Flux AF

"Nonprofit nice" is some toxic ass culture in our sector. It gets a whole chapter in this book I wrote.
You know what I mean. When someone's not working in alignment with their mission, or does something inequitable because of their own bandwidth, and no one says a damn thing to them because we're trying to be nice -- or because the person in question is "so nice". It cuts both directions. Like calling people in is "mean". And it keeps us from moving forward.
I've got news for you -- "nice" is not the be-all-end-all. Nice is often a cover for letting a lot of problematic stuff slide, including processes and systems that uphold racism, sexism, and other kinds of discriminations. You can be direct and KIND at the same time (*gasp* I know this flies in the face of my fellow PNWers for whom passive-aggressive and indirect communication norms are their default), but we can't center niceness in our quest for radical change.
It takes practice to make likeability and peacekeeping take a back seat to our values. It takes practice to have productive conflict. But in the end, wouldn't you rather change something that matters than hope they write "She was really nice" in your obituary?
If nonprofit nice is getting in your way -- this book is for you.
There are 6 days left to pre-order Unstuck: A Practical Guide to Radical Change for Nonprofit Leaders. We're at 93% of our pre-order goal, and when you join these early backers you get to be part of the author community, early read a chapter, and even help weigh in on the final book cover design.
Pre-order your signed copy here: igg.me/at/unstuckbook

I'm at this writing retreat on a drizzly day in Puget Sound. And you know what I'm thinking about? How to best recap the practical action steps in my book so that it's easy to read both in paperback, but also via audiobook.
Do you physically read your nonfiction books? Or do you listen to them on audio?
Are there any leadership/professional development books you thought did a particularly good job of creating recap sections so you can reinforce what you read? I'd love to hear how you consume books in the comments.
Me, I tend to listen to nonfiction, and read fiction in paperback or ebook (the loudest shoutout to and for making digital lending in both formats so freaking easy. I love you. There's a reason I want to donate a copy of my book to them when I'm finished!)
Strap in 'cause we're over here asking better questions, grounding in our values, and ditching "nice" as a conflict avoidance strategy. Though I'm a nonprofit professional, I promise this book has useful strategies for anyone who works in systems and with people -- and that's pretty much all of us.

You can still pre-order your signed copy, and join my author community (where you even get to weigh in on my final cover design!), before December 19th. https://igg.me/at/unstuckbook

Happy Saturday! May you be cozy and dry and spend time doing something you love today. And get a library card if you don't have one. They are the bomb.

Holy cow, today is the day!
"Unstuck: A Practical Guide to Radical Change for Nonprofit Leaders" is officially launched, and the link for preorders is live: igg.me/at/unstuckbook (+ in bio!)
And let's be clear about something: When I say leaders, I'm talking about action, not position. This book is not just for executive directors. It's for all of us.
Writing this book gave me the chance to talk to so many brilliant, badass changemakers. I'm so excited to talk about the power we have to change the systems we exist within, and strategies that can protect against burnout and make our work more effective.
can be different. I believe in us. And that's the whole point of the book. Be the change, one strategy at a time.
I would love it if you would pre-order your SIGNED copy today and help me spread the word to every nonprofit professional you know who's out here trying to change things. We got this.

How are you incorporating racial equity in your strategic plan? This is a critical question for working with organizations that want to change the way they show up in their work and community as they plan for the future. A plan without input from people closest to your mission is just a feel-good piece of paper.

Get into this great article and thread by Renee Rubin Ross and Community-Centric Fundraising.

November. Samhain. The end of the harvest, and the beginning of the dormant season (in the north, anyway), the season of rest; because nothing can bloom year round (even if I am bringing all this sunshine with me to grey grey Seattle).
For me this is a season of reflection and planning, and gratitude. How do you plan for the year ahead, when we get past the darkest day of December and the days start lengthening again?
November is a fantastic time for planning retreats and reconnecting with your team - and especially as many continue in virtual spaces, we need intentional connection more than ever. I can help with that! I've been leading virtual retreats and strategic planning all pandemic long, and I love helping teams get re-centered together.
I have space for two more planning and reconnection retreats on the calendar this month and next if that would serve your team in slowing down and preparing for the year ahead. Budget ranges from $1500-3000, half or full day.
Want to talk about it? Send me a 🍁 emoji via DM or you can schedule a 20 minute call here: https://calendly.com/ashleyfontaine/quick20

Celebrating finishing my first draft manuscript for my first book like...
When I first started I remember saying "Writing a book is a blue collar process - sit your ass down and write."
That's been true. And so too has their promise that writing a book isn't actually an individual endeavor, but a community one. Brilliant people I know and love have helped me shape this, and some strangers too. Once I got into a groove and learned some techniques, I really started to enjoy myself.
It feels wild. I've wanted to write a book for a few years. I still have other half baked outlines on other topics, including a personal (hilarious!) one about a year of singledom which it might be time to dust off. When I was a kid I used to write and draw little books at my grandparents' house.
But this one. This topic is one that I hope will help change makers, social good leaders, my peers, get unstuck. Get centered. Lean into their values and their power to do the difficult work of social change in a world that needs so much of it and has so much hope and connection at the same time. It's a dilemma of envisioning a better world and also being saddled with the current reality, trying to split your energy between it all. Trying to survive in general, and survive to fight another day.
You're not alone. We can do the hard things together. It's not a sprint or a marathon, but a relay race. (Thanks for the analogy, and for being such a damn phenomenal human and friend).
Next it goes to the acquiring editor at New Degree Press and I will spend the next couple of months re-writing, revising, and then promoting it. So I'm celebrating, annnd there's still another 6 months of work left. This month has had some hard knocks, and it's nice to have something that's mine to focus on.
The pre-order campaign launches November 26 and it will be a real, live, printed book and ebook in late spring 2022.
If you get in on the pre-order you can even help me choose between cover options, or early read a chapter and give me your feedback. Stay tuned 😉
What a milestone. Cheers.