Nonprofit Diaries

Advice feels different when you're the one living through it.

That's what JB learned when she transitioned from nonprofit consultant to the executive director seat. She shares the realization she made around best practices for board engagement, and how the experience changed her whole approach to advising nonprofit leaders.

Connect with JB 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/jb-favour/

✍️ Got your own story to tell? Submit a diary entry to be featured on the podcast 👉 https://bit.ly/4tXt0d6

🩷 Connect with our community on LinkedIn 👉  https://www.linkedin.com/company/nonprofit-diaries/

🫣 It was an awkward conversation no leader wants to have...

Early in Jamie’s career, an unexpected wardrobe issue at a fundraising event meant sharing deeply uncomfortable feedback with an employee. 

Jamie explains how she approached the conversation with care... the question she suggests asking when there's a power dynamic in the room... and the lesson she learned about the quiet loneliness of leadership.

Connect with Jamie 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamielynnwilliams/

✍️ Got your own story to tell? Submit a diary entry to be featured on the podcast 👉 https://bit.ly/4tXt0d6

🩷 Connect with our community on LinkedIn 👉  https://www.linkedin.com/company/nonprofit-diaries/

The plan was to spend her career and retire at the nonprofit she loved. 

But after an unexpected separation, Elizabeth Vahey Smith lost her job, home, community, and sense of direction. 💔

She shares how processing that experience guided her down a new path, to help organizations prepare their people to face workplace stress without sacrificing their well-being.

Learn about the RISE Capacity Model 👉 https://elizabethvaheysmith.com/rise-capacity-consulting/

Connect with Elizabeth 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethvaheysmith/

✍️ Got your own story to tell? Submit a diary entry to be featured on the podcast 👉 https://bit.ly/4tXt0d6

🩷 Connect with our community on LinkedIn 👉  https://www.linkedin.com/company/nonprofit-diaries/

In fundraising... should you go big or go home?

David’s team traveled to Thailand with an expensive satellite to give donors a live window into a community celebration. 

Then the local internet outperformed the equipment, the control room lost control, and the donors starting noticing the chaos. 🫠

After this experience... you might be surprised to hear David's advice for fundraisers with big plans for their next donor experience.

Connect with David 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/digital-fundraiser/

✍️ Got your own story to tell? Submit a diary entry to be featured on the podcast 👉 https://bit.ly/4tXt0d6

🩷 Connect with our community on LinkedIn 👉  https://www.linkedin.com/company/nonprofit-diaries/

🛑 "I just had to stop apologizing for who I was and what I was trying to do."

As a military spouse, mother of three and nonprofit founder & executive director, Michelle is a case study on feeling pressure to be everything to everyone.

She shares her approach to balancing her energy between all her passions and how she stays present when it matters.

Connect with Michelle 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-baker-lang/

Learn about Operation Honor: Rural Salute 🫡 https://www.ohruralsalute.org/

✍️ Got your own story to tell? Submit a diary entry to be featured on the podcast 👉 https://bit.ly/4tXt0d6

🩷 Connect with our community on LinkedIn 👉  https://www.linkedin.com/company/nonprofit-diaries/

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 Iowa... led him to Guatemala... where he helped clean 4 MILLION pounds of trash from the waterways... before starting a new nonprofit that's helping to reduce waste, support farmers, give local women jobs and create sustainable textiles.

If you need inspiration to follow you heart - this listen is for you.

Connect with Kevin 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-kuhlow-1b340715/

Learn about PINA&KAKAW 🍍 https://www.linkedin.com/company/pina-kakaw

✍️ Got your own story to tell? Submit a diary entry to be featured on the podcast 👉 https://bit.ly/4tXt0d6

🩷 Connect with our community on LinkedIn 👉  https://www.linkedin.com/company/nonprofit-diaries/

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 "knife in the heart." 💔

She bravely shares how she slowly lost herself under a mountain of pressure, how she got back to her authentic self, and the steps she believes nonprofit leaders can take to stay true to their values.

Connect with Kathy 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathydarcher/

✍️ Got your own story to tell? Submit a diary entry to be featured on the podcast 👉 https://bit.ly/4tXt0d6

🩷 Connect with our community on LinkedIn 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/company/nonprofit-diaries/

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 in his storied career.

He shares some memorable moments from 5,000+ face to face donor visits - including one full-circle moment that gave him chills.

Connect with Erik 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/eriktomalis/

✍️ Got your own story to tell? Submit a diary entry to be featured on the podcast 👉 https://bit.ly/4tXt0d6

🩷 Connect with our community on LinkedIn 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/company/nonprofit-diaries/

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 new... and it QUADRUPLED their results. 🤑

Natalie shares the method that not only transformed her campaigns, but also the course of her career.

Connect with Natalie 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-freckleton/

Learn about what she's building at Velora 👉 https://www.joinvelora.com/

✍️ Got your own story to tell? Submit a diary entry to be featured on the podcast 👉 https://bit.ly/4tXt0d6

🩷 Connect with our community on LinkedIn 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/company/nonprofit-diaries/

"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 NOT the advice Steven was expecting to get from his peers in veteran's services industry.

Steven's story will remind you that passion, lived experience and perseverance are more powerful than naysayers and negativity.

🇺🇸 Learn about Shields and Stripes 👉 https://shieldsandstripes.org/

🤝 Connect with Stephen 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-nisbet-89b5891a9/

✍️ Got your own story to tell? Submit a diary entry to be featured on the podcast 👉 https://bit.ly/4tXt0d6

🩷 Connect with our community on LinkedIn 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/company/nonprofit-diaries/