By Asia Nail
The Truth Reporter
Picture yourself driving down the highway with the gas light on, the GPS glitching, and the steering wheel pulling to the side. That’s what many nonprofit leaders feel like heading into the last quarter of the year—drained, distracted and uncertain about how to reach their goals.
Jason and Kelli Daniels, the husband-and-wife team behind JAYRAMON Consulting, know that feeling well. And that’s exactly why they created the L.I.F.T. Recalibration Lab, a two-and-a-half-hour virtual workshop that gives executives and board leaders a chance to stop, refuel and reset before 2026.
Jason puts it bluntly: “Nonprofits cannot afford to operate on autopilot.”
Building JAYRAMON: From Side Hustle to Full-Time Calling
JAYRAMON wasn’t an accident. The Daniels built it step by step. Back in 2008, it was just a passion project. Both Jason and Kelli held full-time jobs, but they made space for speaking and training gigs on the side. The more they worked with organizations, the more they saw the same gaps: leaders lacked development, strategies stalled and teams weren’t aligned.
By 2016, they decided to leap. They left their nine-to-five jobs and launched JAYRAMON full time. Since then, the firm has grown into a nationally recognized consultancy that equips nonprofits, corporations and universities with sharper leadership and smarter strategy.
But through all the growth, one thing never shifted—their commitment to helping leaders rise.
Why “Recalibration” Matters Right Now
Think about a guitar. If even one string is out of tune, the whole song sounds wrong. Nonprofits face the same issue. With shrinking budgets, shifting policies and changing public trust, leaders can’t just keep strumming and hope things work out. They need to pause, tune up and recalibrate.
That’s exactly what the L.I.F.T. Recalibration Lab offers. Scheduled for September 18, 2025, the lab gives executives and board members time to align their priorities before the year closes.
“This is that healthy pause,” Jason says. “Boards and executives rarely strategize together outside of a big planning process. And those only happen every few years. This lab creates the space for leaders to hear the same thing at the same time, then map out what’s next—together.”
Kelli adds: “We designed it to be short but powerful. One registration covers a leader, a board member and a teammate. It’s a smart use of time and money.”
Real-World Impact: Rotary’s Success Story
One of their favorite examples comes from their work with the Rotary Club of Toledo, the largest in the country with more than 300 members.
Before the pandemic, Rotary was thriving through grants and volunteer work. But like many organizations, momentum stalled during COVID. Instead of scrapping their old plan, JAYRAMON helped Rotary reimagine it.
They brought together voices across the organization—from presidents and foundation leaders to everyday members. Through listening sessions and collaborative planning, Rotary launched a fresh three-year strategy that honored pre-COVID goals while adapting to current realities.
Jason calls it proof that not all strategies need to start from scratch. “Sometimes the best plans are already there,” he says. “They just need to be reawakened.”
What “L.I.F.T.” Really Means
L.I.F.T. isn’t just a catchy name—it’s a framework that anchors everything JAYRAMON does:
- Leadership – Developing confident, visionary leaders.
- Influence – Helping leaders extend their reach and impact.
- Focus – Keeping eyes locked on mission, not distractions.
- Talent – Unlocking the strengths of both individuals and teams.
The Daniels first introduced L.I.F.T. in 2017 at a leadership conference in the Midwest, drawing national speakers and crowds in Toledo and Perrysburg. When COVID hit, the gatherings stopped—but instead of ending, L.I.F.T. evolved.
They reshaped it into a flexible model that now travels into boardrooms, retreats, and virtual workshops across the country. Today, whether they’re keynoting, training, or coaching, the L.I.F.T. framework runs through it all.
Busting the Biggest Myth About Strategy
Ask nonprofit leaders about strategic planning, and you’ll hear a groan: “It’s just endless meetings and nothing changes.”
Jason and Kelli flip that mindset.
“We make the plan practical,” Kelli explains. “It has to be something leaders can actually do—and want to do. That’s what creates energy.”
Jason adds: “Younger professionals expect accountability. They want to know where the money goes, why programs get repeated, and what the data really says. We help organizations bridge traditional leadership with today’s expectations.”
The result? Strategy stops being a dusty binder and becomes a living roadmap.
Trends Nonprofits Can’t Ignore
Through their work, Jason and Kelli see three urgent trends:
- Workforce development – Staff want growth, opportunity and a strong culture. Without it, they leave.
- Workplace listening – Employees, volunteers and communities want more than lip service. They expect leaders to act on feedback.
- Volunteer engagement – From boards to youth helpers, nonprofits need new ways to recruit, retain and energize volunteers.
Their secret? Listening.
Most consulting engagements begin with listening sessions. “The answers are usually already there,” Jason says. They’re hidden in surveys, feedback forms and volunteer notes. JAYRAMON’s gift is surfacing those insights and turning them into strategies that work.
What Leaders Should Ask Themselves Right Now
As 2025 winds down, Jason challenges every nonprofit leader with one question:
“Are we truly listening to our people, our community, and our data—and are we willing to act on what we hear?”
Because sometimes organizations don’t need another meeting. They just need the courage to use what’s already in front of them.
What’s Next for JAYRAMON
Beyond the Recalibration Lab, the Daniels are rolling out a new program: So You Want to Be a Consultant.
This three-week workshop is designed for professionals who’ve been giving away their expertise for free. Jason and Kelli will walk participants through the nuts and bolts—contracts, pricing, models—to help them launch or grow consulting businesses.
“It’s about saving people from unnecessary heartache,” Jason explains. “We want them to skip the mistakes we made and move forward faster.”
Meanwhile, JAYRAMON will continue serving nonprofits, corporations and higher ed institutions nationwide. Still, Jason and Kelli stay deeply rooted in their hometown.
“We are Toledo proud,” Jason says with a smile. “I’m a product of TPS, and our roots are right here. It feels good to grow nationally while still making an impact in the 419.”
The Bigger Picture
At its core, the Daniels story isn’t just about consulting. It’s about building a culture where leaders pause, breathe, and chart a stronger path forward.
Nonprofits carry heavy missions—feeding families, teaching kids, advancing justice. Those leaders can’t afford burnout or misalignment. They need clarity, courage and community.
That’s what the L.I.F.T. Recalibration Lab delivers: a reset button for leaders and a reminder that rising higher starts with recalibrating together.
Or as Jason and Kelli like to say: Leadership. Influence. Focus. Talent. Four words that, when lifted together, can change the direction of an entire organization.
Register at JAYRAMON.COM