Changemaker Conversations: The Podcast for Nonprofit Leaders · Alyssa Conrardy and Lindsay Mullen

How Should Nonprofit Leaders Show Up in Times of Moral Crisis?

·42 min·2 clips

Every decision carries risk, but the question becomes how to speak up and prepare to minimize damage.

The hosts step away from their funding series to discuss current events they know matter for many nonprofits. Alyssa Conradi's earlier email sets it in motion. The conversation returns to her LinkedIn post, "Stay Silent, Go Bold, and Other Difficult Decisions Nonprofit Leaders Must Make in Times of Crisis," and uses it as a starting point for a broader question about organizational posture. The core question is straightforward. Should nonprofit leaders say something, and if so, how should they decide what to say, what language to use, what stance to take, and whether the message should connect to what comes next? Mission and values carry the most weight. The hosts argue that those two elements should be the main lens for deciding, since they shape both what an organization says and how it responds. The discussion stays grounded. It keeps turning broad crisis pressure into a practical sequence of questions: what fits, what helps, what is lip service, and what should happen next. The episode also pushes back on a false split. It says organizations should not have to choose between speaking and acting if they can do both, because action without acknowledgment can still leave violence and misinformation in place. The action side matters. If a nonprofit is not on the ground in Minneapolis, it can still support organizations that are, and the conversation treats that as part of a serious response rather than a side note. The tone stays practical. It keeps reminding listeners that a statement should not be a box-checking exercise; it should be grounded in the mission and matched by real work. The episode also leaves room for uncertainty. When leaders are deciding whether to speak, the hosts say they are happy to help shape the message. The close is direct. It points listeners to show notes, resources, and a way to reach out for help if they are facing the same choice.

As heard by us

Mission and values guide nonprofit leaders as they decide what to say and do in crisis.

Changemaker Conversations steps away from its three-part funding series to ask a practical question for nonprofit leaders: how to respond in a crisis, what to say, and what to do.

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Why you'd press play

You need a mission-first way to decide whether to speak up in a crisis.

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