A leader in the fields of social justice and children’s issues, Lynn Margherio is the Founder and CEO of Cradles to Crayons®, the largest national nonprofit with Clothing Insecurity at the core of its mission. Launched in 2002, Cradles to Crayons provides children living in low-income and homeless situations with clothing and other everyday essentials—diapers, winter coats, shoes, backpacks, and more. Under Lynn's leadership, the organization has successfully fulfilled the needs of millions of children and connected more than half a million volunteers to meaningful engagement opportunities and donation experiences, mobilizing people of all ages in communities all over the country.

Key Takeaways:

• Vocalizing commitments, implementing accountability partnerships, and celebrating every small victory are critical in sustaining motivation in the team and nonprofit members.
• Actively solicit feedback, nurture trust among partners, and tap into the wealth of collaborative experience. Show your organization's commitment to continual improvement by opening up to other people’s ideas.
• Be ready to hear a lot of “no’s”. Don’t internalize nor focus on rejection, celebrate the “yes” that you receive. Continue to strive to secure small wins to advance your big vision despite all the setbacks and challenges because it is worth it to keep moving forward for your cause!
• Continuously hone and improve your presentation. Seek to learn from your rejection, and recognize what made people say “yes”. Acknowledge that at the end of the day, your job isn’t to persuade people but to find like-minded folks who already care about what you care about.

“Find the experts - I still do that 22 and a half years into this. There are people I reach out to all the time just to say, "Hey, I'm thinking about this, what do you think?”

“You have to keep plowing through the no’s to get to your yeses. The no’s can teach you something.”

“We realized that if we focus on meeting foundational needs, we can do a better job in serving that need because trying to be a one-stop shop for everything a kid needs meant that we couldn't focus enough on ensuring that we had a good supply of the most critical items.” 

- Lynn Margherio

Reach out to Lynn Margherio at:

Website: https://www.cradlestocrayons.org/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cradlestocrayons/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/c2cboston/

Let’s Work Together to Amplify Your Leadership + Influence

1. Group Coaching for Nonprofit Leaders

Want to lead with more clarity, confidence, and influence? My group coaching program is designed for nonprofit leaders who are ready to communicate more powerfully, navigate challenges with ease, and move their organizations forward.
 

2. Team Coaching + Training

I work hands-on with nonprofit teams to strengthen leadership, improve communication, and align around a shared vision. Whether you’re growing fast or feeling stuck, we’ll create more clarity, collaboration, and momentum—together.
 

3. Board Retreats + Trainings

Your board has big potential. I’ll help you unlock it. My engaging, no-fluff retreats and trainings are built to energize your board, refocus on what matters, and generate real results.

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https://www.courageouscommunication.com/connect

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