American Diabetes Association reviews

It's incredibly sad to see how badly the ADA is failing the very same diabetes community it claims to serve. Aside from virtual bike rides or walks that happen once per year (and attract maybe a few dozen participants) the ADA has no real programs or connection to those living with diabetes or prediabetes. I guess that's what you get when you lay off almost the entire field staff and leave the few staff that are left to rebuild from the ground up with little to no support or resources. Unlike other nonprofits with more effective leadership, the ADA still relies on outdated, signature events for a majority of its revenue. As a result, staff are tasked with selling meaningless, six-figure marketing sponsorships to corporations as opposed to partnerships that could actually have an impact. And I can assure you that any money raised is NOT being invested back into the community to support the "mission." Any talk about health equity is just that: all talk and no action. Between the lack of faith in senior leadership and high level of disengagement among employees (as demonstrated by a recent employee engagement survey), it's no wonder that talented staff at all levels are leaving the organization in droves. Many are leaving without new jobs lined up, which tells you just how bad the culture is here. If after reading all the negative reviews and you still decide to come work here, prepare yourself for bureaucratic inefficiency to the extreme and the most archaic processes/ procedures that will make you want to scream. Nothing about the way this place is run makes any sense, yet there seems to be little appetite among senior leadership for change. I really do hope that someone new comes in and does a complete overhaul of the organization from top to bottom. Because otherwise the ADA will continue to lose whatever staff is left, as well as the few volunteers and supporters that have yet to jump ship and go to another organization that is actually doing great work.

Having worked at the organization through many CEO’s and interim CEO’s, unfortunately the board still can’t get it right. Tracey Brown’s leadership style encourages a toxic work environment where senior leaders gossip, threaten and condescend their team members. She has several key people in various departments who she trusts to be insiders for her and their misbehavior is overlooked. Executive Directors are highly unqualified. Strong, qualified staff leave quickly, many even resign without a new job. Tracey has tried to turn the organization around by using her own image and story as the reason people should give. If this isn’t an inflated ego, I don’t know what is. She speaks of being connected to Walmart and other corporate CEO’s but if this was the case, 2 years under her leadership wouldn’t these companies be on the national board and actively giving to the ADA? 10 years ago this was an organization that needed changes and consolidation of field offices. Even 5 years ago there were still certain markets growing. But now there’s been so much cut, hardly any funds raised go back to the cause. If strategy stayed consistent even for a year or two with solid senior leadership, the organization could have turned the tide. It’s sad to see where it has gone and for people with diabetes, I hope there is still a chance for the ADA to have a comeback...or be bought by other NPO.