Two Decades. Real Results.

About Dr. Saralyn Grass

Dr. Saralyn Grass is an executive leader, consultant, organizational strategist, researcher, and expert witness with more than two decades of experience across government, nonprofit organizations, education, public policy, and the private sector. As President and Co-Founder of Verdant Synergies Consulting, she advises nonprofit and mission-driven organizations on strategy, resource development, organizational effectiveness, partnerships, accountability, and measurable outcomes.

Her career includes extensive executive and cross-sector leadership experience. Dr. Grass has led a public children’s services agency with an annual budget exceeding $60 million, overseen significant public investments in community-based organizations, and directed statewide initiatives involving policy, funding, accountability, and program quality. She has developed and evaluated policies and programs, managed complex public-private partnerships, and worked with government agencies, funders, nonprofit leaders, and community partners to move strategy from planning into measurable results.

A consistent focus throughout her work is the relationship between resources, organizational performance, and outcomes. Through Verdant Synergies Consulting, Dr. Grass works with boards and senior leaders to strengthen strategy, accountability, performance, and organizational effectiveness. Her approach helps organizations look beyond activity and compliance to understand whether their programs, investments, and systems are producing their intended impact.

Dr. Grass also maintains a national expert witness and legal consulting practice focused on child- and youth-serving organizations. Her work includes matters involving institutional responsibility, supervision, child safety, mandated reporting, organizational practices, negligence, and standards of care. She brings an executive and analytical perspective grounded in decades of experience evaluating policies, programs, accountability structures, organizational performance, and professional standards.

Her background also includes research, higher education, and community leadership. Dr. Grass has taught at the University of North Florida and Florida State University and holds a Doctor of Education in Educational Policy and Program Evaluation from Florida State University, a Master of Science in Human Development from Virginia Tech, and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of North Florida. She has served in numerous state and community leadership roles and continues to volunteer as a Guardian ad Litem while expanding her consulting, expert witness, writing, and speaking work.