Liza Culick, Esq, MPH, is a Senior Manager with La Piana Associates.  She has a background in law and public health, and has close to 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector.  Her work with foundations and nonprofits has focused on organizational effectiveness and capacity building, strategic restructuring, strategic planning, board leadership, program planning, and organizational development.  Liza has significant experience in organizational capacity building, initiative design for foundations, leadership development, and the development and facilitation of learning communities. 

In addition to her consulting practice, Liza co-authored The Due DiligenceTool: for use in pre-grant assessment (2004) and Tool for Assessing Startup Organizations: a due diligence supplement for grantmakers (2003), both published by Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO).  She also served as a trainer and researcher for La Piana Associates’ Strategic Solutions Project.  Liza led the project’s research focused on the role of board and executive leadership in the implementation of a strategic restructuring, and co-authored The Nonprofit Mergers Workbook, Part II: Unifying the Organization after a Merger (2004).

Prior to joining La Piana Associates, Liza developed and directed an initiative at the Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County to strengthen the organizational capacity of nonprofit boards and staffs.  Through grantmaking, consulting, and training, the project supports nonprofits in strategic planning, board governance, administrative systems, communications, evaluation, and other capacities critical to effective management. 

In the course of her career, Liza has served as a nonprofit administrator, foundation program officer, board member, and advocate.  Liza has held leadership positions in a variety of nonprofit organizations, including legal services, violence prevention, and arts organizations.  While at the Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County, Liza served on the national steering committee of GEO.  She currently serves on the Diversity Partnership Advisory Committee for the Community Foundation.

In addition to degrees in law and public health, Liza studied Chinese and political science as an undergraduate at Wellesley College, and has completed language study programs in both mainland China and Taiwan.