{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Built for Good","title":"Stay in Your Lane: What Nonprofits Get Wrong About Growth and Collaboration","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":3246,"description":"In this episode of Built for Good, host Kian Alavi sits down with Manny Hernandez, CEO of The Diabetes Link. Manny shares the evolution of The Diabetes Link, a nonprofit focused exclusively on young adults living with diabetes. The Diabetes Link provides community, clinically validated guidance, and culturally relevant resources so that no young adult living with diabetes has to face these transitions alone.He discusses how the organization has expanded across major U.S. cities including New York, Los Angeles, and Boston, while also growing internationally through online communities and university chapters in Canada. A key focus of the conversation is how The Diabetes Link empowers young adults to connect with peers facing similar challenges, reducing isolation and creating long-term advocacy leaders within the community.A central theme throughout the episode is disciplined focus in nonprofit leadership. Manny explains why organizations must clearly define their core strengths, avoid mission drift, and intentionally partner with specialized organizations—particularly in policy advocacy. Rather than expanding into adjacent areas like obesity, The Diabetes Link prioritizes staying within its expertise while collaborating with external partners who bring deeper domain knowledge.The conversation also explores the shifting funding landscape for nonprofits. With reductions in federal funding, increased competition for foundation grants, and the rise of AI-assisted grant writing, Manny highlights the growing importance of trust, transparency, and long-term relationships with funders. He also outlines how The Diabetes Link diversifies its funding through corporate partnerships, foundation grants, individual giving, and emerging earned-income strategies such as content licensing and referral-based revenue models.A powerful story from the episode centers on a student-founded chapter at Columbia University. A young woman living with diabetes builds a campus community from...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/dLdLeQKAsyhiksWGcx-_m-2IyLCFbGi6IazWw66ovWM/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS8wMjcx/ZDM1NzY2MGE0MzI5/NGVhNDkwNzgwZjk3/NmNkMS5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}