Highlights: #207 – Sarah Eustis-Guthrie on why she shut down her charity, and why more founders should follow her lead
Dec 2, 2024
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In this conversation, Sarah Eustis-Guthrie, co-founder of the Maternal Health Initiative, shares her journey of establishing a charity focused on maternal health. She discusses the emotional toll of leadership and the often unseen challenges founders face. Sarah emphasizes why more charity founders should consider shutting down their organizations if they aren't making the expected impact. The discussion delves into the dynamics between donors and beneficiaries, questioning the effectiveness of long-standing charities and the need for strategic pivots.
Sarah Eustis-Guthrie's decision to shut down her charity highlights the importance of assessing impact realistically rather than persisting blindly.
The necessity for founders to adapt strategies and seek community support is crucial for navigating the emotional challenges of running a charity.
Deep dives
Navigating the Challenges of Founding a Charity
Founding a charity presents unique challenges, especially when transitioning from the idea stage to implementation. The process can be daunting, as it often requires aligning with local partnerships, navigating government permissions, and addressing various logistical concerns. Engaging with local nonprofits and experts was essential for developing a robust program suited to the local context. This journey highlighted the need to ground their approach in evidence-based practices while acknowledging that theoretical knowledge often lacks practical specificity.
The Emotional Rollercoaster of Program Implementation
Implementing a program can lead to significant emotional turmoil, particularly when faced with disappointing results. Personal accountability weighs heavily, as founders often feel that their efficacy directly correlates with the organization's outcomes. This sentiment is further compounded when comparing their efforts to other successful initiatives within the charity sector. Despite attempts to manage stress and anxiety, the persistent pressure of responsibility can affect personal well-being, leaving founders to grapple with feelings of inadequacy.
The Importance of Adaptability and Community Support
Successful charities must be willing to pivot and adapt their strategies in response to challenges or change in circumstances. The example of an organization that shifted from a focus on preventing mother-to-child HIV transmission to incentivizing immunizations illustrates the importance of flexibility in achieving impact. Founders benefit from a supportive community that shares similar experiences and provides encouragement during challenging times. Building a network of advisors, co-founders, and peers can help alleviate feelings of isolation and self-doubt prevalent in the nonprofit sector.
Charity founder Sarah Eustis-Guthrie has a candid conversation about her experience starting and running her maternal health charity, and ultimately making the difficult decision to shut down when the programme wasn’t as impactful as they expected. This episode is a selection of highlights from our full interview with Sarah:
Luisa’s intro (00:00:00)
What it's like to found a charity (00:00:14)
Yellow flags and difficult calls (00:03:17)
Disappointing results (00:06:28)
The ups and downs of founding an organisation (00:08:37)
Entrepreneurship and being willing to make risky bets (00:12:58)
Why aren't more charities shutting down? (00:16:50)