Erica Curry VanEe, MPA · Urban Curry Consulting
Your people are already using AI. Most are doing it alone.
Urban Curry Consulting helps nonprofit, public sector and philanthropic leaders build the trust, skills and safety to use AI well, together.
Trusted by 70+ organizations
Access of West MichiganAchievement Gap Initiative, Harvard UniversityAmplify GRAmwayArbor CircleAYA Youth CollectiveBentelerBridge Street MinistriesCamp Fire West Michigan 4CCity of Grand RapidsCity of WyomingCommunity Food ClubCommunity Recovery InternationalDeVos Urban Leadership InstituteDoug and Maria DeVos FoundationDwelling PlaceExperience Grand RapidsFamily Promise of West MichiganFeeding America West MichiganFerris State UniversityFirst Steps KentForum for Youth InvestmentFrey FoundationGardner Center, Stanford UniversityGerald Dawkins AcademyGirl ScoutsGrand Rapids Area Chamber of CommerceGrand Rapids Community CollegeGrand Rapids Community FoundationGrand Rapids Initiative for LeadersGrand Rapids Public SchoolsGrand Valley State UniversityGreat Start CollaborativeGRow 1000Habitat for HumanityHands Across the WaterAccess of West MichiganAchievement Gap Initiative, Harvard UniversityAmplify GRAmwayArbor CircleAYA Youth CollectiveBentelerBridge Street MinistriesCamp Fire West Michigan 4CCity of Grand RapidsCity of WyomingCommunity Food ClubCommunity Recovery InternationalDeVos Urban Leadership InstituteDoug and Maria DeVos FoundationDwelling PlaceExperience Grand RapidsFamily Promise of West MichiganFeeding America West MichiganFerris State UniversityFirst Steps KentForum for Youth InvestmentFrey FoundationGardner Center, Stanford UniversityGerald Dawkins AcademyGirl ScoutsGrand Rapids Area Chamber of CommerceGrand Rapids Community CollegeGrand Rapids Community FoundationGrand Rapids Initiative for LeadersGrand Rapids Public SchoolsGrand Valley State UniversityGreat Start CollaborativeGRow 1000Habitat for HumanityHands Across the Water
Heart of West Michigan United WayHelen DeVos Children's HospitalHome Repair ServicesHope GardensJohnson Center for PhilanthropyJubilee Centers InternationalKalamazoo CountyKConnectKent CountyKent County Community ActionKids' Food BasketLeadership Barry CountyLiteracy Center of West MichiganMary Free BedMetro Health Hospital FoundationMichigan Department of Health and Human ServicesNational Educational Telecommunications AssociationNorth Kent ConnectOur Community ListensOur Community's ChildrenPartners WorldwidePaws With A CauseRefugee Education CenterRonald McDonald House CharitiesSafe Haven MinistriesSteelcaseSTEM GreenhouseStorehouse of Community ResourcesStreams GRUniversity of Michigan Health-WestWallace FoundationWeikart Center for Youth Program QualityWGVUWMCATWMEACWomen's Resource CenterYMCA of Greater Grand RapidsHeart of West Michigan United WayHelen DeVos Children's HospitalHome Repair ServicesHope GardensJohnson Center for PhilanthropyJubilee Centers InternationalKalamazoo CountyKConnectKent CountyKent County Community ActionKids' Food BasketLeadership Barry CountyLiteracy Center of West MichiganMary Free BedMetro Health Hospital FoundationMichigan Department of Health and Human ServicesNational Educational Telecommunications AssociationNorth Kent ConnectOur Community ListensOur Community's ChildrenPartners WorldwidePaws With A CauseRefugee Education CenterRonald McDonald House CharitiesSafe Haven MinistriesSteelcaseSTEM GreenhouseStorehouse of Community ResourcesStreams GRUniversity of Michigan Health-WestWallace FoundationWeikart Center for Youth Program QualityWGVUWMCATWMEACWomen's Resource CenterYMCA of Greater Grand Rapids
Find what you're looking for
AI for social impact leadersCatalyze AI cohorts where nonprofit leaders learn AI together, safely."Trust in AI grew through trust in each other."Catalyze AI 2026 finding
One-on-one AI coachingExecutive advisory for leaders navigating AI and change."She was always a step ahead of me, anticipating my needs, goals, and creating opportunities to challenge me and help me grow."Kri Burkander, Research for Action
Team buildingAssessments, workshops and facilitation for high-performing teams."She has amazing skills in building a team dynamic."Annemarie Valdez, President and CEO, First Steps Kent
RetreatsStaff and board retreats that make room to reflect and reimagine."Erica provided masterful facilitation of our Impact Board Retreat."Jaime Counteman, CEO, Metro Health Hospital Foundation
Strategic planningPlans built with your people, so they own what comes next."Working with Erica has been crucial for our strategic planning as an organization."Rachel VerWys, CEO, Safe Haven Ministries
Program design and evaluationEvidence-based program models, measurement and learning."She has great analytical and project management skills along with stellar people skills."Teresa Behrens, former CEO, Johnson Center for Philanthropy
Cohort-based learningDesigning and leading learning cohorts for funders and networks."There has been sustained commitment to the work 2 years later."Suzanne Hershey, Strategy Consultant, CommunitySync
Facilitation and speakingConvenings, community conversations and keynotes."Erica is one of the best process facilitators in the business."Tamber B., Learning and Innovation, Kent County
The problem
53%of nonprofits report staff using AI outside any guidance.
NTEN and Bridgespan, 2026 (917 respondents)
78% vs. 11%of nonprofit staff want training from their employer, but only 11% have received any AI guidelines.
AI for Nonprofits Sprint, 1,200+ staff at 500+ nonprofits
7%of nonprofits see major mission impact from AI, even though 92% use it.
Virtuous and Fundraising.AI, 2026 (346 nonprofits)
What works
Trust in AI grows through trust in each other. When people learn together, where mistakes are safe, confidence grows with use. National research agrees: when managers actively support AI use, 78% of employees use it often, compared with 44% (Gallup, 2026).
In Catalyze AI, 30 leaders from 15 West Michigan nonprofits learned AI together. All 15 organizations stayed to the end, and leaders unsure where to start went from 4 of 10 to 0. In Kent County, Michigan, 9 county leaders finished a cohort that paired peer learning with a personalized AI coach, and 8 of 9 improved. See the 2026 results →
What leaders say
"She taught me that an important ingredient of belonging is having space to explore, understand and express the core parts of our identity, and to feel safe to be and believe in who we are."
Noorain KhanChief Innovation Officer, Ford Foundation
"She leads with a generous spirit and deep compassion. She creates spaces that are safe to express joy, grief, fear, and hope."
Meg Wheeler DerrerCEO, Refugee Education Center
"Erica's ability to combine strategic insight with genuine care for people makes her an exceptional facilitator and leader."
Michele SuchovskyCEO, Paws With A Cause
"Erica understands what is at stake when she is in her role as coach or consultant... She has my unqualified, strongest endorsement!"
Jonathan WilliamsVice President for Undergraduate Admissions, New York University
"Erica is a special human, uniquely gifted at cultivating belonging and wonder amongst teams."
Afton S. DeVosOrganizational coach and consultant
94% of past clients surveyed are extremely likely to recommend Erica (independent 2023 survey by GrandPR, GVSU). More client voices →
Lead with humanity. Build with AI.
Vision: A world that leads with humanity.
Mission: Inspire and equip leaders to change their world.
Values: Nature, honoring the identities and seasons that shape each person. Nurture, caring for the whole person, including rest.
Based in Muskegon, Michigan, working everywhere. Get in touch →
