Explore every episode of the podcast Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
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| 341: 4 Resources Every Nonprofit Leader Needs (Ivan Canada) | 06 Nov 2025 | 00:44:39 | |
341: 4 Resources Every Nonprofit Leader Needs (Ivan Canada)
Special thanks to TowneBank for bringing these conversations to life and for their ongoing support of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership and their commitment to strengthening nonprofit organizations. Learn more about how they can help you at TowneBank.com/NonprofitBanking.
Ivan Canada is the President and CEO of the North Carolina Center for Nonprofits, an organization dedicated to amplifying the collective voice of the state’s nonprofit sector. Under his leadership, the Center provides thousands of nonprofits with resources in advocacy, legal guidance, fundraising best practices, and peer learning opportunities. With a career spanning both nonprofit and corporate sectors, Ivan brings a unique perspective on how organizations can thrive through strategic collaboration and mission-centered leadership. Known for his inclusive leadership style and commitment to equity, Ivan works to ensure every North Carolina nonprofit has access to the knowledge and connections needed to fulfill its mission effectively.
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| 340: You Should Be Moving at the Speed of Relationships (Will Acuff) | 30 Oct 2025 | 00:48:00 | |
340: You Should Be Moving at the Speed of Relationships (Will Acuff) SUMMARY Special thanks to TowneBank for bringing these conversations to life and for their ongoing support of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership and their commitment to strengthening nonprofit organizations. Learn more about how they can help you at TowneBank.com/NonprofitBanking. How can you build stronger community impact without burning out or losing sight of your mission? In episode #340 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Will Acuff, Co-Founder of Corner to Corner in Nashville, Tennessee, shares how relationship-driven leadership has fueled his organization’s growth and sustained its mission. Will explains why authentic connection - not control - is the key to lasting impact. He discusses the importance of leading with empathy, setting boundaries that protect your energy, and prioritizing community trust over quick wins. His insights offer practical tools to deepen relationships, strengthen organizational culture, and build a team that moves together with purpose. If you’re striving to scale your nonprofit while staying grounded in your values, this conversation will help you lead with authenticity, humility, and resilience. ABOUT WILL Will Acuff is the Co-Founder of Corner to Corner, a Nashville-based nonprofit that equips neighbors with the tools and relationships they need to thrive. Under his leadership, Corner to Corner has grown into a nationally recognized organization known for its entrepreneurship programs, youth education initiatives, and storytelling platforms that celebrate community success. Guided by his belief that relationships drive sustainable change, Will has dedicated his career to creating pathways to opportunity for underserved communities. Through innovative programs like The Academy - which has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs launch and grow local businesses - he continues to prove that lasting impact begins with trust and collaboration. Will is a frequent speaker on leadership, faith, and social innovation, and his approach has inspired nonprofit leaders nationwide to “move at the speed of relationships.” EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 331: 3 Keys to Great Nonprofit Leadership (Dianne Chipps Bailey) | 28 Aug 2025 | 00:44:49 | |
331: 3 Keys to Great Nonprofit Leadership (Dianne Chipps Bailey) SUMMARY Special thanks to Armstrong McGuire for bringing these conversations to life, and for their commitment to strengthening leadership throughout nonprofit organizations. Learn more about how they can help you at ArmstrongMcGuire.com. What does it take to lead with purpose and longevity in today’s nonprofit sector? In episode 331 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Dianne Chipps Bailey shares three essential practices for sustaining strong leadership: diversifying revenue beyond institutional funders, building authentic board engagement rooted in trust and structure, and prioritizing self-care for long-term impact. Drawing from her legal and philanthropic background, Dianne outlines how nonprofit leaders can unlock transformational gifts from individuals and families, advocate for employment agreements and sabbaticals, and model healthy leadership habits. She also emphasizes the growing power of women in philanthropy and the importance of creating a personal board of advisors. ABOUT DIANNE Dianne Chipps Bailey is Managing Director and National Philanthropic Strategy Executive for Philanthropic Solutions at Bank of America Private Bank. Dianne and her team deliver customized consulting and advisory services on topics including strategic visioning, mission advancement, high-impact grant making, leadership development, governance and board dynamics. Her professional passion is empowering donors and nonprofit leaders to create meaningful and enduring change. She enjoys sharing what she’s learned about best practices and trends in philanthropy. Her insights have been featured in Axios, Barron’s, Business Insider, Fortune, The Washington Post and The New York Times, among other publications. She has served on and led many nonprofit boards and is a passionate advocate for women’s leadership, currently serving as chair of the Women’s Philanthropy Institute national council. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 241: The Power of Strategic Planning for Nonprofits (Marie Palacios) | 21 Dec 2023 | 00:42:12 | |
241: The Power of Strategic Planning for Nonprofits (Marie Palacios) SUMMARY Did you know that a well-crafted strategic plan is statistically proven to double an organization’s chance of long-term success? In episode #241 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, strategic planning expert Marie Palacios provides clarity around the strategic planning process and how to create a powerful final written product. You’ll gain insider tips on questions like “How do we level the playing field so both introverts and extroverts have equal opportunity to contribute in conversations?” and “How do we narrow down a plethora of ideas into one concise document?”. Marie highlights the essential components so you can come away with a compelling plan with strategies to ensure the end result is clear, concise, and compelling.
ABOUT MARIE Marie Palacios, Lead Consultant for Funding for Good, is an expert educator, consultant, and facilitator who helps leaders achieve their goals. She combines evidence-based facilitation methods and two decades of professional experience to facilitate dynamic and productive meetings. Her specialties include consensus building, leadership development, and strategic planning for both for-profit and nonprofit organizations. Over the past two decades, Marie has worn every hat imaginable in the business world: volunteer, board member, program director, executive director, and development consultant. Marie is bilingual and uses her Spanish skills to provide language access and diversity training services for businesses and local government sectors. She is passionate about serving others and coordinates annual service trips to Latin America through her private consulting company, MP Pro Consult. Marie is a native of Morganton, NC, where she lives with her husband, three daughters, and one spoiled rescue dog named “Mako.” EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 240: How Can We Build the Nonprofit Leadership Pipeline? (Carmita Semaan) | 14 Dec 2023 | 00:52:38 | |
240: How Can We Build the Nonprofit Leadership Pipeline? (Carmita Semaan) SUMMARY Are you developing a strong pipeline of nonprofit leaders within your organization? In episode #240 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Carmita Semaan, founder of The Surge Institute, explains how nonprofit leaders should strategically position future talent to help their organization excel, and maintain a steady stream of candidates for when it’s time to hire. Learn how Surge is changing the narrative and supporting diverse leadership across the sector. Carmita also shares how she’s communicating her mission to funders, community members, and corporate leaders, and how her fundraising has enabled her to dramatically scale her organization. She shares how Surge measures success and how she herself recruits talented leaders.
ABOUT CARMITA Carmita Semaan is Founder and CEO of The Surge Institute. Her superpower is supporting and elevating the genius of emerging and seasoned leaders - particularly women and people of color - and shining a light on the brilliance and ingenuity that is too often overlooked and untapped in solving systemic issues. Carmita hails from Birmingham, AL and proudly professes that her hometown made her who she has become. Birmingham’s history has shaped what she feels called to do and the hustle, horsepower and heart she exhibits. Her guiding principle is the connection of head, heart, and soul in leadership to drive sustainable impact and lasting partnerships. Carmita holds an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, and a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Michigan. She is a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network, a 2009 Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow, and is a graduate of the Broad Residency in Urban Education. She honors her love for education equity, creative arts, and the amplification of and investment in women community leaders via many boards and volunteer engagements. Carmita lives in Los Angeles with her husband, daughter, and their beloved goldendoodle, Jefferson. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 239: Nonprofit Leadership: 3 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started (Elizabeth Cushing) | 07 Dec 2023 | 00:48:38 | |
239: Nonprofit Leadership: 3 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started (Elizabeth Cushing) SUMMARY Where are you on Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership? In episode #239, seasoned nonprofit leader Elizabeth Cushing shares some of her biggest surprises along the journey, lessons she learned while leading large-scale organizational growth during a global pandemic, and the three things she wished she’d known before her journey began. Learn the differences between scaling an organization versus scaling the solution, and how large-scale change can affect your overall fundraising efforts and donor development. Elizabeth shares sage advice for every emerging nonprofit leader.
ABOUT ELIZABETH Elizabeth Cushing is the CEO of Playworks, a national organization headquartered in Oakland, CA, that helps schools and school districts make the most of recess through on-site staffing, consultative support, professional development, and free resources. Elizabeth has been with Playworks for 17 years. She became president in 2011, and CEO in 2021. As CEO, Elizabeth leads the senior management team and ensures that all strategic targets are met across the organization. She has spearheaded Playworks’ growth plan, leading the organization through a scaling strategy that took it from partnering with 61 schools in 2004 to nearly 2,000 schools in 2020. Elizabeth has more than 25 years of nonprofit management experience with youth development and youth-serving organizations, and as a leader in the youth development field, is frequently invited to speak about Playworks’ scaling experience, and how play supports children’s development and wellbeing.
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| 238: Is It Time to Redesign Your Nonprofit’s Website? (David Pisarek) | 30 Nov 2023 | 00:47:18 | |
238: Is It Time to Redesign Your Nonprofit’s Website? (David Pisarek) SUMMARY Is your website as effective as it needs to be for your nonprofit? In episode #238 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, digital marketing expert David Pisarek shares how you can dramatically improve your website and digital marketing efforts and why you should invest in that effort right now. Learn what a redesign process looks like, the typical costs, and how to find a great agency with which to work. David’s experience within the philanthropic sector allows him to address how website analytics can lead to increased donations and the benefits of SEO for nonprofits.
ABOUT DAVID David has been smashing the non-profit sector for 30 years, and now he's living out his dream: to design and build websites, lead design and branding projects, and be a general technology guru for non-profits in Canada. He’s a design and programming expert who has taught at the college level and found his passion for sharing knowledge at his clients' businesses. Over the past five years, he and his team have completed over 240 projects, so if you need some help, David and his team are the experts. Breaking apart processes and tearing down department silos, he uses his background to effectively bridge the gaps between IT, Marketing, Communications, and Fundraising departments to align processes, streamline operations, and ultimately help his clients achieve digital success. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 237: Nonprofit Leadership in Action: Mastermind Success Stories (Josue’ Hernandez, Tiffany Kong, Michael Walsh) | 23 Nov 2023 | 00:51:39 | |
237: Nonprofit Leadership in Action: Mastermind Success Stories (Josue’ Hernandez, Tiffany Kong, Michael Walsh) SUMMARY Are you ready to advance your nonprofit leadership through the PMA Mastermind program? Three Mastermind alums, Josue’ Hernandez, Tiffany Kong, and Mike Walsh share their professional development experiences and the positive changes they’ve made as a result of their participation. In episode #237 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, they discuss specific aspects of the program, the ongoing collaboration with colleagues nation-wide, and what they continue to utilize in their nonprofit leadership. Josue’ Hernandez is the Assistant Director of Donor Engagement at Memorial Medical Center Foundation, serving Long Beach Medical Center and Miller Children's & Women's Hospital. He oversees donor acquisition, engagement, and stewardship, including programs like Simply Grateful and iGive. Josue’ earned his CFRE certification in 2021 and holds a Master of Arts in Leadership. He is an active member of SCAHD and AHP and is one of 38 Volunteer CFRE Ambassadors globally. Tiffany Kong, Director of Community Impact, reviews grant-making in education and youth development, supporting nonprofit organizations at the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation. She co-founded The Give Me Hope Project in 2005, dedicated to building water wells in Laos. Tiffany serves on the board for Keystone Community Services and holds a bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Mike Walsh, Assistant Dean of Advancement in the Virginia Tech College of Science, leads the advancement team overseeing development, alumni relations, and communications. Previously, he worked at North Carolina State University, managing major gifts and leadership annual giving. Mike holds an associate’s degree in environmental studies, a bachelor’s in geography, and a master’s in organizational leadership. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 236: The Five Hardest “Soft” Skills Every Nonprofit Leader Needs (Dr. Shirley Davis) | 16 Nov 2023 | 00:41:56 | |
236: The Five Hardest “Soft” Skills Every Nonprofit Leader Needs (Dr. Shirley Davis) SUMMARY What are the critical soft skills nonprofit leaders must master? In episode #236 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, global workforce expert Dr. Shirley Davis explores why leadership skills and competencies have shifted over the past few years away from the technical and other “hard” skills to “soft” skills which can be harder to demonstrate. She shares her top five soft skills every nonprofit leader should embody to attract and retain today’s talent. Shirley explains why soft skills have the greatest impact on an employee’s experience and how nonprofit leaders can develop and improve these skills if they want to achieve high performance and engagement from their workers.
ABOUT SHIRLEY Dr. Shirley Davis is a sought-after global workforce expert, national board director for Make-A-Wish Foundation, and president and CEO of SDS Global Enterprises, a strategic development solutions firm that specializes in human resources strategy, talent management, leadership effectiveness, culture transformation and diversity, equity & inclusion. Dr. Davis has over thirty years of business experience in a variety of senior executive leadership roles in Fortune 100 & 50 corporations. Her work has been featured in Harvard Business Review, Oprah Daily, Fast Company, the Wall Street Journal, NBC’s Today Show, USA Today, NPR, CBS News, Fox News, CNN.com, HR Magazine, and many others. She was inducted into Inclusion Magazine’s Hall of Fame for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in November 2021, and in August 2022 was awarded The Golden Gavel Award which is Toastmasters International’s highest and most prestigious award given to one person each year based on Leadership and Communication Impact. She was nominated for Forbes 2021 Women 50 Over 50 list and again in 2022. Dr. Davis has worked in over 30 countries on 5 continents and delivers over 100 speeches a year. She served on the Board of Directors and the Foundation Board for the National Speakers Association (2017-2021). In 2021, she was named to the national board of the Make-A-Wish Foundation and will serve a four-year term. She holds a Bachelor’s in Pre-Law, a Master’s in Adult Education; a second Master’s in Human Resource Management, and a Ph.D. in Business and Organizational Leadership. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 235: When Should You Consider Nonprofit Leadership? (David Goldman) | 09 Nov 2023 | 00:36:48 | |
235: When Should You Consider Nonprofit Leadership? (David Goldman) SUMMARY Are you pondering your career path and want to find more intrinsic value and purpose through a mission-driven organization? How will you know if you’re ready to transition to leadership in the philanthropic sector? In episode #235 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, David Goldman shares what it took for him to move from a career with some of the world’s largest and most loved brands to his current role as a nonprofit leader. He shares how he prepared for this transition and offers thoughtful observations when comparing the two sectors. Learn how to maintain your case for support, even in times of crisis, as David discusses his successful marketing and fundraising techniques that serves his work across Australia.
ABOUT DAVID With over 20 years’ experience as a strategic consumer marketer, David Goldman has a proven track record and a passion for doing things differently and challenging the norm. David has worked for some of the world’s largest consumer organizations, including Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, Canon and NewsCorp. During his time in these organizations, he launched Coca-Cola to the Palestinian Authority, developed the New Tastes Menu at McDonald’s and led a team with editorial support to reposition and relaunch The Daily and Sunday Telegraphs. One of his proudest accomplishments was to lead a strategic marketing and creative team that developed Canon’s “World of EOS”. The work was recognized globally, winning 8 Cannes Lions, including 1 Media Grand Prix, not to mention resulting in a significant uplift in underlying earnings for Canon Australia. Over the past 6 years, David has diverted his own interests to the For Purpose sector, having taken up executive roles at Relationships Australia NSW (NFP), RASE Pty Ltd (social enterprise) and his current role at the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife. David’s philosophy: it’s time to give back and there’s fulfilment beyond material possession. In his spare time, David is committed to his community, a volunteer lifesaver at North Bondi SLSC for the past 11 years, 8 of which he was a patrol captain. He is also a volunteer mentor for Youth Off The Streets. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 234: Building Financial Leadership Within Your Nonprofit (Jessica McClain) | 02 Nov 2023 | 00:41:14 | |
234: Building Financial Leadership Within Your Nonprofit (Jessica McClain) SUMMARY As a nonprofit leader, how do you assess and ensure your organization has the financial tools, talents and resources to best advance your mission? Jessica McClain, a nonprofit leader and CPA recently named one of the Most Powerful Women in Accounting in 2023, advocates in episode #234 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership how building a culture of open communication between your accounting department and other organizational leaders can better integrate your organization’s financial picture, especially when engaging new prospects and stewarding existing donors. Learn how business acumen is playing an integral part of financial leadership within nonprofits as she shares her advice for attracting, retaining, and advancing women in finance leadership positions.
ABOUT JESSICA Jessica E. McClain serves as the Chief Financial Officer for Girl Scouts Nation’s Capital. In this role, she has strategic responsibility for finance and accounting, property, product program, retail merchandise, and business operations. Prior to transitioning to the not-for-profit industry, she spent 11 years in public accounting. Jessica represents Maryland as an AICPA Council At-Large Member. She is a Board member of the Maryland Association of CPAs Foundation, the Greater Washington Society of CPAs, and the Towson University Accounting Advisory Board, and gives back to the community as the National Treasurer for ODK Honor Society. She previously served on the AICPA Women’s Initiatives Executive Committee, the AICPA Foundation Board of Trustees, and the AICPA Student Recruitment Committee. Jessica's accomplishments include being named a 2023 CPA Practice Advisor Most Powerful Women in Accounting, a 2022 Washington Business Journal 40 Under 40 honoree, the 2022 NABA DC Chapter Outstanding Accounting Leader of the Year, a Maryland Association of CPAs 2021 Women to Watch- Emerging Leader, a Black CPA Centennial's 40 Under 40 Black CPA Award honoree, a 2021 AICPA Outstanding Young CPA Award recipient, and a 3x CPA Practice Advisor 40 Under 40 Professional. Jessica is a graduate of the highly competitive AICPA Leadership Academy and earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration from Towson University and her master’s degree in accounting from George Washington University. Jessica is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in Virginia. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 233: Navigating Frustrating Scenarios with Your Nonprofit Board (Michael Corley) | 26 Oct 2023 | 00:39:02 | |
233: Navigating Frustrating Scenarios with Your Nonprofit Board (Michael Corley) SUMMARY How well do you get along with your board members? The complexity of the board/staff relationship can create challenges for any nonprofit leader. In episode #233 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, nonprofit board expert Michael Corley illustrates many of the frustrating scenarios executive directors encounter with their board of directors, and how they can better navigate them. Michael clarifies the core roles and responsibilities among all parties that will enable success for the entire organization.
ABOUT MICHAEL Michael Corley founded The Corley Company in 2010 to focus on providing support to CEOs and other organizational leaders. This directly resulted from his experience being a President & COO of a mid-sized company and a nonprofit Board Chair. In those roles there were many times he wished he had a trusted resource to give advice, an experienced person to facilitate/lead critical projects when the team didn’t have the bandwidth, and someone who was genuinely interested in professional growth. As a leader, as “the” leader, he learned it can truly be “lonely at the top.” He built The Corley Company on his strengths, competencies, and areas of interest in order to grow and support organizational leaders. Over the past 12 years, he has worked with hundreds of nonprofit funders and agencies to provide strategic support to CEOs and boards. He now works only with nonprofit organizations as a confirmation of his belief in mission-focused work. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 232: How Do You Manage a Small Nonprofit with Limited Resources? (Michael Schneider) | 19 Oct 2023 | 00:42:47 | |
232: How Do You Manage a Small Nonprofit with Limited Resources? (Michael Schneider) SUMMARY As a nonprofit leader, do you struggle with limited resources that must be carefully managed in order to maximize the impact of your organization’s work? Learn from Michael Schneider, founder of a successful small nonprofit finding huge success, in episode #232 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership. Michael shares how to be efficient with a small team and how strategic outsourcing allows nonprofit leaders be more directly involved with their mission. He also shares ways to better communicate your message through productive and creative uses of social media. Michael also talks effective fundraising for a small organization. How do you identify, steward, and even create legacy giving among your donors when your resources are in short supply?
ABOUT MICHAEL Michael Schneider started Pilots To The Rescue back in 2015 to combine his love of aviation and saving animals. Michael is a commercial, instrument-rated pilot with more than 1,200 hours. When Michael isn’t flying, he enjoys spending time with his wife, 4 boys under 7 years of age, and his 90 lb. rescue dog. Michael currently resides in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, and flies out of Essex County Airport (KCDW) in Caldwell, NJ. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 330: How to Partner with Family Foundations (Tom Kelly) | 21 Aug 2025 | 00:39:51 | |
330: How to Partner with Family Foundations (Tom Kelly) SUMMARY Special thanks to Armstrong McGuire for bringing these conversations to life, and for their commitment to strengthening leadership throughout nonprofit organizations. Learn more at ArmstrongMcGuire.com. What if the key to growing your nonprofit’s sustainability and reach was hiding in plain sight? In episode 330 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, entrepreneur and philanthropist Tom Kelly shares how family foundations, often overlooked or misunderstood, can be powerful allies for nonprofit leaders. He breaks down the misconceptions that keep organizations from building relationships with these under-the-radar funders and offers practical strategies for meaningful engagement. Tom also explores why thinking like a for-profit business is essential to scaling nonprofit impact. Listeners will learn how to use AI to increase fundraising efficiency, how to build multigenerational philanthropic strategies, and why “living your legacy” now is just as important as what you leave behind. ABOUT TOM Tom Kelly is an entrepreneur, Legacy Builder, and Founder of Legacy by Design. He helps high-net-worth families protect wealth, amplify influence, and create lasting legacies. As the founder of Legacy by Design, he empowers first-generation wealth builders to establish Private Family Foundations for tax benefits, financial literacy, and philanthropic impact. With a track record of scaling businesses to 8-figure revenues and raising over $500 million for nonprofits, Tom’s entrepreneurial approach ensures families turn success into significance for generations. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 231: Leadership Reimagined: Letting Your Community Take the Lead (Vichi Jagannathan) | 12 Oct 2023 | 00:49:06 | |
231: Leadership Reimagined: Letting Your Community Take the Lead (Vichi Jagannathan) SUMMARY Are you a mission-driven leader in the nonprofit sector with more passion than answers? Vichi Jagannathan was one such leader, and in episode #231 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, she shares what it means to let your community take the lead and provide the answers you need as the nonprofit leader. Vichi explains how building on design thinking ideas from across the country brought clarity to the challenges she faced in a rural and under-resourced community. She discusses the biggest challenges she had to overcome in running a small nonprofit, and the solutions she found when building staff, volunteers, and a board of directors. ABOUT VICHI Entrepreneur, strategist and social change leader who applies innovative ideas in unlikely settings to catalyze impact and community transformation. Vichi began her career as a high school science teacher in Northampton County, NC through Teach For America. She then spent two years on the West Coast leading the expansion of Microsoft’s TEALS computer science education program into California. In 2016, Vichi participated in the Innovation Next accelerator, where she received coaching from IDEO in human-centered design to develop a mobile sex education app called Real Talk, which has been downloaded over 10,000 times in over 100 countries. She also interned with SelfHelp Credit Union in Durham, NC where she created the strategy for Self-Help’s branch expansion into Eastern North Carolina. In 2017, Vichi co-founded Rural Opportunity Institute (ROI). ROI builds the capacity of rural communities to support people’s healing from generational trauma to achieve health, safety, connection, and self-determination. Based in rural Eastern North Carolina, ROI has grown from a small, grassroots effort to an influential organization that affects over 20,000 people in 15 states. ROI’s innovative approach has captured the interest of national state funders including New Profit and the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust. Vichi holds a Master of Business Administration from Yale University School of Management, a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University, and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 230: Why Your Nonprofit is Doing Strategic Planning All Wrong (Sarah Olivieri) | 05 Oct 2023 | 00:47:43 | |
230: Why Your Nonprofit is Doing Strategic Planning All Wrong (Sarah Olivieri) SUMMARY What exactly is strategic planning for a nonprofit organization? Does your plan truly align with your mission, and do you know how to actually get the plan in motion? Sarah Olivieri shares her unique approach to strategic planning and board engagement that every nonprofit leader will want to consider in episode #230 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership. She explains her 5 keys to better strategic planning and the role your board should play in building an effective strategic framework. ABOUT SARAH Sarah Olivieri has been called a “Business Alchemist” in the nonprofit space; others have called her “The Money”. She’s the wizard behind the curtain who has orchestrated the transformation of nonprofit organizations, from failing to thriving, which never fails to make the jaws drop of for-profit business experts. As the former director of three nonprofits and founder of five for-profit businesses, she understands, deeply, the challenges and complexities facing organizations. She’s brought nonprofits back from the brink of insolvency. She’s averted major cash-flow crises, solved funding droughts, resolved board conflicts, and everything in. Sarah, who is also an international best-selling author and globally renowned speaker, is the creator of the Impact Method™ - a framework she designed and built from the ground up, to help organizations simplify their operations, build aligned teams, and make a bigger impact without getting overwhelmed or burning out. Her company, PivotGround, supports nonprofits to become financially sustainable world-changers, and she has an incredible 100% success rate. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 229: What Should You Outsource at Your Nonprofit? (Eric Thomas) | 28 Sep 2023 | 00:38:27 | |
229: What Should You Outsource at Your Nonprofit? (Eric Thomas) SUMMARY As a nonprofit leader, are you short-handed or unable to scale your team to keep up with growth, especially in more technical areas like technology and finance? In episode #229 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Eric Thomas shares how outsourcing may be a practical solution for your organization. Learn exactly what outsourcing in the nonprofit sector is and how it can help address your needs. Eric discusses the talent shortage, particularly in specialized roles like finance and accounting that currently exist in our sector. He provides specific keys to integrate an outsourced position into your nonprofit, and which roles and functions are most effectively outsourced. Eric also provides examples of automation that nonprofit leaders should consider to streamline operations.
ABOUT ERIC Eric Thomas is a consulting partner with over 20 years of experience serving nonprofit and for-profit organizations. Since joining Armanino, he has focused on helping nonprofits with their finance and accounting needs, so they can concentrate on developing their organization and delivering on their mission. He works with a diverse group of clients on their digital transformation and believes that regardless of size and age, organizations can benefit from incorporating enterprise best accounting practices through a solution that uses cloud technology and paperless processes. Prior to joining Armanino, Eric led accounting and finance functions at Robert Half, Analytic Services, and Serco NA. He received a B.S. in business administration from West Virginia University. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 228: Strategic Planning Doesn’t Need to be Painful (Carol Hamilton) | 21 Sep 2023 | 00:41:00 | |
228: Strategic Planning Doesn’t Need to be Painful (Carol Hamilton)
Is your nonprofit on a clear path, grounded with specific goals, to achieve its mission? Can you articulate organizational priorities that reflect a shared board and staff vision? In episode #228 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, strategic collaborator Carol Hamilton shares key components of an effective strategic plan, the timeline necessary to build one and why more organizations struggle without one. You’ll learn who should be involved in the framework process and questions to consider as you envision your organization’s next 3-5 years. Carol also describes impact mapping and how it can help nonprofit organizations become more effective at realizing their mission.
Carol Hamilton, Principal, Grace Social Sector Consulting, LLC, and host of Mission: Impact podcast, facilitates whole-brain strategic planning, impact mapping, service audits and organizational assessments for nonprofits and associations. She combines left-brain strategy and analysis with right-brain wisdom about human complexities for a proven, whole-brain, whole-organization process through which every stakeholder thrives. She is also part of a consultant collective focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion that has a particular focus on racial equity, All In Consulting.
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| 227: 3 Keys to Effective Nonprofit Leadership: (Christina Edwards) | 14 Sep 2023 | 00:43:17 | |
227: 3 Keys to Effective Nonprofit Leadership: (Christina Edwards) SUMMARY Where are you on your path to nonprofit leadership? Are you effectively serving your mission, your donors, and your board of directors with integrity, consistency, and clarity? In episode #227 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, acclaimed purpose and profit coach Christina Edwards discusses vital qualities effective leaders share within the philanthropic sector and how you can effectively grow and enhance your skills. Do you struggle with calendar management? Christina explains how and why it’s essential to seize control and manage your time. Learn how she advises nonprofit leaders to increase their organization’s visibility with donors and hear how Christina addresses a lack of time and funding, two challenges nonprofit leaders often face.
ABOUT CHRISTINA Christina Edwards is the Founder of Splendid Consulting and host of the Purpose and Profit Club Podcast, a lifelong entrepreneur, marketing and business coach who works with ambitious nonprofit leaders. Her popular courses, Easy Emails and Amplify Social Impact, teach organizations how to get noticed and funded, create a magnetic voice, and make lead generation simple and painless! EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 226: Why Do People Give to Your Nonprofit? (Tim Kachuriak) | 07 Sep 2023 | 00:45:40 | |
226: Why Do People Give to Your Nonprofit? (Tim Kachuriak) SUMMARY Do you know how to write your nonprofit value proposition to increase donations? Do you know why people give? In episode #226 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Tim Kachuriak, founder of NextAfter, a fundraising research lab and consultancy, explains why he’s obsessed with discovering what inspires people to give and how his organization is helping nonprofit leaders answer those questions and more. He shares key takeaways learned through their research and how it compares with the latest Giving USA results. Is there a true generosity crisis among mid-level donors happening now? Learn how and why nonprofit leaders should sharpen their value proposition and what that can mean for their key volunteers and board members.
ABOUT TIM Tim Kachuriak is the founder and Chief Innovation and Optimization Officer for NextAfter, a fundraising research lab and consulting firm that works with businesses, nonprofits, and NGOs to help them grow their resource capacity. A nonprofit thought leader, Kachuriak is the author of the book Optimize Your Fundraising, lead researcher and co-author of the Online Fundraising Scorecard, Why Should I Give to You? (The Nonprofit Value Proposition Index Study), and The Midlevel Donor Crisis. Kachuriak has trained organizations in fundraising optimization around the world and is a frequent speaker at international nonprofit conferences. Kachuriak is also the co-founder and board member for the Human Coalition, a member of the board of directors for Open Doors USA, an Advisory Board Member for the SMU Digital Accelerator, Advisory Board Member for Kids Prosper Kids, and an Advisory Board Member for the Blackbaud Institute for Philanthropic Impact. Kachuriak lives in Prosper, TX with his wife Rebecca, and their four children.
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| 225: Bridging the Gap: Technology’s Role in Nonprofit Success (Jack Fanous) | 31 Aug 2023 | 00:40:36 | |
225: Bridging the Gap: Technology’s Role in Nonprofit Success (Jack Fanous) SUMMARY Are you using today’s technology to further advance your mission and better serve your community? In episode #225 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Jack Fanous, founder and leader of two successful, shares how technology can both increase your fundraising and better connect your mission with those you serve. Understand how having a better knowledge of software options can help nonprofit leaders better navigate transactional fees allowing 100% of charitable gifts funnel directly to your mission. Lean how this busy philanthropic executive built, manages, and scales his mission. Jack shares ways our sector can harness technology to better connect existing resources to the people who need them.
ABOUT JACK Jack Fanous is the co-founder and CEO of JobPaths, a SaaS Enabled Marketplace (SEM) that fulfills the original goals of the internet community by bringing people together with those who can help them along their journey. JobPaths is designed as an immersive network to bring people together to support one another through sharing employment opportunities, resources, training, and guidance. At the core of the company is the network of platforms JobPaths has established that include nonprofit, governmental, and corporate partners who license the software in order to support their clients. Within each of these licensed platforms lives JobPaths intelligent systems and easy-to-use software that connect Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) users to job openings, resources, career and life trainings, and mentorship opportunities. Jack developed his company based on his years of nonprofit experience as CEO and co-founder of GI Go Fund. Started in 2006 after the death of a childhood friend Lt. Seth Dvorin, GI Go Fund provides military veterans across the country with job training and employment opportunities, as well as access to healthcare, benefits help, and connections to housing. The organization has recently expanded its efforts to support all populations within the DE&I community. Through his work at GI Go Fund, Jack discovered the shortcomings in veteran hiring and acted. He testified before the United States Senate Veterans Affairs Committee regarding veteran issues in 2008, and serves as the co-chair of the VA’s Community Veterans Engagement Board (CVEB) Newark, NJ chapter, and is a board member of Habitat for Humanity NJ. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 224: 5 Truths for Transformational Nonprofit Leaders (Ed Mishrell) | 24 Aug 2023 | 00:47:12 | |
224: 5 Truths for Transformational Nonprofit Leaders (Ed Mishrell) SUMMARY Do you want to elevate your nonprofit leadership to the next level? What are the five key principles of mission-driven leadership? In episode #224 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, former Chief Strategy Officer for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and author of The Five Truths for Transformational Leaders: How Nonprofit Organizations Thrive, Grow and Make a Profound Difference, Ed Mishrell, delivers an insightful and practical discussion of how to achieve extraordinary results when leading nonprofit organizations. Ed shares how to use your organization’s mission as your north star and build an exciting, thriving nonprofit. He highlights hurdles nonprofit leaders typically face and how you can navigate them for optimal results. Understand the vital importance of leadership growth and how you can ensure you’re consistently growing and adapting.
ABOUT ED For over four decades, Ed Mishrell worked to provide opportunities for America’s youth. Ed began a nearly 40-year career in the Boys & Girls Clubs Movement beginning at the Crime Prevention Association, a Boys & Girls Club organization in Philadelphia, PA. In 1987, Ed joined the staff of Boys & Girls Clubs of America as the Director of the Targeted Outreach Delinquency Intervention Program. He has held many positions at BGCA, including the Director of Staff Development and Senior Director of Training and Development, among others. He has led the development of numerous national program and strategic initiatives including executive leadership, deepening impact and assuring public trust. In 2009, Ed became the Chief Strategy Officer at Boys & Girls Clubs of America, responsible for organizational strategy, strategic planning, operational planning, organizational data and outcome measurement systems. After retiring from Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Ed became an adjunct professor at Georgia State University. Ed holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Alfred University, a Master of Education from Elmira College, and a Master of Social Work Administration from Temple University. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 223: Does Your Nonprofit Brand Effectively Communicate Who You Are? (Mark Miller & Ted Vaughn) | 17 Aug 2023 | 00:51:00 | |
223: Does Your Nonprofit Brand Effectively Communicate Who You Are? (Mark Miller & Ted Vaughn) SUMMARY How can your nonprofit stand out amidst all of the great causes in your community? In episode #223 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Mark Miller and Ted Vaughn, authors of the book Culture Built My Brand: The Secret to Winning More Customers Through Company Culture discuss the role of storytelling in attracting and retaining donors and why most attempts at storytelling fall short. They share effective tactics to help you clearly communicate who you are and explain how brand building begins with the organization's internal culture and leadership.
ABOUT MARK & TED Mark Miller & Ted Vaughn are the cofounders of Historic Agency, a brand strategy, innovation, and design partner that helps ambitious brand do more good. They are the authors of Culture Build My Brand: The Secret to Winning More Customers Through Company Culture. Mark leads product strategy, marketing transformation, and brand at Historic. He’s rebranded nearly 100 organizations and also specializes in all things strategy, including brand, product, and marketing. Ted leads client transformation at Historic and specializes in executive leadership, brand development, and strategic clarity. He has served hundreds of for-profit and nonprofit brands. His passion is to serve senior leaders by helping them align everything they do to build their brand from the inside out. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 222: Why Doesn’t Your Nonprofit Have a Succession Plan? (Mandy Pearce) | 10 Aug 2023 | 00:45:43 | |
222: Why Doesn’t Your Nonprofit Have a Succession Plan? (Mandy Pearce) SUMMARY Do you have a succession plan in place at your nonprofit? Most nonprofits don’t, and you may be facing any number of challenges when planning for the inevitable transition that occurs at every organization. In episode #222 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, we learn from Mandy Pearce why having proper strategic and succession plans is vital to an organization’s long-term health. She shares the key benefits of having a succession plan and answers questions you might face when planning for one. Mandy discusses how nonprofits can ensure a smooth leadership transition during the succession process that will minimize disruptions to the organization.
ABOUT MANDY Mandy Pearce is the Founder of Funding for Good, which equips organizations with all the skills and tools needed to become successful and sustainable. She continues to enjoy developing this company to meet the changing demands of the nonprofit world. For over two decades, Mandy and her team of experts have shared their proficiency in fundraising through executive coaching, strategic and development planning, seminars and specialized consulting programs. Mandy’s dynamic teaching style has brought thousands of people to her presentations at conventions, training workshops and online platforms. Mandy established Funding for Good, Inc. upon the core values of honesty, efficiency, direct communication and bringing sustainable dollars to local communities. Mandy lives in Hickory with her husband, Ricardo, and their two fur babies, Dalli and Max. She and Ricardo also own and operate a successful landscaping and custom woodworking company, Two Green Thumbs and More. On her days off, Mandy enjoys working in their garden, sipping sweet tea on their porch swing with a good magazine and cooking gourmet meals for their family and friends. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 329: Leading with Transformation (Ora Grodsky) | 14 Aug 2025 | 00:41:47 | |
329: Leading with Transformation (Ora Grodsky) SUMMARY Special thanks to Armstrong McGuire for bringing these conversations to life, and for their commitment to strengthening leadership throughout nonprofit organizations. Learn more at ArmstrongMcGuire.com. Why do so many nonprofit leaders feel stuck, even when the problem is clear? In episode #329 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, we explore the deeper mindset shifts and systemic insights necessary for meaningful change with Ora Grodsky, author of Justice, Love, and Organizational Healing and the Principal of Just Works Consulting. She shares how you can move your organization beyond a “transactional fix” to a genuine culture shift, and explains the importance of holding space over having all the answers. Learn how to elevate every voice in the room, and approach problems with fresh eyes and shared power. Whether you're navigating change or planning a board retreat, this episode offers practical tools and inspiration to lead with humility, strategy, and humanity. ABOUT ORA Ora Grodsky is a mission-driven consultant with over 25 years of experience working with social justice-oriented organizations, guiding change efforts, leading participatory and productive planning processes, and supporting leaders in the service of justice and love. Ora co-founded the AIDS Care Project - at one time the largest holistic clinic in the US - during the early days of the AIDS epidemic. Through these experiences, Ora developed the question “How can we humans work together to create a just and sustainable world while nourishing and sustaining our own lives and spirits?” This question led her back to graduate school at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and onto the path of organizational development. She is the author of the new book: Justice, Love, and Organizational Healing: A Guide to Transformational Consulting. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 221: Turning your Passion into a Movement (Lynn Margherio) | 03 Aug 2023 | 00:51:30 | |
221: Turning your Passion into a Movement (Lynn Margherio) SUMMARY Starting a successful nonprofit often begins by transforming a passion project into a well-defined organization. But how do you turn that project into an actual movement? In episode #221 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Founder and CEO of the national nonprofit Cradles to Crayons, Lynn Margherio shares just how she’s created a movement from her personal mission to end clothing insecurity. She shares her 5 keys to building a movement and how she’s activated the corporate community to engage them in her cause. Lynn discusses the staff and volunteer networks she’s built, her approach to strategic planning, and most importantly, knowing how and when to scale into new markets. ABOUT LYNN A leader in the fields of social justice and children’s issues, Lynn Margherio is the Founder and CEO of Cradles to Crayons. She leads this national nonprofit with Giving Factories® in Boston, Chicago, and Philadelphia, and an online donation platform, Giving Factory Direct®, serving NYC and the San Francisco Bay Area. The largest national nonprofit with Clothing Insecurity at the core of its mission, Cradles to Crayons provides children living in low-income and homeless situations with clothing and other everyday essentials—diapers, winter coats, shoes, hygiene items, backpacks, and more. Lynn launched Cradles to Crayons in 2002, and to date, the organization has distributed more than 4 million packages to kids’ birth through age 12. Under Lynn's leadership, the organization has successfully fulfilled the needs of millions of children and connected more than half a million volunteers to meaningful engagement opportunities and donation experiences, mobilizing people of all ages in communities all over the country. In her role as CEO, Lynn directs all aspects of the organization including strategic planning, operations, fundraising, brand/marketing, product acquisition, external relations and ongoing collaboration with both national and local Boards of Directors. She has led multiple successful capital campaigns raising millions of dollars to fund expansion and has steered the organization through major relocations and organizational restructurings. She is spearheading a national expansion campaign to serve the more than 20 million children across the U.S. who are Clothing Insecure. A graduate of Georgetown University, Lynn completed the Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management program at Harvard Business School. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 220: Finding Your Voice as a Nonprofit Leader (Sabrina Gilchrist) | 27 Jul 2023 | 00:47:52 | |
220: Finding Your Voice as a Nonprofit Leader (Sabrina Gilchrist) SUMMARY What does it mean to find your voice as a nonprofit leader? In episode #220 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Sabrina Gilchrist shares the journey to find her voice as a nonprofit leader and the positive effect it has on furthering the mission of her organization. Are you the kind of leader talented people want to follow to further a mission in which donors have confidence investing? Learn the skills and experiences that helped Sabrina advance into senior leadership that can work for you too. Sabrina shares her approach to strategic planning, fundraising, building a dynamic board of directors and what she looks for when developing a team.
ABOUT SABRINA Sabrina Nichole Gilchrist is an author, public speaker, Clinical Mental Health Counselor, ordained Christian minister, and nonprofit professional. She earned the Bachelor of Arts from Winston-Salem State University and the dual Master of Arts (Counseling) and Master of Divinity from Wake Forest University. Sabrina has served the Charlotte community since 2010 through her work with Right Moves For Youth (RMFY), a school-based youth development and student support organization that leverages group work to help teens in grades 6-12 succeed in school and life. Beginning in direct service as the Program Manager, Sabrina now has the honor of leading RMFY as Executive Director. She is a lifelong learner committed to professional development efforts that build and refine her nonprofit leadership skills. Since becoming Executive Director, Sabrina has completed the following: the Allstate Foundation Executive Leadership Program; the Allstate Foundation Leading with Equity Program; and the Patton McDowell & Associates Mastermind Program. She is also a member of the third cohort of the Black Social Capital Initiative (BSCI), a Charlotte-based organization dedicated to increasing the representation of black leaders in the nonprofit sector at the executive and board levels. Sabrina works in private counseling practice with Reconciliation Counseling and Consulting, PLLC, and occasionally teaches aspiring helping professionals as an adjunct instructor at Queens University of Charlotte. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 219: Building a Career in the Nonprofit Sector (Amie Dugan) | 20 Jul 2023 | 00:49:12 | |
219: Building a Career in the Nonprofit Sector (Amie Dugan) SUMMARY Are you prepared for the hard work the nonprofit sector requires? Working for a mission you believe in can certainly be both rewarding and fulfilling, but many well-intentioned individuals are surprised by the realities of being a professional in the sector. In episode #219 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, we talk with a seasoned nonprofit leader, Amie Dugan, about what it truly takes to build and sustain a successful career in the philanthropic sector. Amie discusses specific skills and attributes found in leaders that naturally draw exceptional talent to follow and learn from to advance their missions.
ABOUT AMIE Amie Dugan’s 27+ year career and experience in the nonprofit sector encompasses working with missions and organizations ranging from the grassroots to international levels. She currently serves as Vice President, Organizational Development for Special Olympics North America and leads the Organizational Development team which provides guidance and oversight to all SONA Programs in the US, Canada and the Caribbean), guiding the operational and programmatic advancement, excellence, and sustainability. She also served as VP of Marketing and Communications - a role she established. She began as a Special Olympics volunteer in 1994, and was inducted into the Special Olympics Florida Hall of Fame in 2011. Prior to Special Olympics International, she worked for Special Olympics Florida, the Walt Disney World Company and the Juilliard School of Music. Amie is an instructor, consultant, and curriculum developer for the nonprofit governance certificate program and custom consultation programming at The Edyth Bush Institute for Philanthropy & Nonprofit Leadership at Rollins College. She is a BoardSource certified nonprofit consultant and is a WISE (Women in Sports and Events) Within mentor, on the Board of Directors for Girls on the Run (Central Florida), and is a member of the Greater Orlando Organizational Development Network. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 218: 5 Ways to Turn Around a Struggling Nonprofit (Lance Kawaguchi) | 13 Jul 2023 | 00:45:23 | |
218: 5 Ways to Turn Around a Struggling Nonprofit (Lance Kawaguchi) SUMMARY Is your nonprofit organization not delivering on its mission? Is it struggling from poor governance, alienating key donors and staff and producing lackluster results? In episode #218 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, we talk with Lance Kawaguchi, who committed to fighting cancer when the disease hit his family in 2016 and became the new CEO of the struggling nonprofit, Cure Brain Cancer Foundation. Although he built a successful career in the world of finance, he proved to be the right leader to turn around the organization. Lance shares his 5 essential keys to turn a struggling nonprofit into a powerful organization that delivers on its mission.
ABOUT LANCE Lance Kawaguchi, CEO of The Cure Brain Cancer Foundation, has over 25 years of global finance and banking experience. His outstanding leadership and innovative approach to diversity and inclusion have been recognized by many peak global bodies including the Treasury Management International, the BAME100 Board Talent Index and as one of UPstanding 100’s leading ethnic minority executives. Lance was recently named CEO Magazine’s 2022 Non-For-Profit Executive of the Year in his first year at the foundation. Connect with him on LinkedIn. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 217: What Can We Learn from an Unconventional NGO? (Marko Kasic) | 06 Jul 2023 | 00:52:46 | |
217: What Can We Learn from an Unconventional NGO? (Marko Kasic) SUMMARY Have you made the transition from the for-profit sector to nonprofit? How would you transfer your skills to effect genuine social change? In episode #217 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Marko Kasic shares his why and how he founded an “unconventional” NGO. Through his goal to create a social enterprise, he created a self-generating revenue model which addresses food insecurity while simultaneously providing workforce development. Marko shares how he has built his staff, volunteer teams, and an internationally diverse board of directors. As an NGO, fundraising is critical and Marko illustrates how to identify funders and build a global fundraising strategy.
ABOUT MARKO Marko Kasic is the Founder and Executive Director of FundLife, a grassroots "for-social-profit" organization based in Tacloban, Philippines. FundLife combines a unique experiential learning curriculum with purposeful play to create enabling pathways for some of the world's most vulnerable children and young people living in short-term and chronic emergencies. FundLife mission is to ensure every single child has a right to a safe childhood, quality education, and equitable opportunity to reach their full potential - as we say, for every young person to ' Dream in Colour' Away from FundLife, Marko is an avid runner, traveler, and motorcycle enthusiast. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 216: How Your Nonprofit Can Benefit from a Digital Transformation (Bob Green) | 29 Jun 2023 | 00:44:45 | |
216: How Your Nonprofit Can Benefit from a Digital Transformation (Bob Green) SUMMARY What does digital transformation mean for nonprofits? In episode #216 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, strategic IT expert Bob Green explains how digital transformation is a pathway for nonprofit organizations to succeed by increasing overall efficiency, facilitating donor and volunteer relationships, and improving communications to reach wider audiences. He shares how incorporating new technologies in the workplace benefits nonprofits and their employees by eliminating redundancies, automating tasks, and allowing team members to focus on work that makes the most significant impact. Bob also lays out keys to effective IT governance for nonprofit leaders.
ABOUT BOB Bob Green, CPA, CITP, CGMA is Lead Partner for SingerLewak’s "SL Business Informatics" advisory practice. His team is retained as trusted, independent advisors to help achieve the benefits of strategic IT planning and direction for growing organizations. Their skills include comfort with complex projects around ERP, CRM and other application types, Cybersecurity and ongoing Cybersecurity Program management, IT Audit and Assurance (SOX, SOC), IT Risk, IT project rescue, and others. Bob’s background combines CPA, CFO, Consulting and Technologist skills, as applied to challenges faced by many industries including non-profits of many varieties and complexities (501c3, 501c4 and 501c6) as well as entertainment, technology, government, food and beverage, medical devices and cosmetics, and others. Bob spent 8 years at PWC, later became a CFO, and is a frequent speaker and presenter at AICPA and other professionally sponsored education conferences and produces podcasts and articles regularly. In his spare time, he organizes hiking experiences, volunteers in the non-profit space and enjoys time with his family in the Los Angeles area. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 215: The Talent Magnet: How to Attract Nonprofit Leaders (Reid Ricciardi) | 22 Jun 2023 | 00:51:45 | |
215: The Talent Magnet: How to Attract Nonprofit Leaders (Reid Ricciardi) SUMMARY How can you create a culture and strategy that motivates and empowers your team, while also aligning with your mission and vision? In episode #215 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, we talk with talent management expert Reid Ricciardi about building the kind of team necessary to achieve your mission. Reid shares how to attract, retain, and develop talent in a competitive and changing nonprofit sector. Learn some tips and best practices to foster a positive and productive work environment for your staff. Understanding the importance of excellent internal and external communication could be the key to building success.
ABOUT REID As Executive Director of Talent Management, Reid is responsible for the development and implementation of a strategic talent management program for the University Advancement division and its partner colleges and units at NC State. He works closely with senior managers to identify and attract top-level talent, improve on-boarding and training experiences, and support job performance and retention through targeted professional development and career planning. Reid draws on over two decades of experience in institutional advancement. From 2012 – 2017 Reid served as Executive Director of Development for the College of Education. Prior to NC State, Reid spent four years as Director of Development at Duke University's Fuqua School of Business and 9 years at Purdue University in a variety of major gift, annual giving and stewardship program roles. Currently he serves on the Boards for Triangle AFP and Delta Upsilon Educational Foundation. Reid has a B.S. from Purdue University and an M.A. from Duke University. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 214: Should You Consider a Sabbatical as a Nonprofit Leader? (Laura Belcher) | 15 Jun 2023 | 00:44:40 | |
214: Should You Consider a Sabbatical as a Nonprofit Leader? (Laura Belcher) Are you ready for a sabbatical? Is your organization ready for you to take a sabbatical? Are work sabbaticals the latest nonprofit retention strategy? In episode #214 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Laura Belcher, the President & CEO of Habitat for Humanity of the Charlotte Region, shares why her recent sabbatical was beneficial for both her and her organization. Laura explains how best to prepare yourself - and your team - for the sabbatical. The planning effort can also clarify essential leadership roles and increase organizational capacity amongst the team. Laura also addresses policy implications and provides great tips to help put your plan in motion!
ABOUT LAURA Laura Belcher joined Habitat for Humanity of Charlotte in 2014, excited by the possibility of removing barriers to homeownership for working families in the community. She oversees the implementation of strategic plan tactics that establish aggressive goals for the affiliate. Since 2014, the organization has seen a 300% increase in families served through growth in new home production, increases in existing home preservation efforts, providing more diverse housing solutions and the expansion of financial literacy programs, demonstrating a commitment to innovate and reach an even broader audience. In February 2020, Laura managed the merger between Habitat Charlotte and Our Towns Habitat, creating Habitat for Humanity of the Charlotte Region, combining strengths and eliminating duplicative processes and technologies. The combined affiliate has served over 4000 families since inception, operates one of the largest Habitat Construction operations in the US, runs a network of 6 ReStores, and supports 3 international partners. Laura has served on many committees of Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI); she is currently serving a second 3-year term on the HFHI US Council where she holds the office of Vice Chair. She spent the first 20 years of her career in corporate roles with Arthur Andersen, Wachovia Securities and Transamerica. Laura was a CPA, graduated from the College of William and Mary, and spent 9 years in nonprofit work as CFO/COO of the Arts & Science Council prior to joining Habitat. She attributes her passion for Habitat to her church where she started volunteering and building houses over 20 years ago. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 213: Keys to Advancing your Nonprofit Career (Brian Collier) | 08 Jun 2023 | 01:02:03 | |
213: Keys to Advancing your Nonprofit Career (Brian Collier) SUMMARY Are you on the path to advancing your nonprofit career? Do you have the skills and experiences needed for leadership? Brian Collier, an experienced, successful nonprofit leader, shares his advice for aspiring leaders eager to ascend to a senior leadership role in episode #213 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership. Brian shares his concerns about nonprofit proliferation and imparts his keys to a successful grant application. Nonprofit leaders know the importance of community collaboration, but how do you evaluate its effectiveness? Brian talks about the dynamic between nonprofit leaders and their board of directors and how to foster strong, proficient relationships. ABOUT BRIAN Brian Collier is the new President of The Gambrell Foundation after serving as Executive Vice President for Foundation for The Carolinas for sixteen years. While at FFTC, he handled the Foundation’s competitive grants programs across thirteen counties in North and South Carolina. Brian also led the Foundation’s Robinson Center for Civic Leadership and the development of community initiatives including Veterans Bridge Home, Read Charlotte, Carolina Thread Trail, Project LIFT, and Leading on Opportunity, a nationally recognized, multi-year initiative to identify and implement community strategies addressing upward mobility and economic opportunity. During the height of the COVID-19 crisis, Brian worked in partnership with organizations like United Way of Central Carolinas to raise and award over $25 million in private & public funds to help individuals and families affected by the COVID-19 crisis. Besides his work at FFTC, Brian served on the executive leadership team at KABOOM! in Washington, D.C. and as the Founding President and Executive Director of Victory Junction, a state-of-the-art medical camp in Randleman, North Carolina for children suffering from chronic and/or life-threatening illnesses. The camp resulted from a unique partnership between the NASCAR motorsports industry, NASCAR drivers Richard and Kyle Petty, and actor Paul Newman. Brian began his career as a trial attorney with Rumberger Kirk—one of the country’s premier commercial litigation firms--in Orlando, Florida. He is a graduate of the University of Florida's Levin College of Law and the University of Central Florida. He resides in Charlotte with his wife and daughter. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 212: Are You Ready to Lead a Capital Campaign? (Whitney Anderson) | 01 Jun 2023 | 00:54:57 | |
212: Are You Ready to Lead a Capital Campaign? (Whitney Anderson) SUMMARY Is your nonprofit organization really ready to launch a capital campaign? What is a realistic and attainable goal? How do you know when you’re prepared for success? In episode #212 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Whitney Anderson shares her expertise in conducting campaign visioning and feasibility studies, developing donor strategies and managing the entire capital campaign process. Learn how to build a strong case for support and have the alignment between staff, board and key stakeholders. Whitney offers advice to avoid fatigue during the high demands of a large capital campaign. And, she ensures how nonprofit leaders can best prepare their staff and board for a successful campaign that is properly resourced.
ABOUT WHITNEY Whitney Anderson is the Principal for Campaign Services at Fox Advancement, a leading fundraising firm that provides capital campaign consulting, grant research and writing, and fractional development officer support. She is passionate about helping nonprofits clarify their vision, tell their story, and link their mission with generous donors. She is a skilled strategist and project manager who helps nonprofits manage major fundraising campaigns from conception to completion. Her areas of expertise include working with volunteers on peer-to-peer fundraising strategies, interviewing philanthropists, and facilitating major gifts solicitation training. Whitney holds a Ph.D. in Interpersonal Communication from North Dakota State University. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 328: From Proposals to Partnerships: What Funders Really Want (Whitney Feld) | 07 Aug 2025 | 00:36:29 | |
328: From Proposals to Partnerships: What Funders Really Want (Whitney Feld) SUMMARY Special thanks to Armstrong McGuire for bringing these conversations to life, and for their commitment to strengthening leadership throughout nonprofit organizations. Learn more at ArmstrongMcGuire.com. What if the best way to secure funding is to stop writing proposals and start building relationships? In episode #328 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, foundation president Whitney Feld offers a fresh perspective on what funders really want. She unpacks the power of bold, relational philanthropy, where trust, humility, and partnership drive investment. She explores why funders are shifting away from transactional models, how to articulate catalytic impact, and why investing in talent is as important as investing in programs. Whitney also addresses the potential of AI in philanthropy, the importance of vulnerability with funders, and the rising tide of collaborative giving. Nonprofit leaders will leave this episode inspired and better equipped to build lasting, transformational funder relationships. ABOUT WHITNEY Whitney Feld is the inaugural president of the Bissell Ballantyne Legacy Foundation (BBLF), a private family foundation established by Smoky and Margaret Bissell. She leads BBLF’s grant making across health, human services, and education in Charlotte-Mecklenburg, having built the foundation’s strategic and governance framework from the ground up. Previously, Feld served in regulatory relations at Wells Fargo and spent six years at Foundation For The Carolinas, where she led divisions including Planned Giving and Family Office Partners. She advised FFTC’s most complex donors on philanthropy, legacy planning, and multi-generational engagement. A former special education teacher in Brooklyn, Feld is a passionate advocate for nonprofits, serving on several local boards. She holds degrees from Miami University (BA), Pace University (M.Ed), and Charleston School of Law (JD), and is licensed to practice law in North Carolina. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 211: Is Philanthropy in a State of Crisis? (Nathan Chappell & Brian Crimmins) | 25 May 2023 | 00:54:57 | |
211: Is Philanthropy in a State of Crisis? (Nathan Chappell & Brain Crimmins) SUMMARY Is philanthropy in a state of crisis? In episode #211 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Nathan Chappell and Brian Crimmins, co-authors of the book, The Generosity Crisis: The Case for Radical Connection to Solve Humanity’s Greatest Challenges, offer a wake-up call to nonprofit leaders everywhere, but also suggest solutions to the downturn they see, and will help you re-establish the interconnection that drives generosity. Learn from the fascinating research they did, and implement their recommendations to spark the generosity of your organization’s donors.
ABOUT BRIAN Brian Crimmins is a global leader in social impact, a popular public speaker with the world’s foremost speaking agency, the Washington Speakers Bureau, and Chief Executive Officer of Changing Our World. He is a frequent contributor to publications covering the sector and has been invited to speak around the world on topics touching corporate social responsibility, purpose, and social impact, emphasizing not just what mission-driven organizations can and should do in the nonprofit and CSR spaces, but how leaders might organize their inner and personal lives to expand the edges of their own potential. His expertise is tapped in service to some of the world’s largest and most influential corporations as they define their core reason for being and translate theory into action. Brian holds a Bachelor of Science from St. John’s University and an MBA in Marketing Management from St. John’s Tobin School of Business. ABOUT NATHAN Nathan Chappell, MBA, MNA, CFRE is an entrepreneur, inventor, thought leader, author, and considered one of the world's foremost experts on the intersection between Artificial Intelligence and philanthropy. As a pioneer in the philanthropy sector, he has launched multiple start-ups that have revolutionized fundraising practices. Nathan’s subject expertise has been nationally recognized by organizations including Fast Company, Forbes, Citi Bank Global Insights, AWS, Microsoft, SalesForce, The Chronicle of Philanthropy and the Association of Healthcare Philanthropy. Nathan is a member of the Forbes Technology Council and holds a Masters in Nonprofit Administration from the University of Notre Dame, an MBA from the University of Redlands, a certificate in International Economics from the University of Cambridge and a certificate in Artificial Intelligence from MIT. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES | |||
| 210: Leading Through Failure as a Nonprofit Leader (Amy Burkett) | 18 May 2023 | 00:45:15 | |
210: Leading Through Failure as a Nonprofit Leader (Amy Burkett) SUMMARY Do failures knock you back more than they should? Failure shouldn’t be debilitating and Amy Burkett says it’s actually the secret to your success! In episode #210 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, two-time author, executive, and leadership expert Amy Burkett shares why you shouldn’t fear failure, and instead make it your friend. She shares how you can weave the lessons from failures into success and not become paralyzed with the fear of failure. Nowhere else can that fear be more prevalent than in the mission driven nonprofit sector. Learn skills that equip you with strategies enabling you to change our world for the better. She advocates that the way you react to failure can set you up for success. Do you know your ROF? Amy knows that failure’s enemy is tenacity.
ABOUT AMY After 30 years in broadcasting, Amy still loves the business of connecting through media. She’s thrilled to lead the renaissance of WTVI PBS Charlotte as general manager since June of 2013. Before that she spent 14 years at WLVT PBS39 in Bethlehem, PA as executive vice president. She began her career in commercial television working at network affiliates as a reporter/anchor for nine years. Over the last two decades Amy’s studied the art of leadership and received her John Maxwell certification as a trainer, speaker and coach in 2012. Amy is the founder/CEO of Amy Burkett Consulting (ABC) her executive coaching, leadership training and professional speaking company. She published her first book The 7D’s to your Destiny in 2020 and her second book The Dirty F-Word: Lessons from our Failures in 2023. She’s led teams to five national PBS awards and 10 regional Emmys. Amy is originally from Ohio and holds a bachelor’s of science degree in broadcast journalism from Bowling Green State University. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 209: Looking for Leadership as a Nonprofit Funder (Robb Webb) | 11 May 2023 | 00:57:27 | |
209: Looking for Leadership as a Nonprofit Funder (Robb Webb) SUMMARY Does your nonprofit embody the leadership qualities for which major funders are looking? Nonprofit leaders who are best prepared when applying for grant funding can save themselves precious time and set their organization up for success if they seek to understand what philanthropic leaders are evaluating. But how do you know what funders are actually looking for? In episode #209 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Robb Webb, Director of Rural Church at The Duke Endowment, shares how they address community needs and what they’re looking for when considering funding. We examine what Robb identifies as three key topics funders look for; budget and financial help, community need, and distributed leadership. As a nonprofit leader himself, Robb shares his 70/20/10 framework for managing teams and setting attainable goals.
ABOUT ROBB Robb Webb serves as Director of the Rural Church program area of The Duke Endowment. Webb joined the Endowment in January 2006 as a program officer after serving as a management consultant for PricewaterhouseCoopers and Healthcare Resource Associates. He is a member of the Board of Visitors for Duke Divinity School and the Parish Ministry Fund. He serves on advisory boards for the National Fund for Sacred Places, the Center for Environmental Farming Systems and the North Carolina Council of Churches. He is also consulting faculty at Duke Divinity School, teaching a class on leadership in the rural church. Webb holds degrees from Davidson College and Duke University and is an ordained deacon in the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church. He has served the Western North Carolina Conference on the Board of Ordained Ministry and as vice-chair of the Council on Campus Ministry. Through the Rural Church Division of the Endowment, Webb has engaged in North Carolina food initiatives such as hunger relief through rural United Methodist churches, community partnership development through Come to the Table (with RAFI), and most recently, the development of the World Food Policy Center at Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy. He believes churches can serve as catalysts in their communities, contributing to human, community and economic advancement. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 208: Managing People Problems as a Nonprofit Leader (Beth Napleton) | 04 May 2023 | 00:54:35 | |
208: Managing People Problems as a Nonprofit Leader (Beth Napleton) SUMMARY How do you manage your toughest people problems? A good leader solves problems. A great one anticipates them. In episode #208 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Beth Napleton shares why managing and leading people is one of the biggest and most important responsibilities nonprofit leaders have, but it’s also the hardest. She explains why earning trust is an essential component to building an environment where people can feel nurtured, supported, and mentored while working together in a highly productive, collaborative culture. Even though aligning people to work towards a common mission is critically important, it is not something that processes alone can automate. Learn how to conquer uncertainty, improve employee well-being, support diversity and inclusion in your workplace, and use the right strategies and tools to take on challenges with confidence.
ABOUT BETH Chicago-based Beth Napleton is an executive leadership coach, consultant and the owner and founder of Beth Napleton Consulting. She offers senior leaders in education and at mission-driven organizations a clear path to excellence through individual, executive and group coaching experiences. She offers busy leaders a container and her expertise so they can expand their capacity in all areas. Beth leverages her extensive experience in education to work with senior leaders in education and mission-driven organizations to help them clear out the “adult problems” that impede student success. Beth is a national award-winning teacher and has been in the education field for over 20 years, having trained over 1,800 teachers and leaders to succeed. She is an alumnus of Columbia University, Building Excellent Schools, and Teach For America. Most recently, she served as Founder and CEO of a small charter school network on the South Side of Chicago that opened in 2013. All graduates of her schools – most of them first-generation students – were accepted to at least two four-year colleges, changing their paths forever. Beth took her leadership skills a step further and became a certified Clifton Gallup Strengths Coach so she can offer leaders the opportunity to lean into their own strengths and succeed. Beth completed the National Principal Supervisors Academy at Relay, and is a former member of the Far South Side Community Action Council. Beth has been a guest on The EJT Show and the Teacher Renewed: What's Possible in Education podcasts, and hosted her own podcast Live on Leadership with Beth Napleton. She is a solo parent who lives in Chicago with her three amazing kids. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 207: Embracing the Art & Science of a Capital Campaign (Bob Pierce) | 27 Apr 2023 | 00:54:55 | |
207: Embracing the Art & Science of a Capital Campaign (Bob Pierce) SUMMARY Will you be ready when it’s time to conduct a fundraising campaign at your organization? Nearly every nonprofit is in some stage of campaign planning: thinking about one, implementing one or recovering from one! As a leader, you will likely have to manage a campaign at some point in your career. In episode #207 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, we turned to the leader of the University of Alabama’s highly successful Rising Tide Capital Campaign, Bob Pierce, for his best advice. Bob shares straightforward strategies that you can implement today in the planning and execution of your next campaign.
ABOUT BOB Bob Pierce assumed the role of Vice President for Advancement for The University of Alabama in September 2015 and immediately began laying the groundwork for a $1 billion+ capital campaign. In his over seven years at UA, the Advancement Division staff, which now includes 110 members, has grown by 40 percent. In September 2021, UA announced the public phase of The Rising Tide Capital Campaign with the goal of generating $1.5 billion in charitable gift commitments by September 2026. More than $940 million had been secured at the time of the announcement, and by March 2023, The Rising Tide was approaching $1.127 billion (84 percent of the Campaign goal) with over three years remaining. Prior to returning to UA where he earned his master’s degree, Pierce spent 17 years at The University of Southern Mississippi including 12 as Executive Director of the Southern Miss Alumni Association and five as Vice President for Advancement. Pierce is a 2003 graduate of the Capstone with a Master of Arts degree in Advertising and Public Relations. Pierce earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree with an emphasis in sales management from Southern Miss in 1991. He was inducted into the Southern Miss Alumni Hall of Fame in 2018, and he and Kristi are Life Members of the Southern Miss Alumni Association as well as President’s Circle level donors to the USM Foundation. Pierce has also been inducted into the Order of Constantine recognizing lifetime service to Sigma Chi Fraternity. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 206: Staffing Your Grants Program: Employee or Consultant? (Holly Rustick) | 20 Apr 2023 | 00:46:26 | |
206: Staffing Your Grants Program: Employee or Consultant? (Holly Rustick) SUMMARY Grant writing is more than just a process, it’s a skill. And like any skill, we must perfect it with time and practice. So how do you evaluate if you should outsource this aspect of your fundraising program or invest internally? In episode #206 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, we speak with funding and grant writing expert Holly Rustick to help determine which is worth more to your organization – the time you’ll have to spend working on grant writing, or the money you’ll spend on the expert? Between juggling your regular responsibilities and the work you do for your nonprofit, you might not be able to polish your skill to the level needed to apply for grants, especially the most competitive ones.
ABOUT HOLLY World-renowned grant writing expert and Amazon bestselling author Holly Rustick coaches thousands of people every week through her top-ranking podcast, Grant Writing & Funding, books on grant writing, and via the Hub Haven on taking actionable steps in grant writing. Having secured millions of dollars for nonprofit organizations around the world throughout the past 16+ years, Holly has a mission to train grant writers to simplify the process, grow capacity, and advance mission. Holly has an MA in International Political Economy, is past-president of the Guam Women’s Chamber of Commerce, and is an unapologetic feminist. Holly lives on the island of Guam with her beautiful daughter, Isabella. If you are interested in advancing your grant writing skills or transitioning into freelance grant writing, be sure to check out Holly’s articles, books, and podcasts at www.grantwritingandfunding.com. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 205: What Issues Will You Face as a New Nonprofit Leader? (Tom O’Toole) | 13 Apr 2023 | 00:42:26 | |
205: What Issues Will You Face as a New Nonprofit Leader? (Tom O’Toole) SUMMARY Are you on the path to nonprofit leadership? How prepared are you for the challenges you’ll face? In episode #205 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, we speak with Tom O’Toole, Executive Director of Public Affairs Programming at Cornell University’s Brooks School of Public Policy about what skills aspiring leaders need to efficiently and effectively run a nonprofit organization. Tom shares serious concerns of burnout - not just work/life balance - but losing the sense of intrinsic motivation that drives many to nonprofit leaders face given the fact that the challenges they’re trying to confront may never be solved in their lifetimes. In today’s world, it’s more important than ever to be adaptable. Tom discusses how adaptability gives you the ability to face challenges and obstacles effectively, but it also makes you a better leader and team player.
ABOUT TOM Thomas O’Toole is the Executive Director of Public Affairs Programming at Cornell’s MPA Program. He teaches the MPA Program’s core course on “Issues in Public Administration,” a seminar on “Comparative Public Administration: The Case of Seoul, Korea,” and has collaborated on projects and educational programming with the White House, the United Nations Division of Public Administration and Development Management, the UN World Food Programme, and the International Food Policy Research Institute. He is also responsible for monitoring the strategic direction of the MPA Program, as well as providing ongoing oversight to ensure the achievement of the program’s educational and professional missions. As part of his responsibilities, Professor O’Toole oversees all student professional development activities related to the graduate field of public affairs at Cornell, including maintaining institutional relationships with organizations in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors and facilitating job and internship placements for Brooks MPA students. He received his undergraduate degree at Bucknell University and master’s and Ph.D. from Cornell. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 204: How Can Nonprofit Leaders Bring Innovation to Their Organization? (Leah Kral) | 06 Apr 2023 | 00:46:22 | |
204: How Can Nonprofit Leaders Bring Innovation to Their Organization? (Leah Kral) SUMMARY How can you foster sustainable innovation within your nonprofit? Between the pandemic and workforce shortages, many nonprofit leaders today are likely exhausted and running out of actionable ideas. It’s said that adversity drives innovation, but for many, that well is drying up too soon. So where are all the good ideas? In episode #204 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, nonprofit strategist and author, Leah Kral, explains that as leaders of nonprofits, we have the power to create the perfect formula for innovation within our organizations. While there are no quick fixes, the effort and energy you put into these solutions now will be the garden for future innovative abundance. Innovation and impact are not a gamble that might someday payoff, but with intentional mission drive, culture building and strategic planning, innovation and impact are within reach of any nonprofit organization.
ABOUT LEAH Leah Kral is an expert facilitator and author who helps nonprofits innovate and further social change. She is a sought-after speaker at nonprofit industry events and writes frequently about her research. Her new book is Innovation for Social Change: How Wildly Successful Nonprofits Inspire and Deliver Results (Wiley, 2022). Leah is the senior director of strategy and innovation at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, in Virginia. The Mercatus Center is the home of heterodox thinkers and economists who work to discover what aspects of institutions and culture help societies prosper. Leah has been with Mercatus since 2006, where she has been providing tailored workshops and consulting to internal teams and to a network of university research centers across the country. For decades, she has been helping teams to break out of the busy daily routine and draw out their best creative thinking. She helps teams to design pilots, program strategies and meaningful evaluation approaches, leading to better outcomes and more compelling stories for supporters. She has a passion for helping altruistic organizations achieve their missions and is an active volunteer in her community. She holds a Master of Arts in public policy from Duquesne University and is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Jamaica 2002-2004). EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 203: Finding Success as a New Nonprofit Leader (Aaron Randolph) | 30 Mar 2023 | 00:58:27 | |
203: Finding Success as a New Nonprofit Leader (Aaron Randolph) SUMMARY How do you find success as a new nonprofit leader? Starting any new business is difficult, and while similar, starting a nonprofit has a whole host of unique complexities. In Episode #203 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Aaron Randolph shares his best advice for others looking to start, fund and run a successful nonprofit organization. Aaron navigated the “big three” - new leader, new organization, new community – and thoughtfully recounts the lessons learned that can help you as well. Specifically, we explore four key functions of successful senior leadership and the value of conducting a thorough community assessment.
ABOUT AARON Aaron Randolph is the Executive Director and Co-Founder of Carolina Youth Coalition (CYC), a nonprofit organization that nurtures and propels high-achieving, under-resourced students to and through college. Aaron earned his Master’s in Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education in 2013 and a B.A. from Cornell University in 2011. A native of Lake City, FL, he relocated to Charlotte, NC in 2017 with his wife, Lizzy, from Baton Rouge, LA. Driven by a fervent belief in the power of education to create lasting generational change, Aaron began his career in education as a City Year AmeriCorps member and social studies teacher before finding a passion for college access work through joining the Baton Rouge Youth Coalition staff in 2015. Since moving to Charlotte, Aaron has led Carolina Youth Coalition’s launch and growth from serving 40 students in 2018 to over 300 high school and college students this school year. Through CYC, students in the program have earned over $45 million in scholarships and grants and two-thirds are attending four-year universities across the state and across the country completely debt-free. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 202: Turning Your Financials into a Nonprofit Leadership Tool (Melisa Galasso) | 23 Mar 2023 | 00:45:34 | |
202: Turning Your Financials into a Nonprofit Leadership Tool (Melisa Galasso) SUMMARY Are you and your board members confident when it comes to the financials? Many nonprofit leaders - staff and board - are not. In episode #202 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Melisa Galasso brings two decades of experience making complex accounting topics easy to understand, and will empower you with the financial acumen to better lead your nonprofit. She breaks down the sometimes complex world of accounting so that you and your board of directors will be better equipped to harness the power of your financial statements.
ABOUT MELISA Melisa Galasso is the founder and CEO of Galasso Learning Solutions LLC. A CPA with nearly 20 years of experience in the accounting profession, Melisa designs and facilitates courses in advanced technical accounting and auditing topics, including not-for-profit and governmental accounting. She also supports essential professional development, audit level training, and train the trainer efforts. Melisa is a Certified Speaking Professional, a Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD), and has earned the Association for Talent Development Master Trainer™ designation. Her passion for instructional design and adult learning techniques is one differentiator that set her apart from other CPE providers. Within the industry, Melisa serves on the FASB’s Not-for-Profit Advisory Committee (NAC), AICPA Council and serves as a Subject Matter Expert for the Center for Plain English Accounting. She previously served on the AICPA’s Technical Issues Committee (TIC), the VSCPA’s Board of Directors, and is a past-Chair of the NCACPA’s A&A committee. Melisa is the author of Money Matters for Nonprofits: How Board Members Can Harness the Power of Financial Statements by Understanding Basic Accounting EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 327: Banking on Impact: How TowneBank Champions Nonprofit Success (Alice Joyce & Carol Holland) | 31 Jul 2025 | 00:30:28 | |
327: Banking on Impact: How TowneBank Champions Nonprofit Success (Alice Joyce & Carol Holland) SUMMARY Special thanks to TowneBank for their commitment to nonprofit organizations. Learn more about how they can help you at TowneBank.com/NonprofitBanking. What makes a community bank an essential ally for nonprofit leaders? In episode 327 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Alice Joyce and Carol Holland explore how genuine relationships, personal service, and community involvement distinguish their approach to nonprofit partnerships. From offering no-cost resources like boardroom space and networking events to specialized banking services designed with nonprofits in mind, they show how banks can be more than just financial institutions but collaborators, connectors, and champions of community impact. ABOUT ALICE Alice brings over 20 years of banking experience, helping individuals and businesses—especially nonprofits, healthcare providers, attorneys, executives, and small business owners—achieve their financial goals. She leads a monthly Lunch and Learn series for local nonprofits, providing valuable education and growth opportunities. Alice serves on the boards of WIN (Women in Networking) Uptown and the Executives Association of Charlotte, reflecting her passion for community leadership. A Pittsburgh native, she earned her B.S. in Marketing from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and now lives in Mount Holly with her husband, Kevin. ABOUT CAROL Carol brings over 30 years of banking experience and manages a portfolio of over 350 nonprofits and associations in the Triangle, focusing on relationship-building and collaboration. She leads a bimonthly Nonprofit Lunch & Learn and regularly creates opportunities for nonprofit engagement. Carol has deep ties to Raleigh’s nonprofit community, serving on boards including Junior Achievement of Eastern NC, NC Arts in Action, and SAFEchild. She’s also volunteered with organizations like the Salvation Army, Rise Against Hunger, the Food Bank, and Habitat for Humanity. Carol holds degrees from UNC-Chapel Hill and Meredith College and is a graduate of the NC School of Banking. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 201: Key Fundraising Trends Nonprofit Leaders Need to Know (Matt Nash) | 16 Mar 2023 | 00:49:26 | |
201: Key Fundraising Trends Nonprofit Leaders Need to Know (Matt Nash) SUMMARY As a nonprofit leader, are you aware of the unique motivations many Donor Advise Fund (DAF) givers share? Do you target stewardship efforts to this group of individuals specifically? In episode #201 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Matt Nash, who has been on the cutting edge of recent key fundraising trends in the philanthropic sector shares his extensive knowledge about the rise of this donor group. Learn more about the psychology and intent behind these donors and how best to steward them. Matt discusses top trends such as strategy, digital platforms, relationships, and the rise of crypto that are affecting fundraising in 2023 and how nonprofit leaders should address each.
ABOUT MATT Matthew Nash is the Executive Director of the Blackbaud Giving Fund, leading the organization’s mission to unleash generosity by connecting people to causes they care about around the world. An experienced executive with a focus on customer relationships, he previously served as the Executive Director of the Generosity Commission Working Group, where he continues to volunteer, focusing on implementing a research agenda aimed at more deeply understanding generosity in America. Previously, he was Senior Vice President of Marketing and Donor Experience at Fidelity Charitable, one of the largest grant-makers in the United States, where he studied donor behavior and worked to make giving accessible, simple, and effective. An expert in donor-advised funds and philanthropy, Matt is an advocate for local public education, having served as a foundation president funding innovative educational programs and on the board of advisors for District C, a nonprofit that brings students together across schools to solve real problems of local businesses. He received a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering and an MBA from the University of Minnesota. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 200: Nonprofit Leaders: Which Trends Should You Follow? (Becky Endicott & Jon McCoy) | 09 Mar 2023 | 00:51:28 | |
200: Nonprofit Leaders: Which Trends Should You Follow? (Becky Endicott & Jon McCoy) SUMMARY What key trends are you following as a leader in 2023? For the enterprising nonprofit executive, one of the best sources of cutting-edge information on hot topics in the sector is We Are For Good, and that’s why we waited until the #200th episode of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership to speak with Becky Endicott and Jon McCoy, two thought leaders in our sector who will zero in on some of the key trends that will help you steer your nonprofit in the right direction this year.
ABOUT JON ABOUT BECKY We Are For Good, a digital kindness and social impact community, is revolutionizing the nonprofit industry through profound compassion, best-in-class education/training, authentic storytelling and crazy good marketing all leading to an #ImpactUprising. Its podcast of the same name debuted at #1 in the nonprofit category and is frequented by nonprofit colleagues around the world as well as Do Gooders who are simply looking for a reason to smile or celebrate humanity. The company’s ethos stems from the core belief that everyone matters, and our passion is to bring innovation, social impact, and, well - a little bit of good - into the world. You matter here. Come join our community or learn more at weareforgood.com or @weareforgood on most social platforms. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 199: Finding Your Passion as a Nonprofit Leader (Helena Scott) | 02 Mar 2023 | 00:56:09 | |
199: Finding Your Passion as a Nonprofit Leader (Helena Scott) SUMMARY How do you find – and keep - your passion as a nonprofit leader? In episode #199 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Helena Scott shares her remarkable two-decade journey with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and what sustains her energy and motivation. She discusses challenges, benefits and unique opportunities inherent to being a part of a national chapter organization and her leadership approach to such things as fundraising, board engagement, and talent acquisition and retention. Helena also shares her best advice for finding that proverbial work-life balance.
Helena Scott is a Regional Advancement Director of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), covering North Carolina and Virginia. She has been with LLS in a variety of roles over the past 22 years and has worked in the oncology field since graduating from Washington University in St. Louis in 1999. Helena began her career at Memorial Sloan Kettering working in business management before accepting her first position at LLS in its New York office in 2001. During her tenure in NY, Helena oversaw the largest fundraising campaign and market in the country, generating over $8MM in a single year through LLS's flagship sports endurance program Team in Training. In 2011, shortly after the birth of her first son, Helena co-founded LLS’s Moms In Training program, a unique initiative bringing like-minded moms together to achieve their fitness and philanthropic goals. In 2015, Helena accepted a position as the Director of the Charlotte office where she quickly transformed the languishing market. Under her leadership, the Charlotte team increased its flagship campaigns from $900,000 to $5,500,000 in just 4 years, breaking LLS fundraising records, and elevating Charlotte to one of the fastest markets nationally. During her time running the Charlotte office, Helena oversaw the first Man & Woman of the Year campaign to ever break $3 million nationally, and also initiated a multi-million-dollar Students of the Year campaign in Charlotte. She has been a top national fundraiser for the past decade, raising just shy of $1,000,000, a milestone she hopes to break this year.
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