You’re Tired of Doing More with Less

You didn’t get into nonprofit work to chase funding year after year, manage high staff turnover, or spend more time worrying about making payroll than implementing programs.

The truth? Nonprofits are forced to operate in survival mode far too often. And survival mode isn’t sustainable.

That’s why I built Guava Tree Strategies.

Because when your nonprofit has the right strategy, the right people, and the right support?  You shift out of survival mode and start focusing more on impact - without the fundraising stress.

Hi, I’m Christina!

I’m on a mission to change the way nonprofits fund their work — and retain the people who power them.

Sound ambitious? Maybe.

But I’ve run nine marathons, so trust me when I tell you: I’m not afraid of ambition.

I launched Guava Tree Strategies because I believe that nonprofits have the power to create incredible impact.

…but only when their teams are supported and they have the systems and people in place to fundraise effectively.

I’ve been a “Development Team of 1” and I know exactly why the average fundraiser lasts just 18-24 months at a nonprofit (if that). That’s why my approach is people-centered.

Nonprofit strategist, fundraising ‘therapist,’ and your partner in building sustainable, people-centered fundraising programs.

Why Guava Tree?

My parents both grew up on Caribbean islands surrounded by guava trees. In Spanish, we call them guayabas. My favorite way to eat them is in a pastel de guayaba con queso - a puff pastry dessert stuffed with guava paste and cream cheese.

Guava trees are resilient, adaptable, and have deep roots - just like the best nonprofits. They bear fruit every year and grow stronger with time. That’s exactly what I want for the nonprofits I work with: strength, resilience, and a lasting impact.

Featured In

Just for Fun

  • I’m a mom to two adventurous girls, married to a commercial pilot and we take our kids everywhere. Seriously, my 6-year-old has been on more than 60 flights. I’ve actually counted!

  • Aisle seat, always.

  • I’m currently obsessed with the Wicked movie soundtrack (and can’t wait for Part 2).

  • Like so many other nonprofit folks, I’m a former theater kid.

  • I never go anywhere without a book (always fiction, almost always hardcover). 

  • I’m into small talk. I’ll ask you how your weekend was (and actually want to know the answer), remember your dog’s name, and that your kid has soccer practice on Thursdays.

Ask Me About

  • the next book you should read

  • traveling with toddlers

  • book recommendations

  • where I went on my last trip

  • the time I packed for a trip to Switzerland and ended up in Las Vegas

  • how to spend the perfect weekend in Washington, DC (and where to get pastel de guayaba).

Your mission deserves more than survival mode.

It deserves sustainability, stability, and a partner that meets you where you are and helps you build a bigger impact for your organization.