TANGO Founder's Forum - September 2026
Rollin Schuster
Managing Director, NFP
President & Founder, TANGO
Listening and Learning in Colorado
I recently returned from a whirlwind TANGO trip to Colorado—and when I say whirlwind, I mean it!
A huge thank you goes to our Colorado Ambassador, Donna Carlson, who orchestrated two days of back-to-back meetings with nonprofit senior executives and potential business partners. Donna did an incredible job bringing together thoughtful leaders who were willing to openly share what they are experiencing, what keeps them up at night, and what they need to help their organizations thrive. And perhaps most importantly, we did a lot more listening than talking.
As TANGO expands into a new region, I believe that’s exactly where we should start. Rather than arriving with assumptions about what Colorado’s nonprofit community needs, we asked questions and listened. What we heard was enlightening—but also very familiar.
Nonprofit leaders talked about the isolation that can come with being at the top of an organization and the need for meaningful connections with peers who understand the challenges they face. They talked about collaboration over competition—finding better ways to share resources, ideas, relationships and expertise rather than trying to solve every problem independently. We heard about capacity challenges, particularly smaller teams being asked to do more with less while needing greater access to professional resources and expertise.
There was considerable discussion around people and culture—employee expectations, motivation, leadership development, board engagement and the importance of maintaining personal connections and wellbeing in increasingly demanding roles. Leaders also talked about the challenge of reaching the people who need their services, engaging their communities, building stronger partnerships and creating better connections with donors and funders. And, not surprisingly, the business of running a nonprofit was front and center: governance, compliance, risk management, cash flow, succession planning and long-term sustainability.
Finally, there was a real appetite for peer learning. These leaders want opportunities to learn from one another, share experiences and even borrow ideas from successful for-profit businesses that can be adapted to the nonprofit world. As I reflected on our conversations, something became very clear to me. These aren’t just Colorado issues.
I believe nonprofit leaders from Connecticut to Colorado—and everywhere in between—are wrestling with many of the same challenges. Geography may change, but the need for connection, collaboration, expertise and practical resources does not. That’s important for us at TANGO. Our job isn’t simply to bring what we’ve built elsewhere to Colorado. It’s to listen to Colorado’s nonprofit community and allow what we learn there to help shape what TANGO becomes next.
After two very full days of conversations, I came home energized about the opportunities ahead—and reminded that sometimes the most productive thing we can do is stop talking and listen.
Thanks again to Donna and everyone who generously shared their time and perspectives with us. The dance continues…now with a little Colorado altitude!
I hope many of you will continue these important conversations with us at our Annual Building Bridges Conference on October 14. The challenges we heard about in Colorado—leadership, capacity, collaboration, sustainability and the need to learn from one another—are challenges shared by nonprofit leaders everywhere. Building Bridges provides a unique opportunity to bring our community together, exchange ideas, learn from peers and experts, and develop meaningful relationships that can help our organizations thrive. After all, the best solutions often come when we get the right people in the room, listen to one another and work together.
I hope to see you there!
Cheers!
Rollin
Rollin Schuster
Founder & President
TANGO – The Alliance for Nonprofit Growth & Opportunity