I gave years of my heart and energy to this organization because I genuinely believed in its mission. There were once incredible people here and moments where the work felt meaningful and impactful. Unfortunately, over time — especially after COVID — the culture declined dramatically.
What was once a mission-driven nonprofit now feels increasingly corporate, transactional, and disconnected from the people actually doing the work. Leadership appears far more focused on optics, networking, and maintaining appearances than addressing the serious operational and cultural issues happening internally.
There is little room for dissent, honest feedback, or institutional knowledge. Long-term employees are often pushed out or ignored, while newer staff are expected to accept unhealthy norms without question. Turnover has become constant, morale is extremely low, and many talented people have left in rapid succession.
Programs that once served families effectively are being pushed into a one-size-fits-all model that no longer meets community needs. Frontline staff are blamed for systemic issues created by leadership decisions, while executives remain insulated from the consequences.
The most heartbreaking part is watching an organization with so much potential lose its nonprofit heart. Longstanding partnerships are strained, afterschool programming is suffering, and staff at every level are exhausted and overwhelmed.
I can honestly say this job affected my mental and emotional health long after leaving. If you truly care about mission-driven work, transparency, healthy leadership, and supporting communities authentically, I would strongly encourage you to look carefully before accepting a role here.