Learning for Good | L&D Solutions and Leadership Development for Nonprofits

Nonprofit leadership development is about far more than offering training. It’s about creating an environment where people want to stay, grow, and contribute meaningfully to your mission.  In this episode, I’m joined by bestselling author and workplace growth champion Julie Winkle Giulioni, who challenges nonprofits to rethink how they approach staff development and build truly supportive cultures...

As nonprofit leaders look ahead to the new year, it’s essential to understand which capabilities will matter most.  In this episode, I’m breaking down the top skills nonprofits will need in 2026 so teams can stay resilient, adaptive, and mission-focused. Plus, I’m sharing a simple three-step process to help you identify the specific skills your organization should prioritize this year. If you’re p...

We are already at the end of 2025. This is a time of reflection, goal setting, and a renewed commitment to being our best selves. I love this time of year, and each year I like to spend some time reflecting on my goals, what I've been able to accomplish, and where I missed a little bit. So, in this episode, I'm going to share some details about what's going on inside Skill Masters M...

As learning and development leaders, it feels like we're always trying to get a seat at the table, but are we truly prepared to have effective conversations with our nonprofit's executives when we get there? To get you ready, in this episode, I invited Rick Dahlseid to help us position training as a worthwhile investment. He is a nonprofit CFO with over 20 years in the sector, with exper...

Are you an HR leader or L&D pro who finds themselves having to prove themselves to everyone over and over again, or being brought to the table too late? If you want that to change, you have to build your influence in the organization. You can do it by strengthening your personal brand, which will help you build credibility inside your nonprofit and be seen as a valuable strategic partner.  In...

It's very common for leaders to throw training at every performance problem we see. Yet not all performance problems result from a skill gap.  In fact, many are due to other factors, such as mindset or motivation. The problem with this is that performance won't change if you offer training in these cases. So, in this episode, I'm breaking down how to  determine if something is a min...

In times of change and disruption, burnout has become a major epidemic. In fact, according to statistics, over half of the workforce is burnt out, with the nonprofit sector being hit the hardest. Because we must address this issue, I have Dr. Reggie Thomas with me today. He is the founder of PeakePotential, Inc., and a professional speaker  who gives keynote talks and teaches workshops on burnout...

 Nonprofits often view training as a cost. I've heard it, and I'm sure you've heard it as well. However, it's actually an investment in the very thing that moves your mission forward: your people. That's why, in this episode, I'm sitting down with Nancy Bacon to debunk the idea that training is a cost and highlight all the value it brings when done right. She is a tea...

Do you ever feel like you have to constantly babysit your team instead of focusing on your own job? It's like you can't take your eyes off them, so you always find yourself in their work and in their decisions, double-checking everything. If that's your case, then this episode is for nonprofit leaders like yourself. I'm bringing five lessons from past clients and past podcast e...

Your nonprofit has a strong 2026 strategy. But is your team ready to bring it to life? If your team isn't fully equipped to deliver on your goals, you could be missing the bridge between strategy and success. That's why, in this episode, I'm sharing a little of what it takes to align your L&D efforts and your nonprofit strategy by breaking down the five steps you can take to bui...

We have all disagreed with our nonprofit stakeholders at some point in our careers,  but speaking up and sharing that disagreement can feel hard because we tend to want to avoid conflict and not burn any bridges. However, there are times when voicing your disagreement is necessary because it's what's best for the organization and the mission. That's why, in this episode, I'm sh...

Have you ever created a training only to launch it into the world and be met with crickets? I see this happen often in learning and development. However,  I know how hard you work, and I know you're doing good, meaningful work in the nonprofit sector, so I don't want you to release a learning experience and be met with silence. That's why, in this episode, I'm joined by Hannah...

Creating impactful training programs for nonprofit teams takes more than good intentions; it takes strategy.  In this episode of Learning for Good , we’re diving deep into the hidden and high costs of getting training wrong. From budget overruns to burnout, I’m breaking down what nonprofit leaders risk when they don’t start with the right diagnosis—and how to get it right. This conversation is esp...

Sometimes, when we work with nonprofit executive leaders, it's easy to jump to an assumption about what they thought or what they wanted. The problem is that when we act on that, things don't turn out the way either of us expects. I don't want that to be you, so in this episode, I'm having a chat with Danika Mitcham, the Vice President of Supporter Operations at Compassion Inte...

If you are a nonprofit L&D pro, you know how to design learning experiences. You've got the experience. Yet, sometimes the trainings we spend time and money creating don't work. And if you are a nonprofit leader, you want to ensure that what you spend valuable time and resources on works. Over the years,  I've spent a lot of time thinking about this issue, and that's why in...

Empathy might be one of the most essential skills for learning designers, and there's no better place to learn it than design thinking. That's why, in this episode, I am joined by Sheryl Cababa, a design researcher and strategist, and the Chief Strategy Officer at Optimistic Design, to give us some insight into her process. She clarifies what design thinking is and what it entails, how i...

Training is often the go-to solution in our nonprofits. But what if I told you that training isn't always the right solution? In this episode, I discuss why jumping to solutions without first diagnosing the problem can be a bad idea, and I share some situations where training works well and others where a different solution is necessary. ▶️ When Training Works and When It Doesn't  ▶️ Key...

When we think of a high-performance team, we usually think of things like productivity, how much effort people are putting in, accountability, and higher outputs and profits. All that is important, but there is one other thing without which a team will never be high-performing. In this episode, I sit down with Ashley Cox, a leadership mentor who equips women to build high-performance teams they tr...

Welcome to episode 150 of the Learning For Good podcast! Thank you, dear listener. This podcast has grown so much since 2022, and it's all because of you. In this special episode, we are doing something a little different to celebrate: I'm going to be on the other side of the mic as  my friend, fellow nonprofit consultant and community builder, Tasha Van Vlack, interviews me. You'll...

How can we create a high-performance culture that benefits not just the organization, but also the individuals in it? In this episode, I sit down with Brett Myles, leadership coach and Founder of LeadWell, and we dive deep into how to create a culture that will support all parts of the organization. By the end of this episode, you'll have new tools to help you navigate conflict, help leaders...

Designing a learning experience for the average learner is a thing of the past, we must now design for everyone. So, in this episode of Learning for Good, I am joined by accessibility expert Dr. Nicole L'Etoile. We're diving deep into how we can design learning strategies in our organizations that work for ALL learners. You'll understand why accessibility is a foundational part of L...

In this episode of Learning for Good, we’re exploring how nonprofit leaders can take actionable steps to maintain performance and build capacity even during stressful seasons. If your team is feeling overwhelmed, stretched thin, or stuck in reactive mode, this episode offers timely advice rooted in real-world nonprofit experience. ▶️ Stretched Thin? Three Capacity Building Strategies Every Nonprof...

Get ready to change the way you think about designing training scenarios in this episode of Learning for Good. I have used scenarios myself, and I really do think this is a skillset that we all need to get better at because scenarios are such a helpful tool in learning. That's why today I'm talking to Srividya Kumar, a learning design leader and co-founder of Learnnovators. She makes des...

Creating a strong learning culture is no longer a luxury - it's a necessity for nonprofit leadership development and sustainable mission impact. In this episode, I sit down with leadership coach and author Yogi Mueller to explore how nonprofits can foster curiosity, promote vulnerability, and embed learning into their everyday operations. Whether you're facing high turnover, stagnant per...

Are your nonprofit’s people managers equipped to lead with clarity and confidence, or just left to figure it out on their own? In this episode, I take a deep dive into how to develop nonprofit people managers using proven learning and development strategies. With a focus on building leadership through competency models, coaching, enablement, and accountability, you’ll discover how to build confide...