Nonprofits Are Messy: Lessons in Leadership | Fundraising | Board Development | Communications

Nonprofits Are Messy: Lessons in Leadership | Fundraising | Board Development | Communications

Joan Garry: Nonprofit Leader and former Executive Director of GLAAD helps fellow CEOs, Boards and Board Chairs, Fundraisers, and Nonprofit Marketers

Episodes

Ep 248: Strategic Planning for Nonprofits: Simple, Agile, and Real with Sophia Shaw and Adam Wolford

March 2, 2026 • 51 mins
Strategic planning doesn’t have to be expensive, exhausting, or end up on a shelf. In this episode, Glennda Testone talks with Sophia Shaw and Adam Wolford of PlanPerfect about a smarter, more accessible approach to nonprofit strategic planning – especially for small to mid-sized organizations.
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Ep 247: A Volunteer’s Guide to Major Donor Conversations with Eileen Opatut

February 14, 2026 • 52 mins
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.
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Ep 246: If You Believe Leadership Matters, Prove It!

January 31, 2026 • 20 mins
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.
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Ep 245: Rethinking Leadership in 2026: The Shifts Nonprofit Leaders Need to Make Now

January 17, 2026 • 42 mins
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.
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Ep 244: The Board Chair–CEO Blueprint: What Every Nonprofit Can Learn from Girl Scouts USA

January 3, 2026 • 46 mins
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.
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Ep 243: What 2025 Taught Us About Real Leadership with Darlene Nipper

December 20, 2025 • 48 mins
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 shares what she and her team witnessed across the country: communities organizing,...
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Ep 242: Think Like a Nonprofit: A Smarter Way to Do Business

December 6, 2025 • 34 mins
Nonprofits aren’t “less than” – they’re labs for modern leadership. I’ll share 8 nonprofit lessons corporate leaders need now.
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Ep: 241: Nonprofit Budgets Done Right: Goals Drive and Numbers Follow

November 22, 2025 • 31 mins
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.
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Ep 240: NEIGHBORS FIRST: HOW TO FIND COMMON GROUND with Garrett Cathcart

November 8, 2025 • 46 mins
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.
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Ep: 239 ADHD at Work: A Guide for Nonprofit Leaders and Teams

October 25, 2025 • 50 mins
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.
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Ep. 238: Small Gifts, Big Impact: Building Sustainable Revenue from Everyday Donors (with Vivian Chang)

October 11, 2025 • 39 mins
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.
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Ep 237: The AI Field Guide: A Playbook for Nonprofit Success with Darian Rodriguez Heyman and Cheryl Contee

September 27, 2025 • 51 mins
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.
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Ep 236: Defeated Today, Inspired Tomorrow: A New Way to Lead Development

September 13, 2025 • 25 mins
Too many Development Directors feel like failures if they don't hit their revenue numbers — even when circumstances are beyond their control. In this episode, I explore why this mindset is harmful and what nonprofits can do to redefine success.
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Ep. 235: Donor-Advised Funds Demystified (with Mitch Stein)

August 30, 2025 • 48 mins
Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) are booming—but most nonprofit leaders still find them confusing or inaccessible. In this episode, Mitch Stein from Chariot joins Glennda Testone to bust common myths, explain how DAFs work, and share how both donors and nonprofits can make the most of them.
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Ep. 234: Succession Planning: It’s Time To Stop Talking About Leaders and Buses (with Glennda Testone)

August 16, 2025 • 50 mins
Succession planning gets treated like a worst-case scenario when it should be a regular part of nonprofit leadership. In this episode, Glennda and I get candid about our own transitions—and what we wish we’d known sooner.
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Ep. 233: Leading Through Whiplash: How to Stay Grounded in Uncertain Times (with Alex Love)

August 2, 2025 • 44 mins
Whiplash. That’s how it feels to lead a nonprofit right now. Executive coach, Alex Love and Glennda Testone explore how leaders can stay grounded, care for their teams, and hold onto their mission through constant change.
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Ep. 232: The Helpers Need Help Too: How Leaders Refill Their Tanks (with Glennda Testone)

July 19, 2025 • 36 mins
In a time when many nonprofits fear losing that very status, we are celebrating wins as a reminder that progress and possibility still exist. Glennda Testone and I share the stories and sparks that are refueling our own leadership and hopefully, yours too.
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Ep 231: Improving the Nonprofit Talent Search (with Omar Lopez)

June 21, 2025 • 55 mins
Attracting top talent to your nonprofit isn’t about luck—it’s about alignment. Talent search expert, Omar Lopez shares what it takes to find (and keep) the right people in today’s competitive hiring landscape.
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Ep. 230: Think Big: How Capital Campaigns Fuel Long-Term Growth (with Amy Eisenstein)

June 7, 2025 • 49 mins
What if a capital campaign could be your nonprofit’s ticket to long-term growth? Fundraising expert Amy Eisenstein joins the podcast to bust common myths and share practical insights from decades of experience. From feasibility studies to board engagement, she lays out what it really takes to run a successful campaign—no wealthy board members required.
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Ep 229: Imposter Syndrome Is Real—6 Ways To Overcome It

May 24, 2025 • 26 mins
Many nonprofit leaders feel like they’re just one mistake away from being “found out.” Even experienced executives, including myself, wrestle with that nagging voice of doubt, especially in moments of high visibility or pressure. But instead of letting imposter syndrome win, here are 6 tangible strategies.
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