Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast The Charity Charge Show - Nonprofit Podcast
| Titre | Date | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building Nonprofits That Survive Funding Shocks: Christina Sass, President & CEO, International Youth Foundation (IYF) | 29 Sep 2026 | 00:53:49 | |
Most nonprofits are one lost funder away from a crisis. Christina Sass, President and CEO of the International Youth Foundation, joins the Charity Charge Show to talk about how her 36-year-old organization absorbed steep USAID funding cuts without losing its core programs, and what she learned building Andela, a venture-backed tech talent company, before moving into nonprofit leadership. In this episode:
--------------------------- About Charity Charge | |||
| The Nonprofit Lesson Nobody Teaches: David Harris, President and CEO of Christel House International | 22 Sep 2026 | 00:31:08 | |
David Harris has spent 25 years building organizations around one goal: moving kids out of extreme poverty for life. As President and CEO of Christel House International, he leads a school network that stays with students for up to 18 years, from pre-K through their first job. In this conversation, David shares the origin story of Christel House, why the years right after high school graduation matter more than most nonprofits realize, and the single biggest lesson he's learned about working with funders: treat them as partners, not prospects. In this episode: The origin story behind Christel House International Why the no-fee school model produces stronger outcomes How Christel House supports graduates for years after they leave school The story behind founding The Mind Trust in Indianapolis Why David treats every funder relationship as a partnership What he tells new nonprofit founders about taking risks David Harris is President and CEO of Christel House International, a global nonprofit operating no-fee schools across five countries. He previously founded The Mind Trust, an Indianapolis-based nonprofit that reshaped the city's charter school landscape. --------------------------- About Charity Charge | |||
| Project Sanctuary, Why Collaboration Beats Competition in the Nonprofit World | 15 Sep 2026 | 00:29:05 | |
Most nonprofits are taught to think of every other organization in their space as competition for the same limited pool of donors. Heather Ray, founder and CEO of Project Sanctuary, and her colleague Catherine Ganley say that mindset is exactly backwards, and it may be one reason so many organizations struggle to grow past their first few years. On a recent episode of the Charity Charge Show, they explained how a collaboration-first approach, paired with a genuinely specific niche, has kept Project Sanctuary operating for close to 20 years. Project Sanctuary provides therapeutic retreats and up to two years of follow-on support for military, veteran, and first responder families, treating the whole family unit rather than just the service member. Ray started the organization after recognizing that veterans returning home were getting help while their families were not, leaving a gap that no other organization at the time was filling. --------------------------- About Charity Charge | |||
| HawkWatch International, 40 Years of Raptor Data, Diversified Revenue, and Donor Loyalty | 08 Sep 2026 | 00:41:37 | |
Most nonprofits that fold don't fail because the mission stopped mattering. They fail because 80% of the budget sat on top of one grant, one donor, or one contract, and that one thing disappeared. HawkWatch International has avoided that trap for 40 years, and CEO Nikki Wayment says the fix is not complicated: stop putting all your eggs in one basket, and start treating every donor relationship like it's worth building for a decade, not a campaign. HawkWatch is a Utah-based raptor conservation nonprofit built on migration research. It has weathered four decades of funding cycles, a pandemic, and the kind of donor fatigue that hits every cause-based organization eventually. On a recent episode of the Charity Charge Show, Wayment walked through exactly how the organization has stayed financially sound long enough to reach its 40th anniversary, and the lessons apply well beyond conservation work. Quick Summary
--------------------------- About Charity Charge | |||
| Roughly 697 million people worldwide lack basic access to safe water - Dave LeVan, CEO of Water for Good | 01 Sep 2026 | 00:36:44 | |
On this episode of the Charity Charge Show, host Stephen Garten sits down with Dave LeVan, CEO of Water for Good, to talk about how a faith-based water nonprofit doubled its reach without doubling its budget. The conversation covers mergers, decentralization, technology, fundraising, and a mindset shift that most nonprofit leaders never make. Charity Charge builds financial tools for the 501(c)(3) organizations doing exactly this kind of work, which is why these operator-to-operator conversations sit at the center of the show. Quick Summary
Who is Dave LeVan? Dave LeVan is the CEO of Water for Good, a faith-based nonprofit that transforms lives through access to safe water, improved sanitation, and hygiene. The organization works in difficult places, including the Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, and Cambodia. LeVan spent most of his career in the for-profit world, including a transformation role at Walmart, before joining the organization first as a donor, then a board member, then chief executive. How big is the global water access problem? Roughly 697 million people worldwide lack basic access to safe water, meaning they cannot collect it and get home within 30 minutes, the World Health Organization's threshold for basic access. LeVan's figure aligns with the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme's 2025 estimates, which show more than two billion people without safely managed drinking water and hundreds of millions still relying on unsafe or unimproved sources. Beyond the raw count, LeVan describes a second, hidden cost: women and children spend an estimated 100 million hours a day walking for water. The problem is twofold, he explains: the time it consumes and the fact that the source at the end of the walk is usually unsafe. --------------------------- About Charity Charge | |||
| How the National Basketball Players Association Foundation Rethinks Player Giving - Erika Swilley Executive Director - NBPA Foundation | 25 Aug 2026 | 00:22:14 | |
On this episode of the Charity Charge Show, host Grayson Harris sits down with Erika Swilley, Executive Director of the NBPA Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the National Basketball Players Association. Swilley explains how the foundation turns NBA player fines into matching grants. Her core message applies to any nonprofit leader: intent is not enough, and lasting impact comes from focus, not volume. About the guest. Erika Swilley has spent more than two decades in sports philanthropy, including senior community and social responsibility roles with the Detroit Pistons, Golden State Warriors, and Chicago Sky. She now leads the NBPA Foundation, where she created the Fined and Philanthropic campaign and advises active and retired players on building genuine, durable community impact. Quick Summary
Inside the NBPA Foundation: how player fines fund community work The NBPA Foundation is a nonprofit that channels NBA player fine money into community programming led by the players themselves. When players receive technical fouls or ejections, those fines are pooled and, at the end of the season, split between NBA Cares and the foundation. The foundation then reinvests those dollars through a matching grant program that has existed since 2015. Engagement has climbed sharply under Swilley, who describes the model as non-traditional because so much of the funding starts as penalties. In the 2025 offseason, the NBPA reported distributing roughly $1.6 million in matching grants from fine money. Player statusAnnual matching grant cap Active players | Up to $25,000 per year Fined and Philanthropic: turning penalties into purpose Fined and Philanthropic is the campaign Swilley created to show players exactly where their fine money goes and how to put it to work. Many players assumed their fines vanished into a black hole with no idea the money funded community programs they could tap. The campaign uses simple, memorable touches, including hats that tell players where their fine dollars land. The goal is awareness across the full circle around a player, meaning agents, family members, and team staff. Swilley spent 19 years on the team side without knowing these resources existed, so she built the campaign to close that exact gap. --------------------------- About Charity Charge | |||
| How to Combat Drunk Driving: Insights from Mothers Against Drunk Driving | 30 Jul 2026 | 00:39:01 | |
In this episode, nonprofit leader Stacey Davis Stewart discusses the impactful work of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MAD), its history, legislative successes, and future initiatives to prevent impaired driving and save lives. --------------------------- About Charity Charge | |||
| Innovating Food Security: Inside the Regional Food Bank of NE NY with Tom Nardacci | 15 Jul 2026 | 00:42:07 | |
Food insecurity is rising even as household budgets stretch thinner, and food banks have become core infrastructure for hundreds of thousands of families. On this episode of the Charity Charge Show, Tom Nardacci, CEO of the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York, breaks down how his organization feeds roughly 350,000 people each month across 23 counties, and what nonprofit executives can learn from how he runs it. The conversation covers local food sourcing, leadership lessons from the for-profit world, and how to build funding resilience when federal support is unpredictable. Quick Summary
About the Guest: Tom Nardacci Tom Nardacci has served as CEO of the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York since August 2023. Before moving into nonprofit leadership, he founded and ran Gramercy Communications, a public relations firm he led for more than 15 years, and launched the Troy Innovation Garage, a business incubator in the Capital Region. His connection to food access runs deep. His grandparents operated Nardacci's Broadway Food Mart in Rensselaer, New York for 50 years, and he grew up watching them quietly feed neighbors who could not always pay. Today he leads one of the oldest food banks in the country, an organization that operates like a major grocery wholesaler with a fleet of trucks, warehouse operations, and thousands of volunteers. --------------------------- About Charity Charge | |||
| Unlocking Play: How Volo Kids is Bringing Youth Sports to Thousands of Kids w/Jen Rifkin | 04 Jun 2026 | 00:20:58 | |
In the social impact sector, scaling an organization nationally while maintaining deep community trust is one of the hardest balancing acts to pull off. It requires an unshakeable operational foundation, a clear mission, and creative revenue models that move beyond traditional grant dependency.
Show Notes: Key Takeaways
--------------------------- About Charity Charge | |||
| From Acquisition to Adoption: How TechSoup and GTIA Are Empowering Nonprofits Through AI | 20 May 2026 | 00:27:48 | |
In the social impact sector, being "scrappy" is often badge of honor. Nonprofits routinely stretch every dollar to ensure maximum funding goes directly to their programs. However, when it comes to technology, this efficiency-first mindset can accidentally lead to underinvestment, disjointed tools, and missed opportunities. On a recent episode of the Charity Charge Show, host Grayson Harris sat down with Adam Eads, Director at TechSoup, and Kelly Ricker, Chief Operating Officer at the Global Technology Association for IT Channel Leaders (GTIA). They discussed a powerful new grant collaboration designed to change the narrative around nonprofit technology. By funding the enrollment of 100 new organizations into the TechSoup Plus platform, GTIA and TechSoup are helping social entrepreneurs bridge the gap between simply having access to software and truly adopting it—with a specific focus on navigating the rapidly changing landscape of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
--------------------------- About Charity Charge | |||
| Opening 1 Million Doors: Igniting Potential through Mentorship with Heather Wathington | 13 May 2026 | 00:25:20 | |
In a world where 70% of jobs are found through someone you know, "social capital" is more than just a buzzword—it’s a gateway to the future. But for many first-generation students in under-resourced communities, those networks are often out of reach. In this episode of the Charity Charge Show, Grayson Harris sits down with Heather Wathington, CEO of iMentor, to discuss their ambitious new campaign: Open Doors, Ignite Possibility. Heather shares how iMentor is working to mobilize a movement of mentors, corporate partners, and communities to open 1 million doors for students by 2035. From the profound impact of social capital to the simple power of a listening ear, this conversation is a masterclass in how relationship-driven support can improve the human condition. Show Notes: Key Takeaways
--------------------------- About Charity Charge | |||
| How American Humane Protects 1.7 Billion Animals a Year (And Runs Like a Business) | 06 May 2026 | 00:36:26 | |
American Humane Society protects over 1.7 billion animals annually across 91 countries. Dr. Robin Ganzert has led the organization since 2010, when she stepped in during a financial crisis and a period of mission drift. What she built since then is a case study in what nonprofit discipline actually looks like. On the Charity Charge Show, Dr. Ganzert walked through the financial reckoning she inherited, why she tells every local organization to stop duplicating services, and how a documentary narrated by Helen Mirren and Meryl Streep became one of their most effective outreach tools. --------------------------- About Charity Charge | |||
| The DonorsChoose Revolution: Turning Classroom Needs into National Insights | 22 Apr 2026 | 00:29:42 | |
In this episode of the Charity Charge Show, host Stephen Garten sits down with Kristina "Steen" Joye Lyles, Executive Vice President of Impact for DonorsChoose. Since its founding in 2000, DonorsChoose has revolutionized philanthropy by creating a transparent, direct-to-classroom funding model. Steen shares her journey from lawyer to educational advocate, the organization's evolution over 26 years, and how they are leveraging two decades of data to prove that resource equity is the key to unlocking student potential.
--------------------------- About Charity Charge | |||
| How The Boat Company Built a Nonprofit That Funds Itself Through Mission-Based Travel | 16 Apr 2026 | 00:36:55 | |
Most nonprofits rely heavily on donations to survive. The Boat Company took a different path. For more than 40 years, this Alaska-based organization has operated as the only nonprofit cruise line in the world, using earned revenue from mission-driven travel to fund conservation efforts across Southeast Alaska. In this episode of the Charity Charge Show, Executive Director Hunter McIntosh breaks down how the model works, what “mission-based travel” actually means, and the lessons learned from running a nonprofit for decades without relying on traditional fundraising.
--------------------------- About Charity Charge | |||
| How Childhelp Is Working to Eradicate Child Abuse in America | 13 Apr 2026 | 00:27:03 | |
Child abuse is one of the most difficult and complex issues facing society, yet it remains largely hidden behind closed doors. For more than six decades, Childhelp has been at the forefront of addressing this crisis, building some of the most widely used programs, policies, and prevention models in the United States. In this episode of the Charity Charge Show, Stephen Garten sits down with Michael Medoro, COO of Childhelp, to explore how the organization has evolved into a national leader in child protection. From pioneering legislation to operating the only 24/7 national child abuse hotline staffed by professional counselors, Childhelp has directly impacted more than 15 million children and continues to expand its reach. This conversation goes beyond awareness. It digs into prevention, collaboration across nonprofits, and what it actually takes to break cycles of abuse at scale. --------------------------- About Charity Charge | |||
| How Gratitude Network Helps Nonprofits Scale Their Impact | 08 Apr 2026 | 00:21:51 | |
Most nonprofit leaders don’t start with a business playbook. They start with a mission. A personal story. A deep conviction to solve a problem that matters. Then reality hits. Fundraising, financial management, board dynamics, hiring, systems. Suddenly, they’re not just a mission-driven leader, they’re running a full-scale organization. In this episode of the Charity Charge Show, Stephen Garten sits down with Lauren Reilly, Executive Director of Gratitude Network, to unpack how nonprofits can build the operational strength needed to scale their impact. Gratitude Network is a nonprofit accelerator focused on organizations serving children and youth. Through executive coaching, strategic tools, and a global peer network, they help nonprofit leaders turn passion into sustainable growth. The results are hard to ignore. Organizations in their program are scaling impact 5x and revenue 3x, with 95% still operating long-term. Here’s the full breakdown. --------------------------- About Charity Charge | |||
| Arts and Learning Conservatory: From Women's Shelters to 50 Schools Across Southern California | 06 Apr 2026 | 00:21:14 | |
Deborah Wondercheck didn't start the Arts and Learning Conservatory(ALC) because she thought it was a good idea. She started it because she'd lived the alternative, and she knew exactly what kids lose when the arts get cut. Today, ALC serves roughly 3,700 students annually across nearly 50 schools in Southern California. Since 2004, more than 35,000 kids have encountered the arts through the organization for the first time. It started with 21 kids, a string ensemble, and a few cast members doubling as nuns. In this episode of the Charity Charge Show, Deborah walks through the personal story that led to Arts and Learning Conservatory, how the organization has grown from a garage operation to a facility with a 200-seat theater, and what advice she has for nonprofit leaders still figuring out the early stages. --------------------------- About Charity Charge | |||
| American Staffing Association CFO on AI, Revenue Strategy, and Nonprofit Finance Leadership | 31 Mar 2026 | 00:16:20 | |
Stepping into a CFO role inside a nonprofit isn’t just about managing numbers. It’s about translating complexity, building trust, and helping organizations make smarter decisions in real time. On this episode of the Charity Charge Show, host Grayson Harris sits down with Jessica McLean, CFO of the American Staffing Association (ASA). Jessica shares what it’s really like stepping into a senior finance role, how AI is reshaping workforce organizations, and why diversified revenue is no longer optional for nonprofits. --------------------------- About Charity Charge | |||
| How Easterseals CEO Kendra Davenport Leads a $100M+ Nonprofit | 25 Mar 2026 | 00:37:28 | |
Running a nonprofit that serves 1.5 million people across 1,400 sites is hard enough in a stable environment. Doing it while federal program funding is under threat, the economy is unpredictable, and your brand is underrecognized outside the disability community is a different challenge entirely. Kendra Davenport has been Easterseals' President and CEO since 2022. In that time she led a financial turnaround at the national office: no line of credit, no debt, departments that consistently come in under budget, and a long-term orientation most nonprofit leaders talk about but few execute on. In this episode of the Charity Charge Show, Stephen Garten sits down with Kendra to get into the specifics: how she thinks about financial discipline, vendor audits, reserves strategy, board engagement, and building an organization designed to outlast any single leader. --------------------------- About Charity Charge | |||
| FAR USA’s Bree Carriglio on Building Long-Term Nonprofit Impact in Armenia | 23 Mar 2026 | 00:43:59 | |
Nonprofits often face a fundamental tension: respond to immediate needs or build for long-term impact. For many organizations, limited funding, small teams, and constant pressure to deliver results push them into short-term thinking. But what does it look like to operate differently, to design programs that last, build financial resilience, and prioritize sustainability from day one? In this episode of The Charity Charge Show, Stephen Garten sits down with Bree Carriglio, Executive Director of FAR USA (Fund for Armenian Relief), to explore exactly that. FAR has spent decades evolving from emergency relief to a comprehensive, long-term development model across Armenia, supporting communities through healthcare, education, and economic opportunity. In this interview, Bree shares how FAR approaches funding, accountability, donor engagement, and program design in a way that prioritizes lasting impact over quick wins. --------------------------- About Charity Charge | |||
| Running a Nonprofit Like a Business | Laura Hope Whitaker, Extra Special People | 18 Mar 2026 | 00:38:46 | |
Laura Hope Whitaker took over Extra Special People (ESP) as a college sophomore. The organization had a $125,000 budget, a $50,000 deficit, and a founder who had just passed away from pancreatic cancer. Twenty-one years later, ESP runs a $8 million budget across five communities in Georgia and North Carolina, employs 50 full-time and 200 part-time staff, and operates a social enterprise that employs 85 adults with developmental disabilities. In this episode of the Charity Charge Show, host Stephen Garten sits down with Laura to talk through what it actually takes to scale a nonprofit, why "nonprofit is just a tax code," and the leadership principles she documents in her new book, The Joy Exchange. Quick Summary
--------------------------- About Charity Charge | |||
| The Massive Opportunity Most Nonprofits Ignore: Non-Cash Gifts - Rick Peck, The Philanthropy Guy | 16 Mar 2026 | 00:29:14 | |
Nonprofit leaders often start with a powerful mission and a deep commitment to solving a problem in their community. But many organizations eventually hit a ceiling. After the initial support from friends, family, and early champions runs out, fundraising can stall. Growth becomes harder. Boards struggle to evolve. And leaders find themselves trying to do more with limited resources. On this episode of The Charity Charge Show, host Stephen Garten sits down with Rick Peck, an experienced philanthropy advisor and host of the Money to Give Podcast. Peck has spent more than two decades working in philanthropy, helping organizations improve fundraising strategy, engage donors, and build sustainable nonprofit operations. Before entering the nonprofit sector, Peck worked as a financial advisor helping individuals plan for retirement, education expenses, insurance needs, and long-term wealth management. In the early 2000s, a career opportunity at Dartmouth College introduced him to philanthropic advising. The role focused on planned giving and donor relationships with alumni. Over time, his work expanded into:
Peck later became Vice President for Development and Philanthropy Services at the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, where he worked across a wide range of issue areas including climate change, homelessness, behavioral health, and food security.
He also advises donors and professional advisors on how to give strategically. --------------------------- About Charity Charge | |||
| How Convergence Partnership Is Rethinking Philanthropy to Advance Health Equity | 11 Mar 2026 | 00:18:13 | |
Philanthropy often talks about impact. But impact can look very different depending on who holds the power. On a recent episode of The Charity Charge Show, host Grayson Harris sat down with Amanda Navarro, Executive Director of Convergence Partnership, to discuss how the organization is reshaping how philanthropy works by shifting decision-making power to communities and frontline organizations. Their approach challenges many traditional grantmaking norms, from eliminating competitive grant applications to replacing written reports with storytelling through podcasts. Here is a closer look at how Convergence Partnership is working to advance health equity across the United States. --------------------------- About Charity Charge | |||
| How Bridge Over Troubled Waters Supports Homeless Youth in Boston | 09 Mar 2026 | 00:24:37 | |
Youth homelessness is often invisible. It happens quietly, in cars, on couches, in shelters, or on the street, and many young people experiencing it are navigating the challenge alone. On this episode of the Charity Charge Show, host Grayson Harris speaks with Elisabeth Jackson, CEO of Bridge Over Troubled Waters, an organization that has spent decades supporting homeless and runaway youth in Boston. The conversation explores the scale of youth homelessness, the services Bridge provides, and how nonprofits can create long-term pathways for young people to move from crisis to stability. --------------------------- About Charity Charge | |||
| The Arc of Howard County at 65: Advocacy, Services, and Community in Action | 04 Mar 2026 | 00:13:16 | |
In this episode, Grayson Harris sits down with Katie Collins-Ihrke, Executive Director of The Arc of Howard County, to discuss the organization’s 65-year legacy of supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, the realities of operating in a challenging funding environment, and the importance of mission alignment in nonprofit leadership. Katie shares how The Arc balances advocacy and direct services, navigates state and federal budget pressures, and builds long-term sustainability while staying rooted in dignity and community inclusion. About The Arc of Howard County Part of the broader national network of The Arc, The Arc of Howard County provides:
The organization supports individuals across approximately 30 properties throughout Howard County, helping people live, work, and participate fully in their communities. --------------------------- About Charity Charge | |||
| Inside Hope and Healing Survivor Resource Center’s Approach to Outcomes | 02 Mar 2026 | 00:20:40 | |
On this episode of the Charity Charge Show, host Grayson Harris sat down with Teresa Stafford-Wright, CEO of the Hope and Healing Survivor Resource Center, to discuss what it really takes to serve survivors of sexual violence, domestic violence, and human trafficking and what it takes to keep those services running. This is not light work. It is urgent, complex, and deeply human. And it requires more than just good programming. It requires strong operations, honest fundraising, and a community that understands what it actually costs to keep the doors open. Serving Survivors Since 1974 The Hope and Healing Survivor Resource Center has served Northeast Ohio since 1974. The organization supports survivors across Summit and Medina Counties with a full spectrum of services, including:
Every service is free. That is not negotiable. As Teresa explained, survivors should not have to pay to recover from a crime committed against them. Whether someone calls at 3:00 a.m. or 3:00 p.m., they are met by trained professionals ready to respond through a trauma-informed lens. This is both crisis response and long-term healing. And it requires serious infrastructure. --------------------------- About Charity Charge | |||
| Wine to Water with Doc Hendley: From Bartender to Clean Water at the Front Lines | 25 Feb 2026 | 00:41:33 | |
Safe, clean drinking water should be a given. It is not. On this episode of The Charity Charge Show, host Stephen Garten sits down with Doc Hendley, founder and CEO of Wine to Water, to talk about the real story behind the organization, how it grew from a tip jar at a bar to serving millions of people, and what it takes to lead and scale a mission-driven nonprofit for more than two decades. Doc does not dress it up. He talks about mistakes, hard lessons, and why most nonprofits stay stuck under $2M in annual revenue. He also lays out what changed when Wine to Water stopped acting like a typical nonprofit and started building diversified revenue streams like a business. --------------------------- About Charity Charge | |||
| Baker Ripley and the Power of Purpose: Lessons from a Century of Community Leadership | 23 Feb 2026 | 00:33:56 | |
Nonprofits are often described as mission-driven. But sustaining a mission for more than a century requires more than passion. It demands discipline, evolution, collaboration, and a deep commitment to community. On this episode of the Charity Charge Show, we sat down with Claudia Aguirre, President and CEO of Baker Ripley, a $700 million nonprofit organization serving the Houston region. What followed was an honest conversation about disruption, scale, funding realities, collaboration, and what it truly takes to build an institution that lasts. Founded in 1907 by Alice Graham Baker as part of the Settlement House Movement, Baker Ripley was built on proximity to community. Today, its mission remains clear: Provide resources, education, and connection to vulnerable communities. The organization helps neighbors:
Through programs including:
Scale matters here. Baker Ripley operates with:
Claudia describes the model this way: “We are large when it’s needed, and small when it matters.”--------------------------- About Charity Charge | |||
| Pamela Davis on Nonprofits Insurance, Risk, and Staying Mission Driven for 35 Years | 18 Feb 2026 | 00:44:04 | |
Insurance is not glamorous. It is paperwork, premiums, and conversations most nonprofit leaders would rather avoid. But if you run a nonprofit long enough, you learn a hard truth. The moment you need insurance is the moment it is too late to start thinking about it. In this episode of the Charity Charge Show, host Stephen Garten sits down with Pamela Davis, Founder and CEO of the Nonprofits Insurance Alliance, a nonprofit insurer that serves roughly 26,000 to 27,000 nonprofits across California and 32 additional states. Pamela shares how a graduate school thesis turned into a 35 year mission, why traditional insurance markets fail nonprofits, and what new and small organizations need to know before a claim ever happens. Episode highlights Pamela Davis is the founder and CEO of the Nonprofits Insurance Alliance, a group of two nonprofit insurers built specifically to serve 501(c)(3)s. One entity insures nonprofits in California and the other insures nonprofits in 32 other states. Together, the organizations serve about 26,000 to 27,000 nonprofits and have grown to roughly $1 billion in assets. Stephen and Pamela also dig into the practical side of nonprofit coverage, what to buy first, how underwriting works for small budgets, and why advocacy has become a crucial part of keeping the nonprofit sector insurable. --------------------------- About Charity Charge | |||
| SAY San Diego: A CEO’s Playbook for Diversifying Revenue and Protecting Community Programs | 16 Feb 2026 | 00:37:00 | |
In this episode, we sit down with Louie Nguyen, CEO of Say San Diego, to discuss what it really means to run a nonprofit like a business while staying deeply committed to mission. Louie shares his journey from institutional investor and impact investing leader to nonprofit CEO, and how that financial discipline is now shaping SAY San Diego’s strategy. The conversation covers revenue diversification, reserve policy design, social enterprise models, mental health innovation, and what responsible risk-taking looks like in the nonprofit sector. If you are a nonprofit executive, board member, or impact investor thinking about long term sustainability, this episode is worth your time. About SAY San Diego Founded in 1971, SAY San Diego has grown from one employee to more than 500 staff members serving approximately 45,000 San Diegans each year. Key program areas include:
With annual revenue near $30 million, SAY San Diego operates at a scale most nonprofits never reach. What You Will Learn in This Episode
Key Topics Covered 1. Transitioning from Finance to Nonprofit Leadership 2. Revenue Diversification in a Volatile Funding Environment 3. Rethinking Reserves and Asset Allocation 4. The Boba Wellness Model 5. Intellectual Property as a Revenue Strategy 6. The Wellspring Initiative --------------------------- About Charity Charge | |||
| A Conversation with Peter Navario, CEO of HealthRight International: Strengthening Global Health Systems Through Community-Led Care | 11 Feb 2026 | 00:24:59 | |
Global health systems are under pressure. Funding models are shifting. NGOs are closing. Communities are feeling the consequences. On this episode of The Charity Charge Show, host Grayson Harris sits down with Peter Navario, CEO of HealthRight International and professor of health economics at New York University, to discuss what it takes to deliver sustainable healthcare solutions for marginalized communities, both globally and here in the United States. From community-based mental health programs to new funding platforms designed to rethink global health financing, this episode explores what it means to build systems that last. Guest: Peter Navario
About Peter Navario Peter Navario serves as CEO of HealthRight International and is a professor of health economics at NYU. With decades of experience in global health and development, he brings both academic insight and field-based leadership to his role. Under his leadership, HealthRight has focused on strengthening community-based care models and building more sustainable funding mechanisms for long-term health system resilience. --------------------------- About Charity Charge | |||
| How the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp Is Expanding Healing, Community, and Hope | 09 Feb 2026 | 00:21:15 | |
On this episode of the Charity Charged Show, we sit down with Hilary Axtmayer, Chief Program Officer of the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, to talk about one of the most meaningful nonprofit expansions happening this year. Founded in 1988 by Paul Newman, the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp was created to give children with serious illnesses something they are too often denied: the chance to simply be kids. More than three decades later, the organization is serving thousands of children and families across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, and in 2025 it is opening a second residential camp location in Maryland. This conversation goes beyond the headline of expansion. It digs into the origin of the camp’s name, the magic of its programs, Hilary’s 25-year journey from counselor to executive leader, and the careful work required to scale without losing the soul of the mission. --------------------------- About Charity Charge | |||
| How the IEEE Foundation Turns Engineering Into Global Impact | 04 Feb 2026 | 00:27:05 | |
On this episode of the Charity Charge Show, host Grayson Harris sits down with John McDonald, newly appointed Board President of the IEEE Foundation. The conversation is a masterclass in how long-term professional communities evolve into powerful philanthropic engines, and what nonprofit leaders can learn from a global organization built on trust, consistency, and service. John brings more than five decades of experience as a member of IEEE, the world’s largest professional technical organization with more than 500,000 members across 190 countries. His journey from student member to foundation president offers rare insight into leadership, donor engagement, and the discipline required to sustain impact at scale. What the IEEE Foundation Actually Does While IEEE is widely known for advancing technology, standards, and professional development, the IEEE Foundation operates as its philanthropic partner. The Foundation supports nearly 300 funds that power scholarships, awards, education programs, and initiatives designed to use technology for the benefit of humanity. At its core, the Foundation exists to strengthen and extend IEEE’s mission by mobilizing philanthropy. It funds programs that create real social impact, from education access to humanitarian technology projects around the world. --------------------------- About Charity Charge | |||
| How Momentum Refresh Is Redefining Accessibility at Events | 02 Feb 2026 | 00:18:45 | |
In this episode of the Charity Charge Show, Grayson Harris sits down with Dan Lusk, Executive Director of Momentum Refresh, to discuss one of the most overlooked barriers to inclusion at public events: truly accessible restrooms. Dan shares how the organization was built to solve a basic but critical problem, why ADA compliance alone is not enough, and how their mission driven model is scaling nationwide. The conversation covers rapid growth, community partnerships, disaster response, and what is ahead in 2026. Key Topics Covered
--------------------------- About Charity Charge | |||
| From Foster Care to Dignity at Scale: A Conversation with Rob Scheer of Comfort Cases | 30 Jan 2026 | 00:32:20 | |
In this episode of The Charity Charge Show, we sit down with Rob Scheer, founder of Comfort Cases, a nonprofit that has delivered more than 300,000 backpacks filled with essentials to children entering foster care across all 50 states, Washington DC, Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom, and soon Canada. Growing Up in the System Rob did not come to foster care as an advocate. He came as a child who lived it. He entered foster care because of abuse, not neglect. Cigarette burns on his body are reminders he still carries at 59 years old. Like many children in the system, he became a number, a file, a case. When he aged out at 18, he joined the tens of thousands of young people who are pushed out with no safety net. Within 24 hours, most become homeless. Rob was one of them. He survived addiction, multiple suicide attempts, and repeated psychiatric hospitalizations. At 24, after nearly dying from an overdose, he made a decision that changed everything. He chose forgiveness. Not to excuse what happened, but to take his life back. That decision did not make him a hero. It made him accountable. The Numbers We Do Not Like to Talk About During the episode, Rob challenges some of the most commonly repeated foster care statistics and explains why many of them understate the reality. Here is what stands out:
Rob makes one point very clear. If a child enters foster care, society has already failed. --------------------------- About Charity Charge | |||
| Nonprofit Spotlight: Carol Klocek, CEO of the Center for Transforming Lives | 28 Jan 2026 | 00:19:52 | |
In this episode of the Nonprofit Spotlight Series, hosted by Charity Charge, Grayson Harris sits down with Carol Klocek, CEO of the Center for Transforming Lives, to explore what it really takes to disrupt generational poverty and build long term economic stability for single mothers and their children. Founded in 1907 and rebranded in 2015, the Center for Transforming Lives has evolved into a comprehensive, two generational organization serving families across the Fort Worth and Tarrant County region. Carol shares how the organization pairs housing stability, early childhood education, clinical counseling, and economic mobility services to address the root causes of poverty rather than its symptoms. Key themes from the conversation A two generational approach to breaking poverty Affordability and housing instability Prevention over crisis response Building efficient public nonprofit partnerships The power of a nonprofit hub model Listening directly to the people served Looking ahead to workforce development --------------------------- About Charity Charge | |||
| Accreditation, AI, and the Future of Donor Trust with Bennett Weiner, President & CEO of BBB Wise Giving Alliance (Give.org) | 26 Jan 2026 | 00:21:33 | |
In this insightful episode, Grayson Harris sits down with Bennett Weiner, the newly appointed CEO of the BBB Wise Giving Alliance (Give.org). As we move through 2025 and look toward 2026, the landscape of philanthropy is shifting rapidly. Bennett shares his expertise on the critical importance of nonprofit transparency, the "evolving" nature of accountability standards, and how organizations can navigate a world where AI bots may soon outnumber humans. Key Takeaways
--------------------------- About Charity Charge | |||
| Nonprofit Spotlight - YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City | 23 Jan 2026 | 00:28:20 | |
In this episode of the Charity Charge Show, host Grayson Harris sits down with Joe Kendrick (Executive Director of Christian Mission) and Lacey Kendrick (VP of Financial Development) from the YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City. The duo discusses the 180-year history of the YMCA movement, the strategic importance of its Christian heritage, and the complex balance between earned revenue and philanthropic impact. Key Discussion Points
--------------------------- About Charity Charge | |||
| The Mission of Sleep in Heavenly Peace: Building Beds and Changing Lives | 21 Jan 2026 | 00:36:03 | |
In Episode 144 of the Charity Charge Show, we sit down with a man who is quite literally building a better night's sleep for children across the globe. Luke Mickelson, the founder of Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP) Beds, joins us to share a story that started in a cold Idaho garage and has since ignited a national movement to end "child bedlessness." From a "Two-by-Four" Realization to a National Movement Luke’s journey didn't start in a boardroom; it started with a simple observation in Kimberly, Idaho. While looking for ways to get local youth away from their screens and into service, Luke discovered a family in his own backyard whose children were sleeping on the floor. "It hit me up the side of the head like a two-by-four," Luke recalls. "I thought, 'You gotta be kidding me. What are they sleeping on? The floor?'"What began as a one-time project to build a few beds has scaled into a massive operation. Today, SHP has over 400 chapters across 47 states and four countries. In 2026 alone, they are on track to build nearly 100,000 beds.
One of the most profound takeaways from Luke’s strategy is how SHP flipped the traditional nonprofit funding model on its head. Instead of diverting energy into "spaghetti feeds" or gala dinners, SHP makes the mission itself the revenue driver through Corporate Team Building.
Avoiding "Mission Creep" As a senior strategist, I find Luke’s discipline regarding Mission Creep to be a masterclass for any social impact leader. When you enter a home and see a family in need, the temptation to provide clothes, food, or toys is immense. However, Luke insists on a singular focus: Beds. By staying "mile-deep and inch-wide," SHP ensures their operations remain efficient, their branding stays clear, and their impact is measurable. This discipline is what allows them to maintain a 96% efficiency rate, ensuring nearly every dollar donated stays in the local community to build beds. How You Can Get Involved The need is staggering—roughly 3% of children in any given community are sleeping without a bed. Here is how you can join the SHP family:
"No kid sleeps on the floor in our town." It’s a bold mission, but with leaders like Luke Mickelson and the power of community-driven data, it’s a goal that is within our reach. --------------------------- About Charity Charge | |||
| Nonprofit Spotlight - Girl Scouts of Central & Southern NJ | 19 Jan 2026 | 00:17:11 | |
In this episode of the Nonprofit Spotlight Series, we interview Ginny Hill, CEO of Girl Scouts of Central and Southern New Jersey. They discuss the mission of the Girl Scouts, the significance of the cookie program, community partnerships, challenges in nonprofit talent management, and future plans for the organization. Jenny highlights how the Girl Scouts empower girls through various programs and the importance of community support in achieving their goals. --------------------------- About Charity Charge | |||
| Girl Scouts of Central Texas on building leaders and sustainable revenue beyond cookie season | 16 Jan 2026 | 00:41:37 | |
Most people think they know Girl Scouts because of one thing: cookies. In Episode 143 of the Charity Charge Show, Stephen Garten sits down in person with Paula Bookidis, CEO of Girl Scouts of Central Texas, to talk about what the public rarely sees. Yes, the cookie program is a powerhouse. But the real story is how Girl Scouts builds courage, confidence, and character through a leadership experience that blends entrepreneurship, STEM, outdoors, and life skills Girl Scouts of Central Texas serves more than 12,000 members across 46 counties, runs with about 75 full-time staff, and relies on roughly 10,000 adult volunteers. It is a serious operation, and it runs on a model many nonprofits talk about but few actually execute: sustainable earned revenue tied directly to mission outcomes. --------------------------- About Charity Charge | |||
| Nonprofit Spotlight: Veterans Community Project | 14 Jan 2026 | 00:15:46 | |
In this episode of our Nonprofit Spotlight series, Grayson Harris sits down with Rebecca Tallman, Executive Director of Veterans Community Project St. Louis, to discuss how the organization is tackling veteran homelessness by filling the gaps left by traditional systems. Founded by combat veterans, Veterans Community Project provides transitional housing through tiny home villages and delivers wraparound services without restricting who qualifies for help. Rebecca shares how the model works, why saying no to certain funding is sometimes necessary, and how long term, generational impact starts with stable housing. This is a grounded conversation about dignity, collaboration, and doing the work the right way. What We Cover
Key Takeaways
--------------------------- About Charity Charge | |||
| Nonprofit Spotlight - Athletes in Action | 12 Jan 2026 | 00:17:41 | |
In this conversation, Grayson Harris interviews Jonathan Van Horn, the Executive Director of Pro Soccer for Athletes in Action. They discuss the organization's mission to support athletes through mental health resources, the importance of volunteerism, and the challenges athletes face in maintaining their identity beyond sports. Jonathan shares insights from his 20 years of experience, emphasizing the significance of building relationships and learning from failures. They also look ahead to the upcoming World Cup in 2026 and the initiative 'Victory Beyond the Cup' aimed at mobilizing communities. --------------------------- About Charity Charge | |||
| Protecting People and Planet: Inside the Sierra Club Foundation with Dan Chu | 09 Jan 2026 | 00:51:02 | |
Stephen Garten sits down with Dan Chu, Executive Director of the Sierra Club Foundation, to unpack how one of America’s most established environmental institutions operates and funds its mission. Dan explains the Sierra Club’s roots going back to 1892, why the Sierra Club Foundation was created in 1960, and how the Sierra Club’s (c)(4) and Foundation’s (c)(3) roles work together. They cover the Sierra Club’s focus on three “existential crises”: biodiversity loss and extinction, climate instability, and the growing disconnect between people and nature. Dan shares how outings and community-based outdoor programming build long-term public support for conservation, why public lands can be common ground across politics, and how the organization thinks about large-scale systems change through policy and impact investing. The conversation closes with practical leadership insights on building high-functioning boards, setting clear goals, and sustaining personal resilience in hard seasons. --------------------------- About Charity Charge | |||
| Inside TGR Foundation’s(Tiger Woods Charity) Learning Lab Model: Education, Measurement, and Durable Skills | 07 Jan 2026 | 00:42:12 | |
Stephen Garten sits down with Cyndi Court to mark the TGR Foundation’s 30th anniversary and unpack how the foundation evolved from golf clinics into a scaled education model centered on “Learning Labs.” Cyndi explains how TGR built a repeatable program framework, standardized curriculum, and modern measurement systems before expanding to new cities. The conversation also covers durable skills, partnerships that actually work, earned revenue through events, and what makes a strong nonprofit board. Key topics covered
TGR Foundation timeline and growth
What makes the Learning Lab model different
--------------------------- About Charity Charge | |||
| Vu Le (Nonprofit AF): Nonprofits and Funders, The Half-Truth Problem | 05 Jan 2026 | 00:42:16 | |
Vu Le, founder of Nonprofit AF, joins Stephen Garten to talk about a problem many nonprofit leaders quietly live with: we are trained to tell funders half-truths because we fear losing funding. Vu breaks down how risk-averse philanthropy, obsession with overhead, and competitive grantmaking push nonprofits into scarcity and performance instead of honesty and impact. The conversation makes the case for better communication, collective organizing, and specific reforms like multi-year, general operating support and funder pledges. It also tackles boards, donor dynamics, and why the sector needs bigger imagination and bigger asks. What you will learn
Key takeaways
--------------------------- About Charity Charge | |||
| Melissa Lagowski on Burnout, Collaboration, and Smarter Fundraising With AI | 19 Dec 2025 | 00:40:29 | |
In this episode of the Charity Charge show, host Stephen Garten interviews Melissa Lagowski, founder and CEO of Big Buzz Idea Group. They discuss Melissa's journey from being an executive director of a nonprofit to starting her own company that supports nonprofits. The conversation covers the challenges faced by nonprofit leaders, the importance of self-care, and the need for collaboration over competition. Melissa shares tactical advice for nonprofit leaders, the role of technology and AI in fundraising, and the significance of strategic planning as the year comes to a close. Takeaways
--------------------------- About Charity Charge | |||
| Nonprofit Spotlight - InAlliance | 17 Dec 2025 | 00:16:15 | |
In this episode of the Nonprofit Spotlight Series, Grayson Harris interviews Andrea Croom, the Executive Director of InAlliance, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Andrea discusses the organization's mission, the misconceptions surrounding disability services, and the importance of community engagement. She shares insights into the challenges faced by nonprofits, particularly in staffing and funding, and highlights the strategies InAlliance employs to empower individuals towards independence. The conversation also touches on Andrea's personal journey within the organization and the significance of aligning mission and values in decision-making. --------------------------- About Charity Charge | |||
| How TechSoup Supports Nonprofits: A Conversation with CEO Marnie Webb | 15 Dec 2025 | 00:53:01 | |
In this episode of the Charity Charge Show, host Stephen Garten speaks with Marnie Webb, CEO of TechSoup, about one of the most influential infrastructure organizations in the nonprofit world. TechSoup has supported more than 1.4 million nonprofits, charities, and libraries across 234 countries and territories. It has delivered nearly 22 billion dollars in technology and financial resources to help mission driven organizations operate with confidence in an increasingly digital world. Most nonprofits do not have the budget, staff, or technical expertise to keep up with the rapid pace of technology. Yet they are expected to operate with the same level of digital strength that well funded companies enjoy. Marnie explains how TechSoup steps into this reality and why nonprofit technology support is far more than software discounts. It is about stability, trust, community strength, and clear pathways for organizations to adopt technology that actually fits their mission. --------------------------- About Charity Charge | |||
| Nonprofit Spotlight - DePaul Community Resources | 12 Dec 2025 | 00:19:58 | |
In this episode of the Nonprofit Spotlight Series, we interview Renee Brown, CEO of DePaul Community Resources. We discuss the organization's mission to provide support for foster care, adoption, and individuals with disabilities. Renee shares insights on the challenges faced by nonprofits, the importance of community collaboration, and her leadership principles. The conversation emphasizes the need for trust with donors, the significance of self-care, and the value of recognizing and nurturing talent within the organization. Renee also highlights the successes of DePaul and encourages listeners to get involved in their local communities. --------------------------- About Charity Charge | |||