E43: How to Thrive in the Nonprofit Sector: Strategies For Reducing Burnout and Turnover with Patton McDowell, founder of PMA Nonprofit Leadership

Lead with Heart | Philanthropy, Nonprofit Leadership, Nonprofit Management & Fundraising

Today, on the Lead with Heart podcast, I’m selfishly so excited to have Patton McDowell on the show and to share our conversation with you. We are discussing his path to becoming a leader in the nonprofit sector and the lessons he has learned over his career.
Focusing on why nonprofit leaders often face high turnover, we talk about things like unrealistic expectations, generational shifts, and lack of professional development opportunities.
We chatted about practical tools and resources nonprofit pros can apply to strengthen their skills and experience – such as building a personal board of directors and participating in mastermind groups.
You will walk away after listening to this episode with actionable advice on topics like goal-setting, networking, productivity, and the importance of investing in staff to fulfill organizational missions and retain donors long-term.
In this episode:

• [01:31] Patton's path to nonprofit leadership started with an internship at Special Olympics International
• [04:00] Common reasons for high turnover in the nonprofit sector
• [06:08] Impact of generational shifts and how organizations can support different age groups
• [09:34] How staff retention impacts donor retention
• [11:40] Developing leadership goals and Patton's Vision Framework exercise
• [14:07] Benefits of strategic networking, building a personal board, and participating in mastermind groups
• [16:56] Essential leadership skills and the importance of self-assessment
• [20:28] Tips for improving productivity while avoiding burnout
• [34:34] The importance of identifying and focusing on one's "highest value role" and delegating other tasks to maximize impact

RESOURCES
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CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), Certified Stress Management Coach, and Certified EmC train the trainer. She is the Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser, a nonprofit consulting and coaching business. She has worked in both small and large nonprofit teams in the human services, homelessness, and youth sectors; and she specializes in the EmC process, nonprofit leadership, board development, and fundraising. Haley is a passionate, impact-driven, experienced nonprofit professional whose mission is to empower, elevate and engage nonprofit leaders to build healthy, thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com