Description

Nonprofit leadership isn’t just about managing resources — it’s about vision, resilience, and the bold action it takes to solve the toughest challenges in our communities.

Dr. Dawn Belamarich, CEO of Collaboratory, is leading a bold mission to solve Southwest Florida’s biggest social challenges by 2040. With roots as a therapist and the discipline of a business leader, Dawn shares how she blends compassion with strategy to drive impact.

From data-driven initiatives to scholarships that change lives forever, her leadership lessons resonate with nonprofit executives, Board members, and emerging leaders alike.

You’ll learn:

• Why every nonprofit must be run like a business to sustain its mission
• How optimism became Dawn’s leadership superpower—and why it matters
• The power of scholarships and community funding to change lives
• Straight talk for Board members and CEOs navigating tough times
• Why knowing your “why” is essential for every nonprofit professional

If you’re ready for practical wisdom, candid insights, and real inspiration to lead with courage, this episode is for you.

Prefer video? Watch the full episode on YouTube, https://youtu.be/9IXlGHn0eQY.

Standout Quotes

• “A nonprofit is a business. If there’s no money, there’s no mission.” — [18:03]
• “It’s the game changer of game changers when you see a life transformed by a scholarship.” — [15:43]
• “Know your why. Write it on your mirror, remind yourself every day, because many things will try to take you off course.” — [40:12]

Chapters & Timestamps

• 00:00 – Welcome & Collaboratory’s Bold 2040 Mission
• 01:05 – From Therapist to Nonprofit CEO: An Unexpected Journey
• 07:15 – Finding Inspiration in People, Innovation, and Optimism
• 13:42 – Scholarships & Success Stories That Change Lives
• 18:03 – Running Nonprofits Like a Business
• 21:39 – Navigating Funding Challenges with Collaboration
• 24:21 – Straight Talk for Board Members and Nonprofit CEOs
• 29:47 – Failures, Lessons, and Surprising Leadership Insights
• 38:12 – Final Advice for Nonprofit Leaders: Know Your Why

Guest Bio

Dr. Dawn Belamarich is President & CEO of Collaboratory, Southwest Florida’s regional community foundation with a bold mission to solve the area’s biggest social challenges by 2040.

A licensed mental health therapist with a doctorate in business and leadership, Dawn brings a unique blend of compassion and strategy to her work. Before joining Collaboratory, she held senior leadership roles at Recovery Centers of America, where she led clinical and operational excellence for a national addiction treatment provider. Her career spans both nonprofit and for-profit sectors, giving her a distinctive perspective on driving impact with business discipline.

Dawn also serves on the Board of the ARCHway Institute, a national organization providing education and resources for those impacted by addiction. Originally from New Jersey, she now calls Cape Coral, Florida home, where she enjoys the outdoors, spending time with family, and life with her husband Dave and their...