Empowering Non-Profits for Greater Impact

About Me

Hi, I’m Sheryl Foster, founder of Strategic Impact, Inc., strategic thinker, and someone who actually loves a well-structured logic model.

For over 20 years, I’ve partnered with nonprofits and local governments across the country to help them work smarter, plan better, and measure what matters. Whether you're building a new program, stuck in planning paralysis, or ready to evaluate your impact, I bring clarity, direction, and a little strategic magic to the table.

What I Do

I provide consulting in planning, evaluation, and research, the kind that helps vision-driven organizations make informed decisions and real progress. My job is to take your vision and turn it into a thoughtful, actionable strategy that fits your goals, your team, and your budget. No fluff. No jargon. Just the tools you need to move forward with confidence.

Why I Do It

I believe in the power of nonprofits to drive meaningful change, and I know from experience that good intentions need great infrastructure. That’s where I come in: translating complex challenges into practical solutions that help organizations thrive and stay mission-focused.

My Path Here

Before launching Strategic Impact, Inc., I was the Executive Director of a Chamber of Commerce, a strategic planner for St. Louis County, and a consultant in community development. I even got my start at a United Nations NGO (yes, I’ve been in the rooms where the acronyms happen). These roles gave me deep insight into the unique pressures nonprofit leaders face, and the strategies that actually help.

Credentials & Teaching

I hold a Ph.D. in Public Policy Analysis and Administration from Saint Louis University, with a focus on policy implementation and applied research. I also enjoy teaching the next generation of changemakers as an adjunct professor at the University of Missouri - St. Louis (UMSL) where I teach nonprofit leadership, management, and organizational behavior. I also spent many years teaching future social work leaders at Washington University’s Brown School of Social Work.

What It’s Like to Work with Me

Clients often tell me I ask the right questions, bring order to chaos, and make the hard stuff feel doable. I’m collaborative, candid, and genuinely curious. I don’t bring cookie-cutter solutions, just custom strategies grounded in evidence and built for action.

Let’s turn your mission into measurable momentum. Hit the connect button below to start the conversation.

• 20+ Years Consulting Experience

• 50+ Clients Served

• 10+ States Reached

• 3 University Appointments

• 1 Purpose: Advancing Vision-Driven Work