Patton’s Picks | The Book of Joy by the Dalai Lama & Desmond Tutu

Leadership Resources for the Philanthropic Sector

This remarkable book captures a weeklong conversation between two global spiritual leaders about finding joy even in the midst of hardship. For nonprofit leaders, it’s a reminder that resilience, gratitude, and compassion are not luxuries but essential tools for sustaining meaningful work. Recommended by Dianne Bailey in Episode #331, it offers a powerful perspective on leadership grounded in humanity.

"Joy is not the absence of suffering, but the presence of meaning."

Highlights for nonprofit leaders:

• Practice gratitude and perspective in stressful seasons

• Lead with forgiveness and compassion

• Embrace humor and humility every day 

Dr. Patton McDowell, CFRE, MBA, is the creator of the innovative PMA Mastermind Leadership Program, a unique offering designed to elevate nonprofit leaders through comprehensive training and peer collaboration. He is also the author of the best-selling book, Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, and host of the weekly podcast with the same name, available here. Since founding PMA Nonprofit Leadership in 2009, Patton has strategically guided over 300 nonprofit organizations to achieve their fullest potential. A Certified Fundraising Executive and Master Trainer for AFP Global, he serves as Executive in Residence at Cornell University's Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy and as Director of the Institute for Philanthropic Leadership.

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