Why I Do This Work: Turning Fundraising Into a Force for Climate Impact

Hi, I’m Alexis.

I’m obsessed with doing good in the world.

For more than 12 years, I’ve worked and volunteered with local and international nonprofits across Colorado and beyond—bringing bold ideas to life and helping people turn passion into progress. Today, I consult with climate-focused organizations to help them raise more money, build stronger systems, and step confidently into the next phase of their impact.

But this didn’t happen overnight. It’s been a long, purpose-driven road—and one I’m still traveling.

The Beginning

My life changed forever in the 1990s when my mom brought me to Mexico. I fell in love with the Spanish language and Mexican culture—and for the first time, I witnessed poverty up close. I was only 12, but I came home knowing two things:

I would learn Spanish, and I would dedicate my life to making a positive impact.

So far, I’ve done my best to honor both commitments. I earned a B.A. in Spanish and Portuguese Language and Culture from CU Boulder and began my career as a Program Coordinator at The Dairy Arts Center in Boulder. That’s where I discovered a natural gift for fundraising and development—co-creating the organization’s first annual holiday fundraiser, a tradition that still continues (most recently hosting Hazel Miller).

From there, I followed my values across continents, working at the intersection of film, human rights, and international development. I earned an M.S. in Development and International Relations from Aalborg University in Denmark and joined an international development nonprofit upon returning to the U.S. But even with all the good intentions, I became disillusioned. Our work wasn't shifting the systems driving inequality. It wasn’t enough.

The Pivot to Climate

As my understanding deepened, I began to see how interconnected everything is—and how the climate crisis touches every issue I care about: justice, health, housing, migration, development. The throughline was undeniable.

So I pivoted. I returned to Colorado to earn an MBA in Corporate Sustainability from Colorado State University and a graduate certificate in Greenhouse Gas Management. I wanted to learn how to align strategy with purpose—how to bring real, lasting change into systems that often resist it.

That’s when everything clicked.

Today, I’m most energized by intersectional climate work—and the bold, creative solutions that emerge when we center both people and planet.

The Present

After years navigating both nonprofit and private sectors, I launched my own company to combine the best of both worlds.

Businesses bring the scale nonprofits dream of. Nonprofits bring the heart. Why not fuse the two?

Now, I help climate nonprofits—especially those here in my home state of Colorado—lead with confidence, raise more money, and build resilient organizations rooted in their communities. My work centers on fundraising campaigns, leadership coaching, and the back-end systems that power sustainable growth.

What makes me different, is I use fundraising as the entry point for something much deeper.

I help nonprofits think and act like businesses—integrating strategy, structure, and systems that support long-term mission success. I bring business thinking to purpose-driven organizations, without losing sight of what matters most.

And yes—about the name. I call myself the Green Path Guru—not as a spiritual leader, but as a teacher. A guide. Someone who’s walked this path, made the mistakes, learned the lessons, and now shares tools to help others grow.

Every project I take on is rooted in deep, human-centered research: talking with staff, board members, donors, and partners to understand what really matters. Because fundraising only works when you deeply understand the value you bring to others—and that understanding starts by listening.

The Future

Are you someone who has also dedicated your life to pursuing purpose? Are you  dreaming of expanding your impact? Reaching new supporters? Building something bold for the climate movement?

Let’s do it together.

I believe in a new kind of nonprofit—not as charity, but as essential infrastructure for a thriving, just, and sustainable society.

I love co-creating big ideas with global impact. If you’re leading an audacious project or searching for clarity in your growth strategy, let’s connect.

You can reach out directly, or find me on LinkedIn to share your story—or just say hi.