Nonprofit CEO SPARK Podcast
For Founders, CEOs & Executive Directors Ready to Lead with Heart, Vision & Strength
37: Leading Through the Messy Middle (with CEO Annie Bacci)
Stuck in the nonprofit “messy middle” of funding cuts and organizational change?
Learn to navigate leadership loneliness and take the next right step on this episode of Nonprofit CEO SPARK.
36: Are You Leading… or Managing? (And Why It Matters More Than You Think)
True leadership confidence isn’t about becoming a mythical nonprofit unicorn who excels at everything—it’s about having the strategic self-awareness to build a complementary team so you can stop spinning out and lead with sustainable energy.
35: Simple Changes That Improve Team Culture Fast with Dr. Patton McDowell
Marcia Beckner: Welcome to Nonprofit CEO SPARK the podcast for bold leaders ready to navigate growth and change with energy and confidence. I’m Marcia Beckner, nonprofit founder, former executive director
34: Leading with Confidence in an Uncertain World (AFP ICON Conference 2026 Takeaways)
In this post, I’m sharing some raw, deeply human insights from the AFP ICON 2026 Conference to help you stop spinning out late at night and reclaim your sustainable energy in a chaotic world.
33: The Secrets to 94% Staff Retention During Nonprofit Growth with CEO Lorii Rabinowitz
Marcia Beckner Welcome to the show. I’m Marcia Beckner, and this is Nonprofit CEO SPARK, the podcast for leaders who want to navigate growth and change with energy and confidence.
32: When Staff Push Back: 3 Practical Ways to Align Your Team
If you’ve ever felt like every decision in your organization has to go through everyone…and instead of moving forward, things slow down, stall out, or quietly stop because someone doesn’t
31: When Your Board Disagrees With You: What Nonprofit CEOs Need to Do Next
If you’ve ever walked into a board meeting with a strategic recommendation you really believed in, something you had spent time thinking through, something you could clearly see would move
30: How Executive Directors Avoid the Nice Leader Trap
When you keep a high-performing “toxic” employee because you want to be a kind, supportive leader, who actually pays the price? In this episode, we explore why protecting the wrong person is often a CEO’s biggest hidden cost—and how to redirect your kindness to protect your team’s culture instead of just one individual.
29: The 5 C’s to Leading Your Nonprofit with Confidence
You know, I want to start with something I see all the time with nonprofit CEOs and executive directors—and if I’m honest, something I’ve experienced myself. It’s that moment where
Welcome to the Nonprofit CEO SPARK
This is your weekly reset for nonprofit leaders who are ready to rise above the chaos and lead with clarity, conviction, and purpose.
Each episode delivers bold encouragement and practical insight to help you manage your energy, strengthen your team, and become the inspirational leader you’re meant to be.
We’ll explore powerful mindset shifts, cultural challenges, and the real work of building team synergy and lasting mission impact.
Subscribe now and learn how to lead with confidence, energize your staff, and reignite your passion for the work that matters most.