The word Avanza means “advance” or “move forward” in Spanish. Nonprofit organizations in good times and bad times must always keep on moving forward despite the many challenges they face, including rising operating expenses, lack of adequate funding, recruiting and retaining quality staff and increased demand for services.

Avanza Consulting specializes in helping organizations implement vision, achieve organizational effectiveness, build capacity and advance leadership. It’s founder Edith Quiroz has over 20 years’ experience working for social change in both government and nonprofit organizations. She has a keen understanding of the challenges nonprofits face and knows how to overcome them. Her deep roots in the Latine community, culture and history guide her work and philosophy and she believes that systemic change is possible and key to advancing justice, equity, diversity and inclusion. Most recently, she served as the Executive Director of El Programa Hispano Catolico (EPHC) one of Oregon’s oldest and largest culturally specific non-profit organizations. Under her leadership EPHC experienced significant growth in its operational budget, staffing, and service impact from serving 19,000 people in 2018 to over 39,000 people in 2024. She led the organization to establish new operational functions including Human Resources, Development, Communications, Facilities, IT, Quality Assurance and Finance Departments that follow EDI practices.

I know what it’s like to navigate through big transitions and challenges, to lead small and large teams and how to build organizational infrastructures that can support leadership and community needs. I continue to be on a mission to inspire, motivate and support organizations and individuals to be the changemakers they are meant to be and make meaningful impact in the lives of those they serve.”

Meet our Founder & Principal Consultant:

✎ Update Staff Members

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  • Edith Quiroz
  • BA, Oregon State University
  • (503) 816 4571

  Edith Quiroz is an accomplished nonprofit executive, startup founder, former radio host and proud mother of three. As CEO, Edith helps support non-profits in the areas of executive search & recruitment, interim directorships, diversity, equity and inclusion training and coaching, board training and development, strategic planning, and professional development training. Previously, Edith led Gresham-based El Programa Hispano tripling staff, doubling revenue, stabalizing growth, and successfully spinning the organization into it’s own 501(c)3 nonprofit orgnization outside of Catholic Charities of Oregon.

  Edith has supported the following organizations: Bienestar • Bradley Angle House • Hacienda CDC • Oregon Latino Health Coalition • Linfield School of Nursing, OHA/Office of Health Equity & Inclusion, Oregon Community Health Workers Association, Oregon Community Media, Oregon State University, Multnomah County, Traditional Health Workers Commission, Centro Cultural of Washington County, Health Share of Oregon, Sexual Assault Resource Center.

  
  

  Services

  • Interim Executive Director
  • Executive Search
  • Organizational Assessment
  • Board Development
  • Strategic Planning
  • Inclusive and Equitable Hiring, Interviewing and Employee Retention Strategies
  • Leadership Development
  • Retreat Planning and Facilitation