We work primarily with mission-driven organizations, including non-profits, government agencies, and small businesses. Often the teams we work with range from 10-100 employees. They might be hybrid, all in-person, or fully remote. While many of our clients are in the Washington, DC area, we have served teams all across the U.S.

Yes! Mediation is a great investment when there is a conflict between board members or a board member and the nonprofit’s Executive Director.

Facilitation helps boards find alignment and true consensus - creating space for all board members to air dissenting opinions, for example, rather than silently disagree so that staff and Board Executive Volunteers think there’s agreement when there isn’t.

We can adapt any of our services to either in-person or online sessions. This includes mediation, facilitation, training, and the EQ-i assessment.

When we work online, our preference is to use the CM&F Zoom account. However, we can adapt to the client’s preferred apps when requested.

If one of the parties is dead set against mediation, we cannot mediate.

However, we use individual consultations to explore precisely why someone might not want to mediate. We work with both parties to help them feel comfortable with the process.

If mediation cannot happen, we offer consulting services to manage the conflict and help leaders figure out next steps.

Facilitative mediation is a set process that focuses on the specific conflict being experienced.

Facilitative mediators do not recommend a specific outcome, but may offer suggestions.

In facilitative mediation, we recognize that healing a relationship is not the expected outcome - but it can be a byproduct of discussing the conflict with one of our mediators.

In facilitative mediation, the parties should expect to experience an orientation to the mediation process, a storytelling time in which both parties get to share their own experiences, a brainstorming time in which both parties and the mediator get creative about possible outcomes, and, finally, a resolution-focused discussion.

It depends! Mediation can help people to preserve what’s important to them. However in most mediations, there is a negotiation, which often leads to the parties compromising.

In mediation, no one is forced to agree. Mediation is voluntary. If you’re not comfortable with something, say so!