Why I Started Culture CARES® Global
When I see a people problem, I get curious. When I find a gap, I dig deeper.
In 2020, I noticed a troubling disconnect between many nonprofits’ external missions vs. their internal cultures. Social impact organizations are built on powerful missions to improve the world, so they typically hire heart-centered individuals who want to make an impact with their careers.
But when you look under the hood, you find dedicated employees on the verge of meeting their breaking point.
People are burned out, overwhelmed, and exhausted. Employees leave causes and organizations they love because they can't push any harder. Their energy drains, and the compounding stress affects their mental and physical health. They hit walls and decide it's not worth it anymore.
This is not a problem we can afford to ignore. It's a pressing issue that demands our immediate attention.
A recent high-achieving coaching client told me, “I love my organization and the people here, but is it worth staying when I feel so bad and my health is suffering?”
This might be a difficult truth to accept, but it's likely a question your employees are silently grappling with.
This heartfelt question resonated deeply with me as I witnessed the damaging toll of burnout across the social impact sector. This concern for the well-being of our mission-driven people, who are the heart and soul of nonprofit organizations, led me to start Culture CARES® Global.
When I was the Founder & Executive Director of MyLifeLine Cancer Foundation, I had no training on how to lead with confidence, clarity, and courage. I relied on my instincts, stumbled along the way, and studied what Best Places to Work companies do. I translated this data and knowledge, along with my own experiences and failures, into a simple method called Culture CARES. This method focuses on Commitment, Appreciation, Respect, Engagement, and Safety, which are the pillars of a healthy organizational culture. It can be adapted to any organization, providing a clear roadmap for fostering a positive work environment.
Before you consider leveraging your culture for maximum impact, the executive team must align and communicate that culture is a priority before problems boil over and top performers leave.
One new CEO of a tech start-up revealed to me last year, “I don’t talk about culture; I just do things.” Yikes. What “things”? Was he measuring those “things”? A few months later, I reached out to him again - only to find out that he was no longer with the company after a year. Coincidence? I don’t think so.
It’s a missed opportunity when the CEO is not clearly communicating about plans to foster a healthy work environment. Action is key, and don’t skip the step of talking about that action! People look to their leaders for support and must be reminded that the organization’s executive team care about manageable workloads and daily experiences affecting employee health, well-being, and personal lives.
Without a stated focus on culture, regrettable turnover starts to snowball when people can no longer deal with health and personal sacrifices. The organization’s reputation will suffer, and it will be hard to backfill competent workers. The employees remaining will face even more burnout, resentment, and higher workloads to compensate.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. At Cultures CARES Global, we advocate for a paradigm shift to create a win-win-win situation for the organization, employees, and clients. In this ideal scenario, all three parties are healthy and resilient, increasing productivity, employee satisfaction, and client trust. Sacrificing health and well-being for the “cause” is counterproductive and hurts mission-centered work.
When people feel valued, respected, and appreciated, they will remain loyal to your cause and organization for a long time.
There is no better time than today to take control of your organization’s culture. Activating a cultural vision that bolsters health and wellness should not be an afterthought. Instead, it is essential to human, financial, and organizational success.
We understand the challenges you face and are here to help. You don't have to navigate this alone. Our CARES® model is a proven process and clean structure that works. Culture CARES® provides comprehensive support, guidance, and resources to help you create a healthier, more resilient organization.
We've got your back.
What our clients say:
“From 2023 to 2024, we reduced 14 problem areas into just 1. The measurable results and noticeable day-to-day improvements are outstanding. The Culture CARES® model was leveraged to design a series of facilitated programs that engaged our entire team to identify and implement actions to improve our culture.”
- Cindy Hyman, Associate Vice President for Engagement, Colorado College