From Strategy to Social Impact

In this episode, Anne-Lise Cailliez interviews Sara Deren, leader of Experience Camps, an organization providing free grief support programs for children who've lost a parent or sibling. Sara shares how the organization grew from 27 campers to over 1,500, serving a population of 6.5 million grieving children in the US. She discusses the challenges of scaling a nonprofit, the importance of checking in on grievers beyond the initial loss, and how they're using digital platforms like TikTok and Grief Sucks to reach more kids. Sara opens up about the delicate balance between fundraising and serving children, the ethics of marketing grief services, and the need to normalize conversations about death and loss. She also shares her unexpected career pivot from computer programming to leading a children's grief organization, emphasizing the importance of trusting the journey and empowering teams. The conversation highlights the critical need for ongoing support for grieving families and practical ways anyone can help. You can connect with me at: My website: parlezvousceo.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annelisecailliez Instagram: instagram.com/parlezvousceo Want to be a guest on the podcast? Contact us at [email protected]   #childgrief #nonprofit #entrepreneurship #mentalhealth #womeninbusiness #scaling #communitybuilding #socialmedia #volunteermanagement #purposedrivenwork #leadership #philanthropy