Our services


Planning & Strategy

Crafting a plan that brings your unique value to the community is exhilarating. Engaging community in planning can be maddening, but essential. Execution relies on your ability to enlist staff and other allies to take action, measure progress and adjust along the way.


We're expert planners and teach as we go, bringing a depth of knowledge and proven track record of solving complex strategic issues.


Services: Strategic planning, Program development, Executive search, Succession planning


Specialties: Large scale community engagement; partnership development; organization mergers and restructuring; retreat design and facilitation.


What others are saying: “…very skilled with people, great methods for solving complex organizational issues. Their willingness to tackle dynamic and volatile situations, always with a dedication to tried and true principles, is definitely unique – heart and mind working together.”

Tricia Snell, Executive Director, Caldera


Research & Evaluation

All organizations have stories, some shared and some not. Acting without fact-checking or moving forward without common understanding puts the best of ideas at risk.


We help you explore facts, reveal and test long held assumptions, uncover new opportunities and create alignment within your organization around what it all means.


Services: Organization audits, Program evaluation, Customer and/or stakeholder engagement


Specialties: Research design, online surveys, and in-depth interviews with individuals and groups; developing materials that assure learning and accelerate understanding; facilitating meetings that create agreement.


What others are saying: “The Canoe Group are fabulous consultants that provide the inspiration and human approach needed to facilitate group discussions along with the statistics, measurements and data to provide a solid strategic direction.”

Agnes Zach, Executive Director, Willamette Valley Development Officers


Strategic Communications

Successful organizations don't just communicate; they connect. When you connect, you have the opportunity to develop healthy, strong and sustainable relationships.


We push you to get clear on who matters most and craft communications that place the right message to the right audience in the right way. We blend the best of digital and offline tools and make sure you develop the systems for sustained success.


Services: Strategy, Web strategy and design, Identity clarity


Specialties: Refining or developing value propositions; identity development; building hard working web sites that achieve specific business goals; online direct response strategy and systems; developing and use of online metrics to measure success.


What others are saying: “Great group. Creative. Innovative. Great problem solving and dialogue skills. Ability to adapt to any situation. Must work with them. I really value the personal relationships you build.”

Kimberly Howard, Trust Manager, Oregon Cultural Trust


Continuous Learning

As Aristotle famously said, “teaching is the highest form of understanding.” Our understanding comes from decades of both professional and life experiences fueled by abundant curiosity and continuous learning.


Sharing what we know with others is core to how we work. We thrive on creating learning environments that introduce new knowledge and encourage you to roll up your sleeves and put it to work immediately.


Services: Individual coaching, Group workshops


Specialties: Active learning, Peer learning, leadership coaching.


What others are saying: “…I was hired as only the second ED at Broadway Rose and the Board wanted to ensure that it was a smooth transition. [Your coaching] helped our founder and me work through some old baggage and establish a great working relationship based on open communication and honesty.”

Brenda MacRoberts, Executive Director, Broadway Rose Theatre Company