Why I Became a Nonprofit Executive Coach — After Leading 5 Organizations
We are failing our nonprofit leaders. The very people who have sacrificed salary, work-life balance, and stock options in order to change the world deserve better than what we’ve given them.
That’s why, after 30 years working in nonprofit leadership, I decided to become a nonprofit executive coach: to support, encourage, train, and guide nonprofit leaders.
How Nonprofit Executive Coaches Work
When most people think of coaching, they picture a big, burly guy coaching athletes in school or professional sports. But coaching is so much more. As someone who has hired coaches and been a coach for hundreds of nonprofit leaders, I am here to tell you that coaching is about transformation.
“As someone who has hired coaches and been a coach for hundreds of nonprofit leaders, I am here to tell you that coaching is about transformation.”
Whether you are an athlete, the top saleswoman at a software company, or a nonprofit leader, a coach helps you assess your current state and plot your future state, and then helps you get there. Coaching is about taking stock of your current strengths and opportunities, and also your blind spots and areas for growth.
A good nonprofit executive coach helps you create a vision and goals for your personal and career growth—then helps you close the gap between where you are today and where you hope to be.
Growth is about continual improvement, performance, self-awareness, and excellence. A good coach stretches you and pushes you to do the uncomfortable.
A great coach is also an excellent listener. You want someone who won’t blow smoke up your butt, but instead tell you the cold, hard truth (in a constructive way) about what behaviors and attitudes aren’t serving you and what you can do about it.
A great coach doesn’t care about the money you are paying them as much as they care about your transformation. We coach because we care.
“A great coach doesn’t care about the money you are paying them as much as they care about your transformation. We coach because we care.”
For nonprofit leaders, coaching is an unbelievably powerful tool. Coaches are independent, confidential, discreet, and also kind. If your current coach is not these things, you are missing out on excellent coaching. Don’t conflate a mentor and a role model with a coach.
They are different. And most importantly, remember, a coach is not a therapist. In some ways, they are better.
Nonprofit Executive Coaching Is About Transformation, Not Therapy
I can’t even count many times nonprofit leaders have told me that the time they spend with their executive coach is far more useful than the time they spend with their therapist. That isn’t to disparage therapists. Therapists provide life-changing support. But the therapy relationship and coaching relationship are fundamentally different.
A therapist is using a suite of tools to help you navigate life and the challenges you are facing. A nonprofit coach is helping you transform.
You can leave a therapy session feeling better, but leave a nonprofit coaching session ready to do better.
“You can leave a therapy session feeling better, but leave a nonprofit coaching session ready to do better. ”
Never conflate your coach with a therapist, even if you use your coaching sessions to vent, seek moral or emotional support, or get clarity on your life and career.
If any executive coach positions themselves as a therapist or counselor, be wary. They are blurring a line that is very delicate and could confuse your relationship.
My Story: Why I Became a Nonprofit Executive Coach
I spent 30+ years in nonprofit leadership—fundraising, managing boards, managing staff, leading teams to achieve goals, and often feeling isolated along the way.
In my nonprofit career, I served as an executive director for five separate organizations and helped hire numerous other nonprofit executive directors.
I know firsthand the challenges nonprofit leaders face.
Nonprofit leaders often feel like they have been dropped in the deep end of a pool and told to swim. They don’t get the training, onboarding, orientation, or support they need to thrive.
Our sector just assumes that, because of the pay, title, and authority we give executive directors, they will naturally thrive. This is a recipe for disaster.
The role of a nonprofit executive is both incredibly demanding and very isolating. You must project confidence and competence to your board, staff, and stakeholders—no matter how you feel inside.
Despite all the advice you see in books and online about being “authentic” and “vulnerable,” nonprofit leaders know that speaking your mind or crying in a meeting can cost you your job. Authentic and vulnerable need an asterisk.
Here is a dirty secret: Many nonprofit leaders are in their jobs because they are the only leader willing to do the hard work for the crappy pay. But as a nonprofit leader, once you step into the public eye to face criticism, long nights, countless hours in meetings or tabling at festivals—you need support. You need someone in their corner. You need a coach.
When someone dedicates their life to service, instead of profit, they deserve the full support of our communities and our sector. That’s why I became a nonprofit coach.
“When someone dedicates their life to service, instead of profit, they deserve the full support of our communities and our sector. That’s why I became a nonprofit coach. ”
I started my consulting practice in 2017, and very quickly it became clear that supporting executive directors, founders, board chairs, and other leaders was my passion.
I believe so strongly in the nonprofit sector that I have dedicated my life to making sure that if you decide to forgo stock options and giant paydays because you want to end suffering or pollution, I will have your back.
The entire nonprofit sector needs to invest in training, coaching, and professional development. I strongly encourage all nonprofit leaders to demand that your funders and your board make coaching a dedicated line item for leaders. When you’re ready, I’d be honored to be at your side.
To learn more about how to work with me—and to learn about how nonprofit coaching works—check out my one-on-one and group coaching programs for nonprofit leaders.
If you’re interested in getting started with coaching right away, you can grab a spot on my schedule so we can find the best program and approach for your individual needs.
