The Real Reason Nonprofits Can’t Keep Great Staff with Jonathan Meagher-Zayas

Dec 6, 2023

Jonathan Meagher-Zayas, a Queer Latinx Millennial nonprofit strategist, shares valuable insights into nonprofit staffing challenges. He argues that many organizations overlook internal assessments while blaming external factors for high turnover. Jonathan candidly discusses his experiences with racism and discrimination, linking these issues to systemic oppression within the sector. He emphasizes the crucial need for open dialogue and the importance of diverse perspectives to foster an inclusive workplace and enhance staff retention.

Ask episode

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

Intro

00:00 • 3min

Navigating Nonprofit Challenges: Retention and Equity

02:46 • 5min

Navigating Toxicity: The Impact of Leadership on Marginalized Employees

08:01 • 2min

Navigating Equity and Inclusion in Nonprofits

09:48 • 18min

Connecting and Inspiring Change in Nonprofits

28:17 • 3min

Are you heading into 2024 with fundraising tools that make your job easier? Today's sponsor Qgiv can help! Over 20,000 fundraisers trust Qgiv to help them raise more money and improve their fundraising events. Visit www.jcsocialmarketing.com/qgiv to get a custom walkthrough of the platform and a free "This Is My Fundraising Shirt" t-shirt.

It seems to be a common struggle in nonprofit organizations - the complaints about recruiting qualified staff, keeping great talent, and increasing diversity in a sector where more than 80 percent of nonprofit board members are white (BoardSource).

However, this may be that these leaders are focusing efforts and energies on external strategies without first assessing internal efforts. They tend to blame specific employees or larger issues because it is easier than holding themselves accountable.

My guest today is Jonathan Meagher-Zayas, MSW, MPA, CFRE, CDP. Jonathan is a Queer Latinx Millennial nonprofit strategist dedicated to addressing equity issues, building capacity, engaging the community, motivating new impact leaders, and getting stuff done.

In a recent article for Community-Centric Fundraising, Jonathan discusses his experiences with racism and discrimination as a fundraiser, and presents the argument that “the real reason nonprofits continue to fail at staff retention and equity initiatives is that they refuse to address their oppression.”

In this episode, Jonathan and I discuss:

Jonathan’s history as a fundraiser in the sector that led him to leave three full-time jobs due to traumatic experiences.
Ways that nonprofits can actually make progress in these areas
How to acknowledge the ways in which oppression shows up in nonprofit organizations
How leaders can focus on strategies leading to equitable outcomes.

Connect with Johnathan on LinkedIn

Resources:

Take my free masterclass: 3 Must-Have Elements of Social Media Content that Converts