Hey there, nonprofit CEOs and Executive Directors, welcome back to Nonprofit CEO SPARK,
where we help you lead with more clarity and confidence — without burning out.
Let me start with a story.
I recently met a CEO who runs a nonprofit refugee center.
Her organization is facing some of the toughest challenges imaginable —threats to documented and undocumented immigrants, shifting government policies, and the constant emotional weight of caring for people in crisis.
So when she told me, “I love my job,” I was stunned… and inspired.
I asked, “What makes that true for you, especially in a year this hard?”
And she said, “Because I have a lot of agency.”
That one sentence stopped me in my tracks.
Because so many nonprofit leaders feel like they don’t have control.
But today, we’re going to unpack what it really means to have agency, how to reclaim it,
and why this mindset can change everything about how you lead.
The Power of Claiming Your Agency
Her word — agency — really stuck with me.
Because let’s be honest… most nonprofit CEOs and Executive Directors right now are stretched thin.
- The government’s unpredictable.
- Funders keep shifting priorities.
- Boards have opinions on everything.
- And staff, as dedicated as they are, are tired.
It can feel like everything’s happening to you.
But agency isn’t about controlling everything —
it’s about owning what you can shape.
You’re not just a passenger in this mission. You’re the driver.
You help steer the direction and the culture, even when the waves are rough.
Agency is that inner compass that says: “I can’t control the wind… but I can adjust my sails.”
Redefining Control
Having agency means you have both the ability and the responsibility to design.
You can design your role — where you focus, what you delegate, and how you use your time.
You can design your culture — how people communicate, how conflict is handled, how decisions are made.
You decide who’s on your team, which partners you collaborate with, and even which board members you invite to your mission.
That’s the beauty of leadership — you have real influence, even when the world feels uncertain.
Of course, leadership is co-creative. You don’t do it alone.
Your board, your staff, your community all play a role.
But still… you are the architect. You set the tone.
And when things aren’t working, the most powerful question you can ask is:
“Where have I given away my agency without realizing it?”
Designing Your Days
That question reminds me of another CEO I’m working with right now.
She’s brilliant — incredibly mission-driven — but lately she’s been working from about 5 a.m. to 7 p.m., sometimes even later.
When I asked her why, she said,
“I just have meetings back-to-back all day, every day.”
And she said it like it was completely out of her control.
But she’s the CEO. She actually does have agency over her calendar.
She can decide which meetings truly need her, which can be delegated, and which might not need to happen at all.
What she’s missing isn’t discipline — it’s design.
If she created space in her day for strategic, thoughtful work, she could lead with vision instead of over-functioning.
And here’s the subtle problem: when she’s not in control of her time, she’s teaching her team that they don’t have control of theirs either.
She’s not telling them to work all the time but people will follow what they see. There is a power differential to be aware of, and your actions speak louder than words.
Here’s a concrete example – The CEO of the refugee center tells her leadership team not to email or call staff outside of 8am-5pm working hours. This one rule can accelerate appreciation, trust, and respect. She is valuing her team’s right to recharge every night and weekend.
That’s why reclaiming your agency isn’t just about protecting your time. It sets a positive cultural tone for your whole organization.
Reclaiming Agency with the Culture CARES® Lens
You know, this is exactly why I created the Culture CARES® Framework.
It came from years of watching incredible leaders lose their sense of control —
not because they weren’t capable, but because the weight of expectations and burnout slowly chipped away at their confidence.
CARES helps leaders reclaim that agency in a practical, people-first way.
It centers around five pillars: Commitment, Appreciation, Respect, Engagement, and Safety.
When you strengthen those five things, you start to feel more grounded and confident again —
without having to push harder.
And the best part? When you do that, your team feels more agency too.
They take ownership. They lead alongside you.
That’s how healthy, inclusive, and empowering cultures are built.
That’s how you unify your teams.
The Rejuvenated Nonprofit CEO
One more quick story to inspire you.
A client of mine — founder and CEO of a growing $2-million nonprofit — did something radical.
He took a four-day weekend and completely disconnected. No phone. No email. No calls. Just time in the mountains.
When he came back, he said, “I can’t believe how amazing my team was while I was gone.”
They operate a 24/7 facility — and yet, everything ran smoothly.
But honestly, I wasn’t surprised at all. He’s built a competent team he trusts and empowers to take real ownership.
Because when you’ve done that, there’s no reason to overwork yourself to the bone.
Your team will rise to the level of trust you give them.
After just two months of working together, he told me he feels like a completely different person — both professionally and personally.
He’s more energized. Less stressed.
The culture is alive again — collaborative, happy, unstoppable.
That’s what happens when you lead with agency —
when you trust yourself and your people enough to step back, recharge, and let others shine.
Be the Lighthouse
Let’s go back to that CEO leading the refugee center.
She’s working in one of the hardest spaces right now surrounded by fear, uncertainty, and constant change — and yet, she’s steady, grounded, and genuinely fulfilled.
When I thought about why, I realized it’s because she’s chosen to be a lighthouse in the storm.
knows she can’t calm the waves or change the weather — but she can stand firm and shine her light so others can find their way.
Her calm gives her team confidence. Her steadiness gives her community strength.
That’s what leading with agency looks like —not trying to control the storm, but deciding to be the light within it.
You have that same potential.
You don’t have to burn the candle at both ends to succeed.
You can be the lighthouse in your own storm.
But if you’re struggling to claim agency over your work and life, you don’t have to move mountains alone.
Most boards are happy to support you if you ask.
You can ask for what you need to succeed — coaching, mentoring, or simply a 4-day weekend to breathe mountain air and take a break.
If you’re heading toward burnout, talk to your board. Ask for the support that helps you sustain your spark —
because your well-being is part of the mission too.
⚡ SPARK PLUG SHIFT
What if you showed up as the lighthouse for your team — not trying to control the ocean, but choosing to be a steady, grounded presence?
On your daily to-do list, draw a lighthouse for fun, and ask “what would a lighthouse do”?
Would it be on every ship in the ocean, every meeting, and do every little task?
Or would it calmly surrender and shine its light so that others could follow your direction.
Take a thoughtful look at your calendar. What meetings truly need you?
What tasks could be delegated, paused, or redesigned for greater impact — not just busyness?
Because that’s how you lead with light.
That’s how you empower your team.
And that’s how you reclaim your agency.
I’ll leave you with a quote from one of my favorite authors, Matthew Kelly – “who you become is infinitely more important than what you do or what you have.”
Thanks for listening to Nonprofit CEO SPARK. I’ll see you next week.