About Next Stage
Next Stage was founded to ensure all nonprofit organizations in the Carolinas have access to affordable, high-quality services to help them “get to the next level.”
Next Stage exists to serve the varied needs of nonprofits in the Carolinas. By partnering with staff and leadership volunteers, the firm’s talented professionals prioritize presenting needs and opportunities, develop a plan to address them and work tirelessly to ensure optimization in pursuit of mission.
The firm is dedicated to working with a limited number of nonprofits to guarantee all clients receive expert counsel, specialized strategic and development planning, and in-depth implementation services.
Led by Managing Director Josh Jacobson, Next Stage aims to be a cut above. Your nonprofit deserves customized services guided by strategists who are willing to roll up their sleeves and dig in to your needs. Next Stage is committed to being a different kind of firm, as interested in designing unique solutions as working with you to see them implemented.
Leadership
Josh Jacobson, CFRE, Managing Director
Josh specializes in strategic positioning and tactical implementation, helping nonprofits develop the platform and tools necessary to support effective operations and fundraising activities.
Over the last ten years, Josh has directly managed engagements with more than 160 nonprofits. His expertise is in strategic planning, volunteer development, annual and capital fundraising, executive and development search, case strategy, and succession planning. As a consultant, Josh has worked in-depth with every nonprofit sector, bringing new ideas and approaches into every engagement.
Before relocating to NC, Josh worked in NYC – first as Senior Officer at The Juilliard School where he worked on the $150 million Campaign for Juilliard, and later as a Senior Resource Development Director with Manhattan Theatre Club on Broadway. He is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) and an active member of the Charlotte chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) where he is Board President for 2018. A graduate of Flagler College, Josh and his wife Adara are proud parents of a corgi named Miyagi.
The Team
Caylin Haldeman, Project Manager
Caylin Haldeman brings a background in philanthropy and social innovation to her role with Next Stage. She joined Next Stage Consulting in 2017 and has made significant contributions to projects including About Face Charlotte, Carolinas Latin Dance Company, the Charlotte Post Foundation, Community School of the Arts, Friendship Gardens, and many others. In addition to her work with client engagements, Caylin serves as primary project manager for CULTIVATE, Next Stage’s incubator for emerging nonprofit organizations in the Charlotte region.
Before relocating to Charlotte, Caylin worked as a Program Associate with the GreenLight Fund, a philanthropic organization with roots in the venture capital community. Over a three-year tenure, she supported the selection and launch of five high-performing national organizations in Philadelphia.
Prior to GreenLight, Caylin spent six months as a fellow at the national consulting firm Frontline Solutions, working with the Philadelphia office in their efforts to enhance the impact of nonprofit and public-sector programs. Caylin received her BA in Urban Studies from Bryn Mawr College and spent her freshman year in Costa Rica, where she researched the role of gender in community development while working for the Costa Rican Humanitarian Foundation. In her spare time, she enjoys exploring Charlotte with her husband, Jean, and their dog, Nacho.
What Our Clients Say
Josh skillfully lead our staff, Board of Directors, selected clients and volunteers through fact gathering interviews and meetings to design a specific outreach plan for both contributed and earned revenue. Throughout the process, Josh was professional and served as a unifying force for the various stakeholders…
We have used Next Stage Consulting, and Josh in particular, for work on analysis of our fund raising efforts as well as working with non-profit leaders to plan for collaborative efforts. He always does great work and it is a pleasure to work with him.
Josh is wonderful to work with! He knows when to sit back and listen, and also when to push for more. He is an all around pro – always available for communication, adheres to deadlines, and knowledgeable in the field.
