What does it take to build a workplace where people don't just stay—but truly thrive?

In this episode of the Shared Brain Podcast, host Corrie Fortner, Vice President at Global Philanthropic Canada, sits down with Lauren Wheeler, Strategic Services Director at the Alberta Museums Association, for an insightful conversation about creating human-centred nonprofit organizations.

Together, they explore the leadership practices that strengthen workplace culture, improve staff retention, prevent burnout, and prepare the next generation of leaders. From innovative ideas like Focus Fridays to investing in professional development, succession planning, and flexible HR policies, Lauren shares practical strategies that have helped foster a resilient and people-first organizational culture.

Whether you're leading a nonprofit, serving on a board, managing a team, or shaping organizational strategy, this episode offers actionable insights to help you build healthier workplaces where both people and missions can flourish.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• Why leadership can—and should—be developed at every level of an organization
• Practical ways to prevent burnout and support employee wellbeing
• How workplace culture influences staff engagement and retention
• Why succession planning starts long before leadership transitions
• The role of professional development in building resilient organizations
• How people-first HR policies create stronger teams and long-term organizational sustainability

If you're ready to move beyond policies and build a workplace where people feel valued, supported, and empowered to grow, this conversation is one you won't want to miss.

Listen now and discover how investing in people creates stronger organizations—and greater impact.

Watch our story unfold here!

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Passion is one of the nonprofit sector’s greatest strengths. It fuels missions, inspires change, and drives people to make a difference every day. But what happens when that same passion becomes the very thing putting people at risk?

In this episode of The Shared Brain Podcast, Theresa Bolton, Founder of Customized Recruitment, and Derek Rolstone, CEO & Founder of Stone HR Strategies, take an honest look at burnout in the nonprofit sector and why it has become one of the most pressing challenges facing organizations today.

Together, they explore the realities behind the statistics, the warning signs leaders often miss, and why burnout is frequently mistaken for performance issues, disengagement, or lack of commitment. From emotional exhaustion and decision fatigue to quiet quitting, absenteeism, and presenteeism, this conversation uncovers how burnout affects both individuals and organizations.

Theresa and Derek also share practical strategies nonprofit leaders can implement to create healthier workplaces, support employee well-being, encourage healthy boundaries, and build sustainable organizational cultures where people can thrive without sacrificing themselves for the mission.

Whether you're a nonprofit executive, fundraiser, HR professional, board member, manager, or frontline team member, this episode offers valuable insights to help you recognize burnout early and protect the people behind the cause.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why burnout is so prevalent in the nonprofit sector
• The difference between passion and overwork
• Key emotional, physical, and workplace signs of burnout
• How leaders can identify burnout in themselves and their teams
• Why vacations, boundaries, and recovery matter more than ever
• Practical ways to create a healthier workplace culture
• How Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) and external support can help

One of the most powerful reminders from this conversation:

"Healthy organizations are built by healthy people."

Tune in for an insightful discussion filled with practical advice, real-world experience, and actionable takeaways for anyone committed to creating a sustainable future for nonprofit work.

Watch our story unfold here!

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Are donor-advised funds holding money hostage — or are they one of the most powerful tools in the charitable sector? In Part 2 of our DAF series, Senior Consultants Jill Nelson and Peter McKinley tackle the real concerns and common misconceptions surrounding how donor-advised funds operate.

From disbursement quotas and endowment comparisons to anonymity, stewardship barriers, and complex gift vehicles, Jill and Peter bring clarity, nuance, and a healthy dose of optimism to a topic that is reshaping charitable giving in Canada.

In this episode, they explore:

• What the disbursement quota is and why it matters to DAF giving
• Whether money in DAFs is really "languishing" — and what the data shows
• How charities can still steward DAF donors, even when anonymity is involved
• Why DAFs are not the enemy — and how charities and DAFs can collaborate
• How DAFs may be growing the pie of charitable giving, not just redirecting it
• What's coming next in the Global Philanthropic Canada DAF podcast series

Stay tuned — colleagues Amy Lindenberger and Derek Fraser will be joining future episodes to share case studies and practical strategies your organization can put to work.

Watch our story unfold here!

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