Operational leadership shaped by real nonprofit experience
hands-on operational partner for nonprofit leaders
At KJ Consulting Group, I partner with mission-driven nonprofits to strengthen operations and support leaders as they guide their organizations with clarity and confidence. Shaped by nearly three decades of nonprofit experience, my work is hands-on when systems need stabilizing and strategic when leaders need space to think, decide, and move forward. Because no two nonprofits operate under the same conditions, I use an adaptable model designed to respond to real operating realities, not idealized assumptions.
What partnership looks like in practice
I provide operations support through three interconnected areas of work: Operational Strategy and Systems to reduce friction and strengthen how work gets done; Fractional or Interim Operations Partnership to provide executive-level leadership during transitions or periods of capacity strain; and Operations Coaching to support senior leaders in building strong systems and strong teams. These areas are designed to flex, meeting organizations where they are, whether the need is sustained partnership, short-term leadership support, or focused advising.
Who this work is designed for
KJ Consulting Group works with nonprofit organizations at a range of stages, from grassroots and community-based groups to mid-sized organizations and established institutions. Across these contexts, engagements are practical, people-centered, and shaped by mission, values, and the day-to-day realities leaders and teams are navigating.
Matthew Kessler-Vaughn, PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT
Matthew Kessler-Vaughn is a nonprofit operations leader with nearly three decades of experience leading organizations through growth, transition, and complexity. His work focuses on strengthening internal operations so leaders can make clear decisions, share responsibility, and sustain impact over time. He is known for partnering with organizations when systems are strained, roles feel unclear, or the path forward requires steady operational judgment rather than speed.
Throughout his career, Matthew has served as the most senior operations leader for mission-driven organizations navigating strategic evolution, restructuring, and long-term capacity building. He brings a hands-on operational approach shaped by direct responsibility for people, systems, and decisions. Rather than offering abstract recommendations, his work centers on building clarity, strengthening accountability, and helping teams operate more reliably under real-world conditions.
Motivated by a long-standing commitment to social impact and equity, Matthew founded KJ Consulting Group to provide experienced operational leadership grounded in partnership and practicality. The firm is named in honor of his parents, Kathy and Jim, whose integrity, compassion, and dedication to community continue to guide his work.
Matthew is a long-time resident of Washington, DC, where he lives with his husband, Terrance. He values time spent with friends and family cooking, laughing, and enjoying life. He loves music, especially Aretha Franklin, and watching football and basketball, always rooting for the New York Giants and the Knicks. Those interests ground a leadership style shaped by patience, clarity, and showing up consistently, even when things are complicated.