Learning for Good | L&D Solutions and Leadership Development for Nonprofits

You invested time and resources into staff training and development, but your team still isn't applying what they learned. Why? Many nonprofit leaders focus heavily on what employees need to learn and how they should learn it. While those elements are essential, they're only part of the equation.
In this episode of Learning for Good, I’m exploring why even well-designed training programs often fail to create lasting behavior change. True success happens when training translates into consistent action on the job. 
I’m sharing five overlooked factors that determine whether learning becomes performance improvement or simply another forgotten workshop.

▶️ Why Your Nonprofit Training Isn't Working: 5 Factors Preventing Workplace Behavior Change

▶️ Key Points:
00:00:00 Why Great Training Doesn't Always Lead to Action
00:05:07 5 Factors Preventing Behavior Change
00:14:12 Designing Training That Drives Lasting Behavior Change

Resources from this episode:
Join the Learning for Good Summit in July: https://collective.skillmastersmarket.com/invitation?code=9A6625 
Join the Nonprofit Learning and Development Collective: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/nonprofit-learning-and-development-collective

Connect with Heather
LinkedIn: Heather Burright
Website: skillmastersmarket.com
Book an interest call with Heather here.
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Learning for Good is the podcast for nonprofit leaders seeking practical L&D solutions. Hosted by Heather, an experienced consultant, we dive into leadership development, instructional design, change management, and staff management strategies tailored to nonprofit organizations.

Discover how to implement impactful learning solutions, foster belonging, and influence senior leaders. Each episode provides the tools you need to confidently navigate high-level conversations and drive meaningful change within your organization.

Let’s create lasting impact through innovative L&D solutions!

Produced by Ideablossoms

What does it really take to grow as a learning leader? 
In this episode of Learning for Good, I sit down with instructional design expert Dr. Luke Hobson to explore how learning professionals can build confidence, strengthen influence, and develop a clear leadership voice. We reflect on our own career journeys into learning and development and discuss how intentional growth, networking, and relationship-building shape effective leaders.
From instructional design for nonprofits to relationship-building and professional growth, this conversation is packed with practical insights for nonprofit learning and development professionals who want to create meaningful organizational impact. Whether you’re leading training initiatives, managing change, or trying to grow your confidence as a leader, this episode offers actionable ideas you can immediately apply.

▶️ Learning and Growth for Learning Leaders with Dr. Luke Hobson

▶️ Key Points:
00:00:00 Dr. Luke Hobson’s Journey into Instructional Design
00:05:39 Heather’s Path into Learning and Development
00:08:38 Moving Beyond Content Creation into Organizational Influence
00:14:47 The Value of Partnering with Your Stakeholders
00:19:35 How Learning Leaders Invest in Their Own Growth
00:27:35 Building Confidence and Finding Your Leadership Voice
00:34:49 Advice for Nonprofit Learning Professionals Who Want to Grow Their Influence

Resources from this episode:
Join the Learning for Good Summit in July: https://collective.skillmastersmarket.com/invitation?code=9A6625 
Join the Nonprofit Learning and Development Collective: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/nonprofit-learning-and-development-collective

Connect with Luke
LinkedIn: Luke Hobson, EdD
Website: drlukehobson.com 

Connect with Heather
LinkedIn: Heather Burright
Website: skillmastersmarket.com
Book an interest call with Heather here.

⭐Was this episode helpful? If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, follow and leave a review!
🔗Know anyone who would benefit from this episode? SHARE this with your friends.
Learning for Good is the podcast for nonprofit leaders seeking practical L&D solutions. Hosted by Heather, an experienced consultant, we dive into leadership development, instructional design, change management, and staff management strategies tailored to nonprofit organizations.

Discover how to implement impactful learning solutions, foster belonging, and influence senior leaders. Each episode provides the tools you need to confidently navigate high-level conversations and drive meaningful change within your organization.

Let’s create lasting impact through innovative L&D solutions!

Produced by Ideablossoms

What does proof of impact really look like in nonprofit learning and development? 
In this episode of Learning for Good, I break down how nonprofit leaders can measure staff training and development in a way that actually connects learning to organizational performance and mission impact.
Many nonprofit organizations focus only on participation numbers or satisfaction surveys when evaluating training. Others jump straight to behavior change and impact without worrying about knowledge transfer. I explain why effective learning and development strategies require a complete measurement chain, one where every “domino” matters.

▶️ What Proof of Impact Really Looks Like in Training

▶️ Key Points:
00:00:00 The Five Dominoes of Measuring Training Impact
00:05:50 Why Each Domino Matters in Nonprofit Staff Training and Development
00:13:30 Connecting Learning to Organizational Impact

Resources from this episode:
More episodes on measuring training:
How to Measure Behavior Change and Impact from Training
How to Measure the Impact of Your Training and Development
Join us at our next networking event for the Nonprofit L&D Collective on  June 17: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/join-the-nonprofit-learning-and-development-collective 
Join the Nonprofit Learning and Development Collective: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/nonprofit-learning-and-development-collective

Connect with Heather
LinkedIn: Heather Burright
Website: skillmastersmarket.com
Book an interest call with Heather here.

⭐Was this episode helpful? If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, follow and leave a review!
🔗Know anyone who would benefit from this episode? SHARE this with your friends.
Learning for Good is the podcast for nonprofit leaders seeking practical L&D solutions. Hosted by Heather, an experienced consultant, we dive into leadership development, instructional design, change management, and staff management strategies tailored to nonprofit organizations.

Discover how to implement impactful learning solutions, foster belonging, and influence senior leaders. Each episode provides the tools you need to confidently navigate high-level conversations and drive meaningful change within your organization.

Let’s create lasting impact through innovative L&D solutions!

Produced by Ideablossoms

What does it take to build high-performing nonprofit teams that stay engaged, grow their skills, and strengthen organizational impact? 
In this episode, I sit down with Melanie Gonzalez, Chief People Officer at the Behavioral Science Research Institute (BSRI), to explore how intentional career pathing supports nonprofit leadership development, staff training and development, and employee retention.
From aligning compensation philosophy with career progression to building customized learning and development strategies, this conversation offers practical guidance for nonprofit leaders who want to invest in their people while navigating limited resources and flat organizational structures.

▶️ A Look at Career Mapping: Who, What, When, and How with Nonprofit Leader Melanie Gonzalez

▶️ Key Points:
00:00:00 Career Paths Matter for Nonprofit Growth and Performance
00:03:46 Melanie’s HR Leadership Journey
00:09:34 Career Pathing and Compensation at BSRI
00:17:34 Nonprofit Career Growth Beyond Promotions
00:21:03 Aligning Career Pathing with L&D Strategies
00:24:21 The Impact of Investing in Nonprofit Staff Development
00:27:24 Advice for Nonprofits Creating Career Paths

Resources from this episode:
Join us at our next networking event for the Nonprofit L&D Collective on  June 17: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/join-the-nonprofit-learning-and-development-collective 
Join the Nonprofit Learning and Development Collective: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/nonprofit-learning-and-development-collective

Connect with Melanie
LinkedIn: Melanie Gonzalez
Website: bsrinstitute.org 

Connect with Heather
LinkedIn: Heather Burright
Website: skillmastersmarket.com
Book an interest call with Heather here.

⭐Was this episode helpful? If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, follow and leave a review!
🔗Know anyone who would benefit from this episode? SHARE this with your friends.
Learning for Good is the podcast for nonprofit leaders seeking practical L&D solutions. Hosted by Heather, an experienced consultant, we dive into leadership development, instructional design, change management, and staff management strategies tailored to nonprofit organizations.

Discover how to implement impactful learning solutions, foster belonging, and influence senior leaders. Each episode provides the tools you need to confidently navigate high-level conversations and drive meaningful change within your organization.

Let’s create lasting impact through innovative L&D solutions!

Produced by Ideablossoms

If you want to elevate your learning and development role from an order taker to a strategic partner, it starts with something many leaders overlook: mindset. 
In this episode, I explore how the way you think about your role in learning and development directly impacts your influence, credibility, and results inside your organization.
Too often, nonprofit learning professionals feel stuck reacting to requests instead of shaping strategy. But shifting from an order taker to a strategic partner isn’t about changing your job title. It’s about changing how you show up. I break down how your internal beliefs shape your external behaviors, and ultimately determine whether you're invited to the decision-making table.

▶️ The Mindset that Separates Strategic L&D Leaders from Order Takers

▶️ Key Points:
00:00:00 How Mindset Shapes Your Daily Experiences
00:03:50 Strategic L&D Partner vs Order Taker
00:08:58 Reinforcing Cycles: Beliefs and Outcomes

Resources from this episode:
The Psychology of Winning by Denis Waitley: https://www.amazon.com/Psychology-Winning-Qualities-Nightingale-Publication/dp/1640956441 
The Power of Your Subconscious Mind by Joseph Murphy: https://www.amazon.com/Power-Your-Subconscious-Mind/dp/160459201X 
Self-Coaching 101 by Brooke Castillo: https://www.amazon.com/Self-Coaching-101-Brooke-Castillo/dp/0977853993 
Join us at our next networking event for the Nonprofit L&D Collective on  May 20: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/join-the-nonprofit-learning-and-development-collective 
Join the Nonprofit Learning and Development Collective: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/nonprofit-learning-and-development-collective

Connect with Heather
LinkedIn: Heather Burright
Website: skillmastersmarket.com
Book an interest call with Heather here.

⭐Was this episode helpful? If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, follow and leave a review!
🔗Know anyone who would benefit from this episode? SHARE this with your friends.
Learning for Good is the podcast for nonprofit leaders seeking practical L&D solutions. Hosted by Heather, an experienced consultant, we dive into leadership development, instructional design, change management, and staff management strategies tailored to nonprofit organizations.

Discover how to implement impactful learning solutions, foster belonging, and influence senior leaders. Each episode provides the tools you need to confidently navigate high-level conversations and drive meaningful change within your organization.

Let’s create lasting impact through innovative L&D solutions!

Produced by Ideablossoms