Episode 013: The joys and trials of growing an organization from the ground up

Getting a little bit better every day

Today we are joined by Susanne Blue, Executive Director of Matt Talbot Kitchen and Outreach.

Matt Talbot Kitchen began serving meals to the homeless and working poor of Lincoln Nebraska in 1992. “The Kitchen” steadily increased its frequency from Saturday evenings, to every evening, to the current schedule of daily lunches and dinners all year long.

Susanne was the first full-time employee at the Kitchen, and much of her time in the early days was spent documenting and implementing policies, coordinating the work of the organization, and generally keeping the doors open.

As the organization grew in size and scope, Susanne had to grow her own capacity right along with it, particularly in the areas of of public relations, staff management, and fundraising. In 2009, a massive downtown redevelopment forced the Kitchen to relocate its facility. In a little more than a year, the organization had to not only identify a new site, but also conduct a capital campaign, build a building, and move its staff and equipment.

Susanne shares the joys and struggles along the journey. Through it all, she’s maintained positivity and an attitude of servant leadership.

To learn more about Susanne or Matt Talbot Kitchen and Outreach, click here!

In this episode, Susanne and I discuss:

The challenges of moving away from direct service into management/administration.
The importance of being open to change.
Perseverance and hope in the face of adversity.
Why boundaries are important for human services providers.
Lessons from Mother Teresa.
What to do when you’re having a bad day (hint: you don’t get to have bad days).
Her book recommendation: Leading Out Loud: A Guide for Engaging Others in Creating the Future by Terry Pearce.
Her bonus book recommendation: Leading with Soul by Lee Bolman.
The importance of patience.

Plus Susanne’s Magic Moment challenge. You’ll find it very encouraging!

We’re so glad you joined us!

We appreciate you stopping by and giving us a listen. Have a question? Want to suggest a future topic or guest? Go to Ask The Nonprofit Wizards.

We’d love to hear your feedback! Head over to the Nonprofit Wizards Facebook community or send us a tweet @NPWizards.

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the buttons below.

Finally, please leave an honest review for the Nonprofit Wizards Podcast on iTunes! Not only do ratings and reviews help the rankings of the show, but (more importantly) they help us ensure we are providing value to you.