Linda Ferm, CAE, is President of Ferm Board Strategies, a consulting practice specializing in strengthening nonprofit and association boards and staffs. Services include strategic/business planning, governance, meeting facilitation, organizational assessments, board development and training, staff training, succession planning, and interim management. Linda is also a trusted advisor to nonprofit CEOs and executive directors.
Linda founded Ferm Strategies in 1995 and since that time has worked with 75 organizations and more than 35 boards—including trade associations, philanthropic organizations, professional societies, private foundations and NGOs. She is the former executive director of two nonprofits, one NYC charity and one international professional society, and a three-time interim executive. In addition to Ferm Board Strategies, she was a Board and Governance Consultant with the NonProfit HelpDesk—providing capacity-building services and education assistance to strengthen non-profit organizations—and has served on many boards of directors, including NYSAE. She is an unaffiliated consultant with The Support Center/Partners in Philanthropy. She is also Chairperson of NYSAE's Executive WomenIn Nonprofit SIG.
Ferm initially began her business as a writer, content provider of management and educational materials, as well as a project management expert. Prior to Ferm Board Strategies, she was Senior Director/Nonprofit Client Development at the marketing firm NV Communications, where she brought in and managed nonprofit accounts. She began her career in nonprofit publishing and worked for 12 years as a Managing Editor with three publishing houses aligned with nonprofit organizations.
Linda also produces Off Off Broadway Equity Showcase plays with FAPC Theatre Fellowship Productions, most recently Alan Ayckbourn's 'Bedroom Farce' and Neil Simon's 'Broadway Bound'.