Team

Matt McFarlane

With a background in science, policy, and two decades of experience advising nonprofits, startups, and social enterprises, I specialize in helping teams build new organizations from the ground up.

I bring particular expertise in governance, planning, and risk-informed strategy—guiding clients through entity setup, board and team design, and operational frameworks that align with their mission.

My work is grounded in systems thinking and collaborative problem-solving. As part of GROUT’s multidisciplinary team, I help stitch together the communications, logistics, fundraising, organizing, and program strategies that new ventures need to thrive—offering tailored, non-legal guidance to support bold ideas from inception to execution.

I earned my law degree from Fordham Law School, a PhD from Stanford University School of Medicine (Molecular & Cellular Physiology) and ScB from Brown University (Biochemistry).

Diana Philip

I am a systems advocate, fighting for the tougher causes through project management, strategic planning, policy reform, and movement building. With over 30 year’s experience as a community organizer, direct services advocate, crisis intervention specialist, and nonprofit director, I know how challenging it is to take the needs we see on the ground and identify how to direct energy and resources towards true social change and policy reform. I am a launch specialist for 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) nonprofits, coalitions, membership organizations, and advocacy groups. However, experience has taught me to also determine when and how to relaunch, reorganize, and expand group structures to realize overall mission and vision or effectively address emergent issues.

My work focuses on systems change accomplished within or alongside progressive movements, such as voting rights, criminal justice reform, sensible drug policy, economic justice, gender equity and safety, LGBTQ+ advancements, reproductive freedom, birth justice, child welfare, and youth rights, primarily aligned in safeguarding basic human rights grounded in evidenced-based theories and principles. As a former regional director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas and executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland, I am familiar with the power of impact litigation and legislation, as well as the challenge of calling for reform or implementing new or improved public policy.

I am a proud graduate of Indiana University, with a B.A. in criminal justice and sociology, and earned my M.S. in women’s and gender studies from the second oldest program in the nation, Towson University. I currently serve on five nonprofit boards, three of which are in the process of launching.

Jennifer Nadeau

I provide strategic communications, advocacy, and thought leadership support for research, policy, and advocacy organizations around the world.

After directing communications programs at the Guttmacher Institute and the International Partnership for Microbicides, I’ve spent nearly two decades advising the world’s leading science and health organizations. Past and current clients include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, FP2030, the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health, the Gates Foundation, GSK, Gilead Sciences, the Hewlett Foundation, the Population Council, UNAIDS, and the World Health Organization.

My work most often centers on high-stakes, complex, and potentially controversial topics, from teen mental health to abortion rights.

I have a Ph.D. focused on international development from American University and an undergraduate degree from Brown University, and I believe in the power of effective communications to drive evidence-based positive change.

RUSSELL MCFARLANE

I’m a strategic program and event operations leader with over 20 years of experience delivering transformative results across federal agencies, international health organizations, and Fortune 500 companies. I thrive in complex, high-stakes environments where operational excellence, speed, and cross-sector collaboration are essential to success.

As a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) and PRINCE2 Agile Practitioner, I specialize in end-to-end program management, public-private partnership strategy, global event logistics, and organizational transformation. My strength lies in bringing order to ambiguity—building systems, teams, and partnerships that turn vision into action. I bridge the tactical and the strategic, blending disciplined execution with adaptive leadership to drive lasting, measurable impact.

I hold an MBA from the University of Maryland Global Campus and a BA from the University of Connecticut. I'm a longtime member of the Project Management Institute (PMI) and a former board director of Meeting Professionals International (MPI). Through my advisory work, I help organizations scale smarter, convene with purpose, and deliver impact where it matters most.