Nonprofit CEO SPARK

7 Episodes

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6: Why Disney's Magic Holds a Lesson for Nonprofit CEOs

2025-10-2813:12

Have you ever had a staff member who seemed great on paper, or even had moments of brilliance, but behind the scenes, their toxic behavior slowly drained the energy out of your whole team? Maybe you found yourself thinking, “If I just give them one more chance, maybe this time it will stick.” Today, we’re exploring what happens when those second, third, and fourth chances start working against you. Because sometimes, the real damage isn’t just in what the employee does, it’s in th...

5: Why It's So Hard for Nonprofits to Hire Right Now

2025-10-2108:32

Welcome back to Nonprofit CEO SPARK, the show that fuels your leadership, protects your energy, and helps you spark lasting change. I’m your host, Marcia Beckner. Let me paint the picture. You spend three hours writing a job posting. You list all the “must-haves,” cross your fingers, and wait. --> Fifty-three applications land in your inbox. --> Only two even kind of fit the bill. --> You reach out to one, and they ghost you. --> The other wants $30K more than you can offer. Sound...

4: What I Learned as an Interim Executive Director

2025-10-2110:14

Hey there, nonprofit leaders, and welcome back to Nonprofit CEO SPARK, the podcast that helps you fuel your leadership, protect your energy, and spark lasting change. In today’s episode, I’m sharing behind-the-scenes lessons from a unique opportunity I had in 2024, stepping in as the Interim Executive Director of a thriving arts nonprofit in Denver. This wasn’t my first rodeo, but it was my first time back in the ED seat since 2017, and wow, the experience gave me powerful tools and fre...

3: Navigating Complex Staff Challenges with Grace

2025-10-2106:20

Let’s talk about something every nonprofit CEO and Executive Director will face… and usually at the most inconvenient moment possible. Picture this: It’s Monday morning. You’re halfway through your first cup of coffee, still convincing yourself this is going to be a productive day. You open your inbox, and there it is… a subject line from a staff member that reads: “Quick Chat?” Now, we both know “Quick Chat” means anything but quick. It’s code for: This is going to be emotionally...

2: The ONE Thing Nonprofit CEOs & EDs Can Control

2025-10-2107:09

If you’re a nonprofit CEO or Executive Director, you already know there are a million things you can’t control: The economy. Funder priorities. Donor preferences. That one staff member who thinks “fashionably late” is a cute personality trait. But there is one thing you can control, and it changes everything else. Back when I was an Executive Director, I tried to control it all…I even lost sleep over details no one else cared about. I thought if I worked harder and sle...

1: Breaking the Silent Epidemic in Nonprofit Leadership

2025-10-2106:56

If you’re a nonprofit CEO or Executive Director, I have a question for you. How many mornings have you opened your laptop and thought, I’m not sure how much longer I can keep this up? How many nights have you laid awake worried about staff conflict, budget gaps, and your organization’s long-term sustainability. Wondering if you’re holding your organization back? So, if that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. What you’re experiencing isn’t just stress. It’s what I call The Silent Epidemi...

0: What Nonprofit CEO SPARK Is All About

2025-09-0301:28

Find the full transcript for this episode and more resources for nonprofit leaders here. Hello, and welcome to my very first episode of the Nonprofit CEO SPARK podcast. I’m Marcia Beckner, and I help nonprofit CEOs, Executive Directors, and founders lead with confidence, boost team morale, and design inclusive cultures that fuel sustainable growth. Since 2020, my mission has been to partner with leaders who are ready to create “best place to work” cultures, places where your team’s ener...

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