Dr. Mathylde Frontus
Founder & Principal
Avant-Garde Consulting
About Avant-Garde Consulting
Avant-Garde Consulting partners with nonprofit and community-based organizations, including faith-based institutions and those in the behavioral health and human services sectors, to design, strengthen, and scale initiatives that address complex social challenges and rooted in social justice.
The firm supports organizations across the full lifecycle of development—from early-stage concepts to established, multi-million-dollar organizations and initiatives. Services include strategic planning, program design, grant development, capacity building, workforce development, implementation support, and evaluation.
Dr. Mathylde Frontus is a social policy expert and public service leader with more than 20 years of experience across the nonprofit, behavioral health, and public sectors. She has advised organizations throughout New York City on organizational strategy, program development, and performance improvement, with a focus on strengthening systems that serve historically underserved communities.
Dr. Frontus' work includes founding and co-founding multiple community-based organizations and coalitions focused on violence prevention, neighborhood stabilization, and civic engagement. She also served as a member of the New York State Assembly, where she chaired the Subcommittee on Minority Mental Health and advanced policies to expand access to culturally responsive behavioral health services.
She holds a BSW and MSW from New York University, an M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University, and an M.T.S. from Harvard Divinity School. She earned her PhD from the Columbia University School of Social Work, where she specialized in social policy and administration. Her work has been recognized nationally, including receipt of the USA Network Characters Unite Award for community impact.
Avant-Garde Consulting is grounded in a commitment to strengthening the institutions that serve communities. The firm emphasizes practical, culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and person-centered approaches that enhance organizational effectiveness and expand access to critical services.
About The Firm
Strategic Advising Rooted in Community Impact
Avant-Garde Consulting provides strategic advising and capacity building to institutions working at the forefront of community impact.
We partner with organizations across the public and social sectors to help strengthen programs, improve organizational effectiveness, and support sustainable growth.
Our work is centered on helping institutions move from vision to implementation with clarity, structure, and long-term impact in mind.
Behavioral Health Expertise
A core area of expertise is behavioral health, with a focus on advancing culturally responsive mental health and substance use programs.
This work is grounded in a commitment to reducing disparities and improving outcomes in underserved communities through thoughtful strategy, collaborative partnerships, and community-centered solutions.
Mental Health
Initiatives
Supporting organizations in developing responsive and accessible mental health programs.
Substance Use
Programs
Helping institutions strengthen prevention, intervention, and
recovery-focused initiatives.
Community-Centered
Solutions
Creating culturally responsive approaches that improve equity and long-term outcomes.
Our Approach
A Comprehensive Approach to Sustainable Impact
Our approach integrates strategy, program development, implementation, and evaluation—ensuring that organizations are equipped not only to plan effectively, but to deliver sustained, measurable impact.
Strategy
Providing strategic advising and planning support tailored to organizational and community goals.
Program
Development
Designing initiatives that are intentional, culturally responsive, and outcomes-driven.
Implementation
Supporting organizations through execution with practical systems, structure, and guidance.
Evaluation
Measuring effectiveness and identifying opportunities for continued growth and impact.
We strengthen communities by strengthening their institutions.
Through strategic collaboration, capacity building, and culturally responsive solutions, Avant-Garde Consulting helps organizations create lasting and measurable change.