How Conscious Leadership and Energy Shape Nonprofit Success

When people first hear me talk about energy in the nonprofit world, they sometimes think I’m talking about something soft or fluffy—like good vibes or positive thinking. But here’s the truth I want you to really feel: Energy is real, it’s measurable, and it shapes every interaction you have.

And yes, I learned this the same way most of us learn anything that truly sticks—through the discomfort of living it.

Your Subconscious: The Silent Powerhouse

One thing I love to remind my clients is this: your brain is so smart. So smart, in fact, that most of it runs on autopilot. Dr. Aaron, one of my mentors, calls it the autoconscious—the subconscious programming that runs your day whether you notice it or not.

Think about driving. You don’t consciously think, now move my foot, now check the mirror. You just do it. That’s your subconscious at work. But the same subconscious that helps you drive is also constantly scanning your environment—picking up on cues, reading other people’s energy, deciding whether you feel safe or on edge.

In leadership, fundraising, and even everyday conversations, it’s your subconscious and your energy—not your perfect words—that people respond to.

Why “Energy Speaks Louder Than Words”

One of my biggest lessons—and one I share with every client—is this: People will not remember what you said. They will remember how you made them feel. That’s not just a sweet quote. It’s science.

Your energy is what people pick up on first. It tells them whether to trust you, follow you, invest in you. And if your words say one thing but your energy says something else, they’ll believe your energy every single time.

You Can’t Fake It—But You Can Choose It

Now, let’s be real. You can’t slap a smile on your face and fake a good vibe. We’re all too smart for that. The brain spots insincerity in seconds. So the real question is: How do you cultivate an energy that naturally attracts trust, connection, and influence?

You do it by choosing your state—over and over. And that means understanding the Map of Consciousness, a framework that changed how I live, lead, and coach.

The Map of Consciousness: A Guide for Conscious Leaders

Dr. David Hawkins’ Map of Consciousness shows us that every emotion and belief vibrates at a certain frequency. And our bodies actually emit that frequency—measurably.

At the bottom? Shame, guilt, apathy. When you’re stuck there, life feels miserable, hopeless, or disappointing.

But when you move up—to courage, acceptance, willingness, neutrality—you shift everything. And that shift is what your team, your donors, and your community feel from you. They match your vibe or they fade away. And that’s a good thing.

This Is Not About Always Being “High Vibe”

Let’s be clear: choosing your state isn’t about pretending to be happy 24/7. I feel disappointment, fear, sadness—of course I do. But the difference is I don’t live there. I visit, I learn, I heal, I move.

Choosing your energetic state is not about denying pain. It’s about understanding that you don’t have to be bound to it. You can bounce back faster. You can lean into discomfort, knowing it’s part of your expansion.

A Real-Life Nonprofit Example

Let me bring this home. I once worked with a nonprofit that offered free training to child care workers. Incredible training. Totally free. Yet no one was taking it.

Why? They thought it was a messaging problem. I knew it was an energy problem.

They were speaking from a place of courage—“This is possible! You can do this!”—but their audience was living in apathy, fear, grief. They didn’t believe change was possible. They were stuck in “nothing ever works for me.”

So we didn’t just change the words. We changed the approach. We met them where they were: “We get that you feel overlooked and tired of promises that go nowhere. What if this time was different?”

That’s not manipulation. That’s empathy. That’s connection. And that’s how you shift people—one level at a time.

Your Job: Raise Your Energy, Then Invite Others Up

This is the heart of being an influential leader: Raise your standard. Hold your frequency. Let people meet you there—or fade away.

I used to worry about outgrowing people. Would my friends, my family, my husband drift away as I evolved? My wise guide Monica told me, “No, they’ll come with you. Or they’ll fade. But you’ll stay true.”

And she was right. When you hold your energy, the people who are ready to rise will rise too. They won’t even know why. They’ll just feel better around you.

This Changes Everything—In Work and Life

There’s no “work Maryanne” and “home Maryanne.” There’s just me. When you shift your energy, you don’t just fundraise better. You parent better. You partner better. You live better.

Whatever you put out is what you get back. So if you want more trust, more generosity, more possibility—you have to be that first.

Ready to Raise Your Frequency?

If this resonates, I’d love to show you how to put it into practice. Because this is the secret to becoming the nonprofit leader everyone wants to follow.

👉 Book your free Book your free Influence Activator CallActivator Call

Let’s raise your energy, shift your state, and help you attract the people, funding, and opportunities you actually want.