Ep. 228: Nonprofits Are Under Attack (with Glennda Testone)

Ep. 228: Nonprofits Are Under Attack (with Glennda Testone)

Author: Joan Garry & Glennda Testone May 10, 2025 Duration: 42:43
Nonprofits are under attack in 2025—from hostile federal policies, harmful public misconceptions, and risk-averse boards. Glennda Testone and I urge nonprofit leaders to push back, speak up, and lead with boldness and creativity. Despite the challenges, we spotlight moments of hope and courage from organizations stepping up to protect communities and sustain impact.

Stepping into a leadership role at a nonprofit often feels less like a tidy playbook and more like navigating a wonderfully complex, human ecosystem. That’s the territory explored in Nonprofits Are Messy, hosted by Joan Garry. Drawing on her deep experience as a nonprofit leader and former Executive Director of GLAAD, Joan gets into the real work behind the mission-the difficult conversations, the strategic pivots, and the daily decisions that define an organization's health. Each episode feels like a candid consultation, offering practical lessons for CEOs, board members, fundraisers, and communications professionals who are in the trenches. You’ll hear specific strategies for strengthening a wobbly board, framing a compelling fundraising story, and steering through internal conflicts that can sideline even the most passionate teams. This podcast recognizes that the path to impact is rarely linear, and it provides the grounded, empathetic advice needed to build resilience and clarity. Tune in for conversations that replace theoretical jargon with actionable insight, all centered on the belief that strong leadership is the cornerstone of any thriving mission.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

Nonprofits Are Messy: Lessons in Leadership | Fundraising | Board Development | Communications
Podcast Episodes
Ep 261: What Would Dolly Do? Leadership Lessons from a Life of Giving [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:33
Glennda Testone, CEO of Nonprofit Leadership Lab, did not grow up on Dolly Parton. A year and a half of full immersion later, she came away with three lessons about Dolly Parton philanthropy that every nonprofit leader s…