We Are For Good Podcast - Episode Summary
Title: Hold Fast: Creating Space for Trust and Alignment in Funding
Guest: Yada Peng, Founder and CEO of JustFund
Release Date: April 28, 2025

Introduction

In this compelling episode of the We Are For Good Podcast, hosts Jon McCoy and Becky Endicott engage in an insightful conversation with Yada Peng, the visionary founder and CEO of JustFund. The episode, titled "Hold Fast: Creating Space for Trust and Alignment in Funding," delves into the intricate dynamics of building and maintaining strong funding relationships within the nonprofit sector.

Setting the Stage: The Urgency and Challenges in Nonprofit Funding

Becky opens the discussion by highlighting a significant statistic from the Impact Up event: "55% of attendees told us that their biggest challenge right now is building and maintaining strong funding relationships" (00:38). This underscores the pervasive tension nonprofits face in securing resources without compromising their core values.

Yada Peng emphasizes the critical need to balance urgency with strategic planning:
"The urgency in the crisis can actually diminish trust. Trust as opposed to building the trust." (07:31)

The Fire Analogy: Creating Space to Sustain the Mission

One of the episode's standout moments is Yada's use of a powerful metaphor inspired by Judy Brown's poem "Fire". She explains how "the space between the logs is what makes the fire possible" (03:50). This analogy serves as a reminder to nonprofit leaders to create “space to reflect, strategize, breathe”, preventing burnout and ensuring the sustainability of their missions.

Becky resonates with this concept, stating:
"If you came here wondering if Yada was going to point you to 42 different ways to go raise a bunch of money, she's saying, breathe, rest." (06:00)
She further elaborates on the importance of "white space" and strategic pauses to reevaluate and align with core missions.

Building Trust Amidst Urgency

A central theme of the episode is the cultivation of trust between nonprofits and funders, especially in times of crisis. Yada underscores that trust is built through intentional, honest dialogue rather than transactional interactions.

She shares an anecdote about a donor who expressed the desire not to be treated as an ATM for movements, highlighting the pitfalls of "frenetic energy" and rapid responses that can erode trust (13:38). Yada advises nonprofits to:

1. Prioritize Fewer, Better-Aligned Funders:
   "Prioritizing fewer, better-aligned funders instead of chasing every opportunity..." (07:31)

2. Embrace Storytelling Over Metrics:
   "Leaning into storytelling... brings in and centers our humanity." (07:31)

3. Foster Mutual Curiosity:
   Engaging funders with questions like "Why do you care about this work?" and "What are you learning?" (16:05) encourages mutual understanding and shared goals.

Practical Strategies for Nonprofit Leaders

Yada provides actionable advice for leaders struggling with funding pressures:

• Define Non-Negotiables:
  "Naming your non-negotiables, knowing what your team will budge on or not..." (17:42)

• Build a Supportive Community:
  Engaging with boards and teams for role-playing and support when making tough funding decisions (18:18).

• Respond with Curiosity:
  Instead of immediate compliance, ask funders to "tell me more" about their requests to foster deeper understanding and collaboration (12:25).

Becky adds that these strategies not only strengthen organizational resilience but also enhance human-centric leadership:
"These principles of alignment and moving slow and creating space for reflection are so important in our own lives too." (11:17)

Reflection and Actionable Takeaways

As the episode draws to a close, Yada introduces reflection questions designed to help listeners reconnect with their core motivations and align their actions with their missions:

1. What originally called me to this work?
   Reflecting on the initial motivations and inspirations behind joining the nonprofit sector.

2. Where do I feel most alive and aligned in my work right now?
   Identifying moments of alignment and joy to reinforce commitment and direction.

3. What does it look like for me this week to lead out of trust and not fear?
   Envisioning leadership that prioritizes trust-building over reactive measures (27:10).

Becky encourages listeners to incorporate these questions into team meetings to foster collective reflection and strategic alignment (27:10).

Concluding Insights

Yada leaves the audience with a poignant affirmation:
"One good thing is you are already enough. There is nothing you have to do right now to earn your place in the work that you're doing." (30:35)
This serves as a powerful reminder to nonprofit leaders to honor their intrinsic value and stay true to their missions amidst external pressures.

She also invites listeners to engage with JustFund, highlighting its mission to "change the way we get funding" through equitable technologies that align grant-making practices with core values (31:40).

Final Thoughts

This episode of We Are For Good Podcast offers a blend of heartfelt wisdom and pragmatic strategies for nonprofit professionals navigating the complexities of funding relationships. Yada Peng's insights on creating space, building trust, and staying rooted in one's mission provide invaluable guidance for sustaining impact and fostering meaningful collaborations.

Notable Quotes:

• Yada Peng (03:50):
  "The space between the logs is what makes the fire possible."

• Becky Endicott (06:00):
  "If you came here wondering if Yada was going to point you to 42 different ways to go raise a bunch of money, she's saying, breathe, rest."

• Yada Peng (07:31):
  "Prioritizing fewer, better-aligned funders instead of chasing every opportunity..."

• Yada Peng (11:17):
  "These principles of alignment and moving slow and creating space for reflection are so important in our own lives too."

• Yada Peng (30:35):
  "One good thing is you are already enough. There is nothing you have to do right now to earn your place in the work that you're doing."

For more resources and to join the We Are For Good community, visit www.weareforgood.com.