What We Do
Since 2020, Persimmon has partnered with public and private funders to create real, lasting change — grounded in what matters to people and the planet.
We are a proud woman-owned small business with decades of experience in the nonprofit sector, a commitment to tailored approaches, and a keen understanding of when and how to authentically collaborate with the right partners – from community organizers to quantitative researchers.
With a racial justice lens, we work across a wide range of subject areas, including:
Environment and Climate Justice
Local Food Systems & Regenerative Agriculture
Pre K–12 Education
Pro-Democracy Work
Rural & Urban Community Wealth Building
Reproductive Health and Bodily Autonomy
Why We Exist
We live in a reality where there is enough for us all to thrive, yet systemic wealth concentration continues to block our collective well-being.
The philanthropic sector cannot, by itself, “fix” long-entrenched systems of oppression and the impending climate crisis. But it has a fundamental, and unique, role to play. Together, we can redistribute wealth and provide flexible, fluid capital — allowing for vital experimentation in the transition to more just communities. We can help ensure that people have ample resources to thrive, today and tomorrow. And we can do this with grace, and in genuine, caring relationships.
Who We Are
Meet Kirsten Scobie
Kirsten Scobie is the founder of Persimmon Consulting Company, where she partners with donors, foundations, and institutions to design philanthropic strategies rooted in trust, humility, and justice. With over two decades of experience, Kirsten brings a rare blend of strategic rigor, emotional intelligence, and deep listening to help clients move resources in ways that truly build power in under-resourced communities.
Before launching Persimmon, Kirsten spent 15 years at the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, including eight years directing the Tillotson Funds—one of the largest rural philanthropies in the U.S.—where she oversaw a $100M+ portfolio spanning four states, Canada, and Guatemala. Her career has taken her from Chicago’s South Side to rural New Hampshire, from ESL classrooms in Chile to public service programs across the U.S. Her work is characterized by a focus on people, place, and possibility.
Kirsten’s life story informs everything she does. Raised in a multigenerational academic family that moved between Argentina, California, and Texas, she grew up attuned to complexity, resilience, and inequity. Deeply committed to racial and economic justice, Kirsten is known for helping people and institutions name the hard, necessary things together — and then act on them.
She brings all of this—life experience, systems thinking, a sharp analysis of race and class, and a lot of heart—to help clients move toward philanthropy that is more just, more effective, and more human. Today, Kirsten lives in northern New Hampshire with her family.
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