster plan, focusing on hurricane preparedness.

Wood-Library Museum of Anesthesiology (Schaumburg, IL)  STEPS Assessment and Planning Services   Assess progress in STEPS and identify final projects for Gold Certification.