Clear direction. Practical execution. Real impact.

Digital strategy for organizations
doing good work.

Guided North brings senior digital leadership to nonprofits, civic organizations, and mission-driven businesses without the overhead of a full-time hire.

About Guided North

Digital expertise,
mission-first mindset

Craig Paulnock, founder of Guided North Consulting
Craig Paulnock
Founder, Guided North Consulting

Guided North Consulting was founded on a simple belief: good organizations deserve the same quality of digital thinking as the world's largest companies, without the enterprise price tag or the consultant-speak.

I bring 20+ years of senior digital product, engineering, and platform leadership across for-profit and mission-driven organizations. From building Target's first mobile commerce experience to leading the Open Y platform adopted by 70+ YMCAs across North America, my work has consistently bridged rigorous digital execution with meaningful impact.

Guided North exists to bring that experience directly to the organizations doing the most important work, on a scale and budget that fits.

20+
Years of senior digital leadership
70+
YMCAs on the Open Y platform
$300M+
Mobile revenue scaled at Target
2x
NBCOlympics.com platform launches

What We Do

Practical services for the work that matters

Every engagement is scoped for your capacity, focused on what moves the needle, and designed to leave your team stronger.

Digital Strategy

Roadmaps, prioritization, and delivery leadership for organizations without a full-time digital leader. Get clarity on what to build, in what order, and why, grounded in your actual capacity and goals.

CRM & Data Activation

Turn disconnected data into practical insight, better outreach, and smarter operations. We help you make sense of what you already have and build toward what you need.

AI Advisory

Practical AI adoption without the hype. We help you identify where AI genuinely reduces friction or extends your team's capacity, and steer clear of the tools that don't deliver.

Digital Experience Consulting

Improve websites, apps, and service experiences for the people you serve. From UX audits to product strategy, we help you close the gap between your digital presence and your mission.

Who We Serve

Built for organizations doing good work

We partner with organizations where digital impact is mission-critical but full-time digital leadership isn't always in reach.

Nonprofits & Foundations
Civic & Government-Adjacent Organizations
Associations & Membership Organizations
Mission-Driven Businesses

Why Guided North

Senior thinking,
without the overhead

Executive leadership, sleeves rolled up

Two decades leading digital product, engineering, and platform at scale. Not advising from the sidelines, but doing the work alongside teams like yours.

Mission-fluent

Deep experience in compliance-heavy, resource-constrained environments. We understand the constraints nonprofits and civic organizations operate under.

No jargon, no fluff

Recommendations you can act on. We measure success by what changes for the people your organization serves, not by deliverable count or slide deck thickness.

Get in Touch

Let's talk about what's possible

Whether you have a specific project in mind or just want to think through a digital challenge, I'm happy to have a conversation. No pitch, no pressure.

Guided North on LinkedIn (opens in new tab)

Based in Minneapolis, MN. Available for remote and on-site engagements.

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