Ultra Advising Year Two Impact Statement

Written By Caroline Crumpacker

Just after the Summer Solstice 2026, Ultra Advising turned two — meaning both that our LLC hovers between Gemini and Cancer, and that we have been in business for just over two years! In these two years, all three of us who are Ultra (aka Caroline, Zuhirah & Rebecca) have worked with clients throughout NYS and the Northeast, shared resources, hosted workshops, learned so much, and been inspired by all of the amazing nonprofits we have the great fortune to work with.

However, 2026 has been another rough year for the sector — the loss of federal funding, ongoing threats to sovereignty and functioning, rising costs, and incredible need as federal programs scale back and nonprofits attempt to pick up some part of the slack. We greatly admire all the organizations that continue to stand strong, support vulnerable communities, foster revolutionary and inspiring art, and otherwise keep us aware of the many ways of being in and thinking about the world.

There is a great deal to be concerned about in 2026. And there is hope, resilience, and solidarity. We look forward to engaging all the wildest and most beautiful of possibilities. And we promise to keep on keeping on.

And now let us tell you a bit about what we three Hudson Valley women have done this year.

EVENTS 

  • We offered free counsel at a meeting of the Saugerties Arts Commission, and through special initiatives in our offices.

  • We offered workshops including Developing an Organizational Commitment to Land Justice with Heather Bruegl, Developing a Tech Mission with Greta Byrum and Present Moment, and How to Work with Integrity, Inclusiveness & Resistance with the Ultra staff.

  • We hosted multiple themed retreats at our office in sunny Tivoli.

2026 CLIENTS

Our clients are amazing! We worked with some thrilling organizations over the last year and here is what some of them had to say:

“Sing Sing Prison Museum is such a small team that hiring Ultra Advising feels like it doubles our organizational size when they assist on a project.  Whether it's an idea that needs a knowledgeable sounding board, or a grant text that needs edits and clarifications, or an online application with character or word count restraints, this team always makes us more efficient and successful. Ultra Advising steps into our museum when expanding is the goal, and sure enough we expand with their expertise.”

— Amy Hufnagel, Assistant Director SSPM

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“We had the chance to work with Caroline Crumpacker through a grant, and what a difference she made. Through resources and consultation, she helped us to improve our budgeting processes and find fundraising solutions. She was encouraging, professional, and a joy to work with. Our team always looked forward to our meetings with her, as we knew they would be invaluable! “

— Frannie Dove, Manager Director Waywiser Books

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"As a new executive director with a big lift in front of me (board building, program development, communications, general strategy), Ultra was a godsend. They provided a development plan and follow up that helped shine a light in the fog and helped me steer straight. They saw exactly what needed focus in the near-term while helping me a keep a clear eye on the horizon. It was far more than a consulting service. It was much needed therapy!"

— Ed Morris, Executive Director, Marble House Project 

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“As a grantwriting consultant, Caroline Crumpacker is a savy navigator of funding sources and deep pockets. She brings a plumber's executive toolkit to the gritty necessity of turning on the funding tap. Caroline carries this out with a collaborative humor and aplomb.”

— Patrick Wadden, Arm-of-the-Sea Theater Founder

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“Working with Ultra Advising has been an incredible experience for us. Their guidance and insight have been instrumental in helping us navigate our growth and development this season and beyond. We feel much more confident in our path forward thanks to their thoughtful support. We can't wait to continue growing with Ultra on our team!”

— Amelia Modlin & Kyle Breen, Co-Founders & Co-Directors, Wild Arts Collective

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See all our Testimonials HERE.

PROJECTS  

  • We coordinated multiple board/staff meetings and retreats.

  • Caroline acted as Interim Director for The Stone Trust in Vermont and in that role, helped to significantly improve the organization’s financial situation and streamline staff and board operations.

  • We helped two organizations define leadership roles and hire executive directors.

  • Our team garnered five grants from the New York State Council on the Arts, a range of first-time grants from private foundations, and major gifts from individual donors.

  • We organized five end-of-year solicitation appeals and two spring appeals for clients.

  • Our work raised more than $300,000 for our clients over 12 months of work.

  • We completed two Strategic Plans, one Transition Plan, and three Development & Marketing Plans.

  • Ultra staff conducted two deep-dive, months-long Mission/Vision Statement reviews with board and staff leadership.

  • We orchestrated or helped to orchestrate themed and mission-aligned fundraising events for three organizations.

  • Oh, we did a lot of work with boards, including board development and board training. It’s so important to solidify and define board and staff roles and policies as the landscape continues to be volatile, and we helped folks do that.

  • We also always provide a range of free resources, digitally and on paper. Just ask…

     (for example) 

NEWS 

  • Zuhirah Khaldun-Diarra stepped down as Vice President of Philanthropy Communications & Marketing at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. This means she will have much more time to bring her incredible skill-set to our clients this year. Lucky clients!

  • Caroline Crumpacker joined a finance/audit committee working with the board of directors at Ulster Immigrant Defense Network.

  • Rebecca Wolff began part-time work as a social worker at Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson.

  • Zuhirah co-produced a concert featuring Dez Altino and followed by an Afropop and Afrobeats dance party at Half Moon Hudson, and an African Music and Food Pop-Up at PS 21 Center for Contemporary Performance in Chatham, NY.

  • Caroline taught two classes on writing about one’s artistic work at The Next Festival of Emerging Artists’ Alumni Network. Check them out HERE.

  • Rebecca is doing wonders with her naturally radiance-inducing skincare elixirs at Glow Juice.

  • Zuhirah learns fascinating things about oceans as a board member for Ocean First Institute.

  • Caroline has been training in facilitating, decision-making, and conflict resolution with AORTA, an anti-oppression resource and training alliance.

  • Rebecca was interviewed on WXTI 97.3 LPFM, Tivoli’s own independent radio station.

  • Caroline hosted a three-part workshop for women to discuss the impact of misogyny on their lives, professionally and otherwise, in the time of the Epstein class.

And more. It’s been a busy year. We’ve learned a lot, shared a lot, and expanded how we support one another and our communities.

LOOKING AHEAD

Hang in there, folks! This next year will be rife with crises, as we know. We’re doing what we can — including offering Monday Mulling whereby orgs can sign up for free one-on-one advice sessions about navigating this time together, preparing year-end appeals, upgrading fundraising, and more — check it out HERE.

Remember, if we stay in solidarity everything is possible. We’ll be with you all the way.

And a few resources for surviving and thriving in profoundly uncertain times:

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We have a lot more to do and share in 2026/27, so stay tuned!

Caroline Crumpacker
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Faustian Foundation for the Arts