Who we are

Civic Safeguard Strategies (CSS) is a women-led consultancy with a combined 80+ years of experience strengthening civil society across some of the world’s most complex and restrictive environments. With careers spanning government, private sector, and nonprofits, each founding member contributes complementary expertise — from program design and capacity assessment to partnership development and donor engagement — ensuring our work is both strategic and pragmatic. Our diverse geographic specializations add to a foundation for credibility and long-term sustainability.

Capabilities in Action

CSS understands that, today more than ever, organizations are under pressure as funding dries up and governments impose more restrictions. While relatively new in the U.S., these restrictions mirror those in many other countries such as Hungary, Serbia, Russia, Poland, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. Approaches to build the resiliency of civil society organizations have been tried and tested globally for over a decade and are ready to be applied in the U.S.. 

A group of people, including children and adults, are gathered around a table with informational materials. Some are attentively looking at the table, while others record the event with a video camera. Several police officers are standing in the background, and there is a religious painting on the wall behind them.

CSS experts have helped NGOs navigate restrictions like legal impediments, funding restrictions, and smear campaigns in Eastern Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Latin America.

Our Team

Laura McKechnie

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Principal Consultant

Laura has had 20 years of experience in management and strategy as well as program management and engagement with civil society, funders and key stakeholders. She also has proven experience in partnership building, strategic initiatives, and capacity building. Laura’s regional focus has been in Latin America and Asia, where she lived for ten years in Ecuador, Vietnam and Paraguay.

Kellie Burk

Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Partnerships Director

Kellie brings over two decades of international development experience focused on the management of programs and research and the development of policies and strategies.  Kellie is a technical expert in the areas of advancing good governance, civil society, and human rights, with a regional focus on sub-Saharan Africa, where she first worked in international banking.

Eileen Lawless

Chief of Programs and Engagement (CPE)

Eileen is a senior international and community development leader who has spent more than 20 years advancing democracy, human rights, and governance across the Middle East and North Africa, Southern Africa, East Timor, and Azerbaijan. She is also a skilled facilitator and coalition builder who has developed and led global networks and communities of practice.

Erin McCarthy

Chief Technical Officer (CTO)

Erin is a senior U.S. Government expert with 16+ years of experience in strategic leadership, democratic development and policy development. Erin is a trusted advisor on democratic and civil society development, known for designing and managing multilateral, high impact initiatives as well as mobilizing private foundations and congressional support in the Europe and Eurasia region.