The day-to-day life of a nonprofit executive is often busy but always right at the forefront of their organization's mission. From key meetings to speaking engagements to real life stories, these leaders have a perspective on their cause only few can see.

That is, until they start tweeting.

By sharing these seemingly everyday moments on Twitter, nonprofit leaders can give their followers a glimpse into the work behind the mission, ask questions, and show personality. Presented here in no particular order are 12 of the Philadelphia area's nonprofit leaders who do just that.

Gregory Corbin
Founder and Executive Director, Philly Youth Poetry Movement
@JustGregPoet

Greg is the fearless leader of the Philadelphia Youth Poetry Movement, an afterschool slam poetry program that has garnered international attention and awards, including the 2011 Brave New Voices Championship, beating out teams from across the world. Follow him for a behind the scenes look at what it takes to run PYPM with a prolific dose of humor and motivation.

Recent tweet: "You cannot live life impressing others! They don't give you oxygen."

Stanford Thompson
Founder and Director, Play On, Philly!
@stanfordleon
 
Stanford is an accomplished musician turned social changemaker as he leads 120 children in an after-school music program held in West Philadelphia. Play On, Philly! is part of the global El Sistema network, a program designed to improve the lives of children through music developed in Venezuela. The mission of the organization is to not to discipline the next musical prodigy but to nurture generational change by creating a place of achievement. Stanford was recently interviewed by Peter Crimmins for Newsworks.org.

Recent tweet: "I love my job."

Jay Scott
Co-Executive Director of Alex’s Lemonade Stand
@LemonadeJay

Thousands are familar with the story of Jay's late daughter, Alex, who at the age of four started her own front yard lemonade stand to raise money for cancer research. The story sparked a local - and now global - movement in Alex's name. To this day Alex's Lemonade Stand has raised over $50 million dollars for pediatric cancer through their signature fundraising events like The Lemon Ball and A Wedding for Alex plus countless volunteer-run lemonade stands held across the country. You wouldn't gather that from the day-to-day musings on Jay's twitter feed, except for the occasional reminder like the one below.

Recent tweet: "The gov't cuts funding for childhood cancer and @AlexsLemonade steps in to fill the gap."

Chris Bartlett
Executive Director, William Way Community Center
@harveymilk

Chris Bartlett is a longtime Philadelphian, activist, and community organizer. In 2009, Chris founded The Gay History Wiki, an online space to document the lives of the men who died of HIV-AIDS in Philadelphia. Since then he's focused on the role of social media and online communities and hosted both TEDxPhilly conferences.

Recent tweet: "I like to think of the Mummers Parade as the way that the strutters of South Philly (and Jersey) celebrate gay pride."

Loree Jones
Co-Executive Director, City Year Philadelphia
@loreedjones

As the Co-Executive Director of City Year Philadelphia, Loree Jones helps to lead the 230 red jacketed corps members in the Philadelphia region in their mission to keep kids on track to graduation with serve the "Whole School, Whole Child" model. Loree is an active Twitter user, using the service to both communicate with her colleagues and motivate her followers.

Recent tweet: "If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward."

Lawanda Horton
President & CEO, Mission Incorporated
@MissionInc

Starting a nonprofit organization or small business can be difficult when your background is more rooted in passion than legal mumbo jumbo. That's where Lawanda provides her expertise through her company, Mission Incorporated, which provides start-up, capacity building, and fund development services. And she puts it into practice as a deep-rooted member of the Philadelphia community. 

Recent tweet: "It is important for nonprofit organizations to hire people who have volunteered in the past. They understand commitment and service."

Diana Lind
Editor, Next American City
@dianalindindex

By day, Diana edits Next American City, a national online and print publication focused on urban issues based here in Philly. The magazine covers cities, sustainable development, architecture, politics, art, and everything in between. In November, Diana presented on urban highway removal at TEDxPhilly, which challenges us to rethink highway structures in an urban setting.

Recent tweet: "Why Zoe Strauss Matters - http://americancity.org/buzz/entry/3260/" 

Todd Bernstein
President, Global Citizen
@twbern

In 1994, Todd founded the annual Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Day of Service, the oldest and largest King Day of Service event in the United States. This year the event organized over 85,000 volunteers contributing to over 1200 service projects around the city. During his day job as the President of Global Citizen he oversees the organization's mission to promote volunteer service both locally and around the world. Recently, Todd was chosen as a Champion of Change and visited the White House in addition to rubbing elbows with the VPOTUS himself at this year's MLK Day of Service.

Recent tweet: "Sharing a laugh with VP Joe Biden during opening ceremony of the 17th annual Greater Philadelphia King Day of Service" 

Donna Frisby-Greenwood
Philadelphia Engaged Communities Program Director, Knight Foundation
@DAFrizzG
 

As a Program Director at the Knight Foundation, Donna works with nonprofits and indiviuals with an aim to sustain healthy communities and help individauls engage in change. It's a tall order but considering her accomplishments she's well suited for the job. Donna is a classic example of how you can use Twitter to communicate with colleagues and expand your network as she regularly replies to tweets and reaches out to others.

Recent tweet: "'There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor.' ---Charles Dickens"

Katie N. Pastuszek
Executive Director, Outward Bound
@KNPastuszek

Through its model of experiential learning, Outward Bound challenges students through backpacking trips, mountaineering classes, kayaking adventures, sailing trips and urban expeditions in their own communities in order to instil confidence and hone their skills. Founded in 1992, the Philadelphia chapter of Outward Bound has grown to partner with over 75 schools and community organizations.

Recent tweet: "Hanging at the Winter Classic - great place to network... Can you say fundraising? Let's go Flyers!!"

Tim Whitaker
Founder and Executive Director, Mighty Writers
@timwhitaker30

A veteran Philadelphia journalist and former Editor in Chief of Philadelphia Magazine, Tim Whitaker left the print business in 2009 and founded Mighty Writers -- a free, writing intensive afterschool program complete with comic. He set up shop out of a storefront at 15th and Christian with the mission to weave self-esteem and writing skills together, ultimately putting kids on the road to college.

Recent tweet: "Thanks to all for a great party. Reading, breakdancing, gifts, food... so many Mighty people in one place!"

Thomas Butler
Executive Director, Project GRAD
@PhillyThom

A very high proportion of our students are leaving public schools unprepared to gain access to our country’s economic, social and political opportunities. Project GRAD (which stands for Graduation Really Achieves Dreams) seeks to close the achievement gap locally through their 5 pillar structural approach. 

Recent tweet: "This is not a time to point fingers from a distance at the Sch Dist of Phila. We've got to get involved!"

You can follow this entire list on Twitter here.

Did we miss anyone of note? Include their name and Twitter handle in the comments below.