The Nonprofit Podcast Ep 193| The Hidden Cost of Silence: Psychological Safety in Nonprofits
Most teams learn pretty quickly what happens when they give feedback and adjust accordingly. When people feel safer being honest anywhere except work, trust isn’t the issue...safety is.
Britt Stockert chats with Tasha Van Vlack, founder of The Nonprofit Hive, about psychological safety in nonprofit teams...and why silence often shows up long before burnout or turnover.
Together, they unpack what psychological safety really looks like in day-to-day nonprofit work: the ability to speak up, ask for help, name concerns, and make mistakes without fear of backlash.
We explore:
- Why nonprofit staff often feel safer processing challenges outside their own organizations
- How well-intended leadership behaviors can unintentionally shut people down
- The difference between performative care and real psychological safety
- What silence is actually signaling inside teams
- What helps rebuild trust after it’s been broken
Rather than offering quick fixes, this episode invites nonprofit leaders and teams to look honestly at how trust is built - or eroded - through everyday actions, follow-through, and response.
Where do honest conversations actually happen on your team, and what has speaking up led to in your organization? Share your experience with us, and join the broader conversation:
- Connect with Tasha Van Vlack on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tasha-van-vlack/ - Learn more about The Nonprofit Hive:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-nonprofit-hive/ - Contact Tasha:tasha@thenonprofithive.com
What makes Donorbox the Best Nonprofit Fundraising Platform to Achieve Your Strategic Goals?
Easy to customize, available in multiple languages and currencies, and supported by leading payment processors (Stripe and PayPal), Donorbox’s nonprofit fundraising solution is used by 80,000+ global organizations and individuals. From animal rescue to schools, places of worship, and research groups, nonprofits use Donorbox to raise more funds, manage donors efficiently, and make a bigger impact.
Discover how Donorbox can help you help others!
The Nonprofit Podcast, along with a wealth of nonprofit leadership tutorials, expert advice, tips, and tactics, is available on the Donorbox YouTube channel. Subscribe today and never miss an episode:
The Nonprofit Podcast is available every Thursday on all popular podcast platforms.
🎙️ Apple Podcasts: The Nonprofit Podcast
🎙️ Spotify: The Nonprofit Podcast
🖥️The Nonprofit Podcast 🎙️🎙️ - YouTube