John Collins · Independent adviser and executive coach

Strategy for organisations. Counsel for leaders.

I advise foundations, funders and nonprofits on strategy, organisational development and philanthropy, and coach senior leaders through the decisions that come with responsibility.

How I can help About John
Portrait of John Collins, founder of Darnley Advisory
John Collins Founder, Darnley Advisory
20+ years Senior experience across grantmaking, venture philanthropy, nonprofit leadership and strategy.
UK & US A transatlantic practice shaped by work with organisations and leaders on both sides of the Atlantic.
Senior level Board, founder and executive engagements, personally led and directly delivered.
What brings clients here

Usually, there is a decision that has become harder than it should be.

The work often starts when an organisation has grown, changed or reached an inflection point, and the old answers no longer quite fit.

01

The strategy is no longer clear

Priorities have accumulated, the theory of change has blurred, or the organisation needs to decide what matters most now.

02

Growth is stretching the organisation

Roles, systems and decision-making have not kept pace with ambition, creating friction for founders, teams and boards.

03

Governance needs to catch up

The board and executive team need clearer roles, stronger information, or a more useful way to work together.

04

Grantmaking needs sharper focus

A funder wants greater clarity about where to give, how to structure the work, and how to judge whether it is making a difference.

05

A leader is at an inflection point

A new role, difficult transition, demanding board, or period of uncertainty calls for a confidential thinking partner.

06

A difficult decision needs perspective

There is no obvious answer, the stakes are meaningful, and an experienced outside view would improve the quality of the decision.

Services

Three ways I work with organisations and leaders.

Assignments are tailored to the problem rather than built around a fixed methodology. The common thread is clearer thinking, stronger decisions and practical follow-through.

Strategy & Organisational Development

For organisations that need to clarify direction, improve how they operate, or make the structure fit the next stage of their work.

Strategic clarityTheory of changeProgramme designOperating modelGovernance

Grantmaking & Philanthropic Advisory

For foundations, funders and philanthropic families that want a more deliberate approach to giving, stronger grantmaking practice, or a clearer view of portfolio performance.

Giving strategyGrantmaking practicePortfolio reviewDue diligenceFamily philanthropy

Executive Coaching

One-to-one coaching for senior nonprofit and foundation leaders who want a confidential place to think clearly about leadership, transition, relationships and difficult decisions.

LeadershipTransitionDecision-makingBoard relationshipsConfidential
About John

Experience inside the work, not only advising from outside it.

Good advisory work should make itself unnecessary.

I have spent more than two decades leading, funding and advising organisations across the social and philanthropic sectors in the UK and US.

My career has crossed private equity, wealth management, grantmaking, nonprofit leadership, venture philanthropy and strategy consulting. I have worked inside organisations making difficult choices with incomplete information, accountable to boards, funders, teams and beneficiaries at the same time.

That shapes how I work today. I do not arrive with a pre-packaged framework to impose. I listen closely, identify what is actually getting in the way, bring structure to complexity, and help clients make decisions they can act on.

Darnley is intentionally a one-person practice. Clients work directly with me from first conversation through final recommendation.

Education MPA, Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA)
Coaching Executive coaching certification, University of Cambridge
Practice London based, working across the UK and US
Professional profile View LinkedIn profile
How I work

Senior attention, clear thinking, practical usefulness.

Start with the real question

Define the decision that actually needs to be made before producing analysis, workshops or recommendations.

Use evidence proportionately

Bring together data, stakeholder perspectives and experience without pretending uncertainty does not exist.

Challenge constructively

Surface assumptions and trade-offs clearly, while respecting the people who will have to live with the decision.

Leave clients stronger

The aim is not dependency. It is better judgment, clearer systems and greater confidence after the engagement ends.

Get in touch

Start with a conversation.

If you are working through a strategic challenge, a grantmaking question, or a leadership decision, I would be glad to talk. You can use the form or email [email protected].