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Nonprofit leaders feeling the weight of challenging times need more than grit to thrive—they need resilient organizations built on sustainable systems and supportive networks. Brooke Ritchie-Babbage shares her S.T.R.O.N.G. framework for building nonprofit stability while growing impact.

• Strategic clarity keeps everyone focused on the "cathedral" they're building beyond daily brick-laying work
• Well-designed tools and systems create the interstitial tissue connecting teams without bottlenecks
• Resources include not just funding but sustainable approaches like monthly giving programs 
• Ownership means everyone understands their role and has appropriate decision-making authority
• Networked capacity extends organizational roots beyond staff to partners, advisors, and collaborators
• Governance provides appropriate oversight and accountability that evolves as organizations grow
• Growth and stability aren't competing priorities—stability is the foundation for sustained growth
• Burnout isn't a badge of honor or personal failing but a structural mismatch requiring systemic solutions
• Building recovery and assessment into organizational rhythms is essential for long-term impact
• No leader should try to go it alone—find coaches, mentors, and peer communities for support

Check out Brooke's podcast at https://brookerichiebabbage.com/podcast/

Brooke's Bio

Brooke Richie-Babbage is a nonprofit growth strategist and social impact advisor. She is the founder and CEO of Bending Arc, a social impact strategy firm that supports the launch and sustainable growth of high-impact nonprofits, and the host of Nonprofit Mastermind Podcast.

For the past 23 years, Brooke has worked as a lawyer, nonprofit leader, and social entrepreneur. She has founded and led multiple successful organizations and initiatives, including the Resilience Advocacy Project (RAP), where she served as founder and Executive Director for 11 years, the Sterling Network NYC and the NetLab Initiative, both initiatives of the Robert Sterling Clark Foundation, where she served as Director of Network Initiatives for six years, and the Social Justice Accelerator (SJA), an initiative of the Urban Justice Center, where she has served as SJA Director since 2019.  

Brooke received her JD and MPP from Harvard and her BA from Yale. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two sons.

Brooke Richie-Babbage | LinkedIn 

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