Learning for Good | L&D Solutions and Leadership Development for Nonprofit Organizations

Sometimes, when we work with nonprofit executive leaders, it's easy to jump to an assumption about what they thought or what they wanted. The problem is that when we act on that, things don't turn out the way either of us expects.

I don't want that to be you, so in this episode, I'm having a chat with Danika Mitcham, the Vice President of Supporter Operations at Compassion International. We delve into what nonpro...

If you are a nonprofit L&D pro, you know how to design learning experiences. You've got the experience. Yet, sometimes the trainings we spend time and money creating don't work.

And if you are a nonprofit leader, you want to ensure that what you spend valuable time and resources on works.

Over the years,  I've spent a lot of time thinking about this issue, and that's why in this episode, we're exploring t...

Empathy might be one of the most essential skills for learning designers, and there's no better place to learn it than design thinking. That's why, in this episode, I am joined by Sheryl Cababa, a design researcher and strategist, and the Chief Strategy Officer at Optimistic Design, to give us some insight into her process.

She clarifies what design thinking is and what it entails, how it can help us design better learning...

Training is often the go-to solution in our nonprofits. But what if I told you that training isn't always the right solution?

In this episode, I discuss why jumping to solutions without first diagnosing the problem can be a bad idea, and I share some situations where training works well and others where a different solution is necessary.

▶️ When Training Works and When It Doesn't 

▶️ Key Points:

01:20 Training may n...

When we think of a high-performance team, we usually think of things like productivity, how much effort people are putting in, accountability, and higher outputs and profits. All that is important, but there is one other thing without which a team will never be high-performing.

In this episode, I sit down with Ashley Cox, a leadership mentor who equips women to build high-performance teams they trust. She shares what the missing pie...

Welcome to episode 150 of the Learning For Good podcast! Thank you, dear listener. This podcast has grown so much since 2022, and it's all because of you.

In this special episode, we are doing something a little different to celebrate: I'm going to be on the other side of the mic as  my friend, fellow nonprofit consultant and community builder, Tasha Van Vlack, interviews me.

You'll get my story, my career journey, and...

How can we create a high-performance culture that benefits not just the organization, but also the individuals in it? In this episode, I sit down with Brett Myles, leadership coach and Founder of LeadWell, and we dive deep into how to create a culture that will support all parts of the organization.

By the end of this episode, you'll have new tools to help you navigate conflict, help leaders and teams better lead themselves, an...

Designing a learning experience for the average learner is a thing of the past, we must now design for everyone. So, in this episode of Learning for Good, I am joined by accessibility expert Dr. Nicole L'Etoile. We're diving deep into how we can design learning strategies in our organizations that work for ALL learners.

You'll understand why accessibility is a foundational part of L&D, discover barriers your learn...

In this episode of Learning for Good, we’re exploring how nonprofit leaders can take actionable steps to maintain performance and build capacity even during stressful seasons. If your team is feeling overwhelmed, stretched thin, or stuck in reactive mode, this episode offers timely advice rooted in real-world nonprofit experience.

▶️ Stretched Thin? Three Capacity Building Strategies Every Nonprofit Leader Can Use Today 

▶️...

Get ready to change the way you think about designing training scenarios in this episode of Learning for Good. I have used scenarios myself, and I really do think this is a skillset that we all need to get better at because scenarios are such a helpful tool in learning. That's why today I'm talking to Srividya Kumar, a learning design leader and co-founder of Learnnovators.

She makes designing scenarios approachable and sh...

Creating a strong learning culture is no longer a luxury - it's a necessity for nonprofit leadership development and sustainable mission impact. In this episode, I sit down with leadership coach and author Yogi Mueller to explore how nonprofits can foster curiosity, promote vulnerability, and embed learning into their everyday operations.

Whether you're facing high turnover, stagnant performance, or disengaged teams, build...

Are your nonprofit’s people managers equipped to lead with clarity and confidence, or just left to figure it out on their own?

In this episode, I take a deep dive into how to develop nonprofit people managers using proven learning and development strategies. With a focus on building leadership through competency models, coaching, enablement, and accountability, you’ll discover how to build confident, capable staff who can lead, not ...

In this episode of Learning for Good, we explore how nonprofit leaders can navigate the complexities of global teams with guest Dr. Lori Beyar, Global VP of Strategy & Organizational Development at Cru. If your nonprofit is scaling across borders, or even just managing diverse teams, you’ll want to hear this conversation on nonprofit leadership development, building trust, and creating high-performing multicultural teams.

We div...

Nonprofit leadership development hinges on the ability to bring people together while still moving projects forward. In this episode of Learning for Good, I dive into how inclusive decision making can elevate your training and leadership initiatives without stalling progress.

Using real-life examples, I share ten practical strategies to lead collaborative projects while staying focused on outcomes. You’ll learn how to clarify roles,...

When nonprofits scale programs too quickly without the right foundation, teams experience burnout, confusion, and inconsistent outcomes. In this episode of Learning for Good, I unpack the role of learning and development strategies in sustainable growth - and why scaling success starts with your people, not just your program.

You’ll learn how to build infrastructure and clarity, develop staff capacity through behavior-based training...

Succession planning may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about nonprofit leadership development, but it should be. In this episode, I sit down with transition strategist Naomi Hattaway to explore what it really takes to ensure leadership continuity and why it's a core part of any learning and development strategy.

With executive turnover on the rise and funding environments shifting, organizations can’t ...

If training alone isn't moving the needle, it’s time to bring coaching into the equation. In this episode, I share how nonprofit leaders can use three simple yet powerful coaching questions to drive behavior change and improve staff performance, without micromanaging.

You’ll discover why traditional training isn’t always enough and how coaching can help build autonomy and accountability. These coaching questions are rooted in t...

Creating meaningful change through staff training and development in a nonprofit can feel overwhelming, especially when you're the only one driving it. In this episode, I talk with Jamie Bussey, Senior Director of Learning and Development at the National Audubon Society.

Jamie joined Audubon as a team of one, inheriting a blank slate and a whole lot of opportunity. She shares how she used a needs assessment to guide her strateg...

Improving staff accountability doesn’t always require a training program. In fact, some of the most effective strategies for nonprofit leadership development and team performance don’t involve training at all. In this episode of Learning for Good, I share three powerful non-training solutions to boost accountability, enhance team culture, and drive consistent performance across teams.

Whether you're facing missed deadlines, inc...