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Are we overlooking one of the most powerful forces behind nonprofit work?
For many nonprofit professionals, care for community doesn’t switch off at the end of the workday. Long after the job is done, we’re still showing up, supporting causes, helping neighbors...living the values that drew us to this work to begin with.
In this episode, Britt sits down with Esther Saehyun Lee, founder of Elevate Philanthropy Consulting and a leading voice in Community-Centric Fundraising, to explore the deeper motivations that shape nonprofit work - and the often unseen ways those values continue to strengthen communities beyond the 9-to-5.
What you'll learn in this episode:
- Why the values that draw people into nonprofit work often show up far beyond the workplace
- How everyday acts of community care reflect the principles of community-centric philanthropy
- Why this “invisible work” carries real value for the communities nonprofits serve
- How recognizing these motivations can reshape the way organizations think about fundraising and leadership
- What nonprofit leaders can learn from the care and commitment their teams bring into community life
The core insight: The work nonprofit professionals do outside formal roles often reflects the same values that power the sector itself - care, community, and commitment to something larger than the job. When we recognize that connection, we gain a clearer understanding of what truly drives nonprofit work.
About Esther Saehyun Lee
Esther Saehyun Lee is the founder of Elevate Philanthropy Consulting, where she works with nonprofit organizations to build fundraising practices rooted in equity, community trust, and the principles of Community-Centric Fundraising. Her work focuses on helping organizations align fundraising with the values of the communities they serve.
Chapters
00:00 Work vs Community: The Two Ways We Show Up
02:28 The Invisible Care That Happens Outside the Job
07:21 Formal vs Informal Community Spaces
12:19 Relationships, Conflict, and Peer-Led Community Care
16:30 Fatigue, Burnout, and Why Community Matters
22:12 Supporting the People Who Do the Caring
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