Hello!

My name is Danielle VanZorn, and this is where I share what I’ve learned (and continue to learn) across a career dedicated to building thoughtful, resilient organizations. Whether you’re a client, collaborator, or curious reader, I’m glad you’re here.

A little about my background: I’m originally from Seattle and now based in Sarasota. I hold a B.A. in Business Administration and Management and bring over two decades of leadership in nonprofit and mission-driven environments. I’m a Senior Certified Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), (SHRM-SCP), Certified Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Scrum Master (CMS), and Six Sigma Black Belt. I’ve led complex remote organizations, advised high-growth startups and public agencies, and built operational systems around people-centric design, accountability, and equity.

Anyone who knows me knows I’m obsessed with turning operational friction into clarity and with building cultures that are emotionally intelligent, equity-centered, and resilient under pressure. I’ve worked with organizations ranging from Fortune 100s to grassroots nonprofits to solve strategic and structural challenges, especially during moments of growth, realignment, or rebuilding.

As Chief Operating Officer at Predict-Align-Prevent, I led cross-agency work focused on using predictive analytics and systems alignment to prevent child maltreatment before it occurs. We partnered with child welfare agencies, community coalitions, and state governments to identify early risk factors, close service gaps, and design primary prevention models rooted in place-based data.

My current focus is Improving Lives With Data, a nonprofit initiative I founded that helps communities use data to close critical service gaps for older adults. Through place-based analysis, demographic modeling, referral system mapping, and cross-sector engagement, ILWD guides regional coalitions and agencies through the process of identifying unmet needs and co-designing solutions that are actionable, equitable, and grounded in aging justice. I continue to lead the initiative’s growth, working with universities, public agencies, and local organizations to embed ILWD into planning efforts that directly affect some of the most underserved populations in the country.

I’m also the author of Mission Impact Lab: A Nonprofit’s Guide to Doing More with Less, a strategic guide for nonprofit leaders facing capacity constraints, funding pressure, and operational complexity. The book offers real-world frameworks to help organizations streamline systems, unlock hidden capacity, and strengthen their ability to deliver on mission, especially when resources are tight. My next book, Remote Operations Uncovered, will be released later this year and will explore how to build high-performing, equity-centered organizations in remote and hybrid environments.

Outside of work, I’m passionate about animal welfare, especially turtle and tortoise rescue. My ever-growing group of rescued friends has taken over our backyard and made the fridge’s crisper drawer permanently reserved for greens. I also continue to support cancer research, having started my career at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, where I learned what it means to work at the intersection of compassion, science, and systems.

I live with my wonderful husband, three amazing kids, and a crew of four dogs and three cats who ensure there’s never a quiet moment. I love the outdoors and spend as much time as I can hiking, golfing, and playing tennis.

Thank you for visiting and reading.
To connect about Improving Lives With Data, or if you know of a turtle in need, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Warmly,
Danielle VanZorn, PMP, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, CMS
https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellevanzorn/