701. 93% of Funding Gone Overnight: A Case Study in Crisis Leadership - Jennifer Rupp
At 4am on April 3, 2025, Jennifer Rupp's phone wouldn't stop buzzing. 93% of Michigan Humanities' budget. Gone overnight. What happened next is a story about crisis leadership, radical transparency, and why connection isn't a soft strategy. It's the only strategy. 🙏
In this episode, you'll hear:
- What Jennifer did in the first 24 hours after losing 93% of her budget, and why transparency was her most important tool
- How she decided which programs to cut and which were non-negotiable (and the framework you can use to make those calls)
- Why "when division is the crisis, connection is the strategy" isn't just a philosophy at Michigan Humanities, it's their entire operating model
- Jennifer’s One Good Thing: flip the funding triangle. 85% of your money comes from individuals. Are you spending 85% of your time there?
This one's going to stay with you. 🩵
Episode Highlights:
- Meet Jennifer Rupp (00:48)
- The 4am email that changed everything (09:44)
- How federal humanities funding actually works (10:46)
- The pivot: transparency, triage, and staying mission-aligned (13:55)
- What programs fell and which were non-negotiable (17:09)
- Crisis leadership lessons you can only learn by walking through it (22:28)
- From front porches to back decks: why we've lost the art of gathering (25:15)
- The Great Michigan Gathering: a three-year plan to rebuild community (26:43)
- A powerful story of generosity in Jennifer's life (33:10)
- Jennifer's One Good Thing: flip the funding triangle (35:05)
Episode Show Notes: https://www.weareforgood.com/episode/701
Make the most of Monthly Giving Awareness Week 💛
During Monthly Giving Awareness Week (May 11-16), Givebutter is giving back. For every new monthly donor who gives $5 or more, your nonprofit earns a $10 donation. $25,000 in matching funds are available to organizations just like yours! Get all the details and get started today here!
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Join the We Are For Good Community—completely free.
Join fellow changemakers, share takeaways from this working session, and keep collaborating in a space built for connection, inspiration, and real impact: www.weareforgoodcommunity.com
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At 4am on April 3, 2025, Jennifer Rupp's phone wouldn't stop buzzing. 93% of Michigan Humanities' budget. Gone overnight. What happened next is a story about crisis leadership, radical transparency, and why connection isn't a soft strategy. It's the only strategy. 🙏
In this episode, you'll hear:
- What Jennifer did in the first 24 hours after losing 93% of her budget, and why transparency was her most important tool
- How she decided which programs to cut and which were non-negotiable (and the framework you can use to make those calls)
- Why "when division is the crisis, connection is the strategy" isn't just a philosophy at Michigan Humanities, it's their entire operating model
- Jennifer’s One Good Thing: flip the funding triangle. 85% of your money comes from individuals. Are you spending 85% of your time there?
This one's going to stay with you. 🩵
Episode Highlights:
- Meet Jennifer Rupp (00:48)
- The 4am email that changed everything (09:44)
- How federal humanities funding actually works (10:46)
- The pivot: transparency, triage, and staying mission-aligned (13:55)
- What programs fell and which were non-negotiable (17:09)
- Crisis leadership lessons you can only learn by walking through it (22:28)
- From front porches to back decks: why we've lost the art of gathering (25:15)
- The Great Michigan Gathering: a three-year plan to rebuild community (26:43)
- A powerful story of generosity in Jennifer's life (33:10)
- Jennifer's One Good Thing: flip the funding triangle (35:05)
Episode Show Notes: https://www.weareforgood.com/episode/701
Make the most of Monthly Giving Awareness Week 💛
During Monthly Giving Awareness Week (May 11-16), Givebutter is giving back. For every new monthly donor who gives $5 or more, your nonprofit earns a $10 donation. $25,000 in matching funds are available to organizations just like yours! Get all the details and get started today here!
//
Join the We Are For Good Community—completely free.
Join fellow changemakers, share takeaways from this working session, and keep collaborating in a space built for connection, inspiration, and real impact: www.weareforgoodcommunity.com
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