Consultants

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Get in touch with a professional for assistance with your intentional community. Want to get general information about the types of services these independent consultants offer? The Services page has an outline and descriptions to help you understand the categories below. Here they are listed roughly in an order that they might be utilized by a group in the forming phase.

Consultant Search

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Consultant Types

Sliding Fee

IC types I would live in or am forming:

Preferred regions of North America:

Consultants for IC Initial Development

Consensus facilitation

These professionals specialize in guiding groups in coming to difficult decisions using consensus-based decision-making.

Testy Tester

Canada

Consensus facilitation

Neshama Abraham

Rocky Mountain U.S.

Consensus facilitation, Mentoring, Group facilitation, Mediation & conflict resolution, Leadership, Business management, Marketing or website

Forest Meadow

Canada

Consensus facilitation, Realtor or IC developer, Grant writing, Group facilitation, Business management, Zoning & compliance, Permaculture and agriculture, Natural building, Sanitation & water systems, Animal husbandry

Philip Be'er

Canada

Consensus facilitation, Mentoring, Group facilitation, Mediation & conflict resolution

J. Elliott Butler-Cisneros

Southeast U.S.

Consensus facilitation, Group facilitation, Mediation & conflict resolution, Membership Consultant, Youth education

Sky Blue Consults

Pacific Coast U.S.

Mentoring, Group facilitation, Leadership, Team recreation, Membership Consultant, Business management, Consensus facilitation, Finance advising, Mediation & conflict resolution

Amanda Griesbach

Canada

Consensus facilitation

Diana Leafe Christian

Southeast U.S.

Consensus facilitation, Group facilitation, Mediation & conflict resolution, Leadership, Membership Consultant

Legal contracts

Even with the best of intentions on both sides, written agreements are crucial. Our listed lawyers can help you with document preparation. By making clear everyone’s commitments, even when you fully trust the other(s), you give yourselves a mandate to discuss potential challenges thoroughly, which can prevent misunderstandings or disputes. For any financial interactions, agreements should be in writing, signed and dated. If all maintain their good will and compliance with the agreement, it is still possible that a members’ death would call into question how much was contributed by each member. You should have signed records to prevent loss of your contributions. Don’t make it something you’ll get around to later. Each state has different laws around housing, so we recommend you check local jurisdictional requirements and limitations. It is important to consult with a lawyer for specifics on your situation. Get legal advice relevant to your state or province. With our listed consultants, you can limit your search by area. Often, a mediator can assist you in writing your agreements at a lower cost, then you should get a final review by a lawyer and officially file the document with the appropriate governing body.

Austin Hepworth

Rocky Mountain U.S.

Legal contracts, Mediation & conflict resolution

Aimee Champion

Pacific Coast U.S.

Legal contracts, Mediation & conflict resolution

Realtor or IC developer

Our listed realtors specialize in multiple-party purchases or are actively upgrading their understanding of location-specific legal options for joint ownership. Some organize groups to develop new cohousing projects.

Brian Horwitz

Canada

Realtor or IC developer, Zoning & compliance

Noam Dolgin

Canada

Realtor or IC developer, Zoning & compliance

CoHo BC

Canada

Realtor or IC developer

Forest Meadow

Canada

Consensus facilitation, Realtor or IC developer, Grant writing, Group facilitation, Business management, Zoning & compliance, Permaculture and agriculture, Natural building, Sanitation & water systems, Animal husbandry

Finance advising

Our finance advisors specialize in community-related contexts.

Sky Blue Consults

Pacific Coast U.S.

Mentoring, Group facilitation, Leadership, Team recreation, Membership Consultant, Business management, Consensus facilitation, Finance advising, Mediation & conflict resolution

Yonas Jongkind

Canada

Finance advising, Zoning & compliance

Karen McAllister

Canada

Finance advising, Business management

Lending institution

These are funding or lending institutions that are willing to work with unconventional loan structures or mixed mortgages.

Grant writing

Our listed grant writers may be able to direct you to relevant funding sources even if you are not a certified non-profit organization. Professional grant writers may also be willing to train one of your members to do the bulk of the grant searches and research. Non profits such as Open Collective may be able to act as an umbrella organization to support your funding of a project that meets their guidelines.

Hannah Swenson

Rocky Mountain U.S.

Grant writing, Group facilitation, Self-employment

Forest Meadow

Canada

Consensus facilitation, Realtor or IC developer, Grant writing, Group facilitation, Business management, Zoning & compliance, Permaculture and agriculture, Natural building, Sanitation & water systems, Animal husbandry

Mentoring

Our group mentors develop familiarity with your group over time. Some may not have certifications but are experienced and wise elders.

Nicole Hartley Bradford

Canada

Mentoring, Group facilitation, Mediation & conflict resolution, Leadership, Self-employment, Marketing or website

Ardell Broadbent

Canada

Mentoring, Mediation & conflict resolution, Self-employment

Raquel Callis

Rocky Mountain U.S.

Mentoring, Youth education, Animal husbandry

Philip Be'er

Canada

Consensus facilitation, Mentoring, Group facilitation, Mediation & conflict resolution

Robert Rivello

Pacific Coast U.S.

Mentoring, Group facilitation, Leadership, Business management, Marketing or website, Permaculture and agriculture, Sanitation & water systems

Meagan Elaine

Canada

Mentoring, Permaculture and agriculture

Sky Blue Consults

Pacific Coast U.S.

Mentoring, Group facilitation, Leadership, Team recreation, Membership Consultant, Business management, Consensus facilitation, Finance advising, Mediation & conflict resolution

Bill Martin

Pacific Coast U.S.

Mentoring

Neshama Abraham

Rocky Mountain U.S.

Consensus facilitation, Mentoring, Group facilitation, Mediation & conflict resolution, Leadership, Business management, Marketing or website

Consultants for IC Interpersonal Interaction

Group facilitation

These professionals have a variety of specialized skills listed in their profile descriptions.

Nicole Hartley Bradford

Canada

Mentoring, Group facilitation, Mediation & conflict resolution, Leadership, Self-employment, Marketing or website

Neshama Abraham

Rocky Mountain U.S.

Consensus facilitation, Mentoring, Group facilitation, Mediation & conflict resolution, Leadership, Business management, Marketing or website

Forest Meadow

Canada

Consensus facilitation, Realtor or IC developer, Grant writing, Group facilitation, Business management, Zoning & compliance, Permaculture and agriculture, Natural building, Sanitation & water systems, Animal husbandry

Philip Be'er

Canada

Consensus facilitation, Mentoring, Group facilitation, Mediation & conflict resolution

Robert Rivello

Pacific Coast U.S.

Mentoring, Group facilitation, Leadership, Business management, Marketing or website, Permaculture and agriculture, Sanitation & water systems

Teri Grunthaner

Upper Midwest U.S.

Group facilitation, Mediation & conflict resolution, Team recreation

Hannah Swenson

Rocky Mountain U.S.

Grant writing, Group facilitation, Self-employment

Kate

Northeast U.S.

Group facilitation, Leadership, Team recreation, Membership Consultant

J. Elliott Butler-Cisneros

Southeast U.S.

Consensus facilitation, Group facilitation, Mediation & conflict resolution, Membership Consultant, Youth education

Marta Gradilone Rodriguez

Rocky Mountain U.S.

Group facilitation, Mediation & conflict resolution, Team recreation, Youth education

Sky Blue Consults

Pacific Coast U.S.

Mentoring, Group facilitation, Leadership, Team recreation, Membership Consultant, Business management, Consensus facilitation, Finance advising, Mediation & conflict resolution

Brett Macdonald

Canada

Group facilitation, Team recreation

Diana Leafe Christian

Southeast U.S.

Consensus facilitation, Group facilitation, Mediation & conflict resolution, Leadership, Membership Consultant

Mediation & conflict resolution

Ideally, in an intentional community, there is a hope for an equitable outcome rather than any one party trying to have the greatest gain for themselves. We invite our legal consultants to list based on their experience with intentional communities or their training as mediators, so they can act as intermediaries rather than having double costs of a representative for each side. For relatively minor concerns, you might hire a group facilitator trained in conflict resolution who can do an adequate job at less expense to your group. Be sure to recap and write up the agreement promptly, preferably before the end of the meetings, to ensure that everyone’s understanding and memory of the agreement is the same. Get the agreement signed by all when finalized. Give each member a copy of the agreement, so there is no question later of whether unauthorized changes were made.

Philip Be'er

Canada

Consensus facilitation, Mentoring, Group facilitation, Mediation & conflict resolution

Ardell Broadbent

Canada

Mentoring, Mediation & conflict resolution, Self-employment

Neshama Abraham

Rocky Mountain U.S.

Consensus facilitation, Mentoring, Group facilitation, Mediation & conflict resolution, Leadership, Business management, Marketing or website

Nicole Hartley Bradford

Canada

Mentoring, Group facilitation, Mediation & conflict resolution, Leadership, Self-employment, Marketing or website

Teri Grunthaner

Upper Midwest U.S.

Group facilitation, Mediation & conflict resolution, Team recreation

J. Elliott Butler-Cisneros

Southeast U.S.

Consensus facilitation, Group facilitation, Mediation & conflict resolution, Membership Consultant, Youth education

Marta Gradilone Rodriguez

Rocky Mountain U.S.

Group facilitation, Mediation & conflict resolution, Team recreation, Youth education

Sky Blue Consults

Pacific Coast U.S.

Mentoring, Group facilitation, Leadership, Team recreation, Membership Consultant, Business management, Consensus facilitation, Finance advising, Mediation & conflict resolution

Aimee Champion

Pacific Coast U.S.

Legal contracts, Mediation & conflict resolution

Austin Hepworth

Rocky Mountain U.S.

Legal contracts, Mediation & conflict resolution

Diana Leafe Christian

Southeast U.S.

Consensus facilitation, Group facilitation, Mediation & conflict resolution, Leadership, Membership Consultant

Leadership

These professionals have skills in sociocracy, holocracy, or general community or business leadership experience.

Sky Blue Consults

Pacific Coast U.S.

Mentoring, Group facilitation, Leadership, Team recreation, Membership Consultant, Business management, Consensus facilitation, Finance advising, Mediation & conflict resolution

Kate

Northeast U.S.

Group facilitation, Leadership, Team recreation, Membership Consultant

Robert Rivello

Pacific Coast U.S.

Mentoring, Group facilitation, Leadership, Business management, Marketing or website, Permaculture and agriculture, Sanitation & water systems

Nicole Hartley Bradford

Canada

Mentoring, Group facilitation, Mediation & conflict resolution, Leadership, Self-employment, Marketing or website

David S. Broadbent

Rocky Mountain U.S.

Permaculture and agriculture, Leadership, Property management, Renewable power & electrical systems

Neshama Abraham

Rocky Mountain U.S.

Consensus facilitation, Mentoring, Group facilitation, Mediation & conflict resolution, Leadership, Business management, Marketing or website

Diana Leafe Christian

Southeast U.S.

Consensus facilitation, Group facilitation, Mediation & conflict resolution, Leadership, Membership Consultant

Team recreation

You might find these consultants helpful to add in the mix for retreats or visitor sessions for getting to know prospective members.

Spiel Meister

Rocky Mountain U.S.

Team recreation, Youth education

Brett Macdonald

Canada

Group facilitation, Team recreation

Sky Blue Consults

Pacific Coast U.S.

Mentoring, Group facilitation, Leadership, Team recreation, Membership Consultant, Business management, Consensus facilitation, Finance advising, Mediation & conflict resolution

Marta Gradilone Rodriguez

Rocky Mountain U.S.

Group facilitation, Mediation & conflict resolution, Team recreation, Youth education

Kate

Northeast U.S.

Group facilitation, Leadership, Team recreation, Membership Consultant

Teri Grunthaner

Upper Midwest U.S.

Group facilitation, Mediation & conflict resolution, Team recreation

Membership Consultant

These consultants have specialized experience relevant to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Sky Blue Consults

Pacific Coast U.S.

Mentoring, Group facilitation, Leadership, Team recreation, Membership Consultant, Business management, Consensus facilitation, Finance advising, Mediation & conflict resolution

J. Elliott Butler-Cisneros

Southeast U.S.

Consensus facilitation, Group facilitation, Mediation & conflict resolution, Membership Consultant, Youth education

Kate

Northeast U.S.

Group facilitation, Leadership, Team recreation, Membership Consultant

Diana Leafe Christian

Southeast U.S.

Consensus facilitation, Group facilitation, Mediation & conflict resolution, Leadership, Membership Consultant

Property management

Our property managers have successfully worked with groups for several years. They can guide you in establishing time-tested procedures related to facilities management, rentals, and hospitality services.

David S. Broadbent

Rocky Mountain U.S.

Permaculture and agriculture, Leadership, Property management, Renewable power & electrical systems

Consultants for IC Programs & Occupations

Youth education

These professionals have a variety of specialized skills listed in their profile descriptions, including charter school setup and alternative education styles such as Montessori and Waldorf.

Spiel Meister

Rocky Mountain U.S.

Team recreation, Youth education

Mario & Maya Castaneda

Pacific Coast U.S.

Youth education

Marta Gradilone Rodriguez

Rocky Mountain U.S.

Group facilitation, Mediation & conflict resolution, Team recreation, Youth education

J. Elliott Butler-Cisneros

Southeast U.S.

Consensus facilitation, Group facilitation, Mediation & conflict resolution, Membership Consultant, Youth education

Raquel Callis

Rocky Mountain U.S.

Mentoring, Youth education, Animal husbandry

Self-employment

Often remote communities are interested in ensuring that their residents have viable livelihoods, which could include a business that several or most members are engaged in, or individual businesses.

Ardell Broadbent

Canada

Mentoring, Mediation & conflict resolution, Self-employment

Hannah Swenson

Rocky Mountain U.S.

Grant writing, Group facilitation, Self-employment

Nicole Hartley Bradford

Canada

Mentoring, Group facilitation, Mediation & conflict resolution, Leadership, Self-employment, Marketing or website

Christopher Kindig

Northeast U.S.

Self-employment, Business management, Marketing or website

Business management

These professionals have experience with the business and non-profit aspect of ICs. This is more than just book keeping. Look for consultants who run a similar type of operation to your IC or planned IC.

Sky Blue Consults

Pacific Coast U.S.

Mentoring, Group facilitation, Leadership, Team recreation, Membership Consultant, Business management, Consensus facilitation, Finance advising, Mediation & conflict resolution

Robert Rivello

Pacific Coast U.S.

Mentoring, Group facilitation, Leadership, Business management, Marketing or website, Permaculture and agriculture, Sanitation & water systems

Christopher Kindig

Northeast U.S.

Self-employment, Business management, Marketing or website

Forest Meadow

Canada

Consensus facilitation, Realtor or IC developer, Grant writing, Group facilitation, Business management, Zoning & compliance, Permaculture and agriculture, Natural building, Sanitation & water systems, Animal husbandry

Neshama Abraham

Rocky Mountain U.S.

Consensus facilitation, Mentoring, Group facilitation, Mediation & conflict resolution, Leadership, Business management, Marketing or website

Karen McAllister

Canada

Finance advising, Business management

Marketing or website

These professionals have in-depth experience with ICs and know how to increase your visibility.

Christopher Kindig

Northeast U.S.

Self-employment, Business management, Marketing or website

Robert Rivello

Pacific Coast U.S.

Mentoring, Group facilitation, Leadership, Business management, Marketing or website, Permaculture and agriculture, Sanitation & water systems

Nicole Hartley Bradford

Canada

Mentoring, Group facilitation, Mediation & conflict resolution, Leadership, Self-employment, Marketing or website

Neshama Abraham

Rocky Mountain U.S.

Consensus facilitation, Mentoring, Group facilitation, Mediation & conflict resolution, Leadership, Business management, Marketing or website

Consultants for Property & Land Management

Zoning & compliance

It’s best to find these professionals local to you, but even when distant, they can guide you in working with local municipalities to change or adapt regulations.

Noam Dolgin

Canada

Realtor or IC developer, Zoning & compliance

Yonas Jongkind

Canada

Finance advising, Zoning & compliance

Brian Horwitz

Canada

Realtor or IC developer, Zoning & compliance

Christopher Kinney

Pacific Coast U.S.

Zoning & compliance, Permaculture and agriculture, Natural building, Sanitation & water systems

Forest Meadow

Canada

Consensus facilitation, Realtor or IC developer, Grant writing, Group facilitation, Business management, Zoning & compliance, Permaculture and agriculture, Natural building, Sanitation & water systems, Animal husbandry

Permaculture and agriculture

It’s best to find these professionals local to you, familiar with the climate and regional plants.

Christopher Kinney

Pacific Coast U.S.

Zoning & compliance, Permaculture and agriculture, Natural building, Sanitation & water systems

Dirk Witte

Canada

Permaculture and agriculture

Meagan Elaine

Canada

Mentoring, Permaculture and agriculture

Robert Rivello

Pacific Coast U.S.

Mentoring, Group facilitation, Leadership, Business management, Marketing or website, Permaculture and agriculture, Sanitation & water systems

Forest Meadow

Canada

Consensus facilitation, Realtor or IC developer, Grant writing, Group facilitation, Business management, Zoning & compliance, Permaculture and agriculture, Natural building, Sanitation & water systems, Animal husbandry

David S. Broadbent

Rocky Mountain U.S.

Permaculture and agriculture, Leadership, Property management, Renewable power & electrical systems

Animal husbandry

It’s best to find these professionals local to you, familiar with the climate, local resources, and local regulations.

Forest Meadow

Canada

Consensus facilitation, Realtor or IC developer, Grant writing, Group facilitation, Business management, Zoning & compliance, Permaculture and agriculture, Natural building, Sanitation & water systems, Animal husbandry

Raquel Callis

Rocky Mountain U.S.

Mentoring, Youth education, Animal husbandry

Natural building

It’s best to find these professionals local to you, familiar with the best green building materials for your climate.

Christopher Kinney

Pacific Coast U.S.

Zoning & compliance, Permaculture and agriculture, Natural building, Sanitation & water systems

Forest Meadow

Canada

Consensus facilitation, Realtor or IC developer, Grant writing, Group facilitation, Business management, Zoning & compliance, Permaculture and agriculture, Natural building, Sanitation & water systems, Animal husbandry

Sanitation & water systems

It’s best to find these professionals local to you, familiar with specific offices and regulations.

Christopher Kinney

Pacific Coast U.S.

Zoning & compliance, Permaculture and agriculture, Natural building, Sanitation & water systems

Robert Rivello

Pacific Coast U.S.

Mentoring, Group facilitation, Leadership, Business management, Marketing or website, Permaculture and agriculture, Sanitation & water systems

Forest Meadow

Canada

Consensus facilitation, Realtor or IC developer, Grant writing, Group facilitation, Business management, Zoning & compliance, Permaculture and agriculture, Natural building, Sanitation & water systems, Animal husbandry

Renewable power & electrical systems

These professionals may not specialize in intentional community contexts, but they are qualified to help you reach your sustainability or self-sufficiency goals.

Lowell Perry

Alaska

Renewable power & electrical systems

David S. Broadbent

Rocky Mountain U.S.

Permaculture and agriculture, Leadership, Property management, Renewable power & electrical systems

consultants

Additional Intentional Community Consultants

Combined consultant databases: This listing of intentional-community consultants combines listings by the Foundation for Intentional Community, the Cohousing Association of the United States, Global Ecovillage Network, Upwork, and LinkedIn. Having these combined from several databases simplifies your search for the best fit. It currently covers primarily the U.S. and Canada.

IC Consultant Groups in Canada

There are unique cultural aspects and legal frameworks available in Canada that are beneficial for ICs. Co-operatively owned condominiums/strata are becoming increasingly popular.

IC Consultant Groups in the U.S.

The following organizations have excellent resources for training and list consultants for intentional communities. Contact those closest to you, to get advice relevant to the restrictions and opportunities available in your specific area.