Many executive directors spend their days in meetings, emails, staff questions, funder requests, budget tweaks, and personnel issues. At the end of the day, they have been busy. They may even feel productive. But they still have the nagging sense that the most important CEO level was untouched.

I share the three roles on you as the CEO can fulfill: futurist, steward, and optimizer. These three roles help executive directors step out of operational gravity, protect time for long term thinking, steward the organization's people and trust, and make the high stakes decisions that move the organization forward.

This episode answers the following questions:

• What should I focus on as the CEO of a small nonprofit?
• How do I make time for strategy as a nonprofit an executive director?
• Why do I feel stuck?
• How do nonprofit CEOs balance strategy and operations?
• How can nonprofit leaders avoid getting trapped in busywork?

While the nonprofit sector rarely talks about it openly, 35% - 70% of executive directors are forced out — usually without even realizing the warning signs.

In this episode, I pull back the curtain on why board confidence erodes, which issues risk accelerating your departure, and steps you can take to ensure you leave on your own terms after a long and successful tenure.

This episode answers the following questions:

• How can I improve my relationship with the board?
• How do I build and maintain the trust of my board?
• Am I at risk of being fired or forced out?
• How do I ensure a long and successful tenure as CEO?
• Do I need a nonprofit CEO coach?

Claudius Hildebrand, co-author of the best selling book Life Cycle of a CEO, explores the five stages of a nonprofit executive director's tenure, revealing how these insights apply to your nonprofit leadership journey. Discover practical strategies for launching into new roles, reinvention during your tenure, and intentional succession planning.

This episode answers the following questions:

• What can I do to have a strong and impactful start as a new executive director?
• How do I know if it's time to reinvent myself as a nonprofit leader?
• Do I need to change my leadership strategy?
• How do I strengthen my Board relationships?
• How can I foster innovation at my organization?

Looking for more? Check out these amazing episodes or blog posts:

• The Unintentional Interim Executive Director
• The CEO Next Door with Kim Powell

New episodes will be released on June 16th with a sharper focus on providing actionable advice and support for nonprofit executive directors.

If there's a CEO-level topic you'd like covered, email me at [email protected].

Could your nonprofit offer staff benefits they couldn't even get working for a Fortune 500 employer?

Curt Ellis, co-founder and CEO of FoodCorps, joins Dolph Goldenburg to share the secret sauce behind FoodCorps' jaw-dropping benefits package. From a $3,000 401(k) match to 16 weeks of paid parental leave to sabbaticals, FoodCorps is setting new standards in the nonprofit sector. Ellis explains why offering these benefits isn't just about employee satisfaction—it's a business strategy that strengthens FoodCorps' mission to connect children to nourishing food.

Discover how FoodCorps' approach to sabbaticals, half-day Fridays, and family planning support boosts morale and retains talent in the high-turnover nonprofit workforce. Whether you're tackling employee burnout or seeking donor buy-in for better benefits, this episode is your blueprint for success.

This episode answers the following questions:

• How can I implement competitive benefits at my nonprofit?
• Why are sabbaticals a game-changer for retention?
• How can I approach funders about improving staff benefits?

Links mentioned in this episode:

• FoodCorps

Looking for More?

Check out these amazing episodes:

• Our Unlimited PTO Experiment with Dolph & Lexie on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website with show notes.
• Beyond Money: Incentives That Work with Uri Gneezy on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website with show notes.

As the rest of the world counts down the last weeks of the year, this is the perfect time for leaders like you to harness your donors' holiday-giving spirit to generate more dollars, retain more donors, and cultivate even larger gifts for next year.

This episode answers the following questions:

• How can I engage my nonprofit's Board in fundraising at the end of the year?
• What strategies can I use in the last week or month of the year to boost donations?
• What are LYBUNT donors and how do I approach them?
• What are some easy ways to raise $10,000 or more in a month?

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Blog Post: 5 Digital Fundraising Challenges and Their Solutions
• Blog Post: 31 Ideas for Board Member Fundraising

Looking for more? Check out these amazing episodes:

• 11 Donor-Tested Ways to Say "Thank You" on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website with show notes
• Podcast: Volunteer Fundraisers Unleashed with Maura McDaniel on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website with show notes

What if understanding your team could be as simple as recognizing four birds?

In this episode, Manish Shah introduces the "four birds" personality model—a game-changing tool for nonprofits striving to enhance collaboration and solve conflict. From the eagle's boldness to the owl's precision, you'll discover how understanding these personality types can revolutionize your leadership and transform team dynamics.

Join host Dolph Goldenburg as he and Manish explore:

• Why even high-performing teams experience dysfunction.
• How to decode personality types to foster stronger collaboration.
• Simple adjustments you can make to turn misunderstandings into breakthroughs.

This episode answers the following questions:

• How is the four-bird personality type different from the other personality assessments?
• How do personality assessments transform team communication?
• How can I adapt my leadership style to better connect with diverse personalities?

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Visit EPYX Team Building
• Manish's Team-Building Workshops

Looking for more? Check out these amazing episodes:

• Ep 268: The Secret to Building a Rockstar Leadership Team with Allison Mayfield [Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website with show notes]
• Ep 307: Empower Your Team: Unleashing Leadership Potential with Luis Velasquez & Kristin Gleitsman [Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website with show notes]

If you listen to just one episode this year, make it this one. As Donald Trump prepares to take office, the nonprofit sector faces a potential shift that could disrupt services, funding, and the communities you support. In this urgent solo episode, Dolph Goldenburg provides a strategic roadmap to help progressive nonprofits prepare for these seismic changes within the next two months.

Goldenburg shares a practical, five-step REACT framework and offers real-world strategies to keep your organization resilient, even under pressure. This episode digs into essential questions, like:

• What scenarios should I prepare for under a new Trump administration?
• Who should be involved in creating our organization's contingency plan?
• How do I ensure that our responses are aligned with our mission and values?

You'll also get a downloadable template to guide your own contingency planning sessions. Don't wait—get your organization ready for day one, day 100, and beyond.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Download the Contingency Planning Session Agenda and two sample scenarios for contingency planning

Are you ready to take charge of your personal and professional growth with the support of a "personal board of directors"?

This episode dives into the unique concept of a personal board with award-winning executive coach, author, and podcast host Donna Peters. Peters shares her experience using personal boards to guide life and career decisions, offering invaluable advice for nonprofit leaders.

You'll discover how to build a personal board that challenges, supports, and holds you accountable. Whether you're considering a major career pivot, aiming to develop a skill like executive presence, or simply want to refine your strategic vision, this episode offers practical, insightful steps to achieving your goals.

This episode answers the following questions:

• What is a personal board of directors?
• How can I choose the right people for my personal board?
• What role does a personal board play in my leadership journey
• Should I pay my personal board members?

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Donna's Website
• Donna's LinkedIn

Looking for more? Check out these amazing episodes:

• The Secret to Low Stress & High Efficiency with Susie Hayman [Episode Title on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website with show notes]
• Making Work Easier with Huggy Rao[Episode Title on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website with show notes]

What if the key to your nonprofit's success lies not in working harder but in structuring your work smarter? In this insightful episode, Leslie MacKrell, partner at Bridgespan Group and expert in nonprofit operating models, breaks down the essential elements for driving strategic impact. From rethinking accountability structures to streamlining decision-making, Leslie shares actionable steps and real-world examples that help nonprofits of all sizes overcome growth challenges and achieve big, bold goals.

If your nonprofit is scaling or facing operational bottlenecks, this episode is a must-listen to transform your strategy into tangible results.

This episode answers the following questions:

• How can I move my nonprofit from strategy to results?
• What is a nonprofit operating model?
• How can I align my organization around our goals?
• What are common barriers to implementing strategic plans?
• How do decision-making practices impact nonprofit effectiveness?

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Nonprofit Operating Models (Bridgespan Article)
• Project ECHO

Looking for more? Check out these episodes:

1. How the Best Nonprofits Launch, Scale Up and Make a Difference with Kathleen Janus [Episode Title on our website with show notes]