"I always start out by putting myself in the Community Partner's shoes, and really understanding where the need is coming from," Debbie shares. "They may have said, 'I want to do X because I want to achieve Y,’' but there may be a different way to achieve Y, and that's where my expertise comes in."

Rather than just checking off a task, Debbie looked at the core goals behind FRO’s vision. Together, through deep-dive conversations and nitty-gritty legal drafting, they overhauled the bylaws and created custom give-get commitment agreements and board accountability tools.

Too often, nonprofit leaders ask for help from their networks only to walk away with advice or links to articles —and very little hands-on execution. For Eva Maria, working with Debbie was a completely different experience.

"She didn't just do the task, I came out with a game plan," Eva Maria explains. "We had genuine thought partnership."

Navigating organizational shifts can be intimidating, but Debbie’s empathetic, accessible approach created a safe environment for growth.

"As a founder, there can be a lot of shame when you don't know how to do something," Eva Maria shared. "I did not feel that after having met her. I knew that she cared."

The Ripple Effect of "Showing Up"

The impact of Debbie stepping up went far beyond a set of documents. Armed with a clear strategy and new accountability tools, Eva Maria created a pitch deck to present the changes and successfully passed the updated bylaws, onboarding a dynamic, active board—which now includes fellow SVP Partner Karrie Miner.

Today, FRO’s board members are proactively writing role descriptions, editing grant applications, and hosting fundraising events.

"We have the infrastructure, and we have the mechanisms to actually be held accountable," Eva Maria said. Reflecting on her personal transformation through the partnership, she added: "More than anything, I'm gaining a lot of confidence."

Debbie and Eva Maria's story is a wonderful reminder of what happens when we go beyond traditional volunteering and step into true partnership. When we bring our authentic skills, time, and empathy to the table, the ripple effect is game-changing for our Community Partners—and deeply rewarding for us all.