Nonprofit Navigator

John Noonan has spent more than 25 years in the nonprofit sector, beginning as an attorney at Olson, Noonan & Bzdok, where he had numerous nonprofit clients. For many of these he walked through the corporate formation process, designed their governance structure, and advised through their startup phase. During his 12 years as Executive Director of the Great Lakes Children’s Museum, he refined his skills in nonprofit compliance, organizational development, capacity building, fundraising, and program management. He is adept at working closely with teams of people, using clear communications, humor, and compassion. Over the years, he has developed the ability to quickly assess and diagnose the strengths and weaknesses of a nonprofit organization. John’s legal training and abilities, combined with years “in the trenches,” give him a unique capacity to identify and understand an organization’s current challenges and ultimate potential, while helping to build a stronger and more resilient organization. With degrees from the University of Michigan Law School and James Madison College at Michigan State University, John has the needed training in critical thinking, strong writing skills, and a fine attention to detail.