Nonprofits are messy. I learned this the hard way after I switched careers, either having a midlife crisis or avoiding one, and was named the Executive Director of GLAAD, one of the largest gay rights organizations in the U.S.

When I joined GLAAD I found an organization in deep financial crisis. I led it out of the depths to a place of prominence focusing on the power of the media to change hearts and minds. I was a successful nonprofit CEO and I loved it. But it was what I learned that was the greatest gift – what it means to manage and motivate people not drawn to work by their year end bonuses, how to engage people, how to build consensus and how to raise money.

Today I bring all of this knowledge and expertise about nonprofit leadership to Joan Garry Consulting. I focus on untangling the knots that stand between nonprofit organizations and the fulfillment of their missions. My blog for nonprofit board and staff leaders reaches 100,000 unique leaders monthly and my podcast, Nonprofits Are Messy, is frequently the #1 nonprofit / government podcast on iTunes. I am also the founder of The Nonprofit Leadership Lab, a monthly online membership site for board and staff leaders of small nonprofits who cannot afford coaching or consulting.