One of the biggest challenges growing nonprofits face is plateauing—doing all the right things but not breaking through to the next level of impact and funding. In this episode, I talk about the core reason behind this: a lack of strategic alignment. I explain why organizations need to align three critical elements—strategic direction, a true cost financial roadmap, and a revenue model. When these pillars work together, nonprofits can achieve the kind of growth that’s both sustainable and impactful. Tune in to learn the keys to creating that alignment and avoid common mistakes that keep nonprofits stuck.

What You’ll Learn:

• How to align your annual plan, budget, and fundraising strategy
• Why strategic alignment is critical to organizational growth
• Key signs that your organization is stuck and how to move forward

Key Takeaways:

1. Strategic alignment between your annual plan, budget, and revenue model fuels sustainable growth.
2. A true cost budget, not just last year’s budget stretched thin, is essential for making smart decisions.
3. Your fundraising efforts need to be deeply connected to your impact story to build trust with donors.
4. The synergy between your pillars helps your board become better advocates and fundraisers.
5. Aligning these elements empowers you to make bolder multi-year fundraising asks.

Step-by-Step Process for Strategic Alignment:

1. Strategic Direction: Clearly define your impact goals and strategies. These should be captured in your annual plan, aligned with your long-term strategic plan.
2. Financial Roadmap: Create a true cost budget that reflects what it will take to achieve those goals, not just a rework of last year’s numbers.
3. Revenue Model: Develop a strategy for how you’ll bring in the necessary resources—identify your potential supporters, craft your messaging, and plan how you’ll ask for contributions.
4. Alignment: Ensure that all three elements (annual plan, budget, revenue model) tell the same story about your organization’s impact.

Resources Mentioned:

• Aligned Anchors Bundle: A comprehensive toolkit that includes workshops, templates for annual plans, true cost budgets, and fundraising calendars designed to help you align your strategies and accelerate your growth.

Want to work together?

Apply for the Next Level Nonprofit Mastermind, a high-touch coaching and training accelerator for established organizations with $1M+ budgets that are ready to design for impact sustained at scale.

Budget under $1M? Join Elevate and get proven step-by-step playbooks + coaching support to build each of the core elements of your nonprofit's operating system - strategic clarity, a fundraising engine, a high-performance team, and an active and engaged board!

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In this special episode, I join Rhea Wong on her podcast to talk about the wild ride that is being a nonprofit Executive Director. We talk about how strange 2024 has been, what to do when the fear of failure - or actual failure - stops you in your tracks, and we offer some concrete strategies for making the coming year your best yet! 

Want to work together?

Apply for the Next Level Nonprofit Mastermind, a high-touch coaching and training accelerator for established organizations with $1M+ budgets that are ready to design for impact sustained at scale.

Budget under $1M? Join Elevate and get proven step-by-step playbooks + coaching support to build each of the core elements of your nonprofit's operating system - strategic clarity, a fundraising engine, a high-performance team, and an active and engaged board!

Connect with me!

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In this episode, I explore the concept of generative governance and why it’s a game-changer for nonprofit boards looking to enhance their strategic role. Too often, boards get stuck in the weeds, focusing on operational details rather than long-term, mission-critical questions. I break down the differences between operational and generative governance, explaining when and how your board can make the shift. By focusing on big-picture strategy, nonprofit boards can navigate new challenges, foster innovation, and ensure mission alignment, all while leaving the day-to-day operations to staff. Tune in to learn how to elevate your board’s impact as a true strategic partner.

What You’ll Learn:

• The key characteristics of generative governance and why it’s essential for nonprofit boards
• How to shift your board’s focus from operational tasks to long-term, strategic oversight
• Practical steps to help your board stay aligned with the mission and prepare for future challenges

Key Takeaways:

1. Generative governance focuses on strategic, forward-thinking questions that shape the organization’s future.
2. Operational governance is necessary in the early stages but should evolve as your organization grows.
3. As your leadership team takes over day-to-day operations, the board should focus on long-term sustainability and mission relevance.
4. Generative boards engage in reflective dialogue, scenario planning, and thought leadership.
5. Boards should ask, “Are we still aligned with our mission, and how can we stay impactful?”

Step-by-Step Process to Transition to Generative Governance:

1. Assess Your Board’s Current Role: Identify whether your board is too involved in operational decisions.
2. Educate on Generative Governance: Introduce the concept and its value to your board, highlighting how it can shape long-term strategy.
3. Empower Leadership: As your organization grows, trust your leadership team to manage day-to-day operations, allowing the board to focus on future challenges.
4. Encourage Reflective Dialogue: Set aside time for your board to engage in deep discussions about long-term goals, mission alignment, and future risks.
5. Embrace Scenario Planning: Equip your board to think ahead and prepare for potential challenges by exploring different future scenarios.

Links Mentioned: Stages of Board Governance Cheatsheet (brookerichiebabbage.com/boardstages)

Want to work together?

Apply for the Next Level Nonprofit Mastermind, a high-touch coaching and training accelerator for established organizations with $1M+ budgets that are ready to design for impact sustained at scale.

Budget under $1M? Join Elevate and get proven step-by-step playbooks + coaching support to build each of the core elements of your nonprofit's operating system - strategic clarity, a fundraising engine, a high-performance team, and an active and engaged board!

Connect with me!

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In this episode, I tackle a common but risky misconception: the idea that nonprofits can simply replicate the success of other organizations by copying their strategies. The reality is that applying the same tactics from a $2M organization to a $600K one can be a costly mistake. I’ll guide you through why understanding your organization’s unique growth journey is critical for achieving sustainable impact without burning out your team.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why copying larger nonprofits’ strategies can hinder your growth.
• The role of systematized decision-making in scaling your nonprofit.
• How to evolve your team structure to support long-term growth.

Key Takeaways:

1. Tailored Growth: Nonprofit growth isn’t just about increasing your budget; it’s about evolving your team, systems, and infrastructure to support that growth.
2. Strategic Evolution: As your nonprofit grows, decision-making should shift from instinct-driven to systematized, ensuring clear priorities and shared accountability.
3. Vision-Driven Action: Growth often requires moving from iterative, short-term steps to a long-term vision with strategic pivots.
4. Team Structure: Transitioning from a flat to a layered team structure is essential for sustainable nonprofit growth.
5. Holistic Growth: True nonprofit growth is about building a stronger, more resilient organization, not just increasing funds.

Resources Mentioned:

• 3 Habits You Need To Unlearn If You Want To 2x (or even 10x!) Your Impact -- Without Burning Out!: A free webinar that breaks down key habits to unlearn for scaling your nonprofit.
• Previous podcast episode on the Architecture of Impact: Explore foundational elements necessary for sustainable nonprofit growth.

Connect With Brooke

Enhance your leadership journey by connecting with me. Let's explore the paths to impactful leadership together:

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Want to work together?

Apply for the Next Level Nonprofit Mastermind, a high-touch coaching and training accelerator for established organizations with $1M+ budgets that are ready to design for impact sustained at scale.

Budget under $1M? Join Elevate and get proven step-by-step playbooks + coaching support to build each of the core elements of your nonprofit's operating system - strategic clarity, a fundraising engine, a high-performance team, and an active and engaged board!

Connect with me!

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This conversation is with Ana Polanco, international ancestral coach and cultural facilitator.

This month I’m doing a mini-series called Lessons from COVID that are still relevant today. Pulling together collections of conversations that I had with sector leaders called the Next Normal. We were deep in the days of COVID, and heading into a difficult election season, and everything felt fraught and difficult. And no one knew what our organizations and our work and our sector would look like on the other end of it all.

Now, here we are 4 summers later, and we’re starting to see which shifts stuck and which learnings from those difficult times actually reshaped how we operate together and as a sector. We saw that there are some fundamental questions and truths - about community, leadership, partnerships and sustainability - that endure.

I’m bringing you snippets of conversations that illuminate some of those questions and truths.

Lessons from COVID Part 1: Conversations With A Funder: Building Sustainable Organizations: Essential Questions For Leaders

Lessons from COVID Part 2:  Shaking Hierarchies & Building Powerful Communities

Lessons from COVID Part 3: Harnessing The Power of Collaboration 

Want to work together?

Apply for the Next Level Nonprofit Mastermind, a high-touch coaching and training accelerator for established organizations with $1M+ budgets that are ready to design for impact sustained at scale.

Budget under $1M? Join Elevate and get proven step-by-step playbooks + coaching support to build each of the core elements of your nonprofit's operating system - strategic clarity, a fundraising engine, a high-performance team, and an active and engaged board!

Connect with me!

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These conversations were with George Suttles, Executive Director of Commonfund Institute at Commonfund.

This month I’m doing a mini-series called Lessons from COVID that are still relevant today. Pulling together collections of conversations that I had with sector leaders called the Next Normal. We were deep in the days of COVID, and heading into a difficult election season, and everything felt fraught and difficult. And no one knew what our organizations and our work and our sector would look like on the other end of it all.

Now, here we are 4 summers later, and we’re starting to see which shifts stuck and which learnings from those difficult times actually reshaped how we operate together and as a sector. We saw that there are some fundamental questions and truths - about community, leadership, partnerships and sustainability - that endure.

I’m bringing you snippets of conversations that illuminate some of those questions and truths.

Lessons from COVID Part 1: Conversations With A Funder: Building Sustainable Organizations: Essential Questions For Leaders

Lessons from COVID Part 2: Shaking Hierarchies & Building Powerful Communities

Want to work together?

Apply for the Next Level Nonprofit Mastermind, a high-touch coaching and training accelerator for established organizations with $1M+ budgets that are ready to design for impact sustained at scale.

Budget under $1M? Join Elevate and get proven step-by-step playbooks + coaching support to build each of the core elements of your nonprofit's operating system - strategic clarity, a fundraising engine, a high-performance team, and an active and engaged board!

Connect with me!

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These conversations are with Kemi Ilesanmi, former ED of The Laundromat Project, and founder and Principal at KGI Projects.

This month I’m doing a mini-series called Lessons from COVID that are still relevant today. Pulling together collections of conversations that I had with sector leaders called the Next Normal. We were deep in the days of COVID, and heading into a difficult election season, and everything felt fraught and difficult. And no one knew what our organizations and our work and our sector would look like on the other end of it all.

Now, here we are 4 summers later, and we’re starting to see which shifts stuck and which learnings from those difficult times actually reshaped how we operate together and as a sector. We saw that there are some fundamental questions and truths - about community, leadership, partnerships and sustainability - that endure.

I’m bringing you snippets of conversations that illuminate some of those questions and truths.

Lessons from COVID Part 1: Conversations With A Funder: Building Sustainable Organizations: Essential Questions For Leaders 

Want to work together?

Apply for the Next Level Nonprofit Mastermind, a high-touch coaching and training accelerator for established organizations with $1M+ budgets that are ready to design for impact sustained at scale.

Budget under $1M? Join Elevate and get proven step-by-step playbooks + coaching support to build each of the core elements of your nonprofit's operating system - strategic clarity, a fundraising engine, a high-performance team, and an active and engaged board!

Connect with me!

• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• YouTube

This month I’m doing a mini-series called Lessons from COVID that are still relevant today. Pulling together collections of conversations that I had with sector leaders called the Next Normal. We were deep in the days of COVID, and heading into a difficult election season, and everything felt fraught and difficult. And no one knew what our organizations and our work and our sector would look like on the other end of it all.

Now, here we are 4 summers later, and we’re starting to see which shifts stuck and which learnings from those difficult times actually reshaped how we operate together and as a sector. We saw that there are some fundamental questions and truths - about community, leadership, partnerships and sustainability - that endure.

I’m bringing you snippets of conversations that illuminate some of those questions and truths.

These conversations are with Tarik Ward, Director of Global Strategic Operations and U.S. Programs for the ELMA Philanthropies Services.

Want to work together?

Apply for the Next Level Nonprofit Mastermind, a high-touch coaching and training accelerator for established organizations with $1M+ budgets that are ready to design for impact sustained at scale.

Budget under $1M? Join Elevate and get proven step-by-step playbooks + coaching support to build each of the core elements of your nonprofit's operating system - strategic clarity, a fundraising engine, a high-performance team, and an active and engaged board!

Connect with me!

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In this episode, I'm diving into the often overlooked but critical elements of effective leadership: bravery and grace. While I usually focus on the skills and strategies for launching and scaling high-impact nonprofits, today I'm shedding light on the mindset shifts that can propel your organization forward. Tune in to discover why acting before you're comfortable and giving yourself grace when things don't go as planned are just as important as any strategic plan.

What You'll Learn:

• The importance of bravery and grace in leadership.
• How to act with confidence even when you don't feel it.
• Strategies for giving yourself grace and moving forward after setbacks.

Key Takeaways:

1. Bravery is essential for taking action before you feel ready.
2. Grace allows you to forgive yourself when you fall short.
3. Effective leadership often requires acting "as if" you are confident.
4. Tough conversations are a part of leadership and shouldn't be avoided.
5. Every leader faces fear and doubt; overcoming these is part of the journey.

Step-by-Step Process:

1. Identify the Challenge: Recognize when a situation requires bravery, such as having a tough conversation with your team.
2. Act As If: Ask yourself, "What would the confident version of me do?" and act accordingly, even if you don't feel confident.
3. Take Action: Implement the decision or have the conversation, embracing the discomfort.
4. Reflect: Assess how the action went, regardless of the outcome.
5. Give Grace: Forgive yourself for any perceived shortcomings and plan your next steps with a clear mind.

Want to work together?

Apply for the Next Level Nonprofit Mastermind, a high-touch coaching and training accelerator for established organizations with $1M+ budgets that are ready to design for impact sustained at scale.

Budget under $1M? Join Elevate and get proven step-by-step playbooks + coaching support to build each of the core elements of your nonprofit's operating system - strategic clarity, a fundraising engine, a high-performance team, and an active and engaged board!

Connect with me!

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In this episode, I dive into the essentials of creating a high-impact strategic plan for your nonprofit. Last week, we explored the importance of a well-structured planning process and clarity about your end goal. This week, we focus on the content of your strategic plan, ensuring it’s both inspiring and actionable. Whether you're leading the process or working with a facilitator, understanding these elements is crucial. 

What You'll Learn:

• How to articulate a 10-year guiding vision that serves as your organization's North Star.
• The importance of defining 3-year strategic priorities and goals.
• Effective strategies for engaging stakeholders and maintaining flexibility in your plans.

Key Takeaways:

1. 10-Year Vision: Define a long-term vision that inspires and guides your team.
2. Strategic Priorities: Choose focus areas that maximize your impact over the next 3-5 years.
3. Goals vs. Activities: Set strategic goals as end results, not just a list of tasks.
4. Core Strategies: Outline broad approaches instead of detailed activities to stay flexible.
5. Stakeholder Engagement: Involve key stakeholders in the planning process for better buy-in and support.

Resources Mentioned:

• Self-Facilitated Strategic Planning Kit: A comprehensive toolkit with video trainings, step-by-step guides, worksheets, model agendas, and sample plans. Grab it here
• Leadership Forward 321 Newsletter: Subscribe for weekly insights and examples of strategic plans in action. Subscribe here

Want to work together?

Apply for the Next Level Nonprofit Mastermind, a high-touch coaching and training accelerator for established organizations with $1M+ budgets that are ready to design for impact sustained at scale.

Budget under $1M? Join Elevate and get proven step-by-step playbooks + coaching support to build each of the core elements of your nonprofit's operating system - strategic clarity, a fundraising engine, a high-performance team, and an active and engaged board!

Connect with me!

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