Podcast
Nonprofits Are Messy: Lessons in Leadership | Fundraising | Board Development | Communications
Hosted by Joan Garry · EN
Joan Garry: Nonprofit Leader and former Executive Director of GLAAD helps fellow CEOs, Boards and Board Chairs, Fundraisers, and Nonprofit Marketers
49episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Ep 253: Still Figuring It Out: An Honest Take on People Pleasing and Leadership
5d ago00:25:41Summary readyFor a long time, Glennda Testone’s people-pleasing nature shaped – and sometimes complicated – her leadership. In this honest, personal solo episode, she shares her journey from people pleaser to recovering people pleaser. Plus, five practical strategies for leading well when you’re wired to make everyone happy.
SummaryEp 252: CRM Matchmaking: How to Ensure the Right Fit for Your Nonprofit with Julia Gackenbach
3w ago00:47:25Summary readyThink of finding the right CRM like matchmaking – it takes time, self-awareness, and knowing what you actually need versus what just looks good on paper. Glennda Testone sits down with Julia Gachenbach of DonorPerfect to walk through the do’s and don’ts of the matchmaking process to help your organization find the right fit.
SummaryEp 251: Reimagining Nonprofits: The Uncomfortable Conversation We Need to Have with Vu Le
Apr 1100:51:02Summary readyWhat if the rules we’ve built our sector around are actually holding us back? I sat down with author, blogger, and nonprofit rabble-rouser Vu Le to dig into the uncomfortable truths behind his new book, Reimagining Nonprofits and Philanthropy, and why the sector’s greatest threat may be its own suppressed imagination.
SummaryEp 250: The Power of Neighbors: A Leadership Story from Minneapolis with Emilia Gonzalez Avalos
Mar 2800:58:50Summary readyWhen crisis hit Minneapolis, nonprofit leaders and neighbors didn’t wait for rescue. In this episode, Emilia Gonzalez Avalos of Unidos Minnesota shares what it took to build a rapid-response infrastructure, protect communities, and turn terror into collective action.
SummaryEp 249: Financial Resilience Isn’t Luck – It’s Strategy with Bethany Maki
Mar 1400:44:37Summary readyIn a nonprofit, revenue often feels uncertain. But here’s the secret: financial resilience isn’t luck – it’s strategy. In this episode, Glennda Testone and Bethany Maki of Progressive Multipliers explore how nonprofits can build independent revenue, diversify funding, and strengthen long-term sustainability.
SummaryEp 248: Strategic Planning for Nonprofits: Simple, Agile, and Real with Sophia Shaw and Adam Wolford
Mar 200:51:37Summary readyStrategic 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.
SummaryEp 247: A Volunteer’s Guide to Major Donor Conversations with Eileen Opatut
Feb 1400:52:46Summary readyIn 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.
SummaryEp 246: If You Believe Leadership Matters, Prove It!
Jan 3100:20:20Summary readyNonprofit 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.
SummaryEp 245: Rethinking Leadership in 2026: The Shifts Nonprofit Leaders Need to Make Now
Jan 1700:42:30Summary readyIn 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.
SummaryEp 244: The Board Chair–CEO Blueprint: What Every Nonprofit Can Learn from Girl Scouts USA
Jan 300:46:59Summary readyWhen 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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