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Kari's Confessions

Kari's Confessions

By: Kari Anderson
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Serving the nonprofit sector is a privilege. Leading a nonprofit organization is, (in my opinion), one of life's greatest joys. And one of life's greatest sources of heartburn. Where else can you both provide a critical service to your community and fill a key need in your market? While, simultaneously, be asked to work miracles on a shoestring budget and perform the roles of CEO and chief bottle washer. Leading a nonprofit is fulfilling, satisfying and more. It's also lonely and isolating. Many leaders come into the role with limited onboarding, marginal orientation, and no manual to refer to as to "how to do the work". You're charged with leading this important organization, and not sure whom you can talk to when you need a an "offline" ear, or where to turn to ask for help. Join me, Kari Anderson, as I share my take on the nonprofit sector. In my 20+ years serving as a nonprofit Executive Director, I saw just about everything, and didn't think I could be surprised. From bad board behavior to fundraising successes, well-meaning donors to entitled staff, no-show volunteers to successful community partnerships…I've got a story to tell! I love our sector – the "third" sector. I want to create a space where you feel welcome. Where you can breathe. A place where you can laugh and see yourself continuing this good work. Consider our time together a recipe comprised of the following ingredients: one part story, one part therapy, one part self-help and one part kick in the pants!2023 Economics Management Management & Leadership Personal Development Personal Success
Episodes
  • The Evolving Role of Nonprofit Leaders: From Manager to Visionary
    Feb 1 2026

    If you're leading a nonprofit and feel like the job description no longer matches reality, this episode is for you. In this candid conversation, Kari Anderson explores why today's nonprofit leaders must evolve - and why the shift from manager to visionary is no longer optional.

    After 25+ years in nonprofit leadership, Kari names what many executives feel but rarely say out loud: nonprofit leadership has become bigger, messier, and more human than ever before. Economic uncertainty, rising accountability standards, complex community needs, and chronic underfunding have turned many executive directors into bottlenecks - exhausted leaders stuck in constant reaction mode.

    In this episode, Kari breaks down:

    ✨ Why traditional nonprofit leadership models are breaking down

    ✨ How moving from manager to visionary leader creates sustainability and resilience

    ✨ The role of systems, infrastructure, and nonprofit leadership development in reducing burnout

    ✨ Why succession planning and inclusive leadership models protect mission and relationships

    ✨ How funding people and systems is essential to long-term nonprofit impact

    This conversation is for nonprofit executives, board members, and senior leaders who want to stop surviving year to year - and start building organizations that truly thrive.

    👉 Subscribe for practical insights on nonprofit leadership and organizational sustainability
    👉 Share this episode with a colleague or board member
    👉 Follow Incite! Consulting for tools that support resilient nonprofit organizations

    ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

    🔔 Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share this episode with your team or board! For more nonprofit leadership strategies, hit the bell so you never miss an episode.

    🎧 Available wherever you stream your favorite podcasts.

    ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

    Let's stay connected:

    🌐 Website: https://inciteconsultinggroup.com
    📬 Email: kari@inciteconsultinggroup.com
    💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kariraeanderson/
    📞 Book a Chat: http://bit.ly/workingwithkari

    Show More Show Less
    13 mins
  • Board Engagement in 2026: Getting Your Leadership on the Same Page
    Jan 25 2026

    Your board should be your organization's secret weapon - not its biggest headache.

    If board meetings leave you drained instead of energized, this episode is for you.

    In this episode of Kari's Confessions, Kari Anderson—principal of Incite! Consulting—shares five practical, field-tested strategies to help nonprofit leaders get their boards truly aligned in 2026. Drawing on 25+ years in nonprofit leadership, Kari breaks down why board engagement today is less about attendance and more about clarity, trust, and shared direction.

    You'll learn how to:

    ✨ Clarify board roles and governance vs. management so leaders stop working at cross-purposes

    ✨ Build leadership alignment through intentional communication and strategic planning

    ✨ Approach board recruitment and succession planning as talent management—not scrambling

    ✨ Strengthen governance fundamentals that support accountability and collaboration

    ✨ Use simple board technology tools to respect time and improve engagement

    With political uncertainty, economic pressure, and rising stakeholder expectations, a disengaged board isn't just frustrating—it's risky. This conversation offers grounded, realistic guidance for nonprofit executives who want boards that move from rubber-stamping to real leadership.

    👉 Subscribe for more nonprofit leadership insights
    👉 Share this episode with a board member or colleague
    👉 Follow Incite! Consulting for tools and resources that support resilient organizations

    ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

    🔔 Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share this episode with your team or board! For more nonprofit leadership strategies, hit the bell so you never miss an episode.

    🎧 Available wherever you stream your favorite podcasts.

    ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

    Let's stay connected:

    🌐 Website: https://inciteconsultinggroup.com
    📬 Email: kari@inciteconsultinggroup.com
    💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kariraeanderson/
    📞 Book a Chat: http://bit.ly/workingwithkari

    Show More Show Less
    14 mins
  • Did Your Last Strategic Roadmap Fail? Here's How to Make It Work with Vision + Action
    Jan 18 2026

    Have you ever left a strategic planning retreat energized—only to watch the plan gather dust months later? You're not alone. In this episode of Kari's Confessions, nonprofit leadership coach Kari Anderson breaks down why strategic roadmaps fail—and how to build one that actually works.

    Drawing on 25+ years in the nonprofit sector, Kari explores the most common breakdowns in strategic planning for nonprofits: lack of execution, stakeholder misalignment, and plans that never adapt as conditions change. She explains why vision without action leads to burnout—and why action without vision leads to chaos.

    You'll learn how to:

    ✨ Connect vision and execution so your roadmap becomes a living tool, not a forgotten document

    ✨ Use SMART goals to move from aspiration to action

    ✨ Create real board and staff alignment around roles, priorities, and ownership

    ✨ Build accountability through clear owners, KPIs, and regular check-ins

    ✨ Treat your strategic roadmap as a flexible guide that evolves with your organization

    If you're a nonprofit executive, board member, or senior leader looking to strengthen impact, reduce burnout, and turn strategy into momentum, this episode is for you.

    👉 Subscribe for practical insights on nonprofit leadership and organizational sustainability
    👉 Share this episode with a colleague or board member
    👉 Follow Incite! Consulting for more tools that help nonprofits do their best work

    ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

    🔔 Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share this episode with your team or board! For more nonprofit leadership strategies, hit the bell so you never miss an episode.

    🎧 Available wherever you stream your favorite podcasts.

    ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

    Let's stay connected:

    🌐 Website: https://inciteconsultinggroup.com
    📬 Email: kari@inciteconsultinggroup.com
    💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kariraeanderson/
    📞 Book a Chat: http://bit.ly/workingwithkari

    Show More Show Less
    15 mins
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