Deb Merchant

senior consultant

As LDS Senior Consultant, Deb Merchant focuses on increasing organizational capacity through coaching, mentoring and contracted services -- always with an eye to raising the support and funding necessary to advance each client’s mission-driven impact.

Deb brings more than two decades of involvement in non-profit organizations at local, regional, statewide, and international levels. Her professional life includes work as a program manager, grant and contract manager, development manager, executive director, and non-profit consultant. As a volunteer, Deb served as a grant review team member, Board member, and program volunteer. Deb’s non-profit experience has given her a comprehensive, deeply-informed basis for helping LDS clients find solutions that take them where they want to go. Whether helping clients with strategic planning, developing robust financial practices and operations, or fundraising development, Deb is well-equipped to nurture LDS client success.

Deb was born and raised in Oregon, so you won’t be surprised to find her exploring the outdoors in her spare time. She enjoys photography, kayaking, camping, biking, snowshoeing and gardening, and volunteers for several Willamette Valley non-profits engaged in ensuring access to local, sustainable, and affordable produce.