Grant Writing & Funding

Nonprofits exist to do good in the world—but what happens when the people doing that work are burned out, overwhelmed, and working inside unhealthy cultures?

In today’s episode, Holly Rustick sits down with Marcia Beckner, nonprofit founder and culture transformation strategist, to talk about one of the most overlooked drivers of impact: organizational culture.

After founding My Lifeline Cancer Foundation and serving as Executive Director for 10 years, Marcia saw firsthand how stress, staff turnover, and toxic workplace environments were quietly undermining nonprofit missions everywhere. That realization led her to create Culture CARES Global, where she now helps nonprofit leaders build thriving, inclusive, and empowering workplaces.

If you’re a nonprofit leader, grant writer, or consultant working with mission-driven organizations, this conversation will shift how you think about impact from the inside out.

Marcia Beckner is the founder of My Lifeline Cancer Foundation, which she launched in 2007 to support cancer patients through a digital community platform. She served as Executive Director for 10 years before merging the organization into a larger cancer nonprofit in 2018 to expand its reach and sustainability.

After decades in the nonprofit sector, Marcia recognized widespread patterns of burnout, toxic work environments, and unsustainable leadership practices. She founded Culture CARES Global to help nonprofit organizations build healthy, inclusive cultures where staff feel valued, respected, appreciated, engaged, and safe.

Through her CARES framework—Commitment, Appreciation, Respect, Engagement, and Safety—Marcia works with nonprofit leaders to transform internal culture so their teams can thrive while advancing their missions.

Connect with Marcia Beckner:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marciabeckner/
Website: https://culturecares.com/

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Thanks for listening!

Warmly,

Holly Rustick

Leading the $1 Billion for Good Movement: By 2030, aspiring and seasoned grant writers inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy & Grant Professional Mentorship will 1) WIN $1 Billion in Grants, and 2) MAKE $30 Million in their Grant Writing Businesses. We are on our way already.

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