Our Clients

Talem's principal consultant, Rachel Branaman, stepped into an interim executive director role with Modern Military, to provide crisis management, organizational management, and interim leadership at a time when anti-LGBTQ+ laws are impacting the lives of military service members, veterans, and their families. Under Rachel's leadership, Modern Military achieved significant milestones:

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1. Historic Funding Diversification: Secured a landmark $670,000 federal grant, the first in the organization’s 30+ year history, driving the annual budget to over $1M.

2. Expanded Program Reach: Launched impactful new initiatives including the Resilient Heroes suicide prevention program, Modern Military Strong Communities, and a pro bono attorney network for transgender legal services. 

3. Policy and Advocacy Wins: Successfully advanced laws and policies protecting LGBTQ+ and HIV-positive military communities through targeted legislative partnerships.

4. Groundbreaking Discrimination Reporting System: Created an innovative LGBTQ+ and HIV discrimination reporting form accessible to the worldwide U.S. military and veteran community, empowering service members and veterans to report discrimination even without internal recourse or when seeking care.

5. Strengthened Strategic Partnerships: Cultivated robust relationships with key stakeholders including lawmakers, policymakers, media outlets, military and veteran service organizations, and national LGBTQ+ and suicide prevention organizations.

6. Introduced Organizational Infrastructure: Developed a board handbook and DEIJ-aligned employee manual; introduced financial controls, compliance systems, and strategic planning; and recruited new board leadership aligned with Modern Military’s evolving mission.

7. Community Engagement & Visibility: Relaunched the Rainbow Shield Certification with culturally relevant resources; updated the website and social media platforms for improved access to legal referrals, resources, and advocacy toolkits.

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Rachel’s leadership helped Modern Military grow its impact, strengthen its infrastructure, and reaffirm its commitment to equity, resilience, and justice for LGBTQ+ military communities.

During a time of organizational transition and heightened national attention on reproductive justice, Talem’s principal consultant Rachel Branaman served in an interim development role at the National Women’s Health Network (NWHN), strengthening fundraising strategy and infrastructure.​

1. Donor Engagement: Launched a digital acquisition strategy that expanded outreach to younger donors while deepening engagement with older women. The campaign consistently delivered a 7–8x ROI, boosted website traffic, and improved SEO.

2. Introduced Fundraising Infrastructure: Conducted a five-year donor trend analysis that streamlined operations, reduced costs, and identified new growth opportunities. Those findings helped in the development of a comprehensive development manual and multi-tiered fundraising plan to support incoming leadership and ensure continuity.

3. Fundraising Success: Created a podcast- and consumer health-driven sponsorship strategy that secured $100K in new corporate support within six months. Led a record-breaking year-end campaign, surpassing its goal by 60% and exceeding its stretch goal by 6%.

4. Event Success: Planned and executed NWHN’s first hybrid event, doubling past event revenue.

5. Technology Integration: Oversaw and implemented CRM transition, reducing annual expenses and enhancing fundraising and communications capacity.

 

Rachel’s leadership laid the groundwork for sustainable growth, digital innovation, and deeper community connection during a pivotal moment for reproductive rights advocacy.

During a time of transition and interim leadership, Talem’s principal consultant Rachel Branaman served as a development consultant for Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA), strengthening its fundraising infrastructure and organizational culture.

1. Fundraising Expansion: Grew corporate sponsorships for TSA’s annual conference and global projects; developed major donor, planned giving, and annual fund strategies; and designed a targeted foundation strategy to boost operational and U.S.-based project funding.

2. Team Development: Assisted with the hiring and onboarding of a new Grants Manager and Director of Development.

3. Equity-Centered Training: Facilitated board and staff workshops on fostering gender inclusion in nonprofit spaces.

4. Fieldwide Advocacy: Delivered a keynote—“Moving Beyond Diversity: Building a Culture of Inclusion and Belonging”—at TSA’s Annual Symposium on the Conservation and Biology of Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles, addressing discrimination, harassment, and gender-based violence in herpetology.

 

Rachel’s work helped position TSA for sustainable growth, deeper donor engagement, and stronger alignment with values of inclusion and belonging.

Talem has partnered with CAIR National and its chapters for 5+ years supporting fundraising, grant writing, communications, and organizational development with a focus on equity and sustainability. Most recently, we:

• Facilitated confidential hour-long, healing circles, creating space for employees to process workplace challenges and build collective support.

• Led a two-part training series on Fostering a Culture of Gender Inclusivity for all national and chapter employees. 

• Refreshed and expanded the two-part gender inclusivity training series to include updated content for national and chapter employees and board members centering intersectionality, lived experience, and organizational accountability.

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​Our work with CAIR reflects our commitment to building cultures of belonging within mission-driven, justice-focused organizations.

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