About Doing Something
Built from the field. Grounded in results.
Over five decades of combined experience in marketing, sales, and the nonprofit sector — brought to bear on the missions that matter most.
Our story
Why we exist
Doing Something was established in April 2026 with a clear purpose: to help small grassroots organizations grow — and to help them build a sustainable business model that will last in perpetuity.
After more than 40 years in marketing and sales, and 14 years working directly inside the nonprofit sector, Dean saw the same pattern repeat: passionate, mission-driven organizations stalling not for lack of heart, but for lack of a clear plan and the organizational infrastructure to execute it.
Doing Something was built to close that gap — to bring the discipline of business strategy and the credibility of lived sector experience directly to the organizations doing the most important work in our communities.
What guides us
Our values
Honest counsel
We tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear. Our value is in the clarity we bring, not the comfort.
Context first
Every engagement starts with deep listening. We don't apply frameworks — we build strategy from the specific realities of your organization and community.
Practical over perfect
The best plan is the one your team can actually execute. We design for the capacity and culture you have, not an idealized version of your org.
Long-term partnership
We measure success by what happens after we leave. Our goal is to build your internal capacity, not create dependency on outside consultants.
Our founder
Dean Porter
Founder, CEO
With over 40 years in marketing and sales and 14 years working in the nonprofit sector, Dean brings a rare combination of business acumen and mission-driven experience to every client engagement.
That dual background — understanding both the mechanics of growth and the culture of purpose-driven organizations — is what makes Doing Something's approach genuinely different. We don't translate business strategy for nonprofits. We build strategy that's native to the sector.
Every client relationship is personal. We take on a limited number of engagements at a time to ensure the depth of attention your organization deserves.
How we work
We don't parachute in.
Listen first
Every engagement begins with a deep-dive discovery process — conversations with leadership, staff, board members, and community stakeholders to understand the full picture before we offer a single recommendation.
Build together
Strategy developed in isolation rarely sticks. We facilitate collaborative planning processes that build ownership and alignment across your organization from the start.
Deliver clarity
We produce clear, actionable plans — not thick binders that gather dust. Every deliverable is designed to be used, not filed.
Stay accountable
We don't disappear after the final presentation. We stay engaged through implementation, available for questions, course corrections, and ongoing support as your organization moves forward.
Let's talk about your mission.
If you're a small nonprofit or grassroots organization ready to build the strategic foundation your mission deserves, we'd like to hear from you.