Coaching our community’s greatest advocates
Kim Donahue
“Successful nonprofits aren’t free from problems. Instead, their problems lead to progress. I help my nonprofit friends work toward the goal of having better problems.”
Kim Donahue coaches heroes. She is the highly regarded facilitator of the CEO Forums, the only peer groups exclusively for nonprofit CEOs in the Indianapolis metro area. Kim was named one of the “100 Heroes” in celebration of the 100th anniversary of United Way of Central Indiana after she received 43 nominations from nonprofit leaders for her commitment to them.
Kim’s leadership extends to providing expert advice to nonprofit boards of directors through education sessions and creative retreats. Kim often facilitates a vision session with a board to create a picture of success at a specific time in the future of the organization. With Kim’s help, boards are inspired to do their best work.
Prior to her retirement from United Way of Central Indiana, Kim managed United Way’s relationship with 86 partner agencies and was responsible for capacity building and accreditation of agencies. Since retiring from United Way of Central Indiana as the Director of Agency Services, Kim has continued to serve her nonprofit heroes. In more than 35+ years in the nonprofit sector, Kim has facilitated more than 1,200 workshops and planning sessions for nonprofits and has facilitated more than 450 peer group meetings for nonprofit executives.
WHAT KIM’S CLIENTS SAY ABOUT NONPROFIT GROUP COACHING SESSIONS
“You are my heroes. I can’t do what you do.” — Kim to group members
“Sometimes we can’t either. That’s why we come here.” — Group members to Kim
“You can come to this meeting and lay the burden down for a while.”
“When you are new to the CEO role, you don’t know what you don’t know.”
“Not everyone has it all together all the time, and it’s good to know that we are all still learning.”
“I wouldn’t miss this. My staff wants me to come. They know I’ll be better after I do.”
Peeling Back a Layer
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Q: When and where you were happiest?
A:
I am most happy right now. I spend my time helping my nonprofit heroes and have a front-row seat on the most impactful nonprofits in Central Indiana. My husband and I have quality time together with our children and grandchildren. I wouldn’t change a thing!
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Q: One thing you would change about yourself?
A:
I would change the way I respond to stress. I don’t handle it well. My husband, Michael, told me that I have the lowest stress tolerance score on an EQ assessment that he has ever seen. I can worry about things that haven’t happened and may never happen. I work at taking it down a notch but am still an expert at “fretting.”
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Q: Most treasured possession?
A:
In 1993, I went back to work after being a stay-at-home mom for five years. It was a real adjustment for my whole family. Even the dog was out of sorts! One day I opened my lunch, and there was a note from my 12-year-old daughter, Elizabeth.
The note said:“Mom, you’ve made it to lunch again! Have a good one. We’re all very proud of you.
I love you. XXOO, Love Liz
P.S. Stop feeling guilty.”What a perceptive little girl she was. She is just as perceptive today as an adult with children of her own. I’ve carried that note with me for 30 years, sharing it with many young moms who were going back to work. It is my most treasured possession for many reasons.
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Q: Most famous person you’ve ever met?
A:
I grew up in Chicago. When I was 10 years old, I won a speech contest and was asked to present my speech at the Chicago Association of Commerce and Industry luncheon. I sat next to Mayor Richard J. Daley — the first Mayor Daley. I remember that he had incredibly blue eyes and was very kind to me. I also learned the meaning of ”clout” from Mayor Daley that day. Ask me about it sometime. It’s a great story.
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Q: Your motto?
A:
This has been on a magnet on our refrigerator for many years:
“Don’t get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.”
In my monthly CEO Forum meetings, the first question I ask the members of the group is “What have you done to take care of yourself this month?” Sometimes it’s hard for my nonprofit heroes to answer that question. Taking care of yourself should be a high priority for a leader.