Meet kristen

  Kristen Roberts is a seasoned nonprofit leader and consultant with more than 20 years of experience strengthening organizations through disciplined management, effective operations, and well-executed programs. She partners with mission-driven organizations that are ready to move from good intentions to sustainable impact—helping leaders bring clarity, structure, and momentum to complex work.

Kristen’s career has been defined by her ability to translate strategy into action. She has led and supported multi-stakeholder programs across charities, labor organizations, higher education institutions, and national membership-based nonprofits. Her work has included overseeing multi-million dollar annual budgets, managing cross-functional teams, and ensuring that financial, operational, and programmatic decisions align with organizational goals.

Known for her steady leadership and systems-oriented approach, Kristen excels at identifying operational gaps and designing practical solutions. She has led program expansions, guided organizations through periods of rapid growth, implemented new software and data systems, and created policies and procedures that improve accountability and effectiveness. Her management style balances rigor with empathy—ensuring teams feel supported while expectations remain clear.

As a consultant, Kristen brings hands-on experience in program operations, project management, stakeholder engagement, and strategy. Clients value her ability to ask the right questions, surface root causes, and provide actionable recommendations that leaders can actually implement. Whether supporting executive teams, department leaders, or boards of directors, Kristen helps organizations strengthen their internal capacity so their external impact can thrive.

In addition to her consulting work, Kristen has deep governance experience, having served as Board Chair of a Chicago-based youth organization and currently serving on the Board of Directors of the Quad Cities Community Foundation. She is also the co-founder of Circle of Healing, a giving circle that supports BIPOC-led grassroots organizations.

Kristen holds a Master’s degree in Public Services Management from DePaul University and a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology/Anthropology from Truman State University. Through Build to Bloom, she works with organizations seeking a thoughtful, experienced partner who understands both the realities of nonprofit management and the importance of mission-centered leadership.

Kristen finds joy through mindfulness practices, travel, photography, and cheering for the Chicago Cubs.