Collaborative Strategy | Process Design | Facilitation
The work we’re doing is hard. The way we work together doesn’t have to be.
Facilitated collaboration creates space for communities to solve systemic challenges together and get to know each other along the way.
Danny Fisher-Bruns, MBA
Danny is a collaboration advocate and facilitator who helps people untangle challenging problems together, discover collective wisdom, and design strategies that really make a difference in their communities. He has more than a decade of experience working with cross-sector collaborations, creating spaces where diverse perspectives can converge into new possibilities for the future.
Services I offer
Do you need to launch or revitalize a coalition that brings many collaborators together?
Are you in meetings that just seem to go in circles without moving anything forward?
Does your work require community input, but you’re not sure where to start?
I can help!
- Facilitation and convening design: I help design meetings (virtual or in-person) for groups of all sizes from 2 to 200+ people to connect, learn, plan, and realize their visions. I provide both short-term support for a significant event or longer-term thought partnership to help your collaboration grow over time.
- Workshops and trainings: I help people and groups develop their own skills for navigating complexity and working together.
- Strategic planning: I can help design and facilitate a planning process that will help you get to the really important questions, build alignment around your shared purpose, and strengthen connections.
Current and Recent Clients
Tacoma Anchor Network
Network development, capacity building, facilitation
Supported the development of a network of more than a dozen of Tacoma’s largest place-based institutions, as well as numerous community partners. Designed participatory decision-making processes, facilitated network strategic planning, supported implementation of working groups and projects, and developed the capacity of network members to self-organize and sustain ongoing collaboration
You can hear me talk more about TAN on Elevate Health’s Radical Transformation Podcast.
Learn more about TAN’s local procurement work, and partnership with the New Growth Innovation Network here.
BEAM Circular
Facilitation and convening design
Supported the launch of the CBIO Collaborative, a regional partnership focused on circular biomanufacturing in California’s North San Joaquin Valley. Including a two-day design forum of over 100 community partners, facilitator training for ongoing working groups, and the development of a collaborative governance model.
New Mexico Impact Investing Collaborative (NMIIC)
Strategic planning and participatory process
Strategic planning can be a living thing! Every couple of years I work with NMIIC through a series of virtual and in-person sessions to reflect on what they’ve worked on, orient to how the environment has changed, and set new and clear priorities for the next chapter.
Healthcare Anchor Network
Peer-to-peer learning & capacity building
Facilitated the Anchor Collaborative Learning Cohort, a community of practice for people leading and convening local partnerships. The cohort is organized around highly facilitated peer learning, where each participant can show up as an expert in their own experience, but also gain valuable insights from peers.
Move Redmond
Strategic planning and stakeholder engagement
Designed a rapid, but highly engaged strategic planning process featuring one-on-one engagement of board members and other key stakeholders, followed by virtual and in-person facilitated planning sessions
EDC Team Jefferson
Strategic planning and workshop development
Facilitated a design and planning process to support EDCTJ in re-defining its role as a steward of economic, ecological, and social prosperity for generations to come. Developed a series of frameworks and facilitated sessions to help the Board learn together, and also walk away with clear and actionable priorities.
“Danny played a critical role in the formation of our organization’s innovation ecosystem. He was a fully-engaged, empathetic, and creative thought partner who helped us shape a strong culture of collaboration, bring new partners to the table, and shape strategies that continue to define our work multiple years later. I especially appreciated the good humor and compassion that Danny brought as a facilitator to even the stickiest of meetings, and his ability to pivot and adapt. I truly felt like he was in the boat with our team, alongside to navigate shifting currents and choppy waters, and I’m deeply grateful for his partnership.”
Karen Warner, Founder & CEO, BEAM Circular
Modesto, CA
“Danny is a professional cat herder. I don’t know anyone else who can get over-scheduled executive directors to actually collaborate with introverted project administrators. Danny made sure to create a meeting model and cadence that made us feel like real partners in solving systemic issues. I knew that if Danny was facilitating, I didn’t have to worry about hierarchy getting in the way of diverse and creative contributions.”
Abigail Vizcarra Perez, Equity Program Administrator, Parks Tacoma
Tacoma, WA
“Danny is an exceptional facilitator and my first call whenever I need an outside perspective. He brings a deep toolbox of methods and can pivot seamlessly as needs evolve. Danny sees the big picture and designs processes that build confidence and engagement throughout the journey. His inclusive approach ensures that different learning styles and perspectives are meaningfully integrated. Because of his guidance, people began taking ownership of the work in ways we hadn’t seen before. An investment in Danny’s skills is one that delivers lasting results!”
Chelsea Talbert, Strategist
Tacoma, WA
“Danny has a robust facilitation skill set and engages with heart. His facilitation made it possible to get into a collaborative process, resulting in a strategic framework that was much more progressive than past efforts. We worked more efficiently and with better clarity and collaboration, and he provided support for me as director so I could participate in the process.”
Cindy Brooks, former director of the Economic Development Council of Jefferson County
Jefferson County, WA
“Danny has expertly guided our complex and diverse collaborative through several planning processes over the years. His ability to create visual containers for developmental group thinking in online and in-person settings is remarkable. Danny is kind and patient, and able to move the group towards stated aims through effective, co-designed processes. Danny is capable, responsive, and effective in leading strategic design processes as well as in summarizing results in ways that have always helped NMIIC move to the next level!”
Adam Rubel, Advisory Committee Chair, New Mexico Impact Investing Collaborative
Santa Fe, NM
Danny Fisher-Bruns, MBA 