"Ms. Joyaux is the best speaker I ever had the chance to hear. I’m truly inspired by her performance."

 "Simone is dynamite, knows her stuff and how to present it. Don’t miss her if you have the chance."

 "I was fortunate enough to be at the seminar you gave in Calgary. Thank you for the excellent information you provided; this was the best seminar I have been to."

 "My board members got real and substantial value from the luncheon speech."

 "Fabulous, experienced, personable, exciting, humanistic, great humor."

 "Very forthright, direct, practical, passionate and integrity: fabulous mix!"

 "I feel that every board and staff member should be in attendance at such a talk by Simone!"

 "What is most excellent about your presentation and teaching is that it fits all sizes of organizations." (AFP audio conference on creating a fund development plan, January 2003)

 "I usually hate this kind of thing but she was good and so prepared and easy to listen to – and I enjoyed it. Loved the sense of humor!" (Volunteer at a face-to-face solicitation training program)

 "We want to extend our gratitude for your excellent presentation on the board’s role in fundraising. Your ability to instantly engage each member made the evening enjoyable and interesting, and we would suspect that you even may have changed a few viewpoints among those present." (Human service organization, Hartford CT)

 "She is an excellent teacher with a wonderful relaxed natural way of including the entire group in discussion." (Workshop for Community Foundation of Greater New Haven CT)

 "Great job, draws people in well, good at energizing stimulating conversation."

 You are a fabulous performer. You were charming, witty, brilliant, not giving an inch — in a nice way, tough and professional."

Testimonials from clients

 "This consultancy has been the best investment we’ve ever made. You have been a wonderful help to us in turning this organization around and giving it new life!" (Healthcare organization)

 "Simone this stuff is great. Thanks for being the consultant extraordinaire!" (MA)

 "I am writing to thank the Foundation for the wonderful 8 hours of invaluable time we had with Simone Joyaux. She was so informative and as I like it, very direct... may I say again, Simone is a real jewel." (CT client, funded by the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving)

 "Where would be without you? I am extremely grateful to you for all you have done to make the Club a better place for our members. You may not realize it, but you are truly changing and saving lives through your work." (Executive Director of a Boys & Girls Club, RI)

 "What a fresh, sharp, deep approach. You come at this with wisdom and grace, hard knowledge and a penchant for risk taking."

 "Thank you for eliciting such a stimulating and invigorating response from our Board at the Retreat! I have never heard such an honest and open exchange of ideas from our Board members, and it was your very effective style of facilitating that made it happen."

 "Thank you!!! You are a terrific facilitator and, as one of our Board members said ‘a very brave woman.’ Many board members and I appreciated your asking the hard questions, and doing so in a way that allowed for answers. Thank you, too, for all your counsel. You are wonderful to work with." (NY environmental organization)

 "You are by far the most professional woman I have ever met. Thank you for your focus, your energy, for sharing your talent and experience and compassion and care for each and every one of us. Amazing. You are simply amazing. Much respect and profound admiration." (RI Development Officer)

 "Thank you so much for agreeing to work with us. My life has been enriched as a result. I deeply respect and value you." (Executive Director of a CT client working with Joyaux in a comprehensive capacity building consultancy)

 "Simone, you have taught me more than any lesson in college or in 10 years of not-for-profit seminars. And you know why? Because you are specific, caring, very interesting, and you want your audience to have tangible stuff to take back to the workplace and put into use immediately. You ask the right questions without bombarding people with the 'way you want it to be'. Instead, you make people think about how it could be, and then you provide, by your own life example, how it can become. I cross my fingers and my toes that I can work with you again. It has always been life changing, not only for me, but also for my organization. Thank you. My heart is grateful." (Development colleague)

 "Your help to me during the tumultuous time was worth so much. Your intelligence is fabulous and your kindness was soothing." (CT Board Chair)

 "Simone has the ability to shed light where there is darkness." (Association client in NY)    

More testimonials

• From Students in the Masters Program in Philanthropy and Fund Development, Saint Mary’s University in Winona, MN
• From clients
• Remarks about Joyaux’ book, (www.jbpub.com)
  Strategic Fund Development: Building Profitable Relationships That Last
• Comments about Joyaux’ volunteer leadership

Remarks about Joyaux’ book, Strategic Fund Development: Building Profitable Relationships That Last (www.jbpub.com)

 "Your book is still hard at work. I am organizing a six-area constituency base for the C&O Canal National Historical Park and am using your text for guidance, as well as putting it into the hands of the Park Ranger who is working with me. Thanks for your tremendous insight."

 "Development professionals cannot succeed by simply changing tactics; they must help cure their institution’s ailments. As James Carville might say, ‘It’s the organization, stupid.’" (James H. Lewis, CFRE, from his review of Joyaux’ first edition. Advancing Philanthropy, Fall 1997, AFP)

 "Simone Joyaux provides those of us who labor in the vineyards of the philanthropic sector with invaluable tools and concepts for translating organizational vision into reality. As one who has enjoyed the privilege of being a colleague of Simone’s in various venues, I view this volume as but one more component of the innumerable contributions she has made to not-for-profit organizations and their stakeholders over the past quarter century." (Tim J. Burchill, CFRE, in the foreword to Joyaux’ book)

 "…an important work if we are to be serious about positioning our institutions for the future. Joyaux has captured the essence of what we as development professionals should understand and be prepared to address as we look to the 21st century." (Dennis Stefanacci, ACFRE, 1996 AFP Outstanding Fundraising Executive of the Year)

Comments about Joyaux’ volunteer leadership

 "Simone. You define empowering through leadership. Thank you for your unmatchable effort!"

 " You are a wonderful leader and I feel privileged to have the opportunity of working with you."

 "Thank you for your leadership, your guidance, your wisdom, your courage, your energy, your resolve, and your integrity. We thank you for your impassioned and unifying leadership."

 "Your support and leadership have been invaluable. In fact, it is what has kept me as a participating board member."

 "Thank you for your selfless and courageous leadership."   

Students in the Masters Program in Philanthropy and Fund Development, Saint Mary’s University in Winona, MN

 "I am both humbled and honored to have the opportunity to learn from one of the Masters of our profession."

 "Simone is an exceptional teacher!"

 "Simone’s experience and extraordinary teaching style helped me focus on strategies for success."

 "I am so impressed by the humanity, passion and spirit Simone brings to class."

 "You are that perfect (and rare) combination of one who is both at the top of her craft AND can teach it to others."

 "Thank you for a tremendous learning experience and for allowing me to feel more confident in the skills I already have. I feel so privileged to have been part of your class."

 "I told my staff all about your work and went through your ideas for enabling volunteers. It was amazing! Simone, I got them to start asking questions. Thank you so much. Isn’t the best teacher the one who gives her students the skills to teach others? Thanks teacher."