About Torrie Taj:

Torrie Taj is a nonprofit leader with more than 30 years of experience in philanthropy and human services. As CEO of Child Crisis Arizona, she leads efforts to break the cycle of child abuse and neglect after beginning her career as a volunteer in 1991 and rising through multiple leadership roles.

For nearly five decades, Child Crisis Arizona has been a trusted partner to children and families across our state, stepping in during moments of crisis and working year-round to prevent them. Our mission is simple and urgent: to provide children and youth in Arizona a safe environment free from abuse and neglect by creating strong, successful families.

In this episode, Dean Newlund and Torrie Taj discuss:

Leading nonprofits with both heart and financial discipline
The long-term impact that foster care support can have on a child’s life
Why nonprofits must create a financial margin to sustain their mission
Reframing fear and scarcity into hope and abundance in leadership
Collaboration across organizations to serve communities more effectively

Key Takeaways:

Balance compassion with operational discipline by ensuring a financial margin exists to sustain the mission long term.
Reframe fear and scarcity conversations into opportunity and abundance to keep teams motivated during uncertainty.
Hire employees and recruit board members who are genuinely aligned with the organization’s mission and values.
Actively pursue collaboration with other organizations instead of competition to expand community impact.

"If you truly believe in what you're doing, you're going to attract that money and be able to do the work you want to do.” — Torrie Taj

Connect with Torrie Taj:

Website: https://www.childcrisisaz.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChildCrisisAZ

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/childcrisisaz

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/child-crisis-arizona/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdjlPRLivViekIenh5viHFg

See Dean’s TedTalk “Why Business Needs Intuition” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEq9IYvgV7I

Connect with Dean:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgqRK8GC8jBIFYPmECUCMkw

Website: https://www.mfileadership.com/

The Mission Statement E-Newsletter: https://www.mfileadership.com/blog/