Groundwork that amplifies impact. We partner with social impact organizations to expand their capacity to do good.
About
Understory is a social impact consultancy.
You recognize the pattern. Strategy that stalls before it can scale. Teams running between fires that have become the norm. Data scattered across disconnected systems, slowing down decisions that matter. Mission held back because vision isn't reaching execution.
We help organizations strengthen the connective layer between vision and execution — how operations, people, and technology work together to move the mission forward.
Our name reflects where we work. The understory is the layer beneath the canopy, often overlooked, but what everything above it depends on. Like the understory in a forest, the connective layer is mission critical.
We believe when organizations doing social good are stronger, communities thrive.
I spent over a decade in social impact, leading food security, health equity, and education initiatives both in the US and abroad. I've designed program strategy, scaled multi-million-dollar statewide initiatives, and built the operational and data systems to carry them.
Over time, I noticed the same pattern everywhere I worked: passionate teams supporting clear missions, but the operations weren't designed around people. Technology wasn't aligned to the work. And there wasn't much space (or funding) to reimagine how the work could be done.
I started Understory to change that. To help the organizations solving our hardest problems reimagine what new technology makes possible.
Arda holds a PhD in Operations Research and is Head of AI Research at a fintech startup. He advises Understory on technology direction and pressure-tests our recommendations.
We partner with social impact organizations at a point of transition. Transitioning under new leadership. Implementing a new strategic plan. Getting ready to scale proven programs.
How we work
Every engagement is unique, but each moves through a clear arc. We work with organizations on the connective layer supporting the mission — assessing where the strain is, designing what comes next, and staying close through the work that follows. Engagements range from focused diagnostics to multi-phase partnerships to ongoing leadership.
Sample offerings
Connective layer assessments
AI and technology readiness diagnostics
Operational and program strategy design
Implementation guidance and advisory
Embedded leadership
For social impact organizations that want ongoing strategic and operational depth, we offer fractional leadership across program, operations, and impact functions.
