Brenda Chapin, MSW, LSW
Founder & Principal Consultant
Credentials
Master of Social Work (MSW)
Licensed Social Worker (LSW)
Former COO, Statewide Nonprofit Organization
Meet Brenda Chapin, MSW, LSW
Meet Brenda Chapin, Nonprofit Executive Consultant
Brenda is a mission-driven C-suite executive and operational leader with over 10 years in executive leadership and over 30 years of nonprofit experience. Her background spans:
Most recently, as Chief Operating Officer at a large, statewide nonprofit organization, Brenda led a team of 250+ employees across 15 statewide offices, managing a $25M+ program portfolio serving over 9,000 children and families annually. Under her leadership, 87% of foster care children remained in a single placement, and staff turnover dropped from 34% to 21%, results that came from building stronger systems and engaging people, not just adding headcount.
As a licensed social worker (LSW) with a Master of Social Work (MSW), Lighthouse Strategy Group brings a rare combination of clinical understanding and executive operational expertise, particularly valuable for organizations in child welfare and behavioral health, where the work itself shapes how operations need to function.
“Strong operations create the foundation for meaningful impact. My role is to help organizations build systems, engage people, and deliver on their mission, bringing your vision to light.”
“Today I help mission-driven organizations move from complexity to clarity by providing executive advisory, strategic planning, organizational assessment, and fractional leadership. I'm also developing the Lighthouse Strategy Framework, which focuses on building executive judgment and organizational execution capacity.”
Brenda Chapin, MSW, LSW · Founder & Principal Consultant
Testimonials
Recommendations and Impact
Brenda Chapin is a proven strategic leader at the Executive level … but never forgets or strays from the core mission of the non profits she partners to serve! She embodies a rare combination of skills and experience operationally, programmatically , strategically, and technologically. As the CEO of a statewide multi million dollar child and family services non profit, Brenda was one of the most vital leaders in our organization!
Sharon Pierce
Former CEO, The Villages of Indiana
When an organization is stuck — and most leaders know the feeling — you need someone who can walk in, read the room, and tell you the truth about what's broken. Brenda Chapin is that executive leader.
I've had the privilege of working with Brenda, and what sets her apart isn't just her operational expertise — it's the rare combination of instincts she brings to every engagement. She walks into a complex, messy situation and sees the path forward before most people have finished describing the problem. That's not a skill you can teach. That's a gift.
Caroline Dowd-Higgins
Dynamic Speaker and Executive Coach
Brenda Chapin is a proven strategic leader at the Executive level … but never forgets or strays from the core mission of the non profits she partners to serve! She embodies a rare combination of skills and experience operationally, programmatically , strategically, and technologically. As the CEO of a statewide multi million dollar child and family services non profit, Brenda was one of the most vital leaders in our organization!
Sharon Pierce
Former CEO, The Villages of Indiana
When an organization is stuck — and most leaders know the feeling — you need someone who can walk in, read the room, and tell you the truth about what's broken. Brenda Chapin is that executive leader.
I've had the privilege of working with Brenda, and what sets her apart isn't just her operational expertise — it's the rare combination of instincts she brings to every engagement. She walks into a complex, messy situation and sees the path forward before most people have finished describing the problem. That's not a skill you can teach. That's a gift.
Caroline Dowd-Higgins
Dynamic Speaker and Executive Coach