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© 2026 Nonprofit Mastermind Podcast
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This podcast offers nonprofit founders and leaders a deep-dive into the mindset and key strategies behind launching, scaling, and leading a high-impact nonprofit organization.
271 Episodes
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Every February, I see the same thing: high-performing nonprofit leaders suddenly feeling like everything is falling apart. After the December push and the excitement of new-year, reality hits — and it hits hard. In this micro-series of the Nonprofit Mastermind Podcast, I talk about what’s really behind that collapse. Spoiler: it’s not your fault — and you didn’t plan wrong. What you’re experiencing is the breaking point of unsustainable systems, not a leadership failure. I unpack the concept ...
Every February, I see the same thing: high-performing nonprofit leaders suddenly feeling like everything is falling apart. After the December push and the excitement of new-year, reality hits — and it hits hard. In this micro-series of the Nonprofit Mastermind Podcast, I talk about what’s really behind that collapse. Spoiler: it’s not your fault — and you didn’t plan wrong. What you’re experiencing is the breaking point of unsustainable systems, not a leadership failure. I unpack the concept ...
Every February, I see the same thing: high-performing nonprofit leaders suddenly feeling like everything is falling apart. After the December push and the excitement of new-year, reality hits — and it hits hard. In this micro-series of the Nonprofit Mastermind Podcast, I talk about what’s really behind that collapse. Spoiler: it’s not your fault — and you didn’t plan wrong. What you’re experiencing is the breaking point of unsustainable systems, not a leadership failure. I unpack the concept ...
What should you be focusing on this year to keep your nonprofit strong, strategic, and sustainable? In this special episode, I asked a group of brilliant nonprofit professionals and consultants to share their predictions for 2026—and what they believe mission-driven organizations need to do now to prepare. From leveraging AI to treating retention as a growth strategy, these insights are sharp, actionable, and forward-thinking. I’ve pulled together their responses in this episode to help you z...
As your nonprofit grows, your role as CEO must evolve — but what does that look like once you’ve built the team? In this episode, I unpack the shift from being the doer to becoming the architect of your organization’s systems and success. This conversation was sparked by a powerful coaching session with a client (we’ll call him Dylan) who asked the question so many leaders reach and freeze at: “If my team has it… what’s left for me to do?” If you’ve ever felt a little lost after steppin...
You crushed your year-end fundraising goal… so why does revenue still feel shaky? If you've ever felt uneasy after a successful campaign—like the money came in, but stability didn’t—you’re not alone. I’ve been there too. In this episode, I unpack why that post-campaign fragility is so common and what it actually tells you about your organization’s fundraising infrastructure. We’ll talk about the difference between a revenue spike and a sustainable revenue system, and I’ll walk you through how...
In this episode, I want to say something clearly—and maybe a little provocatively: Stability isn’t something you earn later. It’s something you design early—or you pay for it. Dearly. If you’re leading a nonprofit right now and feeling overwhelmed by how hard it all feels, I want you to lean in. Because what I’m talking about in this episode might just be the shift you’ve been looking for. So many of the leaders I work with assume the chaos and pressure are temporary—that things will ease up...
What if the most powerful leadership actions… involved building something you’ll never see finished? In this episode, I’m exploring the concept of Cathedral Thinking—a long-term, purpose-driven approach to leadership that can radically shift how you inspire your team, engage your board, and motivate your funders. Especially now, during the giving season, this kind of vision isn’t just helpful—it’s essential. I’ll walk you through why this mindset matters so much in the nonprofit world, and ho...
We’ve been told that a balanced budget is the gold standard for nonprofit leadership — but what if that “balance” is actually hiding the cracks? In this episode, I break down why a neat, balanced budget isn’t the safety net we think it is — and how it can actually create false confidence while your organization is already struggling behind the scenes. I’ll walk you through a shift in mindset: from backward-looking bookkeeping to forward-thinking design. Whether you're building your first budg...
When you’re used to doing everything yourself, letting go can feel risky—maybe even impossible. But if you want to grow your nonprofit without burning out, there’s one crucial mindset shift you have to make: moving from control to clarity. In this episode, I unpack why clinging to control actually makes your organization more fragile, and how embracing clarity can create the stability and freedom you need to lead effectively at scale. I’m sharing the real talk I usually reserve for coaching c...
We’re heading into planning season—and if you’re anything like the nonprofit leaders I work with, your to-do list is already growing. But here’s a question we don’t ask enough: “How will this plan help us say no?” In this episode, I dig into why most strategic plans are more like overwhelming wish lists, and how to flip the script by building a plan that’s not just visionary, but protective. I’ll walk you through the cost of “yes-by-default” planning, and share the three filters I use with cl...
What if the fastest path to scaling your nonprofit wasn’t doing more — but doing less, with laser focus? In this solo episode, I share a story that’s been sticking with me — one that perfectly illustrates the overlooked power of choosing one goal. I break down how singular focus can turn small wins into major momentum and why scattering your energy across too many priorities might be the very thing slowing your organization down. This one’s for any nonprofit leader who’s feeling stuck, stretc...
You know the feeling—you're working nonstop, checking off every task, yet still completely underwater. In this episode, I share why many nonprofit leaders aren't experiencing organizational messiness and chaos because of disorganization or poor time management. It's because they're solving the wrong problem - like mopping up a kitchen floor while the pipe under the sink is still leaking. I break down four types of organizational chaos I see all the time—tactical, strategic, structural, ...
As planning season kicks into gear, I’m sharing one powerful question that every nonprofit leader should ask before setting next year’s goals. It’s a short episode, but it goes deep — because how you approach planning is just as important as what ends up in your plan. If you’ve been feeling stuck in survival mode, quietly absorbing the pressure of growth, or running on grit instead of clarity, this episode is for you. I walk through the subtle but critical difference between bracing and leadi...
You raised the money. You hired the team. You hit your goals. So why does it suddenly feel harder than before? In this episode, I talk about the under-discussed but absolutely critical phase of organizational growth: the flat part—that stretch after a big win where things feel slow, messy, or unclear. I explain why this isn’t a setback—it’s a build phase, a time to stabilize, recalibrate, and reinforce your organization so it can actually hold what you’ve achieved. You’ll hear a story from on...
If most of your week lives in competence—or worse, in weakness—everything slows down. 🧭 Today’s belief shift: Your zone of genius isn’t a luxury; it’s leverage. The more time you spend there, the faster the org moves. Outside your genius, you hire reactively and become the blocker. Inside it, you set a pace others can sustain. Today’s leadership prompt is simple: Which three draining tasks will you delegate, redesign, or delete this month—and which energizing block will you protect weekly? Us...
If you start in November, you’re already late. 🧭 Today’s belief shift: 80% of year-end success is built by October—list health, story assets, pledge calendar, board roles. A calm runway beats a frantic sprint, every time. Today’s leadership prompt is simple: Which week of a 20-day prep sprint will you kick off today? (Week 1: List/Segments; Week 2: Story/Offers; Week 3: Calendar/Cadence; Week 4: Assets/QA) Use code STRONG26 to get 26% off during this series. Want to work together? App...
Stress doesn’t create cracks—it reveals them. Your job is to see them before they break. 🧭 Today’s belief shift: Simple stress tests can X-ray your org and show the first points of failure now. Early fixes are cheap; late ones are costly—especially in Q4. Today’s leadership prompt is simple: For your next pressure point (appeal launch, gala, audit), answer: Where will it fail first? What single safeguard prevents that? Who owns it, by when? Use code STRONG26 to get 26% off during this series....
If a problem feels urgent today, it started months ago. 🧭 Today’s belief shift: Waiting has a cost curve—and the interest compounds. Courage early is cheaper than heroics later. Delay narrows options, burns trust, and raises the final price you’ll pay—in time, money, or morale. Today’s leadership prompt is simple: What’s the one decision you’ll move using 24–7–1? (Define in 24 hours, decide within 7 days, take the first step within 1 day.) Use code STRONG26 to get 26% off during this series. ...
If shiny opportunities keep diluting your plan, your vision needs a lock. 🧭 Today’s belief shift: Vision isn’t just direction; it’s a boundary. It protects the North Star you set in Episode N. Every “yes” spends from a finite account: focus, energy, trust. Choose on purpose. Today’s leadership prompt is simple: For the next request you receive, which answer do these filters produce? Does it advance our 90-day North Star?Is it truly ours to own?Do we have capacity without stealing from higher-...
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