# Cindy Leonard Consulting LLC > Ideas. Inspiration. Action. > Generated by All in One SEO Pro v5.0.3, this is an llms-full.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site. ## Posts ### [Be the Pebble in the Pond: Take Small Personal Actions to Make the World a Better Place](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/be-the-pebble-in-the-pond-take-small-personal-actions-to-make-the-world-a-better-place/) **Published:** May 1, 2017 **Author:** staging_gijlz8 **Content:** *Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on the Bayer Center blog in May 2009 and has been updated for relevancy, etc.* --- Sometimes I stay up later than I should at night, Googling issues of concern to me and thinking about the various wrongs in the world. I have been an activist in various capacities since my high school days, but as I age I find myself becoming more acutely aware of issues, concerns, and problems plaguing our planet, its people and animals. At times, I feel overwhelmed with the amount of work that needs to be done for things to improve. I wonder if we are all simply beating our head against the walls. I was in one of these contemplative moods on the evening before I started to draft this blog post. At one point, a lyric from an old U2 song “Rejoice” entered my brain: “I can’t change the world, but I can change the world in me.” That sent my thought train down a different track. I think this mentality – small, personal change – is likely the key to improving life on our planet and would be more effective than anything all the collective nonprofits in the world could possibly accomplish. Suspend reality for a moment and imagine if every single person on this planet took personal responsibility for action, justice, and change in all arenas. Imagine a world where everyone made an effort to make the world a better place in small ways, rather than leave it to the nonprofit sector to fix things. Then I started making a list of small things we could all try to do to make the world a better place. Here’s my top 8. (I tried to get to 10 and ran out of steam. As previously mentioned, this was drafted late at night.) 1. **Vote.** Voting is one of our privileges and responsibilities as US citizens. Always remember that there are many people in the world who are not given this simple right and that we should be grateful that we are able to choose. Educate yourself as a voter, learn about the candidates and their platforms – don’t just vote for the people with the most prominent roadside campaign signs. The League of Women Voters is a great advocacy organization to get you started in the right direction – [www.lwv.org](https://www.lwv.org). 2. **Volunteer.** Nonprofits need volunteers now, more than ever. If you have an interest, a talent, or a skill to share, chances are there is a nonprofit out there that can use you. There are many ways to volunteer. Check out [www.volunteermatch.org](https://www.idealist.org/volunteermatch) for volunteer opportunities in your neighborhood. 3. **Recycle.** Even if you only recycle on a limited basis, perhaps only office paper or only cans, it’s better to recycle those items than not at all. Every little bit that doesn’t go into a landfill counts. Keep in mind that re-using and re-purposing items you own counts towards the greater good as well as recycling. Give things to a friend, a church, or a thrift store. Have a yard or garage sale. Find a creative new use for an old item. For information on recycling centers near you and information on how to recycle, visit [www.earth911.com](http://earth911.com/). 4. **Support small and local business.** Yes, big-box stores and online retailers are convenient because they are often one-stop shopping. I sometimes shop at those types of stores too, but I’m finding more and more that I can frequently get the same products from local grocers and other vendors for nearly the same price. In addition, frequenting a small, local business is like visiting the bar on the 80s TV series *Cheers* – everybody knows your name. Supporting local business is good for our regional economy because it keeps the money here instead of sending it to the home office of a corporation in another state. 5. **Reduce your carbon footprint.** Your carbon footprint is a measurement of your activities and how they relate to the emission of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. You can calculate a carbon footprint to gauge how environmentally-friendly you, your household, or your business is. (You want to see lower numbers here.) A side benefit of lowering your carbon output is that it also saves money! Calculate your carbon footprint and learn more here: [www.carbonfootprint.com](http://www.carbonfootprint.com/). 6. **Smile more.** This may sound simple-minded, but think about it. It costs you nothing to do this and help brighten the day for those around you. There are a myriad of other benefits as well. 7. **Take care of your piece of the planet.** Keep your home in good repair, pick up trash blown or thrown into your yard, and keep your office or workspace neat and attractive (as possible). Basically, just try to leave things in better shape than you find them. There are tons of resources online available to you: www.doityourself.com, www.diynetwork.com, www.organizedhome.com, etc. 8. **Buy less “stuff.”** We are a consumption-oriented society. It’s no wonder; with all the choices we have available to us in the stores and online. Owning “stuff,” however, takes up your time, space, and psychic energy. All the things we own require a degree of maintenance and the more things we own, the higher the collective maintenance will be. Don’t buy into the gotta-have-the-latest-thing mentality. There’s a reason that companies spend billions annually on advertising. Buy “stuff” when you actually need “stuff.” [Learn more here](http://lifehacker.com/how-to-program-your-mind-to-stop-buying-crap-you-don-t-1690268064). I know there will people reading this post that will say “but that’s unrealistic – we can’t expect people to act this way.” I say, if we don’t dream big and expect change, it’s definitely not going to happen. For each item on this list, there are dozens, probably hundreds, of nonprofits out there already attempting to address the issue. As much as the nonprofit sector is my bread and butter too, we cannot continue to rely solely upon charitable organizations for change. We have to take steps as individuals. Everyone knows and loves the Margaret Mead quote “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” I also like this quote from her: “I must admit that I personally measure success in terms of the contributions an individual makes to her or his fellow human beings.” The title of this article comes from a Terry Goodkind book: be the “pebble in the pond,” the small object (you) that eventually causes great ripples (changes) in the pond (our world). What could you be doing to make the world a better place? Don’t just think about it…start doing it, even if it’s something small! A lot of small changes combined eventually becomes massive change. **Categories:** Insights **Tags:** minimalism, personal change, recycling, self care, volunteering, vote --- ### [How to Ensure a Good Night's Sleep before a Big Event](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/how-to-ensure-a-good-nights-sleep-before-a-big-event/) **Published:** December 18, 2017 **Author:** staging_gijlz8 **Content:** *This week is a guest post containing the most useful tips for getting the proper rest before a significant happening, written by Will Taylor, Event Planner.* ### How to Ensure a Good Night’s Sleep before a Big Event There’s just one day left until your philanthropic gala, and you still feel like there are a thousand things to be done. But worrying will only make you lose sleep, which is the worst that could happen: instead of being relaxed and able to hold a fantastic event, you’ll feel tired, irritated and without energy. Most [event organizers](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/5-tips-for-self-care-after-a-big-event/) suffer from sleep deprivation before an event, but as one who has gone through this more than once, I confess that choosing work over sleep is the worst decision. Rest is the best way to fuel you up for the big event, so make sure you get plenty of it. I have just the right tips for how you could achieve that: #### Free your evening The day before the event, set an hour, in the early evening, when everything stops: phone calls, last-minute checking, rearrangements, discussions, etc. Turn off your laptop and your cell phone and try to spend the evening doing stress-free activities, such as light exercising, taking a long walk, going for a swim or getting a massage – in fact, this is an excellent method of relieving stress and unwinding your brain and body. #### Back yourself up Instead of worrying about all those details you think still need adjustments, try this: choose the best time to wake up in the morning. Not too early, if you’re close to where your gala will take place, but not too late if you have to travel a longer distance and you don’t want to get stuck in traffic. Once you set your alarm clock, don’t change it! Consider the old saying: “Sleep it off” – one good night rest will help you see things clearly in the morning. Also, have everything you want to wear ready before going to bed. That way, you won’t feel pressure in the morning. #### Keep the bedroom cool and dark Taking a hot, relaxing bath or shower before going to bed may be a good idea, but keep in mind that it will heat up your body and you won’t enjoy a proper sleep. So cool down your bedroom or use smart technology to ensure the right temperature for a peaceful rest. As Try Mattress describes, there are mattress toppers nowadays capable of cooling the bed and maintaining the ideal temperature for a good night rest. Also, turn off all artificial lights and electronic devices – including your smartphone! #### Avoid stimulators and heavy meals Don’t turn to coffee, alcohol or energizing drinks the evening before your big event! They just disrupt your natural repose cycle, the same as sleeping pills, which are in fact another lousy idea before an important day. Heavy meals will only burden your digestive system, but not eating because you’re too nervous is not an option either. Both situations will lead to poor sleep. So eat lightly, at least one hour before going to bed and don’t take food to bed with you. #### Let go of all your worries Stop thinking of those things that could go wrong the next day! They’re only in your head and not letting go of them will hurt your rest. I know, you’re a perfectionist and you want everything to be flawless, but worrying instead of sleeping won’t help you at all. Trust your instincts: get the necessary rest for your brain and body, and you’ll be at your best for the big event! Breathing techniques may be your first-class ally when trying to relax before sleeping – I use them all the time, and the results present themselves in a matter of minutes. **Categories:** Insights **Tags:** event planning, self care, Will Taylor --- ### [Workshop: Planning Your Website Home Page (Wireframing)](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/workshop-planning-your-website-home-page-wireframing/) **Published:** April 20, 2022 **Author:** staging_gijlz8 **Content:** I gave this workshop, “Planning Your Website Home Page (Wireframing),” at the 2022 Nonprofit Technology Conference hosted by [NTEN](https://www.nten.org). They gave presenters permission to share workshop videos for non-commercial purposes, so I wanted to post it here. All of the worksheets and resources referenced in the presentation are still available for download. **Categories:** Other --- ### [Writing and Drawing by Hand vs. Typing on a Keyboard](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/writing-and-drawing-by-hand-vs-typing-on-a-keyboard/) **Published:** March 13, 2017 **Author:** staging_gijlz8 **Content:** As I sought inspiration for this week’s post, my eye went to the stuff on my desk at home. Besides my electronic stuff (PC, iPhone, iPad), I realized I have a remarkable number of items that are non-digital: journal, drawing journal, sketchpad, adult coloring books and regular notebooks. I also thought back to a phone call I had earlier this week with our Salesforce implementer during which I semi-apologized that I’m drawing screenshots for him by hand. (Additionally, I still wireframe my websites with pencil and paper.) With the speed and ease of a keyboard, why do I still write and draw the “old-fashioned” way? I thought this question interesting enough to research and here’s what I’ve learned. (P.S. The irony that I’m typing this post instead of writing it longhand is not lost on me. 🙂 ) **We process information more deeply** when taking notes by hand. I found [this study that examined the memory and retention of students](https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0956797614524581) taking notes on a laptop vs. typing notes on a laptop. They found that laptop notes tended to be transcriptions of the content (shallow brain processing) and handwritten notes caused the learners to re-frame the concepts before applying pen to paper (deep brain processing). **We are less prone to distractions** when writing or drawing by hand. Well, that certainly makes sense. When you write or draw on a digital device, it’s really easy to pop open a browser or app to check social media feeds, surf the Internet or check the weather. Notepads and sketchbooks have no such distractions available. **We have an emotional connection to our content** when we use pen and paper. In a *New York Times* article, architect Michael Graves stated “Our physical and mental interactions with drawings are formative acts. In a handmade drawing, whether on an electronic tablet or on paper, there are intonations, traces of intentions and speculation. This is not unlike the way a musician might intone a note or how a riff in jazz would be understood subliminally and put a smile on your face.” I found references to writers like Truman Capote who always wrote longhand as part of their creative process, and naturally I thought “well, yes, but he was born in 1924 so he didn’t grow up with technology.” But it turns out that there are [modern writers and creators still use pen and paper](http://mashable.com/2014/02/15/modern-writers-technology/#bOv.u315juqG): - **Amy Tan** (*The Joy Luck Club* author) loves the act of physical writing, preferring to do first drafts longhand. - **Quentin Tarantino** (*Pulp Fiction* director) calls longhand writing his creative “ritual.” - **J.K. Rowling** (*Harry Potter* series author) originally started writing longhand because she couldn’t afford a typewriter, but continues the practice as [part of her process](https://www.rhodiadrive.com/2015/01/11/noteworthy-authors-writing-longhand/), stating “Writing longhand, the work feels very clean and satisfying to me…. There just seems to be a lot less second-guessing while writing longhand and that is awesome.” On a final note, I always feel it’s important to examine the opposing position, so I located a post by a freelancer named Zoe Annabel entitled “*4 Ways Typing is Better than Writing*” where she states that writing is painful and requires you to actually learn spelling and punctuation, whereas typing is efficient and faster. All good points as well. What do you think? Do you still write and draw on paper or do you love your keyboard? Feel free to tweet your thoughts to me at @cindy\_leonard. **Categories:** Insights **Tags:** creative process, drawing, technology, writing --- ### [Recent WordPress updates & why you should always update your website ASAP](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/recent-wordpress-updates-why-you-should-always-update-your-website-asap/) **Published:** February 19, 2018 **Author:** staging_gijlz8 **Content:** An interesting thing happened this month that I can’t recall ever seeing before. WordPress released a new version of its software, and then the very next day, released another update. [Version 4.9.3](https://wordpress.org/news/2018/02/wordpress-4-9-3-maintenance-release/) fixed 34 vulnerabilities in the software. [Version 4.9.4](https://wordpress.org/news/2018/02/wordpress-4-9-4-maintenance-release/) fixed the WordPress automatic update feature that broke for many sites after 4.9.3 was installed. I thought about all the nonprofits I’ve ever met who fail to update WordPress regularly and decided to write this post. ### About automatic updates Updating your WordPress website is a crucial task for the prevention of site hacking, but even so I frequently meet nonprofit staff in my classes and clinics who tell me they don’t update WordPress. There are plugins that will manage automatic updates, like [Easy Updates Manager](https://wordpress.org/plugins/stops-core-theme-and-plugin-updates/), if you don’t log into your site often enough to notice that updates are needed. As an aside, you’ll generally find developers in two camps when talking about automatic WordPress updates: those in favor and those who think auto-updates are the devil. I’m in the former camp, but only when a reliable plugin is used, a backup system is already in place, you have access to your site files via FTP and email notifications about updates are activated. Updates can indeed break your WordPress site, whether they be WordPress core, plugin or theme updates, but *not* updating out of fear (or lack of knowledge) is more dangerous than the chance an update will mess up your site. If you do use a plugin for automatic updates, be sure to configure the email notification feature so that you receive an email when an update has occurred and whether or not it was successful. Then take a few seconds to pop onto your site and make sure things are still working properly. ### About manual updates If you prefer not to do automatic updates, you can at least configure the [Wordfence security plugin](https://www.wordfence.com/) to notify you via email when an update is needed. (If you don’t have Wordfence or a similar plugin installed, you need to take care of that first!) When you receive an email that an update is available, be sure to install them within a day or two – the longer you wait, the greater the risk of hacking. There are three steps I suggest when attempting manual updates: - backup your site first, - make sure you have FTP access to your site, - perform updates. Manual updates are relatively easy to do. As mentioned, be sure to backup your site first. If you lack a backup mechanism, there are several good plugins out there for doing backups. Depending on your backup needs and budget, I like [BackupBuddy](https://ithemes.com/purchase/backupbuddy/) ($80/year/site) and [UpdraftPlus](https://updraftplus.com/) (free version is quite good, premium is $70-145 based on # of sites). To gain FTP access, you need a tool for accessing the site and some login information. Some website hosting companies have a File Manager feature on their control panel that you can use, which generally only require you to log into the hosting account. If you use Dreamhost or any other host without that ability, you’ll need an FTP client tool such as [CoreFTP](http://www.coreftp.com/) or [Filezilla](https://filezilla-project.org/) (both are free to download and use). You’ll also need to contact support at your hosting company and ask them to help you with the information needed to FTP into your site. Once you’ve backed up and know you have FTP access, run your updates. Log into WordPress and from the left menu, simply click Dashboard and then Updates from that sub-menu. If your website requires an update, it will show up on that screen. If multiple types of updates are needed, I like to run WordPress core first, then do plugins or themes. I also like to update one plugin at a time, even though you can technically update multiple plugins at once. It’s been my experience that the greatest chance of an update stalling comes from trying to do too many at once. Updates can stall for other reasons – slow web server response or low memory issues – but I have found it best to take updates one at a time, leaving the browser window open and not touching anything else until the update has completed. You don’t want to add to the load on your site’s resources by clicking around on your site while updates are happening. If an update stalls (i.e. doesn’t completely finish), you may end up seeing this instead of your home page: If you see this after an update failure, don’t panic! This is why FTP access to your site is so important to have in advance of doing your updates. To make this message go away, you’ll want to use FTP to access your site files and look for a file called *.maintenance* in the root of your website directory. If you cannot see it, be sure to set your FTP tool to show hidden files. Once located, delete it. Your website will return and you can give updating another go. ### The bottom line Regardless of how you choose to manage WordPress updates, please be sure to make them happen! Don’t make it easier for hackers to do their thing. **Categories:** Insights **Tags:** BackupBuddy, CoreFTP, Filezilla, Nonprofit Technology, technology, UpdraftPlus, websites, WordPress, WordPress updates --- ### [AI Resources - Webinar Handout](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/ai-resources-webinar-download/) **Published:** November 13, 2024 **Author:** staging_gijlz8 **Content:** Thanks for attending one of my webinars “Unlocking Efficiency: Leveraging ChatGPT for Nonprofit Success” or “AI Essentials for Nonprofits: ChatGPT Strategies for Fundraising and Communications Success” hosted by the Bayer Center! [Download AI REsources for Nonprofits handout](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/AI-Resources-2025-handout-CLC.pdf) If I can help in any way with your AI endeavors, or other nonprofit [tech, marketing, or strategy](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/services/ "Services") needs, please [get in touch](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/contact/ "Contact") anytime! Cindy **Categories:** Other --- ### ["What Does AI Think You Look Like?" Slides from Nonprofits LEAD 2026](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/what-does-ai-think-you-look-like-slides-from-nonprofits-lead-2026/) **Published:** May 19, 2026 **Author:** staging_gijlz8 **Content:** On May 13, Cindy Leonard presented a breakout session at the Nonprofits LEAD 2026 conference at Marietta College: “What Does AI Think You Look Like? Exposing Bias in Generative Systems.” The session looked at how generative AI tools can reflect, reinforce, or amplify bias, especially when creating images of people, communities, professions, leadership, and nonprofit work. We talked about why prompts matter, why outputs need a careful human review, and why “that looks impressive” is not the same thing as “that represents people fairly.” When organizations use AI to create public-facing materials or tell stories about the people and communities they serve, the stakes are higher than efficiency. The work calls for care, context, and a willingness to ask better questions before choosing AI tools or using them. The slides from the session are available below. Please note that the deck was created for a live presentation, so the slides do not capture every example, explanation, or discussion from the room. [Download the presentation](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/CLC-Slide-Deck-What-Does-AI-Think-You-Look-Like_-Exposing-Bias-in-Generative-Systems.pdf) Thank you to Nonprofits LEAD and Marietta College for hosting such a thoughtful and energizing event, and to everyone who attended the session and joined the conversation. --- Cindy Leonard Consulting LLC helps nonprofits bring clarity to strategy, technology, websites, marketing, and communications through practical, right-sized support. To learn more, [visit our Services page](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/services/ "Services"). **Categories:** Other --- ### [A First-Timer's Guide to Enjoying the Nonprofit Technology Conference](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/a-first-timers-guide-to-enjoying-the-2018-nonprofit-technology-conference/) **Published:** March 5, 2018 **Author:** staging_gijlz8 **Content:** The Nonprofit Technology Network puts on an amazing annual conference called the Nonprofit Technology Conference, or NTC for short. Generally held in spring, the conference is held in various cities throughout the United States, typically alternating between east coast, west coast, and the heartland so everyone has a chance at attending at some point with easier travel. Thinking back to my first time at the NTC, I remember being in a state of ecstasy and overwhelm for much of the event. So many like-minded people! So many exhibitors! So many breakout sessions! Coffee breaks, receptions, luncheons, dinners, Birds of a Feather tables, Geek Games, NTCbeer, Plenaries, Ignite sessions…there was so much to see and do, it felt nearly impossible to absorb it all. I left energized but exhausted. Therefore, I’m addressing this post to folks who will be attending the NTC this year for the very first time. I feel like I’ve learned a few things in the past decade+ of attending this conference and would like to share it so you can hopefully optimize your conference experience and walk away feeling great! **Take a *lot* of business cards.** Not only will you want to exchange them with people you meet, you’ll need a bunch for dropping at vendor tables (for networking and to enter prize drawings). I take a 3 inch stack in my suitcase, secured by a rubber band and then keep about 20 at a time on my person during the conference, replenishing as needed. (**Bonus Tip**: I still forget to do this sometimes, so take a photo of your business card with your phone, then you’ll at least be able to text your card to people if you forget to bring paper business cards.) (**Bonus Bonus Tip**: If you forget even to do that, take photos of the name tags of people you meet – you can always look them up online later.) **Scribble notes to yourself on the back of business cards you collect from others.** If you wait until you get home to sort through your cards, you won’t remember whom you met where or what you discussed. Every few hours during the conference, I pull out the cards I have collected thus far and write notes on them (example: “WordPress BoF lunch table/Thursday/SEO plugins”). This also makes it nice that, when you find people later on LinkedIn or elsewhere, you can send a customized invitation to connect (example: “It was great meeting you at the WordPress Birds of a Feather table during lunch last Thursday at the NTC. If you’d like to talk some more about SEO plugins, please get in touch.”) **About breakout sessions.** - Don’t feel like you have to attend sessions in every single time slot available. There are times you’ll get into a great discussion in the hallway and that will end up being more valuable than the session you are missing for it. Collaborative notes will be available after the conference, and you can get content from people tweeting the session using the assigned hashtag. - Breakout session jumping happens at this conference. I rarely see this at other conferences, but at the NTC, if you are in a session and the content isn’t compelling to you, leave that one and try another. Everyone does it and nobody will give you the stink-eye for doing so (unless you leave loudly or obnoxiously, of course). - Along the same lines, if you are a first time breakout speaker, don’t freak out if people leave your session. It’s absolutely not personal or a reflection on your delivery or content, I promise. - If you have more than one session you want to attend in a given time slot, just pick one and write yourself a note to look up the collaborative notes for the others later. **Visit exhibitors, but plan your strategy in advance.** There are simply too many exhibitors at this conference to visit them all in the time given. I tried it one year – it took me four straight hours of greeting booth staffers and having short/shallow conversations to pull it off. It’s much better to look at the exhibitor listing in advance and make notes of those you absolutely want or need to visit. Make these your priority the first day, then spend the rest of the time cruising the exhibit hall to visit the others. Oh, and leave extra room in your suitcase if you can – most of the exhibitors have a lot of cool swag you can take home, but you’ll need room in your luggage to do it unless you are driving to the conference. **Dress is casual.** Yes, you’ll see a few people in suits, but not too many. Dress ranges from jeans and geeky t-shirts (Steve Heye still has the best collection I’ve ever seen) to business casual. Wear what makes you comfortable as long as it’s clean and becoming – nobody will look down their nose at you at this conference for not wearing a suit. And bring/wear shoes that you can walk in for at least 8 hours – your feet will thank you later. Finally, check the forecast in advance and bring a sweater or light jacket in case the hotel session rooms are chilly. Packing an umbrella this time of year isn’t the worst idea either, even without rain in the forecast. **Meet as many people as you can.** The NTEN community is filled with members who are incredibly friendly. You’re not likely to “click” with every single person you meet, but if you talk to 100 people during the conference, you’re bound to make a half dozen deeper connections and come away with some new friends. If you suffer from social anxiety the way I do, keep in mind that we are largely a bunch of geeks (I mean that in a loving way) and that the person sitting next to you may be feeling as awkward or shy as you are. There’s nothing to be lost by smiling at someone and saying “hello, how are you enjoying the conference so far?” **Disconnect from public wi-fi (or turn off your wi-fi on your devices) when not using it.** We crash the wi-fi nearly every year because over 2,000 people are connecting through multiple devices. It makes connectivity better for everyone if you are conscientious about connecting. It’s become better in recent years, but the network can get really slow, even if it doesn’t crash altogether. **Try to avoid checking Twitter just before going to bed.** The Twitter stream at the NTC is vibrant and compelling. I have missed out on hours of sleep from checking it before bed, getting sucked in and ending up very tired the next day. You’ll need your sleep to make the most of the conference – there’s a lot to see and do each day. **Above all, listen to your mind and body.** If you find yourself overwhelmed, skip something and go for a walk or find a quiet corner and meditate for a bit. If you are hungry, find something to eat. Drink a lot of water so you stay hydrated throughout the day. If you are tired at the end of a day, go to bed early instead of going out drinking. A little self-care will go a long way towards helping you have a great time. I’m sure there are more, but these are my best tips off the top of my head. **Categories:** Insights **Tags:** 18NTC, Beth Kanter, Jeanne Allen, John Kenyon, Nonprofit Technology, NPtech, NTEN, Steve Heye, training --- ### [Cybersecurity Info for Nonprofits (for Cybersecurity Awareness Month)](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/cybersecurity-info-for-nonprofits-for-cybersecurity-awareness-month/) **Published:** October 31, 2017 **Author:** staging_gijlz8 **Content:** Cybersecurity Awareness Month is nearly over, but it’s so important to practice good online security throughout the year. This is especially true for nonprofit organizations, many of which are serving the most vulnerable members of our society who cannot afford disruptions in those services. Rather than re-invent the wheel by writing a post full of tips, I’ve compiled a list of good resources for nonprofits to learn more about what to about cybersecurity: - *8 Tips for Better Nonprofit Cyber Security* – The Balance - [*Cybersecurity* – National Council on Nonprofits](https://www.councilofnonprofits.org/running-nonprofit/administration-and-financial-management/cybersecurity-nonprofits) - [*10 Steps Nonprofits Should Take to Increase Cybersecurity* – BDO](https://www.bdo.com/blogs/nonprofit-standard/may-2016/10-steps-nonprofits-increase-cybersecurity) - [*Top Ten Cybersecurity Tips for Nonprofits: Managing Your Technical and Legal Risk*s \[MS Word\] – Venable](https://www.venable.com/files/Event/8f068f95-0d0d-47c1-8045-df53e73a1445/Presentation/EventAttachment/c3d6a15c-9bd9-429d-a4ba-b9c18afc604b/Top-Ten-Cybersecurity-Tips-for-Nonprofits-Managing-Your-Technical-and-Legal-Risks-handouts-02-02-2.pdf) Please don’t wait to address your organization’s cybersecurity! Sad as it is, hackers don’t care that you are a nonprofit doing good work in the world or that you are a small organization – everyone is a potential target. **Categories:** Insights --- ### [Struggling to Learn New Technology? Adopt a Growth Mindset.](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/struggling-to-learn-new-technology-adopt-a-growth-mindset/) **Published:** April 17, 2017 **Author:** staging_gijlz8 **Content:** I’ve been doing a lot of training lately, most recently a class at the Bayer Center last week called *DIY Websites with WordPress*. Upon reflection, I realize that I’m hearing a good deal of self-criticism, particularly in hands-on technology trainings. For example: - “I have a stupid question.” - “I’ll never remember how to do this.” - “I’m so dumb when it comes to technology.” - “I totally screwed this up.” This makes me very sad. The people who come to my workshops are highly intelligent nonprofit professionals, and yet many seem to lack self-confidence when it comes to using technology. They think that if they can’t learn it easily or quickly, they must be too stupid to do it (effectively establishing or reinforcing a mental block about it). Deep in my heart, I believe this is false because these are folks who do amazingly difficult and complex work otherwise. I *know* they have the intelligence to learn tech. People have also said to me, on multiple occasions, “yes, but this is easy for you – you’re a techie.” It may surprise you to hear that, learning new technology is the same amount of difficulty for techies, there’s no magic that uploads tech knowledge directly to our brains. There are software packages (I’m looking at you, Adobe) that gave me absolute fits when I first learned them. Some things take longer for me to wrap my head around because adult learners tend to make comparisons to knowledge they already possess when learning something new. For example, when I first learned WordPress, I kept making mental comparisons to the software I previously used for web design, Adobe Dreamweaver. If there’s any difference between techies and non-techies when it comes to technology learning, I think it’s likely in the attitude of the learner. Techies seem to be more open to trying and more willing to fail (which doesn’t mean we *enjoy* it, we are just more willing to make mistakes). I found this terrific graphic on Twitter that demonstrates the personal mindset shift that I believe would make a huge difference if applied to technology training: > A3) I’m HUGE on Ss using a growth mindset. So, I want Ss to use phrases promoting a growth mindset! #HackLearning pic.twitter.com/lZ1QOLbL3X > > — Gavin Sonntag (@Gavin\_Sonntag) [April 16, 2017](https://twitter.com/Gavin_Sonntag/status/853593654920974338) *[Here’s the link in case you can’t see the embedded Tweet](https://twitter.com/Gavin_Sonntag/status/853593654920974338).* I just love this – every single point on this list could be applied to technology training. To improve our ability to learn, at technology or otherwise, we have to change how we think and alter the self-talk we permit to happen in our brains. I may print this Tweet and pass it out before my tech classes from now on. It may make a difference to point this out in advance of a class. (If I do, I’ll try to do a follow-up post on here and let you know if it made a difference.) **Categories:** Insights **Tags:** growth mindset, NPtech, technology, training --- ### [From Accidental Techie to IT Pro: Advocating for Your Role, Pay, and Recognition](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/from-accidental-techie-to-it-pro-advocating-for-your-role-pay-and-recognition/) **Published:** April 16, 2025 **Author:** staging_gijlz8 **Content:** Tiffany Castagno and Cindy Leonard teamed up to deliver this session at the virtual 2025 Nonprofit Technology Conference. Please feel free to browse or download the slide deck below. If you have additional questions, please [get in touch](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/contact/ "Contact"). [MASTER Slide Deck – NTC – From Accidental Techie to IT Pro](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/MASTER-Slide-Deck-NTC-From-Accidental-Techie-to-IT-Pro.pdf)[Download](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/MASTER-Slide-Deck-NTC-From-Accidental-Techie-to-IT-Pro.pdf) **Categories:** Insights --- ### [Net Neutrality: What it is, why it's important & what you can do to preserve it](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/net-neutrality-what-it-is-why-its-important-what-you-can-do-to-preserve-it/) **Published:** December 4, 2017 **Author:** staging_gijlz8 **Content:** ### What is Net Neutrality? By now, you may have heard of net neutrality in the news, but I think there are still many people out there who don’t really understand what it is or why it is important. (I quizzed some of my own friends and family members before deciding to write this post and came up with blank looks in many instances.) Very simply, net neutrality are rules that were put into place by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that keep the Internet a free and equitable place to hang out. Right now, under the current rules, the companies who operate Internet services like Verizon, Comcast, AT&T, etc., are prevented from: - “Blocking: Broadband providers may not block access to lawful content, applications, services or non-harmful devices. - Throttling: Broadband providers may not deliberately target some lawful internet traffic to be delivered to users more slowly than other traffic. - Paid prioritization: Broadband providers may not favor some internet traffic in exchange for consideration of any kind. Internet service providers are also banned from prioritizing content and services of their affiliates.” (Source: https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/open-internet) If net neutrality goes away, which websites you can view on the Internet will be essentially under the control of these companies. They will be able to block websites they don’t like, or charge a premium if you’d like your website to load faster than other people’s. The result of net neutrality destruction will very likely benefit rich corporations and individuals with the money to pay the premiums, and will marginalize organizations and causes fighting for social justice. ### Why is it important? On December 14, 2017, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will vote on whether to change or repeal net neutrality. The FCC chairman appointed by the sitting President of the United States is a man named Ajit Pai. He’s spearheading the efforts to dismantle net neutrality, and interestingly enough, is a former attorney for Verizon. Also interestingly enough, the FCC lists the virtues of net neutrality on their own website: The Open Internet. While I’m hoping one Republican politician will not hold enough sway to convince the rest of the Commission to destroy net neutrality, I’m still concerned. ### What can you do about it? If, after reading this, you are also concerned, I encourage you to email or message the FCC to tell them how you feel. There are a number of websites available where you can do this easily. Here are just a few that come up in a Google Search (for the record, I have no affiliation with any of these): <https://www.battleforthenet.com/> <https://act.eff.org/action/congress-don-t-sell-the-internet-out> [http://act.freepress.net/sign/internet\_wake\_up\_destroy/?source=what](http://act.freepress.net/sign/internet_wake_up_destroy/?source=what) **Categories:** Insights **Tags:** Ajit Pai, FCC, net neutrality, open Internet --- ### [5 Things to Look for When Hiring a Technology Consultant](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/5-things-to-look-for-when-hiring-a-technology-consultant/) **Published:** October 11, 2017 **Author:** staging_gijlz8 **Content:** A sizable part of a my job at the Bayer Center was providing technology consulting services for nonprofits. However, once in a while we did an in-house project where we needed to hire an outside consultant to do some technical work, and sometimes I got to project manage it. At one point, we hired a Salesforce implementer and I got to thinking about the traits that are the highest on my list when hiring a consultant (and that I try to emulate when I do consulting): 1. **Technical chops.** This is a given, I think, but it’s good to find out early on if the person is experienced enough to get the job done and get it done right. 2. **Knowledge of personal limitations.** I think it’s fine for a consultant to take on a project that contains components they’ve never attempted, but only if they have a fairly good idea that they can figure things out over the course of the project. Otherwise, I’d rather have a consultant be up front with me in the project scoping process about what they cannot do. 3. **Honesty.** Not just with technical ability and limits, but also about costs, time frames, etc. 4. **Good communication skills.** I like working with techies who can translate geek to English, particularly when there are non-techies involved in the project as is frequently the case. 5. **Pleasant personality.** A consultant can have the first four traits in the bag, but if they are a butthead, well…who wants to work with someone like that? I’m happy to say we hit all five items on this list with our Salesforce consultant (who is, by the way, Tim Marcovecchio with a company called [World-Class Industrial Network](http://www.winnets.com) and to be clear, I am not getting any kickbacks from saying that. He’s just a really good dude and deserves a mention here. 🙂 What does your nonprofit look for when you hire a consultant? **Categories:** Insights **Tags:** consulting, Nonprofit Technology, NPtech, Salesforce, technology, Tim Marcovecchio, World-Class Industrial Network --- ### [The Importance of SSL for Nonprofits](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/the-importance-of-ssl-for-nonprofits/) **Published:** June 19, 2017 **Author:** staging_gijlz8 **Content:** *Amar Trivedi of [AmDee, LLC](https://amdeellc.com/), is my guest blogger today, providing guidance on how crucial it will be for nonprofits to upgrade their websites to SSL in the coming months. Amar is the founder and president of AmDee and has been a software developer and architect since the mid-1990s.* --- ## The Importance of SSL for Nonprofits An active online presence is essential to promoting your nonprofit organization’s campaigns, but that doesn’t mean you need to know all of that intimidating Internet jargon. Nevertheless, even though you can safely leave many of these terms for the webmaster to decipher, there are some abbreviations that even non-techies should recognize. The SSL certificate is a prime example of a website feature it pays for you to understand. ### What is an SSL certificate and what types are available? The SSL certificate testifies that your website has a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL). This software helps secure data transferred between your website and the website browsers of your constituents. Take a look at the address of your website. If it includes the letters “https://” that indicates that a SSL certificate file is installed on the server. It shows visitors that data is encrypted and so they can browse without worries of their personal information falling into the wrong hands. SSL certificates are available for a fee or free of charge. If you represent the typical nonprofit with little funding to spare, the obvious question is, why pay if you could get one for free? Private non-commercial bloggers should be able to manage with one of the free SSL certificates offered by firms such as [Let’s Encrypt](https://letsencrypt.org/) or one available in open source format. However, free SSL certificates come with various limitations; for example, they are often only valid for a few months and might not be renewable. Paid SSL certificates are far from cheap, but they last for longer periods and give a higher level of liability protection and enhanced transaction security (for example, via Extended Validation SSL certificates). If any kind of financial transactions take place via the website, the paid SSL option is recommended. ### Do you need SSL even if you are not running an e-commerce site? Over recent years, the public has become more aware of the dangers of sharing data online. Some fraudsters even set up websites that are hard to distinguish from legitimate banks to cheat their clients. These disturbing news items understandably make people extra cautious about online transactions. Website owners must address these legitimate security concerns. Clearly security is crucial for websites selling goods and services, but it is also highly relevant to many nonprofit sites. Perhaps you want visitors to pay a membership subscription, to make a donation or even buy promotional products? If visitors see that your site has no SSL certificate, they may worry that the data they transfer in transactions may be compromised. How many visitors would take such a risk to make a financial contribution to your organization? Without a doubt, many potential donors will turn away. If visitors feel secure in sharing data with your website, the extra donations could justify the expense of an Extended Validation SSL certificate. ### Why SSL is important for Google A 2014 Google policy change made SSL certificate much more significant — they decided to give websites with these certificates a little higher rating in search results. A few months ago they provided an additional reason for website owners to take security issues more seriously. Now they mark all websites that handle financial and password data as “non-secure” unless they have SSL certification. While e-commerce sites are Google’s prime target, if your nonprofit website solicits contributions or password entry you have to take note of their policies. Even though good website search engine optimization (SEO) and domain names remain more important determinants of Google search results rating, you will not want to lose out from the way SSL certificates can prevent search ratings going down and help improve them. ### SSL Certification shows supporters you care Each nonprofit must consider the extent that their lack of SSL certification will discourage visitors to donate or share personal information. They also need to weigh up the negative effect on their Google search results ratings. SSL certification gives your online supporters a clear sign that your care about their data security, and encourages them to share information with your site. **Categories:** Insights **Tags:** Amar Trivedi, Encryption, Nonprofit Technology, NPtech, SSL Certificates, technology, websites --- ### [Evaluating WordPress Plugins](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/evaluating-wordpress-plugins/) **Published:** February 13, 2017 **Author:** staging_gijlz8 **Content:** Someone recently asked me this question during a WordPress clinic: “How do I know if a WordPress plugin is a good one to use?” An excellent question, though the answer is a little less straightforward than I’d prefer. WordPress is an open source community and as such, anyone who wants to create a plugin can do so. WordPress.org maintains a plugin directory but the guidelines for submission are primarily centered on licensing and keeping people from doing illegal things via plugins. One would think a premium plugin (meaning one you pay for) would be “better” than a free one, but I’ve not always found that to be the case either. I’ve paid for several plugins in the past and been driven half mad trying to work with them. What follows is my personal strategy when evaluating plugins. Let’s suppose I want to add a photo slider to my website and I’ve gone to the Plugins menu of the WordPress dashboard and search for “slider.” Each plugin that appears in the search results has several things. The name, description and author are less important to me than the information at the bottom of each plugin entry. What interests me most is the rating, number of active installs, when it was last updated and if it has been tested with my current version of WordPress. **Rating:** a plugin can have a 5-star rating, but if only three people have rated the plugin, that doesn’t tell me much. I’d rather see that a few hundred people have rated the plugin and that is has four or five stars. **Number of active installs:** this is important to me because the more people using a plugin, the better the chances are that author will continue supporting it and releasing security updates. Additionally, if a plugin has a lot of users, chances are very high that it’s functional and well-written. If the plugin is very important to my website’s functionality (like security or SEO), I’m generally going for something with 1,000,000+ active installs. **Last updated:** here I wanted to see that it’s been a month or less since the last update. If it’s been too long, there’s a good chance the plugin author isn’t actively supporting the plugin. That gives me pause in terms of security and holes not being patched. Additionally, WordPress itself is updated rather frequently, and if a plugin is not updated regularly there’s a good chance that your fine-until-now plugin may randomly stop working or begin to cause conflicts with other plugins after a WordPress core update. **Compatible (or untested) with current version of WordPress:** once again, a plugin that has not been tested may not work properly or may cause conflicts with other plugins. If it says “untested” I stay away from it. I wish I could say that all plugin authors have excellent documentation on their plugins, but that is unfortunately not the case. There have been occasions where I’ve used this plugin evaluation strategy and installed a plugin only to find that the documentation either stinks or is non-existent. That’s fine if it’s obvious how to configure the plugin, but if I have to struggle with it and guess at things, I abandon it and look for something better. For a future post, I’m thinking of publishing my current list of favorite plugins. Stay tuned! **Categories:** Insights **Tags:** NPtech, plugins, technology, websites, WordPress --- ### [An introvert's advice on overcoming your fear of public speaking](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/fear-of-public-speaking/) **Published:** February 20, 2017 **Author:** staging_gijlz8 **Content:** That’s me, the introvert, speaking to a large room (and being videotaped…gulp!) at the Nonprofit Technology Conference in 2014, and alongside Beth Kanter, whom I idolize. Talk about scary! ### Our Number One Fear Public speaking is, according to [West Coast Toastmasters](http://westsidetoastmasters.com/resources/off_the_cuff/chap1.html), the number one fear Americans have. Our fear of public speaking is apparently even greater than our fear of death! I do a lot of public speaking as part of my job. I teach maybe a dozen non-credit workshops at the Bayer Center each year, give breakout sessions at conferences, participate in panel discussions and facilitate meetings regularly. You probably think I’m some kind of extrovert that enjoys being in the spotlight and it comes naturally to me, right? Absolutely untrue. I am definitely an introvert and have been my entire life. I got a C in high school speech class as well as college undergrad public speaking class. A shy child and teen, speaking or reading aloud in front of a group scared the daylights out of me. Enrolling in the MBA program at Seton Hill finally made me face it in a hard way. The first semester, when I found out we would have to present to the class every two weeks or so, I nearly dropped out. But I really, *really* wanted that degree, so I stayed in the program and, with enough practice, reached a point where it became easier. ### The Fear Never Totally Disappears, But It *Can* Be Contained But “easier” didn’t (and still doesn’t) mean completely without fear or nervousness. Even today, despite how often I train or speak, I still deal with nerves – *every single time*. Ask any of my work colleagues – the 15 minutes right before a training, I’m usually pacing around or chattering nervously to someone (usually our poor office coordinator, who is fortunately a kind and patient listener). **Here’s how I work past it:** before I start a class or workshop, I forcibly direct my mental focus on my audience. I think about the hard and incredible work they do at nonprofits and how they are missing time at the office to be there because they need knowledge that I have. I let myself fill up with love and concern for helping them, instead of worrying about how I’m going to look and sound, and the nerves quiet down. (Once I’m in front of an audience, I’m fine because I’m occupied with the teaching.) Give it a try the next time you are feeling nervous about speaking in front of a group. Focus on your audience, forget about yourself. You have something that they need and that will make their lives better. It makes all the difference in the world. **Categories:** Insights **Tags:** fear, public speaking, training, workshops --- ### [My Own Accidental Techie/Nonprofit Career Path Story](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/my-own-accidental-techienonprofit-career-path-story/) **Published:** January 18, 2017 **Author:** staging_gijlz8 **Content:** My friend and colleague Johanna Bates recently wrote a great post for the NTEN blog previewing the upcoming breakout session that she, I, Tracy Kronzak and Jessie Lee will be giving at the 2017 Nonprofit Technology Conference: *Let’s Talk Accidental & Intentional Nonprofit Tech Careers*. The recent planning phone call we had for that session made me think back to my own winding career into nonprofit technology, which I thought might be fun to document and share. Buckle up, things are about to get a little crazy here. I began working full time when I was 19 and haven’t stopped since. Now, several decades years later, I frequently have younger folks ask me how I got into my current position and involved with nonprofit technology? As with so many other people who do this sort of work, it *wasn’t* a straight path. I typically tell the story of my career path in a very abbreviated fashion because it’s a long story to tell in person. It’s kind of too long for print narrative too, so here are the highlights in timeline mode: - **1989:** graduated from high school with full scholarship to Geneva College, declared music business management major - **1989:** quit Geneva College after 2 weeks, much to my parents’ chagrin - **1990:** spent spring semester at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, declared English major - **1990:** spent fall semester at University of Georgia – Athens, declared art history major - **1991:** ran out of money for college, stayed in Georgia for a year, worked at Subway, Claire’s Boutiques, Long John Silver’s - **1991:** moved back to Pennsylvania, decided to work for a while until I figured out what to do with my life - **1992 – 1994:** worked a series of jobs, including more Long John Silver’s, McDonald’s, Taco Bell, Giant Eagle deli, a local party supply store - **1994:** finally landed a desk job as a secretary for a window cleaning and janitorial company, decided to go back to college in the evenings at Westmoreland County Community College for nursing - **1994:** took Intro to Computers in first semester at WCCC (required course) and got the easiest A ever - **1995:** took a hardware repair course to see if the A in Intro to Computers was a fluke, got another easy A, changed major to computer programming - **1996:** took position at local outbound telecom firm, continued attending classes in the evenings at WCCC - **1997:** survived first corporate layoff, but got spooked and quit of my own accord only to get downsized 2 months into a new job as an office manager at a local plant - **1997:** collected unemployment happily like I was on a paid vacation, started job hunting in the final month of unemployment comp - **1997:** with 2 weeks of unemployment left, accepted part-time job offer at an environmental nonprofit as an administrative assistant - **1998:** continued school in evenings, continued working at nonprofit (full-time), started informally taking on technology duties such as website, database, networking, hardware, software, etc. - **1999:** started first web design small business called AngelPages, taking on only word of mouth clients - **1999:** got promoted to office/IT administrator - **2000:** graduated with associates in computer programming, having racked up enough credits to have 2 bachelors degrees because scheduling was so difficult and had to take sufficient credits to keep up financial aid and student loans each semester - **2000:** began attending Seton Hill University, majoring in computer science - **2002:** promoted to IT administrator as a full-time position - **2004:** graduated with bachelors in computer science, began MBA program at Seton Hill that fall, experienced first layoff to part-time at nonprofit due to funding cuts - **2005:** went back to full time at nonprofit, which lasted about 6 months until funding was cut again, putting me back to part time - **2005:** got married, renamed web design business to Leonard Technology Consulting since I finally had a last name that’s shorter and easy to spell (maiden name was Daugherty), continued with only word of mouth clients - **2006:** received masters in business administration from Seton Hill, began working at the Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management as technology services analyst, began funneling all nonprofit web design work through BCNM and funneling word of mouth small business web clients through LTC - **2008:** got promoted to technology services manager, finally got my own office, began masters of education program in instructional design technology at Seton Hill - **2009-2012:** continued working at BCNM, continued degree program at SHU, got promoted to senior manager, technology program - **2012:** received masters of education from Seton Hill, continued working at BCNM - **2013-2014:** swore off going back to college ever again, got promoted to consulting team leader at BCNM, continued to manage technology program for nonprofits while taking on administration duties for consulting program - **2015:** rebranded web design company to Leonard Digital so it more accurately reflects actual work done - **2016:** signed up for classes in RMU’s Information Security & Cyber Forensics degree, despite my swearing off college a few years back. This was free tuition because I was an employee of RMU and, quite frankly, it allowed me to dodge student loan payments for a few more years. - **2016-2018:** continued working at BCNM, still as consulting team leader - **2018:** Left BCNM to take the position of Executive Director at the YWCA Westmoreland County. - **2020-present:** Left the YWCA to start my own consulting practice for nonprofit capacity building, rebranding as Cindy Leonard Consulting LLC. When I graduated from high school, did I have a clue that I’d be working as a nonprofit technology capacity builder by the time I was in my late 30s? Oh heck, no. My big dream in high school was to either become a vocalist in a rock band or to manage rock bands. (I wanted to be Bono when I grew up, or depending on the day, Paul McGuiness, U2’s manager.) Technology wasn’t on my radar then because, back in the 80s, tech was still considered a hobby for socially awkward geeks. I hope this crazy career timeline is useful to any 20 and 30 somethings reading this. I know the Millennial generation takes a lot of flack for being unfocused and jumping from job to job. I’m Gen X, and look at how many places I worked and went to school during my 20s and 30s until I found my footing. My advice is, ignore the flack, keep producing good work no matter what you are doing, keep your eyes out for opportunities to come from unexpected places and jump on them when they happen. **Categories:** Insights **Tags:** 17NTC, Accidental Techie, Nonprofit Career Path, Nonprofit Technology, NTEN --- ### [4 Tips for Managing Anxiety](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/4-tips-for-managing-anxiety/) **Published:** April 14, 2016 **Author:** staging_gijlz8 **Content:** ### Anxiety? Huh? I must confess that I’m feeling some discomfort writing this post because it’s unusual for me to put my personal “stuff” out for public consumption. That being said, I’m writing this about an issue with which I’ve been dealing for this past year and if I can help others who are experiencing the same, that’s a good thing. (And I’ve volunteered to be interviewed for [Beth Kanter](http://www.bethkanter.org)‘s upcoming book, [*The Happy Healthy Nonprofit*](https://happyhealthynonprofit.wordpress.com/), this being the topic I hope she’s let me talk about.) The issue is: **anxiety**. I’ve struggled with anxiety off and on for many years, but I felt it was garden variety. Anxiety just before I do a speaking engagement, anxiety about performing well at work, anxiety about my personal life (especially finances). I always thought “who doesn’t worry about stuff like this? It’s normal.” It turns out that anxiety (and it’s BFF stress) can fester and build for a long period of time and manifest itself in all kinds of ways. For me, it took the form of panic attacks. I had my first one in early spring of 2015, while driving my car. I couldn’t say what I was thinking about when it happened. All I remember was, all of a sudden my heart began to thump really hard, I felt light-headed and dizzy, my hands started to shake and I was having trouble breathing. I was convinced I was having a heart attack, so I pulled over at a gas station and had them dial 911. The EMTs took my pressure and vital stats, told me they thought it was a panic attack and stayed with me until I was calm enough to continue driving. (They offered an ambulance trip to the nearest hospital, for the record, but I refused.) I felt so embarrassed that I couldn’t tell the difference between a heart attack and a panic attack. It kept happening. About once every other month, I’d be just sailing along and, boom, a similar attack would hit me. I would guess I ended up going to the ER about 5-6 times over the next few months. Same results each time – panic attack. (My heart, it turns out, is in pretty good shape.) In early September, I had enough work and life stress to exacerbate things to a ridiculous degree. I think it was the second week of that month that I experienced 4 attacks in a single week. I decided something needed to change – that this issue was starting to interfere with my ability to live a normal life. I’m not a fan of pills, which led me to find a cognitive therapist on the web. I’m in my third month with the fabulous lady I see and it has made such a difference. ### Here’s what I’ve learned: - Much anxiety comes from focusing too strongly on the past or on the future. Keeping your mind in the present is key to reducing anxiety. (I know there’s a lot of ranting about the latest pop psychology thing on “mindfulness” but I’m telling you, there is something to it.) - Stimulants, like caffeine, can push you over the edge if you are already feeling a bit anxious. - Anxiety doesn’t have to be a part of your life. You don’t have to accept it as “just the way it is.” ### Here are the techniques for controlling anxiety that I’ve learned so far: 1. **Keep your mind in the present.** If you find yourself wandering mentally, ask yourself “What am I doing right NOW?” Focus on being mindful of your surroundings, what you see, hear, smell, feel. 2. **Breathe deeply.** When we are stressed, we tend to breathe more shallowly, which in turn can heighten anxiety. Breathe in slowly and deeply through your nose, counting to 8, then release your breathe slowly through your mouth, also counting to 8. You can feel yourself relaxing after just a few rounds of this. 3. **Progressive muscle relaxation.** You’ve probably heard of this before. You start with your feet and legs and deliberately tense up your muscles. Then move to your bum and do the same. Then up to the torso, shoulders and arms, then neck and face. It works wonders. 4. **Reduce or eliminate stimulants.** This could be caffeine, nicotine, sugar or similar items that can make you hyper. It was difficult, but I gave up coffee for tea and found it created a big difference. (And got me hooked on vanilla chai.) I am happy to report that I haven’t had a single panic attack in the last three months. I sincerely hope this post will be helpful to those experiencing similar issues with stress and anxiety. **Categories:** Insights **Tags:** anxiety, Beth Kanter, Happy Healthy Nonprofit --- ### [Metrics for Evaluating Nonprofit Performance](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/metrics-for-evaluating-nonprofit-performance/) **Published:** November 15, 2020 **Author:** staging_gijlz8 **Content:** ***The following is a guest post by Steve Hollis of FocusCFO.** [FocusCFO](https://focuscfo.com/ "https://focuscfo.com/") that has been providing part-time CFO services to small and medium sized businesses ($1-30M in revenue) since 2001. They manage three key areas: cash flow, business risk and scalable growth, resulting in increased value in the business. They do this on a fractional basis, meaning clients get all the advantages of a full-time CFO on terms that are flexible and affordable, working under a recurring schedule that fits within their budget.* ### Metrics and Mission Nonprofit organizations serve an important role in our society, providing services that for profit organizations are either not interested in providing or can’t provide profitably. These nonprofit organizations are extremely diverse, ranging from charitable socially-focused organizations to member-based groups. Increasingly, nonprofits are developing performance measurement systems that allow them to evaluate their progress toward achieving their missions. Metrics focused on how organizational activities are fulfilling the nonprofit’s mission combined with financial performance indicators allow entities to understand how effectively they are serving their communities. The way these organizations execute their mission is very different from the execution of for-profit entities, but there are common approaches to performance measurement that can help organizations to manage their operations and to sustain their ability to serve. ### Areas of Focus for Measuring Effectiveness Here are three areas of focus for measuring nonprofit execution. #### Activity Effectiveness Efficiently operating a nonprofit is essential. Just as in any business, efficient operations generate additional cash flow for the organization, but in a nonprofit it also demonstrates effectiveness to potential nonprofit “investors” (donors, grantors and/or members) which can result in increased funding. Operational efficiency measurements vary for different types of organizations, but the metrics should measure progress toward the mission and the effectiveness of programs implemented. Activities to be measured should include a measure of productivity (mission-related outputs such as constituents served divided by inputs such as staff or dollars). Other appropriate measures of performance for organizations may include staff effectiveness, the hiring and retention of skilled staff, increased donations from current donors, or increased donor loyalty and retention. To determine organizational financial efficiency, nonprofits should analyze several standard performance categories including: - **Program Efficiency** (program expenses divided by total operational expenses) Administrative Efficiency (administrative expenses divided by total operating expenses) - **Operational Sustainability** (operating revenue as a percentage of costs – which measures the net dollars the nonprofit spends providing aid and support to the community - **Fundraising Efficiency** (fundraising expenses divided by total operating expenses) The general consensus is that nonprofits should spend at least 65% of their total expenses on program activities. Many believe that organizations spending less than a third of their budget on program expenses are ineffective. “Best of Class” organizations often spend 75% or more on program activities. Typically, efficient nonprofits are expected to spend 15% or less on administrative expenses and 10% or less on fundraising expenses. These standards can change depending on the nonprofit’s business segment. For instance, museums typically have above average administration costs as compared to other types of charities because of the costs to maintain their facilities and collections. #### Utilizing and Expanding Capacity Effective nonprofits are successful at mobilizing their resources. Organizations should measure their capacity utilization and their ability to grow capacity. Depending on their cause, that may require measuring efforts to increase donations from current donors, expand the current donor base, pursue funding from public sector agencies and government, increase market share, grow the number of volunteers, or recruit high-impact board members. From a financial measurement perspective, nonprofits should track their revenue growth compared to similar organizations, program expense growth compared to others in their industry segment, and their working capital to expense ratio. Comparing revenue and expense growth to others in a nonprofit’s industry segment allows the performance metrics to be adjusted for economic trends. The working capital to expense ratio is important in determining how long (in years) a nonprofit can sustain its level of spending using only its net unrestricted assets. When growing capacity, it is important that the nonprofit convince donors to fund infrastructure instead of only program services. Fundraising is critical to capacity expansion, and infrastructure is needed to support that capacity. Fundraising Effectiveness (fundraising expenses divided by the total funds the organization receives as a result of that effort) is an important financial measure. “Best of Class” nonprofits typically have fundraising expenses that are less than 35% of related funds raised. Although the expected ratio differs significantly by industry segment, generally nonprofits should work to maintain a working capital to expense ratio greater than 1. Donor Dependency (operational surplus subtracted from donations, divided by donations) is another common financial capacity measure. #### Long-term Objectives and Planning As opposed to for-profit organizations where profitability and increasing owner value are the goals, nonprofits are measured by their ability to fulfill their mission. Fulfilling the organization’s mission may require incurring financial deficits while providing more services to constituents in recessionary times. Surpluses may be managed in other economic situations. As a result, the long-term focus of a nonprofit should be on sustainability. Measuring progress toward the mission and the nonprofit’s long term objectives should drive high-level organizational focus. As a result, it is especially important that nonprofits maintain strategic plans typically for three year intervals. Cultivating a “sustainability” culture among board members, staff, donors and grantors is essential so that the organization can be a reliable service provider when recession comes. A common metric in measuring compliance with the nonprofit’s strategic plan is to track the percentage of operating priorities that align with the organization’s mission. From a financial perspective, three year financial models and their related annual budgets are very important to long-term objectives and planning. Plans that include deficits are acceptable, but nonprofits should not outspend their means. When an organization runs a combined deficit over time, its sustainability is suspect and it runs the risk of not fulfilling its mission. As a result, financial models should include combined surpluses over time and the establishment of cash and investment reserves for lean stretches. The working capital to total expense ratio discussed above is an important measure of long-term performance. Additionally, a common metric for successful nonprofits is the ratio of the organization’s net unrestricted assets to annual expenses. It should be about three times the larger of the prior year’s expenses or next year’s budgeted expenses. It is important, however, to avoid accumulating assets beyond that point and tying up funds that could be used for current program activities. Nonprofits play an essential role in our society. In order to fulfill their vital assignment, it is important that they sustain their existence by performing at the appropriate level. Managing to key performance indicators like those discussed above will significantly help nonprofits to achieve their mission. **Categories:** Insights --- ### [The Importance of (and Resources for) Technology Planning at Nonprofit Organizations](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/the-importance-of-and-resources-for-technology-planning-at-nonprofit-organizations/) **Published:** February 2, 2017 **Author:** staging_gijlz8 **Content:** I’ve been thinking about nonprofits and the importance of technology planning a lot lately. I strongly believe that every nonprofit organization, regardless of size or budget, should have some semblance of a technology plan. As part of my work, I’ve helped many nonprofits assess their technology usage and become better at planning for tech. I thought it could be useful to share info on this topic, so I went digging through some materials I have handy. One of the first things I found is a handout that I pulled together for a workshop a few years back. Note: I say “pulled together” because, unfortunately and embarrassingly enough, I honestly cannot recall if I wrote this myself or found it on the web somewhere. Sometimes I write really good stuff, forget I did it, then look back and don’t recognize my own work. Therefore, if you read this post and think “hey, I wrote that!” please [email me](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/contact/) know so I can properly credit you. Here are the contents of the handout: ### Key reasons to do Technology Planning - **To ensure technology supports mission & strategic goals** - It is danger to do technology for technology’s sake - Need to be able to quantify how tech is to be used to achieve goals - **To improve existing processes** - Must first evaluate processes without considering tech - If the process is flawed, technology will not improve matters and may make things worse - **To create organizational learning** - Planning process engages staff - May uncover process inefficiencies - Can inspire creativity – new ways of doing things - Helps to align staff by working together to create the plan - **To focus on the “now” as well as the future** - Tie tech plan to strategic plan / ex. If do 3 yr. strategic plan, do 3 yr. tech plan - Revisit technology plan 1x per year (or more frequently if needed) - To adjust for organizational change (funding, structure, staff, etc.) - To adjust for technological change - **To effectively target resources** - It’s easy to buy inappropriate equipment and software (it’s on sale, being donated, etc.) - Tech planning reduces the potential for wasteful purchases - **To establish a framework & process for making decisions** - Provides a context for incorporating or changing technology - Can help avoid potential difficulties that result from having made poor choices - **To create a historical record** - Documents past, present, & future thinking of the organization - Incorporates inventories, diagrams, service contracts, maintenance records - Cuts down on orientation time needed for new staff and external vendors - **To provide a basis for fundraising** - More & more grantors are requesting that organizations have a tech plan in place before agreeing to fund technology - They want to ensure the agency will use it to support the mission - They want to ensure the agency has been realistic in planning for the training and support that will follow the investment - It’s easier to ask for & get technology you need when you can articulate those needs ### Additional Resources And finally, I’d like to share several of my favorite books on this topic: - [*Managing Technology to Meet Your Mission: A Strategic Guide for Nonprofit Leaders*](https://www.amazon.com/Managing-Technology-Meet-Your-Mission/dp/0470343656/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1485728182&sr=8-1&keywords=managing+technology+to+meet+your+mission), edited by Holly Ross, Katrin Verclas and Alison Levine - [*Wired for Good: Strategic Technology Planning for Nonprofits*](https://www.amazon.com/Wired-Good-Strategic-Technology-Nonprofits/dp/0787962791/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1485728145&sr=8-1&keywords=technology+planning+nonprofits), by Joni Podolsky - [*The Accidental Techie: Supporting, Managing, and Maximizing Your Nonprofit’s Technology*](https://www.amazon.com/Accidental-Techie-Supporting-Maximizing-Nonprofits/dp/0940069490/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1485728517&sr=8-3&keywords=the+accidental+techie), by Sue Bennett **Categories:** Insights **Tags:** Alison Levine, Holly Ross, Joni Podolsky, Katrin Verclas, NPtech, Sue Bennett, technology planning --- ### [Letting Go of the Past to Move Forward in Your Nonprofit Career](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/letting-go-of-the-past-to-move-forward-in-your-nonprofit-career/) **Published:** October 20, 2016 **Author:** staging_gijlz8 **Content:** During my commute, I’m currently listening to the audiobook version of Steve Chandler’s “[The Hands-Off Manager](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001O9LBGS/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1).” One of the metaphors from the book resonated strongly with me and I’d like to share it with you. Chandler talks about how managers (and people in general) have a tendency to cling to the past. Rehashing mistakes, beating ourselves and others up for things that happened in the past and retaining stress from past events. He uses this illustration. Pretend you’re going on a trip and you have a *really* heavy suitcase. You’d check it at the baggage counter before getting on the plane, right? You know they won’t permit you to fly with an over-sized suitcase. Now imagine all of the junk from your past is an over-sized suitcase you are carrying with you everyday. And not only do you have your own heavy suitcase, you’re running around the airport picking up the baggage of complete strangers. When you get to the plane, will you be able to fly? Absolutely not. This is what it’s like when you hold onto your past. The idea here is to let go of the past. All of it: everyone who has wronged you or hurt you, mistakes you’ve made, mistakes others have made, your past worries and fears, etc. It’s done and over, there’s nothing you can do to change past events now and your past is preventing you from truly flying. Like all change, this is easier said than done. I’ve been working on this myself, and I find it necessary to constantly monitor my own thoughts and to challenge them as they enter my brain. My hope is that, with practice, it will become easier to recognize the junk from my own past and check it at the imaginary baggage counter in my brain. *Reflection: think about your own nonprofit career. Are you holding onto junk from your past that is preventing you from moving ahead and being happy in your job?* **Categories:** Insights **Tags:** Book, Hands-Off Manager, Management, Nonprofit Career --- ### [5 Tips for Self-Care After a Big Event](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/5-tips-for-self-care-after-a-big-event/) **Published:** November 14, 2016 **Author:** staging_gijlz8 **Content:** Nonprofit organizations frequently hold large events: galas, golf outings, conferences, etc. If you’re like me, one of the folks who are responsible for managing such events, you know there is a certain amount of stress involved with getting these things off the ground. I just finished up with our annual TechNow Conference and am still in the middle of reading Beth Kanter and Aliza Sherman’s new book, [The Happy Healthy Nonprofit](https://happyhealthynonprofit.wordpress.com/), so thought it might be useful to reflect on how I take care of myself post-TechNow. I think everyone has different post-event strategies, but this has been mine for years. 1. **Take some time to reflect and celebrate.** When you do a large event, other things in your life tend to get ignored for a bit. It’s tempting to rush right into the next thing(s) to get caught up, but I think it’s important to take a little time to reflect and give yourself a pat on the back for a job well done before flying into the next task. This doesn’t have to take long, just sit and breathe for a bit and think about what you’ve just accomplished. 2. **Stay busy in the days just after the event, but not too busy.** When I was in grad school, I would finish up with finals and not do much of anything for a few days afterwards (except for going to work, of course). Without exception, I would become ill with a bad cold or bronchitis, etc. It was almost like my body would just crash completely and I never understood that phenomenon. So now, I continue working on things, but I try to do tasks at a more leisurely pace for a few days. 3. **When your body is ready, let it sleep.** At some point in the days following TechNow (usually on the weekend), I will inevitably feel very tired, will go to bed early without setting an alarm and just sleep until my body is ready to wake up. I let myself do this without guilt – your body heals itself during sleep. Follow your body’s cues and it will tell you what you need. 4. **Get back on the wagon with exercise and good nutrition.** You may find yourself eating quickly and making poor choices while rushing around in the days before an event. (I have stress eating tendencies on top of that, so double-whammy to watch out for.) You may also find yourself skipping your exercise routine. Don’t beat yourself up about it, just get back on the horse and return to your healthy choices once the event is over. 5. **Rely on your support system.** Acknowledge that you are one person and are unable to do everything. Ask for help from your family, friends and colleagues. My husband is really good about making meals and keeping the house tidy during the week of TechNow. If we had kids, he’d likely take over the bulk of those responsibilities during that week too. But sometimes, I still specifically have to ask for what I need him to do. It’s been two weeks since the conference on Oct. 27 and I’m feeling back in the swing and caught up to my personal level of normal. Just in time for my next “big” event – hosting Thanksgiving for the first time in my life – yikes! Remember your own needs are important. Just like the flight attendants tell you on the plane, put on your own oxygen mask before helping others with theirs. **Categories:** Insights **Tags:** Beth Kanter, Happy Healthy Nonprofit, self care, TechNow --- ### [Give Pittsburgh Magazine Article on How Pittsburgh Nonprofits are Using Technology](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/give-pittsburgh-magazine-article/) **Published:** November 17, 2016 **Author:** staging_gijlz8 **Content:** *Pittsburgh Magazine* has just launched a new magazine called *Give Pittsburgh* (not to be confused with the fundraising event Pittsburgh Gives). Rachel Weaver Labar wrote an excellent article called “Giving in Pittsburgh, Simplified” for the first edition that focuses on how nonprofits in Pittsburgh are using technology to reach donors, volunteers and constituents. Rachel interviewed me for the article and while I gave her some ideas for local orgs to feature, I also couldn’t resist the opportunity to get up on my #nptech soapbox for a minute and explain how important it is for technology to be used strategically at nonprofits. I wasn’t sure those quotes would be included given the topic of the article, but I’m grateful to Rachel for working them in! [Read “Giving in Pittsburgh, Simplified” here](http://www.pittsburghmagazine.com/Pittsburgh-Magazine/November-2016/Giving-in-Pittsburgh-Simplified/). **Categories:** Insights --- ### [Making Time for Giving Thanks](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/making-time-for-giving-thanks/) **Published:** November 22, 2016 **Author:** staging_gijlz8 **Content:** --- Dear Reader, I wanted to take a moment to let you know that I’m taking a brief vacation from blogging (just a week) in order to celebrate Thanksgiving. I struggled with whether or not I should just (to quote my best friend’s 10 year old daughter) “suck it up, buttercup” and find time to schedule some posts, but you know what? Maybe you could all use a break from reading emails, tweets, IMs *and* blog posts too. I hope you’ll take some time to unplug during the holiday and spend that time with loved ones instead. Blogging efforts will resume next week here. In the meantime, I wish all of my U.S.-based readers a very happy Thanksgiving! Cindy **Categories:** Insights **Tags:** Albus Dumbledore, blogging, Thanksgiving --- ### [The Challenge of Redesigning Your Own Website: A Reflection on Perspective](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/the-challenge-of-redesigning-your-own-website-a-reflection-on-perspective/) **Published:** November 1, 2023 **Author:** staging_gijlz8 **Content:** ## The Conundrum As the owner of a company that offers web design and development, this month I found myself facing a conundrum – the arduous task of redesigning our website. This seemingly straightforward endeavor quickly turned into quite a challenge, and I began to reflect on this. Why is it so much easier to solve design problems when building a client’s website and such a pain-in-the-you-know-what when focusing on my own company’s? **One word: Perspective.** In this reflective piece, I’ll explore why this is so, emphasizing the role of perspective, and subsequently, draw parallels between this common design dilemma and the broader imperative for nonprofit leaders to maintain a sense of perspective. ### Proximity: Not Seeing the Forest, Only the Trees Being too close to your own work can cloud your judgment and impair your creative vision. This proximity leads to a series of unseen aspects that are rarely detected until someone else points them out. You’ve invested countless hours into your current project, and as a result, you’ve grown accustomed to its quirks and idiosyncrasies. This familiarity can prevent you from seeing its shortcomings, causing you to overlook essential improvements. ### Logic Gaps Another common pitfall is the tendency to overlook emerging trends and potential solutions. When you’re deeply engrossed in your work, it’s easy to get caught in a time warp. You may continue to rely on outdated processes or methods that no longer work well. Your perspective, shaped by past successes, can inadvertently become a roadblock to progress. ## Maintaining Perspective as a Nonprofit Leader Now, let’s segue into the broader context. Just as designers grapple with perspective when redesigning websites, nonprofit leaders must also confront this issue in their daily work. The ability to step back, gain a fresh perspective, and reassess one’s approach is essential for growth and success in the nonprofit sector. Here are some suggestions for nonprofit leaders to help them maintain perspective: - **Seek External Feedback**: Encourage your team to provide honest feedback and embrace external perspectives, whether from stakeholders, beneficiaries, or partners. Constructive criticism can uncover overlooked opportunities and highlight areas for improvement. - **Stay Informed**: Make a conscious effort to stay informed about industry trends and best practices. Attend conferences, read relevant literature, and engage with the broader nonprofit community to avoid falling into the trap of outdated strategies. - **Delegate Responsibility**: Delegating tasks to capable team members empowers them and allows you to focus on the bigger picture. Trust in your team’s abilities and provide them with the autonomy to make decisions. - **Regularly Reevaluate Goals**: Periodically reassess your nonprofit’s mission and objectives. Ensure they remain aligned with your organization’s values and evolving societal needs. - **Cultivate a Culture of Adaptability**: Foster an organizational culture that values adaptability and change. Encourage experimentation and the willingness to adjust course when necessary. - **Mentorship and Peer Networking**: Connect with mentors or peers who can offer guidance, share experiences, and provide an external perspective on your work. ### In Conclusion The challenge of redesigning my company’s website serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of perspective in our professional lives. The proximity to one’s work can result in unseen aspects of the project or work and hinder progress. For nonprofit leaders, perspective is equally crucial, as it can determine the success and impact of their organizations. By actively seeking external input, staying informed, and fostering adaptability, nonprofit leaders can navigate the intricacies of their work with a clear perspective, ultimately leading to more effective and impactful outcomes. **Categories:** Insights --- ### [Online WordPress Community](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/online-wordpress-community/) **Published:** October 14, 2016 **Author:** staging_gijlz8 **Content:** ![WordPress](https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4099/4919659112_70f8836dfa.jpg)A few years ago, I started an online WordPress Community through the Nonprofit Technology Network (NTEN). [NTEN](http://www.nten.org) is the membership organization for nonprofit technology professionals. I’ve been an NTEN member for 12 or 13 years (I’ve lost track) and early on, there was always a large Drupal component in NTEN’s programming. Drupal online community, Drupal Day at their annual NTC conference, etc. I knew there had to be other WordPress users in the larger NTEN community, so started to rally that crowd with breakout sessions at the conference (“A WordPress Users Gathering”). A few years of that led to a WordPress Day finally being put onto the conference agenda (which I take zero credit for organizing – I may have just fanned the flames) and I figured it would be good to start an online group to keep the momentum going year-round. We have excellent conversations on the forum and I learn so much from a bunch of smart, savvy WordPress users. One thing about being a web developer: there will always be people who know more than you do and from whom you can learn, and there will always be people who know less than you do and whom you can help with your own knowledge. This is what we do in the WP Community, share information on techniques, themes, plugins – all kinds of good stuff. NTEN’s online communities are free to join, no need to be a paying NTEN member. If you are a WordPress user or developer (front and/or back end), I invite you to join us! **Categories:** Insights **Tags:** NTEN, WordPress --- ### [The End of My Romance with Facebook](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/the-end-of-my-romance-with-facebook/) **Published:** December 30, 2016 **Author:** staging_gijlz8 **Content:** ### Why I’m writing this post First off, I want to say that this is *not* one of those “I quit Facebook and here’s why you should too” posts. This is a post about a personal decision to leave that particular social network, not because I feel the need to justify the decision or encourage other people to leave it, but because so many people have asked “why?” ### Coming to the decision to quit I joined Facebook in 2008. At first, I only checked it periodically, and it was lots of fun seeing friends’ posts and connecting with people I hadn’t seen in a long time. After a while, I discovered a number of games and got really into that part of it. At one point I created a second Facebook account so I could send myself gifts in various games. After a few years of spending way too much time on games and news feed checking, it started to occur to me that Facebook was becoming an addiction of sorts. It started to feel like drinking alcohol became for me in my early 20s: fun at first, but then becoming more and more frequent until I was beginning to hate myself for how much/how often I was drinking and feeling out of control about it. I had to eventually lay off the booze cold turkey until my late 30s or so, because I didn’t want to go down *that* particular path. Likewise, I began resenting the time/energy/productivity black hole that Facebook had become in my life. I did cut back at one point, in an attempt to keep things in check. I deleted my second account, reduced the number of friends in my primary account to between 100-150 people and quit all social games but Candy Crush Saga. After all that, I found myself still feeling resentful but couldn’t articulate the reason to myself for the longest time. So earlier in 2016, I started a list, adding items when I noticed things I didn’t like about using Facebook. I’ll repeat that list here: - Time spent feels unproductive rather than enhancing my life - Too much exposure to useless information I don’t want really need or want to see or read (but end up clicking anyway) - Self comparison to others, whose lives always seem so much more exciting and interesting than my own on there - Want to spent less time reading about what everyone else is doing and more time doing things I want to be doing - Want more meaningful conversations and relationships beyond the ease and facade of “like” and “love” buttons - Want to develop and rediscover hobbies that give me more joy than scanning online feeds What it all boiled down to: I simply didn’t enjoy using Facebook anymore. And recently it occurred to me, why continue to spend time doing something I don’t enjoy? Life’s too short for that. ### How I quit I quit slowly, over a two month period. I didn’t want to simply delete my account without letting people know I was leaving, so I sent private messages to each friend. I made sure I found people on Twitter and LinkedIn where possible (the two social networks I’m continuing to use) and made sure people had my contact info before unfriending folks. I had to set up a Gmail account for Page Admin purposes for two pages I manage professionally and get that configured. I downloaded copies of my photos, un-liked Pages, left Groups, etc. Once I had finished all that, I deactivated my account. I know I could have deactivated my account without going to all that trouble, but the knowledge that everything is still there waiting for me would have made it difficult to stay away. Now there’s literally nothing for me on there, so there’s no urge to log in (which would automatically reactivate my account). The reactions from my friends ran the gamut: surprise, curiosity, envy. Several people cheered me on while wistfully mentioning they wish they could quit too. ### The results so far I haven’t missed it too much, though the first week without felt like there was a hole in my life. I have found myself tweeting a little more frequently than I have in the past, but Twitter and LinkedIn have never had that addictive pull like Facebook does, so I’m not too worried about that. I can still connect with those I like, love, admire and work with professionally. I’ve started to read more, am crocheting a new sweater and plan to re-string my violin this week (look out cats and husband). So for everyone who asked the reason why I left, there you have it. As I mentioned, I didn’t write this to encourage others to quit Facebook, but to explain why I did. If you have been considering leaving the network already, this post may help you figure out why you want to leave and hopefully give you the courage to do so. It’s a decision each person has to make for themselves. If you’d like to talk to someone about it, I’m happy to do so – just [get in touch](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/contact/)! **Categories:** Insights **Tags:** Facebook, productivity, social networking, time management --- ### [The Evolution of Online Privacy (Video by PBS)](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/the-evolution-of-online-privacy-video-by-pbs/) **Published:** September 20, 2017 **Author:** staging_gijlz8 **Content:** I’m currently taking a class at RMU called Digital Evidence Analysis. It’s been fascinating subject matter so far. This week, we were assigned to view a video about the history of online privacy. In the messy and scary wake of the recent [Equifax hacking](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/14/business/equifax-hack-what-we-know.html?mcubz=3), sharing the video in a post this week seems very relevant. *(On a semi-related note, please consider carefully if you are thinking of signing up for Equifax’s offer of a year’s free credit monitoring for affected customers. I checked into it and a credit card is apparently required so they can bill you after the year is up. I don’t know about you, but I’m not giving my credit card number to a company that just allowed that many accounts and credit cards to be compromised…sorry!)* The video, below, is titled “”Online Privacy: How Did We Get Here?” and is just over 8 minutes long. If you cannot see the embedded video player below, you may [watch it on YouTube here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCmKJyVx9AY). **Categories:** Insights **Tags:** digital forensics, hacking, privacy, technology --- ### [5 Tips to Get Organized for an Upcoming Website Design Project](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/5-tips-to-get-organized-for-an-upcoming-website-design-project/) **Published:** January 13, 2021 **Author:** staging_gijlz8 **Content:** Cindy Leonard Consulting LLC recently re-designed and launched a new website for [Beth Kanter](https://www.bethkanter.org), internationally recognized trainer, facilitator, and author. We worked with [Eve Simon Creative](https://www.evesimoncreative.com/), who did a wonderful job creating a visual design for the site. - ![Beth's old website](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Beth-Kanter-website-BEFORE-1024x645.jpg)Beth’s Old Website - ![Beth new website](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Beth-Kanter-website-AFTER-1024x585.jpg)Beth’s New Website Beth impressed us with her organization and preparedness for the re-design process. In fact, [based of 20+ years of working with clients on similar projects](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/wordpress-website-portfolio/ "WordPress Website Portfolio"), she stands out as the most organized of any client so far. From this project, here are tips for how your organization can be well prepared for a website re-design: 1. **Create a clear navigation structure in advance.** Most web designers and developers are willing to help with this process, but it is extremely helpful when a client comes to the table with thoughtful and deliberate ideas for the navigation and informational architecture. Beth created her desired navigation structure in a shared Google Doc, which made it easy to edit and to make small tweaks on the fly. 2. **Have logo and branding ready to go.** Beth hired a graphic designer to create a new logo and to select branding elements such as fonts and a color scheme. Many organizations have a logo, but fewer have branding guidelines – an official list of fonts, colors, and other guidance for marketing collateral. This type of documentation will also come in handy for employees who create marketing documents, presentations, etc. 3. **Organize your content.** Nothing holds up a website project like content creation. Some of Beth’s content was brought over from the old site, including 15 years of blog posts, but she took the lead in writing and organizing the content for the home page and sub-pages. Most impressively, she creating a Google Doc for each page of content to be loaded, adding the text and referencing layout elements to be added. She put links to her Flickr account right in the content docs so that photos could be easily downloaded and inserted on the pages. Finally, she put a link to each content page in her main Google Doc that displayed the navigation menu. It was really easy to open the navigation guidance, click through to each content page, grab the content, and place it on each web page. 4. **Be responsive to questions.** Beth made herself available via email and phone for questions. We also had several Zoom meetings where we shared the screen, analyzed the new site, and made small design and content adjustments. It never took more than a day for Beth to answer questions, regardless of the communication method, and this kept the process moving along smoothly. 5. **Be open to suggestions.** Both Eve Simon Creative and Cindy Leonard Consulting LLC made various suggestions for improving the design and content throughout the development process. Beth was very open to ideas and brought many of her own to the table. The entire process proved to be very collaborative overall. Is your organization [considering a website re-design](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/wordpress-website-portfolio/ "WordPress Website Portfolio")? What steps will you need to take in order to be ready for working with a web design company? **Categories:** Insights --- ## Pages ### [Home](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/) **Published:** October 28, 2023 **Author:** staging_gijlz8 **Content:** ![](//cindyleonardconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/bunny-hero-image-2026-2.png) Slide 1 # Find clarity in complexity. ## Drive meaningful impact. Smart Strategy. Creative Insight. Compassionate Consulting. ## Tired of nonprofit fluff? Let’s get to the good stuff. At Cindy Leonard Consulting, we help nonprofit organizations craft smart strategies, align their technology with their goals, and strengthen their marketing and communications. Whether you need support with strategic planning, technology audits, WordPress website development, or fractional IT and marketing leadership, we bring practical experience and genuine partnership to the work. **No jargon. No judgment. Just curiosity, clarity, and creativity.** --- ![](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/strategy-bunny-icon-296x300.png) **[STRATEGY](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/services/#strategy)** ![](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/tech-bunny-icon-1-300x300.png) **[TECHNOLOGY](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/services/#technology)** ![](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/marketing-bunny-icon-2-294x300.png) **[MARKETING](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/services/#marketing)** ![](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/coaching-bunny-icon-300x300.png) **[COACHING](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/services/#coaching)** ![](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/training-bunny-icon-300x300.png) **[TRAINING](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/services/#training)** [explore our services](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/services/) ## Feedback from the Field Honest words from nonprofit leaders we’ve partnered with – about strategy, tech, and the real work of change. “I have known and worked with Cindy Leonard for over ten years in her role as a consultant and trainer. Cindy is an expert trainer and facilitator…She is also an expert on a wide range of nonprofit topics and is an excellent consultant and coach for nonprofits.” ~ *Beth Kanter, nonprofit thought leader and author* “We’re making tech progress, and so much of it is thanks to your wonderful tech audit two years ago! Thank you, thank you for all of your help and guidance and for bringing all of our tech needs to the forefront for our leadership and board!” ~ *Jamie Hudzik, Director of Operations and Development, Elizabeth Seton Center* “Cindy is a true treat to work with and has a gift of amazing foresight to keep me and us on track! She’s organized, a great communicator, and detail-oriented in project management and planning – which really helped keep our website project running smoothly.” ~ *Tiffany Castagno, CEPHR, LLC* “Cindy listens and asks all the right questions. She strives to understand and respond to the needs of the client. A day with Cindy is enlightening.” *~ Anonymous* “You made a huge difference in how I think about things within my career and other life choices. I feel lucky that life gave me the opportunity to work with you, and I appreciate all that you do for me and for others. It has truly been impactful.” ~ *Clara Burgess, The Children’s Inn at NIH* ## About Cindy Leonard Cindy Leonard is the CEO and Principal Consultant at Cindy Leonard Consulting LLC. With more than two decades of nonprofit experience, Cindy helps nonprofit organizations build smart strategy, embrace technology, and communicate clearly. Known for her down-to-earth approach and deep sector knowledge, Cindy blends strategic thinking, technical know-how, and real nonprofit insight to help teams cut through complexity and move forward with clarity. [Read full bio](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/our-team/) ![Cindy Leonard of Cindy Leonard Consulting LLC](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/CindyLeonard-headshot-967x1024.jpg) ## Latest Insights ## [From Accidental Techie to IT Pro: Advocating for Your Role, Pay, and Recognition](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/from-accidental-techie-to-it-pro-advocating-for-your-role-pay-and-recognition/) Tiffany Castagno and Cindy Leonard teamed up to deliver this session at the virtual 2025 Nonprofit Technology Conference. Please feel free to browse or download the slide deck below. If you have… ## [The Challenge of Redesigning Your Own Website: A Reflection on Perspective](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/the-challenge-of-redesigning-your-own-website-a-reflection-on-perspective/) The Conundrum As the owner of a company that offers web design and development, this month I found myself facing a conundrum – the arduous task of redesigning our website. This seemingly… ## [5 Tips to Get Organized for an Upcoming Website Design Project](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/5-tips-to-get-organized-for-an-upcoming-website-design-project/) Cindy Leonard Consulting LLC recently re-designed and launched a new website for Beth Kanter, internationally recognized trainer, facilitator, and author. We worked with Eve Simon Creative, who did a… [see more insights](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/category/insights/) ## Take a Thoughtful Leap Whether you’re planning ahead, navigating tech decisions, or rethinking your communications, we’re here to help you move forward with focus and intention. [let’s hop on a call!](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/contact/) --- ### [Nonprofit Resources](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/nonprofit-resources/) **Published:** June 15, 2020 **Author:** staging_gijlz8 **Content:** These nonprofit resources are provided for information only and do not imply endorsement, partnership, or paid advertisement. ## National Resources - [Association of Fundraising Professionals](https://afpglobal.org) - [Candid](https://candid.org) - [Independent Sector](https://independentsector.org/) - [National Council of Nonprofits](https://www.councilofnonprofits.org/) - [Nonprofit Leadership Alliance](https://www.nonprofitleadershipalliance.org/) - [Nonprofit Technology Network](https://www.nten.org) - [TechSoup](https://www.techsoup.org) ## Regional Resource (SW PA & SE Ohio) - [Association of Fundraising Professionals – Western Pennsylvania Chapter](https://www.afpwpa.org/home) - [Greater Pittsburgh Nonprofit Partnership](https://forbesfunds.org/gpnp) - [Nonprofit Resource Center at Carnegie Library](https://carnegielibrary.org/service/non-profit-programs/ "https://www.carnegielibrary.org/services/nonprofit-resource-center/") - [Nonprofit Talent](https://jobs.nonprofittalent.com/) - [Nonprofits LEAD](https://www.marietta.edu/nonprofits-lead) - [Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations](https://pano.org/) - [Pittsburgh Human Resources Association](https://www.pittsburghhra.org/) - [TopNonprofits](https://topnonprofits.com/) - [United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania](https://uwswpa.org "https://uwswpa.org/") - [Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of Pittsburgh](https://www.ynpnpgh.org/) ## Professional Journals & Magazines - [Advancing Philanthropy](https://afpglobal.org/advancing-philanthropy) - [The Chronicle of Philanthropy](https://www.philanthropy.com/) - [Nonprofit Pro](https://www.nonprofitpro.com/) - [The Nonprofit Quarterly](https://nonprofitquarterly.org/) - [The NonProfit Times](https://www.thenonprofittimes.com/) - [Stanford Social Innovation Review](https://ssir.org/) --- ### [Contact](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/contact/) **Published:** June 15, 2020 **Author:** staging_gijlz8 **Content:** ## Let’s Connect Have a project idea, planning question, or technology/communications challenge? We’re glad to hear what you’re working on. Email is the best way to reach us, and we check it daily. [**cindy@cindyleonardconsulting.com**](mailto:cindy@cindyleonardconsulting.com) Because of robocalls and spam, we no longer publish our phone number, but once we connect by email, we’re glad to arrange a call or video meeting. --- ### [Meet Scout](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/meet-scout/) **Published:** July 23, 2026 **Author:** staging_gijlz8 **Content:** ![Cindy Leonard Consulting LLC](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/site-icon-2025-300x300.png) ## Scout **Chief Curiosity Officer and Official CLC Bunny** Scout is the small but mighty symbol of Cindy Leonard Consulting LLC. Named in part for Scout Finch, she is curious, observant, independent, and entirely unimpressed by nonsense. Her responsibilities include scouting smarter paths forward, asking inconvenient but useful questions, detecting unnecessary complexity, and staring judgmentally at Frankenstacks until someone agrees to clean them up. She does not attend meetings, answer email, or complete timesheets, but otherwise contributes considerably to the firm. She represents the CLC belief that thoughtful work can be strategic, practical, compassionate, and still have a little personality. **Specialties:** curiosity, creative problem-solving, nonprofit technology, strategic thinking, and looking adorable while maintaining firm professional boundaries. --- ### [Services](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/services/) **Published:** June 15, 2020 **Author:** staging_gijlz8 **Content:** ## About Our Services Our services help nonprofit organizations move forward with clarity, curiosity, and practical support. Whether you’re building strategy, sorting out your tech, or strengthening your communications, we meet you where you are – and help you get where you want to go. [Let’s hop on a call](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/contact/) ## Skip to: - **[Strategy](#strategy "Strategy")** - **[Technology](#technology "Technology")** - **[Marketing](#marketing "Marketing")** - **[Coaching](#coaching "Coaching")** - **[Training](#training "Training")** ![Strategy services](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/strategy-bunny-icon-150x150.png) ## Strategy **Smart, grounded guidance for your organization’s next big move.** We help you think deeply, plan intentionally, and build momentum with clear steps, collaborative processes, and a practical focus on turning vision into action. ### Services include: - **Strategic Planning**: Thoughtful, actionable plans tailored to your mission, goals, and culture. - Tech audits available as an optional planning add-on. - **Meeting Facilitation:** Board or staff retreats, strategic conversations, or decision-making sessions – we bring structure, focus, and objectivity. --- ![Technology services](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/tech-bunny-icon-1-150x150.png) ## Technology **Tech decisions shouldn’t feel like guesswork.** We help you assess your current systems, plan for what’s next, and manage the details – so you can stop reacting and start leading. ### Services include: - **Technology Audits, Strategy & Planning**: Assessments and roadmaps aligned with your capacity and goals. - **Fractional IT Director**: Strategic leadership with a practical edge – without the full-time cost. - [Learn more about Fractional IT Services](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/fractional-it-services/ "Fractional IT Services") - **Software & Database Assistance**: Selection, integration, and implementation support tailored to your needs. - **Project Management**: Oversight and execution support for technology transitions and initiatives. - **Accessibility Audits:** Evaluation of websites, digital documents, and both in-person and virtual events to help ensure inclusive access for all users. --- ![Marketing services](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/marketing-bunny-icon-2-150x150.png) ## Marketing **Your message matters – and so does how you deliver it.** We support your team with clear, compelling communications that reflect your mission and build community. ### Services include: - **Fractional Marketing Support**: Strategic and tactical communications help when you need an extra set of expert hands. - [Learn more about Fractional Marketing Services](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/fractional-marketing-services/ "Fractional Marketing Services") - **Website Development & Support**: WordPress site builds, support, training, and maintenance. - [View our WordPress website portfolio](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/wordpress-website-portfolio/ "WordPress Website Portfolio"). - **Publications Design**: Professional layout and design for digital and print materials. - **Digital Newsletter Support**: Planning, setup, and content help for email outreach that gets read. - **Social Media Support**: Light-touch content and scheduling support to help you stay visible and consistent. --- ![Coaching services](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/coaching-bunny-icon-150x150.png) ## Coaching **Encouraging, experienced support for nonprofit professionals.** We offer one-on-one and team coaching to help people lead with more clarity, confidence, and connection. Coaching sessions are thoughtful, goal-focused, and grounded in deep understanding of nonprofit life. ### We specialize in working with: - Nonprofit technology professionals - Emerging leaders and new managers - Young professionals entering the sector --- ![Training services](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/training-bunny-icon-150x150.png) ## Training **Custom training sessions, workshops, and learning experiences.** We offer ready-made and tailored sessions on topics ranging from technology and communications to planning and productivity – delivered with clarity, warmth, and a little humor. --- [Let’s hop on a call](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/contact/) --- ### [Fractional IT Services](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/fractional-it-services/) **Published:** July 17, 2026 **Author:** staging_gijlz8 **Content:** ## About Not every nonprofit needs, or has the budget for, a full-time tech director. But every nonprofit deserves smart, strategic technology leadership. Fractional IT assistance means you get an experienced partner who can help you plan, prioritize, and manage technology projects – without the cost or commitment of hiring in-house. Whether you’re overwhelmed by software decisions, struggling with vendor coordination, or ready to implement a tech roadmap, we’ll help you make confident, informed moves. ## How We Can Help We can support your nonprofit by helping to: - **Provide strategic advising** for tech decisions and investments - **Assist with creating, implementing, or updating** your technology plan - **Guide and manage tech-related projects**, like CRM or website overhauls - **Act as a liaison between your team and managed IT providers** or tech vendors - **Research tech solutions** and explain options in plain language - **Design or review internal policies** and IT documentation - **Offer change management support** - **Deliver tech trainings** your staff will actually understand ## Let’s Connect Let’s talk about how fractional IT support can strengthen your team. [Get in touch](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/contact/) [CLC Fractional IT Services Flyer FOR DIGITAL](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/CLC-Fractional-IT-Services-Flyer-FOR-DIGITAL.pdf)[Download](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/CLC-Fractional-IT-Services-Flyer-FOR-DIGITAL.pdf) --- ### [Fractional Marketing Services](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/fractional-marketing-services/) **Published:** July 17, 2026 **Author:** staging_gijlz8 **Content:** ## About Fractional marketing support gives your nonprofit practical, experienced help with the communications work that often lands on already-busy staff. We help you plan, produce, and manage marketing efforts that reflect your mission, build connection, and feel realistic to maintain. Whether you need strategic guidance, extra capacity, or a sounding board with real nonprofit know-how, Cindy Leonard Consulting LLC can help you create communications that are clear, doable, and aligned. Not every nonprofit has a marketing department, and not every organization needs one. But every nonprofit benefits from clear messaging, consistent communication, and practical support that helps good work reach the right people. Our fractional marketing services are designed for organizations that need experienced help without hiring a full-time staff member or building an internal communications team from scratch. ## How We Can Help We can support your nonprofit by helping to: - **Provide strategic and tactical marketing support** as a fractional team member - **Clarify messaging and align it** across your print and digital communications - **Build and manage WordPress websites**, including new builds, content updates, training, and ongoing support - **Assist with planning, creating, and scheduling content** for websites, newsletters, and social media - **Evaluate and improve** your marketing processes and tools - **Create professional layouts** for reports, flyers, and other print or digital publications - **Offer coaching and support** for in-house staff and volunteers ## Let’s Connect Let’s talk about how fractional marketing support can strengthen your team. [Get in touch](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/contact/) [CLC Fractional Marketing Services Flyer FOR DIGITAL](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/CLC-Fractional-Marketing-Services-Flyer-FOR-DIGITAL.pdf)[Download](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/CLC-Fractional-Marketing-Services-Flyer-FOR-DIGITAL.pdf) --- ### [WordPress Website Portfolio](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/wordpress-website-portfolio/) **Published:** June 15, 2020 **Author:** staging_gijlz8 **Content:** ## Explore Our WordPress Websites ![Wapuu, the official WordPress mascot](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/mockup-09707b93-300x300.png)*[Wapuu](https://wapu.us/) is the official* *WordPress mascot!* Since 2008, we’ve dedicated ourselves to crafting exceptional websites exclusively on the WordPress platform. Our passion is to empower organizations with compelling online presences. Whether you’re looking to build a new website, fine-tune an existing WordPress site, or maintain and update your online presence, we’ve got you covered. Our WordPress websites are designed with your success in mind, featuring: - **WordPress Excellence:** Harnessing the power of WordPress for dynamic and customizable web solutions. - **Accessibility Focus:** Committed to ADA Section 508 compliance, ensuring universal accessibility. - **Robust Security:** Your peace of mind is our priority; we implement tight security measures. - **Data Safeguarding:** Automated backups guarantee your valuable content is always protected. - **Sleek Aesthetics:** Clean, attractive design that captivates and engages your audience. - **Mobile Magic:** A responsive design that adapts seamlessly to any device, making your site mobile-friendly. - **User-Centric Navigation:** Prioritizing an intuitive and highly usable interface for effortless navigation. ## Empower Your Team Beyond the launch, we go the extra mile by equipping your team with the skills to maintain and update your content through WordPress. And if you prefer, our experts can handle content updates for you upon request. If our WordPress portfolio sparks your interest and you’re seeking website solutions tailored to your organization, don’t hesitate to reach out. Your online success is just a message away. [contact us](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/contact/) ## Featured Websites **Nonprofits** - [Eastern Area Adult Services](http://www.eaas.net/) - [Pittsburgh Community Services Inc.](https://pghcsi.org) - [Sisters of St. Joseph – Baden](http://www.stjoseph-baden.org/) - [Strong Growth Alliance](https://stronggrowthalliance.org) - [Western Pennsylvania Disability History and Action Consortium](http://www.wpdhac.org/) - [Westmoreland Cleanways](http://www.westmorelandcleanways.org/) - [Westmoreland Conservation District](https://www.westmorelandconservation.org/) **Nonprofit Capacity Builders** - [Beth Kanter](https://bethkanter.org/ "https://bethkanter.org/") - [CEPHR, LLC](https://www.cephrconsulting.com/) - [Crytzer Communication](https://www.crytzerconsulting.com/) - [Excelsior Consulting](https://www.excelsiorconsulting.org) See our other and former website clients in the list farther down on this page… --- ## We’ve also built websites in the past for these fine organizations: - Adelphoi Village - AmeriCorps Seniors/Washington County RSVP - Christ’s Church - Community Foundation of Greene County - Community HealthCorps - Community Library of Allegheny Valley - Comprehensive Care Connections - Congregation Dor Hadash - Covestro Center for Community Engagement - Domestic Violence Services of Southwestern PA - EJS Entertainment - Elmhurst Group - Fayette County Community Foundation - Foundation to Advance Public Health through Certification - Gilda’s Club - Girls Hope of Pittsburgh - GlobalPittsburgh - Hamilton Presbyterian Church - Independence Conservancy - Karen Kubicko - League of Women Voters – Pittsburgh Chapter - Miller Career Consulting - Northland Public Library - Northland Local History - O’Neill Clan Association - PACE (Project to Aid Citizen Enterprise) - Pennsylvania Mountain Service Corps - Private Industry Council of Westmoreland/Fayette, Inc. - Robert L. Weiner Consulting - Roy A. Hunt Foundation - Sisters Place - Staunton Farm Foundation - Story Smart, LLC - The Celtic Connection - TechNow Conference - Tobacco Free Allegheny - Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church - Vicky’s Doves - Victim Outreach Intervention Center - Westmoreland Diversity Coalition - Westmoreland Land Trust - Women’s Center of Beaver County - Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of Pittsburgh - YWCAmakers - 74% Project --- ### [Recognition](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/recognition/) **Published:** November 5, 2023 **Author:** staging_gijlz8 **Content:** Cindy Leonard Consulting LLC has been honored by peers and partners over the years for contributions to the nonprofit and small business sectors. Whether earning an award or landing on a shortlist, it’s always meaningful to know the work is making an impact. ## Awards **8th Annual International Women Entrepreneurs Award (2026)** Presented by Great Companies, honoring women entrepreneurs demonstrating innovation, leadership, and impact in their fields. Recognized as Top International Women Entrepreneurs of the Year 2026. As part of this recognition, [a profile of Cindy Leonard Consulting LLC was published](https://www.womenstory.in/post/cutting-through-complexity-how-cindy-leonard-supports-nonprofits-with-clarity-and-confidence) highlighting Cindy’s work with nonprofits and her approach to strategy, technology, and marketing support. **5th Annual International Women Entrepreneurs Award (2023)** Presented by Great Companies, honoring women entrepreneurs demonstrating innovation, leadership, and impact in their fields. **NTEN Star Award (2013)** Presented by the Nonprofit Technology Network (NTEN), this award recognized Cindy as “Most likely to send you the idea you didn’t have yet.” ![NTEN Star image of Cindy](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Cindy-Leonard-aNTENnae-190x300.jpg) ## Nominations **Powered By Purpose – Curio 412 (2022 and 2025)** The business must operate in a way that goes beyond just making a profit, showing a clear focus on positive social or environmental impact. **Best of Westmoreland County – Trib Total Media (2024, 2025, 2026)** Finalist in the Customer Service category **Cross Sector Champion – Greater Pittsburgh Nonprofit Partnership (2021)** Recognized for collaboration and leadership across sectors supporting the region’s nonprofit ecosystem. --- ### [Our Team](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/our-team/) **Published:** June 15, 2020 **Author:** staging_gijlz8 **Content:** ## Cindy Leonard, CEO & Principal Consultant ![Cindy Leonard](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/CindyLeonard-headshot-967x1024.jpg)Cindy Leonard Cindy Leonard has dedicated more than two decades to strengthening the nonprofit sector through [strategic planning, technology leadership, and communications work](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/services/ "Services"). Before founding Cindy Leonard Consulting LLC, Cindy spent nearly 13 years at the Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management at Robert Morris University, leading the consulting and technology programs and becoming a trusted resource across the Pittsburgh region. Cindy brings a rare combination of strategic thinking, technical expertise, and real-world nonprofit experience. Past roles include executive director, IT director, marketing leader, and board member – along with extensive work as a consultant, facilitator, and trainer. Cindy is known for helping nonprofit organizations cut through complexity and make practical, effective decisions. A proud three-time graduate of Seton Hill University, Cindy holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, a Master of Business Administration, and a Master of Education in Instructional Design. ![Cindy Leonard speaking on a stage with three other people](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/CLCwidgetarea1back2-1024x672.png)L-R: Beth Kanter, Cindy Leonard, Andrea Berry, John Kenyon at #15NTC. Photo credit: Susan Tenby. As a speaker and trainer, Cindy has led more than 100 workshops and conference sessions for organizations such as Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations, Nonprofit Technology Network, Nonprofits LEAD, Alliance for Nonprofit Management, Association of Fundraising Professionals Western Pennsylvania Chapter, Greater Pittsburgh Nonprofit Partnership Summit, Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management, Westmoreland Diversity Coalition, and Pennsylvania Library Association. A lifelong resident of Westmoreland County, Cindy lives in Youngwood, Pennsylvania with a husband, a collection of overly indulged cats, one joyfully enthusiastic dog, and an enduring love for the Laurel Highlands. Cindy is also a voracious reader, a diehard Toronto Blue Jays fan, and a longtime follower of the Canadian prog rock band Rush – with a growing collection of memorabilia to prove it. ## Our Consulting Partners In our ever-changing world, partnerships are vital. We team up with various agencies to provide top-notch services. Here’s a list of those fantastic partner agencies we work with from time to time. [![CEPHR, Cultivating the Evolution of Professional HR](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/cropped-cephr-logo-web.png)](https://www.cephrconsulting.com/) [![Crytzer Communication](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/cropped-CC_logo_horiz-1.gif)](https://www.crytzerconsulting.com/) [![John Kenyon, Nonprofit Technology Educator and Strategist](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/JK-Consulting-logo.png)](https://johnkenyon.org/) --- ### [Privacy Policy](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/privacy-policy/) **Published:** May 26, 2020 **Author:** staging_gijlz8 **Content:** ### Who we are Our website address is: <https://cindyleonardconsulting.com>. ### What personal data we collect and why we collect it #### Contact Information We do not have a contact form collecting information on our website, therefore you must [get in touch directly](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/contact/ "Contact"). If you subscribe to our email list, your information is only used for that purpose and will never be sold. #### Comments When visitors leave comments on the site we collect the data shown in the comments form, and also the visitor’s IP address and browser user agent string to help spam detection. Visitor comments may be checked through an automated spam detection service. #### Cookies Our site may set cookies if your browser permits, but only as needed for viewing of the site and tracking of web traffic. We do not analyze or sell data from cookies. Notice that you don’t see an Accept Cookies pop-up notice when you visit. My intended audience and client base is in the United States. #### Embedded content from other websites Articles on this site may include embedded content (e.g. videos, images, articles, etc.). Embedded content from other websites behaves in the exact same way as if the visitor has visited the other website. These websites may collect data about you, use cookies, embed additional third-party tracking, and monitor your interaction with that embedded content, including tracking your interaction with the embedded content if you have an account and are logged in to that website. --- ### [Mission, Vision, and Values](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/mission-vision-and-values/) **Published:** June 15, 2020 **Author:** staging_gijlz8 **Content:** ## Mission We help nonprofit organizations explore better strategies, get intentional about technology, and strengthen their communications. ## Vision We envision a thriving nonprofit ecosystem where every organization has the strategy, tools, and support it needs to communicate clearly, operate effectively, and make a lasting impact. ## Values - **Mission-Driven Mindset** We believe in work that moves the world forward – and take that responsibility seriously. - **Dignity & Respect** We honor every person’s humanity through thoughtful, judgment-free listening. - **Empathy in Practice** We bring compassion and real understanding of nonprofit life to everything we do. - **Curious Thinking** We ask smart questions, challenge assumptions, and explore with intention. - **Nimble & Responsive** We adapt quickly to client needs without sacrificing quality or care. - **Resource-Conscious Service** We deliver value by respecting your time, energy, and budget. - **Accountability Always** We own our outcomes – the good, the bad, and the growth in between. - **Joyful Collaboration** We work seriously, not solemnly – and believe every engagement should feel human, helpful, and maybe even fun. [Learn more about our services](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/services/) --- ## Categories ### [Insights](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/category/insights/) --- ### [Other](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/category/other/) --- ## Tags ### [17NTC](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/17ntc/) --- ### [18NTC](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/18ntc/) --- ### [Accidental Techie](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/accidental-techie/) --- ### [Ajit Pai](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/ajit-pai/) --- ### [Albus Dumbledore](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/albus-dumbledore/) --- ### [Alison Levine](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/alison-levine/) --- ### [Amar Trivedi](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/amar-trivedi/) --- ### [anxiety](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/anxiety/) --- ### [BackupBuddy](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/backupbuddy/) --- ### [Beth Kanter](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/beth-kanter/) --- ### [blogging](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/blogging/) --- ### [Book](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/book/) --- ### [consulting](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/consulting/) --- ### [CoreFTP](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/coreftp/) --- ### [creative process](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/creative-process/) --- ### [digital forensics](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/digital-forensics/) --- ### [drawing](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/drawing/) --- ### [Encryption](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/encryption/) --- ### [event planning](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/event-planning/) --- ### [Facebook](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/facebook/) --- ### [FCC](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/fcc/) --- ### [fear](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/fear/) --- ### [Filezilla](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/filezilla/) --- ### [growth mindset](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/growth-mindset/) --- ### [hacking](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/hacking/) --- ### [Hands-Off Manager](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/hands-off-manager/) --- ### [Happy Healthy Nonprofit](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/happy-healthy-nonprofit/) --- ### [Holly Ross](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/holly-ross/) --- ### [Jeanne Allen](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/jeanne-allen/) --- ### [John Kenyon](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/john-kenyon/) --- ### [Joni Podolsky](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/joni-podolsky/) --- ### [Katrin Verclas](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/katrin-verclas/) --- ### [Management](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/management/) --- ### [minimalism](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/minimalism/) --- ### [net neutrality](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/net-neutrality/) --- ### [Nonprofit Career](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/nonprofit-career/) --- ### [Nonprofit Career Path](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/nonprofit-career-path/) --- ### [Nonprofit Technology](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/nonprofit-technology/) --- ### [NPtech](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/nptech/) --- ### [NTEN](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/nten/) --- ### [open Internet](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/open-internet/) --- ### [personal change](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/personal-change/) --- ### [plugins](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/plugins/) --- ### [privacy](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/privacy/) --- ### [productivity](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/productivity/) --- ### [public speaking](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/public-speaking/) --- ### [recycling](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/recycling/) --- ### [Salesforce](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/salesforce/) --- ### [self care](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/self-care/) --- ### [social networking](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/social-networking/) --- ### [SSL Certificates](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/ssl-certificates/) --- ### [Steve Heye](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/steve-heye/) --- ### [Sue Bennett](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/sue-bennett/) --- ### [technology](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/technology/) --- ### [technology planning](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/technology-planning/) --- ### [TechNow](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/technow/) --- ### [Thanksgiving](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/thanksgiving/) --- ### [Tim Marcovecchio](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/tim-marcovecchio/) --- ### [time management](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/time-management/) --- ### [training](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/training/) --- ### [UpdraftPlus](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/updraftplus/) --- ### [volunteering](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/volunteering/) --- ### [vote](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/vote/) --- ### [websites](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/websites/) --- ### [Will Taylor](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/will-taylor/) --- ### [WordPress](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/wordpress/) --- ### [WordPress updates](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/wordpress-updates/) --- ### [workshops](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/workshops/) --- ### [World-Class Industrial Network](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/world-class-industrial-network/) --- ### [writing](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/tag/writing/) --- ## Stats Types ### [view](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/wpa-stats-type/view/) --- ### [Chrome](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/wpa-stats-type/chrome/) --- ### [Windows](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/wpa-stats-type/windows/) --- ### [Safari](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/wpa-stats-type/safari/) --- ### [Macintosh](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/wpa-stats-type/macintosh/) --- ### [Android](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/wpa-stats-type/android/) --- ### [unknown](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/wpa-stats-type/unknown/) --- ### [iPhone](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/wpa-stats-type/iphone/) --- ### [Linux](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/wpa-stats-type/linux/) --- ### [Opera](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/wpa-stats-type/opera/) --- ### [Firefox](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/wpa-stats-type/firefox/) --- ### [event](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/wpa-stats-type/event/) --- ### [Samsung Browser](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/wpa-stats-type/samsung-browser/) --- ### [Android Browser](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/wpa-stats-type/android-browser/) --- ### [Internet Explorer](https://cindyleonardconsulting.com/wpa-stats-type/internet-explorer/) ---