About Standerfer Consulting
Nonprofit consulting through organizational development and strategic planning.
Amanda Standerfer, Lead Consultant
Amanda Standerfer founded Standerfer Consulting in 2002 to spread her passion for individual and organizational development and systems thinking. Through nonprofit consulting, Amanda has helped transform community organizations, foundations, and small businesses into dynamic, impactful, strategically-focused organizations. In 2018, Amanda founded Fast Forward Libraries as the home for her library consulting work.
Amanda is a frequent presenter at nonprofit, library, and philanthropy conferences and workshops, as well as a guest speaker for library science, business, and management courses. In addition, she has taught courses at both Lake Land Community College (history) and Millikin University (team dynamics).
Twice Amanda has served on the Board of the Illinois Library Association (ILA). She recently completed a term as President of the American Library Association’s LearnRT. Additionally, Amanda has served in volunteer leadership positions with The Little Theatre On The Square and the Mattoon Arts Council. Exemplifying her strong belief in leadership development, Amanda was selected as a member of the first class of Synergy: The Illinois Library Leadership Initiative and one of only three librarians ever selected for participation in Leadership Illinois.
Outside of her consulting work, Amanda most recently served as the Director of Community Engagement at the Urbana Free Library. In addition, she has worked for the Lumpkin Family Foundation, Decatur (Illinois) Public Library, the Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation, and the Effingham (Illinois) Public Library.
Amanda holds a B.A. and an M.A. in history from Eastern Illinois University and an M.S. in library and information science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Clients
We are proud to serve nonprofit clients throughout the Midwest and around the country.
From museums and nature centers, to foundations and chambers of commerce — our services have helped our clients make a bigger impact in their communities!
Affiliate Organizations
Fast Forward Libraries
Fast Forward Libraries is a small consulting group based in the Midwest. We help libraries and nonprofits strengthen their work through strategic planning and capacity development. We also facilitate staff training and team building, data collection and analysis, grant writing, and related services.
Our team brings firsthand library experience to every project. As degreed librarians, library Trustees, library staff members, and library patrons, we understand the realities of library work from multiple perspectives. This lived experience allows us to design and lead strategic initiatives that reflect the needs of staff, Trustees, and the broader community. We combine our practical knowledge with deep expertise in organizational development, library operations, outreach, internal culture, and community engagement.
Alliance for Library Impact
The Alliance for Library Impact (ALI) brings together library-support organizations of all kinds, including foundations, systems, cooperatives, consortia, associations, state libraries, and more. ALI strengthens the organizations that strengthen libraries.
Founded in 2022, ALI is a female-led initiative and a DBA of Fast Forward Libraries, based in the upper Midwest. We deliver practical, meaningful support to library-support organizations. Through our work, we help organizations build their own capacity while expanding the capacity of the libraries they serve. From strategic planning and fundraising campaigns to staff and trustee training, we bring deep experience and a clear understanding of what keeps library-support agencies effective and sustainable.