Transformation without friction, we care about your experience just as much.
We are trusted advisors to local governments, leading small businesses, universities and nonprofits. Our integrity and commitment to excellence enables us to efficiently solve problems and deliver transformative results that no one else can, equipping our clients with the tools, insights, and strategies needed to streamline operations, enhance competitiveness, and maximize the economics.
Our mission goes beyond the theory of change.
As a catalyst for organizational, economic and community change, we leverage proven design, engagement, and analytical strategies to inform organizational decisions. We leverage the power of data analytics to create meaningful and measurable impact, ultimately promoting substantial, equitable and sustainable development.
Environmental Nonprofit ($2M+ Annual Budget) Technical Assistance
Focus(es): Organizational Development, Capacity Building, Grant Management
JAN 2024-PRESENT
US Environmental Protection Agency Community Change Grant Technical Assistance
Focus(es): $20M Budget Compliance & Design, $20M Project Scoping, Organizational Development, Capacity Building
Web Application Design and Development,
Economic & Public Policy Analysis and Reporting
Sector: Environmental Information Technology, Data Analytics
MAR 2023-SEPT 2024
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10
NOV 2023-NOV 2024
9
Program Strategy & Administration
Economic Development, Data Analytics, Assets Design and Development
11
FEB 2025-PRESENT
JUNE 2022-PRESENT
7
Fractional COO - Systems, Analytics and Projects
Sector(s): Real Estate Development, Construction & Property Management
Strategic Planning & Implementation
Highlight: Business Awarded $450,000 in Private Investment
Deliverables Include
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Strategy Plan
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Financial Models
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Risk and Compliance Management Plan
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Admission to Goldman Sachs 10k Small Business Program
OCT 2022-APR 2023
6
5
APR 2021-PRESENT
USDA Economic Research, Analysis & Reporting
Industry: Aquaculture
National Science Foundation (NSF) Program Measurement and Evaluation - Project Controlling
West Coast and Northern Mid West Universities
Project Plan Design and Management, Budget Versus Actuals Analysis, Resource Allocation Planning
JUNE 2022-DEC 2022
4
APR 2022-JAN 2023
3
Web Application Design and Development,
Economic & Public Policy Analysis and Reporting
Environmental Information Technology, Data Analytics
Go-To-Market Project Management
Highlight: Business Awarded $250,000 in Seed Funding
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Deliverables
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Business Plan
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Financial Model
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Brand Suite
DEC 2021-APR 2022
2
Jan 2022-APR 2022
Web Application Design and Development,Economic & Public Policy Analysis and Reporting
Environmental Information Technology, Data Analytics
1
Past Performance
At The Butterfly Effect, we specialize in transforming organizations through capacity building, systems and process design, risk management, and data analytics.
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We are a great fit for:
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Executive leaders with a need for improvements to their organization development operation
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An organization with a project that needs course-correcting
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A startup in need of an efficient human capital strategy
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An organization needing more robust analytics and reporting to inform decision-making
Our track record spans collaborations with local governments, small businesses, nonprofits, and universities, yielding direct and measurable outcomes:
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Securing Funding: We helped clients obtain $450,000 in private investment and $250,000 in seed funding, enabling them to expand operations, enter new markets, and accelerate innovation.
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Building Sustainable Systems: Through web application development, data analytics, and compliance infrastructure design, we streamlined workflows for nonprofits and startups alike, ensuring they operate efficiently and maintain regulatory adherence.
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Enhancing Competitiveness: Our strategic planning and project management expertise led to successful admissions into programs like the Goldman Sachs 10K Small Business initiative, catalyzing further growth and elevating brand reputation.
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Driving Community Impact: We provided technical assistance to over 100 applicants of the US EPA Community Change Grant Program, leveraging environmental and economic insights to help local governments and organizations address environmental injustices, reduce pollution, and bolster community engagement.
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By integrating data-driven insights, forward-thinking strategies, and a deep understanding of risk management and public policy, The Butterfly Effect empowers clients to achieve sustainable, long-term impact. We deliver more than just solutions—we become trusted advisors who guide and equip you to thrive in a constantly evolving landscape. Reach out today to discover how our expertise can advance your mission and accelerate your growth.
The Founder
Cari Harris, MS, PMP
Founder & Principal Consultant
The Butterfly Effect
Cari Harris is the founder of The Butterfly Effect with a dedicated focus on organizational and community change. For the past four years, Cari A. Harris has led The Butterfly Effect, a profit-generating consultancy, providing strategic advisory and consulting services in economics, risk management, and project controlling. Her professional expertise as a commercial consultant has been instrumental in driving organizational improvement with a focus on stakeholder engagement, special projects management, finance and compliance.​
Cari's experience includes roles in analytics for Morgan Stanley, Merrill, and other financial corporations, where she honed her skills in data analysis and reporting, quality control, and business technology systems management. In her tenure as a principal consultant, she has consulted with over 100 institutions and organizations, advising on organizational development, designing compliance and risk monitoring systems, and delivering data analytics reports and visualizations. Her ability to bridge economic analysis with organizational development has positioned her as a trusted partner for corporations, nonprofits, and government agencies seeking to enhance operational efficiency and equity-focused decision-making.
Her work with local governments, universities, think tanks, startups and nonprofit organizations bring together her eight years of experience and contemporary knowledge to provide insightful and forward-looking options to strategic planning, project and program implementation, and analytics reporting. As a planner and strategist, with expertise in project management (PMI Project Management Professional), Cari is dedicated to producing quality deliverables in a timely manner within budget.
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As the co-founder of the HBCU Environmental Justice Technical Collaborative (HEJT Collaborative), Cari focuses on sustainability, environmental justice, and economics projects. HEJT is a collaborative group of HBCU-affiliated economists, data scientists, geoscientists, and GIS specialists that visualize and analyze impacts of environmental policy for various stakeholders, including institutions, government agencies, and organizations. Her commitment extends to operationalizing and evaluating macroeconomic and organizational metrics to increase equity.
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Cari is the founder of the Claude C. Thornton (CCT) Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to community building, education innovation, and environmental justice. Her role as a community organizer, environmental justice advocate, economist, and project manager has solidified her as a leader in these areas. She is deeply committed to fostering community and supporting educational initiatives through her work with the CCT Foundation.
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Through the CCT Foundation, Cari founded Blossoms Blooming Brunch, a safe space for over 100 women in the mid-Atlantic region to fellowship and for mentors in the community to be celebrated and honored. Co-sponsored by Johns Hopkins Urban Health Institute, this initiative underscores her dedication to community organizing and empowerment, particularly for women.
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Additionally, Cari founded the Greater Baltimore Climate Summit last year. The success of the inaugural summit is measured by impactful efforts including robust surveying of over 450 regional stakeholders on priority climate agenda items, engaging over 300 summit participants in November of 2024, and raising $40,000+ of initiative funding in less than 90 days in collaboration with over 20 partners including Morgan State University, Green & Healthy Homes Initiatives, Canopy by Hilton, Environmental Defense Fund, the HBCU Environmental Justice Collaborative, Interfaith Power & Light DMV and more. Well on its way to expanding into a multiple six-figure initiative in 2025, the Greater Baltimore Climate Initiative is expanding to encompass three projects including the summit, the Past Performance Project and the EJ Community Scorecard.
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Cari holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Morgan State University and a Master of Science in Applied Economics with a concentration in environmental policy from Southern New Hampshire University. She was a Future Leaders Sustainability Fellow with Council Fire, where she contributed to sustainability initiatives focused on environmental and economic resilience.
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Cari is also an alumna of the Harbor Bank Emerging Developers Program’s third cohort (2019-2020), a selective eight-month technical assistance program designed to equip small real estate developers with the financial, operational, and project management skills necessary to complete transformative development projects. Through this program, she gained hands-on experience in financial modeling, feasibility analysis, and stakeholder collaboration, ultimately participating in a joint venture development project.
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Currently, Cari is a cohort member of Leadership Maryland’s prestigious Emerging Leader Program, a six-month professional development initiative designed for high-potential professionals poised to make significant contributions to their communities and industries. This program further strengthens her leadership acumen and network within Maryland’s economic and civic landscape.
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In addition to her consulting and leadership work, Cari serves as a pro bono consultant with The Acceleration Project, advising small business owners on strategic growth, financial planning, and operational efficiency to drive both short- and sustainable, long-term success.