David was incredibly patient throughout our strategic planning process, which was prolonged and delayed due to the pandemic. He spent the extra time really getting to know and understand the organization and our environment. David was flexible, adjusting his agenda to accommodate a virtual strategy session and the needs of our board. I was grateful for his guidance through this challenging process.

— Shawn Taylor Kaminski, Executive Director, DirectWomen

David led our two-day strategic planning meeting. His in-depth understanding of associations and how they function was paramount in directing our members. He gently but firmly kept a group of strong personalities engaged and focused. His leadership and sense of humor helped make what could have been a tedious process seemingly swift and enjoyable. I have already recommended David to my colleagues. He’s terrific!

— Veronica Muñoz, Director, ABA Section of Litigation

Our group composed of some very high-caliber, self-possessed, highly knowledgeable, and occasionally self-important lawyers, almost immediately deeply liked and trusted David. He created a very comfortable environment for a bunch of contentious lawyers to have a really intelligent conversation. He honored all views and he obviously listened, and sometimes challenged, views to which he had not been exposed before. Not being a veteran of many good strategic or long-range planning processes, I was really impressed with his skills.

— Lucian T. Pera, Chair, ABA Center for Professional Responsibility

We selected David to guide us through our first-ever strategic plan from a number of potential consultants. David won us over with his practical and thoughtful approach to strategic planning, and he did not disappoint. He took the time to listen to us to learn about our specific needs and generated a thoughtful, specific, and pragmatic strategic plan. He encouraged us to look at the strategic plan as a living plan and roadmap, with regular check-ins to make sure we are on track to implement it.

— Jennifer Trock, Chair, American Bar Association Forum on Air and Space Law

Our Foundation for Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation very recently worked with Mr. Tabak to facilitate our strategic plan. The pre-planning that he coordinated was very helpful in bringing critical issues into the sessions, which were held by Zoom this year. He was excellent in the difficult process of bringing consensus to the many issues facing our organization, despite the challenges of so doing through the Zoom format. We felt his assistance and guidance greatly facilitated the success of this year’s effort, and would happily do so again.

Bruce E. Becker, MD, MS, President, Foundation for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

David facilitated our board retreat. Even with short notice and a remarkable collection of strong personalities, David guided us through a packed agenda with insight and humor. He brings the wisdom of experience, a genuine respect for those engaging in this challenging work, and a willingness to learn from others. My board of high-achievers felt their time with David was well spent; that’s priceless.

— Leslie Ramyk, Executive Director, Illinois Association of Free & Charitable Clinics

David Tabak is a super connector and solutioner [who] can tell the hell out of a story reminding us of who we are and why we are!

— Sandee Kastrul, President and Co-founder, i.c. stars

David Tabak was able to engage my Board of Directors and show them that development is not a painful process. Already, I have several members who had shied away from fundraising in the past taking the initiative to help grow our resources. We will continue to use David as a source of inspiration and motivation, and I would highly recommend him to any other nonprofit organization.

— Phyllis J. Anderson, Executive Director, Foundation for Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

David Tabak knows how nonprofits work — and, perhaps more importantly, why they (sometimes) don’t. From big-picture retreat facilitation through the smallest details of operational planning, he combines an arsenal of experience with an open mind, a cheerful spirit, a reassuring attitude, and a perpetual sense of humor to solve challenges for startups and enterprises alike.

— Stacy Ratner, Co-Founder, Chicago Literacy Alliance

Some organizations have the best of intentions and deep down understand what is ailing them yet it takes someone else to come in and draw clarity. In our case, David did a great job of understanding our organizational issues from a lot of different perspectives and then he drew us together to develop a simple plan to move us forward. I hate to say it is a tree and a forest thing, but he helped us get past the tree in front of us and navigate a path through an immense forest.

— Brad Bartels, Board President, Oak Park Festival Theatre

David Tabak was a fantastic facilitator at our strategic planning retreat. David conducted thorough interviews of board members and staff to distill common objectives and areas of conflict. He then skillfully guided our daylong meeting and did a great job managing the big personalities in the room. With David’s assistance, we revised our mission statement to more accurately reflect our values, established clear goals, and identified strategies to succeed into the future. David is thoughtful and professional, and he has the full recommendation of the entire Illinois Economic Policy Institute Board of Directors and staff.

— Frank Manzo IV, Policy Director of the Illinois Economic Policy Institute

David provided three very different seminars for our Committee. He exceeded my high expectations in all three instances. His preparation was extensive including gathering information from leaders in the field, reading background material, and multiple discussions with me to ensure that he understood the audience and the goals for each program. I would highly recommend David for any program.

— Jane Nosbich, Staff Counsel, American Bar Association Division for Legal Services

I am so grateful for everything that David has done for us. David was very thorough - he interviewed a variety of stakeholders, reviewed piles of documents and history and took the time to walk the staff and Board through the whole process. His insights and support were invaluable and we are looking forward to implementing the final plan and moving the organization ahead in the coming years.

—Dallas Tomlin, Executive Director, Connections to Care

David was a consummate professional, always seeking the most advantageous path for our group as we struggled with some of the more thorny issues facing the Section. Patient yet firm, he allowed us to find our way without tumbling too far off track. Always open to comments, yet kept us on task in what could have been an interminable process. Our Section sees success ahead as a result of our time with David.

— Sarah Gold, Chair, New York State Bar Association Business Law Section

David managed to bring together multiple entities with competing priorities to form a set of unified goals for the overarching work of the Center. His extensive non-profit background and analysis of our current environment allowed him to lead several thought-provoking discussions with staff and leadership that offered a voice to all.

— Angela Burke, Director, Program and Planning American Bar Association Center for Professional Responsibility.

I am deeply grateful to have had David Tabak by my side during my most recent hiring adventure. His objectivity, analytical skills and diplomacy were indispensable in this critical process. He’s highly effective, an excellent communicator and always refreshingly reliable.

— David Sutton, Sutton Studios

David Tabak is the exact formula any organization needs for a regroup, recharge, refocus, and/or redirecting of positive energies. He is the perfect motivator for corporate, firm, or organization retreats. I highly recommend his services for any organization that is serious about refreshing, staying on the cutting edge, and/or solving problems.

— Mimi Coffey, Owner The Coffey Firm, Regent, National College of DUI Defense

David did his homework! Rather than the typical boiler-plate presentation about Fundraising 101, David tailored his discussion using data and survey feedback relevant to our organization’s position. His easy-going manner immediately relaxed our board members who were anticipating a tense discussion about fundraising. David kept development concepts simple and clear and left the board in a state of excitement about our future fundraising prospects.

— Heidi Ruehle-May, Executive Director, Pleasant Home Foundation

When I first started working with David Tabak and Tabak Nonprofit Strategies, I had been running my human services company for nearly two decades. And I was miserable. I didn’t exactly know the reason(s); I just knew that the business side of things wasn’t working for me. David accepted and engaged my rambling mind in our earliest conversations. And as time went on he helped me develop great clarity and focus. In the end, we put together a sound, rational plan to allow my organization to grow to its fullest potential. And now I am excited about the future!!!

— Billy Kaplan, LCSW, President & Clinical Director House Call Counseling