About Vedco
Experienced Leadership. Practical Guidance. Personal Commitment.
Vedco was built on over 40 years of nonprofit leadership — and a belief that every mission-driven organization deserves a trusted partner in its corner.
The Vedco Story
Built from a career, not a curriculum.
Vernon Delpesce spent 38 years building, leading, and strengthening YMCA organizations across the country. His career took him from the YMCA of Greater Houston to the YMCA of the USA, to the Toledo YMCA, and ultimately to Des Moines — where he served for 14 years as President and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Des Moines.
During that time, he led capital campaigns, built major gifts programs, developed boards, coached staff, navigated organizational crises, and guided his organization through periods of significant growth and change. He hired and developed leaders. He sat across the table from donors, board chairs, and community partners — and learned what it actually takes to build lasting relationships and lasting organizations.
When Vernon retired, he didn't want to stop doing the work he loved. He established Vedco to bring that experience directly to nonprofit leaders who are facing the same challenges he spent a career working through — and who could benefit from a trusted, experienced partner walking alongside them.
Career Highlights
Founder & Principal Consultant
Vedco
Providing strategic consulting, leadership coaching, and fundraising counsel to nonprofits, ministries, and mission-driven organizations nationwide.
President & CEO
YMCA of Greater Des Moines
Led one of Iowa's most prominent nonprofit organizations through sustained growth, major capital investment, and significant community impact.
Leadership & Consulting
YMCA of the USA
Serving as a National Field Consultant, he helped local YMCAs with program, staff development, and best practices across the movement.
Senior Leadership
YMCA of Greater Tolodeo
Served as the Chief Operating Officer, gaining experience in large-scale operations and fundraising.
Leadership Development
YMCA of Greater Houston
Built a strong foundation at one of the largest associations in the country, with a career grounded in mission, community relationships, and the discipline of nonprofit leadership.
How Vernon Works
Practical. Personal. Accountable.
Vernon doesn't offer generic frameworks or off-the-shelf programs. He brings 38 years of lived experience to every engagement — and a genuine commitment to the leaders and organizations he works with.
Practical, not theoretical
Every recommendation Vernon makes is grounded in what actually works in real nonprofit organizations — not what looks good in a presentation.
Deep understanding of the pressures you face
Vernon has sat in the CEO chair. He knows what it feels like to carry the weight of a mission, a board, a staff, and a community — all at once.
Serious fundraising experience
He has led campaigns, cultivated major donors, trained boards, and built development programs from the ground up. He brings that experience to every client engagement.
Personal attention
When you work with Vedco, you work with Vernon. Not a junior associate. Not a team of consultants. Vernon — directly and personally.
Encouragement and accountability
Vernon is in your corner. He'll celebrate your wins, help you work through your challenges, and hold you accountable to the goals you set — with honesty and genuine care.
A Personal Note
From Vernon
I spent 38 years doing work I believed in — building organizations, developing leaders, and watching communities grow stronger because of the missions being served. When I retired, I knew I wasn't done.
Vedco exists because I believe nonprofit leaders deserve more than generic advice. You deserve a partner who has done this work, who understands the pressures you're under, and who is genuinely invested in your success.
I don't take on more clients than I can serve well. Every engagement gets my full attention, my honest perspective, and my personal commitment. If you're ready to have a real conversation about where your organization is and where you want it to go — I'd be glad to talk.
Vernon Delpesce
Founder, Vedco
Ready to have a real conversation?
Whether you're working through a specific challenge or just beginning to think about what's next — let's talk. A conversation with Vernon costs nothing and might be exactly what you need.