About Us
Meet Aretha
Aretha Simons is the founder of Multiplying Talents™ and a nationally recognized nonprofit consultant, educator, and author with decades of experience supporting nonprofit organizations and the professionals who lead them.
A retired U.S. Navy veteran, Aretha served during both Operation Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom, experiences that shaped her approach to leadership, accountability, and service. Her public leadership extends beyond the military. She is also a former Orlando mayoral candidate, bringing a deep understanding of civic systems, governance, and public accountability to her work with nonprofit organizations.
Since 1999, Aretha has supported hundreds of nonprofits through formation, compliance, and strategic growth, maintaining a 100% success rate in obtaining 501(c)(3) status. Her expertise is grounded not only in practice but in education. She is the author of The Power of the 501(c)(3), The Best Guide for Nonprofit Consultants, and Deadly Force Recall, and is known for her ability to translate complex regulatory and organizational concepts into clear, actionable guidance.
Aretha holds a Bachelor of Theology, a Bachelor of Business Management, and a Master of Education. Her academic background reflects the intersection of faith-informed ethics, business strategy, and education that defines her consulting approach.
In addition to direct consulting, Aretha has served as a grant reviewer for public and nonprofit institutions and has been invited to speak nationally on nonprofit leadership and funding. Her work has brought her into collaboration with universities, business incubators, chambers of commerce, government agencies, and mission-driven organizations across the country.
Why Multiplying Talents?
The name Multiplying Talents™ is grounded in the principle that knowledge, resources, and opportunities are meant to be stewarded responsibly and developed with intention.
Inspired by the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14–30), the philosophy behind Multiplying Talents™ centers on accountability, growth, and the responsibility that comes with leadership. In the parable, individuals are entrusted with resources and evaluated not by what they were given, but by how thoughtfully and diligently they used them.
This belief shapes every aspect of the work. Nonprofit leaders are not simply handed solutions—they are guided to understand the systems they operate within, make informed decisions, and build organizations capable of long-term impact. Education, ethical practice, and strategic clarity are prioritized over shortcuts or surface-level success.
Multiplying Talents™ exists to help individuals and organizations strengthen what they’ve been entrusted with—ideas, missions, funding, and influence—so those efforts can grow sustainably and serve their communities well.
How Experience Shapes Our Approach
Decades of experience influence not just what we know, but how we guide others.
Our work is intentionally consultative and education-led. Rather than applying templates or predetermined solutions, we begin by understanding context—where an organization is, what it is responsible for, and how today’s decisions may affect its future compliance, credibility, and capacity.
Having worked across nonprofit formation, compliance review, grant evaluation, and organizational advising, we understand how nonprofits are viewed and assessed from multiple perspectives. That insight informs guidance that is measured, practical, and aligned with real-world expectations.
This approach helps nonprofit leaders move forward with clarity and confidence, strengthening foundations before pursuing expansion, funding, or increased visibility.
