A Year of Growth and Learning
As we approach the new year, it’s helpful to reflect on our journey as nonprofit leaders and look ahead with renewed inspiration and purpose. At Gather Consulting, we've had the privilege of working alongside dedicated community-based organizations such as LEMO Foundation and MVLA Soccer Club, witnessing firsthand the transformative power of their work in youth sports and community building. We’ve also had great fun bringing together creative thinkers and doers to the inaugural Jewish Futures and Board Rethink Gatherings. As we stand on the threshold of a new chapter, let's explore some inspirational ideas, practical advice, and wellness strategies to help us thrive in the coming year.
Embracing Our Mission with Renewed Vigor
Our work in the nonprofit sector is more than just a job—it's a calling. Whether we're enhancing educational opportunities, strengthening the community, or focusing on making our boards stronger, more compassionate, and more efficient, our efforts ripple out, touching countless lives. As we enter the new year, let's reconnect with the passion that first drew us to this work. Take a moment to visualize the impact of your organization's mission. How many students have gained access to better education? How many families have found greater support and connection within their communities? How has your board pushed you and resourced you to become a better leader? How many students and leaders feel more confident, motivated, and committed to their work? Let these images fuel your motivation and remind you of the importance of your work.
Nurturing Wellness in Our Organizations
While our dedication to our causes is important, it's crucial to remember that we can't pour from an empty cup. This year, let's make a collective commitment to prioritize wellness within our organizations. Consider implementing practices like "Wellness Wednesdays" where team members are encouraged to take an extended lunch break for self-care activities. Or perhaps introduce a "No Meeting Monday" policy to allow for focused work and reduce stress. Plan a board retreat where your board members can reconnect with your mission, vision, and values, and with each other. Take a Sabbatical for extended rest and rejuvenation! Remember, a well-rested and balanced team is more creative, productive, and better equipped to serve our communities. What are some other ideas you can think of that help to promote wellness in your organization and our communities at large?
The Power of Collaborative Networks
In the coming year, let's continue to break down silos and foster more collaboration within our sector. Reach out to other nonprofits in your area—both within and outside your specific niche. Share resources, ideas, and support. A rising tide lifts all boats, and by working together, we can amplify our impact and create more resilient communities. One of my favorite quotes of late is “many hands make light work.” Models that provide a collective impact effort, like the work of the College Success Collaborative–a dozen Bay Area nonprofits supporting first gen, low-income students–is a great example of collaboration done well. We each bring our own expertise, networks, time, and other resources, and share the same collective mission for our target audience.
Mindful Leadership for 2025
As leaders, we set the tone for our organizations. This year, let's commit to practicing mindful leadership, or as my friend and colleague Gamal J. Palmer calls, #RelaxedLeadership. For me, this means being present for our teams, listening deeply, and leading with empathy. It also means knowing when to step back and recharge. Consider starting each day with a five-minute meditation or gratitude practice. These small acts can center us and prepare us to lead with clarity and compassion. Through Chavurot: Expanding Professional Growth for Communal Leaders, we are aiming to provide mid-career Jewish professionals with connection, learning, and nourishment, and a cure for professional loneliness.
A Year of Growth and Transformation
As we step into the new year, let’s focus on growing the impact of our work to transform lives. Whether through education, community building, or social justice work, each of us has the power to contribute, and to create. Let's approach our work not just as tasks to be completed, but as sacred opportunities to make our world a little bit better. My friends and colleagues at Jewish Studio Project ask, “Have You Made Art About It?” which is a beautiful way to process, heal, and connect around the power of ritual, Jewish wisdom, and our inherent creativity.
As we navigate the challenges and opportunities of the coming year, let's do so with kindness—both to others and to ourselves. May this be a year of meaningful impact, personal growth, and collective healing for all of us in the nonprofit sector. As someone who is excited to celebrate Hannukah, I am struck that the first night is on Christmas Eve, and the last night falls on New Years Day. I can’t remember the last time Hannukah spanned two years, beginning and ending on other religious and secular holidays. It is a reminder that the particular and the universal can coexist, and do coexist.
