Diversifying Revenue Without Losing the Mission: Lessons from Resilient Retreat

In this episode of the Nonprofit Thrivability Podcast, Read Corley sits down with Lisa Intagliata, CEO of Resilient Retreat, to unpack how a young nonprofit built a mission-aligned social enterprise to diversify revenue and protect its ability to offer free, confidential healing programs for adult survivors of trauma and abuse, including first responders and helping professionals. 

Lisa shares how Margin & Mission Ignition helped turn an idea into The Retreat Sarasota, an earned-revenue event rental venture, and why
clear internal and external communication became the make-or-break factor for alignment. You’ll hear practical lessons on launching a business plan, managing systems, and calendaring to keep mission first, and expanding into wellness retreats without losing staff buy-in or community trust.

Timestamps
00:00 - Introducing Lisa Intagliata, CEO, Resilient Retreat
04:30 - Margin & Mission Ignition and the commitment required
06:30 - Building The Retreat Sarasota from concept to business plan
08:30 - A major misconception about fundraising and earned income
10:15 - Donor excitement, staff caution, and early tension
13:00 - Choosing event rentals as the first social enterprise
16:30 - Expanding into wellness retreats using existing strengths
20:30 - Leadership lessons on communication and internal alignment

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