Lessons Learned as a Nonprofit Executive Director & Nonprofit Consultant

Let’s be real. Being a nonprofit executive director isn’t always a walk in the park. There are definitely challenges that one faces with wearing the following hats:Leader and visionaryFundraiserBeing the face of the organizationMarketerManager…and so much more.It’s a good thing that Dolph Goldenburg, founder of Successful Nonprofits, comes on the Grant Writing & Funding podcast to discuss his lessons learned as an executive director and as a nonprofit consultant.Dolph goes in deep, starting off the discussion with sharing his experience being completely burned out as nonprofit executive director. At the time, he resigned and took a year off as a sabbatical to reflect. This led to his current position as a nonprofit consultant. The lessons he has learned along the way include:Taking time to recognize red flags of old habitsNegotiating with funding sourcesWriting grants for enough money instead of settlingBeing values-basedAnd so much moreWhat We Discuss:Grant Reviewer CourseOvercoming BurnoutHow to Know if a Job isn’t a Good FitLooking Inward into Nonprofit Pain PointsHow to Look for Signs of Nonprofit BurnoutHow Being Values-Based Helps to Attract the Right PeopleWhy Paying Your Nonprofit Staff a Living Wage is Vital to Nonprofit HealthWhy Nonprofit Attrition Rates Can Be the Funder’s FaultWhy You Need to Not Underbid on a Grant ApplicationHow to Renegotiate with a Funding SourceWhy Talking to Funders is so ImportantAbout Dolph GoldenburgDolph is recognized as a leader within the nonprofit sector who has a track record of guiding organizations through leadership transitions, strategic planning and board development. He started Successful Nonprofits in 2014 to provide consulting, podcasting and publishing services that strengthen the nonprofit sector. Goldenburg’s consulting focuses on strategic planning, executive transitions, board development and coaching. His clients have included large nonprofits like Sheltering Arms and HOPE Atlanta and also small but mighty nonprofits like the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund and Zebra Coalition.Prior to starting his consulting practice, Goldenburg was a successful nonprofit CEO for about a dozen years with a demonstrated history of leading organizations to financial stability and growth.  As a CEO, Goldenburg helped organizations transform deficits into healthy surpluses, increase fund balances, dramatically expand services, and increase revenue.  In addition to extensive CEO experience, Goldenburg also has more than a decade of fundraising experience, which includes soliciting six -figure gifts and writing millions of dollars in funded grant proposals. Goldenburg holds a masters degree in public administration from the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University and graduated summa cum laude with a bachelors degree in social work from Georgia State University. Dolph lives in Lawrenceville, GA with his husband, has traveled to five of the seven continents, and is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.Connect with Dolph:www.successfulnonprofits.comwww.linkedin.com/in/dolphgCheck out his podcast! Want to see Holly on Dolph’s Podcast? Click here to listen to “Connecting Money to Mission”OTHER RESOURCES:Weekly Newsletter: “Write Grants. Get Paid” - Get thought leadership on grant and freelance grant writing strategies every week in your inbox.  https://grantwritingandfunding.com/Freelance Grant Writer Academy: Replace your Full-Time Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/Grant Professional Mentorship: Double your Monthly Revenue with an Income Stream Outside of Grant Writing. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/mentorship RATE, REVIEW, & FOLLOW THE PODCASTFavor, please? If you love this podcast, would you please do me a favor and leave a review on iTunes or your podcast listener?This helps others find the podcast and I read each and every review!“Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Grant Writing & Funding podcast to get grant and freelance grant writing proven strategies and conversations in your podcast player every single week.Thanks for listening!Warmly,Holly RustickLeading the $1 Billion for Good Movement: By 2030, aspiring and seasoned grant writers inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy & Grant Professional Mentorship will 1) WIN $1 Billion in Grants, and 2) MAKE $30 Million in their Grant Writing Businesses. We are on our way already.