Experience

Michelle Payne originated the Executive Breakfast Roundtable model while at the American Diabetes Association as a way to bring community leaders, corporate decision-makers, and public sector leadership closer to mission, not through solicitation, but through shared understanding.

The concept was intentional and disciplined: a trusted, invitation-only space where senior leaders could better understand the state of an issue in their own communities, hear directly from subject-matter experts, and engage in thoughtful dialogue about impact, responsibility, and opportunity.

These executive-level roundtables convened leaders across sectors as both participants and ambassadors for the cause, strengthening credibility, visibility, and long-term alignment with organizational mission.

Michelle later adapted and deployed this model across multiple national organizations, including Waterford.org and Jobs for America’s Graduates, tailoring the content to education, workforce readiness, and community impact while preserving the core structure and intent.

Each 90-minute breakfast experience brought together governors and senior state officials, U.S. Senators and policy leaders, C-suite executives and corporate partners, and civic and community decision-makers.

Notably, no direct fundraising ask was made during these convenings. Investment followed because credibility, understanding, and alignment came first.

Today, this model serves as a flagship ArcBridge engagement strategy, designed to help both nonprofit and for-profit organizations bridge mission, leadership, and funding through thoughtful executive convening rather than transactional fundraising.

Enterprise Fundraising Architecture reflects Michelle Payne’s work designing and leading integrated revenue systems across complex, mission-driven organizations.

Her work spans corporate partnerships, major and individual giving, foundation grants, government and public funding, and national sponsorship platforms.

Michelle partners directly with CEOs and Boards to forecast and manage enterprise-level revenue, build and steward national funding pipelines, align organizational strategy to sustainable funding models, and drive long-term financial health rather than short-term fixes.

This framework is intentionally transferable and designed for both nonprofit and for-profit organizations seeking disciplined, credible approaches to funding that align leadership, strategy, and long-term growth.