High Impact Philanthropy: Jody Boyd Of The Singletons On How To Leave A Lasting Legacy With A Successful & Effective Nonprofit Organization
An Interview with Karen Mangia
Consistency is key to building trust and fostering lasting relationships with the people you serve. We make it a priority to provide our services every month, ensuring that our families can rely on us for ongoing support. This regularity not only meets immediate needs but also strengthens the bond between our organization and the families we help, creating a sense of stability during uncertain times.
For someone who wants to set aside money to establish a Philanthropic Foundation or Fund, what does it take to make sure your resources are being impactful and truly effective? In this interview series, called “How To Create Philanthropy That Leaves a Lasting Legacy” we are visiting with founders and leaders of Philanthropic Foundations, Charitable Organizations, and Non-Profit Organizations, to talk about the steps they took to create sustainable success.
As a part of this series, I had the pleasure of interviewing Jody Boyd.
In October 2005, Jody Boyd lost a childhood friend, Michelle Singleton, to breast cancer after a 15-month battle. Singleton, a single mom with four children, was only 32 when she passed away. Boyd was deeply affected by her friend’s courageous battle and passing. She founded The Singletons, a nonprofit organization devoted to providing “strength, hope and community to single-parent families battling cancer.”
Thank you for making time to visit with us about a ‘top of mind’ topic. Our readers would like to get to know you a bit better. Can you please tell us about one or two life experiences that most shaped who you are today?
In 2005, a childhood friend of mine, Michelle Singleton, passed away at the age of 32 after battling breast cancer. At the time, I was in my late 20s with two young kids, and seeing Michelle go through such a tough journey made a profound impact on me. I couldn’t imagine how she managed to keep up with everything, so as friends and family, we all did our best to support her. I would double my dinner portions to bring her meals or pick up extra laundry detergent to drop off at her house.
After Michelle passed, I couldn’t shake the thought that she wasn’t the only single mother going through this. That realization inspired me to found The Singletons, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the needs of single-parent families battling cancer. Michelle’s experience profoundly shaped who I am today and fueled my commitment to supporting others in similar situations.
Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? We would love to hear a few stories or examples.
The three character traits that have been most instrumental to my success are tenacity, passion, and the ability to overcome shyness for a cause I believe in.
First, I’m incredibly tenacious. If I don’t know how something works, I’m determined to figure it out. This persistence has been invaluable in navigating the challenges of running a nonprofit organization.
Second, I’m deeply passionate about the families we serve. I’m driven by the belief that these families deserve strong advocates, and it’s crucial to fill that need. My passion fuels me to go out into the community, connect with people, and share our mission.
Lastly, though I’m naturally a shy person, my dedication to our cause helps me overcome that. I love telling our story, and that love has helped me push past my shyness to become an effective advocate for the families we support.
What’s the most interesting discovery you’ve made since you started leading your organization?
The most interesting discovery I’ve made since leading my organization is realizing just how much the community truly cares. You might start with an idea, or in my case, a friend’s story, and when you share that story, you watch it evolve into an organization that genuinely impacts the community — it’s an incredible journey. Sometimes, progress feels slow, but when I step back and look at how far we’ve come, I’m amazed by the number of people who care deeply and are willing to take action. Without their support and involvement, we wouldn’t be where we are today. Our organization exists and thrives because our community recognizes the need and believes in the importance of what we’re doing.
Can you please tell our readers more about how you or your organization intends to make a significant social impact?
Our organization aims to make a significant social impact by addressing a need that many people can relate to. Almost everyone has been touched by cancer, whether as a survivor, a loved one, or having lost someone to the disease. On the other hand, many people also understand the challenges of single parenthood, either through personal experience or knowing someone who’s a single parent. Our mission resonates because it bridges these two experiences. Even if you don’t personally know a single parent with cancer, most people understand the struggles faced by both groups. As time goes on, I’m confident that our mission will continue to connect with people.
What makes you feel passionate about this cause more than any other?
This organization feels like my fourth child, and I’m incredibly protective of it. After 18 years of leading it, my protectiveness has evolved. Now, my focus is on ensuring the organization continues to thrive even after I step away. I’m thinking about how to pass the baton so The Singletons can continue making a difference long into the future. Sadly, the need for our work will persist — single parents will continue to face challenges, and we’re still far from finding a cure for cancer. That’s why it’s so important that The Singletons endures.
Without naming names, could you share a story about an individual who benefitted from your initiatives?
In 2016, Alicia Dominguez was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer, a challenge made even more difficult by her recent divorce and the responsibility of raising her 9-year-old son alone in Mesa. Balancing treatment and parenting without financial or emotional support was overwhelming.
That changed when a social worker introduced her to our organization, The Singletons. We provided essential items, food, and opportunities for her to connect with others facing similar challenges.
After a quick onboarding process, Alicia received immediate support. Today, she volunteers with us, mentoring other cancer patients and delivering supplies, paying it forward for the help she received during her treatment eight years ago.
We know we’re not curing cancer, so our outcomes might look different from other cancer organizations. While we can’t say we put people into remission, our support services provide significant financial relief, which, in turn, brings emotional and mental peace of mind. Our impact may not seem as straightforward, but it’s real. For example, a recent mother shared that saving money on household supplies allowed her to buy a new tire when hers went flat, enabling her to make it to her cancer treatment.
Three actions anyone can take to help address the root cause of the problem we’re trying to solve are:
Supporting our mission through volunteering: Your time directly impacts the families we serve, enabling us to provide essential services month after month.
Becoming a recurring donor or contributing through Arizona tax credit: These donations are crucial for sustaining our operations and ensuring we can continue to help families in need.
Spreading awareness: Telling others about our organization helps us reach more people who might need our services or want to support our cause.
The Singletons is unique because it supports a specific population — single parents battling cancer — by providing essential supplies and food. Many of our families face tough times, especially since 60% of them are unable to work due to their cancer diagnosis. Your support helps them survive and maintain a sense of normalcy during their fight.
Based on your experience, what are the “5 Things You Need To Create A Successful & Effective Nonprofit That Leaves A Lasting Legacy?”
- Supportive Community:
No nonprofit can thrive without the backing of a dedicated community. The support we receive from volunteers, donors, and local businesses is the backbone of our organization. For example, when we first started, we relied heavily on donations from our community to provide essential supplies to single parents battling cancer. Over time, as more people learned about our mission, our community’s support grew, allowing us to expand our reach and impact. - Strong Leadership Team:
A nonprofit’s success is deeply rooted in its leadership. A committed and capable team can drive the organization forward, even in challenging times. For instance, our leadership team has been instrumental in navigating the complexities of running a nonprofit, from fundraising to ensuring our programs meet the evolving needs of those we serve. Their vision and dedication have been crucial in guiding The Singletons to where we are today. - Consistent Programming:
Consistency is key to building trust and fostering lasting relationships with the people you serve. We make it a priority to provide our services every month, ensuring that our families can rely on us for ongoing support. This regularity not only meets immediate needs but also strengthens the bond between our organization and the families we help, creating a sense of stability during uncertain times. - Effective PR and Outreach:
Getting the word out is essential for any nonprofit. Even after 18 years, there are still many people who haven’t heard about us, so we continuously work on expanding our outreach. Utilizing multiple platforms — social media, local news, community events — is vital to raising awareness and engaging new supporters. Sharing our story helps attract volunteers, donors, and even those in need of our services. - A Clear Plan with Unified Goals:
Having a well-defined plan and clear goals is crucial for aligning the efforts of your staff and board of directors. When everyone is on the same page, working toward shared objectives, you create a cohesive and motivated team. Early on, we learned that without this alignment, achieving our goals became much more difficult. Now, regular communication and strategic planning sessions ensure that our entire organization moves in the same direction, striving toward our mission of supporting single-parent families battling cancer.
How has the pandemic changed your definition of success?
The pandemic has broadened my understanding of what success looks like. It taught me that flexibility and adaptability are crucial. For instance, during the pandemic, we had to pivot our operations by setting up drive-thrus to distribute household supplies and food to our families. We learned that even when faced with unexpected challenges, we could still provide essential support by thinking creatively and adapting to new circumstances.
The pandemic also highlighted the importance of human connection in our work. Wearing masks was necessary, but it made me realize just how much a simple smile can mean. A smile conveys warmth, gratitude, and encouragement — things that are often just as important as the physical support we provide. Not being able to share a smile with the people we serve, as well as with our volunteers and donors, felt like a missing piece in our interactions. It reminded me that success isn’t just about meeting needs but also about the emotional connections we create along the way.
How do you get inspired after an inevitable setback?
I find inspiration after a setback by spending time with the families we serve, especially on care days. These days are about more than just distributing supplies — they’re about connecting with the families, catching up, and seeing the kids play. When I’m surrounded by the people we’re helping, it’s impossible not to feel reenergized. It reminds me why we do what we do and reaffirms our purpose. Even when my mind is racing with worries or doubts, those moments with the families bring everything into focus and reignite my passion.
Is there a person in the world who you would like to talk to, to share the idea behind your non-profit? He, she, or they might just see this, especially if we tag them. 🙂
I would love the opportunity to talk to influential leaders, mayors, and advocates across the country. Connecting with prominent figures who are passionate about supporting families and addressing cancer-related challenges could significantly amplify our reach. By sharing the mission of The Singletons with them, we could potentially expand our network and impact, helping more communities benefit from our services. Ultimately, I hope to make our organization known on a larger scale, and engaging with these leaders could be a crucial step in achieving that goal.
You’re doing important work. How can our readers follow your progress online?
Visit https://thesingletonsaz.org/ or follow us on social media https://www.instagram.com/thesingletonsaz/
Thank you for a meaningful conversation. We wish you continued success with your mission.
About The Interviewer: Karen Mangia is one of the most sought-after keynote speakers in the world, sharing her thought leadership with over 10,000 organizations during the course of her career. As Vice President of Customer and Market Insights at Salesforce, she helps individuals and organizations define, design and deliver the future. Discover her proven strategies to access your own success in her fourth book Success from Anywhere and by connecting with her on LinkedIn and Twitter.
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