Passionate, versatile, and driven - these attributes define those serving in nonprofit careers. Yet, many deep in the trenches also face discouragement and isolation. Tasha Van Vlack, CEO and Founder of The Nonprofit Hive is on a personal mission to change that.
Just over a year ago, she decided to take a leap of faith by creating an innovative platform designed to foster meaningful one-on-one connections among nonprofit professionals, board members, and consultants, including those ‘nonprofit curious.’ Her initiative addresses the need for genuine community engagement through a free, flexible, user-driven model serving a growing community that spans fifty-eight countries.
The Moment That Inspired a Global Movement
Tasha's journey into building a global community was shaped by a life-altering, unexpected medical event. In her early thirties, while juggling life as a mother of three young children, she suffered a stroke. With no warning and few immediate resources, she navigated a complex recovery process with more questions than answers.
Feeling isolated in her medical journey, she turned to online support groups. These digital communities offered invaluable advice, empathy, and a shared language of experience she desperately needed.
"Talking to others who had been through it gave me more insight than my doctors could."
This realization of the power of connection became a cornerstone of her future work.
The experience taught her the vital importance of community, particularly for those facing unique challenges. Drawing parallels to the nonprofit sector, she recognized the isolation many professionals felt. A few years later, this insight would lead her to create an innovative space where individuals could share their experiences, seek advice, and find solidarity in their mission-driven work.
From the Corporate World to the Nonprofit Realm
Some might find her career transition to nonprofit work unconventional. After starting in ethical sales and corporate marketing, she was drawn to mission-driven organizations and thrived in long-term consulting roles to combat burnout and operational challenges.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, she shifted to remote work but felt a gap. "Nonprofit work is people work. This world has its own language, and people are looking for others who understand their lived experiences," she realized. Her desire to connect individuals and share resources led to her founding The Nonprofit Hive.
"I kept thinking, 'How could I help amazing people in the nonprofit sector find each other, collaborate, and support one another?'"
The idea was simple: create a platform for nonprofit professionals to meet, share experiences, and build a support network. "The Hive was born out of a desire to help people feel less alone and more empowered in their work," she explains. "We now offer one-to-one, thirty-minute chats that happen every Thursday," allowing members to participate flexibly. This adaptability is central to her mission.
By facilitating one-to-one interactions, The Hive enables members to share generously from their experiences. "I encourage members to bring their best selves to chat and share generously," Tasha says. "People remember generosity."
This approach has been key to her success. She views her role as keeping ‘the guardrails on’ while empowering the community to take ownership and drive it forward. The results speak for themselves:
"Nonprofit Hive members frequently turn 30-minute chats into long-term collaborations. Community is flexible. The resources and timing adapt to the members."
This approach has facilitated organic growth, fostering a diverse network of professionals who support and inspire each other over the past year.
For Tasha, community engagement goes beyond organizing events or sending newsletters.
"Community engagement is best defined when I'm not the one pushing the engagement anymore. Community and action look like members driving the initiative forward."
The Power of Personal Advocates
"You don't need everyone to care about your work, just the right people," she says. This insight informs how she builds and sustains The Nonprofit Hive. She focuses on cultivating a core group of advocates -people who deeply care about their missions and will rally others to the cause.
One of the most rewarding aspects of her work is witnessing how small moments in chats lead to significant breakthroughs. "Members' feedback highlights how small solutions in chats can resolve months of challenges," she says. These chats create a ripple effect; for instance, a fundraising consultant might provide key insights that help a nonprofit leader overcome a long-standing hurdle.
"Community is about creating a safe space where people can share and grow."
9 Keys to Building Community in the Nonprofit Hive
Building a thriving community requires consistent effort, not just a one-time initiative. Tasha shares these insights on cultivating impactful communities:
Community is a Muscle, Not a Right
Tasha emphasizes that building a community takes continuous investment: “You have to actively cultivate it.” Communities thrive when nurtured regularly, whether online or in person.
Nonprofit is a Language
“Nonprofit work has its own lingo and lived experiences,” she notes. Understanding these nuances is vital for professionals to feel less isolated and more connected.
The Power of One-to-One Connections
Group settings can be intimidating, and not everyone is comfortable speaking up. She highlights the value of personalized chats: “People want their story to be heard in a space where they feel seen and valued.”
Serendipity Requires Action
She believes meaningful connections come from engaging actively: “Community and opportunities arise when you engage actively and intentionally.”
Depth Over Breadth
She advises against focusing solely on network size: “What matters most is the depth of your connections. A small, engaged group can achieve far more than a large, disengaged one.”
Generosity Creates Ripples
“People remember generosity,” she asserts. Small acts of kindness can lead to long-term collaborations and trust, whether sharing resources or merely listening.
Community Engagement Thrives on Member-Led Initiatives
For Tasha, success is marked by community members taking ownership: “When I’m not the one driving engagement, that’s when I know we’ve built something real.”
Leverage Lived Experiences to Build Trust
Sharing personal challenges, such as her own medical journey, helps her connect deeply with others: “Being vulnerable brings you so much in return,” underscoring the importance of authenticity in leadership.
Community as a Muscle
Tasha Van Vlack’s belief that community is a skill needing constant cultivation is central to her work:
"Community is a muscle; it's not a right. You have to invest in it."
Through The Nonprofit Hive, she provides tools to help nonprofit professionals strengthen this muscle for collaborative problem-solving.
Her mission is to reveal the power of community-driven solutions by redefining nonprofit work. If you are a nonprofit professional seeking connection, support, and inspiration, we encourage you to visit The Nonprofit Hive and become part of this free, vibrant, global community.
Nonprofit Resources
Here are some tools Tasha mentioned to help support your nonprofit journey:
The Nonprofit Hive is a free online platform that connects nonprofit professionals, providing a collaborative video space for changemakers to network, share experiences, and combat professional isolation.
We Are For Good Podcast is a podcast and community platform focused on social impact leadership, offering weekly episodes and an Impact Uprising Membership that helps nonprofit professionals learn and grow together.
Nonprofit Happy Hour Facebook Group is an international peer support Facebook group founded by Vu Le, which brings together nonprofit professionals to build confidence and community in the sector.
The Innovative Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting scientific and technological advancement, facilitating innovation, and fostering idea exchange among technical communities worldwide.