Heroic Gardens is a veteran-centered nonprofit using horticulture and nature-based programs to support veterans’ mental and emotional well-being. Their immediate success in the community and subsequent fast growth meant that Heroic Gardens faced a critical transition into a more structured growth phase.
Collie Turner, Executive Director at Heroic Gardens, turned to Compass Pro Bono for help strengthening their board leadership infrastructure.
Over four months, the Compass team of professional volunteers clarified board roles, identified recruitment gaps, and delivered tailored onboarding best practices. They acknowledged that the existing volunteer board, though committed to the mission, lacked the strategic clarity and governance experience to scale effectively, and created a recruitment roadmap to bring diverse, relevant talent onto the board. Collie shared: “It’s really cool to see our board members be energized by the recommendations.”
As a result, Heroic Gardens now has the confidence to grow with intention, guided by a board equipped to support its evolving mission.
As she reflected on this transformational partnership, Collie shared: “I can’t believe how many talented professionals are a part of this network. We need them. We need as many people that can raise their hand.”