Most of us who work in or around nonprofits have a complicated relationship with the sector. We know what's broken. We've seen the harm. And we keep showing up anyway.
On this episode of Fracture, Cindy sits down with her friend Frank Velásquez Jr., founder of 4 Da Hood, to talk about that love-hate relationship - and what consultants can do with the unusual position they hold. The answer involves a lot more joy (and karaoke) than you might expect.
The short answer: Nonprofit consultants sit in an outside-but-not-quite position that gives them room to model a different way of working. Frank's approach comes down to three moves: shift from community-centered to community-led practices, do "the work before the work," and treat joy as a deliberate strategy for building deeper relationships - with clients, colleagues and other consultants.
▶️ Watch on YouTube
Why do nonprofit consultants stay in a sector they know is broken?
They stay because they can push for change from a position most in-house staff don't have. Frank put it plainly: if enough people move in the same direction, everything shifts. He cited a tipping-point idea - that once a small share of people commit to a change, the rest follows - and said that's what keeps him in it. "If I'm in it, if you're in it... we can make a change collectively."
Frank came to the sector sideways. He spent six and a half years in higher education at a community college, then took his first-ever executive director role at a nonprofit in 2017. That role didn't end well ("boards, you know, things shift and change"), but it taught him something he couldn't unlearn: he hadn't been his authentic self there. He founded 4 Da Hood in 2022 while working at a chamber of commerce, and went full-time in his business in February 2025.
▶️ Watch on YouTube
What does "community-led" mean, and how is it different from community-centered?
Community-centered means you design the work around the people you serve. Community-led means those people drive it. Frank recently debuted a conference session making this exact case: centering community is a step, but the goal is to have community lead the initiatives. If you've read up on Community-Centric Fundraising, think of community-led as the next push.
What is "the work before the work"?
It's the pause most of us skip - the time to breathe, process and set shared agreements before jumping into a project. Frank uses this phrase to describe what he does with 4 Da Hood (and yes, Cindy admitted she's guilty of skipping it).
His reasoning: we've been conditioned to lead a certain way, and the nonprofit sector layers a scarcity mindset on top of that. The result feels competitive when it doesn't need to be. Practices like restorative circles - which Frank uses in his peer leadership work - create space with no agenda and clear shared agreements, so people can think before they act and work with each other instead of against each other.
How can consultants choose community over competition?
Say yes when someone offers to collaborate, and then start offering first. Frank's story about his friend Hannah Berger shows how this compounds. When one of Frank's conference sessions was rejected, Hannah - who was debuting a new session - invited him to co-present. A few months later, Hannah's session was declined at AFP ICON. Frank returned the favour and invited her onto his panel. The session did well, and the two have since become close friends who plan to keep building workshops and presentations together.
Cindy shared that when she started consulting years ago, most of the consultants she approached were generous with their time and wisdom. A few were guarded. The difference stuck with her. "We have control over creating that reality for ourselves."
Frank's take: "There's enough work for everybody."
What is a "joy only zone"?
A joy only zone is dedicated time - say, 30 minutes at the start of a working session - where people don't talk about work at all. They talk about whatever brings them joy. Frank says you can see the physical shift in people's bodies when they start talking about what lights them up, and that shift carries into the work that follows.
Frank also credits the tradition of Black joy as the root of this practice. He described how enslaved Black women would slip deep into the woods at night, after everyone was asleep, to sing, dance and share - finding joy as a way to survive what they were enduring. In the current climate, he argues, accessing joy has to be part of the process. "Otherwise we are just gonna fall apart."
The joy can be simple. Frank and Cindy's friendship took off at AFP ICON in San Diego, when Cindy invited him to hang out - and it ended in karaoke (shout-out to Mallory Erickson for gathering the crew and Tim Sarantonio for the duet). At a past Raise conference, Frank remembers the live band and the dancing far more than any session. He even slipped off his badge so a friend's husband could join the party.
How should introverted consultants network at conferences?
Go deep with a few people instead of wide with many. Cindy's advice to anyone heading to a conference: it's a depth game, not a numbers game. Handing out business cards to a crowd of strangers who'll toss them in the garbage won't build your business. Memorable, deeper relationships will.
Frank calls himself an extroverted introvert, and Cindy is right on the edge too. Frank lasted about 10 minutes at a recent networking block before his battery hit zero. But a lunch-table conversation with two or three people at that same conference led to cards exchanged and follow-up calls already on the calendar. His advice: find the small group, focus there, and stop bouncing from person to person.
Cindy does the same. At the ICON Canada party, she showed up for one reason - to hug her friend Jenny Mitchell, who lives in Ottawa and rarely crosses paths with her - and then she headed out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Frank Velásquez Jr.?
Frank Velásquez Jr. is the founder of 4 Da Hood and the creator of the Ascending Leaders in Color program. He's a storyteller, speaker and leadership facilitator who helps individuals and organizations tell their stories with authenticity, courage and joy.
What is donor-centric fundraising, and why is it criticized?
Donor-centric fundraising puts the donor's experience at the center of fundraising decisions. Critics, including Frank, argue it can lead organizations to tell deficit-focused stories that strip the people they serve of dignity.
What's the difference between community-centered and community-led?
Community-centered work is designed around the community. Community-led work is driven by the community itself, with the people closest to the issue leading the initiatives.
What is a joy only zone?
A joy only zone is a set block of time, often around 30 minutes, where a group talks only about what brings them joy before returning to the work. Frank uses it to reset the energy in a room.
How can nonprofit consultants build relationships instead of competing?
Collaborate and invite others in - co-present, share opportunities and pay it forward. Frank and Cindy both believe there's enough work for everybody.
What's the best way for introverts to network at nonprofit conferences?
Skip the big networking blocks if they drain you. Focus on small groups, like a lunch table, and aim for a few deep conversations instead of many shallow ones.
Where can I find Frank Velásquez Jr. online?
Visit 4dahood.com or connect with him on LinkedIn. Frank welcomes conversations from consultants who want to improve how they talk about themselves and their work.
---
Ready to build a consulting practice with more community and more joy? Join Cindy for a free conversation on how to replace your nonprofit salary with just three clients a year - save your spot here.
▶️ Watch on YouTube
📬 Never miss an episode - subscribe here