Now more than ever, it’s essential that nonprofit leaders build a strong, adaptable team. But how do you find, keep, and mold top talent that aligns with your organization’s mission? Today’s guest, William Vanderbloemen, shares key strategies for building, running, and maintaining a great team that is dedicated to your organization’s values and mission. 

Rob’s guest, William Vanderbloemen, is the Founder and CEO of Vanderbloemen. His company specializes in helping churches, schools, and nonprofits find leaders who fit their mission and culture. Vanderbloemen’s mission is to help teams not just fill a position, but build leadership that will last for the long haul. 

William explains the importance of creating a strong organizational culture and emphasizes that this culture should be clear and intentional from the start. He believes that organizations need to adapt to changing environments while staying true to their core values. William shares that hiring the right people is not just about filling a role, but finding individuals who are aligned with the mission of the organization. He adds that it’s important for leaders to clearly explain to potential staff members, what makes their organization unique. William touches on the critical role of clear communication in leadership. If leaders seek honest feedback from their staff, then they must develop a culture of giving and asking for feedback regularly. Finally, he believes that resilience and flexibility are key traits for leaders to develop in order to navigate the challenges of today’s world. 

Guest Links:

Connect with William on LinkedIn 

Vanderbloemen.com  

Be The Unicorn book

Culture Tool 

This Episode is sponsored by:

Links to Resources:

Want to work with a leadership and life coach, check out Rob’s website https://robharter.com/

If you have any suggestions for the show, email nonprofitleadershippodcast@gmail.com

For more episodes and to subscribe to our newsletter, check out https://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/ 

Join the discussion over on Rob’s LinkedIn page

Summary

William Vanderbloemen discusses the importance of recruitment and retention in the nonprofit sector. He shares his experience starting Vanderbloemen, a cause-based search firm, and emphasizes the need for nonprofits to prioritize soft skills when recruiting new staff. He also highlights the significance of clearly articulating the organization’s mission and values to attract the right talent. Additionally, Vanderbloemen emphasizes the role of a healthy organizational culture in recruitment and retention, and suggests using tools like theculturtool.com to assess and improve culture. In this conversation, Dr. Rob Harter and William Vanderbloemen discuss the importance of organizational culture and employee satisfaction in the nonprofit sector. They explore the eight cultural values that shape behavior within an organization and how to assess and improve culture. They also discuss the impact of culture on employee retention and the need for organizations to adapt to the changing expectations of millennials and Gen Z. The conversation highlights the value of feedback and collaboration in creating a positive culture, as well as the importance of balancing professional development with organizational efficiency.

Takeaways

Recruiting the right people at the right time is crucial for staff retention in nonprofits.

Soft skills, or human-to-human skills, are essential for success in the nonprofit sector.

Nonprofits should clearly articulate their mission and values to attract the right talent.

A healthy organizational culture is key to recruitment and retention in nonprofits. Assessing and improving organizational culture is crucial for nonprofit organizations to create a healthy and effective work environment.

Understanding the cultural values that shape behavior within an organization can help identify areas for improvement.

Employee satisfaction and well-being are key factors in retaining staff, especially in a generation that values career mobility.

Involving staff in the decision-making process and addressing their feedback can lead to a more engaged and committed workforce.

Balancing professional development with organizational efficiency requires identifying the right timing and opportunities for growth.

Quotes

“Businesses may or may not have a value that drives them. Why do they have a better solution for staffing than the people who are living for a cause?”

“Soft skills, H2H skills, are the ball game in nonprofit.”

“The ones that succeed are the ones that say, ‘Here’s the one thing we do that very few people do.'”

“We’re all the same age or skin color or gender, but we are all the same in our behavior around our eight cultural values.”

“What is the biggest rock that we’re getting right of these eight areas? What are we just really doing well?”

“If you focus so much on your culture that you could get six or seven years instead of four or five, because the cost to replace a staff person, it takes time, it takes energy, you lose momentum, it takes money.”

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

03:01 Recruitment and Retention in the Nonprofit Sector

06:16 The Importance of Soft Skills in Nonprofits

11:56 Articulating Mission and Values to Attract Talent

15:22 The Role of Organizational Culture in Recruitment and Retention

17:33 Assessing and Improving Culture

19:36 The Impact of Culture on Employee Retention

22:40 Addressing Employee Satisfaction

27:12 Adapting to the Expectations of Millennials and Gen Z

29:45 Creating a Feedback-Driven Culture

31:45 Balancing Workload and Professional Development

How can nonprofits effectively support underserved students in achieving higher education? How do you encourage both the student and their family members to believe in their potential to achieve more? Today’s guest, Dr. Johanna Moya Fabregas, explains how her nonprofit is empowering the next generation through education and emotional support. 

Rob’s guest, Dr. Johanna Moya Fabregas, is the Executive Director of Con Mi MADRE, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering Latina girls and their loved ones through education and emotional support. The organization’s mission is to ensure these young women achieve higher education and are well-prepared for the workforce, supported by their families throughout the process. 

Johanna explains how her background in higher education and her passion for impacting youth, led her to transition into nonprofit leadership. She shares how Con Mi MADRE’s dual-generation approach supports both the students and their loved ones, fostering a deep connection that drives academic and personal success. Johanna believes in the importance of addressing both the social-emotional and academic needs of students, starting from middle school through college. She also describes how the program includes workshops, college visits, and a leadership series that helps students and parents alike. Johanna emphasizes the significance of building long-term relationships with the families they serve, which is key to achieving an impressive college persistence rate. She also highlights the organization’s commitment to cultural affirmation, ensuring that students can embrace their full identity as they pursue their professional goals. Finally, Johanna discusses the impact of Con Mi MADRE’s annual gala awards event, which celebrates community leaders and raises funds for the organization. 

Mentioned:
Connect with Johanna on LinkedIn

Con MI MADRE website 

This Episode is sponsored by:

Links to Resources:

Want to work with a leadership and life coach, check out Rob’s website https://robharter.com/

If you have any suggestions for the show, email nonprofitleadershippodcast@gmail.com

For more episodes and to subscribe to our newsletter, check out https://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/ 

Join the discussion over on Rob’s LinkedIn page

Summary:

Dr. Johanna Moya Fábregas, the executive director of Con Mi Madre, shares her journey from a career in education to leading a nonprofit organization. Con Mi Madre is a dual-generation program that supports girls in sixth through twelfth grade and their mothers or a loving adult in their family. The program focuses on social-emotional support and academic preparation to help students achieve a post-secondary degree and be prepared for the workforce. They provide a comprehensive curriculum, parent workshops, a networking group, and a leadership series. Con Mi Madre also collaborates with local school districts to bridge the gap between students and their families, providing ongoing support and resources. The organization has achieved a 72% college persistence rate among its high school graduates, thanks to their long-term relationship building and comprehensive support. Con Mi Madre’s approach to multicultural education and empowerment impacts the community they serve by affirming students’ cultural identities and celebrating their achievements. They also host an annual event, the Corazon Awards, to honor community members and raise funds for scholarships. To learn more about Con Mi Madre, visit their website or follow them on social media.

Takeaways

Con Mi Madre is a dual-generation program that supports girls in sixth through twelfth grade and their mothers or a loving adult in their family.

The program focuses on social-emotional support and academic preparation to help students achieve a post-secondary degree and be prepared for the workforce.

Con Mi Madre collaborates with local school districts to bridge the gap between students and their families, providing ongoing support and resources.

The organization has achieved a 72% college persistence rate among its high school graduates, thanks to their long-term relationship building and comprehensive support.

Con Mi Madre’s approach to multicultural education and empowerment impacts the community by affirming students’ cultural identities and celebrating their achievements.

The annual Corazon Awards event honors community members and raises funds for scholarships.

The program focuses on social-emotional support and academic preparation to help students achieve a post-secondary degree and be prepared for the workforce.

Con Mi Madre collaborates with local school districts to bridge the gap between students and their families, providing ongoing support and resources.

The organization has achieved a 72% college persistence rate among its high school graduates, thanks to their long-term relationship building and comprehensive support.

Con Mi Madre’s approach to multicultural education and empowerment impacts the community by affirming students’ cultural identities and celebrating their achievements.

Sound Bites

“I wish I had an organization like the one we have when I was a first-gen college student, as an immigrant, as someone who moved to this country and had to learn the language and navigate all of that.”
 
“We support supporting the parents, for instance, through there is an organization called EGBI. It’s like a small business incubator. So you’re supporting the parents and that communicates to the student from an early age that you care not just about a number or an achievement on paper, you care about the well-being of their whole family.”
 
“It’s building a long-term relationship and that is not just between the student and us, but they’re part of a larger community, and that organization is like a big family.”

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Transition to Nonprofit Leadership

02:08 Overview of Con Mi Madre’s Program and Approach

06:57 Collaboration with School Districts

09:47 Achieving a 72% College Persistence Rate

14:37 Influence of Public Education Background on Nonprofit Leadership

17:21 Multicultural Education and Empowerment

20:47 The Corazon Awards and Community Impact

23:27 How to Learn More About Con Mi Madre

How can AI help your nonprofit? Today’s guests are going to continue a conversation I had a few months back with Justin Spelhaug of Microsoft. The topic is AI, and more specifically the good use of AI to benefit your nonprofit. So how can AI be used for good to help you and your organization? Rob’s guests are going to talk about just a few of the ways they are seeking to do just that. On the show are Anne Nies and Sam Caplan from Submittable, which is a software company that is helping thousands of organizations worldwide launch, manage and measure social impact programs. Sam is the Vice President of Social Impact at Submittable and Anne is the Director of Machine Learning/AI/Data Science at Submittable.

Submittable is a software company that helps nonprofit organizations launch, manage, and measure their social impact programs. They offer a grants management system and CSR and employee engagement software. Submittable is a proponent of responsible AI technology for grant management and helps organizations adopt AI intentionally. They prioritize privacy by not letting data go into models for training and building on platforms with strong privacy and security measures. They also give users the option to opt out of using AI. Submittable balances high tech with high touch by conducting extensive user research and incorporating feedback from customers and applicants. They aim to ensure that people remain at the center of the grant-making process. The biggest benefit of implementing AI tools for nonprofits is improved efficiency and the ability to focus on more impactful work. Submittable offers examples of AI being used for good, such as Goodwill Industries using AI to generate descriptions and prices for clothing items, saving time and generating revenue. They also highlight the use of AI for translation, allowing nonprofits to reach a broader audience. Submittable mitigates potential bias by involving experts in the development process, incorporating feedback mechanisms, and continuously working to address biases. They are excited about AI’s potential to eliminate administrative work and free up time for more meaningful tasks. They also see AI as a tool to aggregate and analyze data to better understand the impact of nonprofit organizations collectively. To learn more about Submittable, visit their website or connect with the team on LinkedIn.

Takeaways:

-Submittable helps nonprofit organizations launch, manage, and measure their social impact programs through their grants management and CSR software.

-Anne and Sam talk about how Submittable prioritizes privacy by not using data for training models and building on platforms with strong privacy measures.

-Submittable seeks to strike a balance between being high tech and high touch by conducting user research and incorporating feedback from customers and applicants.

-Sam and Anne talk about various AI tools that can improve efficiency and free up time for nonprofit leaders to invest in more impactful work.

-Sam and Anne share how AI is currently being used for good include generating descriptions and prices for clothing items among other examples.

-Submittable seeks to mitigate potential bias by involving experts, incorporating intentional feedback, and continuously addressing biases.

Mentioned:

Submittable’s website

Connect with Sam Caplan on LinkedIn

Connect with on Ann Nies LinkedIn

This Episode is sponsored by:

Links to Resources:
Want to work with a leadership and life coach, check out Rob’s website https://robharter.com/

If you have any suggestions for the show, email nonprofitleadershippodcast@gmail.com

For more episodes and to subscribe to our newsletter, check out https://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/ 

Join the discussion over on Rob’s LinkedIn page

2020 skyrocketed the move to online giving for all donors who give to nonprofits. Organizations who already had a clear and robust process for donors to give online really  benefited—those who didn’t, really struggled. They struggled to keep their giving on par with  previous years. Now, the question for all nonprofits of how to “future-proof” fundraising is constantly on our collective minds. So how does your organization go about doing that? Rob’s guest shares some fascinating data points gleaned from a recent report on the “state of philanthropy” within the nonprofit sector and why an easy and efficient online giving experience for your donors is absolutely essential for your organization’s future success and sustainability.

Rob’s guest today is Elizabeth Pun, Manager of Content at Classy. Classy is a B-Corp that  focuses on closing the gap between nonprofit and for-profit businesses and Elizabeth is the  primary editor of Classy’s recent report entitled: The State of Modern Philanthropy 2021. 

Elizabeth explains how empowering your event attendees to fundraise can organically increase your donations and provide more engagement. She breaks down why recurring giving, subscription services, and donation matching are excellent strategies to drive more funds and donations to your organization. Finally, Elizabeth shares valuable insight about creating a more robust online giving experience, and a powerful reminder that if you want to maximize donations to help safeguard and scale your organization, you must be able and willing to meet donors where they are. (This episode previously aired)

#FromTheArchives

Links to Resources:

Classy: Website 

Read the report here.

Collaborative Virtual Sessions Conference

If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at nonprofitleadershippodcast@gmail.com

To be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/

Despite the market being hit hard as of late, thankfully charitable giving has remained resilient. One particular tool that is fueling philanthropy is Donor Advised Funds (DAF). Today’s guest, Stephen Kump, explains the benefits of this fast growing tool and why so many donors prefer to give through a DAF.

Rob’s guest, Stephen Kump, is the co-founder and CEO of Charityvest. Charityvest is a startup that simplifies the setup and management of a Donor Advised Fund. A DAF is a third-party entity set up to manage the charitable donations of individuals, families, and/or organizations. 

Rob and Stephen discuss a recent report from Fidelity Charitable where it is reported that DAFs have helped to sustain philanthropic giving. Stephen explains that while the market cycles may go up and down, it does not affect donor giving. Stephen compares his nonprofit to old DAFs of the past and explains how Charityvest offers a frictionless experience, low fees, and low barriers. Stephen describes the yearly contributions going into Donor Advised Funds and why donors prefer giving to a DAF. Stephen and Rob also discuss why philanthropy is democratizing DAF’s for more people in the future. 

This episode was sponsored by Charityvest.

Links to Resources:

If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at nonprofitleadershippodcast@gmail.com
To be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/
If you have any suggestions for the show, email nonprofitleadershippodcast@gmail.com

The traditional model of having a singular Executive Director can actually be an unsustainable way to lead an organization. This model can be overwhelming for one person and often leads to burn out. Today’s guests are Brooke McKenna and Naomi Spence who are Co-Executive Directors at the Hunger Coalition in Blaine County, Idaho (Sun Valley area). They have been working together for over a decade. They explain how a nonprofit organization can thrive with a distributive leadership model. 

Their organization seeks to build a healthy community through providing access to good food and addressing the root causes of food insecurity, in collaboration with key partners. The Hunger Coalition is not your traditional food pantry, as they seek to provide a welcoming space where people can enjoy a healthy meal, make deep connections, and share about their lives.

Brooke and Naomi explain what food insecurity is and how it is different in their region compared to a traditional urban area. They discuss why it is so difficult for unaffected people to understand the issue of hunger. They are regularly trying to communicate the real stories of people dealing with food insecurity in order to mitigate this misunderstanding.

When it comes to their Co-Executive Directors model, Naomi explains the unique ways they involve their participants in the decision making processes. Brooke explains that distributive leadership is wonderful for cross training, creating a feeling of ownership for all, and building great career paths. Naomi offers advice to other nonprofit leaders that want to adopt this type of leadership model and advises why one needs to be committed to unlearning some of what we have learned about leading nonprofits. Brooke explains the role of an effective leader and the way a leader should give feedback to those they lead. Naomi describes the benefits to the weekly staff meetings they hold and why every staff member needs to be present. Both Brooke and Naomi explain how a well rounded leader can create a well rounded organization. 

Links to Resources:

Find out more about the Hunger Coalition and their story here. https://thehungercoalition.org/about/the-story/

Here is the link they refer to with RVC https://rvcseattle.org

If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at nonprofitleadershippodcast@gmail.com
To be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/
If you have any suggestions for the show, email nonprofitleadershippodcast@gmail.com

Across the United States, nonprofit organizations are all struggling to serve their communities due to the current economic climate. Many people are having issues to afford housing and food and nonprofits need to adapt to the economic changes so they can serve their growing number of clients. Today’s guests are Brianne Snow and Sharel Lund, both Executive Directors of nonprofit organizations in their respective towns. They explain the current challenges their organizations are enduring along with their advice to other nonprofits across the country.

Rob’s guests both run nonprofits that serve in resort mountain towns. Brianne Snow is the Executive Director of Family & Intercultural Resource Center (FIRC) in Summit County, Colorado. FIRC is a social services nonprofit that works to strengthen local families through education and financial resources. They offer assistance with housing, food and education. 

Sharel Lund is the Executive Director of One22 Resource Center in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. One22 is a nonprofit that was created from a merger of other organizations. They offer assistance with housing, food, language support, and financial assistance.

Brianne and Sharel share why they were attracted to the nonprofit sector and what it is like to be an Executive Director of a nonprofit organization. They both agree that it is very difficult to get funding in a mountain town, since a lot of funding goes to urban cities. Brianne and Sharel both recognize that while local governments and businesses they work with are active in giving back to the community, they believe nonprofits have certain advantages over the government and for-profit sectors. They also describe the trends they are seeing in the nonprofit sector, mainly when it comes to turnover for staffing. Brianne shares how the move to remote work has negatively impacted her community in that many city dwellers are now moving to Summit County and thus raising the cost of living for other residents. Sharel wants donors to know the benefits to donating, one of which is the opportunity to make deeper connections in the community. Brianne and Sharel share advice and encouragement for those who are considering joining the nonprofit sector. They also explain their advice for the challenges that face the nonprofit sector, in the next few years.

Links to Resources:

If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at nonprofitleadershippodcast@gmail.com
To be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/
If you have any suggestions for the show, email nonprofitleadershippodcast@gmail.com

Today’s episode is Part 2 of a fascinating conversation with Dr. Jan Rivkin of the Harvard Business School. In Part 1, Doctor Rivkin dives deep into how the Young American Leaders Program (YALP) is solving important problems by bringing together local leaders from all over the United States. In today’s episode, he explains how one can develop the skills that are necessary to be a successful leader.

Dr. Jan Rivkin is the Senior Associate Dean and Chair of the MBA program at Harvard. He is also a professor in the Strategy Unit at Harvard Business School. Dr. Rivkin is also credited with starting YALP.

Jan explains the top traits of effective cross-sector collaborators, and how successful collaborators respond to the setbacks they will encounter. He also explains that leaders need to make the most out of differences. Jan shares his concern for the lack of civility in our society and believes it is the underlying factor in our ability to solve other problems. Jan believes in order to develop leadership skills, one needs to experiment, learn, and reflect. Jan shares why the YALP leaders he gets to work with really do give him hope and helps him avoid feeling discouraged in a world full of problems.

Links to Resources:

If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at nonprofitleadershippodcast@gmail.com
To be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/
If you have any suggestions for the show, email nonprofitleadershippodcast@gmail.com

Right now in the United States, 95% of the sector is being overlooked and underinvested when it comes to nonprofit donations, according to Philanthropy Together. Thankfully, the collective giving movement is growing and making a positive change in underinvested communities. Today’s guest explains how more diverse communities can get funded when there are more diverse philanthropists involved. 

Rob’s guest today is Sara Lomelin who is a philanthropist, TED speaker, and the CEO of Philanthropy Together. Philanthropy Together is a global initiative, co-created by hundreds of giving circle and network leaders, to scale and strengthen the collective giving movement through the power of giving circles. Their mission is to democratize and diversify philanthropy through the power of giving circles.

Sara explains that a giving circle is a group of people with shared values that come together to make change. They pool their time and money, and decide as a circle where it should go. Sara describes the five key aspects of a giving circle and the five valuable things that each individual member inherently brings to the circle they join. Sara shares some very inspiring examples of the impact collective giving is having across our nation. She also explains what is motivating this increase of diversity and inclusion in philanthropy. Sara also shares how one can join or create their own giving circle, with the help of Philanthropy Together and the many resources they offer online. 

To join a giving circle in your community, check out Philanthropy Together’s Global Giving Circle Directory. Or to start one, join Philanthropy Together’s Launchpad program to learn how! 

Mentioned: 

Links to Resources:

If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at rob@ccofpc.org
To be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/
If you have any suggestions for the show, email nonprofitleadershippodcast@gmail.com

It can be difficult to see actual change to today’s big problems, especially when starting at the federal level. Change usually occurs due to the efforts of dedicated individuals at the local level. Rob’s guest shares how a program at Harvard Business School is dedicated to solving big issues by bringing together local leaders from all over the United States.

Rob’s guest today is Dr. Jan Rivkin who is the Senior Associate Dean and Chair of the MBA program at Harvard. He is also a professor in the Strategy Unit at Harvard Business School. Dr. Rivkin is also credited with starting YALP, the Young American Leaders Program.

Jan explains his role at Harvard Business School and why he was led into academia. Jan shares that while involved in the US Competitiveness Project which started in 2011, he and his colleagues at Harvard realized the US economy was lacking shared prosperity. Jan explains that they realized sustainable change would not come from the federal level alone because of the gridlock that often occurred at this level. This prompted the Harvard Business School to create a program that would aim to solve these issues. Jan describes how the Young American Leaders Program chooses the participants each year and what the program provides to these leaders from across the United States. Jan shares some examples of the positive influence the program has made in US cities and the benefits of addressing issues at the local level. Rob gets the opportunity to share about his experience of participating in the program and adds what he found most impactful when he was a part of YALP.

Links to Resources:

If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at nonprofitleadershippodcast@gmail.com
To be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/
If you have any suggestions for the show, email nonprofitleadershippodcast@gmail.com

Cryptocurrency is all the rage in many ways right now, but there still remains a lot of skepticism about the long term sustainability of cryptocurrency and just the uncertainty around it. There’s a lot of misunderstanding when it comes to cryptocurrency’s use for nonprofits and philanthropy. This is part two of our series on cryptocurrency and part one featured Robbie Heeger from Endaoment. 

Rob’s guest today is another expert in cryptocurrency, Pat Duffy. He’s the co-founder of The Giving Block, a for-profit company that seeks to help provide all a nonprofit needs to fundraise Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies in order to support their missions. 

Pat gives a quick overview of cryptocurrency and why nonprofits should be more engaged and educated about it, and how blockchain technology has solved many financial issues since its inception in 2009. He breaks down crypto’s three versions of safety and why cryptocurrency is becoming a safer investment strategy. He discusses Giving Block’s mission and the many benefits they provide to nonprofit organizations, along with their secret sauce of never-ending energy to establish themselves in the crypto sector. He shares what it takes for nonprofits to begin accepting crypto from donors and scale up to crypto fundraising programs. He addresses skepticism nonprofit leaders may have around cryptocurrency and how Giving Block can save organizations not just money, but time and energy spent on trying to create something from scratch. Finally, Pat explains how his previous experience at a nonprofit inspired him to offer innovative solutions to nonprofits, why crypto is a great way to boost engagement and fundraise effectively for organizations, and his predictions for what role cryptocurrency will play for philanthropy.  

Links to Resources:

Twitter – https://twitter.com/TheGivingBlock/

The Giving Block –https://thegivingblock.com/

If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at rob@robharter.com

To be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/

Cryptocurrency is here to stay and it’s coming to a nonprofit near you. Understandably, many of you might be very skeptical when it comes to cryptocurrency, in general, and certainly when it comes to how it might impact your nonprofit fundraising efforts. 

Rob’s guest today is Robbie Heeger, the CEO of Endaoment, a new public charity that offers donor-advised funds (DAFs) built atop the Ethereum blockchain. Their mission is to manage and encourage the charitable giving of cryptocurrencies. 

Robbie demystifies cryptocurrency and explains how Endaoment uses donor-advised funds to convert cryptocurrency donations into US dollar grants for charities and philanthropic causes. He also discusses DeFi, or decentralized financing, and Endaoment’s use of blockchain networks to recreate behaviors of established financial institutions with more transparency, interoperability and emphasis on community foundation. He addresses how they try to mitigate skepticism by using the world’s most trusted stable coin. He goes on to explain the difference between Bitcoin, NFTs (non-fungible tokens) and various forms of cryptocurrency. Robbie shares tips for organizations to participate in the crypto ecosystem and sheds light on how nonprofits have the opportunity to shift into a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO). He also explains how nonprofits can take advantage of Endaoment’s “end to end” donor-advised fund experience to begin receiving cryptocurrency gifts and donations. Finally, Robbie predicts what nonprofits can expect over the next few years as the cryptocurrency industry blooms.      

This episode previously aired. #ICYMI #FromTheArchives    

Links to Resources:

Endaoment on Twitter – https://twitter.com/endaomentdotorg

Endaoment – https://endaoment.org/

How to Get Started – https://docs.endaoment.org/

Robbie Heeger on Twitter – https://twitter.com/robbieheeger

If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at rob@ccofpc.org

To be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/

Ever wondered how philanthropy and charity first began? The answer may surprise you! The Greek roots for the word “philanthropy” refer to the “love of humankind”.

Rob’s guest today is author Paul Vallely who has written a new book that serves as an encyclopedic review of the origins and history of philanthropy and charity over the centuries. Paul argues that today, too many people and organizations have lost the true purpose of charity and he offers a way back to the roots of good philanthropy.   

Paul shares what led him to research the history of philanthropy, what surprised him most about how money moves through philanthropic organizations and who really benefits from donations. He also talks about how organizations can help recapture the missing element in philanthropy, particularly as it relates to the relationship between the rich and the poor. In short, Paul argues for having a more human and holistic vision of philanthropy that marries the head and the heart. Finally, Paul digs into why more nonprofit leaders need to focus on building partnerships by listening to and respecting the people they are trying to help and how the pandemic has actually strengthened philanthropy as a third pillar in society alongside government and the market. 

*This episode previously aired. #FromTheArchives #ICYMI

Learn more about Paul’s book here:

Paul Vallely: Website | Twitter |  

If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at nonprofitleadershippodcast@gmail.com

To be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/

According to the 2024 Social Impact Staff Retention Report, three out of every four nonprofit employees are looking for a new job. More than half of those people are unsure they will continue working in the nonprofit sector. Rob’s guest, Julia Devine, shares what nonprofit leaders can do to alleviate this retention issue.

Julia is the Co-founder of Relatable Nonprofit. The team at Relatable Nonprofit is committed to empowering purpose-driven professionals to become nonprofit consultants and grow successful businesses.

Julia shares her experience working for nonprofits and being promoted too quickly in a previous position. She states nonprofits often lack long-term staff retention plans and promote whoever is available, leading to burnout and misalignment. Speaking of misalignment and burnout, these are some of the main reasons nonprofit staff members will seek new employment. Julia believes it is vital for leaders to get very clear before hiring staff and to be very transparent with current staff to find out their needs. Looking at the 2024 report, the data indicates a high turnover rate for those working in marketing. Julia shares her thoughts on why that is the case. Julia also shares other trends she notices in the sector, that are holding nonprofits back from succeeding. She believes nonprofit leaders are afraid to change and take risks, leading to a lack of experimentation or innovation. Finally, Julia encourages professionals in the nonprofit sector to stop settling for the status quo and instead be unconventional in how they approach their careers.

Mentioned:

Social Impact Staff Retention 2024 

Relatable Nonprofit

Connect with Julia Devine on LinkedIn

Connect with Catalina Parker on LinkedIn

This Episode is sponsored by:

Links to Resources:
Want to work with a leadership and life coach, check out Rob’s website https://robharter.com/

If you have any suggestions for the show, email nonprofitleadershippodcast@gmail.com

For more episodes and to subscribe to our newsletter, check out https://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/ 

Join the discussion over on Rob’s LinkedIn page

Almost everyone is familiar with the YMCA, especially because of the Village People’s infamous song. What many may not know is that the Y, with all of its nationwide affiliates, is actually one of the largest nonprofits, not only in the US, but in the world. 

Rob’s guest today is the retiring President and CEO of the YMCA of the USA, Kevin Washington. After 43 years of service, Kevin will be handing off the baton to Suzanne McCormick, who will be taking the YMCA to the next chapter in their storied history. YMCA of the USA is a federated organization that manages 800 federate associates as part of their national network. There are 2,700 physical YMCA branch locations across all 50 states, with programs in over 10,000 communities serving 22 million members and counting. 

Kevin recalls his own experience of how the Y found him and his journey from being a member to becoming the organization’s President. He explains how COVID forced the YMCA to quickly pivot and why collaboration with the newly formed federal coalition to support nonprofits was vital to continue providing services for communities. Kevin describes the barriers they’ve had to overcome during the pandemic and why working together is always key, regardless of political beliefs. He also highlights the importance of trust and transparency, and how long term relationships with donors helped secure unrestricted funds when it mattered most. On the same note, Kevin discusses why he believes nonprofit leadership requires significant levels of humbleness, empathy, innovation and boldness and the willingness to risk going against the status quo if it means moving your organization forward. Finally, Kevin shares the greatest opportunities and challenges the next CEO of the YMCA will face, and how the “Summer of George Floyd” and believing in our youth has bolstered his hope for the future. 

*This episode previously aired. #FromTheArchives #ICYMI

Links to Resources:

Kevin Washington

Kwashington@ymca.net

Meet the new CEO through this link.
YMCA Website 

If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at nonprofitleadershippodcast@gmail.com
To be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/

Rob has had several guests on the show to talk about the work they are doing with diversity, equity and inclusion. Today’s guest is dedicated to this same important work. The work is particularly relevant this month, because August is Black Philanthropy Month.

Rob’s guest today is Dr. Chera Reid, the Co-Executive Director of the Center for Evaluation Innovation or CEI and she will share how we can help transform philanthropy into a force that actually advances racial equity and justice. CEI is a women-led nonprofit organization that partners with philanthropy on strategy, learning and evaluation efforts that are intended to advance racial equity and justice.

Chera shares that she was led into this work 20 years ago and was inspired by the work of Dr. Lydia English, who she later worked with at a nonprofit in Massachusetts. She explains that racial justice is a strategy that needs to be the priority for all foundations, acknowledging uncomfortable truths in order to progress. She believes the nonprofit sector is a reflection of the challenges and opportunities in our society and shares about how two Supreme Court cases have been great milestones for the diversity movement.

She also discusses a recent successful live event that CEI co-hosted with Trust-Based Philanthropy, a peer-to-peer funder initiative to address the inherent power imbalances between foundations and nonprofits. Chera explains how partnerships like these can really make a difference in closing the gap between ideas and taking action. She concludes by offering two great pieces of advice to other nonprofit leaders. First, she encourages leaders to be themselves by owning one’s experiences. Second, she talks about the importance of leaders taking some things off of their calendar. Finally, Chera shares her belief that this critical work is essentially “remaking the world”.

Links to Resources:

Center for Evaluation Innovation (CEI)
CEI LinkedIn
CEI Twitter

If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at nonprofitleadershippodcast@gmail.com
To be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/

Personality tests have existed for centuries, yet many leaders are still surprised by how insightful and beneficial understanding your personality type can be to the work you want to accomplish. 

Rob’s guest today is Ian Morgan Cron, speaker, author, and pioneer in the contemporary Enneagram movement. His book “The Road Back to You” is perfect for those interested in learning more about the typology of the nine interconnected, personality types of the Enneagram tool. 

Ian has worked with a variety of companies and leaders both in and out of the nonprofit space, and consistently sees the need for building soft skills like empathy and compassion. He explains why meaningful work matters and how a strong leader understands not only their own strengths, but also where they require support and balance. Most importantly, Ian shares why self-awareness is the ultimate key to successful leadership, no matter your personality type! 

*This episode previously aired. #FromTheArchives #ICYMI

Links to Resources:

The Road Back to You

iEQ9 Online Test

Ian Morgan Cron: Website | Typology Podcast | True You Course  

If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at rob@robharter.com

To be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/

Rob’s guests today are Shelley Hoss, president and CEO of OCCF for nearly 22 years, and Tammy Tumbling, the first-ever Executive Vice President and COO at OCCF. Based in Newport, California, OCCF is in the top 2% in grant-making among U.S. community foundations. The DNA of their service model is a double helix, with one strand being service to donors and their own philanthropic goals and the other strand being service to the needs of their local community. 

Fundraising is the most important aspect of growing your nonprofit, yet it can also be the most challenging. Throw in a pandemic, new technology that seems to always be changing, plus a new currency in the form of cryptocurrency, and fundraising for nonprofits in your organization may feel like an overwhelming obstacle right now. Rob’s guests will both shed some light on the current status of fundraising as well as share some of the key things they’re seeing and experiencing at one of the largest Community Foundations in the country, which is the Orange County Community Foundation (OCCF).  

Shelley and Tammy explain what kinds of organizations they fund, which grants rise to the top, and why clarity, alignment, and organizational strength are key to selecting who receives funding. They discuss the fluid process of how they help donors decide which organizations to support, insight about their Legacy Program, and how they decide where to use their own resources based on where they can meet the most needs. They address COVID’s impact on philanthropy, the new tools of engagement that have emerged for nonprofits since the pandemic, and why they try to never make assumptions about what needs people face in their community. They also suggest ways organizations can future-proof their fundraising by providing the right technology, information and access. They explain common pitfalls to avoid when using technology and the two ways OCCF is leveraging technology to reach their internal and external stakeholders. Further, Tammy shares her experience of launching the African American Alliance Fund and how it’s focused on supporting education, health, human services, economic business development, and civic engagement. Finally, Shelley addresses the current fundraising landscape, how nonprofits can reframe challenges as opportunities, and why organizations should consider looking outside the nonprofit world for their next fundraiser.

Links to Resources:

Orange County Community Foundation – https://www.oc-cf.org/

OCCF Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/OCCommunityFdn

OCCF LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/orange-county-community-foundation/

If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at nonprofitleadershippodcast@gmail.com

To be added to our nonprofit leadership community, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/

Racial equality and social justice are nothing new however they have become one of the most prominent conversations we are having now when it comes to nonprofit leadership and growth.
*Note: This episode is from the archives* #ICYMI

Rob’s guest today is Kishshana Palmer, CEO of Kishshana + Co., and founder of The Rooted Collaborative. She is a national speaker, trainer, and coach with a 17 year background in fundraising, marketing, and talent management. Kishshana’s first management experience was at 22 years old, right after grad school, when she was challenged to lead a team of 12 and had a million dollar budget. 

Kishshana explains why all nonprofits are avenues for social justice, and why more groups must dig deeper into their diversity and inclusion practices if they really want change and growth to occur. She believes organizations should focus on investing in the talent, time, and treasure of its team members, and details how employee satisfaction surveys can really paint a picture of where work is needed within an organization in order to continue fostering a healthy culture. Kishshana wants more leaders to recognize it’s time to change the way things are done because times are indeed changing, and our young people are living proof this movement for change.

Links to Resources:

Kishshana + Co: Website | Facebook | Instagram | 

Kish Camp for Managers

*Note: This episode previously aired. Enjoy this re-posting in case you missed it. #FromTheArchives

If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at rob@ccofpc.org

To be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/

Recruiters across the country have been feeling the pressure of the “great reshuffle” since COVID. They are relying on their existing networks to find talent quickly. Unfortunately, many recent college graduates have been left behind in this process without a recruiter or the right network, which too often means those from underrepresented communities, especially as Generation Z enters the workforce as the most diverse population in American history. That is why it is even more critical that they receive the appropriate assistance and mentoring opportunities in order to find their next job.

Rob’s guest today is Kalani Leifer — Founder & CEO of COOP Careers. COOP Careers is a nonprofit organization that offers a program focused on digital skills and peer connections to help low-income and first-generation college graduates overcome the barriers they face while finding gainful employment.

Kalani assesses the current job market, focusing on Gen Z, and sheds light on nepotism in hiring and the phenomenon of young employees recommending their friends, neighbors, and schoolmates. He examines the barriers and challenges that Gen Z graduates, particularly those from underrepresented communities, experience when seeking employment. He discusses the changes students are experiencing in college, how that will affect them when they graduate and enter the job market, and the role Gen Z will play in the current job market and unemployment issues. Furthermore, he also shares the journey of COOP Careers, including why and how it began, the organization’s core objective, his plans for the organization, as well as the fundraising model of the organization. Finally, he discusses the differences in working styles that he has experienced between Millenials and Gen Z, what Gen Z looks for in an organization before joining, as well as some ideas for establishing a strong culture that attracts new talent.

Links to Resources:

COOP Careers – https://coopcareers.org/ 

If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at rob@ccofpc.org
To be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/

For years, one of the most effective ways a nonprofit could raise money was through large in-person fundraising events. However, fast forward to 2020, when COVID literally put the brakes on all large in-person events for a significant period of time. Then, even when restaurants and schools and other public places began reopening, for many people the idea of getting together with a big group of people inside a hotel conference center was just something they were not ready to do. If you’re a nonprofit development director in particular or an executive director who depends on these large in-person events, what are you to do? What are the trend lines? Are larger fundraising events back? Are they going to ever come back?

Rob’s guest today is Adam Christing, who has served as the emcee for hundreds of fundraising events all across the country, from galleries to dinners to charity concerts and luncheons. Adam believes that large in person events are back and back in a big way.   

Adam shares how more nonprofits are reconnecting with their donors and partners in person, the benefits and drawbacks of hybrid events, and why he urges people to go for live experiences. He touches on six key components of effective fundraising events using the acronym MASTER: M-emcee, A-attendee experience, S-speaker(s), T-transformational stories, E-empowering givers, R-repeat the event. He explains the power of helping attendees shift from transactional to transformational giving and why donors must have an experience that touches their heart. Adam also gives tips for selecting a speaker aligned with your organization’s mission, how to prep speakers to make the  fundraising event as successful as possible, and why transformational stories should address both the pain and the prescription (or help) received from the organization.

He encourages nonprofits to let donors share how they feel when they give, because generous giving is contagious. He also discusses the current state of fundraising and why it’s necessary to distinguish between projects and partners. He will delve into the importance of cultivating long term relationships with donors and development reps, and why it’s time to put the fun back in fundraising. Finally, he emphasizes that effective fundraising events require time and planning, they are held at a great venue, and provide attendees an experience that not only allows them to impact other people’s lives, but have their own lives touched as well.

Links to Resources:

Adam Christing – https://adamchristing.com/

If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at rob@ccofpc.org
To be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/

Nonprofit mergers are a trend that is increasing more and more, especially since COVID first started. Are mergers the wave of the future? Although that remains to be seen, many nonprofits are merging more now than ever, especially ones established in an area where there is more than one nonprofit doing very similar work. It’s becoming more apparent that lone nonprofits may benefit from joining forces in order to better serve their community.

Rob’s guest today is Paul Bancroft, the Executive Director of the Sierra Community House, a nonprofit organization that resulted from four nonprofits taking their collaborative relationship to the next level by merging together into one common mission. The four organizations that merged were two different family resource centers, a domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse organization, and a hunger relief organization.        

Paul explains how and why the four nonprofits merged and their intention around creating a fifth organization to serve the community at a much higher and much deeper level. He addresses resource challenges and the need for a more robust administrative team, along with the benefit of being able to mobilize across a greater organization during COVID. He shares how they’ve fostered unity in their new organization by forming committees across all programs along with leadership teams focused on embracing a larger mission and talking through issues as they arise.

Paul discusses the surprising positive impacts of the merger in regards to donations and the importance of education to cultivate donors. He breaks down their biggest challenges of finding affordable housing for the local community, access to mental health services, especially for Spanish speakers, as well as access to services often hindered by inclement weather. He touches on drawbacks of the merger and why it’s always necessary to acknowledge the identity loss experienced in each organization. However, he emphasizes that the merger has allowed for better, more comprehensive services and increased their ability to serve more people. Finally, he encourages executive directors interested in a merger to leave egos at the door, focus on how to best serve their staff and community, and to approach conversations from an abundance mindset.         

Links to Resources:

Sierra Community House – https://sierracommunityhouse.org/

Paul Bancroft – pbancroft@sierracommunityhouse.org

If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at rob@ccofpc.org
To be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/

Donors don’t give to organizations, they give to people. Fundraising at its core is relationship building. When a donor gives to your organization, they’re giving because there’s a relationship with someone in your organization that has prompted them to give, and the stronger that relationship is, the more that donor will give and the more comfortable they are with increasing their giving over time.

Rob’s guest today is Karen Marriott. Not only does she personally invest in several nonprofits locally, but she’s also a trustee with the Marriott Daughters Foundation. Karen was raised within a family who has an inspiring legacy of philanthropy, one that continues to shape how and where she gives today.     

Karen shares details about the Marriott Daughters Foundation and how her family’s history of philanthropy is based on their passions, interests, and supporting local communities. She explains how COVID shifted her priorities around giving and how maintaining relationships with donors is crucial for organizations, especially when immediate needs are difficult to meet. She addresses the benefits of unrestricted gifts and whether unrestricted gifts are a crisis response because of COVID or a trend that will continue to grow. Karen discusses how nonprofits can build relationships of trust by providing data that shows their impact, keeping communication with donors open throughout the year not just when money is needed, and by sharing their challenges along with their successes. Karen also shares the areas of need that other foundations are noticing and why it’s time to dig into local communities to truly understand what work is most necessary. Finally, she explains how her father is the leader who has shaped her the most and why she believes “Where much is given, much is expected in return”.                

Links to Resources:

Marriott Daughters Foundation – https://marriottdaughtersfoundation.org/

If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at rob@ccofpc.org

To be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/

Previous episodes on achieving a healthy work-life balance discussed the importance of setting a pace and seeing your life as a movie. This is the final installment on this topic, and it focuses on workplace inclusiveness.

Yes, maintaining a healthy work-life balance in your organization is linked to the issue of inclusion. Numerous authors and nonprofit executives have recently pointed this out when they have highlighted an unspoken narrative in many organizations which rarely includes inclusivity when it comes to this issue of establishing a work-life balance.

To put it another way, the issue of developing a work-life balance in one’s organization can often disproportionately affect black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC community). It could be due to economic inequalities, family demands, educational disparities, etc. 

Whatever the exact challenges are for your staff, take proactive steps to address the issue of inclusion by employing an inclusive lens and listening to the perspectives of those who are underrepresented in your organization. The ultimate result will benefit not only those traditionally underrepresented in your company but will also benefit your entire organization.

Links to Resources:

Forbes article: Is A Healthy Work Life Balance Possible? https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesnonprofitcouncil/2021/05/11/is-a-healthy-work-life-balance-possible/?sh=6cd081c44472

If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at rob@ccofpc.org

To be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/

To affect significant change in the community, a nonprofit leader must be willing to collaborate and engage with the community they serve. Today’s guest, Tomi Hiers, believes we can make a meaningful impact in our communities through collective action and data-driven solutions.

Rob’s guest, Tomi Hiers, is the Vice President of the Center for Civic Sites and Community Change at the Annie E Casey Foundation. The Annie E Casey Foundation is a private national philanthropy that creates better futures for the nation’s children by strengthening families, building economic opportunities, and transforming neighborhoods into safer and healthier places to live, work, and grow.

Tomi explains the mission of the Annie E Casey Foundation, which aims to promote the well-being of young people and families and advance racial equity. She shares insights from the foundation’s “Changing the Odds” report, highlighting both the progress and the disparities facing families, especially in Atlanta. Tomi believes these issues must be addressed through collective impact and collaboration among nonprofit leaders, government, and the private sector. She encourages nonprofit leaders to understand their community landscape, collaborate with other organizations, and use data to measure and tell their impact stories. Finally, Tomi shares examples of successful initiatives in Atlanta to demonstrate the power of cross-sector collaboration and community-led solutions. 

Mentioned:

Connect with Tomi on LinkedIn

The Annie E. Casey Foundation 

2024 Changing the Odds Report 

This Episode is sponsored by:

Links to Resources:

Want to work with a leadership and life coach, check out Rob’s website https://robharter.com/

If you have any suggestions for the show, email nonprofitleadershippodcast@gmail.com

For more episodes and to subscribe to our newsletter, check out https://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/ 

Join the discussion over on Rob’s LinkedIn page

Have you watched the film Poverty, Inc.? If you haven’t watched the film, it’s worth viewing, even if you disagree with it’s premise or conclusions. This film raises important questions about how anti-poverty initiatives can often have unintended consequences, which then can create greater dependency rather than truly empowering people, local communities, and local economies to improve their situation. Rob’s guest is part of an international organization that really strives to empower both the people they are serving and the local economy within which they’re serving. 

Rob’s guest today is Josh Martin. He is the US Development Director for ADES, an international nonprofit based in Switzerland that produces energy efficient stoves in Madagascar and encourages the reuse of renewable energy by saving large quantities of wood and charcoal. ADES is helping to protect the environment while tackling poverty at the same time. 

Josh shares how ADES first started and its holistic approach to environmental education and restoration. He explains their focus on providing stoves and the training given to those who receive the stoves. He breaks down ADES’ impact over the past 20 years and how they have drastically reduced carbon emissions by using solar energy. Additionally, through their work, they have saved local families time, money, and energy. He addresses how ADES continues to help the people they serve by providing jobs to over 200 employees based in Madagascar, both in the surrounding rural and urban areas. Josh also shares why ADES has no plans to expand beyond Madagascar at this point. He sheds light on the impact COVID has had on ADES, along with how they’ve been able to successfully navigate through “destructive” stress that the last two years have brought. They have also been very successful with hiring local Malagasy people for middle management positions. He discusses why achieving “wins” as an organization is incredibly important to nonprofits. Finally, he shares the biggest challenges facing ADES and why maintaining partnerships is key to sustaining their work in Madagascar.          

Links to Resources:

ADES – https://ades-solaire.org/

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/ADESolaire/

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/ades4madagascar/

If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at rob@ccofpc.org
To be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/

Do you know why you do what you do? This is one of the most important questions you can ask yourself and your team. Many people are familiar with Simon Sinek’s well-known TED talk entitled “Find Your Why” and it’s worth watching if you haven’t already. Along this same theme, another recommendation Rob has for nonprofit leaders is to check out a new book called 40 Laws of Nonprofit Impact, which is written by Rob’s guest today, Derik Timmerman. In his book, Derik spells out 40 key laws that will help you become more successful as a nonprofit leader.    

Rob’s guest today is Derik Timmerman, founder of Sparrow Nonprofit Solutions, a nationwide consulting firm helping nonprofits maximize their world-changing impact. In addition to coaching nonprofit professionals at all levels and prior to founding Sparrow, Derik was a management consultant at McKinsey and Company and a US Army Intelligence Officer with two combat deployments to Iraq.

Derik shares his background and how his first volunteering experience after high school was the catalyst for his nonprofit journey. He explains why he believes Martin Luther King, Jr’s “Letter From Birmingham Jail” should be required reading for every nonprofit leader. He emphasizes why situational clarity is crucial for the success of nonprofits and sheds light on the three parts of a winning mission statement: core action, core object, and differentiator. He also shares why it’s important for organizations to define their fundamental unit of impact. He goes on to point out how trust is the currency of nonprofit leadership and what it means for leaders to have both a vulnerable generosity and a generous vulnerability. Derik discusses how nonprofits can get better at building their team and culture by focusing on building with a community versus for them. On the same note, he explains how a ‘surprise and delight’ approach allows organizations to be culturally sensitive and affirming at the same time. He breaks down how following a ‘lean’ methodology lets nonprofits know how to measure their impact and understand the “eight wastes” to eliminate as an organization. Finally, he shares why he believes the biggest challenges facing the nonprofit sector is accountability and creating a larger, world-changing impact.      

This episode is sponsored by Sparrow Nonprofit Solutions.

Links to Resources:

Derik Timmerman – Derik@sparrowns.com

If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at rob@ccofpc.org

To be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/

The great resignation is a very real thing and it’s impacting all of us. Nonprofits are feeling the pressure of staying competitive to keep their people. They are also scrambling to adjust to the reality of having staff who are leaving for better paying jobs. There are some who are starting to believe that the nonprofit sector can’t compete with the for-profit sector when it comes to salary, wages and benefits, and think the nonprofit sector will simply need to resign to the fact that they will have to settle for mediocrity. However, Rob’s guest believes strongly that nonprofits should never have to settle for mediocrity. 

Rob’s guest today is Evan Feinberg, the executive director of the Stand Together Foundation. Stand Together is a nonprofit that seeks to help create both strong and safe communities where all people can learn, contribute and realize their full potential.      

Evan addresses how nonprofits don’t need to settle for mediocrity because nonprofits are one of the fastest growing sectors and are raising more money than ever. He explains why competitive wages and salaries are necessary to attract good talent along with the necessity of investing in good leadership. He discusses why nonprofits must build cultures of empowerment, not only in society, but within their organizations to help employees feel fulfilled and gain employees’ trust. He shares how the nonprofit sector needs a dynamic social economy of taking risks to foster innovation. Nonprofits also need to find better ways to solve problems by investing in talent rather than just seeking to lower admin costs. Evan explains the importance of viewing donors as investors and helping them believe in the transformative experience of the people your organization serves. He shares examples of organizations that have successfully continued to innovate and motivate their staff while keeping their core values intact. Finally, he discusses the major challenges the nonprofit sector is currently facing such as finding the right leaders, reducing loss by creating human-centered measures of customer value, and changing incentives to make fundraising easier.

This episode is sponsored by the Stand Together Foundation.     

Links to Resources:

Stand Together Foundation: https://standtogetherfoundation.org/

If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at rob@ccofpc.org
To be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/

Whether you are an executive director, CEO, board member, or staff member of a nonprofit, it’s important that everyone works to grow the organization, while at the same time preserving the core of its mission. Likewise, it’s crucial to avoid completely changing the organization’s mission just to chase growth.  

Rob’s guest today is Dr. Marc Harrison, the president and CEO of Intermountain Healthcare. He’s also a pediatric critical care physician with a proven track record as a top operations executive on a global scale. He is nationally and internationally known as a thought leader on transformation and innovation, and ranked in Fortune’s Top 50 World’s Greatest Leaders in 2019. Dr. Harrison currently leads Intermountain’s 59,000 employees they call caregivers, to reimagine operations and ways to keep people and communities healthier.  

Marc addresses trends he’s witnessed around the pandemic and how COVID has catalyzed businesses in the nonprofit sector both for good and for bad. He shares how Intermountain has preserved the core of its mission while simultaneously stimulating progress by being careful stewards of the resources they have been given. He breaks down how he’s navigated some of his most challenging leadership decisions by constantly reiterating his rationale and purpose, and keeping his actions consistent with his words. He also discusses two leaders who’ve shaped his leadership style. He further explains how organizations can create a healthy culture to attract the right kind of talent and new talent by creating an environment where people can independently make choices and share ideas. He shares how leadership happens at different levels throughout the organization and how choosing people who can manage a transformation revolves around listening to and utilizing front line workers.

Marc addresses how he’s building collaboration with the Utah Alliance for the Determinants of Health and how its revenue model focuses on keeping people well, not just taking care of them when they’re sick. Finally, he shares why leaders must understand what their core mission is and why they must make sure that their time, energy, words and passion are all well aligned to bring about positive social change.                    

Links to Resources:

Intermountain Healthcare – https://intermountainhealthcare.org/

Marc Harrison LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcharrisonmd

Twitter – https://twitter.com/marcharrisonmd

Healthier Futures Podcast – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-healthier-future/id1612299596

If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at rob@ccofpc.org
To be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/

Nonprofit speaker and blogger Vu Le recently wrote an article that was all about our “toxic obsession with productivity,” and in that article, he shares a story that is both funny and biting. He says, “When I was an ED, younger professionals would come up to me asking what it was like to be an executive director. ‘It’s great!’ I would joke, ‘you get to work whenever you want, as long as it adds up to 70 hours each week!”

70 hours a week doesn’t exactly lend itself to a healthy work life balance. Remember, it’s important that CEOs, executive directors, and other nonprofit leaders set the pace and honor work life balance in your everyday schedule. On the same note, it’s critical that leaders find space in your organization’s culture where you can really live out the value you say you believe, and create creative outlets for your staff to be both valued and trusted. 

Try this quick exercise to help facilitate better work life balance in your organization: Think of your life as a movie. My friend Troy Champ has used a similar concept in his teaching and when I first heard this, I thought this idea could apply well to this issue of finding a healthy work-life balance. Play out what the movie of your life would look like if you kept up your current pace. Does your life’s movie have a good ending? Do you implode along the way? Think through the cost of your current pace. How’s your family being impacted by your current pace? How is your health being impacted? Your future goals? Your kids? Your staff? Start today by playing the movie of your life based on your current trajectory, and then start making the changes you need to today. Don’t expect perfection overnight—just seek progress, not perfection. But take steps every day to move towards your goal of creating a better work life balance. 

Links to Resources:

Forbes article: Is A Healthy Work Life Balance Possible? https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesnonprofitcouncil/2021/05/11/is-a-healthy-work-life-balance-possible/?sh=6cd081c44472

If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at rob@ccofpc.org

To be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/

One of the biggest challenges for nonprofit leaders today is how to balance being high tech while remaining “high touch”. In other words, how do we continue to innovate as nonprofits but not lose the heart and soul of that highly relational experience for those we serve? Many nonprofit leaders, with good intentions, have resisted implementing new technology, because they’re worried about losing that relational touch—that life-on-life impact. But if nonprofit organizations don’t implement the right kind of technology and the right amount of technology, they risk being left behind and will become less and less effective over time, especially when it comes to fundraising.

Rob’s guest today is Michael Gorriaran, the President of Arjuna Solutions, and he brings a wealth of leadership experience from Microsoft and Xerox into the nonprofit sector. Arjuna specializes in applying behavioral economic modeling techniques through patented AI capabilities, and the goal of this AI application is to improve fundraising at scale for nonprofits. 

Michael breaks down Arjuna’s algorithm and how they determine a donor’s personal level of willingness to give. He explains the importance of donor retention, optimizing value and lifetime giving, and why he is a fan of direct mail based on the concept of net proceeds. He shares advice for how organizations can approach digital marketing vs. direct mail, and why it’s key to optimize the donor experience. He addresses why nonprofits must discern the intentionality of the technology they use, and how to efficiently manage and measure ROI. He discusses the trend of automation and why organizations must work to sustain the balance of high touch with high tech when it comes to personalization and scale. Finally, he explains why more organizations need technically-capable leaders that are social media fluent, understand portfolio management, and know how to allocate resources appropriately and equitably.              

Links to Resources:

This episode is sponsored by Arjuna Solutions. Find out more here:

https://www.arjunasolutions.com/leadership-team

Michael Gorriaran – https://www.linkedin.com/in/gorriaran/

If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at rob@ccofpc.org

To be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/

How do you create a healthy work-life balance? When you hear the phrase, healthy work-life balance, what goes through your mind? Do you think that it is possible or is it just a myth?

As executive directors, CEOs, and board members of nonprofits, culture starts with you. You set the pace. Does your everyday schedule reflect this? How will your organization make work-life balance a top priority?  

Rob would love your feedback on what you’re doing in your organization to create this culture of prioritizing a healthy work-life balance. You can email Rob at nonprofitleadershippodcast@gmail.com

Links to Resources:

If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at nonprofitleadershippodcast@gmail.com
To be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/

Across the world, many people are familiar with the name Bono, the lead singer of the internationally famous band U2, but not everyone knows that Bono started the ONE Campaign. The initial slogan of the ONE Campaign was to “make poverty history“. This continues to guide their efforts as they have grown significantly from when Bono first co-founded this organization. The ONE Campaign is a global organization that tackles the causes of extreme poverty and preventable disease with a focus on Africa. This organization also fights for gender equality, youth employment, quality education, and access to health services, and hopes 

Rob’s guest today is the CEO of the ONE Campaign, Gayle Smith. Gayle’s career includes working on the ground with nonprofits across Africa, and leadership positions under the Clinton and Obama administrations as an international journalist, and in the US Agency for International Development and other organizations to end extreme poverty. 

Gayle sheds light on how the ONE Campaign is an advocacy organization working to mobilize citizens and governments to reach their goal of ending poverty and preventable diseases by 2030. She explains how ONE has managed to secure $37.5 billion in funding since the organization’s inception by utilizing an inside/out approach, leaning on volunteers to meet with congressional representatives and other decision makers who influence spending. She also shares how other nonprofits can take a similar approach by focusing on a clear, tight message that appeals to the media and by leveraging volunteers to meet with local leaders about one’s mission. She dives into the painstaking process of getting legislation passed and why having experts that understand your organization’s issues are key to connecting with lawmakers. Gayle shares her philosophy about networking and collaboration and the importance of scaling so more voices can share your mission. She explains how they used pop culture and social media during the pandemic to reach audiences they might not otherwise reach. She also addresses how they’ve been able to keep ONE’s overall purpose and mission the focus across the organization by sticking to their values. Finally, she discusses the biggest barriers still facing the ONE Campaign and how their mission is still doable.

Links to Resources:

ONE – https://www.one.org/us/

If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at rob@ccofpc.org

To be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/

Your nonprofit’s team is your greatest competitive advantage. We don’t often use those terms in the nonprofit sector, but the sentiment is true for both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors. Leadership development is critical for any organization, but the process of actually developing leaders takes more intentionality and more time than most nonprofits are currently investing. How does your organization grow leaders? Do you have an intentional plan? Have you set aside resources to proactively invest in your current team?    

Rob’s guest today is John Aden, the CEO of David C. Cook, and has held senior leadership roles at Walmart, Frito Lay, and Mac Tools. He recently came out of retirement to bring his years of corporate experience to this nonprofit organization.  

John shares what he’s enjoyed most about serving in leadership roles and why he believes emerging leaders must keep an open mind and understand there’s no replacement for doing hard work. He explains the differences he’s observed between the for-profit and nonprofit sectors, and why more nonprofits must invest in leadership development. He goes on to discuss why more nonprofits must focus on adopting a competitive advantage mindset while remembering the role of innovation. He also points out the need to leverage scale in order to create efficiencies so that an organization can reach more people with increased speed. John emphasizes the importance of connecting your core values to your purpose every day, and how core values impact an organization’s culture and overall performance. He explains how nonprofits can build strategic partnerships to increase growth as well as emphasizing how creating an innovation team, changing the conversation, and listening to the ideas of your team can positively shift outcomes. Finally, he shares personally about how two leaders in particular have shaped him the most. They shaped his own view of leadership by demonstrating why values, humility, and having a service mindset are key to leaders who seek to do “well” so that they can do “good”.          

Links to Resources:

John Aden on LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-aden-19ab11150/

David C. Cook Publishing – https://davidccook.org/

If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at rob@ccofpc.org

To be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/

Growing a nonprofit takes more than just passion and creativity: it takes great leadership. The right leadership skills will help guide your organization effectively through the challenges you will face. In fact, effective leadership is the engine that runs healthy nonprofits. It moves a vision to reality. Without good leadership, everything falls apart. 

Rob’s guest today is Pamela Davis, the founder, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Nonprofits Insurance Alliance (NIA). Pamela started NIA from scratch with four people. Today, she has well over 100 employees and thousands of nonprofits insured through NIA. NIA’s purpose is to serve other organizations by providing a stable source of reasonably priced liability and property insurance tailored to the specialized needs of the nonprofit sector and to assist these organizations in developing and implementing successful loss control and risk management programs.

Pamela discusses issues common to nonprofits, such as mission drift, lack of diversity, and unpredictable funding practices. She also addresses the problem that arises with organizations who may begin with a clear mission but slowly become stagnant, lose money and stop growing. Pamela shares how she went about securing startup funding for her organization and the importance of creating a culture of innovation in all nonprofits. She also gives insights into how she went about initiating the process that led to the passing of bills pertaining to nonprofits. These bills were beneficial not only to her own organization but also to the nonprofits that she served. She recounts how she was able to work on the legislation while keeping the momentum going for her own organization at the same time. Throughout the interview, she will share about the challenges she faced in building her nonprofit from scratch, how she overcame them, and how other nonprofit leaders can overcome their leadership challenges that they will encounter as they grow.

Links to Resources:

Nonprofits Insurance Alliance (NIA) – https://insurancefornonprofits.org/ 

Pamela Davis on LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamela-davis-017a75a 

Nonprofits Insurance Alliance (NIA) on LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/nonprofits-insurance-alliance?trk=public_profile_topcard-current-company 

If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at rob@ccofpc.org

To be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/

Habitat for Humanity was founded in 1976 and is one of the strongest nonprofit brands in the United States. Many nonprofit leaders can learn valuable lessons from this impactful organization that has changed lives all over the world. Rob’s guest, Jonathan Reckford, shares some of his insights on a variety of topics that affect nonprofit organizations. 

Jonathan is the CEO of Habitat for Humanity. Habitat for Humanity is a global nonprofit housing organization working in local communities across all 50 states in the U.S. and in approximately 70 countries. Habitat’s vision is of a world where everyone has a decent place to live. 

Jonathan explains how existing trends were made worse due to the COVID pandemic and why he thinks things will continue to remain complex for the nonprofit sector for years to come. He also shares the two biggest leadership lessons he was taught due to the challenges brought on by the pandemic. Jonathan believes that community service is the antidote to polarization in our world. He describes ways in which Habitat for Humanity is being more intentional in building bridges between people of different backgrounds. Jonathan also explains that unrestrictive giving is critical due to the impact nonprofits can have through these kinds of donations. Finally, he discusses the initiatives that Habitat for Humanity is focusing on, in order to alleviate the current housing crisis. 

Mentioned:
Habitat for Humanity

Jonathan Reckford on LinkedIn

Links to Resources:

To be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/
If you have any suggestions for the show, email nonprofitleadershippodcast@gmail.com

This Episode is sponsored by:

#FromTheArchives

When it comes to those who hold the most power in a nonprofit or a company, most people assume it’s the CEO or Executive Director. However, the reality is that the board is the group who has the most power. The board hires and fires the CEO and is tasked with stewarding the future of the organization in business.

Rob’s guest today is Helle Bank Jorgensen and she has a 30-year track record of returning environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks into innovative and profitable business opportunities. Helle has experience in both the for-profit and nonprofit sector and is currently the founder and chief executive of Competent Boards, which offers online climate and ESG programs from a faculty of over 100 renowned board members, executives and experts. She’s also an advisor with Global Fortune 500 boards and board members, including Nike, Shell, and Unilever. She also serves on several high profile international panels including the World Economic Forum, and recently published a new book entitled Stewards of the Future: A Guide for Competent Boards.   

Helle addresses the Sustainability Board Report and the fact that although more board directors are becoming aware of environmental, social and governance issues, their competencies for how to manage such issues are lacking. She shares how boards can determine which ESG issues deserve their highest attention and the biggest risks and opportunities that should be discussed around the board table. She explains why it’s important for boards to have a long term mindset along with the four key traits that truly demonstrate a board’s preparedness for whatever the future brings. Helle discusses the difference between managing and engaging stakeholders and why communication is key to understand what stakeholders want for an organization. She shares advice for bringing the next generation of young leaders to help increase value and diversity of thought on one’s board, as well as how to recruit new board members from the BIPOC community. Finally, she addresses her new book and points out why it’s so critical for organizations to understand what their impact will be seven generations from now.             

Links to Resources:

Competent Boards – https://competentboards.com/

Stewards of the Future – https://competentboards.com/stewards-of-the-future/

Competent Boards on LinkedIn – https://ca.linkedin.com/company/competentboards

Helle Bank Jorgenson LinkedIn – https://ca.linkedin.com/in/hellebank

Helle Bank Jorgenson Twitter – https://twitter.com/hellebankjorgen

If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at rob@ccofpc.org

To be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/

Leading and motivating staff is a difficult job for every leader, especially the CEO or Executive Director of an organization. Staff communication, staff conflict and staff competition are very real issues that all leaders have to navigate through as they seek to move the organization towards a common mission. Could you imagine having two staff members who are literally working side by side who are from rival gangs? What kind of potential conflict and competition would this create? This is exactly the scenario that Rob’s guest faces every day at his organization.

Rob’s guest today is Thomas Vozzo, the first ever CEO of Homeboy Industries, the largest gang rehabilitation and reentry program in the world that helps former gang members redirect their lives and become contributing members of their community. Thomas also has a new book coming out called The Homeboy Way: A Radical Approach to Business and Life. In it, he outlines how he went from generating billion dollar revenues and making million dollar profits to becoming a voluntary, unpaid CEO of a nonprofit built on compassion, empathy, and social justice.   

In this episode, Thomas provides an overview of Homeboy Industries’ beginnings and their mission of working to get young men out of gang life. He shares about the “secret sauce” of Homeboy Industries which is its unique community. He also shares what led him to leave a successful corporate career to become the organization’s CEO. Further, Thomas walks us through his leadership journey; how he built trust, cast his vision, and successfully moved the organization forward by doubling its size and impact. He explains how he has navigated the challenges of employing former clients while emphasizing the importance of understanding the long term commitment required to invest in people and help them find positions where they’ll thrive. He also discusses the challenge of being a mission-driven organization that needs to run like a for-profit business. As he gives his perspective, he shares what it’s like working with rival gang members who have been victims of racial, economic, and system-wide injustice. Thomas will also share three important lessons he learned while writing his book and the key principles of finding joy, balance, and your personal beliefs. Finally, he addresses the heavy burden of helping former gang members and prisoners heal from their pain.

Links to Resources:

The Homeboy Way: A Radical Approach to Business and Life – https://www.amazon.com/Homeboy-Way-Radical-Approach-Business/dp/082945456X

Homeboy Industries – https://homeboyindustries.org/

Homeboy Industries on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/HomeboyIndustries

If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at rob@ccofpc.org
To be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/

When it comes to nonprofits, is working together really better? For two of our country’s largest nonprofits, the answer is yes. Big Brothers and Big Sisters of America just announced a new collaborative partnership with the Girl Scouts of the USA to help young women create lasting and meaningful relationships.  

Rob’s guests today are Artis Stevens, the first black CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Judith Batty, who has served as interim CEO of the Girl Scouts and was also the first black CEO of the Girl Scouts. Both organizations have a long history of over 100 years ago and recently partnered to expand their reach and learn and grow together.     

This is Part 2 of Rob’s interview with them.

Judith and Artis dive into the why behind their collaboration and the focus on shared values and commitment to young people. They discuss the logistics of implementing programs, building to scale, and creating sustainable outcomes.They break down three delivery models they’re currently piloting, the impact of this collaboration on each organization’s culture, and how they are trying to empower their staff, volunteers, and young people to find their voice and to be change agents in their communities. Finally, Artis and Judith review the origins of their respective organizations and why their work is just as relevant today as when they first started.         

Links to Resources:

Girl Scouts of the USA –https://www.girlscouts.org/

Judith Batty – https://www.linkedin.com/in/judith-batty

Big Brothers and Big Sisters of America – https://www.bbbs.org/

Artis Stevens – https://www.linkedin.com/in/artis-stevens-b386195/

If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at rob@robharter.com
To be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/

When it comes to nonprofits, is working together really better? For two of our country’s largest nonprofits, the answer is yes. Big Brothers and Big Sisters of America just announced a new collaborative partnership with the Girl Scouts of the USA to help young women create lasting and meaningful relationships.  

Rob’s guests today are Artis Stevens, the first black CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Judith Batty, who has served as interim CEO of the Girl Scouts and was also the first black CEO of the Girl Scouts. Both organizations have a long history of over 100 years ago and recently partnered to expand their reach and learn and grow together.  

This is Part 1 of Rob’s interview with them.   

Judith and Artis dive into the why behind their collaboration and the focus on shared values and commitment to young people. They discuss the logistics of implementing programs, building to scale, and creating sustainable outcomes.They break down three delivery models they’re currently piloting, the impact of this collaboration on each organization’s culture, and how they are trying to empower their staff, volunteers, and young people to find their voice and to be change agents in their communities. Finally, Artis and Judith review the origins of their respective organizations and why their work is just as relevant today as when they first started.         

Links to Resources:

Girl Scouts of the USA –https://www.girlscouts.org/

Judith Batty – https://www.linkedin.com/in/judith-batty

Big Brothers and Big Sisters of America – https://www.bbbs.org/

Artis Stevens – https://www.linkedin.com/in/artis-stevens-b386195/

If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at rob@robharter.com
To be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/

Too often, nonprofits think they’re the cause that the community wants to support. But nonprofits are not the cause. They’re the conduit for the cause.

Rob’s guest today is Bill McKendry, a marketing expert who’s spent 35 years successfully doing marketing for many for-profit companies. He pivoted out of the for-profit world to not only start a nonprofit, but is now an author of a book focused on helping nonprofit professionals build better brand awareness and increase their impact, while at the same time building donor’s support and community involvement.      

Bill shares his experience of leaving the for-profit sector and how his new book has been 25 years in the making. He explains why nonprofits should focus on finding strength in their voice by investing in their marketing and messaging. He dives into how the biggest competition nonprofits face are the best marketers in the world. He also points out how many businesses are creating causes to support instead of partner with nonprofits. He discusses how nonprofits can provide a “triple win” by partnering with businesses that need the trust and good stewardship a nonprofit organization offers. He also shares the top three things that nonprofit leaders need to know in order to build their brand. Bill also explains why nonprofits must understand the three categories of brands: “candy, vitamin, and painkiller”. Finally he points out the evidence that “frequency wins”, when it comes to marketing. It is not necessarily about waiting to find the perfect marketing or the best video, or the most expensive advertising. It is all about frequency.

This episode is sponsored by Do More Good and Epic.inc

Links to Resources:

Do More Good – https://domoregood.org/

If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at rob@ccofpc.org

To be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/

Change is the one constant in our world, and most of us reluctantly acknowledged this truth perhaps never more than this past year. We all have been through so much change and we’re still going through more change. How can you as a leader adapt effectively to our ever-changing environment, especially as it relates to your organization’s culture and leadership challenges? 

Rob’s guests today are Dave Jones and Phyllis Hockett, co-founders of Pathway Associates. They have many years of experience between them and are full time consultants who are dedicated to raising up effective leaders for today’s nonprofits.  

Dave and Phyllis discuss current trends they’re witnessing in organizations and how the pandemic has permanently affected nonprofits either for the good or the bad. They address this era of transformative change and why it’s critical for organizations to have forward-thinking leadership ready to adapt as needed. They explain why it’s important to focus on relationships and the return on investment when it comes to events and leveraging technology for fundraising. They share advice for how to achieve a healthy balance of advocacy without becoming too political, being mindful of IRS limitations, and staying true to your mission. They give examples of how organizations can double their impact by working together in successful collaboration. Phyllis and Dave also talk about why leadership is critically important to creating a positive culture and how a board’s culture of philanthropy can affect an organization. They share what leadership methods they believe are necessary to bring about social change and the practices that have shaped them personally as leaders. Finally, they explain the value of having a beginner’s mind and why it’s okay to not have all the answers as long as you’re willing to keep learning.  

Links to Resources:

Pathway Associates – https://www.pathwayassoc.com/

If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at rob@ccofpc.org
To be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/

Our world continues to change in so many areas, particularly in regards to technology, and specifically, smart tech. Smart tech is not just changing how we use technology, but it’s actually changing the way people make decisions. 

Rob’s guests today are Beth Kanter and Allison Fine, co-authors of the upcoming book entitled The Smart Nonprofit. They point out that smart tech and other advanced digital technologies are actually now making decisions for people instead of just being used by people. And that’s why they claim that this is not just a tech evolution, but a revolutionary shift in moving power away from people and towards tech.

Allison and Beth address what smart tech is and what it is not, and why smart automation is so revolutionary. They discuss how nonprofits can use technology in an ethically responsible way and how to avoid using racist smart tech with embedded bias. They also share why the key message of their book is about being human centered and why nonprofits should use automation and technology to encourage innovative thinking in order to have a bigger impact. They explain how smart tech allows nonprofits to shift from being transactional to being relational and why strong leadership is really the key to implementation. They give tips for finding technology that aligns with your values and why it’s time to turn the page on frantic busyness. Finally, they share some of the most important steps organizations should take today in order to become a smart nonprofit.

Links to Resources:

The Smart Nonprofit: Staying Human-Centered in An Automated World  https://www.amazon.com/Smart-Nonprofit-Staying-Human-Centered-Automated/dp/1119818125/

Beth Kanter – https://bethkanter.org/

Allison Fine – https://www.allisonfine.com/

If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at parkcityrob1@gmail.com

To be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/

20 years ago, at what she thought was the height of her career, Virginia Jacko was diagnosed with a condition that caused her to gradually become blind. She then went to the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired to learn how to thrive and live independently as a blind person. Today, Virginia thrives in her life there. 

Rob’s guest today is Virginia Jacko, who became president and CEO of the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired. At the Miami Lighthouse, Virginia provides education, training, research and vision enhancement to people of all ages. In a digitally dependent world, she and her IT team, also all visually impaired, provide counsel to organizations to ensure that their websites are inclusive and ADA compliant. In fact, she has been such a positive advocate for the visually impaired, President Biden’s team revamped the whitehouse.gov site to make it more inclusive and ADA compliant. She has grown the Miami Lighthouse from having 500 clients to 25,000 clients annually.        

Virginia explains why she’s so passionate about the work she does and how technology levels the playing field for the blind and visually impaired. She addresses why accessibility is so important even though it is a slow process of trying to get organizations to update their website to be ADA compliant. She also shares why organizations must have a clear vision statement to be successful and how she balances her role as a leader and someone who encourages her team. She gives insight to different ways she values every employee and why building relationships with government leaders is important. Virginia discusses why she follows the Platinum Rule of “Treating others how they need to be treated” in order to bring about social change. Finally, she describes the top 3 leadership traits she looks for in her staff and why she believes staying current on news and learning from each other helps her grow as a leader. 

This episode was sponsored by Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Links to Resources:

Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired – https://miamilighthouse.org/

Virginia Jacko – VJacko@miamilighthouse.org, cell 786-897-7022

If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at rob@ccofpc.org

To be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/

Did you know that on average, most nonprofit leaders and organizations are only tapping into 13% of their current donors’ potential? In other words, 87% of your current donors are not being fully connected with your mission, which could in turn generate an exponential increase in their support of your organization.

Rob’s guest today is Bob Westfall, Founder and Chairman of Westfall Gold, a donor fundraising agency with a program that moves donors from transactional giving to transformational giving, while turning supporters into ambassadors. Since its founding in 2002, this organization has organized 400 Major Donor weekend fundraising events and raised almost $1.4 billion dollars  on behalf of nonprofits, hospitals, churches and universities across the nation. Westfall Gold provides a service that helps nonprofits maximize their existing donors in order to make a difference with large philanthropic contributions, as well as encouraging philanthropy to become more central to these donors’ lives.    

Bob shares why he’s invested his life into raising funds for so many organizations. He also will share along the way some surprising insights from his annual Generosity Report. He explains how organizations can tap into donors already in their database and the necessity of focusing on an organization’s transformational story. He breaks down what is most important when communicating with donors and how to unlock transformational giving. He describes what fundraising should look like, and why creating community, being intentional and cultivating relationships with donors is critical. Bob discusses how nonprofit leaders can build bridges of trust by making multiple deposits in the relationship “bank” before ever trying to make a withdrawal. He also explains the value of a nonprofit’s brand and how he approaches leadership with a focus on courage. Finally, he shares the two greatest challenges that are currently facing the nonprofit sector.

*This episode is sponsored by Westfall Gold.

Links to Resources:

Westfall Gold – https://www.westfallgold.com/

Bob Westfall – https://bob-westfall.com/

The Courage Factor – https://www.amazon.com/Bob-Westfall/e/B0057DENKI%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share

If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at parkcityrob1@gmail.com
To be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/

There’s no doubt that we’ve moved into a new normal in our culture in the wake of the COVID pandemic. How should we lead in this new normal? Do nonprofit leaders need to shift their leadership style, change fundraising, or retool programs and services? 

Rob’s guest today is Gaston Warner, the CEO of Zoe Empowers, a nonprofit organization that envisions children who once lived in poverty becoming entrepreneurs, providers and leaders in their community who know their worth and abilities. Zoe Empowers is the winner of the 2021 .ORG Impact Awards for the category of fighting hunger and poverty.  

Gaston explains how Zoe Empowers was initially started in response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic in 2004 and evolved to address the cycle of relief and dependency in Rwandan children by giving them tools to be self-empowered. He shares his greatest leadership challenge as a CEO and why leaders must be passionate, have an all-encompassing view of an organization’s needs and must be a leader among leaders, helping others develop their skills. He also discusses how he manages both doable and destructive stress within the organization by looking for opportunities to improve or create a path forward. Gaston breaks down why nonprofits of all sizes should focus on measurable impact and return on investment instead of low overheads and heartstrings, when it comes to sustainable fundraising. He explains how they have flipped upside down their org chart by starting with participants at the top, and how this structure helped address problems quickly during COVID. Finally, he talks about what leaders and resources have impacted his own leadership growth and how his board members often serve as excellent mentors.                   

Links to Resources:

Gaston Warner – gaston.warner@zoeempowers.org

Zoe Empowers – https://zoeempowers.org/

.Org Impact Awards – https://orgimpactawards.org

If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at rob@ccofpc.org
To be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/

To affect big change in the world, a nonprofit leader must be willing to take risks and must be willing to fail along the way. To put it simply, it takes courage. Today’s guest, Adrien Lewis, explains what is required to be a courageous leader. 

Rob’s guest, Adrien Lewis, is the founder and President of CarePortal. CarePortal is a technology platform that drives action for local kids and families in crisis all over the US. They do this by connecting people who need help with people who want to help, through their care-sharing network.

Adrien explains what his platform, CarePortal, is about and why he and his wife started the company. Through this care-sharing network, families across the United States can receive the help and hope they need to move forward. Adrien shares that the road to starting CarePortal was paved with lessons and failures, yet they didn’t give up on their mission to help children in need. He wants nonprofit leaders to know that courage is not the absence of fear, but it means pushing through your fears and failures. In order to establish a culture of courage, Adrien believes you must acknowledge the courageous actions of those you lead. He also believes that true courage requires a heart of humility. Adrien shares examples of leaders he admires who are both humble and courageous. Finally, Adrien describes a wonderful collaboration between CarePortal and the Stand Together Foundation and how they are making a difference on a national level.

Mentioned:

CarePortal

Connect with Adrien on LinkedIn

Sound of Hope film

This Episode is sponsored by:

Links to Resources:

Want to work with a leadership and life coach, check out Rob’s website https://robharter.com/

If you have any suggestions for the show, email nonprofitleadershippodcast@gmail.com

For more episodes and to subscribe to our newsletter, check out https://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/ 

Join the discussion over on Rob’s LinkedIn page

When it comes to leadership, is there a difference between leading in the nonprofit sector versus the for-profit sector? Or are the principles of leadership essentially the same, regardless of the sector? 

Rob’s guest today is Jada Hoerr, who moved from a successful career at Caterpillar to now work at the Midwest Food Bank as their Chief Resource Officer.  The Midwest Food Bank will distribute approximately $400 million worth of food to 2000 nonprofits, and operates ten warehouses in the US and has two operations internationally.  

Jada recalls what originally attracted her to Caterpillar and how her desire for meaningful work with a global impact helped with the transition to the nonprofit sector. She discusses how the approach to leadership in each sector is similar, but also addresses the different cultural framework of leading with the motto “Humility equals success” at Midwest Food Bank. She shares what nonprofits should know about engaging with corporate sponsors and the importance of being in service together. She also explains why consistent communication, training, and bringing into life and demonstrating your organization’s core values are key to help foster growth. Jada talks about how Midwest Food Bank addresses the root causes of food insecurity, particularly during COVID, and how they provide support by distributing food at no cost to the nonprofits to help alleviate hunger in local communities. She goes on to share what sets the Midwest Food Bank apart, why they focus on a first class volunteer experience and how they’ve maintained their volunteer program’s success. Finally, she explains their organization’s biggest leadership challenges, which leaders have inspired her most, and how she stays informed on leadership and development practices.     

Links to Resources:

Midwest Food Bank – https://www.midwestfoodbank.org/

MFB Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/MidwestFoodBankOfficial

MFB Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/midwestfoodbank/

MFB LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/midwestfoodbank/

If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at rob@ccofpc.org

To be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/

Passion and dedication is the fuel that nonprofits run on. When you find an individual, whether that be a paid staff, person or volunteer who is passionately dedicated to your organization’s vision, they can become a raving fan. But how can you develop and cultivate raving fans for your nonprofit?

Rob’s guest today is Jeffrey Heller, a raving fan who has dedicated thousands of hours to raising awareness around the plight of refugees and asylum seekers in our country, and along the way has introduced thousands of people to Human Rights First, a nonprofit organization committed to serving as a champion for human rights of all individuals. The mission of the Human Rights First organization so captivated Jeffrey that he now dedicates his life to riding his bike around the country to raise funds and create greater awareness for this nonprofit championing human rights. 

Jeffrey shares how his career in commercial law eventually led to his decision to become an ambassador for human rights, despite multiple near-death experiences. He explains why he chose to support a nonprofit instead of a government organization and the appeal of Human Rights First’s synergy and ability to bring people together, and how he respects their willingness to stick up for people no matter what. He discusses the barriers he’s faced as he advocates for those who need services and what he wants people to understand about the need to take care of all humans. He describes his upcoming 11th annual ride for human rights and why New York City is an example of what America should be—full of different communities and cultures that respect and help each other.   

Links to Resources:

Human Rights First – https://www.humanrightsfirst.org/

Check out Jeffrey’s specific website documenting his ride here – rideforhumanrights.org

If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at rob@ccofpc.org
To be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/

Did you know that we’re heading into an unprecedented wealth transfer? It’s been said that within the next few decades, as much as 68 trillion in wealth will pass from the Baby Boomers to the next generation, specifically Gen-xers and Millennials. This is a critical moment for nonprofits to connect meaningfully with their potential donors. So how can you best connect with donors in a truly meaningful way? 

Rob’s guest on this episode is Lisa Greer, a philanthropist and entrepreneur, a convener and an author as of 2021. She’s the commissioner of the California State Commission on the Status of Women and Girls and the chair of the Giving Back Fund, and also has a new book called Philanthropy Revolution: How Inspired Donors Build Relationships and Make a Difference.

Lisa addresses the potential transfer of massive wealth and what that means for nonprofits. She also shares why more nonprofits need to understand and accept donor-advised funds. One of the things she emphasizes is the need for fundraisers to treat donors as human beings and improve relationships and communication with potential donors. She discusses why nonprofit leaders must protect their organization’s brand, business and staff, and common mistakes to avoid manipulating donors when messaging about funding needs. She also explains the drawbacks of competition in the nonprofit sector as well as the huge opportunity in working with millennials both as potential donors and board members. Lisa shares why she believes nonprofits need to overhaul how they fundraise and how to maintain relationships with donors by treating them with the same care they show the communities they serve. Finally, she gives simple ways organizations can make donors feel valued and appreciated as a person instead of a dollar sign.        

Links to Resources:

Lisa Greer: https://www.lisagreer.com/

Philanthropy Revolution Book: https://www.philanthropyrevolution.com/

If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at rob@ccofpc.org
To be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/