Nonprofit Executive Leadership Coaching

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Nancy Fournier Ph.D., Relationship Strategist for Women Nonprofit EDs

It has never been harder to lead a nonprofit. Everything-- your funding, staff, organizational mission, feels like it is under constant assault.

With so many unrelenting demands on your time and energy, it is hard to shift from defensively reacting to confidently leading.

Women Nonprofit Executive Directors have unique challenges in trusting their voice and leading with authority.

My experience in identifying and overcoming leadership obstacles has fed my passion to create Relish Your Role to support and coach nonprofit leaders like you.

Many women nonprofit leaders struggle with:

  • Managing the time and energy to focus on strategic issues.
  • Juggling the demands of staff, board, funders, constituents while carrying the bulk of family responsibilities.
  • Having a responsive and active Board of Directors.
  • Delegating reliably with confidence.
  • Deeply believing in their ability to lead.
  • Feeling isolated in their leadership role.
  • Handling the pressure of being expected to always have the answers.

It’s time to stop feeling overwhelmed and alone in your leadership. I can help.

I have run and consulted with nonprofit organizations for over 30 years. As an experienced leadership and management coach, I can help you reach your maximum personal and professional impact.by learning new skills and eliminating counter-productive work habits and thought-patterns 

Learn more about my approach

My Coaching Style

I see my coaching role as an outsourced supplier of candor, providing empathetic and objective feedback (as well as some proven tactics and strategies) for empathic, effective leadership.

My executive coaching is highly individualized and starts with identifying your goals for our work together and creating agreed-upon benchmarks to measure progress and hold us both accountable for your personal and professional success.

You will learn new skills and habits while unearthing those thought-patterns and self-sabotaging messages which get in your way allowing you to lead with your brilliance.

Executive coaching goals routinely include:

  • Increasing your emotional intelligence so you can read people more accurately and create effective work relationships.
  • Improving your prioritization skills so you can control your time and focus on the important things. 
  • Strengthening your delegation muscles so you can hand off tasks with confidence that work will get done in a way that meets your expectations.
  • Sharpening your communication skills so you can voice your views without second guessing yourself.
  • Enhancing your management capacities by creating clear expectations for your leadership team.
  • Refining your relationship skills with your Board to help them become effectve ambassadors.

Want to learn more?

Fill out the application for a free discovery call

Below is sample of the areas we might address through executive coaching to help you run your nonprofit agency with confidence:

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Build a Culture of Staff Autonomy & Leadership

  • Assess your delegation style.
  • Set clear expectations and coach your staff for growth.
  • Create equity-based performance management systems.
    You will be freed to focus on vision and strategy.

TUrn Your Board of Directors Into Engaged Advocates

  • Assess your Board structure and behaviors.
  • Learn to leverage Board assets.
  • Evaluate your Board communication methods and content.
    Your Board will be inspired to get involved.

Gain confidence in your ability to lead

  • Identify areas of self-doubt.
  • Explore and disarm your personal saboteurs.
  • Learn new thought patterns and behaviors to strengthen your leadership.
    You will routinely amplify your leadership strengths.

Build Headspace to Think Strategically

  • Uncover the tasks and situations which drain your energy.
  • Learn how to create healthy boundaries and be deliberate in the tasks you take on.
  • Master smart work habits to allow you to focus on the impactful things.
    You will have reserves of passion and energy.

Not ready for a 5-month commitment?

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Sometimes you don’t need a long-term program. You need an answer this week.

When you’re bogged down in emails, meetings, and daily crises, you’re stuck in reaction mode with no time or energy left for the big issues. Your board and staff are looking to you for direction, and you’re the one who’s overwhelmed.

My 90-minute virtual strategy sessions tackle a single pressing issue, whether that’s a crisis you’re navigating, a board that isn’t functioning, or staff performance that needs to improve. You’ll get a customized pre-session questionnaire to seed our conversation, 90 minutes of one-on-one strategy development around your most pressing issue, and a written recap with your key takeaways and next action steps.

No training to sit through. No homework. Just a focused conversation with a nonprofit management expert and a concrete plan you can act on.

Explore Strategy Sessions
Nancy helped me better understand my own skills, interests and strengths as they related the inventory of duties needed in the Executive Director role and she helped me plan how to better delegate more among my staff while proactively supporting their professional development. Working with Nancy was the support I needed to gain clarity and confidence in my ability to be a more effective leader for the organization.
Erica Staley, Executive DirectorManufactoring Renaissance
Nancy challenged me to grow and change in ways I was not sure was possible. She taught me to view leadership in a new light, one where I could be my authentic self while pushing for professional growth not only for myself but the agency as a whole. Her brilliance, creativity and commitment has continued to support my decision-making and leadership today.
Dichelle Williams, Executive DirectorJuvenile Justice Intervention Center
Nancy's coaching has been a critical part of my journey in becoming a transformational leader. Her guidance and insights have helped me navigate complex challenges with renewed clarity and confidence and develop a deeper understanding or my own strengths and areas for improvement. Her approach consistently centers the needs of the community we serve, ensuring the ripple effects of her coaching is always mission-aligned.
Lauren Johnson, Executive DirectorSt. Charles CARE Center
I have worked with Nancy at multiple times in my career and her support has provided much needed clarity as I have weighed decisions as a leader. Her unique perspective, experiences and creativity has made out sessions productive, engaging and insightful. I always leave out time together feeling more confident and resolved in my next steps.
Jen Roberts, Chief Executive Officer Agenda For Children
As a founder, President and CEO of a relatively new nonprofit organization, Nancy helped me navigate the layers of complexities in managing relationships with both internal and external partners. Through direct and constructive feedback Nancy helped reduce my insecurities and build greater confidence.
Ze Min Xiao, President & CEOCenter for Economic Opportunity and Belonging
As a nonprofit executive director, I found myself in the midst of challenges I could not have anticipated was on the brink of burnout. Working with Nancy saved my sanity. I feel more able to continue to act on my values without sacrificing my own well-being. I highly recommend Nancy to any woman nonprofit leader looking for a coach who combines wisdom, expertise and incisive assessment with deep empathy.
Jessica Karjala, Executive Director Footloose Montana
Nancy exemplifies that perfect balance of empathy and accountability. During our work together, I received actionable feedback that supports my ability to collaborate with colleagues, helps me step out of my comfort zone, and pushes me to take a more holistic, inclusive approach to work. It's rare to have tough conversations, while totally maintaining respect for the other person - with Nancy, this is a part of who she is. And I'm coming out on the other side being made a better leader because of it.
Jené Liggins Director of Talent and People DevelopmentParaha Institute
Nancy Fournier is an exceptional CEO evaluator who has transformed how our board sets goals and measures success. Her ability to articulate clear, actionable objectives empowers both the board and me to focus on what truly drives impact. Nancy's feedback is thorough and candid, yet always delivered with clarity and respect, making it easy to understand where I stand and how to grow. She’s an invaluable partner in aligning leadership performance with organizational vision.
Sabrina Pence, Chief Executive OfficerFirstLine Schools
With the guidance of Nancy Fournier, I found that I could love my work and myself again. Nancy leadership coaching has assisted me in evaluating my challenges, developing solutions, and actively practicing the skills to become a better leader. I now love being an executive director again.
Erica Fearn, Executive DirectorAuer Farms