Danielle M.  Locke, MPA, CAP®

Danielle M.  Locke is the founder of Locke Step Partners, LLC, an consulting firm which specializes in nonprofit management, revenue strategy, donor cultivation, philanthropic and board leadership.  Danielle serves as a coach and mentor to nonprofit leaders as they maximize their organization’s potential. 

Clients include United Way, Urban League, Ingenuity Cleveland, FireFish Arts, Big Brothers Big Sisters, NEOBHC, Friends of the Cuyahoga County Animal Shelter, Union Miles Development Corp, and many more.  Currently Danielle is engaged as the Campaign Consultant for a $12 million dollar capital campaign for Neighborhood Alliance, of which $8.1 million has been secured.

Prior to consulting, Danielle worked as the Gift Planning Officer for the Community Foundation of Lorain County, a $157M grant-making foundation just west of Cleveland, Ohio.  In this role she led all aspects of strategic asset growth, marketing, and community outreach.  Her primary role was philanthropic advisor for individuals, businesses, financial and legal professionals.  Other work experience includes five years at the Cleveland Clinic where she served as the director of Speaking of Women’s Health, a women’s health education program with 25 national affiliates, where she secured multi-million-dollar national sponsorships, built online platforms, and grew the brand locally and nationally. 

Danielle currently serves on the Community Engagement Committee for the Healthy Lakewood Foundation and is active in her son’s elementary school. Most recently she served as the Board Chair for the Firelands Association for the Visual Arts (FAVA). During her tenure she guided the organization to successfully navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. Her other volunteer and leadership roles include the Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University, Lorain County Bar Association Fee Arbitration Panel, Nonprofit Communicators of Lorain County and LakewoodAlive. 

Danielle holds a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP®) from the American College of Financial Services, a Master of Public Administration and a certificate in Nonprofit Management from the Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs, Cleveland State University.  She is a 2015 graduate of Leadership Lorain County and a 2005 graduate of Cleveland Bridge Builders.  Danielle was the 2019 recipient of the Emerald Award for Inspirational Leadership from Leadership Lorain County and mostly recently was name a “2024 Woman of Influence” by Cleveland Business Journal. 

Danielle was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. She is a proud Midwesterner. Danielle, her husband Bill and their 8-year-old son Ethan enjoy exploring local community, parks, festivals, and coffee shops, as well as traveling across the country. She is an 80’s girl who loves baking, learning, and celebrating with family and friends.