Start with what matters most

Fractional CIO services and team training for non-profits that need strategic technology guidance without the full-time executive price tag.


Small and mid-size non-profits face a unique challenge: you need senior technology leadership to navigate digital transformation, vendor selection, and IT strategy—but you can't justify a full-time CIO.


That's where One Consulting comes in.


I'm Brian McLaren, and I help non-profits translate technology into a business framework that delights constituents, mitigates risks, and advances mission. My approach is simple: we start with one question—what matters most?—then break complex challenges into manageable, achievable steps.


With 20+ years managing complex teams and multimillion-dollar technology initiatives for organizations across all revenue and staff sizes, I bring enterprise-level expertise with a collaborative, people-first approach that keeps projects moving forward one priority at a time.

What Non-Profits Struggle With

We know we need a technology strategy, but we don't have anyone who can translate IT into business outcomes

We're outgrowing our systems but don't know where to start—we're overwhelmed and understaffed

Our project managers are too technical-focused and missing the people side

We need to modernize, but we're afraid of disrupting operations or losing data

How I Help

I bridge the gap between technology and mission. Whether you need a fractional CIO to guide strategic decisions, help with a digital transformation project, or train your team to be more collaborative and customer-focused, I bring clarity, process, and measurable results.


My philosophy: Even the most overwhelming technology challenges become manageable when you break them down and tackle them one step at a time. That's why I focus on collaborative prioritization—helping you identify the one thing that will deliver the most value, then building momentum from there.


Why "One Consulting": The name reflects how I work: starting with one question (what matters most to your mission?), focusing on one priority at a time, and breaking complex transformations into achievable steps. Because even multimillion-dollar initiatives succeed by getting one thing right, then building on that foundation.

Testimonials

What people say about working with Brian

Katy S.
Brian is the real deal! What I really like about Brian is the way he interacts with people, his generous spirit, and ability to relate to almost anyone.

Katy S.

Deputy Chief Transformation Program Management

Keri K.
Brian is awesome sauce. Not only is he smart, creative, and ruthlessly organized, he approaches work with a collaborative mindset and leads with emotional intelligence. The cherry on the sundae is that he is really fun to work with. Imagine approaching platform upgrades with joie de vivre! This is Brian.

Keri K.

Non-profit CEO

Ann N.
Not only is Brian excellent in his field, but he's also one of the brightest, friendliest guys you'll ever meet. With a seemingly endless wealth of knowledge and a deep appreciation for collaboration.

Ann N.

Business Systems Owner

Jonathan S.
Brian had an exceptional grasp of how digital channels could be used to advance the Institute's goals. He was a valuable partner to my team in improving member satisfaction with the website by using analytics to inform decisions and by creatively working within existing constraints.

Jonathan S.

Digital Product Strategist

Mary L.
Brian’s depth of knowledge, strong relationships, and ability to learn new mindsets and methodologies made him the ideal lead for defining and executing the vision for the complex technologies and solutions we were implementing.

Mary L.

Organization Development Strategist

Services That Bridge Technology & Mission

Fractional CIO Services



IT Strategy & Roadmapping



Digital Transformation



Selection & Implementation



Training & Development



20+

years technology leadership

$10MM

in capital projects managed

AIA Digital Transformation

100,000+

customer accounts normalized, data-cleaned, and migrated

Salesforce/Fonteva implementation

74%

increase in user adoption post-launch

2030 DDX database re-platforming