Natalie Ledwell
Conversation Date: June 4th, 2024 12pm CST
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How to Grow Your Nonprofit with a Scalable Strategy: Insights from the Million-Dollar Nonprofit Podcast
If you’re driven to make a difference, to have an impact, and to grow your nonprofit to new heights, then the most important asset you need is a well-executed and scalable strategy. Hi, I’m Tom Kelly, your nonprofit catalyst. You may know me as the CEO of CharityAuctionsToday and DonorBooks, or as the author of The Million-Dollar Nonprofit.
What I help nonprofits achieve is a significant edge and a clear path to substantial growth through strategic fundraising and effective community engagement. And that’s what I’m going to share with you right here on the Million-Dollar Nonprofit Podcast. In each episode, I’ll take you behind the scenes to reveal the strategies, techniques, and tactics of successful nonprofits, helping you avoid common pitfalls and drive your organization forward.
Interview with Natalie Ledwell: A Trailblazer in Personal Development
In today’s episode, I’m joined by Natalie Ledwell, a trailblazer in the personal development and education space. Natalie is the visionary behind Mind Movies and the creator of the Personal Growth Studies curriculum and the Feel Wise Foundation, designed to enhance emotional well-being for students, teachers, and individuals alike.
The Journey of Mind Movies
Mind Movies was created back in 2007, inspired by the concept of visualization and the Law of Attraction, popularized by The Secret. Initially, vision boards were physical collections of images representing personal goals. Natalie and her then-husband transformed this idea into a digital format—a dynamic slideshow with photos, affirmations, and music.
Despite having no internet experience and already managing four businesses, Natalie and her team successfully launched Mind Movies in September 2008 during the economic crisis. They amassed $120,000 in credit card debt but ultimately achieved a $700,000 launch, selling $100 packages of instructions and CDs to create Mind Movies.
Reaching Millions and Expanding to Kids
Today, Mind Movies has reached over 10 million people worldwide, helping them visualize and achieve their goals. A few years ago, Natalie shifted her focus to children, creating age-relevant versions of Mind Movies for kids and teens. This adaptation included categories pertinent to younger audiences, such as education and sports.
Emotional Well-Being and AI Integration
Moved by a tragic story of a 10-year-old girl who took her own life due to bullying, Natalie was determined to make a difference. This led to the creation of Personal Growth Studies, a curriculum for schools to enhance emotional intelligence and well-being. The curriculum includes an AI voice analysis technology that measures emotional energy through voice frequency, providing crucial data to school counselors and teachers.
The Impact of Personal Growth Studies
The curriculum covers various developmental aspects, such as gratitude, empathy, self-esteem, and social skills, tailored to different age groups. It encourages students to visualize their goals and understand their emotions. The program has been successfully implemented in schools across the US, including a charter school in Miami and a Catholic school in Louisiana.
Collaboration and Future Vision
Natalie’s team starts with a free three-month pilot program to demonstrate the curriculum’s effectiveness. They also offer the Feel Wise app to support teachers’ and parents’ mental health and involvement in the process. Natalie envisions that emotional intelligence and life skills curriculum will become a standard in every school, empowering students and educators to navigate challenges and thrive.
Conclusion
Natalie Ledwell’s journey from creating Mind Movies to developing comprehensive emotional intelligence programs for schools is inspiring. Her dedication to improving the well-being of children and families is evident in her innovative approach and the tangible impact of her work. By integrating AI technology and fostering collaboration with schools, Natalie is paving the way for a brighter future for our next generation.
For more insights and strategies to grow your nonprofit, visit Tom Kelly’s website. Download free playbooks to start scaling your nonprofit to $1 million in donations and catch new behind-the-scenes insights in the next episode of the Million-Dollar Nonprofit Podcast. Don’t forget to subscribe, share, and encourage others to listen. Here’s to the impact you will make!
Natalie Ledwell
Author, Founder
Natalie Ledwell is a bestselling author, host of the podcast, Not Over, Just Different, co-host of the cable TV show WAKE UP, and founder of Mind Movies, the hugely successful and revolutionary online Personal Development company that has reached over 10 million people worldwide, empowering them to achieve their dreams through life-changing online programs.
Natalie has launched the groundbreaking Social and Emotional Learning curriculum, “Personal Growth Studies”, into schools in the US, designed to empower youth from ages 5-18+ to live fulfilling and successful lives with high self-esteem and a vision for a bright future.