Nonprofit coaching and consulting
About Steve Burton
Leadership Rooted in Purpose. Guidance Grounded in Experience.
A true partner in transformation
Get to know Steve Burton
For more than three decades, I’ve helped organizations and leaders navigate growth, conflict, complexity, and change. My path has been anything but linear—from launching successful for-profit ventures to leading national nonprofits, from mentoring executive directors to guiding boards through transitions—but every chapter has been united by one theme: purposeful leadership transforms everything it touches.
I built Steve Burton Coaching & Consulting to support the people and organizations doing the most meaningful work—nonprofit leaders, founders, small-business owners, and mission-driven boards who want clarity, stability, and the confidence to lead well.
A Career Built on Doing the Real Work
I’m not a theorist—I’m a practitioner. I’ve sat in every seat:
- Executive Director steering multimillion-dollar nonprofit organizations
- Board leader guiding governance, strategy, and culture
- Founder and entrepreneur launching multiple companies and ventures
- Consultant brought in to stabilize, reset, or grow organizations
- Coach and mentor supporting leaders through high-stakes moments
I understand the pressure of leading a staff, managing board politics, dealing with executive committees, navigating crises, and carrying the mission forward even when you’re exhausted.
I’ve lived it.
I’ve survived it.
And now, I help others thrive through it.
What I Believe About Leadership
Leadership is not a job title. It’s a relationship—between you and your purpose, your people, and the work that matters.
Great leaders are made through clarity, honesty, and the willingness to grow. When leaders are supported, grounded, and aligned, entire organizations shift: boards communicate better, staff step up, conflict decreases, and the mission moves forward.
My role is simple:
to give you the clarity, tools, and partnership you need to lead from a place of strength—not stress.
A Purpose-Driven Approach
Beyond the operations and systems, I care deeply about the personal side of leadership. Many nonprofit leaders feel isolated—caught between staff needs, board expectations, stakeholder politics, and their own desire to make a real impact.
I help leaders reconnect with their purpose, their identity, and the deeper “why” that brought them to this work. When a leader gets clear, grounded, and confident,
everything changes—decision-making, relationships, communication, energy, and
outcomes.
Real Experience. Real Results. Real Support.
The leaders and organizations I work with consistently share:
- “Steve helped us go from chaos to clarity.”
- “He brings calm, insight, and structure to every situation.”
- “We finally have alignment between our board and staff.”
- “I feel like a stronger, more confident leader—because of our work together.”
My work blends lived experience, practical solutions, and a grounded, supportive coaching style that helps people grow without feeling judged or overwhelmed.
Outside the Work
I live in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania—a place steeped in history, reflection, and storytelling. I’m a dog lover and lover of nature. I’m also writing a book on Finding Purpose, capturing stories of people who bring their purpose to life in everyday ways.
Everything I do—professionally and personally—centers on helping people find clarity, serve with integrity, and live their purpose with intention.
If You’re Ready for a Better Way to Lead, I’m Here to Help.
Explore the Coaching or Consulting paths to discover how we can work together.