Hidden Gems: Meet Nicole Spracale of Fox Grants, Fox Advancement, & Fox Fractional

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Spracale.

Hi Nicole, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today. 
I’ve been fortunate to have had various roles and experiences that I can now use to do my work. I began my professional career in the people or HR side of business. Early on, I discovered that I enjoyed matching the right people with the right work and helping them improve and grow. This led me to a role in training and development with a national organization in the financial services industry and then into recruitment with a national brand in the retail space.

Always looking to innovate, I took risks on different processes and systems to see how I could improve results. One of these chances led me to a start-up in the human capital/tech space, and I’ve been focused on start-up and growth-focused companies ever since. I spent the next decade leading the people function and taking on special projects around acquisitions, new market development, and business development.

I had the honor of working with an exceptional CEO who constantly challenged me to grow and stretch, both professionally and personally. He encouraged me to continue learning, earn my MBA, and accept roles that were outside my comfort zone.

When I left that organization, I was eager and prepared to take on new opportunities outside of human resources. My work with that firm has laid the groundwork for many of my accomplishments since then. I built my own consulting practice, focused on helping my clients, often founders and/or entrepreneurs, scale and grow.

My greatest passion was helping those I worked with to gain clarity on their purpose and values. Then, through coaching, support with process and system implementation or improvement, and strategic marketing work, I was able to help those I worked with move forward and grow.

During this time, I alternated between consulting with several clients at one time, getting hands-on as a fractional COO, and joining a few firms full-time. I discovered my love for EOS and how to do the work. I loved acting as an Integrator. I was part of a few start-ups in a founder role and co-launched a digital marketing and strategic consulting firm with my dear friend.

While our business and partnership continued, I joined a firm out of Minnesota as a fractional integrator. The purpose of the work and the team I got to work with, especially the CEO, drew me in. I joined them full-time as their COO and Integrator and couldn’t be more excited about the future.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Fortunately, my journey has been far from a smooth ride. The most significant lessons and personal growth have come from the battles fought for success. I cherish every obstacle encountered, as they have provided invaluable development opportunities.

During the great recession, I had to have some of the most gut-wrenching conversations of my career as I laid off coworkers and colleagues I deeply cared for. I, too, have been laid off and been part of start-ups as a co-founder that ultimately failed. I’ve experienced personal loss and the critical illness of those I love the most. Yet, with each turn. I strengthened my character, faith, and deep gratitude for all the moments that have filled my life.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
My primary role is acting as the COO and Integrator for the Fox family of brands. Fox Grants provides grant writing solutions, helping nonprofits with everything from small foundation grants to large federal grants and everything in between. Our talented team offers in-depth prospect research services that inform and drive our industry-leading win rate and grant management solutions.

Fox Advancement is proud to provide everything from our unique pre-feasibility study approach to feasibility studies and capital campaign implementation and management for our clients, with an exceptional track record of success. Finally, Fox Fractional helps nonprofits nationwide fill talent gaps across all roles with our fractional staffing solutions. Knowing that we are assisting amazing organizations in accomplishing their mission and making an impact in the communities they serve drives me.

Over the last 26 years, we’ve created and refined processes that allow us to deliver our services and achieve results that exceed industry norms. Our grant writers, capital campaign consultants, and fractional talent are some of the most talented and experienced professionals in our space. Bringing these groups together allows us to leverage an incredible brain trust of professionals who serve our clients in the most meaningful ways.

How do you think about luck?
I’m not sure I believe in luck. Instead, we are presented with opportunities that we either grasp or ignore. I can see choices as they appear. My willingness to be comfortable with risk and change has served me well and led to positive outcomes. One of my favorite expressions is, “leap, and the net will appear’.

I work to embrace that thought rather than embracing the “what if” that often results in being stuck. Ultimately, my fantastic family and friends, who have been my unwavering support, make the journey worthwhile.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.foxadvancement.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/foxadvancement
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fox-consulting-llc
• Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nspracale 

Image Credits
Karianne Munstedt