My Nonprofit Journey–From Mom to Donor to CEO

Serving the nonprofit sector

Let’s talk. I mean, not just say hello–but really, TALK!  How many times do we think we are speaking the same language but somehow miss the most important messages. No where is this communication more important than in conversations between nonprofit organizations and their donors.

From Mom to CEO and everything in between

While we are getting to know each other, let me introduce myself. I am Kari Yatkowski, Founder and CEO of Goodways and Company and my greatest desire is to continue to guide and mentor nonprofit professionals, philanthropist and leaders in the business community through their unique journeys.

I am a mom of three, a donor and the CEO of both a charitable foundation and my specialized consulting firm. Early on I had the guidance of so many mentors, both in the private sector but more importantly, from the change makers, the heroes, the nonprofit leaders and volunteers who work tirelessly to help others. Now, I just want to reach back and return the favor.

I can’t wait to hear from you–but first, a little bit about my journey. You know the story…grew up in a small town in the Midwest, packed everything I owned in my car and went to college in sunny Arizona. Now, I’m happily married to an amazing guy and have three great kids and started my own business–because, well, I like running my own gig.

A Small Town Girl

It’s impossible to talk about where I am or where I’m going without telling you where I have been. I grew up in Spearfish, SD (population 10,494), a scenic college town in the Black Hills near majestic Mt Rushmore. Everyone knew everyone–so well that my mom usually knew I ditched school before I even got home. How, you ask? Well, because Mrs. Bakke told my mom at the Piggly Wiggly that she saw me in the middle of the afternoon with a bunch of kids. Yep…BUSTED.

I was never popular and rarely attracted much attention. It was your typical all-American upbringing. I was the first born to hardworking middle-class parents, grew up in the same house most of my childhood, and when someone in our community needed a little help, we all rallied around them. Good old fashion people-helping-people. I didn’t even know what a nonprofit was, but I was raised to help others.

After graduating from Spearfish High School,  I went to Black Hills State University, located just down the block from the house I grew up in. I gave that the ole college try for a year but never quite found my groove. It just felt like high school 2.0 and I wanted to go somewhere big, where no one knew my name, let alone might say hello to my mom at Piggly Wiggly. So, I packed everything I had and moved to the farthest place I could imagine. Arizona. Paradise—palm trees, sunshine, swimming pools and a University so huge it seemed like a city.

I am a Sun Devil, now what?

After graduating from Arizona State University with a freshly minted degree from W.P. Carey School of Business in Supply Chain Management, I promptly got a job in a cool, hip technology upstart called Insight Enterprises during the dot.com bubble. I was in charge of buying computer components and I loved my job in the big city. I also fell in love with the CEO…which ended my illustrious career in supply chain management because he asked me to marry him. This was decades before the #metoo movement, and frankly it only happened because we all worked 60 hours a week and spent so much time together. I left my corporate dream job to become the little Mrs. and I couldn’t have been happier. After a few years of infertility and desperately wanting a family, we had a baby boy, Griffin (now 21 and an ASU Sun Devil), who became the center of my universe. Married—check. Kids—check. House—check.

 

Life Marches On

But like so many couples, we drifted apart. Eric worked all the time and I was a stay at home mommy. In 2002, we divorced. Now you’re probably thinking, “oh, here comes the sob story” but we didn’t even divorce like most people. We divided everything up on a cocktail napkin over drinks and have stayed the best of friends. We co-parent like gurus, travel together, team up to support nonprofit causes and best of all he’s great friends with my 2nd husband to this day.

In fact, last summer, Paul (hubby #2) and Eric (hubby #1) took Griffin (son #1) to hike Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa together (19,341’ at the summit). I know, weird, but it works for us.

Always lucky in love, I met Paul Yatkowski, a former Tennessee Volunteer defensive lineman (#99—boy, those Vols bleed orange), got married and we started building a life together. While we had a great blended family, I still wanted to have more kids but I knew that path is sometimes rocky but its worth it.

Boy! It worked–in fact it was BOYS! A year after our wedding, we welcomed twin boys via IVF (bonus–two for the price of one). Tate and Tyler, now 14 who are headed to high school next year at Webb School of Knoxville. I finally felt like all was right with the world.

Giving Back Through Haven Charitable Foundation

I knew I was fortunate, so I set out to find my passion. It started with volunteering for my local parenting group and it snowballed into countless causes I cared about. Soon, I wanted to do more than just give my time, so we founded Haven Charitable Foundation, which enabled us to give a synergy of gifts—time, money and influence.   I am proud to say that since 2003, we have personally granted more than $2 million dollars to nonprofit causes that range from health initiatives, to assisting families with children, animal welfare and the arts. It was a personal triumph for me.

As CEO of Haven, I was an advocate for the nonprofit boards I served on, but soon I saw a disconnect with the organization’s missions and the donors we were cultivating. It became clear they weren’t speaking the same language and there were so many missed expectations. I could see this poor alignment because I was both a donor AND a fundraiser. I stood on both sides of the fence, and from there I could see I had a new calling.

 A new idea, a new company

From that realization sprang my next enterprise, Corporate Citizen, a highly specialized consulting firm that not only helped philanthropist and corporations make more impactful gifts, but also helped nonprofits navigate the sometimes-murky waters of fundraising. Organically, it was that dual perspective that set me apart from the other people in my lane. I had a knack for helping the private sector find nonprofits whose missions reflected their corporate culture and at the same time, I helped nonprofits craft better messaging that amplified their good work in the community.

Working shoulder to shoulder with leaders

It was the best of both worlds and I worked with the most powerful leaders in both the private and nonprofit sectors on all things philanthropic from strategic planning, chairing galas to capital campaigns. I aligned hundreds of donors with missions that resonated with them and added value for everyone.

A new start in Tennessee

Despite living in Scottsdale, AZ for 35 years, my husband and I decided we needed a reset and to get back to basics. We yearned for a new start in a smaller community, with great schools for our teenage sons and a fresh perspective on the pace and quality of our life. I find myself in a new city, Knoxville, TN–once again, where no one knows my name. Terrified, excited, relieved and exhilarated.

So, it begins, the starting over. The insecurities of fitting in, but with the unbridled belief that I can make a difference in Tennessee like I did in Arizona. I’ve reinvented myself over and over and each time what evolves is something elevated, a little closer to my core. I have found my greatest satisfaction in the nonprofit lane and, of course, always with the donor perspective front and center.

Saying goodbye is never easy

I’m not going to lie and say that it didn’t scare me to walk away from a community where people trusted me, needed me, valued my influence to go live somewhere I had only visited a handful of times. For decades, I had done my time, worked on committees no one wanted to be on, chaired galas, and eventually served on countless nonprofit board of directors, gaining more experience and wisdom.

It would be easy to say I climbed that ladder with poise and dignity, but if I’m honest, I clawed my way to the top.  I wanted so desperately to stand out. To stand for something. To be that go-to-girl, you know the one–who would never says “no”, who gets things done, and all while wearing a killer pair of heels and a smile on her face. I conquered Phoenix, now I am setting my sights on my new community, one I already love.

Goodways and Company:  Helping nonprofits speak good

I hope you will join me as I launch my newest venture, Goodways and Company. Pulling all the best parts of Haven Charitable Foundation and Corporate Citizen, I curated a unique methodology that focuses on nonprofit best practices from decades of experience. Together, we can elevate your mission through a blend of tried and true practices and novel approaches to complex issues. Equally comfortable with startups, growth or turnaround strategies for any size nonprofit, I look for the trifecta: great vision, strong leadership and fearless innovation. With those in place, we can get to work on the heavy lifting of steering your organization to new heights.

Spring in the South

Spring in Knoxville, Tennessee  is a spectacular and a new experience for me. The boxwood trees are blooming, the grass is green, and I feel a new sense of renewal and peace. My family is thriving in our new community and I am finding my lane. I am proud of the work I have done and am poised to make my greatest contributions to date, right here in East Tennessee. I hope our paths cross soon either in a peer to peer conversation or perhaps in one of my upcoming masterclasses. I’ve worked my whole life to do what I am doing and I wouldn’t change a single thing.

However we meet, it will be meant to be.

Until then, I would love to hear about your story, your hard work, and the goodways you are helping our community!

In gratitude,
Kari