Inspired Nonprofit Leadership

Hosted by Sarah Olivieri

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464

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Oct 2026

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About the show

This podcast is a place for nonprofit leaders to gain insights, tips, inspiration, and encouragement to unleash their potential.

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October 26, 2026Episode 46613 min

466: Three Things to Say When You Delegate with Sarah Olivieri

Show Notes You hand off a task. It comes back half done, or not at all, and now you're redoing the work and wondering why you bothered. Delegating well does give you time back, though sometimes not the first time. It also builds your team's skills, trust, and confidence along the way. In this bonus episode, Sarah Olivieri shares the DAD method, a simple way to remember the three things to communicate every time you delegate: Desired Result, Available Resources, and Delegated Decisions. She walks through a grant application example, explains why she sometimes names herself as the known obstacle, and closes with the difference between delegating a task and distributing leadership decisions across your organization. In This Episode, You'll Learn Why the first round of delegating may not save you time, and why it still pays off. How to describe what done looks like, including critical elements and known obstacles. Which resources to name, from a budget limit to an old spreadsheet in the shared drive, and when to say you are not available. How to decide which decisions to hand off and which to keep, using a grant application as the example. How delegating a task differs from distributing leadership decisions. Who This Episode Is For Executive Directors who want to hand off work without having to redo it. Leaders who want their team to become more skilled and independent. Anyone who has delegated a task and gotten back something different from what they pictured. Links from this episode Join the Inspired Nonprofit Leadership Newsletter for weekly nonprofit leadership tips . How to Get Follow-Through Without Micromanaging with Gina Cotner. Schedule a call with Sarah about distributing leadership decisions . Sarah Olivieri's Substack publication About Your Host, Sarah Olivieri Bold, strategic, and refreshingly human… Sarah Olivieri is the go-to expert for conversations on aligned leadership, outcome delegation, and sustainable growth. She brings wit, warmth, and real-world wisdom to mission-driven founders, visionary CEOs, and change-makers who want more clarity, more joy, and more results. Most leaders hit a wall when success depends on them holding it all together. Sarah helps them change that by redefining leadership around outcomes instead of activity, empowering teams to own results that scale and freeing leaders to focus on the vision that drives them. A former director of three nonprofits and founder of five businesses, she has a rare ability to spot opportunity where others see chaos, shift stuck patterns, and build organizations that support both legacy and life. Sarah leads with the same mindset that made her an award-winning sailor: iterate on what works, stay focused in the storm, and never forget the joy of the journey. Thank you to Donorbox Thank you to our sponsor, Donorbox , for supporting Inspired Nonprofit Leadership. We appreciate your work removing friction from donation forms. Follow Donorbox on YouTube , LinkedIn , Facebook , Instagram , and TikTok .

October 26, 2026Episode 46442 min

467: How to Get Follow-Through Without Micromanaging with Gina Cotner

Show Notes When you delegate work and it doesn't get done, a lot of nonprofit leaders either let it slide or take it back and do it themselves. The leaders who get real follow-through hand over full ownership, let people set their own deadlines, and check in with curiosity instead of blame. Sarah invited Gina Cotner , founder and CEO of Athena Executive Services, whose team of executive assistants takes ownership of key processes and projects for busy leaders, to unpack how nonprofit leaders can get staff and volunteers to follow through on what they promised without hovering over them or doing the work themselves. In This Episode, You'll Learn How Gina now runs her firm working 10 to 15 hours a week. What Gina says right after handing off a project so the other person owns it. How letting people set their own deadline leads to better follow-through. What to do first when a deadline passes and the work isn't there. How Gina holds volunteers to the same standards as paid staff. Who This Episode Is For • Executive directors who end up doing the work themselves. • Leaders who want follow-through without constant reminders. • Anyone who skips follow-up to avoid a confrontation. • Executive directors who want their time back. Links from this episode • Inspired Nonprofit Leadership Newsletter : weekly tips for leading your nonprofit. • Athena Executive Services • Gina Cotner on LinkedIn • Athena Executive Services on Instagram • Athena Executive Services on Facebook • Schedule a free call with Athena's client advisor • Book Gina to speak or lead a workshop • Listener offer: five additional hours of service in your second month when you hire Athena and mention Inspired Nonprofit Leadership. • Sarah Olivieri's website • Sarah Olivieri's Substack publication Thank you to Donorbox Thank you to Donorbox for sponsoring Inspired Nonprofit Leadership. We appreciate your support for the show and the nonprofit leaders who listen. Follow Donorbox on YouTube , LinkedIn , Facebook , Instagram , and TikTok .

October 22, 2026Episode 46545 min

465: Founders Syndrome with Luke John Mickelson

Founders who build a nonprofit from the ground up often find that their identity and the organization have become the same thing. The founders who handle growth well learn to name what they are feeling when they hand off roles, and they choose a new role on purpose. Sarah invited Luke John Mickelson, who built one bunk bed in his garage in 2012 and grew it into Sleep in Heavenly Peace, a nonprofit with more than 400 chapters across 47 states and four countries, to unpack what founder syndrome feels like from the inside and how founders and the people around them can move through it. In This Episode, You'll Learn How one bunk bed for a six-year-old named Haley became a national movement. Why each role a founder hands off can feel like losing part of themselves. What Luke means by a relevance wound, and the comment that nearly made him quit. How Luke's five steps help founders pause, name a new role, and plan their legacy. What boards and executive directors can do to give a founder grace during a transition. Who This Episode Is For Nonprofit founders who want to hand off roles without feeling pushed out. Executive directors who took over from a founder and want to keep that relationship strong. Board members who want to support a founder through a leadership transition. Founders of any organization who are stepping back and want to stay connected to what they started. Links from this episode Inspired Nonprofit Leadership Newsletter : weekly tips for leading your nonprofit. Sleep in Heavenly Peace Luke Mickelson's website Luke Mickelson on LinkedIn Luke Mickelson on Instagram Free founder syndrome assessment at LukeMickelson.com Founder's Syndrome Survival coaching and courses Book a free discovery call with Luke The Leadership Evolution Podcast Sarah Olivieri's website Sarah Olivieri's Substack publication Thank you to Donorbox Thank you to Donorbox for sponsoring Inspired Nonprofit Leadership. We appreciate your support for the show and the nonprofit leaders who listen. Follow Donorbox on YouTube , LinkedIn , Facebook , Instagram , and TikTok .

October 19, 2026Episode 4648 min

464: Why Outgrowing Your Founder Is a Sign of Success with Sarah Olivieri

Founder syndrome usually gets talked about as a problem, and the founder often gets the blame. Sarah sees it differently: if your organization is outgrowing the person who started it, you probably did something right, and that transition deserves a real plan. Sarah goes solo to share how founders, boards, and the leaders who follow a founder can plan a healthier transition, drawing on her conversation with Luke John Mickelson, her years as a nonprofit executive director, and a sailing saying about easing the sails. In This Episode, You'll Learn Why Sarah thinks every successful nonprofit will eventually outgrow its founder What empty nest feelings can teach us about a founder's transition How a founder can honor the loss and name what they gained Why the founder transition belongs as a goal in your strategic plan How boards and successors can keep founders involved as ambassadors and storytellers Who This Episode Is For • Founders who feel a sense of loss as their organization needs them less • Executive directors who followed a founder and want a strong working relationship • Board members planning for a founder who is still involved • Teams who want the founder transition to feel like a celebration Links from this episode • Inspired Nonprofit Leadership Newsletter : weekly tips for leading your nonprofit. • Founders Syndrome with Luke John Mickelson • Luke Mickelson on LinkedIn • Sarah Olivieri's website • Sarah Olivieri's Substack publication About Your Host, Sarah Olivieri Bold, strategic, and refreshingly human… Sarah Olivieri is the go-to expert for conversations on aligned leadership, outcome delegation, and sustainable growth. She brings wit, warmth, and real-world wisdom to mission-driven founders, visionary CEOs, and change-makers who want more clarity, more joy, and more results. Most leaders hit a wall when success depends on them holding it all together. Sarah helps them change that by redefining leadership around outcomes instead of activity, empowering teams to own results that scale and freeing leaders to focus on the vision that drives them. A former director of three nonprofits and founder of five businesses, she has a rare ability to spot opportunity where others see chaos, shift stuck patterns, and build organizations that support both legacy and life. Sarah leads with the same mindset that made her an award-winning sailor: iterate on what works, stay focused in the storm, and never forget the joy of the journey. Thank you to Donorbox Thank you to Donorbox for sponsoring Inspired Nonprofit Leadership. We appreciate your support for the show and the nonprofit leaders who listen. Follow Donorbox on YouTube , LinkedIn , Facebook , Instagram , and TikTok .

October 15, 2026Episode 46341 min

463: Perfection Is Crushing Your Confidence with Crispin Thompson

When you expect yourself to get every word right, a small mistake can shake your confidence. Learning to stay comfortable when something goes wrong gives you room to keep communicating and connecting with the people in front of you. Sarah talks with Crispin Thompson , a leadership coach with more than 25 years of experience leading teams and helping people grow. They explore how to build confidence through practice, recover from mistakes, and use AI while taking responsibility for what you say. In This Episode, You'll Learn Why Crispin sees perfectionism as a barrier to confidence and presence. How he slowed his nervous speaking by deliberately lowering his voice. What Sarah means by staying comfortable when she doesn't know the answer. How to use AI for feedback while taking responsibility for the final message. Why Crispin chose calm problem-solving when encouraged to show more anger. Who This Episode Is For Nonprofit leaders who want to feel more comfortable speaking to staff, boards, or donors. Leaders who want to recover from mistakes without losing their confidence. Anyone looking to use AI while keeping their communication accurate and personal. Links from this episode Inspired Nonprofit Leadership Newsletter : weekly tips for leading your nonprofit. The Leadership Studio Crispin Thompson on LinkedIn Crispin Thompson's media profile The Human Advantage: Emotional Intelligence in the Age of AI Sarah Olivieri's website Sarah Olivieri's Substack publication Thank you to Donorbox Thank you to Donorbox for sponsoring Inspired Nonprofit Leadership. We appreciate your support for the show and the nonprofit leaders who listen. Follow Donorbox on YouTube , LinkedIn , Facebook , Instagram , and TikTok .

October 12, 2026Episode 46211 min

462: Why Pulling Back Helps Your Team More Than Pushing Through with Sarah Olivieri

When something hard happens in your life, the instinct is to keep working at full speed so nobody else has to carry your load. Leaders who handle these stretches well tell their team what's going on, lighten their workload for a while, and ask for help when they genuinely need it. Sarah goes solo to work through what to do when a long day, a loved one's illness, or a family crisis lowers what you can take on, drawing on three recent stories, including a day of early school drop-offs, a late doctor's appointment, and a promised trip to the store with her son. In This Episode, You'll Learn Why a long day or a loved one's illness really does lower what you can take on What happens to your decisions and your health when you push past your limits How your team ends up fixing work you did while overstretched Why asking for help can be a gift to the people around you How to adjust your schedule and expectations to match what you can handle right now Who This Episode Is For • Nonprofit leaders going through a hard stretch at home who still want to lead well. • Executive directors who would rather carry everything than ask their team for help. • Leaders who want to support a team member through a difficult season. Links from this episode Join the Inspired Nonprofit Leadership Newsletter for weekly tips and inspiration for leading your nonprofit. Connect with Sarah: • Sarah Olivieri's website • Sarah Olivieri's Substack publication About Your Host, Sarah Olivieri Bold, strategic, and refreshingly human… Sarah Olivieri is the go-to expert for conversations on aligned leadership, outcome delegation, and sustainable growth. She brings wit, warmth, and real-world wisdom to mission-driven founders, visionary CEOs, and change-makers who want more clarity, more joy, and more results. Most leaders hit a wall when success depends on them holding it all together. Sarah helps them change that by redefining leadership around outcomes instead of activity, empowering teams to own results that scale and freeing leaders to focus on the vision that drives them. A former director of three nonprofits and founder of five businesses, she has a rare ability to spot opportunity where others see chaos, shift stuck patterns, and build organizations that support both legacy and life. Sarah leads with the same mindset that made her an award-winning sailor: iterate on what works, stay focused in the storm, and never forget the joy of the journey. Thank you to Donorbox Thank you to our sponsor Donorbox . More than a suite of helpful fundraising tools, Donorbox is a partner that helps you raise more money and supports you in retaining your donors. Follow Donorbox on YouTube , LinkedIn , Facebook , Instagram , and TikTok .

October 8, 2026Episode 46126 min

461: Supporting Your Nonprofit Team's Mental Health with Weanne Estrada

Mental health support needs a place in the everyday work of a nonprofit. Regular check-ins and clear ways to get help give staff support they can turn to while doing demanding work. Sarah talks with Weanne Estrada, a mental health specialist at ADRA who supports people working in humanitarian settings. Together, they explore what nonprofit leaders can learn from supporting staff before, during, and after emergency deployments, including the everyday moments of connection that staff said mattered to them. In This Episode, You'll Learn Why Weanne sees mental health support as essential to effective humanitarian aid. How psychological first aid uses three steps: look, listen, and link. What deployed staff said about shared meals, walks, and manager check-ins. Why staff valued knowing counseling was available, even when they didn't use it. How stories of recovery and resilience can support the people doing the work. Who This Episode Is For Nonprofit leaders who want to make mental health support a regular part of work. Teams looking for practical ways to respond when a colleague is struggling. Leaders who want to support staff carrying the emotional weight of helping others. Links from this episode Inspired Nonprofit Leadership Newsletter : weekly tips for leading your nonprofit. ADRA International ADRA International on LinkedIn ADRA on Facebook ADRA International on Instagram Sarah Olivieri's website Sarah Olivieri's Substack publication Thank you to Donorbox Thank you to Donorbox for sponsoring Inspired Nonprofit Leadership. We appreciate your support for the show and the nonprofit leaders who listen. Follow Donorbox on YouTube , LinkedIn , Facebook , Instagram , and TikTok .

October 5, 2026Episode 46012 min

460: Use Details to Communicate Clearly with Sarah Olivieri

Show Notes When you explain an idea to your team, the big picture may be clear in your head, but it's probably not as clear in your team's head as you think it is. Specific examples help other people understand what you mean and what the work actually involves. Sarah Olivieri walks through how to add useful detail to everyday communication so you can get what's in your head into the minds of your team. She shares practical examples from leadership meetings, planning, and the experiences of people your nonprofit serves. She shows how describing what happens step by step can make an idea easier to understand and reveal something a plan has missed. In This Episode, You'll Learn How a specific example makes a big-picture idea easier to understand. Why walking through a Monday morning can reveal gaps in your plan. How describing a client's experience helps others understand their perspective. What details can add to onboarding, job descriptions, and team communication. Who This Episode Is For Leaders who want their team to understand what they are asking. Teams that want to find gaps in a plan before putting it into action. Anyone who wants to explain the experiences of the people their nonprofit serves. Links from this episode Inspired Nonprofit Leadership Newsletter : weekly tips, resources, and updates on training opportunities. Inspired Philanthropy Circle Sarah Olivieri's website Sarah Olivieri's Substack publication About Your Host, Sarah Olivieri Bold, strategic, and refreshingly human… Sarah Olivieri is the go-to expert for conversations on aligned leadership, outcome delegation, and sustainable growth. She brings wit, warmth, and real-world wisdom to mission-driven founders, visionary CEOs, and change-makers who want more clarity, more joy, and more results. Most leaders hit a wall when success depends on them holding it all together. Sarah helps them change that by redefining leadership around outcomes instead of activity, empowering teams to own results that scale and freeing leaders to focus on the vision that drives them. A former director of three nonprofits and founder of five businesses, she has a rare ability to spot opportunity where others see chaos, shift stuck patterns, and build organizations that support both legacy and life. Sarah leads with the same mindset that made her an award-winning sailor: iterate on what works, stay focused in the storm, and never forget the joy of the journey. Thank you to Donorbox Thank you to our sponsor, Donorbox , for supporting Inspired Nonprofit Leadership. We appreciate your work removing friction from donation forms. Follow Donorbox on YouTube , LinkedIn , Facebook , Instagram , and TikTok .

October 1, 2026Episode 45941 min

459: What to Ask Before AI Touches Your Data with Sam Fankuchen

Show Notes Reaching out to potential major donors can feel premature when you haven't figured out how you will follow up. A written contact list and a plan for the next interaction give you a simple place to start, without mapping out a year of conversations. Sarah shares this approach using questions from nonprofit leaders starting major gifts programs in the Inspired Philanthropy Circle. She shares her own struggle with following up, the scheduling habit that helps her stay connected, and ways to give people something to look forward to together. In This Episode, You'll Learn What to record in a contact list so relationships don't depend on memory. How to arrange the next interaction before the current conversation ends. What to say when scheduling ahead feels uncomfortable or too pushy. How recurring tours, dinners, or informal gatherings give you something to invite people to. Why building a community of supporters can bring an emotional return alongside funding. Who This Episode Is For Nonprofit leaders who want to start donor conversations without waiting for a complete annual plan. Fundraisers looking for a simple way to keep track of relationships. Leaders who want to stay in touch with supporters without feeling pushy. Links from this episode Inspired Nonprofit Leadership Newsletter : weekly tips, resources, and updates on training opportunities. Inspired Philanthropy Circle Sarah Olivieri's website Sarah Olivieri's Substack publication Thank you to Donorbox Thank you to Donorbox for sponsoring Inspired Nonprofit Leadership and supporting these conversations. In this episode, Maria and Sarah discuss giving donors control over their recurring gifts. Follow Donorbox on YouTube , LinkedIn , Facebook , Instagram , and TikTok .

September 28, 2026Episode 45813 min

458: A Simple Follow-Up Process for Major Gifts with Sarah Olivieri

Episode Description Reaching out to potential major donors can feel premature when you haven't figured out how you will follow up. A written contact list and a plan for the next interaction give you a simple place to start, without mapping out a year of conversations. Sarah walks through this approach using questions from nonprofit leaders starting major gifts programs in the Inspired Philanthropy Circle. She shares her own struggle with following up, the scheduling habit that helps her stay connected, and ways to give people something to look forward to together. In This Episode, You'll Learn What to record in a contact list so relationships don't depend on memory. How to arrange the next interaction before the current conversation ends. What to say when scheduling ahead feels uncomfortable or too pushy. How recurring tours, dinners, or informal gatherings give you something to invite people to. Why building a community of supporters can bring an emotional return alongside funding. Who This Episode Is For Nonprofit leaders who want to start donor conversations without waiting for a complete annual plan. Fundraisers looking for a simple way to keep track of relationships. Leaders who want to stay in touch with supporters without feeling pushy. Links from this episode Links Website: saraholivieri.com Substack: Sarah Olivieri's Substack publication Inspired Nonprofit Leadership Newsletter: weekly tips, resources, and updates on training opportunities. Inspired Philanthropy Circle Thank you to Donorbox Thank you to our sponsor, Donorbox , for supporting Inspired Nonprofit Leadership. We appreciate your support for the show and the nonprofit leaders who listen.

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