Patty Debenham, PhD
Social Impact Markets and Strategy
Helping organizations scale good
- Connecting science and society
- Raising nonprofit impact
- Scaling business partnerships
Services
Strategic planning, interim leadership, fundraising strategy, and project management services
Taking big ideas and developing the program vision, goals, strategy, and tactics for many clients and partners
The primary author and project manager of dozens of documents for scientific, general public, and government audiences
Featured Clients
Nonprofits big
and small
Academic programs
with impact
Foundations
Testimonials
Patty created the strategy and structure for Trash Free Seas, the Ocean Conservancy’s biggest dollar-earning program! Patty is intelligent, focused, and hardworking. Patty is the kind of go-to person that organizations shouldn’t do without.
—Vikki Spruill, President and CEO of the New England Aquarium
Patty led six academics in the process of setting the vision for the UC Berkeley Center for the Science of Psychedelics (BCSP), helped launch its website, create an online course, organize a multimillion-dollar budget, start a fellowship for Indigenous scholars, and establish a policy to commit 10 percent of funds raised to diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. Patty accomplished a lot in just one year!
—Michael Pollan, author and professor at UC Berkeley
Patty created Too Precious to Wear, a significant project supported by The Tiffany & Co. Foundation. This work inspired jewelers to celebrate the beauty of the ocean without harming it. Patty consistently demonstrated remarkable creativity, dedication, and unwavering commitment to get the job done.
—Anisa Kamadoli Costa, Chief Sustainability Officer at Rivian
Patty has a unique ability to set in motion projects that create real change. Her work got top scientists to study plastics in the ocean and marine protected areas. This research catalyzed foundations to give more money and organizations to start new programs.
—Steve Gaines, PhD, Dean of the UC Santa Barbara Bren School for the Environment
I hired Patty to create a communications plan for the Center for Responsible Business at Berkeley Haas. Patty delivered well beyond the original contract by helping me think strategically about all our work.
—Jo Mackness, Assistant Vice Chancellor and COO of UC Berkeley’s
Division of Student Affairs
As my manager over the year, Patty was an encouraging, thoughtful, and creative supervisor. I also really valued that Patty took the time to build team morale, get to know me as a person, and support my professional growth.
—Karly Kelso, Director of Climate Resilient Food Systems at the Environmental Defense Fund
