When Jalessa Slade started her consulting business four years ago, she wasn’t trying to be bold — she was simply following her purpose.
After more than a decade of working inside nonprofits of all shapes and sizes, she saw a pattern she couldn’t ignore: organizations doing powerful work struggled to sustain themselves because of limited resources and underdeveloped fundraising strategies.
“There’s often a gap in capacity,” Slade said. “Staff are passionate but stretched thin. Grant writing becomes a last-minute scramble. Fund development plans sit unfinished. That’s where I step in.”
With that clarity, Slade launched her business, focusing on grant writing, fund development, and capacity building. Since then, she’s helped nonprofit clients raise over $ 2.5 million in funding, with more on the horizon this year. But she’s quick to downplay the numbers.
“It’s not just about how much money we raise,” she said. “It’s about building systems so organizations can keep growing long after I’m gone.”
Slade’s impact is clear. Whether she’s developing comprehensive fundraising strategies, managing capital campaigns, or training boards on the power of philanthropy, her work centers around one thing: sustainability.
Her business reflects the values she holds close — authenticity, service and strategy. That’s why she’s drawn to organizations like NAWBO Indianapolis, where women in business show up for one another without pretense.
“When I moved to Central Indiana three years ago, I didn’t know anyone,” she said. “NAWBO quickly became my community. It wasn’t just professional — it was personal. People immediately wanted to help, connect, and support me.”
That spirit of support inspired Slade to join the NAWBO Indy BOSS LADIES Magazine task force, where she’s helping lead the group’s silent auction fundraising efforts. The skills she uses every day — clear communication, follow-up, organization and donor engagement — have translated seamlessly into this volunteer role.
“We talk a lot in fundraising about not being afraid to hear no,” she said. “You’re not begging. You’re creating an opportunity for people to connect with something meaningful.”
It’s a lesson Slade lives by daily. She knows the stakes of being a mother, entrepreneur, and woman navigating professional spaces. That’s why this year’s NAWBO Indy BOSS LADIES theme — Lift Up. Show Up. Speak Up. — hits home.
“It’s the trifecta,” she said. “You bring others along, show up even when you’re tired, and speak up even when it’s uncomfortable. That’s how we grow.”
Whether championing overlooked organizations or simply raising her voice in rooms where it matters, Jalessa Slade is a force—and a reminder that leadership isn’t always loud. Sometimes, it looks like consistency. Integrity. And a quiet confidence in your purpose.
Because the kind of legacy she’s building isn’t just measured in grants. It’s measured in lives changed — and communities strengthened.
This article is part of an editorial series in partnership with Polished Strategic Communications and the Indianapolis Recorder, celebrating the launch of NAWBO Indy BOSS LADIES Magazine. Polished Strategic Communications, a woman-owned agency dedicated to amplifying diverse voices in business, education, and community, writes and produces the series.
