New Approaches to Nonprofits: Visionary Leadership and the Five & Rising Initiative

Nonprofit leaders and human service organizations are operating in a period of intense pressure, from limited funding and rising community needs to outdated public perceptions about the social sector. In this episode of The State of Mental Wellbeing, host Mohini Venkatesh sits down with Jody Levison-Johnson, president and CEO of Social Current, explore what it truly takes to lead in today’s environment.

Together, they dive into nonprofit leadership, social sector innovation and the urgent need to reshape how communities value and fund human services. Centered on the Five & Rising movement, Mohini and Jody unpack what bold leadership looks like in action — covering narrative change, sustainable funding and practical strategies for strengthening the social sector in a constrained environment.

Rethinking the Narrative Around the Social Sector

A core theme of the episode is the need to challenge long-standing assumptions about how nonprofits and human service organizations should operate. The conversation highlights how deeply embedded, and sometimes harmful, narratives can limit investment, undermine the true value of impact and create unrealistic expectations for organizations doing complex, mission-critical work.

Jody explains that changing this narrative is a critical lever for long-term sustainability, innovation and stronger community outcomes. By raising awareness person-to-person and community-to-community, leaders can spark momentum for lasting change and open the door to new ways of thinking about funding, leadership and impact.

The Five & Rising Initiative and a Bold Vision for Change

The Five & Rising initiative reflects a broader push to reimagine how the nonprofit sector is supported, understood and positioned for the future. Rather than accepting scarcity as inevitable, the initiative encourages organizations to think boldly about what is possible and to pursue ideas that can shift systems over time.

The discussion connects visionary leadership with practical action, showing how large-scale change often begins with clear values, incremental wins and the willingness to pursue a bigger picture.

Leading Through Constraints in the Nonprofit Sector

One of the most valuable takeaways from this episode is its honest, grounded perspective on leadership during times of constraint. Jody reflects on the tension between bold thinking and practical realities, offering perspective on how leaders can keep moving forward even when the environment encourages caution.

The conversation makes clear that nonprofit leadership today requires both resilience and imagination.

Listeners will hear thoughtful advice about balancing input from others with internal judgment, trusting instinct while staying grounded and making decisions based on the best information available in the moment. The combination of strategic thinking and self-trust offers valuable guidance for leaders across mental health, substance use and human services organizations.

What You’ll Learn

• How the Five & Rising initiative aims to shift public narratives about the social sector.
• Why leaders should stay bold, trust their instincts and resist shrinking in constrained environments.
• What boards, funders and communities can do to support a more sustainable and effective sector.

Meet the Guest

Jody Levison-Johnson is a licensed clinical social worker with over 30 years of experience in the field of human services. She currently serves as the President and CEO of Social Current, a diverse network of nearly 1,600 human service organizations. Social Current works to achieve impact by supporting, strengthening, and amplifying the work of its network and the social sector. 

Listen to the Full Conversation

This post highlights the main themes of the discussion, but the full episode offers deeper insight, perspective and practical guidance for nonprofit leaders, advocates and organizations working to strengthen the social sector.

Stream the latest episode right here, or listen on your favorite platform: