What if telling your story could transform your nonprofit? For Lisa Steven, co-founder of Hope House Colorado, that question led to writing A Place to Belong: The True Story of a Teen Mom.
Lisa’s journey shows how nonprofit leadership paired with authentic storytelling can spark generosity, deepen donor engagement, and even inspire national growth.
Starting with a Journal: A Lesson in Nonprofit Leadership
Lisa’s path began years ago as a teen mom filling journals, never imagining they’d later shape Hope House Colorado, an organization that now operates debt‑free facilities, supports hundreds of teen mothers, and manages a $4.7 million budget.
Yet despite leading such a successful nonprofit, Lisa doubted whether she should share her own story.
“Part of the point of the book was: what happens if you say yes to God,” she shared on the Missions to Movements podcast. “But telling my own story? I wasn’t comfortable with that.”
Like many in nonprofit leadership, Lisa hoped someone else would write the story. But the mission needed her authentic voice.
Why Hybrid Publishing Was the Best Nonprofit Leadership Decision
Teaming up with ghostwriter Susie Flory, Lisa turned journals into a manuscript. But traditional publishing brought roadblocks. “Even with an amazing ghostwriter, we couldn’t get picked up by a literary agent.”
Instead, Lisa chose hybrid publishing—a bold leadership move that gave:
-
Ownership of intellectual property (IP): aligning the book’s message with Hope House’s mission
-
Flexibility: publishing on their own timeline, just as Hope House prepared for national expansion
For anyone in nonprofit leadership, this choice shows the power of keeping your vision at the center.
A Donor’s Gift that Transformed Nonprofit Storytelling
Sometimes the most unexpected support comes when you lead with honesty. After her friend Donna stepped back from the writing process, Donna’s husband called and said “We want to give you $25,000 to write this book.”
Together with Hope House’s own investment, this covered writing, editing, design, and a PR launch—proving that when nonprofit leaders share a vision, donors often want to help bring it to life.
“Donors want to help bring a vision to life. You just have to share it,” Lisa reflected.
Nonprofit Leadership Beyond the Book: Speaking, Podcasts, and Impact
Lisa never aimed for bestseller lists. Instead, her goal was impact—and that’s what happened:
- Dozens of podcast interviews, sometimes 1–2 per week
- Her largest speaking engagement yet: the Colorado Prayer Luncheon (1,100+ attendees)
- Readers inspired to volunteer, give, or even start new Hope Houses in other cities
“A woman from Kansas City called and said, ‘We need a Hope House here,’” Lisa shared. “That’s exactly what we hoped would happen.”
For Hope House’s monthly donors, the book also became a heartfelt thank-you gift, deepening connection to the mission.
Leadership Lessons: Writing, Risk, and Resilience
Writing the book forced Lisa to wrestle with leadership’s hardest truths:
“Sadly, as a leader, when I fall down, other people get landed on.”
During the 2008 recession, Hope House lost $250,000 overnight—forcing painful layoffs. But those stories became central to the book, reminding readers that nonprofit leadership is rarely easy, but always worthwhile.
Lisa’s advice to fellow nonprofit leaders:
-
Know your audience: memoir, leadership, or donor-focused?
-
Protect writing time—even just 30 minutes a day
-
Invest in expert help, even if just for editing
-
Use your book as a tool, not just a product
Beyond Sales: Storytelling as a Movement
Today, A Place to Belong isn’t just sold on Amazon—it’s what podcast host Dana Snyder called:
“The most impactful business card you can hand to someone.”
Thanks to authentic nonprofit leadership:
-
Local supporters feel seen and inspired
-
New audiences discover Hope House through podcasts and talks
-
Momentum is building to launch Hope Houses in new communities
“I want people to say yes to whatever they’re called to do,” Lisa says. “Whether it’s volunteering, giving, or even starting something like Hope House.”
