By: Deb Monfette
When nonprofit leaders think about scaling their impact, the conversation often centers on funding, staffing, membership, or regulatory hurdles. Katie Augustine, an internationally renowned author, attorney-turned-consultant, and Earth advocate, believes the key is aligning strategy with values, vision, and planetary well-being.
This fall, Augustine officially launched ECS, Evolve Consulting Services, a management consulting firm helping nonprofits accelerate their mission while reducing their eco-footprint. SECS Evolve introduces a values-driven, planet-first approach to organizational growth that is already drawing attention across the leadership community.
Augustine said, “Many leaders want to operate their organizations in ways that create meaningful results while also supporting the planet to thrive. When we align with values and consciousness-based principles, impact accelerates. ECS Evolve was created to support nonprofit leaders in bringing collective vision into their strategies so they can make a bigger difference, both for their organizations and for the planet.”
A Proven Track Record
Augustine’s credibility stretches across industries. She spent 22 years as a banking attorney, compliance director, and risk consultant before stepping into the world of transformational coaching. Recognized as one of the leading coaches in Cleveland by Influence Digest Media in both 2024 and 2025, she has coached thousands of clients worldwide.
As a co-author in the book Cracking the Rich Code, Vol. 12, with Jim Britt and co-sponsored by Tony Robbins, Katie introduced her message of weaving collective vision into personal development and strategy. As a senior coach and faculty member with the Brave Thinking® Institute, she trains the next generation of coaches and thought leaders to build and scale their businesses with clarity and purpose.
Where Advocacy Meets Leadership
What makes Augustine’s approach unique is her fusion of business expertise with lifelong advocacy. An ordained Minister of Walking Prayer® through the Center for Sacred Studies, she spent eight years studying with Indigenous elders. This experience continues to guide her work with leaders today. She has also been deeply involved in environmental and animal advocacy, bringing a lens of planetary stewardship into consulting engagements.
This uncommon blend of corporate rigor and spiritual depth is what sets Augustine apart. Few consultants can say they’ve directed financial regulatory compliance teams, spoken before thousands on international stages such as DreamBuilder® Live, been in deep ceremonies such as vision quests, and fostered more than 150 rescue cats as part of a lifelong commitment to animal advocacy. That balance gives her a rare ability to guide leaders through complexity while keeping them grounded in vision and values.
A Sling-Shot Moment for Growth
Nonprofits today face reduced grant funding, shifting regulations, and rising pressure to prove measurable outcomes. Augustine believes this pressure signals not decline, but opportunity.
Augustine explains, “Governance, including funding, may feel like it’s tightening right now. But I see this as a sling-shot moment. After this era, the momentum forward will be strong. Leaders who take time now to clarify values aligned with vision and strengthen sustainable strategies will endure the challenges ahead. More importantly, they’ll emerge ahead of the curve.
Through ECS Evolve, Augustine emphasizes three outcomes nonprofit leaders can measure:
- Reduced eco-footprint through environmental risk assessments and regenerative solutions.
- Faster impact via focused, values-aligned strategy and clear action plans with accountability.
- Healthier leadership cultures that mitigate burnout and improve collaboration across stakeholders, coalitions, and communities.
By focusing on these outcomes, nonprofits not only strengthen their organizations but also take their place in shaping a more sustainable, thriving future.
Be The Change™ Program
At the heart of the company is the flagship Be The Change™ program, built on Augustine’s proprietary EVOLVE 6-Phase Framework. The framework offers a structured roadmap that guides leaders into vision with measurable execution:
The six phases include:
- Engage: Align mindset with strategies, socially shared values, and with an up-leveled awareness of consciousness teachings.
- Vision: Establish a clear vision that encompasses personal, organizational, and collective aspirations.
- Originate: Translate values and vision into an Origin Map with main objectives.
- Launch: Develop a 120-day action plan with timelines and accountability.
- Validate: Assess and adjust to optimize operations by streamlining, rearranging, and retiring non-essential work.
- Expand: Build collaborative partnerships and campaigns that amplify results across communities.
It’s a system that helps nonprofit leaders achieve results while supporting sustainable, resilient growth aligned with global needs.
A New Paradigm for Purpose and Planet
With ECS Evolve, Augustine is inviting nonprofit leaders to embrace a new paradigm: one where doing good for people also means doing good for the planet. Her Be The Change™ program provides a repeatable, sustainable-growth system that is practical, measurable, and transformative.
Augustine adds, “Nonprofits carry extraordinary responsibility. My work is to give leaders a clear path that honors their values, supports the planet, and delivers results their communities can feel. This is a time of planetary evolution, and leaders understanding the essence of this era will create a great impact for their organizations and beyond.”
To learn more, visit ECSevolveconsultingservices.com or connect with Katie Augustine on LinkedIn.
