Nonprofit Diaries

"The unlikely journey from pollution to pineapples...”

Ever get that feeling in your gut that you need to make a change? 🌎 Kevin acted on that feeling and the world is better for it. 🌎 He explains how a chance meeting in Io

“The grievance that reshaped my approach to leadership…”

Her team said she lacked integrity. That moment changed her outlook and her career. When Kathy's colleagues filed a grievance against her, she said it was like a "k

"The gun, the shoes and the meaningful mission moment..."

From politely asking a donor to put his gun away... to using shoes as a strategy for securing a large gift... Erik has navigated a myriad of personalities and situations

"The fundraising shift that turned $30K into $130K...”

Ever been SO resistant to an idea, but when you gave it a chance, it changed everything? On the advice of a colleague, Natalie and her fundraising team tried something n

"The shocking advice I got when starting my nonprofit...”

"You should quit. Your idea is dumb." After navigating confusing paperwork, investing thousands of dollars and waiting almost a year to start his nonprofit... this was N

“The stress symptom wake up call…”

The body keeps score, even when the mind doesn't. 😅 And for Kiersten, job stress had a visible effect on her health. She shares the symptom that came out of nowhere

“The bet I took that changed how we reach donors…”

"I need you to trust me." 🙏 Caleb was brought on to help reach younger donors, but leadership wasn't all in on his approach. He explains how he convinced a skeptic

“The time a donor kissed me in front of his wife…”

It was an uncomfortable moment that taught Krista a lot about how she wanted to show up as a nonprofit professional.  She shares how she reacted in the moment, how it sh

"The culture moment that helped me stay in nonprofit work...”

A new job. A sick kiddo. A conversation that would set the stage for culture and care moving forward. In an industry that's seeing so many people leave, Evan shares

“The pay raise conversation that cost me my car…”

Cindy had a plan to ask for a promotion. What actually happened did NOT follow that plan. She explains the series of events that started with an awkward conversation and

"The boundaries I set to avoid burnout…"

"Nonprofits aren't inherently better than corporate America..." ⬅️ This was the realization Eric DePalma made about work/life balance early on in his career. Eric sh

“The major donor mistake that changed how we ran events…”

Get ready to trauma-bond, because we've all had this moment: your stomach drops, your eyesight gets hazy, and you have NO idea what to do. For Tremayne, it happened

“The stand I took against leadership who tokenized me…”

It was the moment Maria became painfully aware: her identity and lived experiences were just notes on a grant application and a diversity brag on a website. Hear how she

"The tears that changed how I help people speak their truth..."

What happens when the best of intentions still hurts someone you care for? Frank shares how one woman reshaped his perspective on ethical storytelling... and the new fram

"The grant experience nightmare..." with Jacob Adams

'Twas the grant with so many strings it might as well been a puppet show. Jacob shares the laundry list of conditions he was required to meet... and how he would rev

"The craziest question I ever got from a nonprofit executive..." with Meghan Speer

"Surely I'm having a stroke..." is what went through Meghan's mind when she got asked this question during a pitch meeting. Hear how she handled the awkward sit

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