A woman with wavy brown hair smiling and leaning against a white wall, wearing a green blouse with a white and black pattern, in an indoor space with plants and decor in the background.

Strategy for Dreamers and Doers.

I help charity leaders close the gap between a bold vision and a plan that actually works — so the mission moves forward, not just the strategy document.

Let's talk

How I work

Ambitious, but grounded

I believe in dreaming big for your mission, and being honest about what it takes to get there. I call this Ambitious Pragmatism: we set a direction worth getting excited about, then break it down into steps your team can actually deliver.

I've spent over 2 decades working in and with the charity sector. I bring an insight-led, commercially minded approach, and I'm just as comfortable in the detail as I am talking to your Board.

A woman with shoulder-length brown hair sitting at a wooden table with a laptop, notepad, and smartphone, working or having a meeting in a bright room with white walls and a wooden chair. A green plant and a framed poster are also visible.

Who I work with

Organisations, at different stages

£2m–£10m income At a turning point — outgrowing the plan that got the organisation to this point, and now needing a clear strategy or a more diverse income mix to reach the next level of impact for their mission.

£10m+ income Usually further down the growth path — looking to accelerate income or impact, or to find savings that free up room to grow.

Whichever stage, I work side by side with you and your leadership team —rolling up our sleeves rather than just handing over a report and walking away.

What I do

  • Colorful sticky notes on a wall, organized in rows, with some people blurred in the background.

    Strategy & Planning

    Turning your theory of change into a clear plan — with the measurement in place to track progress, and a roadmap your team can actually follow.

    Find out More...
  • A vintage audio setup in a cozy room with wooden paneling. In the foreground, there is an audio equalizer with a wooden frame displaying various sound levels and labels like 'Investments,' 'Rental Income,' and 'Royalties.' Behind it, there's a turntable on a wooden stand with a collection of vinyl records and a lamp providing warm lighting. The room has a bookshelf with more records and framed pictures on the wall, creating a nostalgic and warm atmosphere.

    Income Diversification

    Testing the feasibility of new income streams, so you can build a funding mix that's built to last.

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  • A woman in a store talking to a customer, with a sign behind them promoting cancer support through Macmillan and Boots, and a brochure about money or savings.

    Make Change Happen

    Designing a change process that fits where your organisation is right now — not a generic framework bolted on from outside.

    Find out more...
  • A glass jar filled with coins placed on a wooden surface with a small green plant growing out of the coins, set against a blurred outdoor background with sunlight.

    Save to Grow

    Finding where to free up money, so your core mission has room to grow.

    FInd out more

  • "She fosters a collaborative and inclusive style of working, provides supportive, constructive and insightful challenge, and offers creative solutions."

    — CEO, Carers First

  • "Emily helped us arrive at a clear vision of how we want to prepare the organisation for a different future. She is a highly inclusive collaborator who managed to synthesise a huge amount of information into a constructive, forward-looking plan."

    —CEO, Farm Africa

  • "Her approach is the definition of 'Ambitious Pragmatism' — she helped us dream big, setting a stretching target to reach £50m for people living with MND, while ensuring every recommendation was grounded in our existing assets, capabilities and a realistic understanding of what we could actually deliver."

    —CEO, MND Association

Ready to talk?

If you're wrestling with where your organisation goes next, I'd love to hear about it. The first conversation is always just that — a conversation, no pressure.

A woman with brown wavy hair and blue eyes sitting indoors next to a large green fern plant on a wooden bench, with a neutral background.
A logo with the text "emily jarman consulting" and an abstract illustration of roots and wings in the shape of an hour glass.
Handwritten quote saying, 'Grow through what you go through.'
Let's talk