Meet the Team Behind
Silver Maple Strategies
We’re a small team with a big heart for nonprofit leaders.
At Silver Maple Strategies, we believe that clarity creates capacity—and that capacity changes everything. We partner with mission-driven organizations to strengthen their fundraising, messaging, and operational resilience so they can do more of the work that matters for their clients. Our team brings deep expertise, a dash of Midwestern humor, and a fierce commitment to helping you lead with confidence and calm.
Nate Birt
Founder & CEO
Nate Birt is a professionally trained journalist turned nonprofit fundraising strategist, aspiring farmer, and father of four. (Doing one thing at a time has never been his style.) He began working closely with nonprofit leaders as vice president of Farm Journal's Trust In Food and went on to found Silver Maple Strategies in 2022 to continue helping nonprofit leaders escape the chaos of reactive operations so they can step into clarity, confidence, and purpose to breathe, lead, and grow.
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Through the company's Resilience Leadership Model™, Nate equips mission-driven teams to break free from fundraising stress and uncertainty so they can boldly ask for what they need (and want) to deliver the highest possible impact.
With more than 17 years of experience in storytelling, marketing, and leadership, Nate has worked as an agriculture editor, a grants program implementer, and sustainability executive. He’s passionate about helping nonprofits translate vision into impact through smart strategy and authentic coaching, training, and collaboration.
When he’s not coaching clients or writing content, you’ll find Nate on his eastern Missouri farm with his wife, Julie, and their children raising cattle, chickens, turkeys, fruit, and vegetables.
Audrey Anderson
Marketing Strategy Partner
Audrey Anderson is the behind-the-scenes engine that keeps Silver Maple Strategies’ digital presence running. She manages everything from newsletters and social media to website updates and client writing—helping make sure ideas don’t just live in drafts, but actually reach the people who need them. She’s known for jumping in, finding solutions, and making life easier for the people she serves.
Audrey has over six years of marketing experience, including time as a Director of Marketing leading complex strategies for a national communications agency and local economic development groups. She’s helped elevate newsletters through consistent, high-quality content, boosted a LinkedIn following by 500%, and developed a library of whitepapers that turned insights into action. With degrees in Communication and PR, she brings both strategy and execution to the table.
Audrey calls central Minnesota home, where she lives with her husband, toddler son, loyal black lab, and cat. When she’s not writing, planning, or fine-tuning strategy, she enjoys home projects, investing in her faith, and getting lost in a good drama, reality show, or comedy series.
Bryle Bautista
Business Development Representative
Bryle Bautista is often the first friendly voice prospective clients hear at Silver Maple Strategies. As Business Development Representative, he connects with nonprofit leaders, sets qualified appointments, and opens doors to conversations that help organizations find the clarity and resources they need to grow. He’s motivated by the chance to make life easier for busy executives—helping them take one step closer to the funding and strategy they need to thrive.
With more than four years of sales and outreach experience, Bryle has built relationships across industries ranging from real estate to software to automotive. He’s skilled at listening well, qualifying the right opportunities, and building pipelines that prioritize meaningful connections over quick wins. At Silver Maple Strategies, that means supporting nonprofit executives in moving beyond daily pressures so they can focus on long-term impact.
Bryle lives with his dog and stays energized through music and sports. He brings that same upbeat rhythm and dedication to his work: steady, approachable, and always focused on building connections that matter.