About us
Our Story
In our decades of work, one thing has always been true: lasting results come from strong relationships. For us, listening deeply and working side by side with people felt natural and intuitive. Only later did we realise that many consulting approaches do the opposite — arriving with answers instead of asking questions, handing over reports instead of building solutions together.
At Impact Consulting NH, we know the real experts are the people living the challenges and the staff delivering the work every day. Our role is not to act as outside experts, but to create the conditions for deep discovery and learning. We believe that people and communities already hold the wisdom they need, and that the best outcomes emerge when we bring that collective knowledge together with strategy and resources.
Since our founding in 2022, we have stayed true to this belief. Based in the North Country of New Hampshire, we collaborate with communities, families, professionals, and funders to co-create practical, tested, and sustainable strategies. By blending a social worker’s heart with a data expert’s precision, and by introducing innovative frameworks that capture real-time learning, we ensure that every solution is grounded in both human experience and clear results.
Our Vision
A future where solutions are built from the wisdom of many, where communities and organizations grow stronger together, and where impact is measured not only in reports but in real improvements people can see and feel.
Our Mission
We put the people closest to the problem — families, staff, professionals, and funders — at the center of every solution. Our mission is to co-create strategies, test them in practice, and build the capacity to carry them forward so bold visions become results that last.
Our Values
We don’t just talk about our values. We live them in every project.
Deep Listening
People and communities know what is best for themselves. Real solutions start by hearing their voices fully.
Collective Wisdom
The best answers come when many forms of expertise come together: lived experience, practice knowledge, professional skill, and funding insight.
Relationships as
Infrastructure
Strong relationships are the foundation of lasting change. Trust and collaboration are not just part of the process, they are the process.
Collaboration
We build genuine partnerships. Whether it is with clients, community members, or colleagues, we co-create every step. No ivory towers here. Just open doors and open minds working together.
Innovation
We are always learning and adapting. Using our proprietary frameworks and the latest insights, we embrace new ideas to help clients move beyond “we’ve always done it this way.” When you work with us, expect creative thinking tailored to your context.
Integrity
You can trust us to be honest, transparent, and accountable. From how we collect data to how we bill for our time, we hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards. If we say we will do it, we do it, and we do it right.
Impact
Results matter. We keep our eyes on the ultimate goal of improving lives and communities. That means we measure what we do, share candid feedback, and help you achieve sustainable impact that continues long after our engagement ends.
Our Team
Jen Buteau
Founder & Principal Consultant
Jen stands out with a rare combination of a social worker’s heart and a data nerd’s precision. With over 20 years of experience in strategic planning, program development, and community engagement, she has guided numerous organisations through their most challenging transformations. Jen is just as comfortable facilitating a community listening session as she is diving into a complex spreadsheet. She believes in meeting clients where they are, then charting a path forward that is both innovative and fiscally sound.
At the core of Jen’s approach is a deep respect for collaboration – she excels at bringing diverse stakeholders together to co-create strategies that reflect real-world needs. (Fun fact: Jen lives in Berlin, NH with her husband, two boys, and three very mischievous cats, who remind her daily about the value of playful curiosity!)
Erica Buteau
Senior Consultant, DEI & Strategy
Erica is a transformative figure in the realms of diversity, equity, and inclusion. With over 20 years of experience in project management, client coaching, and strategic consulting, she brings a wealth of knowledge to the team. Erica’s background spans public relations and advertising, giving her a keen eye for how messaging and perception impact social change. She is a research enthusiast who loves digging into data to unearth insights that drive action.
Clarity through numbers is her motto – she thrives on distilling complex data into clear, actionable intelligence. Coupled with her passion for social good, Erica’s data-driven approach has helped countless clients navigate the path toward meaningful, enduring transformation. (And yes, Erica and Jen are family – sisters-in-law – but collaborators by choice. Their complementary skills make for a dynamic team dedicated to your mission!)
Our Approach
How is Impact Consulting NH different? We meet you where you are and guide you forward using a blend of empathy, evidence, and experience. Our approach is anchored by five proprietary models (learn more on our Frameworks & Approach page) that ensure consistency and excellence in everything we do:
We start by listening – really listening – to the people who matter most: your clients, staff, and community. Their insights shape every solution. This isn’t just lip service; it’s built into our process through tools like the Impact Relationship Loop™, which keeps feedback flowing continuously.
We refuse to choose between compassion and data – we leverage both. Our Heart & Data™ Dual Approach means qualitative stories and quantitative metrics carry equal weight. You get strategies that feel right and work well, because they’re informed by lived experience and hard evidence alike.
Planning and evaluation shouldn’t happen only in hindsight. We use Real-Time Impact Evaluation™ methods to assess progress as it unfolds. This agile approach lets us – and you – make timely adjustments, celebrate quick wins, and keep stakeholders informed with current information.
No two organizations are the same. Through our Impact Design™ framework, we facilitate design-thinking sessions and strategy workshops that are customized to your context and goals. The result: initiatives crafted for your definition of success and aligned with what funders and communities expect.
Change happens in stages. Our Lifecycle & Readiness Mapping™ helps chart your journey, whether you’re a startup nonprofit in a growth spurt or a legacy agency ready to reinvent. We assess your readiness for each step – from capacity and culture to systems – so our recommendations are practical and phased for sustainable growth.
(Interested in how this looks in action? Check out our Impact Stories for real examples of our approach at work.)