You’re a new nonprofit leader. Congratulations! With it, you’ve gained the responsibility of carrying a mission forward. But you’ve also inherited some other things:
- Outdated systems that may not quite fit today’s needs
- Unspoken expectations no one remembers agreeing to
- A culture built on good intentions, but that may be resistant to change
And now you’re asking the quiet question no one prepared you for: Where do I even begin?
This is where executive coaching becomes more than helpful for a new nonprofit leader; it becomes essential. It’s who I would have wanted in my court when I was a brand new executive director.
This Isn’t About Blame. It’s About What Comes Next.
You’re not looking to undo everything that came before you. In fact, you’re probably deeply grateful for the people who kept things running, often with limited resources and endless dedication. But honoring the past doesn’t mean you have to stay stuck in it.
Leadership is about navigating the in-between: Where you see what’s outdated, but also what’s worth protecting. And where you want to make change, but don’t want to bulldoze your board or alienate your staff.
And you’re doing all of this while also managing programs, fundraising, and fielding that email marked “urgent.”
It’s a lot. And it’s exactly where coaching can help.
Coaching That Helps You Think Clearly—Without the Pressure to Know Everything
At mkw+co, I offer executive coaching for new (and seasoned!) nonprofit leaders who are ready to lead with care, not chaos.
My coaching is rooted in:
- Real-world experience (I’ve been in the ED seat for over a decade)
- Restorative thinking (my top strength is sorting the messy middle)
- Practical partnership (you don’t need theory, but clarity and support)
Together, we’ll identify what’s working, what needs to shift, and how to make progress in a way that builds trust – not resistance.
Coaching Can Help You:
- Make sense of inherited systems and culture
- Set priorities and realistic timelines for change
- Lead with clarity, even when you’re still learning the landscape
- Build alignment with your staff and board
- Feel confident about what you’re keeping – and what you’re letting go
Because sometimes, the hardest part of stepping into leadership isn’t knowing what to do. It’s knowing where to start.
Final Thought: You Don’t Have to Prove Yourself By Doing It Alone
With the right support, you can honor what came before and lead with confidence into what’s next.
You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need someone who knows how to help you sort through the noise and see the path forward.
When You’re Ready to Start
Schedule a time to chat with me via this link. We’ll start with a 15-minute consultation call and if it’s a good fit, I’ll prepare a quote for you to review. Upon signed contract, we get started with our 3 or 6-month executive coaching partnership and get you on the right path again.
mkw+co is a boutique consulting firm specializing in strategy, marketing, education, and coaching for nonprofits and small businesses.