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Featured Claimed VerifiedFundraising strategy and capital campaign counsel for mid-sized nonprofits.
Service Area: Serves MN, WI, IA, ND, SD · Also available nationally · Virtual and in-person
About
Cedar & Loft is a boutique fundraising and campaign consulting firm serving mid-sized nonprofits across the Upper Midwest and nationwide. We work shoulder-to- shoulder with executive directors and boards to build donor programs that last beyond any single campaign. Every engagement is led by a senior consultant with at least a decade of front-line fundraising experience.
Professional overview
Who we serve
Mid-sized human services, arts, and education nonprofits with $1M–$25M annual budgets ready to invest in donor strategy.
What we do
Feasibility studies, capital and endowment campaign management, major-gift program design, and board fundraising training.
Our distinctive approach
Senior consultant on every engagement, a written playbook you own at the end, and post-launch coaching for 90 days at no extra cost.
Years in business
12
Problems we solve
Board isn't fundraising
We install a 90-day board engagement plan with named prospects, scripts, and monthly accountability.
Preparing for a capital campaign
Feasibility study, case for support, campaign plan, and senior counsel through the quiet and public phases.
Over-reliant on one funder
Diversification roadmap covering major gifts, foundations, planned giving, and mid-level renewal.
Nonprofits we serve
Prefer clients in the Upper Midwest for in-person work; virtual engagements available nationwide.
Representative results
- Led a $22M comprehensive campaign for a regional health system that closed 14% over goal.
- Grew a client's major-gift pipeline from $180K to $1.4M in 24 months.
- Rebuilt a lapsed-donor renewal program producing $310K in year-one recovered revenue.
- Trained 60+ nonprofit boards on major-gift solicitation; average board-giving lift of 3.2x.
Results provided by the consultant and confirmed accurate without violating client confidentiality.
Experience & credentials
Leadership experience
Former VP of Advancement at a $60M community foundation; interim executive director for two arts organizations during leadership transitions.
Consulting experience
12 years advising nonprofits nationwide. Managed 40+ campaigns totaling more than $180M raised. Regular contributor to the Chronicle of Philanthropy.
Education
- M.P.A. Nonprofit Management · University of Minnesota — Humphrey School · 2009
- B.A. Political Science · Macalester College · 2004
Professional licenses
- CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executive) · CFRE International · Renewed 2024
- CAP (Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy) · The American College · 2016
Professional associations
AFP (Assoc. of Fundraising Professionals), AHP, CASE, Giving Institute
Awards
- AFP Outstanding Fundraising Professional — Minnesota Chapter · 2022
- Chronicle of Philanthropy 40 Under 40 · 2018
Items marked with a verification badge have been reviewed by ConsultNonprofit.
How we work
- Typical project budget
- $25,000 – $150,000 per engagement
- Engagement models
- Retainer, Project-based, Phased campaign counsel
- Typical length
- 3 to 18 months depending on scope
- Initial consultation
- Free 45-minute discovery call, no obligation
- Response time
- Replies within 1 business day
Our team
Margaret Alvarez, CFRE
Founder & Principal
18 years leading capital campaigns for arts, education, and health nonprofits across the Upper Midwest.
Specialties: Capital campaigns, Major gifts, Board coaching
CFRE · CAP · M.P.A.
Jordan Tate
Senior Consultant
Former annual-fund director specializing in donor data, mid-level programs, and CRM strategy.
Specialties: Annual giving, Data & analytics, CRM strategy
M.A. Nonprofit Leadership
Services
Certifications
- CFRE International
- CAP — American College
- AFP Master Trainer
Case studies
Regional health system: $22M comprehensive campaign
Closed 14% over goal · 22 months
Feasibility study, case for support, and senior counsel through the quiet and public phases. Recruited a 12-member campaign cabinet from scratch.
Arts organization: rebuilt lapsed-donor pipeline
$310K recovered · 12 months
Segmented 18,000 lapsed donors, launched a 4-touch renewal series, and trained the development team on major-gift discovery calls.
Client testimonials
"Cedar & Loft didn't just write us a plan — they sat next to our board chair through the first 20 major-gift asks. It changed how our board fundraises."
"Senior counsel from day one, honest advice, and no upselling. We recommended them to two peer organizations before the campaign even closed."
Educational content
- The 90-Day Board Fundraising Plan · Guide
- Are You Ready for a Capital Campaign? · Checklist
- 5 Ways to Diversify a Grant-Dependent Budget · Article
Reviews
Priya Ramanathan
Riverbend Children's Museum
March 2025
Margaret spent as much time with our board as she did with our staff. Our board-giving participation went from 42% to 100% in one year.
Anonymous ED
Faith-based nonprofit, MN
January 2025
The feasibility study saved us from launching a campaign we weren't ready for. Best money we spent in three years.
Marco Delgado
Uptown Housing Trust
November 2024
Excellent strategic work. Wish we'd had more evening/weekend availability for board sessions, but everything they delivered was top-notch.
Verification
Verified by ConsultNonprofit
Reviewed: Business contact, Website & domain, Credentials (CFRE, CAP), Client references (2 required, 3rd optional), Code of Conduct acceptance
Verified September 2026 (fictional example date)
Renewed September 2026 · Expires September 2027 (fictional example dates)
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