Why repair isn't always pretty, our 2026 workshop calendar, and how to approach fundraising as organizing.

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Happy Wednesday, and happy holidays! As we hurtle toward the end of the year, I want us to remember that some things take time, even if the hectic work pace doesn’t seem to allow for it. In this newsletter, I share a bit about the process of repairing interpersonal conflict, and urge you each to give yourself and others grace as you embark on this new and tender relationship.

I’m about to take a few much-needed days off, but we’ll be starting the new year with a new lineup of workshops, including Conflict 101, Conflict 201, and Rupture & Repair. I hope to see you there!

Need something more personalized? Book time to discuss a custom workshop or consulting engagement for Spring 2026.

With grace,

Nicole

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Repairing rupture can be messy. And that’s okay.

When we’re in the midst of repairing a connection or relationship, our capacity to doubt and question its progress can be at an all-time high. We often feel especially vulnerable in the repair process. Some of us might be tending ferociously to our new wounds, or terrified of causing further harm.

So, we’re in a ripe place for misreading the signals that things are actually getting better. It’s easy to forget in this time that repairing happens in micro moments: togetherness laced with tension, humor blended with shame, awkward silences and scattered gazes, strangely worded slack messages, an oddly formal email–moments of hesitant connection.

Mending relationships is like growing new bone. It’s a miraculous and often slow process we take for granted. Instead of questioning the validity of each marker of progress, consider: how can you create the most gentle space for healing? Where can you give grace to your co-conspirator(s) in this process? How can you give yourself some softness as the regeneration continues?

Bonus: sometimes, naming the awkwardness to the other person(s) you’re navigating repair with can be a lovely way to foster a stronger connection. It might help create more ease as you find your way into a new relationship once again.

SHRM loses $11.5 million discrimination lawsuit. A Colorado jury found the HR organization discriminated and retaliated against a former worker who complained of racial discrimination. HR Brew >

Under Trump, more than 1,000 nonprofits strip DEI language from tax forms. As the Trump administration ordered agencies to eradicate “illegal” DEI efforts, over 1,000 nonprofits removed such language from the mission statements in their tax filings. ProPublica >

The prosperity gap between big and small businesses is growing. Bankruptcies and loan delinquencies among small businesses are heading higher, and layoffs are mounting. Bloomberg >

More than half of US workers report burnout ahead of holiday season. Workers also said burnout diminishes their efficiency (72%), hurts their overall job performance (71%), weakens their ability to serve customers. HR Dive >

This year’s federal funding freezes offer lessons on emergency grant making. The recent government shutdown — the longest in U.S. history — strained nonprofits across the country, especially those that deliver food. Chronicle of Philanthropy >

Toolkit: How Philanthropy Can Divest from Genocide in Palestine and Beyond. This resource by Funding Freedom serves as both a toolkit and a call to action, providing a framework for organizing and mobilizing within institutions that claim to support justice and liberation, yet sustain systems of oppression and violence through their investment practices. Read >

Fundraising can be organizing — if we let it. What if movements grew money and leaders, and organizations capable of withstanding the whims of big funders? Convergence >

“Take it easy in this capitalist hellscape.” Vu Le shares lessons they learned from Alice Wong. Nonprofit AF >

How to create a workplace response plan for ICE visits. A Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg LLP attorney provides a strategic guide for employers that can promote employee confidence. HR Dive >

When pivoting in times of crisis, what should small and medium-sized nonprofits prioritize first? Jeanne Bell, MNA, is co-founder of JustOrg Design, shares their thoughts on how to approach a pivot–whether a shift in mission, reduction in funding, or misalignment, these are solid places to start. NonProfit Quarterly >

We turn workplace disagreements into your company's invitation to foster inclusion and build psychological safety. Instead of just putting out fires, we help your teams see conflict as a powerful tool that strengthens relationships rather than damages them.

A typical engagement includes an assessment of your current conflict patterns, a hands-on workshop with real-world scenarios, and follow-up coaching to make sure these new approaches stick when things get tough.

Book a free, 15-minute consultation to see how we can help.

Learn is the consultancy arm of Reclamation Ventures, an award-winning venture studio that’s created well-known brands like Reimagined, Banned Books Book Club, and the RV Fund. Over the past five years, we’ve helped organizations create more inclusive and equitable spaces through trainings, workshops and hands-on consulting.

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