Align. Build. Close.

For bold social-impact leaders ready to take the first or next step in bringing their vision to life.

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The image features the text "VOW for Girls" in bold, red capital letters on a white background.
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MAG logo with a white skull and crossbones on a red background, and the text "MAG saves lives builds futures" in black and red lettering.
Washington Housing Conservancy logo in purple, featuring a stylized house outline and the letters "whc" next to the organization's full name.
Malala Fund logo with the word "MALALA" in multicolored uppercase letters above the word "FUND" in dark blue.
White text logo "MISSION 44" on a black background, with the second "I" stylized as a geometric shape.
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ABOUT ABC STRATEGIES

Less noise. More traction. Built for founders changing the world.

ABC Strategies is a philanthropic advisory firm built to help social impact leaders take the first — or next — step in bringing their vision to life. 

Built for the First Five Years — and the Big Leaps

The first five years are fragile. So are inflection points:

A new strategic plan or initiative

A geographic expansion

A pivot in model or mission

An increased need for philanthropic capital due to a loss of government funding

We work alongside visionary founders and nonprofit leaders to:

Clarify what you’re building (and why it’s different)

Package initiatives so funders immediately understand the opportunity

Identify and cultivate anchor investors

Build pipelines that match your ambition

Connect with fractional talent to power your mission

Our Philosophy

Access to best-in-class strategy and support shouldn’t be reserved for organizations with the biggest budgets. We make high-quality practice accessible to changemakers—focusing on quality over quantity, and the small, smart steps that deliver the greatest return on investment.

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Meet The Founder

Ana Bjelogrlić Canning is the founder of ABC Strategies and a trusted strategic partner to growth-minded start-ups and mission-driven organizations at pivotal inflection points—when leaders are ready to align vision, unlock funding, and grow with clarity and confidence. 

With 20+ years in the nonprofit sector, Ana brings rare, hands-on expertise in helping early-stage and scaling organizations turn bold ideas into fundable, executable strategies.

Her career includes working alongside visionary leaders and globally recognized organizations, giving her firsthand insight into what enables young organizations to gain traction and credibility in their earliest years.  Previously, Ana led the strategy practice at Orr Group and served as Chief Strategy Officer at the Iqra Fund—where she continues to serve on the Advisory Board.

Ana brings alignment, boldness, and clarity to moments of change—helping leaders focus resources, make confident decisions, and bring their organization’s full potential to life. She is also the founder of Jigsaw Collective DC, a referral-only network of independent nonprofit experts. Ana studied at the University of Maryland and George Washington University, and lives in the Washington D.C. region.

What We Do
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Philanthropic Strategy

ABC helps founder-led and growth-stage nonprofits sharpen their case for support, define investable priorities, map major and principal donor pipelines, structure anchor gifts, and align board engagement with revenue goals. This is strategy designed to unlock transformational gifts — not just incremental growth.

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Fractional Leadership
(Limited Engagements)

At critical moments — launch, expansion, restructuring, or a major fundraising push — ABC can step in as a senior-level, embedded partner. You get hands-on leadership without adding a full-time executive: driving fundraising strategy, advancing key donor relationships, and maintaining momentum.

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Connections to Talent

Growth requires the right capacity. If you need experienced development, communications, or strategy support but aren’t sure where to look, ABC connects you to trusted independent talent through Jigsaw Collective. Every professional is vetted and recommended by the nonprofit community, so you can scale thoughtfully and efficiently.

“All big things come from small beginnings. The seed of every habit is a single, tiny decision. But as that decision is repeated, a habit sprouts and grows stronger.”
James Clear | Atomic Habits
"Do your little bit of good where you are; it is those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world."
Desmond Tutu
Perspectives
"When I joined WHC as its first full-time Executive Director, ABC Strategies had already been working with the Board and the interim ED for a year to secure more than $5 million in seed funding to launch the organization. I essentially inherited Ana as a partner, and we continued working together for the next three years to grow and diversify our donor base. Ana was a trusted advisor to both me and the Board, helping us cultivate and solicit key anchor funders — which ultimately led to several six- and seven-figure, multi-year commitments."
Kimberly Driggins
Kimberly DrigginsExecutive Director, Washington Housing Conservancy​
"Partnering with ABC Strategies was one of the best decisions the Mines Advisory Group made as we began to expand our donor base in the United States. Their impact was immediate and transformative. ABC Strategies came in with energy and expertise: developing a compelling, donor-facing investment overview; building a robust pipeline of high-potential prospects; and working hand-in-hand with me to activate my network. They didn't just create tools -- they brought experienced perspective on what it would genuinely take to build momentum in a new market, and they delivered on that promise. By the time we brought on a full-time Director of Philanthropy, the Mines Advisory Group was in an exceptional position. We weren't starting from scratch. We had a strong foundation, meaningful relationships, and a clear path forward. That head start has made all the difference. If you are a nonprofit looking to accelerate fundraising in a new market, I cannot recommend ABC Strategies highly enough. They are exceptional partners who combine rigorous analysis, sage advice, and practical strategies to drive real, lasting results."
Shari Bryan
Shari Bryan, Executive Director, Mines Advisory Group US
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