Learning for Good | L&D Solutions and Leadership Development for Nonprofit Organizations

It's estimated that organizations spend somewhere between 50% to 200% of an employee's annual salary to replace them, depending on the level and complexity of their role.
Not only that, when someone leaves, it impacts morale, our organization, and ultimately our mission. So, it benefits nonprofits to keep our employees.
In this episode, we talk to Rachel Platt, an HR leader and people strategist with  over 20 years of experience who helps nonprofits think through their entire talent lifecycle from hiring to exiting.
We are exploring the reasons behind the seemingly normal high turnover in the nonprofit sector, the role of learning and development in reversing this talent loss, how to use this to get buy-in, and low-cost ways to develop and engage your staff.

▶️ The Real ROI of Reducing Turnover (and How Training Helps) with Rachel Platt 

▶️ Key Points:
0:00:00 From in-house HR to Plattinum Consulting
0:08:45 What's really behind high nonprofit turnover
0:12:59 Low-cost ways to develop your staff
0:17:55 The far-reaching benefits of training your staff
0:24:06 How to get training buy-in from a retention POV
0:29:04 What the best learning leaders are doing

Resources from this episode:
Catch up with Episode 103: 5 Low-Cost Leadership Development Activities for Organizations with Tight Budgets.
Also listen to Episode 168: Create Environments Where People Stay, Grow, and Thrive with Julie Winkle Giulioni.
Join the Nonprofit Learning and Development Collective: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/nonprofit-learning-and-development-collective
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Connect with Rachel
LinkedIn: Rachel Platt
Website: plattinumconsulting.com 

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

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

Recent data shows that more than half of all nonprofit leaders in the US are women. Unfortunately, we also know that many nonprofit leaders are on the brink of burnout.
This calls into question what we are doing to support these female leaders and prompts us to consider how we can give them the support they truly need.
In this episode, I'm joined by Marisa Ciesluk, a women's  leadership development facilitator and coach, to help us figure out how to do that at a time when women's leadership development is under scrutiny. You'll learn practical strategies at the organizational and individual levels to make a difference.
▶️ How Most Nonprofits Approach Women's Leadership Development (and What You Should Do Instead) with Marisa Ciesluk 

▶️ Key Points:
0:00:00 From burnout to women's leadership coaching
0:09:33 Beyond skills: do the inner work, build capacity
0:18:35 How nonprofits are supporting female leaders
0:20:42 Organizational shifts to better support women
0:24:59 Ways nonprofit L&D pros can help women
0:29:19 A conversation that must continue to happen

Resources from this episode:
Check out the book Marisa recommends: Playing Big by Tara Mohr.
Join the Nonprofit Learning and Development Collective: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/nonprofit-learning-and-development-collective
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. 🔗

Connect with Marisa
LinkedIn: Marisa Wheeling Ciesluk 
Website: mwcleadership.com

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

It can be frustrating when nonprofit leaders and other stakeholders approach us demanding training to solve a problem. However, it's important to remember that people outside of learning and development don't always know which tools are available or which one is right for each situation, so they stick to the familiar. But it's our job as nonprofit L&D pros to diagnose the problem and offer the right solution.
That's why in this episode, I'm sharing a quick diagnostic process to help you determine whether the issue brought to you is a training problem or if another solution will work better.

▶️ Is This a Training Problem? A Quick Diagnostic Tool for Nonprofit Learning & Development Leaders

▶️ Key Points:
0:00:00 Why we often go for training as the solution
0:04:19 Two questions to diagnose a training problem
0:09:46 Navigating the diagnostic and stakeholders

Resources from this episode:
Join the Nonprofit Learning and Development Collective: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/nonprofit-learning-and-development-collective
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. 🔗

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

Nonprofit leadership development is about far more than offering training. It’s about creating an environment where people want to stay, grow, and contribute meaningfully to your mission. 
In this episode, I’m joined by bestselling author and workplace growth champion Julie Winkle Giulioni, who challenges nonprofits to rethink how they approach staff development and build truly supportive cultures of learning. You’ll hear strategies for building a culture of learning in nonprofits and why effective leadership training programs for nonprofit staff require more than a single workshop.
We explore why training alone cannot drive behavior change, how managers can become true growth partners, and the role technology (especially AI) now plays in sustaining learning.

▶️ Create Environments Where People Stay, Grow, and Thrive with Julie Winkle Giulioni 

▶️ Key Points:
00:03:24 Julie’s winding career path and early lessons in learning
00:09:41 Why training isn’t enough to drive real change
00:15:03 A manager’s influence on performance and growth
00:24:34 How L&D leaders can operationalize better learning environments
00:28:37 Bringing learning into everyday work

Resources from this episode:
 Help Them Grow or Watch Them Go by Julie Winkle Giulioni
Join the Nonprofit Learning and Development Collective: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/nonprofit-learning-and-development-collective
We want to hear from you. Tell me what you want to hear more of or less of on the podcast. Ask a question or make a request through our Speakpipe link.
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. 🔗

Connect with Julie
LinkedIn: Julie Winkle Giulioni
Website: juliewinklegiulioni.com 

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

As nonprofit leaders look ahead to the new year, it’s essential to understand which capabilities will matter most. 
In this episode, I’m breaking down the top skills nonprofits will need in 2026 so teams can stay resilient, adaptive, and mission-focused. Plus, I’m sharing a simple three-step process to help you identify the specific skills your organization should prioritize this year.
If you’re planning your Learning and Development strategies for 2026, you’ll walk away with clarity on where to focus your efforts and how to better support your people.

▶️ 3 Skills Your Nonprofit Needs in 2026 

▶️ Key Points:
00:00:00 Welcoming A New Nonprofit Year
00:04:29 Exploring Key Capabilities
00:10:13 Mapping Needed Skills

Resources from this episode:
Start by catching up with Episode 113: How to Set Values-Based Goals for 2025.
Read the article I’m referring to in the episode: 10 Critical Skills Every Leader Must Master In 2026
Take a look at my episode with Dr. Reggie Thomas: Episode 162: Why Wellbeing is Mission Critical for Your Nonprofit
Join us January 12th-16th for Career Week at the Collective, an event designed to help you grow your nonprofit L&D careers together. Learn all the details and grab your ticket at https://collective.skillmastersmarket.com/invitation?code=3CG346
Join the Nonprofit Learning and Development Collective: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/nonprofit-learning-and-development-collective
We want to hear from you. Tell me what you want to hear more of or less of on the podcast. Ask a question or make a request through our Speakpipe link.
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. 🔗

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