Joan Garry

FEBRUARY 25, 2025

Im guessing that many of you feel like your pants are on fire. The path ahead is uncertain, and for some organizations, the future is quite scary. Maybe you are heavily reliant on government funding. Maybe the population you serve isand has every right to beterrified. Oh, and the board is on this scary roller. Read more The post Navigating Uncertainty with Bold, Strategic Vision appeared first on Joan Garry Consulting.

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Governance Nonprofit Leadership Leadership Nonprofits 216

Joan Garry

FEBRUARY 12, 2025

Navigating a leadership transition can be challenging, but with the right mindset and strategies, it can also be an opportunity for growth. This post explores three key ingredients for a successful transition. Whether you're leading a new organization or adapting to significant change, these insights will help you thrive. The post Managing Change Like A Leader appeared first on Joan Garry Consulting.

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Management Leadership Nonprofit Leadership Nonprofits 167

Joan Garry

JANUARY 15, 2025

Discover key strategies and resources for nonprofit leaders to navigate the uncertainty of 2025. From embracing tough conversations to staying informed and strengthening leadership, I offer actionable tips to help you thrive in turbulent times. The post Steering Through the Storm: Youre Not Alone appeared first on Joan Garry Consulting.

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Leadership Nonprofits Nonprofit Leadership 222

Joan Garry

JANUARY 2, 2025

Ive spent over a decade nurturing a meaningful friendship with Beth Kanter, entirely through electronic communication, proving that authentic connections can thrive in the digital world. In this piece, I share strategies for building and sustaining impactful relationships electronically, with humor, intention, and a touch of creativity. The post How To Build Authentic Relationships Electronically appeared first on Joan Garry Consulting.

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Communication Nonprofit Leadership Leadership Management 218

Joan Garry

DECEMBER 18, 2024

Ive learned that the key to a meaningful year ahead is focus. Focus on what truly mattersyour health, your family, your mission. Here are 10 recommendations for navigating the year ahead with clarity and purpose. The post EYES WIDE OPEN: A LOOK AHEAD TO 2025 appeared first on Joan Garry Consulting.

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Health Nonprofit Leadership Leadership Nonprofits 239

Joan Garry

DECEMBER 4, 2024

Nonprofit Leadership Lab CEO, Glennda Testone, reflects on how she found unexpected inspiration and deepened her leadership skills by participating in an annual 275-mile AIDS bike ride. She highlights the power of community, personal connection, and staying grounded in her "why” as key elements of refueling her leadership. The post The Road to Refueling My Leadership Every 275 Miles appeared first on Joan Garry Consulting.

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Leadership Nonprofit Leadership Nonprofits 261

Joan Garry

NOVEMBER 20, 2024

I’m so passionate about nonprofit leadership—because it's grounded in values. I believe that staying true to one’s core values is what makes a leader truly great. Here is how and why the time is now for every nonprofit leader to take a stand… The post What Drives How You Lead? appeared first on Joan Garry Consulting.

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Nonprofit Leadership Leadership Values Nonprofits 251

Joan Garry

NOVEMBER 6, 2024

In this piece, I reflect on the 2024 election and the overwhelming sense of imbalance it triggered for me, personally and as a nonprofit leader. Through time spent with my family, my nonprofit community, and the right book, I rediscovered the importance of balance—not just in my life but as a crucial component for healing the polarization in our world, inspiring nonprofit leaders to bring balance and hope to our communities.

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Nonprofits Culture Nonprofit Leadership Leadership 264

Joan Garry

OCTOBER 23, 2024

In this blog post, I share personal stories of being on the receiving end of donation requests and the valuable lessons they’ve taught me. From asking for the right amount to understanding the donor’s personal experiences, I offer cautionary tales highlighting common fundraising mistakes and how to avoid them. The post Why I Donated a Portion Of My Salary.

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Fundraising Fundraising 218

Joan Garry

SEPTEMBER 24, 2024

Fundraising is both an art and a science, where preparation and authenticity play key roles. These are my real-life failures in fundraising and the lessons that you can learn from them. The post I Asked For $10,000. He Donated $25,000. appeared first on Joan Garry Consulting.

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Fundraising Fundraising 190

Joan Garry

SEPTEMBER 11, 2024

Effective leadership is not just about delivering the right information; it's about how you communicate it. In my experience leading nonprofit leaders, it is the "soft skills” that create a lasting impact that goes beyond words and actions, ensuring your message resonates deeply with your audience. The post The 3 Secrets to Effective Presentations appeared first on Joan Garry Consulting.

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Leadership Communication Nonprofits Nonprofit Leadership 162

Joan Garry

AUGUST 28, 2024

Through planning and communication, any nonprofit leader can ensure that staff members feel included and valued during board meetings. In this blog post, I offer strategies to avoid creating conditions where staff members are unintentionally marginalized so nonprofit leaders can foster stronger partnerships and a sense of belonging within the organization.

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Values Communication Nonprofits Nonprofit Leadership 223

Joan Garry

AUGUST 7, 2024

Here are 4 website improvements that, combined with a smart digital marketing plan, almost guarantee you an increase in online donations. The post Increase Online Donations In Four Steps appeared first on Joan Garry Consulting.

Marketing 147

Marketing Marketing 147

Joan Garry

JULY 31, 2024

Reflecting on my unexpected journey into the nonprofit sector, I've learned that this path demands a unique set of attributes and profound commitment. Today, I offer insights and a 'fit sniff test' to help you evaluate your readiness for a nonprofit career. The post Is Nonprofit Work Right For You? appeared first on Joan Garry Consulting.

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Nonprofits Nonprofit Leadership Leadership 235

Joan Garry

JULY 17, 2024

Essential advice for aspiring nonprofit founders, including key questions to ask before filing for 501(c)(3) status, how to avoid common pitfalls, and create a strong, impactful beginning. The post Should I Start a Nonprofit? appeared first on Joan Garry Consulting.

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Nonprofits Nonprofit Leadership Leadership 259

Joan Garry

JUNE 5, 2024

Come join our LIVE workshop "How to Identify, Recruit, and Convince the Right People to Join Your Board". Begins June 10th! The post The 3 Deadly Sins Of Dysfunctional Boards appeared first on Joan Garry Consulting.

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Recruitment 271

Joan Garry

MAY 8, 2024

What is the well-kept secret of a high-functioning board? Joan shares the hidden ingredient and why every board needs it. The post The Hidden Ingredient of a High-Functioning Board appeared first on Joan Garry Consulting.

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Joan Garry

APRIL 24, 2024

Executive directors complain that they do not receive a formal annual performance review. Here are 10 potential opportunities for achieving a stellar performance review! The post Crush Your Annual Review: 10 Steps For Executive Directors appeared first on Joan Garry Consulting.

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Joan Garry

APRIL 9, 2024

Dream candidates could be right in front of you and you could completely overlook them if your recruitment process upholds the status quo. Indeed, using the same standard recruiting criteria as everyone else could be an invisible blocker to attracting and hiring your dream team. These two strategies are how you can reinvent your recruiting process with smashing success.

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Recruitment Management 235

Joan Garry

APRIL 4, 2024

These are the 5 biggest lessons I had to learn when I first became a nonprofit executive director. And understanding how to implement them changed everything. The post The 5 Biggest Lessons of Successful Nonprofit Leadership appeared first on Joan Garry Consulting.

Nonprofit Leadership 272

Nonprofit Leadership Leadership Nonprofits 272

Joan Garry

MARCH 27, 2024

Back-to-back meetings are a drain. Yet, meeting overload is a common source of stress for nonprofit leaders. I call for a rethink on your meeting schedule. Here is one tool that can powerfully change your calendar and create meaningful space for you to reclaim power to refuel your mojo. The post Fire Your Meetings, Refuel Your Leadership appeared first on Joan Garry Consulting.

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Leadership Nonprofits Nonprofit Leadership Management 250

Joan Garry

FEBRUARY 14, 2024

From humble beginnings to the helm of leading change, these 12 nonprofit leaders are bringing equity, inclusion, and justice to the world. The post 12 Nonprofit Leaders Who Are Changing The World appeared first on Joan Garry Consulting.

Nonprofits 147

Nonprofits 147

Joan Garry

JANUARY 31, 2024

The Nonprofit Leadership Lab welcomes Glennda Testone as the new CEO in February 2024! In this article, she explains how she knew that it was time to move forward and offers advice to leaders considering fresh opportunities. The post Why I Became CEO Of Nonprofit Leadership Lab appeared first on Joan Garry Consulting.

Nonprofit Leadership 264

Nonprofit Leadership Leadership Nonprofits 264

Joan Garry

JANUARY 17, 2024

There is a thin line between doing and leading. Here are 10 causes of ineffective delegation as a nonprofit leader. What are they? And what is the solution? The post How Nonprofit Leaders Can Delegate Successfully appeared first on Joan Garry Consulting.

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Nonprofits Nonprofit Leadership Leadership Management 224

Joan Garry

JANUARY 3, 2024

Learn my simple equation that can turn your board from low performing to informed, enriched, engaged, and ignited. The post No More Boring Board Meetings! appeared first on Joan Garry Consulting.

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Joan Garry

DECEMBER 13, 2023

In reviewing all of the blog posts I wrote in 2023, there were three topics in particular that stood out for me. Here they are. The post Joan’s 3 Biggest Takeaways of 2023 appeared first on Joan Garry Consulting.

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Nonprofit Leadership Leadership Nonprofits 233

Joan Garry

NOVEMBER 29, 2023

So many members of the Nonprofit Leadership Lab are pure, unadulterated Givers. But Heidi was the “Queen Giver”. The post 6 Ways to Create a Culture of Givers At Your Organization (a Tribute to Heidi Dressler) appeared first on Joan Garry Consulting.

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Culture Nonprofit Leadership Leadership Nonprofits 246

Joan Garry

NOVEMBER 8, 2023

Here are 5 important lessons that apply to both fundraising and dating. A team member actually tried them out! Did she get a second date? The post Love At First Pitch: Dating Advice For the Fervent Fundraiser appeared first on Joan Garry Consulting.

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Fundraising Fundraising 216

Joan Garry

OCTOBER 18, 2023

I am asked with some regularity to coach Chief Diversity Officers. I am tempted because helping an organization to become more culturally competent, where everyone has a true sense of belonging, is important to me. But I always say no. I can’t coach them to success. They are not set up for it. Now, I. Read more The post Chief Diversity Officers Are Set Up To Fail appeared first on Joan Garry Consulting.

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Culture Nonprofit Leadership Leadership Nonprofits 192

Joan Garry

OCTOBER 3, 2023

I reveal the human cost of a government shutdown on nonprofits. It's time to act—advocacy isn't just crucial, it's our moral duty. The post The Human Cost of a Government Shutdown: A Call to Action for Nonprofits appeared first on Joan Garry Consulting.

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Governance Nonprofits Nonprofit Leadership Leadership 253

Joan Garry

SEPTEMBER 20, 2023

If you see your "busyness" as a badge of honor, it's time for some truth telling. This reflects poorly on your leadership. So let's discuss time management. The post Master Nonprofit Time Management in 90 Minutes appeared first on Joan Garry Consulting.

Management 250

Management Leadership Nonprofits Nonprofit Leadership 250

Joan Garry

JULY 26, 2023

When an Executive Director announces their exit, it can cause a whole lot of chaos inside and outside the organization. Let's avoid that. Here's a 2-Year Succession Plan Timeline you can download and adapt to set up the smoothest transition possible. The post Two-Year Executive Director Succession Plan Timeline Template appeared first on Joan Garry Consulting.

Nonprofit Leadership 130

Nonprofit Leadership Leadership Nonprofits 130

Joan Garry

SEPTEMBER 6, 2023

The key to having super high impact without burning out? Empathy. Beth Kanter and I explain. The post Why Empathy is the Key to Outstanding Leadership in Nonprofit Organizations appeared first on Joan Garry Consulting.

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Leadership Nonprofit Organizations Nonprofit Organizations Nonprofits 239

Joan Garry

AUGUST 23, 2023

Transform your nonprofit's internal communications from chaos to clarity with these internal communications tips + a handy template to help your team create its own internal comms best practices! The post The 5 Attributes of a Great Nonprofit Executive Director appeared first on Joan Garry Consulting.

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Nonprofits Communication Nonprofit Leadership Leadership 225

Joan Garry

JULY 26, 2023

Nonprofit talent management is a challenge. Here's how to attract, retain, and develop the best people to help your org achieve its mission. The post Stop Pecking Me to Death! appeared first on Joan Garry Consulting.

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Management Nonprofits Nonprofit Leadership Leadership 213

Joan Garry

JULY 12, 2023

Nonprofit talent management is a challenge. Here's how to attract, retain, and develop the best people to help your org achieve its mission. The post How To Attract Top Talent and Retain Top Performers appeared first on Joan Garry Consulting.

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Management Nonprofits Nonprofit Leadership Leadership 219

Joan Garry

JUNE 28, 2023

Discover how your nonprofit can transform remote work into a superpower — creating a thriving culture across your team. With humor, flexibility, and a deep sense of belonging, let’s redefine hybrid work models. The post How to Manage Your Team When Everyone’s Working Remotely appeared first on Joan Garry Consulting.

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