Becoming Birds
A month reflecting on innovation and what it will take to rise above
A couple of months ago, I was discussing nightmarish challenges in the nonprofit sector with other CEOs. One of our mentors joined us, paraphrasing a comment she recently overheard at an event: “There’s going to be a mass extinction of nonprofits because of the Trump administration,” someone said. Great, all my fears are coming true, I thought.
“But then,” she added, “someone else spoke up. And they said, ‘Yes. But some of us will become birds.’”
I’ve reflected on that dialogue nearly every week since. And sure, dinosaurs are a big part of my subconscious already, thanks to sweet Owen, but there is a reason this struck a chord with me.
You don’t have to work in the nonprofit sector to understand what I’m talking about; just think about how AI has turned industries upside down. It doesn’t take much to spiral into worst-case scenarios. And when I start to, I quiet my mind and think of the birds (which I can hear chirping outside my window as I type; thank goodness spring is here!). I am determined to be the leader of an organization that will fly.
This month’s newsletter is dedicated to harnessing that spirit of innovation.
Captured from my friend Kimothy Joy’s Instagram. Kimothy illustrated this lyric from a 22-year-old songwriter, Samantha Ebert, who is battling Lyme’s disease. April has been full of showers in NYC, matching the gloomy outlook of economic and political news. I’m trying to hold out for the flowers.
Leadership: Hate Won’t Win
If you’re craving inspiration, Mallory McMorrow’s Hate Won’t Win is for you (and the ideal companion to Impact!) It’s part memoir, part guidebook to effectively engage with your local legislature.
If you aren’t familiar with her: Mallory is a 38-year-old Michigan State Senator (who recently announced her run for the U.S. Senate). What struck me the most about her story is how, in her first term, she couldn’t pass a single bill, because the Republicans blocked every effort. After a Republican senator slandered Mallory, she gave a speech on the Senate floor that went viral, growing her a much bigger platform and voice. Mallory used her political stardom to fundraise for other local Democratic candidates; in the next election, she helped flip the Michigan Senate blue, and then her legislation (such as a life-saving ‘red flag’ gun protection law) could pass.
Rather than let her political career wither away with those defeats in her first term, she found a way to rise above. Hate Won’t Win left me thinking about how sometimes, the change we want to make isn’t possible until we lift others alongside us. Only then can we remove the barriers standing in our way.
Philanthropy: Ever-Elusive Feedback
70% of nonprofit leaders report that the political climate is negatively affecting their organizations; they also report weak communication from their existing funders (Center for Effective Philanthropy). Let alone prospective funders! Nonprofits work hard on strong proposals, then typically receive a rejection with little to no feedback.
I have a deep desire to fix this problem, from the other side, in my future. In the past month, I’ve had both wins and rejections (par for the course). Rejections are usually generic: “We received overwhelming applications.” “Your program is important, but not a fit at this time.”
It’s not fun for a grant manager to turn down programs they know need the funding to continue. But imagine if grantors still tried to strengthen the organizations they couldn’t fund, with feedback. If they sent their response along with a copy of the rubric they used, and how your org/application scored based on the materials. (I wonder how often they use rubrics? These are powerful tools for checking biases and aligning with strategy and values.) You could see how well they understood your programs, and maybe evaluate their strategy as much as they do yours. Feedback is rare. Perhaps you find the same if you’re job hunting; the power dynamics can be similar (the difference is, most employers don’t have a mission-driven reason to offer feedback, the way funders should). I appreciate funders feeling overwhelmed; but I see this as an opportunity to learn from nonprofits, how we maximize efficiency to address similar demands with care. Additionally, most funders have the advantage of hiring support staff to get this process right.
This is one of the reasons I love the Unfunded List - you may wish to share this link with a nonprofit you love. For a tiny fee, nonprofits can submit a grant proposal. A group of volunteer funders review and send back thoughtful comments; then a real person (!) hops on a call with you to discuss. Their website says: “Inclusive philanthropy is our passion.” More of this, please!
🎧 In My Ears on the Walk to Daycare…
Meghan Markle’s Confessions of a Female Founder postcast; I so badly wanted to jump into the convo with two-time nonprofit founder Reshma Saujani!
I listened to Sophia Bush interview Michelle Obama, who has a new life advice podcast IMO, hosted with her brother Craig. This has become a much healthier brain break for me than TV!
I always perk up when a new episode of Sali Christeson’s Work Friends lands.
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