7 Steps to Trustbuilding with Erica Pelletreau & Doug Hattaway

Trust is one of the most essential elements of nonprofit work. But in today’s climate of polarization, fear, and institutional skepticism, trust in institutions is decimated, and nonprofit leaders are navigating challenges unlike any we’ve seen before.

In this episode, Erica Pelletreau joins us to discuss the Trust Playbook, a framework for trustbuilding in moments of fracture. We explore the 7 Steps to Trustbuilding, grounded in brain science and communications research, and examine what it means to practice the discipline of trust - early communication, moral seriousness, humility, and a refusal to look away from what people are actually experiencing.

This conversation is not about finding the perfect words. It’s about building steady, values-based communication systems that strengthen trust inside organizations and across communities.

If you’re leading in uncertain times and looking for practical tools to communicate with clarity and care, this episode offers actionable guidance you can use immediately.

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