Savannah Kessel Impact Advisory

Savannah
Kessel
Consulting

Connecting people, purpose, and possibility.

Savannah helps organizations and businesses turn ambitious ideas into meaningful action.

About
A people-first approach
to meaningful growth

Known for connecting the dots between people, ideas, and opportunities, Savannah helps organizations navigate complexity and create meaningful, lasting impact.

 

With over a decade of experience leading cross-functional initiatives across culture, philanthropy, community development, and brand strategy throughout the United States, Latin America, and Europe, she brings a thoughtful combination of strategic thinking, organizational rigor, and storytelling instinct.

 

Savannah specializes in translating ambitious visions into impactful brands, programs, partnerships, and experiences. Her strengths lie at the intersection of strategy and execution—guiding complex projects from concept to completion, building and fostering trust across partners, clients, and communities, and aligning diverse stakeholders to transform ambiguity into clear plans, actionable priorities, and measurable outcomes.

After more than a decade working across sectors in international and multicultural settings, I have seen firsthand how the right structure, partnerships, and strategy can transform an idea into a sustainable, inclusive, and high-impact initiative. I founded my consulting practice to help organizations bridge the gap between vision and execution, allowing leaders to focus on what they do best while building the systems, relationships, and foundations needed for long-term success. — S.K.

Expertise
01
Community Development
Strategy & Program Management
Project Leadership, Event Management & Cross-Functional Coordination
Savannah designs and leads initiatives with clear objectives, strategic direction, and operational rigor. From concept development through implementation, she helps organizations build scalable projects, community-centered programs, and global events that align stakeholders, optimize resources, and deliver measurable outcomes. By coordinating teams, timelines, budgets, partners, and deliverables, she brings structure to complexity while ensuring every project remains adaptable, efficient, and impact-driven.
02
Culture & Philanthropy
Strategic Development
Partnership Building, Stakeholder Engagement & Fundraising
Savannah cultivates strategic partnerships that strengthen programs, expand opportunities, and support long-term sustainability. Working across the nonprofit, public, and private sectors, she identifies, develops, and manages relationships that create shared value and advance organizational goals. From donor cultivation and stakeholder engagement to fundraising strategy, proposal development, sponsorships, and corporate partnerships, she helps organizations secure the resources, alignment, and support needed to advance their mission.
03
Identity & Strategy
Communications, Marketing & Brand Strategy
Brand Identity, Storytelling & Audience Engagement
Savannah helps organizations define how they are seen, understood, and remembered.

From shaping brand strategy and narrative development to building strategic communications and marketing campaigns, she helps organizations articulate their value and purpose, strengthen their presence, and build lasting engagement. The focus is always on authentic storytelling that increases visibility, fosters trust, and drives meaningful connection.

Selected Work

Projects shaped
by purpose

Program Development · Strategic Partnerships · Art Network · Global

Company

With over 150 members worldwide, spanning major institutions and newly founded organizations alike, World Art Foundations is the only global member network dedicated to connecting art foundations through knowledge exchange and collaborative programming.

Work

  • Led strategic development and set yearly priorities for member engagement and organizational growth.
  • Built partnerships with cultural leaders, sector professionals, and institutions to enhance programming and deepen community value.
  • Co-created events and initiatives designed to support and connect member foundations around the world. Highlights include:

Savannah also strengthened WAF’s presence as a peer-centered international resource by refining its digital communications and marketing strategy.

Impact

Expanded WAF’s professional network, sharpened its strategic direction, and deepened meaningful connections across the global art foundation community, through both in-person and virtual programming.

Program Development · Project Management · Cultural Strategy · Switzerland

Company

Active in real estate investment and development since 2001, Studio Gest is committed to building with intention, creating developments that reflect the unique character of each location by weaving in local culture, history, and design to foster a genuine sense of place and support the social development of the communities they call home.

Work

  • Designed a strategy to embed art patronage as a core element of Studio Gest’s mission, formalizing institutional partnerships with MASI Museo d’Arte della Svizzera Italiana and CSIA Centro Scolastico per le industrie artistiche to support emerging professionals in the applied arts and advance initiatives that promote free, inclusive cultural participation.
  • Co-developed a commission-based, site-specific public art program, creating platforms for artists to transform urban spaces, spark dialogue, and enrich everyday life.
    • Managed the full program from concept through execution—developing the strategic framework, selecting artists in alignment with program values, and leading all project management across stakeholders including artists, photographers, content creators, and partners.
    • Oversaw timelines, logistics, and budget to ensure seamless delivery.

In addition to designing and implementing the communications and outreach strategy to amplify the visibility of all art patronage initiatives, Savannah led Studio Gest’s rebranding and refined its broader communications, marketing, and events strategy across digital and traditional channels.

Impact

Delivered a culturally resonant, diversified program that positions Studio Gest as a pioneer in the construction industry, leveraging art as a catalyst for education, accessibility, and meaningful urban transformation.

Fondazione Lugano per il Polo Culturale

Development · Strategic Partnerships · Cultural Strategy · Switzerland

Company

The Foundation supports Lugano’s major cultural institutions (including LAC Lugano Arte e Cultura, MASI Museo d’Arte della Svizzera Italiana, and MUSEC Museo delle Culture) by fostering collaboration, expanding access to culture, and generating funding for program innovation.

Work

  • Collaborated closely with each institution to analyze needs, identify challenges, and co-develop strategic solutions and programs aligned with their missions.
  • Redesigned the Foundation’s business and partnership frameworks to better align resources with institutional priorities, resulting in new projects and funding formats.
  • Led fundraising strategy and donor relationships, securing over $1M in new funding through new partner development.
  • Shaped initiatives that meaningfully expanded cultural access, including free vernissages and membership programs.
  • Managed cross-institutional programs, and both in-person and digital projects and events from concept through execution.

Impact

Strengthened collaboration across Lugano’s leading cultural organizations, deepened sponsor, donor, and stakeholder engagement, expanded community access to cultural experiences, and significantly grew the Foundation’s revenue and mission impact.

Artisan Business · Emerging Markets · Capacity Building · AMER & EMEA

Company

Nest supports artisan-led enterprises through global accelerator programs designed to strengthen businesses in the handcraft sector. Each program is thoughtfully built to equip creative entrepreneurs with the training, resources, and opportunities they need to grow and sustain their businesses — advancing gender equity, supporting women and mothers, and celebrating the value of traditional craft.

Work

  • As an Artisan Guild Professional Fellow, Savannah delivered targeted capacity-building support to artisan entrepreneurs across the Americas and EMEA, through one-on-one mentorship, workshops, and webinars, tailoring guidance to each business’s operational, branding, production, and market-access needs.
  • Supported enterprises across several of Nest’s flagship programs in developing strategies to scale production, strengthen systems, enter new markets, and build more compelling brand identities, always honoring each business’s cultural roots while charting a path toward sustainable, equitable growth. Programs include:
    • Makers United — building a more vibrant and inclusive makers movement by connecting US-based entrepreneurs with the resources and market access they need to thrive, including
    • Nest Accelerators — application-based incubator programs providing high-potential craft businesses with targeted support to compete in the international marketplace.
    • Fashion Expressions: The Stories She Wears — a first-of-its-kind initiative in collaboration with the Prada Group and UNFPA, empowering female artisans in developing and marginalized communities through fashion, business training, and reproductive health education.

Selected artisan businesses include but are not limited to:

  • Khushi Kantha — an award-winning social enterprise creating sustainable, multipurpose baby blankets.
  • HJK Studio — hand-crafted knitwear made in Cusco, Peru, using 100% natural and biodegradable materials, bringing meaningful work to local women and artisans.
  • Gogo Olive — fair trade knitted toys handmade in Zimbabwe by women from marginalized communities.
  • Teal Heron — handcrafted fish-inspired jewelry and accessories for men and women, made in Charleston, SC.
  • Flan’s glass — stained glass art, supplies, classes, and workshops based in Chicago, IL.

Impact

Helped numerous artisan enterprises sharpen their operations, improve market positioning, and increase their potential for long-term, equitable growth in the global handcraft economy.

Values

Collaboration · Transparency · Integrity

Savannah is especially passionate about projects that strengthen communities, expand cultural access, support creative and social entrepreneurs, and elevate women-led initiatives.

A board member of the Swiss National Orchestra and Ars Foundation, she brings the same commitment to governance and long-term institutional development that she does to her consulting work.

Above all, she seeks opportunities to contribute to work that creates lasting value for organizations, individuals, and the communities they serve.

COntact

Let's build something meaningful together

For advisory, collaborations, or other opportunities — if you’re building something and are looking for a trusted partner to bring it to life, let’s talk.