As we leave the holiday madness behind us and ease into 2025, it’s hard to ignore the societal pressure to craft the perfect New Year’s resolution. But let’s get real—resolutions can often feel more like obligations than opportunities. If you’re like me, they can quickly become intimidating, draining, or even a source of guilt if progress stalls. Instead of setting a resolution, what if you embraced something simpler yet more powerful: a one-word or one-phrase theme for the year? I have found that choosing a theme offers a refreshing alternative. It creates space for creativity, whimsy, and fun while providing guidance for your choices and goals throughout the year. Unlike a rigid resolution, a theme evolves with you. It’s not a box to check; it’s a lens through which you view your year. Added bonus– it’s easier to remember than a list of resolutions. It has what I like to call the “sticky” factor because it does just that, it sticks in our brains.  Finding Your Word or Phrase for 2025 Not sure where to start? Here are a few tips to help you uncover your perfect theme: My Word for 2025: Intentional This year, I’ve chosen intentional as my […]

Let’s be real – I’m writing this blog post for myself as much as for anyone else. If you’re like me, the word “conflict” makes you want to hide under a blanket with some hot cocoa and pretend it doesn’t exist. But alas, here we are, facing the most wonderful (and stressful) time of the year where conflict can abound almost anywhere, whether at family gatherings or in the workplace when it’s time for your annual review! The Holiday Stress Tornado Do you ever feel like the end of the year is like running a marathon while juggling flaming torches? Everywhere you look, there are expectations: Spoiler alert: No one actually feels calm. We’re all just pretending, and that pretending? It’s a recipe for conflict. The Nonprofit Conflict Conundrum And if you’re reading this and you work in the nonprofit sector, here’s something you might not know but that I don’t think will surprise you either: nonprofit professionals are uniquely wired to avoid conflict. Research from organizational psychology suggests that those in mission-driven work often prioritize harmony over confrontation. A study published in the Nonprofit Quarterly found that nonprofit workers frequently suppress disagreements to maintain team cohesion, fearing that conflict […]

Uncovering the Hidden Challenges of First-Time Executive Directors  In my years of consulting and coaching nonprofit leaders, I’ve worked with many first-time Executive Directors (EDs) and let me tell you—stepping into that role for the first time can feel like walking into a haunted house. The unknowns are endless, and unexpected challenges pop up when you least expect them. First-time Executive Directors who are reading this, take pause. You are not alone. There are common struggles that I’ve seen time and again.  The good news? There are solutions for every one of them! 1. The “I Can Do It All” Syndrome One of the first things I often hear from new Executive Directors (EDs) is that they feel like they have to do everything—manage operations, oversee fundraising, communicate with the board, and lead the team. It’s easy for them to get overwhelmed quickly. The truth is, many EDs walk into the job thinking they can (and should) handle everything on their own, but it doesn’t take long before they’re stretched too thin. Helpful Tip: Create clear priorities, set boundaries, and empower your team (this includes volunteers!). Delegation isn’t a weakness; it’s a strength, and once you master it, everything else […]

You may love the organization you work for, the work it does, the people you serve, and the programs you use to do it. You might love it more than the people you’re trying to reach. More than likely, they’re not interested in program specifics or receiving a firehose of data and information.  At its core, your organization was designed to solve a problem. What singular problem is your organization trying to solve?  That’s the reason people advocate for and support your organization.  Once you know what problem you’re trying to solve, how are you going to connect your supporters directly to that solution? Not to you as the third party they help to bring about the solution, but directly to your solution.  Ask people to join your story. Not as the side-kick. As the superhero.  The organizations we love would not survive without the people who support them. Remember that and you’ll be golden. Hat Tip to Your Storytelling Success, P.S. Do you want to get updates on our most recent blogs and other free resources we offer? Sign up here for our bi-monthly e-newsletter, The SWGazette. And if you’re interested in bringing a storytelling workshop to your organization, reach out here.

My social change warriors, I see you. You work long and hard to solve some of society’s greatest social ills. You juggle multiple responsibilities and wear multiple hats on any given day. And you are constantly driven by your passion to make a difference. Research reveals that work-related stress can decrease concentration and work motivation, create a tense work environment, and reduce employee performance. No surprise—this leads to burnout and increased absenteeism. Sound familiar? In the fast-paced world of nonprofit work, what if there was a simple, cost-effective way to bring more happiness into our workplaces? Enter: office dogs. The Science Behind the Wag I have experienced the perks of having a dog by my side when I work from home with my fur babies snuggled next to me. And more recently, I’ve had the surprise of a furry visitor hanging out with me while I facilitated a workshop and another sweet pup who greeted me at the entrance of a client’s office. The vibe felt different at these places—more relaxed, more jovial, and more team connection. I couldn’t help but wonder if I’ve been imagining this just because I’m a dog lover. It turns out that these benefits are […]

Embracing Play and Rest: Reflections from My Akimbo Summer Camp Experience As we close out July, a month often filled with vacations and more play and rest than we get the rest of the year, I find myself reflecting on the transformative experience of participating in the Akimbo Virtual Summer Camp. Lasting four days, this virtual, asynchronous journey made it accessible to participate from anywhere, with as little as 30 minutes a day. I got to connect with people across the US, not to mention Australia and the UK. How cool is that? Why Adults Need Summer Camp Through my experience I was reminded that we, as adults, deserve the same opportunities for discovery, connection, play, and exploration that children enjoy at summer camp. Too often, we are consumed by work and life commitments, leaving little room for fun and personal growth.  The Benefits of Play and Rest If you’re anything like me, I sometimes need to force myself to slow down, and this camp experience provided the perfect opportunity to reaffirm what I know but don’t often practice—play and rest is not only beneficial but essential. Here are some of the benefits of play and rest, backed by research […]

5 Fun Tips for Nonprofit Leaders This 4th of July As we enjoy the 4th of July with good food, time with family and friends, and dazzling fireworks, let’s make sure the only sparks flying are the ones in the sky! Just like a well-choreographed fireworks show, a harmonious boardroom requires careful planning and coordination. Here are a few fun strategies to help you keep the “fireworks” out of the boardroom. 1. The Firework: Miscommunication Strategy: Conversation Sparklers Miscommunication can ignite like a rogue firework, and often it stems from board members not having rapport or trusting each other to give the benefit of the doubt. So why not hold regular social connections for your board or mix up your board meetings from time to time with a brief opening activity to build collegiality? Conversation cards can be one fun way to learn something new about each other by pulling a card with a question and having board members pair up to share how they’d answer it.  You could also consider creating your own cards with questions related to board service. 2. The Firework: Lack of Diversity Strategy: Diversity Potluck A lack of diverse perspectives can dim the board’s effectiveness […]

When you were a kid, did you ever have that friend who kept their nose in a book? Perhaps they spent weekends at the library or they chose reading over recess. You remember that person. Well, I must confess. I WAS that person—a true bookworm. There was nothing better than the smell of books, the pages between my fingertips, and the great escape each new book offered. Give me a stack of Judy Blume or Beverly Cleary books, and I’d be enraptured my entire summer vacation.  As I grew older and became busy with adulting– work, family and friend obligations– my commitment to read slowly faded. It wasn’t a lack of desire but more the realities of too many demands on my time. I stopped prioritizing reading. And if I made any attempt to pick up a book, I fell asleep within five minutes.  The summer of 2024 is upon us, and I am recommitting to reading. I am not going to make this another “to do” obligation. I’m simply going to pick up one of the books in my house that has been closed for way too long, and I’m going to begin. Maybe I’ll get through one book. […]

I’m guessing you’ve probably organized, witnessed, or participated in a silent auction in your lifetime. Over the years I’ve been to several charitable events that include a silent auction as part of their fundraising strategy, and I’ve always struggled with the mix of thoughts and feelings that come with the bidding process.  Yes, I want to give.  I also want to win.  Even better if I win something at a bargain price.  Then the guilt sets in. If I win something at a low price, then the nonprofit isn’t getting as much money from me. And that feels crappy for me and even crappier for them. And what about the person or company that donated the item and sees it go for a “steal” when they were hoping it would generate contributions for the cause they care about? If I don’t place the winning bid, I am bummed because I didn’t get to support the cause nor did I get the item or service I really wanted. Now, don’t get me wrong. I usually find another way to make a donation, but still…there’s got to be a better way, doesn’t there? As a long-time follower of Seth Godin, I am […]

Have you ever thought about how nonprofits are kind of like people? They go through different stages of life, just like we do. From birth to childhood, adolescence, maturity, and eventually renewal (or, unfortunately, stagnation). Sounds familiar, right? When a nonprofit is just starting out, it’s like a little kid full of energy and big dreams. The founder and board members are like the parents, guiding and nurturing this young organization. They’re the ones with the vision, the passion, and the drive to make things happen. But here’s the catch: they’re also often wearing all of the hats and doing a bit of everything—getting their hands dirty with day-to-day operations while trying to also govern, although usually not consistently or in any formalized way. Governance is in its early stages so structures and policies often aren’t even in writing yet. This stage can be one of the most time-consuming stages of a nonprofit’s development because it requires board members to wear both the governance hat and operations hat.  There are usually no paid staff (or very minimal staff) so everyone pitches in to get the work done. Now, fast forward a bit. The nonprofit starts to mature, entering its adolescence […]