Nonprofit CEO SPARK

Marcia Beckner, Nonprofit CEO Mentor & Culture Strategist
  • 5.0 (13)
  • NON-PROFIT

Lead with confidence and build an inclusive culture where everyone can thrive. Hosted by nonprofit founder and former executive director Marcia Beckner, the Nonprofit CEO SPARK podcast delivers your weekly dose of clarity, confidence, and practical leadership wisdom for social impact leaders. Each episode dives into real-world strategies to help you achieve your biggest dreams and professional goals without burning out along the way. From setting healthy boundaries to creating empowered, thriving workplace cultures, you’ll find the tools, stories, and inspiration you need to lead boldly and sustainably.

  1. 85% Retention Rule: Building an A-Team Culture that Thrives (with CEO Kelly Dunkin)

    23H AGO

    85% Retention Rule: Building an A-Team Culture that Thrives (with CEO Kelly Dunkin)

    Send a text Culture is never neutral. It’s either strengthening your mission or quietly eroding it. In this episode of Nonprofit CEO SPARK, Marcia Beckner sits down with Kelly Dunkin, President & CEO of Colorado Gives Foundation, to unpack what it really takes to build a high-performing, inclusive culture that delivers measurable results. Under Kelly’s leadership, Colorado Gives Day generated $56.5 million for 4,600 nonprofits—in a year when many organizations were navigating funding uncertainty and sector-wide stress.  The secret isn’t hustle. It’s alignment. Kelly shares how an intentional focus on culture—supported by clear agreements, defined values, and an 85% retention benchmark—has shaped hiring decisions, leadership behavior, and long-term performance. This conversation is both strategic and deeply human.  You’ll hear lessons on letting go of defensiveness, building staff-led culture systems, and why retention is one of the most overlooked leadership metrics in the nonprofit sector. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why an 85% retention goal can transform how you hire, develop, and retain top talentHow to use monthly pulse surveys and inclusion metrics to keep a real-time culture scorecardA simple, no-cost way to gather meaningful staff input and begin strengthening trustWhat it looks like to “go slow to go fast” when building sustainable fundraising momentumHow to stop taking feedback personally and lead with curiosity insteadIf you’re leading a team of 10–100 paid staff and want stronger alignment, better morale, and results that don’t depend on burnout, this episode is your roadmap. Ready to reset your leadership? Learn more about Marcia’s Burnout to Boundaries Strategy Session at CultureCARES.com. Marcia Beckner helps nonprofit executives lead with confidence and create healthy, thriving workplace cultures, especially during times of growth and change. After nearly 20 years in the nonprofit sector, she’s seen far too many talented, hard-working leaders burn out and walk away. It doesn’t have to be this way. Nonprofit CEO SPARK is your invitation to pause, pivot, and reignite your energy so you can lead with clarity, courage, and balance. Feeling exhausted and on the edge of burnout? Grab my free guide - 4 Strategies for Nonprofit CEOs to Reduce Burnout, Unify Your Team & Build a Culture That Lasts. Go to https://culturecares.com/guide. If this episode resonated, I invite you to join my Tuesday newsletter. Each week I share the podcast topic, practical leadership insights, and occasional special offers and event invitations designed to help you lead with clarity without burning out. If you know another nonprofit leader who could use this support, please pass it along. And if you’d ever like to connect directly, you can reach me at https://culturecares.com.

    30 min
  2. Turbulence Ahead: How Nonprofit Leaders Stay Grounded (Lessons from an Ex-Flight Attendant)

    FEB 10

    Turbulence Ahead: How Nonprofit Leaders Stay Grounded (Lessons from an Ex-Flight Attendant)

    Send a text What do you do when you’re responsible… but not really in charge? Before I ever coached nonprofit leaders or facilitated culture transformation initiatives, I learned some of my most important leadership lessons at 30,000 feet—as an American Airlines flight attendant in my 20s.  And one late-night flight out of Chicago made it unmistakably clear. In this episode, I share the true story of an emergency landing—and why, in moments of uncertainty, people don’t look to titles or authority. They look to presence. Reaction. Stability. If you’ve ever walked into a tense board meeting, managed staff anxiety during funding uncertainty, or felt everyone’s eyes on you waiting for cues, this episode is for you. We talk about: Why calm is the job in leadershipHow systems beat heroics every timeWhat it really means to lead without authority or controlWhy burnout isn’t just personal—it’s a leadership riskThis isn’t about knowing all the answers. It’s about protocols in high-stakes situations, credibility under pressure, and staying grounded when it matters most. Listen now and grab this week’s Spark Plug Shift for your next hard conversation. Marcia Beckner helps nonprofit executives lead with confidence and create healthy, thriving workplace cultures, especially during times of growth and change. After nearly 20 years in the nonprofit sector, she’s seen far too many talented, hard-working leaders burn out and walk away. It doesn’t have to be this way. Nonprofit CEO SPARK is your invitation to pause, pivot, and reignite your energy so you can lead with clarity, courage, and balance. Feeling exhausted and on the edge of burnout? Grab my free guide - 4 Strategies for Nonprofit CEOs to Reduce Burnout, Unify Your Team & Build a Culture That Lasts. Go to https://culturecares.com/guide. If this episode resonated, I invite you to join my Tuesday newsletter. Each week I share the podcast topic, practical leadership insights, and occasional special offers and event invitations designed to help you lead with clarity without burning out. If you know another nonprofit leader who could use this support, please pass it along. And if you’d ever like to connect directly, you can reach me at https://culturecares.com.

    13 min
  3. From Survival to Smart Growth

    FEB 3

    From Survival to Smart Growth

    Send a text In challenging times, abundance isn’t about having more. It’s about defending what matters most. Recently, I met with an Executive Director I’ll call Susan. She had been in her role just a few months when the funding landscape shifted in a way that couldn’t be ignored. This wasn’t a temporary disruption—it was a permanent change that forced hard decisions forward. Susan reviewed the financials and knew layoffs were coming. She also knew her team would struggle—not from lack of commitment, but because uncertainty makes all of us reach for what feels familiar. And she understood something that sat heavily with her. She hadn’t been hired to protect the status quo. She had been hired to ensure the organization could endure and continue serving its community. Standing in that tension, Susan designed a pathway forward that protected the mission.  Today, I want to share what she did, why it mattered, and how you can move through difficult seasons with the same steadiness if you’re facing something similar. You can find the full transcript and show notes at CultureCARES.com/14. Marcia Beckner helps nonprofit executives lead with confidence and create healthy, thriving workplace cultures, especially during times of growth and change. After nearly 20 years in the nonprofit sector, she’s seen far too many talented, hard-working leaders burn out and walk away. It doesn’t have to be this way. Nonprofit CEO SPARK is your invitation to pause, pivot, and reignite your energy so you can lead with clarity, courage, and balance. Feeling exhausted and on the edge of burnout? Grab my free guide - 4 Strategies for Nonprofit CEOs to Reduce Burnout, Unify Your Team & Build a Culture That Lasts. Go to https://culturecares.com/guide. If this episode resonated, I invite you to join my Tuesday newsletter. Each week I share the podcast topic, practical leadership insights, and occasional special offers and event invitations designed to help you lead with clarity without burning out. If you know another nonprofit leader who could use this support, please pass it along. And if you’d ever like to connect directly, you can reach me at https://culturecares.com.

    13 min
  4. When Hybrid Hurts Nonprofit Team Unity

    JAN 27

    When Hybrid Hurts Nonprofit Team Unity

    Send a text One of the toughest calls for nonprofit leaders right now is which staff members get remote flexibility… and which don’t. You’re juggling programs, fundraising, and staff wellbeing — all while trying to create policies that balance fairness, equity, and mission delivery. But when different departments play by different rules, silos can deepen.  Here’s a common example: 💼 The Development team’s working hybrid. 👥 The Program team’s in the field. 💬 And soon, staff are whispering about fairness instead of collaborating on impact. In today’s episode, we’re unpacking real, actionable strategies to turn hybrid work from a source of tension into a tool for trust and connection. Let’s make your hybrid culture one where everyone feels seen, supported, and set up to thrive. Picture a nonprofit called “Bright Futures.” Their Development team negotiated hybrid schedules: two office days, three remote. Reports and grant writing can be done from home office.  Meanwhile, the Program team — the ones running after-school programs — are expected to be on-site five days a week. Their roles really do demand presence. On paper, it makes sense.  But In reality, it sparks division: - Program staff ask, “Why are we stuck here while Development gets flexibility?” - Development staff quietly wonder, “Do people think we’re not pulling our weight?” Team cohesion suffers. Emails go unanswered, deadlines slip, and the CEO feels like they’re putting out culture fires instead of leading the mission. This is where nonprofit leaders must recognize: the issue isn’t just policy.  The real challenge is designing a culture that communicates fairness, explains the why, and creates connection across departments. Marcia Beckner helps nonprofit executives lead with confidence and create healthy, thriving workplace cultures, especially during times of growth and change. After nearly 20 years in the nonprofit sector, she’s seen far too many talented, hard-working leaders burn out and walk away. It doesn’t have to be this way. Nonprofit CEO SPARK is your invitation to pause, pivot, and reignite your energy so you can lead with clarity, courage, and balance. Feeling exhausted and on the edge of burnout? Grab my free guide - 4 Strategies for Nonprofit CEOs to Reduce Burnout, Unify Your Team & Build a Culture That Lasts. Go to https://culturecares.com/guide. If this episode resonated, I invite you to join my Tuesday newsletter. Each week I share the podcast topic, practical leadership insights, and occasional special offers and event invitations designed to help you lead with clarity without burning out. If you know another nonprofit leader who could use this support, please pass it along. And if you’d ever like to connect directly, you can reach me at https://culturecares.com.

    8 min
  5. 12: What Actually Speeds Up Decisions in Nonprofit Teams

    JAN 20

    12: What Actually Speeds Up Decisions in Nonprofit Teams

    Send us a text Let’s say you’re leading a team meeting with the main goal to ‘Decide on new donor database’. Two hours later, you’ve heard passionate arguments, five different options, and you’re running out of trail mix in the middle of the table. Then someone says, ‘So who’s actually deciding this?’  Blank stares across the room. And that is the moment everyone realizes…nobody knows. I’ll be honest …I was very guilty of this myself. When I was the Executive Director for MyLifeLine Cancer Foundation, the organization I founded, I thought being a good leader meant pleasing everyone and inviting all staff into every decision. I wanted my team to feel included. But what often happened?  Our big group wasted time spinning in circles and indecision. People left meetings frustrated. I didn’t know it then, but I had confused inclusivity with clarity. Today, I’ll share a decision-making framework that saved the day and helped us address this challenge for good. Marcia Beckner helps nonprofit executives lead with confidence and create healthy, thriving workplace cultures, especially during times of growth and change. After nearly 20 years in the nonprofit sector, she’s seen far too many talented, hard-working leaders burn out and walk away. It doesn’t have to be this way. Nonprofit CEO SPARK is your invitation to pause, pivot, and reignite your energy so you can lead with clarity, courage, and balance. Feeling exhausted and on the edge of burnout? Grab my free guide - 4 Strategies for Nonprofit CEOs to Reduce Burnout, Unify Your Team & Build a Culture That Lasts. Go to https://culturecares.com/guide. If this episode resonated, I invite you to join my Tuesday newsletter. Each week I share the podcast topic, practical leadership insights, and occasional special offers and event invitations designed to help you lead with clarity without burning out. If you know another nonprofit leader who could use this support, please pass it along. And if you’d ever like to connect directly, you can reach me at https://culturecares.com.

    11 min
  6. 11: Your Drama-Free Culture Powers 2026 Results (A Personal Story)

    JAN 13

    11: Your Drama-Free Culture Powers 2026 Results (A Personal Story)

    Send us a text Welcome back to Nonprofit CEO SPARK. I’m Marcia Beckner, and today we’re kicking off with a hot take I’ve been sitting with for a long time: On-going staff drama isn’t normal. It’s a leadership choice to tolerate a low-trust environment. I know...that’s bold, maybe even a little controversial. But I also know it’s true, because I lived through one of the most painful and ultimately transformational chapters of my Executive Director career. There was a season when my staff split into factions. Our culture unraveled. Fundraising tanked. And I found myself standing at a crossroads, facing decisions I never thought I’d have to make. But what happened next changed everything for me, for my team, and for the organization we built from the ground up. I’m going to get a little vulnerable today, because I’ve never shared this story quite like this.  But if it helps even one CEO or ED understand that you get what you tolerate with your team, then it’s worth it.  Marcia Beckner helps nonprofit executives lead with confidence and create healthy, thriving workplace cultures, especially during times of growth and change. After nearly 20 years in the nonprofit sector, she’s seen far too many talented, hard-working leaders burn out and walk away. It doesn’t have to be this way. Nonprofit CEO SPARK is your invitation to pause, pivot, and reignite your energy so you can lead with clarity, courage, and balance. Feeling exhausted and on the edge of burnout? Grab my free guide - 4 Strategies for Nonprofit CEOs to Reduce Burnout, Unify Your Team & Build a Culture That Lasts. Go to https://culturecares.com/guide. If this episode resonated, I invite you to join my Tuesday newsletter. Each week I share the podcast topic, practical leadership insights, and occasional special offers and event invitations designed to help you lead with clarity without burning out. If you know another nonprofit leader who could use this support, please pass it along. And if you’d ever like to connect directly, you can reach me at https://culturecares.com.

    14 min
  7. 10: New Year's Resolution: Stop Sacrificing Yourself To Get The Work Done

    JAN 5

    10: New Year's Resolution: Stop Sacrificing Yourself To Get The Work Done

    Send us a text As we step into a new year, I want to talk about one resolution that almost every nonprofit leader needs, but very few actually name out loud: Stop personally sacrificing yourself to get the work done. Consider giving yourself permission to lead without losing yourself. Today, I’m giving you 3 practical strategies to stick to this resolution, so you don’t spiral back to living on caffeine, email triage, and pure adrenaline. Typical resolutions sound like:  “I want to work less.”  “I need boundaries.”  “I have to take better care of myself.” But those are vague wishes, not commitments. Here’s a more powerful reframe: “I will no longer sacrifice my peace, my health, or my joy to keep the mission running.” This moves you from survival mode… to decisive CEO mode. Marcia Beckner helps nonprofit executives lead with confidence and create healthy, thriving workplace cultures, especially during times of growth and change. After nearly 20 years in the nonprofit sector, she’s seen far too many talented, hard-working leaders burn out and walk away. It doesn’t have to be this way. Nonprofit CEO SPARK is your invitation to pause, pivot, and reignite your energy so you can lead with clarity, courage, and balance. Feeling exhausted and on the edge of burnout? Grab my free guide - 4 Strategies for Nonprofit CEOs to Reduce Burnout, Unify Your Team & Build a Culture That Lasts. Go to https://culturecares.com/guide. If this episode resonated, I invite you to join my Tuesday newsletter. Each week I share the podcast topic, practical leadership insights, and occasional special offers and event invitations designed to help you lead with clarity without burning out. If you know another nonprofit leader who could use this support, please pass it along. And if you’d ever like to connect directly, you can reach me at https://culturecares.com.

    12 min
  8. 9: 4 Nonprofit Leaders’ Trust Secrets That Hold in a Storm

    12/16/2025

    9: 4 Nonprofit Leaders’ Trust Secrets That Hold in a Storm

    Send us a text As we wrap up 2025, it feels like the perfect moment to pause and reflect. This year stretched every leader I know from staff transitions, funding dips, and the nonstop pace of change  So before we sprint into 2026 planning mode, let’s take a breath and look back at what actually worked. I asked four incredible nonprofit leaders one simple question: “What’s your #1 best strategy to build trust and morale during times of disruption?” Their answers? Honest. Practical. Grounded. They also cost nothing to implement but the payout is enormous.  You’ve heard the saying, “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.”   Well… one of my clients proved it.  By focusing on building a high-trust culture, they didn’t just meet their $20M fundraising goal…they hit it two months early. That’s the power of trust in motion.  Marcia Beckner helps nonprofit executives lead with confidence and create healthy, thriving workplace cultures, especially during times of growth and change. After nearly 20 years in the nonprofit sector, she’s seen far too many talented, hard-working leaders burn out and walk away. It doesn’t have to be this way. Nonprofit CEO SPARK is your invitation to pause, pivot, and reignite your energy so you can lead with clarity, courage, and balance. Feeling exhausted and on the edge of burnout? Grab my free guide - 4 Strategies for Nonprofit CEOs to Reduce Burnout, Unify Your Team & Build a Culture That Lasts. Go to https://culturecares.com/guide. If this episode resonated, I invite you to join my Tuesday newsletter. Each week I share the podcast topic, practical leadership insights, and occasional special offers and event invitations designed to help you lead with clarity without burning out. If you know another nonprofit leader who could use this support, please pass it along. And if you’d ever like to connect directly, you can reach me at https://culturecares.com.

    10 min
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5
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

Lead with confidence and build an inclusive culture where everyone can thrive. Hosted by nonprofit founder and former executive director Marcia Beckner, the Nonprofit CEO SPARK podcast delivers your weekly dose of clarity, confidence, and practical leadership wisdom for social impact leaders. Each episode dives into real-world strategies to help you achieve your biggest dreams and professional goals without burning out along the way. From setting healthy boundaries to creating empowered, thriving workplace cultures, you’ll find the tools, stories, and inspiration you need to lead boldly and sustainably.

Information

  • Creator
    Marcia Beckner, Nonprofit CEO Mentor & Culture Strategist
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Nonprofit CEO SPARK
  • Show Website
    Nonprofit CEO SPARK