41. The Uncomfortable Truth about Galas, Grants, and Poverty Wages in Nonprofits

You're nodding along in the board meeting. Writing the check, smiling politely. Planning the gala.But in your head? You're thinking something completely different.Like how galas waste money that could fund actual programs. How most nonprofit boards are where good ideas go to die. How spending 40 hours on a grant application for maybe $10,000 is insane.Everyone's thinking it. Nobody's saying it.In this episode, I'm saying it:Why wanting your name on your foundation is accountability, not egoWhat nonprofit leaders are thinking but can't say out loud (it's not pretty)Why scattered giving and poverty wages aren't creating the change we needWhy some of you don't want to reform the system - you want to rebuild it entirelyWhether you're writing checks that don't create change or running a nonprofit on credit cards and hope, this one's going to sting a little.But if you're brave enough to admit what's not working, you can start building what will.Join me at Audacious Purposse in-person event - https://poppygrovellc.com/audacious-purpose-2026