In this episode, I’m joined by my wife Eileen Opatut, a volunteer fundraiser who landed a yes on her first major ask! Together, we break down what actually works and walk through the real mechanics of successful fundraising.
Nonprofit leaders aren’t burning out because they’re incapable. They’re burning out because we’re not setting them up for success. In this episode, I make the case for why leadership development is not optional – and why investing in leaders is one of the most powerful retention strategies our sector has.
Nonprofit leaders are taught that rest comes later–after the work is done. But, we all know, the work is never done. In this post, Glennda names the lie and explores what it means to care for yourself while caring for others.
In this episode, Glennda and I reflect on what last year revealed about leadership–and what must change going forward. From adaptive leadership to intentional planning to shared power and long-term thinking, this conversation explores how nonprofit leaders can move beyond reaction and lead with clarity, resilience, and purpose in the year ahead.
When the relationship between a board chair and CEO is strong, it can transform an entire organization, but most nonprofit leaders aren’t taught how to build it well. Girl Scouts of the USA’s CEO Bonnie Barczykowski and Board President Noorain Khan join Glennda to share exactly how they created a high-trust, high-impact partnership from day one.
2025 felt like a year when everything became more and harder. More crises. More fear. More civic strain. More communities under pressure. And yet – more leadership, too. In this episode, Glennda connects with Darlene Nipper, President of the Rockwood Leadership Institute, for a grounded look at what leadership truly looked like in 2025. Darlene …
Nonprofits aren’t “less than” – they’re labs for modern leadership. I’ll share 8 nonprofit lessons corporate leaders need now.
Your budget isn’t just rows on a spreadsheet–it tells a story. I’ll explain how a goals-first budgeting process reduces friction, fuels creativity, and helps everyone in your organization pull in the same direction.
We say we “know” our neighbors, but do we really talk to them? Army vet and civic entrepreneur Garrett Cathcart joins Joan to share a hopeful, doable model for bringing people together across differences. If you’ve been craving belonging (and a practical path forward), this episode will give you tools and hope.
Erica Fortescue joins Glennda to debunk the myth that ADHD is a flaw at work. With simple, brain-based tools and strategies nonprofit leaders can turn friction into flow and build high-functioning, neuroinclusive teams.
People-powered fundraising isn’t rocket-science, but it does take intention, bandwidth, and smart systems. Listen in as Vivian Chang shares how your grassroots, small-donor dollars can stabilize your revenue, build ambassadors for your organization, and align your funding with your mission.
AI can feel overwhelming until you make it practical. Darian Rodriguez Heyman and Cheryle Contee join me to discuss their new tactical field guide, AI for Nonprofits. Discover how your organization can adopt AI responsibly and free your staff to do more human work.