Leading Well Means Keeping People Well: Reflections on Staff Wellbeing

I have been thinking about nonprofit staff. Times are stressful. The sector is under attack. Funding is shrinking. I know our staff are worn out. Sometimes they confide in me. Often the CEO will say something to the board. We see talented people leave because they are exhausted. We watch EDs quietly burn out while telling everyone else to practice self-care. And we board members nod and say how much we appreciate how hard the staff works. But I am not sure we really do much about it. I know we are not asking what this costs for our mission.… Read more

When the Money Disappears: Leading Through a Sudden Funding Loss

June 16, 2026 Categories: Best Nonprofit Practices · Board Member Roles · Fundraising · Good Board Practices · Good Corporate Praactices · Leadership · Nonprofit FundingTags: Funding dependency · Plan ahead if you rely on one funder · Sudden funding lossLeave a comment

I have been reflecting on what happens when nonprofits suddenly lose funding, especially as the federal government cuts so many grants right now. Years ago, I served on the board of a nonprofit where this happened with a state grant. I served on the board of another organization where a major individual donor drastically cut their funding. And I have heard stories from other organizations that had state, federal, or foundation grants they had received for years, suddenly stopped. As I think about these various cases, I am struck by how much of the outcome is determined by decisions made… Read more

The Organization Is Not the Mission: Moving Power

April 15, 2026 Categories: Board Member Roles · Good Board Practices · LeadershipTags: Reimagine everything · Sunsetting a nonprofit · The organization is not the missionLeave a comment

A former COO of an international NGO reached out to me after reading my post on when to close a nonprofit (Should You Shutter Your Organization? ). That’s where her story begins—but it’s not where it ends. What she shared also reinforces something I’ve been seeing across organizations: when conflict surfaces, the most effective leaders don’t rely on process or distance—they show up. It’s the same theme I wrote about recently in Being Effective on a Board Requires Personal Connections. What We Built — And Why We Walked Away As told by a nonprofit leader somewhere in the US. I… Read more

Should You Shutter Your Organization?

January 13, 2026 Categories: Board Member Roles · Board, Board Chair, ED/CEO Roles · Good Board Practices · LeadershipTags: Closing down your organization · Sunsetting your organization2 Comments

I spoke with an individual who spent decades doing innovative work in the nonprofit sector. They shared three stories – each about an organization that closed its doors. Each experience brought new insights. They noted that sometimes the lessons were tough, but all shed light on how boards and staff interact, who really holds power, and what it means to end things well. How an Organization Is Closed Provides Insight into Power As told by a nonprofit leader somewhere in the US. I’ve had an unusual career in that I’ve been part of three nonprofits that have closed down –… Read more

Sometimes You Have to Do Something Unpopular – Because It Is the Right Thing to Do

July 22, 2025 Categories: Best Nonprofit Practices · Board Member Roles · Good Board Practices · LeadershipTags: Bylaws change · Correct injustice · Special MeetingLeave a comment

A reader asked if he could share a story that was about his Homeowner’s Association. “It is not a nonprofit like most of the stories you share,” he told me. “But my story has a universal message – about doing something hard because it is the right thing to do.” I agree. So, I will share his story here. A Great Candidate, with a Catch As told by an HOA President somewhere in the US I was president of our HOA—Homeowners’ Association—and board elections were coming up. We had some financial challenges ahead, and I knew we needed someone with… Read more

Leading Well

Stories and Strategies for Doing Good Better. A blog by Janet Levinger

Category: Leadership

Leading Well Means Keeping People Well: Reflections on Staff Wellbeing

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When the Money Disappears: Leading Through a Sudden Funding Loss

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The Organization Is Not the Mission: Moving Power

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Should You Shutter Your Organization?

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Sometimes You Have to Do Something Unpopular – Because It Is the Right Thing to Do

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Leading Well Means Keeping People Well: Reflections on Staff Wellbeing

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When the Money Disappears: Leading Through a Sudden Funding Loss

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The Organization Is Not the Mission: Moving Power

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Should You Shutter Your Organization?

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Sometimes You Have to Do Something Unpopular – Because It Is the Right Thing to Do

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