Ep 260: How Can Nonprofits Do Better Good? Hint: Doing More Isn’t the Answer.

Ep 260: How Can Nonprofits Do Better Good? Hint: Doing More Isn’t the Answer.

Author: Joan Garry & Glennda Testone August 29, 2026 Duration: 50:33
What if greater nonprofit impact isn’t about doing more? Glennda Testone talks with Better Good author Scott M. Curran about focusing on what works and using what you already have more intentionally.

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…