Impactful Leaders Podcast | Impact at Scale: Ned Olney
Soon after taking the reins of Crotched Mountain Foundation in 2019, CEO Ned Olney and the organization made the difficult decision to close the iconic...
Soon after taking the reins of Crotched Mountain Foundation in 2019, CEO Ned Olney and the organization made the difficult decision to close the iconic New Hampshire school that had served kids with severe disabilities since the 1940s, but that was no longer financially viable. “If we don’t have the school, then who are we, what’s our identity?” Olney remembered thinking. “What are we moving to?”
Olney and Crotched Mountain knew they needed a bold vision, one that would inspire donors and not just continue to serve children with disabilities but have “impact at scale”. Crotched Mountain made the decision to support children with disabilities where they were, in schools across New Hampshire, rather than having children come to them. They would do this by partnering with public schools, school districts, and the state government, by finding ways of “contribution” rather than “attribution”. In other words, Crotched Mountain continues to be an agent of change through supporting programs and services that already exist. It’s a concept that Olney knew well from a long career overseas with Save the Children International.
In this Impactful Leaders Podcast, Olney speaks with WittKieffer Consultant John Fazekas about Crotched Mountain and what other nonprofits can learn from its bold vision for change. Olney’s experience with Crotched Mountain is inspiring, which is apropos: “Take every single opportunity to inspire the people you serve,” he advises. “If you can’t inspire them, you’ll have a hard time leading.”
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