Explore every episode of the podcast On The Ground
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 82% of Nonprofit Leaders Are Stuck. Here's Why. | 05 Feb 2026 | 00:18:06 | |
Over half of nonprofit leaders admit their discomfort with fundraising is directly limiting their organization's impact. Not because they don't know what to do—but because asking for money triggers anxiety, avoidance, and resentment they can't seem to overcome. In this episode, James Misner exposes the truth most fundraising advice ignores: Your fundraising struggles aren't a knowledge problem. They're a psychological problem. | |||
| Welcome to the Trenches | 04 Feb 2026 | 00:07:02 | |
"We're making a real impact. Our programs work. Our team is passionate. So why doesn't our funding match what we're creating?"If you've ever asked yourself that question, this podcast is for you. Welcome to On the Ground – real leaders, real challenges, real solutions from the trenches. I'm James Misner, CEO of The Kipos Group, and for 20 years, I've watched passionate nonprofit leaders work themselves to exhaustion while their revenue stays stuck. | |||
| $10 Million in 90 Days: How World Relief Housed 3,998 Refugee Families When the Government Cut Funds | 07 Apr 2026 | 00:43:41 | |
In this episode of On the Ground with James Misner, James sits down with Calla Parker and Matt Soerens to unpack how World Relief mobilized a rapid, faith-driven response—raising $10 million in just 90 days and housing 3,998 refugee families. This conversation goes beyond the numbers. Calla and Matt share what it looked like to navigate sudden policy shifts, respond to urgent human need, and lead through uncertainty while staying grounded in mission. They also reveal the behind-the-scenes strategy—how advocacy, storytelling, and donor engagement came together to fuel one of the most critical fundraising efforts in recent history. | |||
| Prevention That Works: How Love Justice International Scales Justice Through Data & Donor Trust | 31 Mar 2026 | 00:36:37 | |
The podcast features a conversation with John Molineux, CEO of Love Justice International, focusing on the organization's impactful mission and efficient fundraising strategies. John shares his journey to founding Love Justice and the birth of its preventative solution. The discussion also delves into the scaling of transit monitoring, tenacity and resilience in fundraising, maximizing impact and efficiency, translating program skills to fundraising, donor engagement and impact, and the future of Love Justice International. | |||
| Stay Focused, Choose Wisely: How ANCA Supports 400+ Nature Centers on a Lean Budget | 24 Mar 2026 | 00:27:25 | |
In this episode of On the Ground, host James Meisner sits down with Jen, Executive Director of ANCA — the national association representing over 400 nature centers across North America. Jen shares her journey from wildlife biologist to nonprofit leader, the lessons she's learned navigating membership organizations, and why nature centers are more vital than ever in today's screen-dominated world. From setting realistic fundraising goals to staying focused amid constant change, Jen offers honest, practical wisdom for any nonprofit leader trying to grow sustainably. Plus, she breaks down ANCA's biggest fundraising challenge — telling their impact story — and why storytelling may be their greatest opportunity yet. | |||
| Acceleration: From Big Wins to Mastery | 17 Mar 2026 | 00:17:26 | |
The celebration is real. The impact is massive. But the mindset has changed. In this episode of On the Ground, James Misner explores Stage 5: Acceleration—the moment when success stops being the finish line and becomes the new baseline. This conversation is about what it takes to build a team that pursues excellence relentlessly and isn’t satisfied with “good enough.” Because the best teams don’t just win—they evolve. | |||
| Action: Building Systems That Fund The Mission | 10 Mar 2026 | 00:15:54 | |
The conversation explores the concept of stage four in fundraising psychology, focusing on action, learning orientation, building systems and teams, and the role of metrics and feedback. It emphasizes the importance of intelligent action, learning from mistakes, involving teams, and using metrics as feedback for improvement. | |||
| Acceptance: "Owning Fundraising as Leadership.” | 27 Feb 2026 | 00:21:04 | |
James Misner, CEO of The Kipos, explores Stage 3 of Fundraising Psychology: Acceptance — the turning point where fundraising stops feeling like an obligation and becomes an expression of leadership. This is the moment when fear and resentment fade, and ownership takes its place. Fundraising is no longer something that happens to you — it becomes something you intentionally lead. Stage 3 isn’t about loving every donor meeting or becoming someone you’re not. It’s about alignment. It’s about recognizing that resourcing the mission is central — not secondary — to your role as a nonprofit CEO. | |||
| Annoyance: "I Have to Do This, But I Really Don't Want To ! " | 20 Feb 2026 | 00:24:44 | |
You’re no longer afraid of donor meetings. In Stage 2 of our 5 Stages of Fundraising Psychology series, James Misner unpacks the quiet danger of resentment in nonprofit leadership. In this episode, James explores why Annoyance is more dangerous than Anxiety, how subtle resentment caps growth, and why flat results often trace back to flat energy. If your organization feels stuck — not declining, but not growing — this conversation will hit close to home. You’re functioning. But are you thriving? | |||
| From Panic to Progress: The First Stage of Fundraising Psychology | 11 Feb 2026 | 00:23:02 | |
In this episode of On the Ground, James Misner (CEO, The Kipos Group) shares insights from the largest study to date on the psychology of nonprofit fundraising—and the finding that changes everything: 82% of nonprofit leaders are psychologically stuck, not because they don’t know what to do, but because of what happens inside them when it’s time to ask. You’ll learn the five stages of fundraising psychology, why you can’t skip stages, and what “Stage 1: Anxiety” actually looks like in real life. James gives practical ways to build momentum—small actions that retrain your nervous system—and clear next steps to identify your stage and move forward. | |||
| Lead With Optimism or Get Out of the Way: Kendra Davenport on Running a National Nonprofit | 28 Apr 2026 | 00:39:55 | |
Adaptive Show Notes for "Leading with Innovation and Humanity at Easterseals" Podcast Episode Join us as Kendra Ennis Davenport, President and CEO of Easterseals, shares how the organization serves over 1 million people annually by blending tradition with innovation, storytelling with impact, and optimism with realism. Discover how Easterseals navigates funding gaps, scales care, and advocates for disability awareness with heart and ingenuity. Main Topics:
In this episode:
Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to Easterseals and its impact on over a million individuals annually 00:31 - Kendra's background and vision for sustaining innovation over 107 years 01:56 - The juxtaposition of tradition and innovation at Easterseals 03:19 - Innovative adult day services — open-air centers and personalized care models 05:00 - The story of the PIAT open-air adult day center in Southern California 07:05 - Fundraising challenges and human storytelling for adult programs 09:15 - Engaging veteran stories to highlight resilience and purpose 11:56 - Maintaining positivity despite national funding challenges 14:49 - How Easterseals continues to evolve and celebrate long-term impact 16:58 - The importance of storytelling, authenticity, and participant agency 22:51 - Lessons learned from a failed gaming program and pivoting with transparency 22:58 - Crafting stories that balance honesty with emotional connection 28:40 - The role of personal stories in advocacy and fundraising success 33:31 - Building a national awareness movement for disability akin to breast cancer campaigns 34:00 - Advice for small nonprofits aspiring to grow impact 38:02 - Connecting with Easterseals and future leadership initiatives Resources & Links: Connect with Kendra: | |||
| From $7,000 to $800,000: How North Bay Transformed Its Fundraising Strategy | 23 Apr 2026 | 00:31:46 | |
From $7,000 to $800,000: How North Bay Transformed Its Fundraising Strategy In this episode:
Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction: The mission to change nonprofit funding perceptions Resources & Links: Connect with Jen Foy: Connect with James Misner: | |||
| $10 Million With 6 Staff: How the Okanagan Science Centre Is Building a Campaign | 21 Jul 2026 | 00:26:10 | |
How the Okanagan Science Center Leads with Community and Innovation Join us as Dione Chambers, director of the Okanagan Science Center, shares her journey from chemistry and nanotechnology to leading a beloved community science hub. Discover how she navigates fundraising, community engagement, and innovation in a small-town setting. Main Topic:
In this episode:
Timestamps: 00:00 - Introducing Dione Chambers and the Okanagan Science Center's unique story 00:21 - The location and community context of the Okanagan Valley 01:08 - Dione's transition from chemistry and nanotech to nonprofit leadership 01:33 - How her diverse experiences shape her approach to managing the science center 02:28 - What visitors experience at the science center, including exhibits and animal displays 03:00 - The popularity of axolotls and other unique science experiences 04:27 - Funding structures and revenue strategies, including moving online 05:09 - Deep dive into the center’s online platform and educational offerings 06:08 - The role of web-based programs for school groups and community 07:05 - Supporting teachers with accessible resources 07:35 - Looking ahead: fundraising plans and engaging community support 08:22 - The upcoming $10 million capital campaign and early donor engagement 09:38 - The importance of dedicated fundraising focus for nonprofit leaders 09:57 - Challenges faced with the canceled science festival and lessons in crisis management 12:52 - Navigating the fire emergency and restoring community trust 15:44 - The 'plant bingo' event as a creative response during closures 17:16 - Community resilience and communication during crises 18:51 - Marketing lessons learned from the fire and signage challenges 20:43 - The importance of multi-channel communication in busy community environments 22:50 - Leadership lessons: building teams, delegating, and self-care 24:00 - Connecting with Dione and the Okanagan Science Center for further engagement Resources & Links: Connect with Dione Chambers: | |||
| 15 Kids to 100,000: How Kupenda Scales Disability Inclusion Through Others | 14 Jul 2026 | 00:36:36 | |
Transforming Attitudes and Building Communities: How Kupenda Promotes Disability Inclusion and Breaks Down Stigma Cynthia Bauer of Kupenda shares her journey from wildlife biology to leading a global movement against disability stigma. Learn how strategic partnerships, grassroots work, and smart measurement tools drive lasting change worldwide. In this episode:
Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro to Cynthia and Kupenda 00:21 - Cindy's story, discovering stigma in Kenya 01:36 - Kupenda's accidental founding 02:55 - From basic aid to root causes 03:34 - Faith and community leaders shifting beliefs 04:36 - What Kupenda does today; meaning of the name 05:57 - Engaging influencers for inclusion 06:27 - Scaling via local partnerships 07:37 - Early fundraising, hiring a development director 09:14 - Government/foundation funding & measurement 10:53 - Demonstrating impact through studies, stories 11:46 - Lessons from teacher-training setbacks 12:28 - Influencing others without direct implementation 13:03 - Building disability-inclusive development models 14:19 - Partnerships in Sierra Leone and Malawi 15:56 - Reach: working with 27+ organizations 16:51 - Storytelling and communicating impact 18:02 - Measuring stigma reduction, transformation 22:27 - Case story: a mother and her children 23:45 - Lessons from failed quick fixes, segregated education 26:01 - Fundraising pitfalls: capital campaigns, one-off events 28:51 - Mindset shift during crises like COVID-19 29:20 - Cindy's vision for Kupenda's next decade 31:09 - Disability as a shared development lens 32:52 - State of philanthropic giving to disability causes 33:33 - Impact of shifting perceptions, systemic inclusion 34:16 - How to connect with Cynthia and Kupenda Resources & Links: Connect with Cindy: | |||
| $55, 5 Years of Impact: How Growing Hope Globally Turns Farms Into Fundraisers | 09 Jul 2026 | 00:25:30 | |
Growing Hope Globally: Connecting Communities for Global Food Security In this episode, Kaitlyn from Growing Hope Globally shares how local farming initiatives in the U.S. create global impact, supporting farmers in developing countries and fostering international unity. Main Topic:
Timestamps: Resources and Links: Connect with Kaitlyn: | |||
| From $2.3M to $5.7M in 8 Years: How Hope Walks Is Eliminating Clubfoot Worldwide | 18 Jun 2026 | 00:28:30 | |
From Nurturing Nurses to Transforming Lives: The Hopes Walks Journey Discover how a nurse’s volunteer work evolved into a global movement eliminating clubfoot disability, transforming thousands of lives across multiple countries. Join us as Scott Reichenbach shares the inspiring story behind Hope Walks, strategic growth, and the power of faith and community in health initiatives in this episode:
Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to Scott Reichenbach and the origin story of Hope Walks mission Resources & Links: Connect with Scott Reichenbach: | |||