Meet the Founder and CEO...

Hello, I am Eileen Saffran. After 22 years as a nonprofit executive, I started MTN Strategies, a consulting practice that embraces an authentic and personalized approach to identify pain points and partner with you to provide practical solutions. I have wide-ranging experience working in all dimensions of nonprofit management, including but not limited to fundraising (operating, capital and endowment), financial health, board relationships, staff leadership, and organizational administration. That extensive experience gives me a perspective that is comprehensive in scope. During my tenure as a CEO, I began developing my consulting skills having worked with several nonprofit cancer support centers throughout the United States.

Starting a nonprofit from the ground up...

I am the Founder of The Gathering Place (TGP) starting to develop the organization in 1998 and served as the Chief Executive Officer until 2020. After twenty-three years as a licensed clinical social worker and being personally touched by cancer, I envisioned a place that would focus on the mind, body and spirit aspect of the cancer journey; with programs and services complementing and integrating with traditional medical care while the enhancing quality of life. The organization opened its doors in January 2000. TGP is a nonprofit cancer support center that grew from a grassroots organization to one that had an operating budget of $2.5 million at the end of 2019. It has served over 50,000 individuals via programs all provided free of charge. Governed by a 35-member Board of Directors, TGP, as of January 2020, included 21 permanent staff, 14 contract professionals and over 400 active volunteers.

Under my watch, TGP raised over $35 million for operating, capital and endowment support relying 100% on private funding. TGP has developed collaborative working relationships with all cancer care providers in the Greater Cleveland area. Programs and services are based out of two main facilities and a separate wellness center in the Greater Cleveland area. Additionally, TGP has a substantial earned income stream of revenue by operating a warehouse which sells donated fine home furnishings and furniture.  

Community Involvement matters...

I believe it is critically important to "invest" my time and expertise to help make the community-at-large a better place to live and thrive. While I was providing leadership for TGP, I served on the ADAMHS Board of Cuyahoga County and Mayor Frank Jackson's Task Force on Community Efficiencies for the City of Cleveland. Additionally, I serve on Leadership Cleveland’s Alumni Advisory Council and the Community Advisory Board for the Master of Nonprofit Administration at John Carroll University; volunteer as a mentor in the CWRU Venture Mentoring Program and am helping to develop and will take on the role of Research Advocate for the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center. I have been a Sr. Clinical Instructor through the Department of Family Medicine for over 25 years. Having lived in the Greater Cleveland area for 44 years and as an alum of Leadership Cleveland (2003), I have developed broad-based relationships with many of Cleveland’s top nonprofit, corporate and government leaders. Additionally, I have mentored other nonprofit professionals in and outside of the Greater Cleveland area and have been a guest lecturer for John Carroll University’s Graduate Nonprofit School of Management and Case Western Reserve’s Graduate School of Social Work. 

Finally...

I have an undergraduate and a Master’s degree in Social Work from the Ohio State University and am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker/Supervisor (LISW-S). I am grateful to have a fabulous family that includes 4 glorious grandchildren. In addition to my professional life, I enjoy yoga, fitness training, golf, bicycling, swimming, skiing, tennis, hiking and exploring the world.