Building A Network Of Support: Strategies to Cultivate Meaningful Relationships

Mary Gladstone-Highland is a mission-driven leader dedicated to leveraging philanthropy for systemic change. With deep expertise in grantmaking, nonprofit strategy, and impact assessment, she helps organizations align their resources with community needs. Her work is centered on designing effective grant strategies, program evaluations, and capacity-building initiatives that are impactful, accountable, and community-centered. She thrives in collaborative environments, building partnerships that strengthen nonprofit capacity and advance mission-driven leadership.

Her extensive experience spans legal services, arts & culture, youth mentoring, and social justice philanthropy. As the Director of Grants for the Michigan State Bar Foundation, she oversees the funding strategy for civil legal aid across the state. Previously, she founded Spark Group Consulting, a firm specializing in funding strategy and strategic planning for mission-driven organizations. Her thought leadership has been recognized multiple times by LinkedIn for Nonprofits, highlighting her role as a trusted expert in the sector.