Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership – Details, episodes & analysis

341: 4 Resources Every Nonprofit Leader Needs (Ivan Canada)

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.

In episode #341 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Ivan Canada, President and CEO of the North Carolina Center for Nonprofits, shares the four essential resources every nonprofit leader needs to succeed: advocacy tools, legal compliance guidance, sustainable fundraising practices, and peer networking. Drawing on his extensive experience leading one of the state’s most trusted sector organizations, Ivan explains why each of these elements is vital to long-term organizational health and how leaders can apply them immediately. He offers practical advice for building advocacy confidence, avoiding compliance pitfalls, and fostering collaboration across diverse organizations. Listeners will gain actionable insights into how peer learning and shared leadership can strengthen both individual leaders and the sector as a whole.

ABOUT IVAN

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.

EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES

• The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker
• Learn more about the North Carolina Center for Nonprofits at https://www.ncnonprofits.org
• Ready for your next leadership opportunity? Visit Armstrong McGuire & Associates
• Explore the Mastermind Leadership Development Program, now accepting applications for 2026

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

• No Elevator to Everest by Will Acuff — Amazon
• Learn more about Corner to Corner at cornertocorner.org
• Ready for your next leadership opportunity? Visit Armstrong McGuire & Associates
• Explore the Mastermind Leadership Development Program, now accepting applications for 2026

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

• Ready for your next leadership opportunity? Visit our partners at Armstrong McGuire
• The Book of Joy by the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu
• Join a Giving Circle with Philanthropy Together
• Want to chat leadership 24/7?  Go to delphi.ai/pattonmcdowell
• Have you gotten Patton’s book Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership: Seven Keys to Advancing Your Career in the Philanthropic Sector – Now available on Audible
• Don’t miss our weekly Thursday Leadership Lens for the latest on nonprofit leadership

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

• The Nonprofit Strategy Revolution: Real-Time Strategic Planning in a Rapid-Response World by David LaPiana & Melissa Mendes Campos
• Learn more about Marie and Funding for Good here
• Ready for a Mastermind? Learn more here!
• Have you gotten Patton’s book Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership: Seven Keys to Advancing Your Career in the Philanthropic Sector
• Watch for the companion workbook and the audio version of Patton’s best seller, Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, coming soon!

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 

• Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain
• Learn more about Carmita and her work at The Surge Institute 
• Ready for a Mastermind?  Learn more here!
• Watch for the companion workbook and the audio version of Patton’s best seller, Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership: Seven Keys to Advancing Your Career in the Philanthropic Sector, coming soon!

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.

EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES

• Why Play Works: Big Changes Start Small by Jill Vialet
• Learn more about Elizabeth and Playworks here
• Ready for a Mastermind? Learn more here!
• Have you gotten Patton’s book Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership: Seven Keys to Advancing Your Career in the Philanthropic Sector?
• Watch for the companion workbook and the audio version of Patton’s best seller, Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, coming soon!

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

• Hooked On You: The Genius Way to Make Anybody Read Anything by Ian Harris
• Learn more about David here
• Ready for a Mastermind? Learn more here!
• Have you gotten Patton’s book Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership: Seven Keys to Advancing Your Career in the Philanthropic Sector
• Watch for the companion workbook and the audio version of Patton’s best seller, Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, coming soon!

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

• Leadership on the Line by Ronald Heifetz & Marty Linsky; The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker; Understanding Nonprofit Organizations by Lisa Dicke & J. Steven Ott
• Ready for a Mastermind?  Learn more here!
• Have you gotten Patton’s book Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership: Seven Keys to Advancing Your Career in the Philanthropic Sector?

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

• Great by Choice: Uncertainty, Chaos, and Luck – Why Some Thrive Despite Them All by Jim Collins
• Learn more about Dr. Davis and her books here
• Hear more from Hardy Smith in episode 186: Why Don’t Board Members Do What They’re Supposed to Do?
• Ready for a Mastermind?  Learn more here!
• Have you gotten Patton’s book Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership: Seven Keys to Advancing Your Career in the Philanthropic Sector

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

• The Happiest Man on Earth: The Beautiful Life of an Auschwitz Survivor by Eddie Jaku
• Learn more about David and Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife here
• Ready for a mastermind?  Learn more here!
• Check out Patton’s book Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership: Seven Keys to Advancing Your Career in the Philanthropic Sector