The Urgency Addiction Cycle
There’s a kind of energy that shows up in helping organizations. Fast. Focused. Responsive. It feels like purpose. It feels like impact. It feels like: this is …
Christie Eckler
The Hero Trap and The Disappearing Role
The Hero Trap There’s a moment, subtle at first, when being good at your job stops being an asset and starts becoming a liability. Not …
Because I Can
Permission The human experience is constantly evolving, but one need remains universal: the desire to live with purpose. Purpose is not defined by gender, race, …
Navigating Overwhelm and Decision Fatigue
To be overwhelmed or not to be overwhelmed, that is the question. This is no Shakespeare, but considering what we decide to be in certain …
What Boards Owe Their Executive Director
Executive directors are often described as the face of the organization, the chief strategist, the culture carrier, and the person ultimately responsible for results. Boards …
Why a Board Matrix Is a Governance Tool, Not a Spreadsheet Exercise
Most boards say they need new members. Fewer boards can clearly articulate why. That gap is where board recruitment often goes sideways. Seats get filled …
The Hidden Cost of Unclear Board Roles
Most boards would say their roles are clear. There are bylaws. There are committee charters. There is usually a slide or two explaining governance versus …
Good Governance Is Not About Control
Most board members serve because they care deeply about the mission. They bring experience, judgment, and a genuine desire to help the organization succeed. Control …
Yes, Boards Burn Out Too
Burnout is usually discussed as a staff or executive problem. Boards are often positioned as a steady presence. The volunteers who show up. The people …
Look for the Helpers and Then Look After Them
Many of us know the Mr. Rogers quote. When something frightening showed up on the news, his mother would tell him to look for the …
What the New Year Requires of Real Leadership
The beginning of a new year has a way of clarifying what leadership requires. When the calendar turns, leaders are met not with closure, but …
A Note of Gratitude, and What This Year Taught Us
As a new year begins, it feels important to pause. Not to evaluate or audit, and not to rush toward the next set of goals, …
When Leadership Ideals Become Burnout Machines
Mission-driven organizations are built on care. They exist because people believe deeply in the work and in the communities they serve. Leadership in these settings …
The Invisible Labor No One Budgets For
People in mission-driven work explain their exhaustion in a variety of ways. The work takes long hours. It’s spread across too few resources. There’s simply …
When the Holidays Stop Feeling Like a Pause
For many nonprofit and mission-driven professionals, the holiday season is no longer a season. It’s not a natural slowing. It’s not a time for a …
What Worked, What It Cost, and What We’re Carrying Into the New Year
Year-end reflection is often tinged with good intentions and lasting insight, but too frequently, leaders are asked to spend this time either congratulating themselves or …
End-of-Year Giving Begins at the Beginning of the Year
Nonprofits love to make end-of-year giving into a sprint. November hits, and suddenly we’re all racing, drafting appeals, scrubbing donor lists, hustling for stories, and …
Put the Fun in Fundraising: Why Joy Outperforms Pressure Every Time
Fun Fundraising: Creating Inviting, Engaging, and Sustainable Giving What if fundraising did not feel like begging? What if it felt more like inviting your community …
Behind on Fundraising? December Still Has Magic.
If you are entering December feeling behind on fundraising, you are not alone. So many nonprofits arrive at this month with a familiar mix of …
The Quiet Power of Trust
Part 3: The Quiet Power of Trust What trust-based leadership looks like and how influence becomes legacyTrust & Influence Series | Part 3 of 3 …
From Toxic to Trusted
Part 2: From Toxic to Trusted How leadership missteps erode trust and silence real impactTrust & Influence Series | Part 2 of 3 We talk …
When You’re Not in the Room
Part 1: When You’re Not in the Room What real influence looks like beyond visibility and presenceTrust & Influence Series | Part 1 of 3 …
