541. Real Talk: How to Build Authentic Relationships with your Donors and Team + The Story of Thoughtful Human - Maya Enista Smith

We Are For Good Podcast - The Podcast for Nonprofits

We Are For Good Podcast - The Podcast for Nonprofits
541. Real Talk: How to Build Authentic Relationships with your Donors and Team + The Story of Thoughtful Human - Maya Enista Smith
Jun 03, 2024 Season 9
We Are For Good

Meet Maya. She’s a kindness champion, mental health advocate, and thoughtful human, and she’s obsessed with thank you cards💌She’s the president of Thoughtful Human, an eco-friendly greeting card company. These unique cards, founded by Ali O'Grady in 2017, plant seeds of empathy, offering genuine support during life's toughest moments. Tune in as we discuss the power of small acts of human connection and the ripple effect they create🫶

💡 Learn

  • The overwhelm humans are experiencing + what we can do about it
  • Thoughtful Human’s story 
  • Building Authentic Relationships


Today’s Guest
 Maya Smith, President, Thoughtful Human


Episode Highlights

  • Maya’s story and journey to where she is today (4:55)
  • The overwhelm humans are experiencing and the role of hope as an antidote (8:30)
  • Thoughtful Human’s origin story (14:50) 
  • The impact and ripple of Thoughtful Human cards (19:15)
  • Becky’s story of the impact of sending handwritten cards to donors year after year (23:15)
  • Maya’s experience creating cards (28:00)
  • Authentic relationships, empathy and stewardship in nonprofit work (32:45)
  • The duality of human emotions and experiences (37:00)
  • A powerful moment of philanthropy in Maya’s life (41:30)
  • Maya’s One Good Thing: If you're thinking of someone, tell them immediately. + Take more naps. (51:20)
  • How to connect with Thoughtful Human and Maya (55:37)


Thank you to our partners 🩵

Big gratitude to Givebutter, RKD Group, DonorDock, Feathr, Whiteboard and Sowen for their partnership in growing the Impact Uprising. If you’re searching for a new CRM, tech tool, brand partner, direct mail partner, or impact strategist— we’d love for you to start with our trusted recs. We’ve vetted them so you don’t have to. Head to weareforgood.com/recs to learn more.

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