Tova has worked with dozens of organizations addressing a wide range of issues, including social justice advocacy, human services and the arts. The following are some of the outcomes she has achieved for clients and employers.

• Hundreds of thousands of dollars raised from grassroots donors and private foundations.
• Millions of dollars in government grants.
• Development of new membership and staff structures, hiring of key personnel.
• Recruitment of new supporters and enhanced public profile through compelling communications.
• Turnaround of national organization from financial crisis to steady growth and dramatically greater impact. Expanded staff and programs while repaying debt from previous five years.
• Development of partnerships with major national unions and organizational allies, including negotiation of roles and funds in collaborative projects.
• Coaching of managers as certified Senior Professional of Human Resources.
• Delivery of diversity training for 250-employee corporate division.
• Development of ethics curriculum, coordination of delivery to 11,000 employees.

Image Description: Dessa sits in her wheelchair in front of a colorful mural on a brick wall. She has long blonde hair and light skin, and is smiling. She is wearing dangling earrings, a black T-shirt and her hands are clasped in her lap. Photo by Shin-Yi Wang.

“Working with Tova was wonderful because ___________. I was able to ___________. My team learned ___________. I would be delighted to contract with Tova again, but we may not need to because she helped develop our internal capacity so we are stronger than ever!

Although Tova isn’t currently on a contract with DDP, she has continued to be on the lookout for opportunities and tools that will help us achieve our mission. That’s typical of her—she is always motivated by connecting people and organizations to build power in our movements.”

—Dessa Cosma, Executive Director of Detroit Disability Power

For Detroit Disability Power: 

Tova managed get-out-the-vote (GOTV) campaigns in 2022 and 2020, focused on mobilizing the disability community and other groups with traditionally low turnout.

• Campaigns included door-to-door canvassing in 2022, phone, text and direct mail in both elections.
• Team size ranged from 5-11 paid staff (diverse by age, race, gender and disability) plus dozens of volunteers.
• Hundreds of thousands of voters reached by P2P texting, thousands through more intensive personal contact.

Image Description: Two Black disabled people raise their fists at a Black Disabled Lives Matter protest in Detroit. One has her walker and guide dog, the other sits in his wheelchair. Behind them, other protestors holding signs wear masks and “Black Lives Matter” shirts. Photo by Dessa Cosma.

Also for Detroit Disability Power:

Tova served as primary author and project manager for The A to Z of Effective, Inclusive Campaigns: Win Elections by Getting Out the Disability Vote (2022), an online manual and 300-page print guide for electoral activists.

“This guide is a phenomenal resource. I encourage every candidate who seeks to mobilize a diverse and intersectional coalition of voters to incorporate these principles and tips into the infrastructure of their campaign. We all have notes to take and lessons to learn here.”

—Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (D-MA)

Image Description: The front cover of The A to Z of Effective, Inclusive Campaigns. The guide’s title is in large white print on a dark purple background. A photo shows a Detroit march demanding all votes in the 2020 election be counted. Participants are walking and using wheelchairs. The guide’s authors are listed in purple print on white. Guide’s cover photo by Teddy Dorsette III.

“I first met Tova years ago at a conference. Intending just a quick hello, I ended up spending quite a long time sitting with her because it became apparent she was not only funny and smart, but very aware of who she was and how she fit with the movement. I was also fascinated by her insights about the politics and dynamics among the various groups attending the event.

“Every few minutes, our conversation was interrupted when people came by the table Tova was staffing. I was struck by her ability to connect with folks, listen to them thoughtfully, and speak passionately and authentically about the organization she was representing. Later, I learned that her organizing and networking skills had dramatic success over time in raising the organization’s profile and multiplying its fundraising results.

“It was natural, a few years later, when my own organization came to a turning point, to seek Tova out for fundraising support and coaching about strategic direction and succession planning. In the time I’ve been her client, Tova has helped me with grassroots fundraising, program design and budgeting, assessment of partnership opportunities, and analysis of the larger ecosystem for the work. She has helped define options, provided reality checks when needed, and enabled me to find clarity when I was wandering in the mists of my own creative excitement.”

—Mark Braverman, Executive Director of Kairos-USA 

and author of A Wall in Jerusalem: Hope, Healing

and the Struggle for Justice in Israel and Palestine

Image Description: Mark, a white man, is seen in profile, looking left and smiling. He is sitting with his hands raised in a “steeple” position in front of him. He has short gray hair, glasses and is wearing a white dress shirt. Photo by _____ _______.

For Cazadero Performing Arts Family Camp:

Image Description: Two people are dancing on stage at Caz Family Camp. They are casually dressed, arms raised, and grinning. Photo by Scott Stanford.

When Tova joined the “Caz” leadership team in January 2021, the camp faced major challenges. It was unclear if holding camp in pandemic conditions in summer 2021 would be safe or financially feasible. A new law meant setting up a burdensome payroll system. And Caz’s landlord warned that long-delayed construction on site might start during camp, which could literally throw a wrench into the arts gathering.

Thanks to the leadership team’s careful, creative planning, a lot of hard work and above all, camper and staff families’ love of Caz, camp in 2021 went off without a hitch (and not a single covid case). In 2022, a new location and additional week was added, bringing new families and new art forms. And donations in 2022, powered by Tova’s systematized fundraising and personal donor contacts, increased by over 100% from pre-pandemic levels.

Having stepped down as director, Tova remains a dedicated camper and continues to advise on camp finances as Caz Family Camp pivots for the post-pandemic era.

Image Description: A toddler leans on the side railing of a low wooden bridge, looking intently at the grass below. Trees fill the background. Photo by Cinthya Silverstein.

Image Description: Barbara is ______ ______ ______ _______ ________. Photo by ____________ _______.

“Working with Tova was wonderful because ___________. I was able to ___________. My team learned ___________. I would be delighted to contract with Tova again, but we may not need to because she helped develop our internal capacity so we are stronger than ever!

Even since our official client-consultant relationship has ended, she has continued to be on the lookout for opportunities and tools that will help us achieve our mission.”