Top Nonprofit Board Mistakes and How Executive Directors Can Fix Them with Dr. Crystal Trull

Running a nonprofit takes more than passion, it takes strategy, leadership, and the ability to answer the all-important “So what?” for funders, boards, and communities. In this episode of the Nonprofit Counsel Podcast, host May Harris sits down with Dr. Crystal Trull, founder of CT Nonprofit Consulting and faculty member in nonprofit leadership at the University of San Diego.

Crystal shares candid insights from her work as an executive director, consultant, and board development expert. From tackling the myth of the “unicorn” executive director to teaching boards how to stay intentional, she reveals why mission alignment, collaboration, and transparency are the keys to healthy nonprofit governance.

Whether you’re a nonprofit board member, executive director, or aspiring leader, this conversation will help you strengthen governance, recruit better boards, and build stronger relationships that drive impact.

What You Will Learn in This Episode

✅ Why the myth of the “unicorn” executive director hurts nonprofits
✅ How to recruit and engage board members who reflect your mission and community
✅ Why the “So What” factor is essential for winning funders’ trust
✅ Tips for building strong relationships between boards and executive directors

Want to strengthen your nonprofit’s board and leadership? Visit NonprofitCouncil.com to access strategies, tools, and insights to recruit better boards, support your executive director, and lead with clarity.

👉 Want templates and step-by-step nonprofit leadership training
→ https://nonprofitcounsel.com/leadership-accelerator

Key Takeaways

🔹 Mission comes first – every board decision, recruitment, and program must tie back to mission
🔹 Intentional recruitment matters – boards must reflect their community and bring lived experience, not just titles
🔹 Boards and executives share responsibility – governance fails when boards expect EDs to do it all
🔹 Transparency is critical – honesty about challenges builds trust and sustainability

Episode Timestamps 

• 0:00  Why boards can’t expect a “unicorn” executive director

• 1:03  Meet Dr. Crystal Trull, nonprofit consultant and educator

• 2:28  Crystal’s education and career journey from ED to PhD

• 5:02  Why advanced nonprofit education and research matter

• 7:01  How research informs nonprofit practice and consulting

• 8:03  What nonprofits really ask for: money and board members

• 9:20 Post-COVID shift from competition to collaboration

• 11:04  Helping organizations articulate their “So What”

• 13:09  Challenges of working with established boards

• 14:00  Recruiting intentional, diverse, and representative board members

• 16:20 Setting expectations for new board members from day one

• 18:01  Why board development must stay on the agenda

• 19:01  Healthy board–executive director relationship 

• 20:09 Why EDs shouldn’t be expected to do it all

• 22:17  The importance of transparency in executive searches

• 23:06  The role of strong board chairs and vice chairs

• 24:33  Final advice: remove personal agendas and focus on mission

Guest Bio: Dr. Crystal Trull

Dr. Crystal Trull is the founder and principal of CT Nonprofit Consulting, where she helps nonprofits strengthen boards, strategy, and leadership. With experience as a nonprofit executive director, consultant, and educator at the University of San Diego, Crystal brings a unique blend of practitioner expertise and academic insight. She specializes in board development, governance, nonprofit leadership, and strategic planning.

Resources and Links

• For Profit Law Group - Website - https://www.fplglaw.com 

• Nonprofit Counsel - Website - https://www.nonprofitcounsel.com/ 

• Crystal Trull - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/crystal-trull-phd-2a8a7914/ 

• CT Nonprofit Consulting - Website. https://www.ctnonprofitconsulting.com/
  
  

 

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#NonprofitLeadership #BoardDevelopment #ExecutiveDirectors #NonprofitGovernance #NonprofitCouncilPodcast #MissionDriven #NonprofitStrategy