Explore every episode of the podcast Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
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| 279: Digital Transformation: A New Era for Nonprofit Leaders (Beth Kanter) | 05 Sep 2024 | 00:52:41 | |
279: Digital Transformation: A New Era for Nonprofit Leaders (Beth Kanter) SUMMARY How can nonprofit leaders embrace the opportunities of artificial intelligence (AI) while navigating the ethical challenges it presents, all without losing sight of the human-centered mission at the heart of their work? In episode 279 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Beth Kanter, a seasoned expert in nonprofit technology, delves into the challenges and opportunities presented by AI. She offers a nuanced perspective on adopting AI in a way that enhances human-centered work, improves productivity, and upholds organizational values. Beth also shares her journey to becoming a leading voice in nonprofit tech, emphasizing the importance of empathetic leadership, ethical AI use, and maintaining workplace well-being. Whether you're leading a small nonprofit or a large organization, this conversation will provide valuable strategies for integrating technology without compromising the human touch that defines effective nonprofit work. ABOUT BETH Beth Kanter is an internationally recognized thought leader and trainer in digital transformation and well-being in the nonprofit workplace. She is the co-author of the award-winning Happy Healthy Nonprofit: Impact without Burnout and co-author with Allison Fine of The Smart Nonprofit. Named one of the most influential women in technology by Fast Company and recipient of the NTEN Lifetime Achievement Award, she has over three decades of experience in designing and delivering training programs for nonprofits and foundations. As a sought-after keynote speaker and workshop leader, she has presented at nonprofit conferences around the world to thousands of nonprofits. Learn more about Beth at www.bethkanter.org. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 278: 3 Barriers to Nonprofit Strategic Planning (Chris Wong) | 29 Aug 2024 | 00:44:47 | |
278: 3 Barriers to Nonprofit Strategic Planning (Chris Wong) SUMMARY How can nonprofit leaders shift from simply surviving to strategically thriving in an environment filled with resource constraints and external pressures? In episode 278 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Chris Wong delves into the intricacies of strategic planning for nonprofits, addressing common challenges and offering actionable solutions. Drawing from his extensive experience, Chris identifies the three biggest barriers nonprofit leaders face: resource constraints, lack of engagement and buy-in, and external pressures. He emphasizes the importance of shifting from a scarcity mindset to a strategic, long-term approach and highlights the need for inclusive planning processes that foster team alignment and commitment. Chris also shares insights on the critical role of leadership in championing strategic initiatives and offers practical tips for assessing and improving organizational culture. ABOUT CHRIS Chris is a certified executive coach, licensed therapist, and seasoned leadership development professional with a proven track record in the nonprofit sector. He specializes in guiding leaders through strategic prioritization, confident navigation of difficult conversations, and fostering high-performing cultures. As a facilitator and public speaker, Chris has trained hundreds of leaders and spearheaded successful organizational projects. His extensive experience spans nonprofit, health insurance, and government systems. Currently, he partners with human service nonprofit executives to execute strategic plans, addressing challenges such as conflict resolution, culture enhancement, productivity improvement, and fostering inclusive work environments. Chris' expertise encompasses leadership development, strategic planning, change management, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 269: Empowering Women in Nonprofit Leadership (Jenny Mitchell) | 04 Jul 2024 | 00:46:19 | |
269: Empowering Women in Nonprofit Leadership (Jenny Mitchell) SUMMARY How can organizations better utilize coaching to support and retain their rising stars, rather than just addressing problem employees? In episode 269 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Jenny Mitchell delves into the nuances of nonprofit leadership, especially for women, sharing personal experiences and actionable strategies. From the challenges of transitioning from a manager to a leader to the importance of reflection and prioritization, she offers invaluable advice on maintaining productivity without sacrificing well-being. Learn about the significance of defining high-value tasks and the impact of leadership intentions on organizational culture. Jenny also highlights the necessity of self-care and energy management, urging leaders to recalibrate their routines for sustainability. She further explores the critical role of boards in supporting leaders, discussing systemic burnout and the potential benefits of sabbaticals. ABOUT JENNY Jenny Mitchell, CFRE, DMA, CEC is the Chief Visionary Officer of Chavender, where she works closely with leaders to change the world one mission at a time. She is a dynamic speaker, executive coach, fundraising professional, and host of the Underdog Leadership podcast. She is also the author of Embracing Ambition: Empowering Women to Step Out, Be Seen, and Lead, uniting twelve exceptional women leaders from across North America with a simple goal: to share their leadership stories as a mentorship resource for the next generation of women leaders. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 179: Transition Across Sectors: Are You Ready to Lead a Nonprofit? (Beth Reaves) | 13 Oct 2022 | 00:43:31 | |
179: Transition Across Sectors: Are You Ready to Lead a Nonprofit? (Beth Reaves) SUMMARY Are you considering a career move to a mission based nonprofit and wonder how your corporate skills will transfer to the philanthropic sector? In episode #179 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, one time fortune 50 company executive, Beth Reaves shares what to expect for a successful transition. Having developed an “Entry Plan” for new nonprofit leaders, she explains why it’s important to have one that outlines the 30/60/90-day goals new nonprofit leaders should look to accomplish. She outlines skills and experiences essential to nonprofit leadership and what she looks for in new talent. Beth discusses creating strong bonds with your constituent groups, the value of clear communication, and key elements for a strong and productive relationship with your board of directors.
ABOUT BETH Dr. Beth Reaves is the President of the Washington School for Girls, a private, Catholic school, which provides 100% scholarship support for girls in grades 3-8. She has served in this role since 2017, having previously worked as a school leader and administrator in the Philadelphia area. Prior to working in education, Beth spent a decade working in Corporate Marketing for a Fortune 50 company. She believes in educational equity for young girls of color and works to provide a school environment where every girl can thrive and flourish. In her role, she focuses on external relations, fundraising and leadership to ensure the school provides a strong academic program for its students and is sustainable into the future. Beth holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in accounting from Drexel University, an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a Doctorate in Business from the University of Phoenix. She is a Klingenstein Fellow in the Heads of Schools Program at the Teachers’ College, Columbia University, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Association of Independent Schools Greater Washington, the Nativity Miguel Coalition and the DC Public Library Foundation. She is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 178: Building a Diverse and Talented Team at Your Nonprofit (Julie Kratz) | 06 Oct 2022 | 00:46:08 | |
178: Building a Diverse and Talented Team at Your Nonprofit (Julie Kratz) SUMMARY As a nonprofit leader, are you creating a more inclusive and diverse culture at your organization, especially at the leadership level? In episode #178 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, we talk with an inclusivity expert, Julie Kratz, about developing the framework for building a diverse and talented leadership team. DEI can be a complex topic in the workplace, and Julie introduces the basic terms leaders should know to engage in candid conversations about diversity and inclusion. She also outlines her 3D’s model to hold team members accountable, and how using the model in conversation cultivates greater inclusion. Learn exactly what nonprofit leaders having success with DEI are doing, and how they have built and retained diverse leadership teams.
ABOUT JULIE Julie Kratz is a highly acclaimed TEDx speaker and inclusive leadership trainer who led teams and produced results in corporate America. After experiencing many career “pivot points” of her own, she started her own speaking business with the goal of helping leaders be more inclusive. Promoting diversity, inclusion, and allyship in the workplace, Julie helps organizations foster more inclusive environments. She is a frequent keynote speaker, podcast host, and executive coach. She holds an MBA from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University, is a Certified Master Coach, and is a certified unconscious bias trainer. Her books include Pivot Point: How to Build a Winning Career Game Plan, ONE: How Male Allies Support Women for Gender Equality, and Lead Like an Ally: A Journey Through Corporate America with Strategies to Facilitate Inclusion, children’s book Little Allies, and her newest Allyship in Action: 10 Strategies for Living Inclusively.
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| 177: Mastering Your Financial Acumen as a Nonprofit Leader (Kevin Briscoe) | 29 Sep 2022 | 00:49:06 | |
Kevin Briscoe 177: Mastering Your Financial Acumen as a Nonprofit Leader (Kevin Briscoe) SUMMARY Is your organization positioned to navigate the unique strategic and financial challenges inherent in nonprofit settings? As a nonprofit leader, do you need more financial expertise but don’t know if you can afford it? In episode #177 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, financial expert Kevin Briscoe helps today’s nonprofit leaders address their overall accounting needs and financial literacy. He defines what a fractional CFO is and how this model can benefit your nonprofit. Kevin breaks down the various accounting roles, the distinctions between them, and their place in the philanthropic sector. We discuss how to reduce expenses and increase cash flow projections to maximize funding opportunities. ABOUT KEVIN Kevin Briscoe is the Managing Partner of CFO Selections®, and stewards the culture and core values of the organization, including supporting the firm's philanthropic work through the CFOS Foundation. Throughout his career, Kevin has held ownership and management positions, providing effective leadership in increasing profitable growth. His professional career includes nearly 30 years in finance, accounting, and operations from Fortune 100, publicly traded corporations to small, closely held settings. Before joining CFO Selections® in 2007, Kevin was part owner of a successful lighting representative business, helping drive their growth from $30 to $70 million. He has also served as a financial member of South End Equities, where he was responsible for the purchase and management of a commercial real estate portfolio. His extensive experience in business strategy, management, and operations assists him in leading the firm. Kevin earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in accounting from Gonzaga University. He currently serves as Board Advisor for The Linehan Institute, and has served as a past Board member of the Electric League of the Pacific Northwest Charitable Foundation, as Co-Chair for the American Cancer Society ‘Race for a Cure’ benefiting Breast Cancer research, and also enjoys playing softball in Kent, where he lives with his wife and enjoys spending time with his four children and many grandchildren. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 176: Does Your Nonprofit Board Have the Skills to Thrive? (Lisa Cook) | 22 Sep 2022 | 00:52:45 | |
176: Does Your Nonprofit Board Have the Skills to Thrive? (Lisa Cook) SUMMARY If leadership begins at the top, does your board ensure everyone is performing at their best at the work they pledged to do? In episode #176 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, board governance expert Lisa Cook shares how to identify, cultivate, train and engage your board for long-term success. She discusses why such skills as governance, strategic planning and financial acumen are necessary for success, and things new and aspiring board members must develop. Clear communication of expectations is a vital component at every level of nonprofit leadership, and none more important than between the CEO and Board Chair. Lisa shares how to engage in intentional communication of expectations, and how it provides a mutual understanding of needs, support, resources, and goals.
ABOUT Lisa Cook is the Founder and Managing Director of Get on Board Australia, supporting aspiring, new and existing board members and boards to thrive. She has thirteen years of experience serving on boards from a range of organizations in the private, public, and not for profit sectors in Adelaide, Sydney, and across Australia, including Shooting Australia, Inclusive Sport SA, West Beach Community Bendigo Bank, and Australian College of Professionals. Along with writing and commenting regularly on governance, board members, and boards, Lisa hosts the Board Shorts Podcast; sharing insights, lessons, and advice from her experience in the boardroom and from subject matter experts across the world. Lisa holds a degree from Charles Sturt University in business management and marketing, has completed the Foundations of Directorship program through AICD, and is currently studying a Master of Business Law at the University of Adelaide. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 175: How Can Nonprofit Leaders Succeed in the Attention Economy? (Eric Ressler) | 15 Sep 2022 | 00:43:04 | |
175: How Can Nonprofit Leaders Succeed in the Attention Economy? (Eric Ressler) SUMMARY With the distractions of instant access to information, are you effectively capturing the attention of the right people in a sustained, authentic, and meaningful way to move your mission forward? Eric Ressler explains what the attention economy means and how it has affected nonprofit organizations in episode #176 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership. Eric shares why organizations struggle to find, grow and maintain funding and you can cut through the noise and better communicate your message. Learn why traditional strategies and approaches are not working in this attention economy and how to leverage the full power of a global digital culture. ABOUT Eric Ressler is the Founder and Creative Director at Cosmic, a Social Impact Creative Agency. Cosmic empowers social impact organizations to catalyze real world change by helping them nail their impact story, build brand awareness, and inspire action. Eric got his start in design from a very young age, and after leaving a design program in San Diego early to pursue freelance work, cut his teeth running a freelance business in the digital design space. After organically building a strong roster of clients, he discovered a passion for the social impact and philanthropic space. Through working with numerous organizations across this sector, he found that often their missions and visions are strong, but their efforts are stymied by ineffective communications philosophies and practices. Now, Eric and Cosmic are on a mission to help social impact organizations across the globe navigate a rapidly changing world. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 174: Planting the Seeds of Change with your Nonprofit Board (Christal Cherry & Renee Rubin Ross) | 08 Sep 2022 | 00:49:25 | |
174: Planting the Seeds of Change with your Nonprofit Board (Christal Cherry & Renee Rubin Ross) SUMMARY Does your nonprofit’s leadership truly represent the diverse voice you serve? Why is it more important than ever to have equal representation at the board level? In episode # 174 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, two talented nonprofit professionals have come together to collaborate on this important topic. Renee Rubin Ross and Christal Cherry share aspects from their DEIB training program and how nonprofits who commit to the process can strengthen the well-being of the entire organization. Renee and Christal discuss the knowledge gaps that exist between black and indigenous people of color and their white counterparts and what actions your board members can take once they recognize the differences that exist. ABOUT CHRISTAL Christal M. Cherry, is a trained fundraiser with more than 22 years of nonprofit experience serving on executive teams, as a liaison with boards, and a confidant to the CEO/Executive Director. Christal has a passion to help transform board members into impactful leaders and touts fundraising as her ministry - the place where she feels she can make the biggest difference. Christal’s mantra: Fundraising is not an F word. Christal founded and leads The Board Pro, a company that equips board members with the tools they need to effectively govern and help nonprofits to fulfill their missions, scale, and become change agents in their communities. ABOUT RENEE Dr. Renee Rubin Ross is a recognized leader on board and organizational development and strategy and the founder of The Ross Collective, a consulting firm that designs and leads inclusive, participatory processes for social sector boards and staff. Committed to racial equity in the nonprofit sector, Dr. Ross guides leaders and organizations in strategic plans and governance processes that deepen social change, racial justice and community strength. In addition to her consulting work, Dr. Ross is the Director of the Cal State University East Bay Nonprofit Management Certificate program and teaches Strategic Planning and Board Development for the program. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 173: Can You Manage the Finances as a Nonprofit Leader? (Alex Romero) | 01 Sep 2022 | 00:42:36 | |
173: Can You Manage the Finances as a Nonprofit Leader? (Alex Romero) SUMMARY As a nonprofit leader, are you well versed in the management of budgets and financials for your organization? Can you forecast cash flow and establish internal controls to keep donors and board members happy? In episode #173 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, we explore the fundamental financial skills you must master to excel at nonprofit leadership. Virtual CFO Alex Romero identifies some of the biggest financial challenges she sees nonprofit leaders facing today and how retaining virtual services might help you make good decisions before you put your organization in a bad spot. Alex shares the three financial management pillars for the overall health and sustainability of your organization and why they matter. ABOUT ALEX Alexandria Romero recently joined Chris Hervochon CPA CVA LLC accounting firm as a virtual CFO. Romero is a Certified Public Accounting from Colorado with an impressive list of accolades in accounting — a few which include the 2022 AICPA Outstanding Young CPA Award, a 2022 Colorado State University Department of Accounting Hall of Fame inductee, and a 2021 CPA Practice Advisor’s “40 Under 40” Accounting Professionals. In her new role as a virtual CFO for Chris Hervochon CPA CVA LLC, Romero directs financial planning, financial reports and financial strategies for nonprofits and digital marketing agencies around the country. Romero previously served as Chief Financial Officer for Pueblo City-County Library District in Pueblo, CO, overseeing a more than $14 million budget. Her extensive accounting experience also includes positions as Senior Auditor and Tax Accountant for McPherson, Goodrich, Paolucci & Mihelich, PC in Pueblo, CO, as well as Accountant positions for Colorado Springs Housing Authority in Colorado Springs, CO and the Downtown Denver Partnership in Denver, CO. Romero also is an active member of the accounting industry, currently serving on the AICPA’s Young Member Leadership Committee as chair and a board member for the Colorado Society of Certified Public Accountants (COCPA). EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 172: 3 Ways Your Nonprofit Can Inspire Greater Investment (Deepa Naik) | 25 Aug 2022 | 00:53:52 | |
172: 3 Ways Your Nonprofit Can Inspire Greater Investment (Deepa Naik) SUMMARY How do you make a successful case for funding given the increasing number of urgent needs in your community? Your donors certainly have many great causes to consider. In episode #172 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, we talk with Deepa Naik, a former fundraiser and consultant who now works with The Merancas Foundation, about what she sees as she reviews dozens of proposals. Have you ever wished you could ask funders, “How do I best prepare for an initial conversation?” Well, Deepa has some suggestions, and she’ll identify the top three strategies nonprofit leaders can use to inspire greater fund investment.
ABOUT DEEPA Deepa loves building stakeholder relations, handling complex projects, creative thinking, and facing diverse challenges. Her personal and professional paths have been marked by a commitment to empower individuals and support equitable access. Deepa joined The Merancas Foundation as their Director of Philanthropy in May 2021, where she is responsible for distributing grant funds within greater Charlotte, NC, Trenton, NJ, and Atlanta, GA. Formerly, Deepa cultivated external relations for Upstream USA as a Regional Director of Partnerships, expanding contraceptive access across NC. Prior to Upstream, Deepa was a full-time nonprofit consultant, working with organizations of all sizes throughout the Carolinas to achieve strategic and development goals. Early in her career, Deepa gained knowledge and expertise from program and development work in a substance abuse treatment center and domestic violence organizations. Deepa enjoys traveling back to England to see her parents and extended family. She now lives in the suburbs of Charlotte with her husband, Jinesh, and two daughters, Anissa and Evie. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 171: How to Build Trust as a Nonprofit Leader (Teresa Mitrovic) | 18 Aug 2022 | 00:51:30 | |
171: How to Build Trust as a Nonprofit Leader (Teresa Mitrovic) SUMMARY Are psychological safety and trust key elements of your leadership? How does trust change workplace culture? What is a leader’s role in trust and how do you build psychological safety while maintaining accountability? In episode #171 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, author and coach Teresa Mitrovic advocates for trust as the crucial factor in organizational health. Learn what it means to create and adapt to this type of environment and discover what a high-performing team operating in psychological safety and trust really looks like. She shares how this model better attracts energized and resilient talent while significantly reducing turnover, which is a critical issue for nonprofit leaders around the world. ABOUT TERESA Teresa Mitrovic is an author, coach and consultant who teaches leaders how to build performance while enabling psychological safety and trust. She has given keynote speeches at conferences, delivered immersive workshops for corporate audiences of up to 250 and cites delivering a Resilience workshop at Buckingham Palace as a career highlight. Before retraining as an Executive & Corporate Coach, she had a leadership career spanning two decades working for Hasbro, The Walt Disney Company and Universal Pictures amongst others. A high performer, she found the increasing demands of senior leadership and single parenthood increasingly exhausting. Learning how to coach as a leader was the turning point that inspired her career change. In the 9 months following the shift in her leadership style, workloads were reset, work pressure was paced, team cohesion, alignment and performance improved and profit grew three-fold. Since then, Teresa has worked with corporate and civil organizational clients globally. A New Zealander, Teresa has lived in Auckland and London but now lives in Melbourne with her husband and dog. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 170: How Can Your Nonprofit Be More Effective Seeking Grants? (Gauri Manglik) | 11 Aug 2022 | 00:38:39 | |
170: How Can Your Nonprofit Be More Effective Seeking Grants? (Gauri Manglik) SUMMARY As a nonprofit leader, are you focused on the most important elements that help you generate more funding? In episode #170 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, learn how to better train your staff, measure the impact of your team, and choose the best tools for your nonprofit from Gauri Manglik, creator of a barrier-breaking grant discovery, research, and tracking tool. Aside from your mission, the talent you attract and retain is crucial to the success of your nonprofit. Having served over 2,000 nonprofit organizations, Gauri shares what she’s observed about successful nonprofits and how they manage their people and technology. In this age of big data, she breaks down unique trends nonprofit leaders should look for and how to leverage quantitative insight when applying for funding. ABOUT GAURI Gauri has dedicated her career to building intuitive and delightful user experiences. Seeing the opportunity to force multiply the nonprofit sector's ability to create impact through software led to her work at Instrumentl. As CEO and a co-founder, she has led Instrumentl to serve over 2,000 nonprofits today, making it a favorite tool among grant seekers for bringing grant prospecting, tracking, and management to one place. Before Instrumentl, Gauri was CEO and co-founder of Fondu, an online community for sharing bite-sized restaurant reviews. After Fondu was acquired by Airbnb, Gauri led their mobile and special projects teams. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 268: Strategic Philanthropy: Navigating Choices and Building Impact (Steven E. Mayer, Ph.D.) | 27 Jun 2024 | 00:43:53 | |
268: Strategic Philanthropy: Navigating Choices and Building Impact (Steven E. Mayer, Ph.D.) SUMMARY How can shifting from a need-based approach to an asset-based mindset transform your nonprofit’s impact and fundraising success? Discover transformative strategies to elevate your nonprofit’s impact in episode 268 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership featuring Dr. Steven Mayer, the Chief Strategist for Effective Communities. Drawing from his extensive experience, Steve shares practical advice from his book aimed at both individuals and organizations. He introduces a shift from the traditional need-based approach to an asset-based mindset, highlighting the importance of recognizing and leveraging community strengths. Steve outlines three key actions encouraging nonprofits to persuasively communicate their mission and progress. Through real-world examples and actionable tips, this episode offers nonprofit leaders’ invaluable guidance on enhancing their organizational effectiveness and fundraising success, ultimately contributing to a more resilient and impactful nonprofit sector. ABOUT STEVE As an Adjunct Professor and Lecturer in Johns Hopkins University’s Master of Arts Program in Non-Governmental Organization Management, Steve Mayer for many years taught an online course in Nonprofit Program Development and Evaluation. This has allowed him to hone his perspective on evaluation and energize brilliant mid-career students with perspective and tools to pursue a more decent society. In 2019 he began work on his first eBook, How to Show Off Your Wicked Strong Sexy and Incredibly Effective Nonprofit. The book was tailored to nonprofit staff and board members, and incorporated work from his website, EffectiveCommunities.com – its main purpose was to help nonprofits demonstrate their effectiveness to key stakeholders. Now, 25 years after ECP’s founding, Steve is turning his lens to focus on individuals wanting to make the world a better place. This new direction is found in his recently launched book, How to Save the World: Evaluating Your Options. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 169: How to Assess the Philanthropic Culture of a Nonprofit Organization (Armando Chardiet) | 04 Aug 2022 | 00:46:33 | |
169: How to Assess the Philanthropic Culture of a Nonprofit Organization (Armando Chardiet) SUMMARY Does your organization have a philanthropic culture? How do you know? Armando Chardiet discusses exactly that in episode #169 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, and provides recommendations to best stand out as you seek philanthropic support. He also shares what he looks for in recruiting talent, and why mentorship has been the most significant asset during his nonprofit career. Armando defines what it means to have a philanthropic culture, then explains how to create and maintain that culture throughout all facets of the organization. He discusses the shift taking place in philanthropy where individual donors and corporate foundations are driven by a more focused market strategy in areas they fund while simultaneously becoming much more critical in evaluating associated outcomes. ABOUT ARMANDO Armando L. Chardiet, MSW, is president of the Atrium Health Foundation, supporting one of the most comprehensive and highly integrated not-for-profit healthcare systems in the nation. As a member of the executive leadership team, he is responsible for all philanthropic initiatives and fundraising campaigns that allow the organization to advance its mission to improve health, elevate hope and advance healing – for all. A recognized leader in the world of philanthropy with significant experience in establishing a strong culture of charitable giving, Chardiet joined Atrium Health in May 2017. Previously, Chardiet served in a variety of leadership roles, including chair of the Philanthropy Institute at Cleveland Clinic and chief advancement officer and assistant vice dean at the University of Pennsylvania Health System and the University of Pennsylvania Medical School. Chardiet holds his Bachelor of Arts degree in international relations and Latin American studies from Southern Connecticut University and earned a Master of Science degree in social policy research from the University of Pennsylvania. He also holds an advanced certificate degree from the University of Pennsylvania in research. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 168: Will Your Nonprofit Sustain Excellence for the Next Generation? (Regina Moody) | 28 Jul 2022 | 00:53:33 | |
168: Will Your Nonprofit Sustain Excellence for the Next Generation? (Regina Moody) SUMMARY How prepared is your organization as the philanthropic sector experiences post-pandemic changes? With increased competition for funding, are you communicating your mission and values effectively and managing your digital technology? In episode #168 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Regina Moody, who has had a remarkable 40-year career at a single organization, shares lessons she’s learned on her journey and what she sees for the future of the sector. Regina discusses the increasing reliance on technology and experiences she’s had with such things as policy changes, fundraising, and accreditation processes and compliance. You’ll hear vital advice on managing transitions at many levels, recruiting and retaining talented staff, and engaging with your board of directors. Learn what it takes to be an effective, impactful and intentional leader for the ages. ABOUT REGINA Regina Moody has served as a visionary force, guiding Holy Angels through significant growth and development during her 40-year tenure. Her professional career has been to create a place of “loving, living and learning for the differently able”. Regina has led Holy Angels through National Accreditation (CARF-Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) and expansion of programs and services to provide additional opportunities to improve the overall quality of life for the residents. During Regina's tenure, she took Holy Angels from a single building to a nonprofit that encompasses 17 buildings, including four business enterprises. Regina helped to start Cherubs Café, allowing some residents the opportunity to have meaningful employment. Because of Regina, Holy Angels is internationally recognized for some of its innovative programming and services specializing in comprehensive medical and developmental programs. The list of awards and accomplishments for Regina is long. In 2020, she was awarded the North Carolina Order of the Long Leaf Pine award, the highest honor given by the governor to those who have made significant contributions to the state. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 167: Horror Stories of Fundraising: What Would You Do? (Jay Frost) | 21 Jul 2022 | 00:55:24 | |
167: Horror Stories of Fundraising: What Would You Do? (Jay Frost) SUMMARYThink you're the only one to experience a fundraising horror story? Well, Jay Frost is here to assure you’re not alone and there are ways you can avoid these scary situations. In episode #167 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, he shares the critical importance of having policies and procedures in place to avoid your own horror stories and sustain your strategic plan. Learn how often to review and with whom they’re communicated to better build partnerships of trust. In discussing real fundraising horror stories, Jay identifies where things broke down and how we can learn from previous mistakes. ABOUT JAYJay Frost has worked with thousands of organizations to identify and pursue billions in fundraising opportunities around the world over the past thirty-five years. He is recognized as one of "America's top 25 fundraising experts" by Philanthropy Media, one of the Top 8 Fundraising Influencers by Elevation Media, among the Top Twelve Excellent Fundraising Consultants by Double the Donation, and a Top 100 Charity Influencer by Onalytica. A consultant to nonprofits and an advisor to companies serving the philanthropic marketplace, Jay advises organizations at all stages of their efforts, from startup through capital campaigns. Jay is also the Host of DonorSearch’s Philanthropy Masterminds Series, which has offered over 600 programs to tens of thousands of attendees since its debut in 2016. He has addressed hundreds of meetings across the US, Canada, Asia, the UK, and the Middle East. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 166: Transitions in Nonprofit Leadership: Are You Ready to Make a Move? (Mazarine Treyz) | 14 Jul 2022 | 00:37:41 | |
166: Transitions in Nonprofit Leadership: Are You Ready to Make a Move? (Mazarine Treyz) SUMMARY Are you pondering your place in the philanthropic sector? The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the world and its effects are being felt across all industries. In episode #166 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, multifaceted career coach Mazarine Treyz discusses some factors that nonprofit leaders should keep in mind as they prepare for the next normal. She advocates for such things as self-care, equal pay and the need to find fulfilment in your career choices, regardless of the transitions ahead. We are in a cultural transition where individuals, organizations and society can look forward to shaping their futures rather than just grinding through the present. ABOUT MAZARINE Mazarine Treyz loves to help you ask for more. She hosts the Asking for More podcast and mastermind. Mazarine has written a 5-star rated book on fundraising careers, called Get the Job! Your Fundraising Career Empowerment Guide and has helped over 1000 people move on up in their careers. Treyz founded the first fundraising career conference in spring 2015 and has done 13 conferences since then, each year learning more and more about the workplace justice movement. Mazarine excels at motivating audiences to lead and question the status quo. She taught over 20,000 people from 2011 to 2022. She has written 10 e-courses on fundraising & 3 books on nonprofit careers, fundraising and marketing. She has 13 years’ experience providing online workshops and trainings, including Fundraising trainings, Diversity Equity Inclusion trainings and a certification from the Racing to Equity Leadership Institute in 2021. She hosted the Name It podcast from 2019-2021, interviewing DEI leaders to further advocate for equity in our sector. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 165: 3 Technology Traps All Nonprofit Leaders Must Avoid (Bill Connors) | 07 Jul 2022 | 00:54:30 | |
165: 3 Technology Traps All Nonprofit Leaders Must Avoid (Bill Connors) SUMMARY Are you overwhelmed by the sheer volume of data at your nonprofit? Are you making the most of your CRM to streamline your data in productive ways? In episode #165 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Bill Connors explains why understanding technology is a vital skill many nonprofit leaders aren’t taking seriously enough. He shares his three S’s that senior management should avoid for the long-term well-being of their organization and the successful retention of top employees. Learn how to make decisions about technology that will best serve your nonprofit and the people who rely on it to efficiently and effectively get their jobs done. Bill provides practical advice and best practices for maintaining appropriate security to protect your data, and what good is all this data unless it helps grow your mission and your fundraising? Bill has those answers too.
ABOUT BILL Bill Connors, CFRE, bCRE-Pro has been a consultant and trainer on the Blackbaud fundraising software Raiser’s Edge since 1995, having worked directly with over 360 organizations. He started his own consulting and training practice in 2005. In 2010, Wiley published Bill’s book Fundraising with The Raiser’s Edge: A Non-Technical Guide. Until 2005, Bill was Principal Consultant for Fundraising Systems for Blackbaud, having helped found the Blackbaud consulting program in 1998. He has been providing consulting and training on Raiser’s Edge in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Europe since 1995. He previously served as Senior Consultant for Fundraising Technology for a London fundraising consulting firm. Having spent his entire career in nonprofit work, Bill also worked for Junior Achievement as the Director of Development in Arizona and as Director of Field IT for the national headquarters, overseeing the roll-out of Raiser’s Edge in the field offices. Bill is an honors graduate of Yale University with two master’s degrees, including a recent one from Harvard Divinity School. Bill lives in Folsom, California, east of Sacramento, with his partner and loves sweets, especially ice cream. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 164: Building an Organizational Culture of Advocacy (Eric Mitchell) | 30 Jun 2022 | 00:52:08 | |
164: Building an Organizational Culture of Advocacy (Eric Mitchell) SUMMARY You likely bring a passion for change to your leadership role, but are you channeling that passion in the most effective way possible? Are you the advocate for the societal change you aspire to see? In episode #164 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, one time Capitol Hill congressional staffer turned executive director Eric Mitchell explains the missing component to senior nonprofit leadership: advocacy. You may know policies and regulations that can impact your organization, but Eric explains the importance of advocating for policy change that would better affect the community you’re there to serve. Don’t go it alone. Learn how to build a coalition of many to lobby lawmakers. Eric discusses how to advocate for legislation, regulations and policies that get to the root causes which impact people’s daily lives and not just continuously treat the symptoms. You’ll also hear many lessons learned from someone who has crossed various sectors along his career journey. ABOUT ERIC Eric Mitchell is the Executive Director of the Alliance to End Hunger. In his role, he leads the Alliance’s strategic direction, including expanding and mobilizing its network of companies, nonprofit organizations, universities, foundations, and individuals. Prior to the Alliance, Eric served as Director of Global Government Relations for Adtalem Global Education, where he partnered with local government officials, businesses, and civic organizations in the United States and the Caribbean. He also served for six years as the Director of Government Relations at Bread for the World. Eric began his political career on Capitol Hill, serving as Policy Advisor to civil rights icon, U.S. Congressman John Lewis (D-GA), and Legislative Assistant to U.S. Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-GA). In 2014, Eric was included in The Root 100 most influential African Americans under the age of 40. He was also recognized as a “Top Lobbyist” from 2014 to 2019 by The Hill newspaper. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 163: The First Step to Nonprofit Leadership: Taking Care of Yourself (Georgia Krueger) | 23 Jun 2022 | 00:48:58 | |
163: The First Step to Nonprofit Leadership: Taking Care of Yourself (Georgia Krueger) SUMMARY How can you best be there for your organization, your employees, the individuals you serve and your own family if you aren’t taking care of yourself? In episode #163 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, we talk with Georgia Krueger, as she explains why self-care is so important to be your best, feel your best, and, yes, give your best. She shares the importance of incorporating safeguards to care for your heart, mind, body and spirit, so you have the clarity to guide your thinking, ideas and actions. Throughout our conversation, Georgia shares candid insights about specific decisions and pivotal moments and why she credits intentional self-care to see her through. ABOUT GEORGIA Georgia Harris Krueger has worked in the world of not-for-profits for over 30 years in a variety of settings. A 20-year career with the YMCA spans roles from Aquatics Director to Director of Camp Thunderbird to the Executive Director position at the Lake Norman YMCA in Davidson, NC. Most recently, Georgia served as the CEO of Ada Jenkins Center in Davidson, NC where she was instrumental in building collaborative partnerships, creating an endowment program, raising funds for and completing major renovations for the Center, almost doubling the annual budget due to increased client-partner and community demands, while positioning the Center as a leader in strengthening the community. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 162: Are You Ready to be A Nonprofit CEO? (Karen Eber Davis) | 16 Jun 2022 | 00:42:55 | |
162: Are You Ready to be A Nonprofit CEO? (Karen Eber Davis) SUMMARY Are you ready to be the kind of leader a nonprofit organization needs as well as inspire the best in others? In episode #162 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Karen Eber Davis discusses what she calls readiness characteristics necessary to be this type of dynamic leader. Through Karen’s extensive research of new CEOs, she identifies skills both emerging and current nonprofit leaders should embrace. Are you prepared to be the decision maker? Learn how to make your leadership more impactful, authentic and rewarding as you manage board challenges, fundraising and talent acquisition, retention and costs. Karen shares her top three takeaways that affect the readiness for a new nonprofit CEO. You’ll hear “what worked and what didn’t” advice she discovered during her many interviews with new CEOs and some interesting approaches to the first 90 days as CEO. And finally, we discuss self-care, something every nonprofit leader should be cognizant of practicing. ABOUT KAREN Too many nonprofit CEOs and executive directors struggle to lead their organizations without a trusted advisor. As one, Karen Eber Davis Consulting guides nonprofit leaders to generate the resources and support they need to make remarkable mission progress. Working together, they get answers, generate revenue, and grow missions. As the founding principal of Karen Eber Davis Consulting, Davis is known for her innovation and practicality based on her work with or visits to over 1,000 nonprofit organizations and her vast experience with personnel, boards, and fundraising. She is the author of 7 Nonprofit Income StreamsandLet’s Raise Nonprofit Millions Together. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 161: Measuring Success: How Nonprofit Leaders Can Look Beyond the Numbers (Megha Desai) | 09 Jun 2022 | 00:44:26 | |
161: Measuring Success: How Nonprofit Leaders Can Look Beyond the Numbers (Megha Desai) SUMMARY How do you measure nonprofit success? Unlike the for-profit sector, where metrics are clear, the charitable sector isn’t always as straightforward. In episode #161 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Megha Desai takes a hard look at how, as nonprofit leaders, we measure success and how we communicate that success to our donors and key constituents. Megha explains how she makes decisions based on the people she serves then uses the data to validate rather than the other way around, something large institutional donors have been shifting towards. Having converted her family foundation to a public 501(c)(3) programmatic nonprofit, she shares some unique opportunities and significant challenges the organization faced. Do you allow mission creep to acquire funding? Learn how to resist designated giving and remain mission focused. ABOUT MEGHA Megha is President of the Desai Foundation, a public foundation that aims to elevate the health and livelihood of women and children through community programs in the U.S. and India. She helped transform the organization’s mission, work, and message leading to its transformation from a small family foundation to a robust public foundation. Her leadership has helped put the Desai Foundation on the map through heralded events, like Diwali on the Hudson and the Lotus Festival, along with highly impactful programming leveraging strong partners on the ground in the US and India. The Desai Foundation focuses on sustainable development through vocational classes, health camps, community volunteer outreach, and sanitary napkin programs. The organization, to date, has impacted over a million lives in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Madhya Pradesh, India; Metro-Boston; and Harlem, New York. Megha currently sits on the advisory boards of several start-ups and non-profits, including Take Two Academy, TYE Boston – TiE Young Entrepreneurs, and NPR’s Generation Listen. Megha was nominated for India New England’s Woman of the Year Award in 2017. Megha holds a B.A. in Economics from Barnard College of Columbia University and completed the Executive Program for Social Entrepreneurship at Stanford Business School. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 160: Your Nonprofit Alliance May Not Be a Good Idea (Michelle Shumate) | 02 Jun 2022 | 00:40:58 | |
160: Your Nonprofit Alliance May Not Be a Good Idea (Michelle Shumate) SUMMARY Are you building successful alliances that truly benefit the mission of your organization? We operate under the assumption that collaborations in and of themselves are a good idea; however, Michelle Shumate’s extensive research of networks for social impact reveals why alliances are not always a good thing for nonprofit leaders to consider. In episode #160 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Michelle articulates that network design and management is not universal, but instead illustrates that the type of social issue, mechanism for social impact and resources available all determine appropriate collaborative choices. She outlines critical issues that nonprofit leaders address in creating and managing networks, including social issue analysis, network governance, securing and managing funding, dealing with power and conflict, using data effectively and managing change. Do you know the top three choices to make before seeking an alliance? After this episode you will. ABOUT MICHELLE Michelle is the founding director of Network for Nonprofit and Social Impact (NNSI), the Delaney Family University Research Professor, and Associate Faculty at the Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University. NNSI is dedicated to answering the question: How can nonprofit networks be rewired for maximum social impact? Her research focuses on how to design interorganizational networks to make the most social impact. She is the author of Networks for Social Impact (2022, Oxford University Press). The National Science Foundation recognized her research with a CAREER award. Her research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and Army Research Office. Nonprofit Quarterly, Stanford Social Innovation, and the Conference board have featured her work. She offers workshops, consulting, and coaching through the Social Impact Network Consulting. She is also spouse to Michael, mom to Oliver and Alex, an avid backyard birdwatcher, and a mediocre tennis player. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 267: Recapture Time with Simplification, Strategic Focus, and Systems (Alexia Maas) | 20 Jun 2024 | 00:50:10 | |
267: Recapture Time with Simplification, Strategic Focus, and Systems (Alexia Maas) SUMMARY How can nonprofit leaders harness business strategies to enhance collaboration, strategic planning, and board dynamics for greater impact? In episode 267 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Alexia Maas shares her wealth of experience and practical advice tailored to leaders like you. She emphasizes the importance of integrating business strategies into nonprofit operations, particularly through collaboration and strategic partnerships. Alexia outlines a meticulous approach to strategic planning, highlighting the need for clear goals, focused priorities, and incremental steps to achieve success. She also addresses the critical elements of fundraising, stressing the importance of sustainability, diversification, and financial acumen. Alexia provides thought-provoking insights on board dynamics, advocating for smaller, more effective boards with diverse perspectives. Her mantra, "Do less, achieve more," encapsulates her advice to prioritize impactful initiatives and maintain strategic focus. ABOUT ALEXIA Alexia’s executive and legal career spans almost 30 years. A dual qualified lawyer (UK & US), she has lived & worked in several countries around the world. After 16 years in private practice, Alexia joined the Volvo Group in 2013 and became the Global GC for Volvo Financial Services in 2014. As a member of the C-Suite Executive Management Team, Alexia gained valuable experience in transformation & change management; Business Development & Growth Strategies; Compliance & Risk Management; Crisis Management and People & Talent Development. An accomplished strategist thought leader & mentor among peers, Alexia quickly became a valued and trusted business adviser and is renowned for her strong focus on execution and high impact & creative problem solving. Alexia now offers niche consultancy & mentoring services through her own firm, Stratevix. Despite her previous hectic schedule as a C-Suite Executive, Alexia mastered how to recapture her own time & value and not only found time to launch and run her own consulting business, write & publish articles, speak nationwide and–most importantly relax with friends & family, she still found time left over to combine her passion, philanthropy and community spirit as Co-Founder & Executive Director of a local nonprofit organization: Triad International Ballet. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 159: 4 Ways to Advance Your Nonprofit Leadership This Year (Patton McDowell) | 26 May 2022 | 00:41:43 | |
159: 4 Ways to Advance Your Nonprofit Leadership This Year (Patton McDowell) SUMMARY What are you doing to actually move closer to your leadership goals in the nonprofit sector? Are you thankful for your current nonprofit leadership role? In this solo episode #159 of the Path Podcast, I offer four specific ways you can move closer to your nonprofit leadership goals. 1. Sharpen your Vision Framework 2. Practice Self-Assessment 3. Utilize Strategic Networking 4. Curate Knowledge ABOUT PATTON Patton McDowell has enjoyed a successful 30-year career in nonprofit leadership, strategic planning, and organizational development. Prior to founding PMA Consulting in 2009, he served as Vice President for University Advancement at Queens University of Charlotte where he was responsible for all fundraising, communications, and alumni programs for the university. Before Queens, Patton served as Vice Chancellor for University Advancement at UNC Wilmington, where he was the youngest vice chancellor in the 16-campus UNC system. He previously served as Program Director for Special Olympics North Carolina in Raleigh, following his tenure with Special Olympics International in Washington, D.C. Patton is a native of Elizabeth City, NC, and received a bachelor's degree in English Education from UNC Chapel Hill, where he was a Morehead Scholar. He received his MBA from the McColl School of Business at Queens, and his Doctorate in Education (Organizational Change and Leadership) from the Rossier School at the University of Southern California. He is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE), a Master Trainer for AFP International, and a member of the William C. Friday Fellowship for Human Relations. Patton is a former board President of AFP Charlotte, served as the Chapter Representative on the AFP International Board, and is the host of the weekly podcast Your Path to Nonprofit Leadershipand author of the best-selling book also titled Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership. OTHER SOLO EPISODES BY PATTON | |||
| 158: A Radical Approach to Nonprofit Leadership (Tom Vozzo) | 19 May 2022 | 00:43:53 | |
158: A Radical Approach to Nonprofit Leadership (Tom Vozzo) SUMMARY How do you balance capitalistic skills and passion for a cause? Tom Vozzo, who left a highly successful corporate career to become an unpaid nonprofit CEO of the internationally acclaimed Homeboy Industries, is eminently qualified to answer such a question. In episode #158 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, you’ll hear Tom share many of the lessons he’s learned by leading this Los Angeles-based organization, and how he advocates for more social impact awareness in the for-profit community. He know it’s the nonprofit sector that can employ many individuals once thought unemployable, and has clear, pragmatic advice for how nonprofit leaders can best support people on the margins of society who are trying to move into the workforce. As a committed capitalist himself, he knows leaders can be mission-driven yet combine that with business knowledge informed by past experiences. Tom shares what he sees are the biggest differences between nonprofit and corporate cultures and the lessons we can all learn to bridge these sectors. ABOUT TOM Thomas Vozzo left a lucrative career in corporate America convinced there had to be a better way to define success. In 2012, Vozzo became the first-ever CEO of Homeboy Industries, the largest and most successful gang intervention, rehabilitation and re-entry program in the world. Vozzo’s journey goes from billion-dollar revenues—his last corporate role was as CEO of the $1.8 billion ARAMARK Uniform and Career Apparel Group—to a volunteer unpaid CEO of a nonprofit built on compassion, kinship, empathy and social justice. In Vozzo’s first book, The Homeboy Way: A Radical Approach to Business and Life, he gives readers practical ways to address some of our most vexing social issues and provides a new path for personal and business leadership. Vozzo shares lessons learned both in secular business as well as faith-based pursuits to help readers from all walks of life thrive. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 157: Assuring Cross-Sector Collaboration as A Nonprofit Leader (Kate Markin Coleman) | 12 May 2022 | 00:41:05 | |
157: Assuring Cross-Sector Collaboration as A Nonprofit Leader (Kate Markin Coleman) SUMMARY Are you creating unnecessary barriers for employment at your nonprofit? Kate Markin Coleman suggests you’re narrowing your talent pool by relying too heavily on a college degree as a proxy for qualification. In episode #157 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, she discusses how to construct a more equitable and effective workforce development system. Learn what it means to conduct a deep skills analysis to better identify needs and think more broadly about who is best qualified to fill them. Kate reveals how developing cross-sector collaborations improves the efficiency and effectiveness for addressing the issues facing our communities. She identifies the attributes of effective programs and makes the case for skill-based hiring and cross sector-collaboration. By working across organizational boundaries, you can change the trajectory of individuals struggling to make a living wage while expanding the quality and quantity of talent available to employers. ABOUT KATE Kate Markin Coleman directs ias advising, LLC, and is former Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy, and Advancement Officer of YMCA in the U.S. She spent the first half of her career in the private sector, transferring to the social sector after she and her colleagues sold the fintech firm they ran. Coleman was a top official in one of the country’s largest nonprofits, the national YMCA, where she advanced innovation and effectiveness. She studied cross sector collaboration as a Harvard Advanced Leadership Fellow and is the co-author of two books that offer practical insights on how to design effective solutions to challenging urban problems. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 156: Everything You Believe About Small Nonprofit Fundraising is Wrong (Zoot Velasco) | 05 May 2022 | 00:48:43 | |
156: Everything You Believe About Small Nonprofit Fundraising is Wrong (Zoot Velasco) SUMMARY Is your small nonprofit still trying to raise money through special events? Modeling your fundraising plan on what large nonprofits are doing is among several critical mistakes Zoot Velasco will help you avoid. In episode #156 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, he tells us why those special events, big galas, grant writing and even courting major donors are not the most important things on which nonprofit leaders of smaller organizations should be focused. Zoot identifies three sources of earned income streams available to all nonprofit organizations and how strengthening and growing these streams will not only increase your financial stability but will also allow you to be less reliant on the traditional philanthropic dollar. ABOUT ZOOT Zoot Velasco is currently the Executive Director of the Friends of Fullerton College Foundation, Director of the Gianneschi Center for Nonprofit Research at California State University Fullerton’s College of Business & Economics, Professor of Business & Marketing at California State University Fullerton, Professor of Nonprofit Management & Leadership at California Polytechnic Institute Pomona, Host of the nationally-ranked 501(c)3(b)(s) podcast and author of three books. For 23 years, Zoot led cultural programs in prisons and cultural centers. He built four art centers for the City of LA, a Boys & Girls Club, and a Theatre for the City of Long Beach. He has raised more than $32 million for various organizations. During the recession, he led the Muckenthaler Cultural Center in Fullerton to unprecedented growth, more than tripling programs, budget, patrons, and the endowment while winning awards as Orange County’s first STEAM programs, institutional arts programs, and strategic partnerships. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES | |||
| 155: Relationship Building: The Key to Nonprofit Leadership (Siobhan Davenport) | 28 Apr 2022 | 00:44:38 | |
155: Relationship Building: The Key to Nonprofit Leadership (Siobhan Davenport) SUMMARY Are you advancing your skills to be the kind of strong leader the nonprofit sector needs? In episode #155 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, we talk with Siobhan Davenport, a phenomenal industry leader with more than fifteen years of experience serving underserved youth and someone who understands the advantages of these skills. Discover the benefits of developing a personal board of directors and how this foundational network of advisors can support you through the various crossroads faced while navigating your career path. Learn how to authentically communicate your mission to others as Siobhan discusses the vital skills needed to build strong relationships that will guide you throughout your career. As a busy nonprofit executive herself, Siobhan articulates her best self-care practices and organizational routines others can easily implement into their active daily regimen. ABOUT SIOBHAN Siobhan Davenport was named President & CEO by the Crittenton Board of Directors in February 2019, bringing more than fifteen years of experience serving underserved youth. In her previous role as Crittenton’s Director of Strategic Partnerships, she built collaborations between schools, nonprofits, and corporations to better meet Crittenton girls’ challenges and launched the Declare Equity for Girls: It’s Time campaign. As the Executive Director of the Rocksprings Foundation from 2002 to 2018, Ms. Davenport oversaw the foundation’s impact by investing in economic and educational opportunities for low-income families and youth. Prior to that, she served as the Senior Producer and Host for On the Potomac Productions, including the acclaimed series “The New Washington.” She serves as a commissioner for the Maryland Governor’s Commission on Service and Volunteerism and sits on the Advisory Council for Ascend at the Aspen Institute. Ms. Davenport holds a master’s degree in journalism from American University. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 154: Nonprofit & For-Profit: Creating a Successful Partnership (Shiloh Karshima) | 21 Apr 2022 | 00:45:56 | |
154: Nonprofit & For-Profit: Creating a Successful Partnership (Shiloh Karshima) SUMMARY Do you communicate a clear message that properly represents the voice of those you serve? In episode #154 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Shiloh Karshima highlights some of the challenges nonprofit leaders face in trying to make their case more clearly and in an authentic way. Shiloh is a gifted leader with more than two decades experience building philanthropic partnerships in over 14 countries. Shiloh explains how communication and harmonization are the keys to creating a successful partnership between the for-profit and nonprofit sectors. Learn why the acquisition and implementation of tangible skills will elevate your passion into a dynamic leadership role that others will desire to follow. Shiloh also gives tangible examples of how nonprofit and for-profit leaders can partner to provide an even greater social impact. Learn why nonprofit leaders who communicate in a shared language with their for-profit counterparts can bridge the bottom-line principles common to both sectors. ABOUT SHILOH Shiloh Karshima co-founded The Leader Team in July 2021, when she and her family sold everything and decided to move to Nigeria. With over two decades of experience in development and nonprofit work in 14 countries, Shiloh brings a wide range of expertise to the table as Executive Director. She has collaborated with the World Bank MENA, World Vision, University of the Nations, William Jessup University, FGI Finance, Jobs Partnership, Oasis Church Winter Garden, Peace and Justice Institute, Orlando MLK Foundation, Safe Families for Children, Bethany Christian Services, NYU’s Wagner Student Alliance for Africa, HopePark Church, Iris Ministries, River City Community Church, Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church, and Madonna’s Raising Malawi. Shiloh was the Panel Discussion Moderator for The United National Female Genital Mutilation Forum in partnership with the not-for-profit Sauti Yetu, Columbia University and NYU. She was Co-Founder of RISE: Conversations on Race and Unity in Winter Garden, Florida. Shiloh received her Master’s in Public Administration in Public and Nonprofit Management and Policy with a specialization in International Economic Development from New York University. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 153: Why Diversification is Vital to Your Fundraising Plan (Holly Rustick) | 14 Apr 2022 | 00:55:17 | |
153: Why Diversification is Vital to Your Fundraising Plan (Holly Rustick) Is your nonprofit organization writing competitive grants that grow your funding capacity? In episode #153 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership we speak with Holly Rustick, a grant writing expert with over 15 years of winning more than $30 million in grant funding, on how nonprofit leaders can enhance their grant writing skills and increase funding to advance their organization’s mission. Holly shares practical takeaways and processes to increase and diversify funding for better overall stability of your nonprofit and its programs. To truly comprehend that grant writing is the connection of money to mission, nonprofit leaders must not only diligently research and understand the funder, but more importantly, they must first have a fully developed program to present. Holly discusses proper relationship-building techniques because, like all your donors, proper stewardship is vital to the foundations with which your organization interacts. Learn how to best position your organization for funding with Holly’s 10 Step Checklist and her Nonprofit Wellness Audit. Holly also shares her perspective to help more women in the nonprofit sector ascend into senior leadership positions. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 152: Building A Pipeline for Emerging Nonprofit Leaders (Nick Azulay) | 07 Apr 2022 | 00:48:35 | |
152: Building A Pipeline for Emerging Nonprofit Leaders (Nick Azulay) SUMMARY Does your organization attract the next generation of dynamic nonprofit leaders? In episode #152 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, we talk with Nick Azulay, a Fulbright Scholar, who struggled to convert his education and desire for a meaningful career with the practical skills needed to land a job in the nonprofit sector. Nick divulges specific tools he used to navigate his path into the nonprofit sector and ultimately a leadership position. By strengthening your pipeline of quality talent with a well-developed internship program, you will also attract and develop young professionals ready to seamlessly transition into any role. Nick shares his experiences as one such intern, his transition to a full-time position and now, as a senior leader himself, how best to scale and utilize an intern program to onboard, train, evaluate and retain today's emerging leaders. ABOUT NICK Nick enthusiastically supports B Corps Digital Agency Whole Whale as a Senior Strategist with a focus on digital advocacy. In this role, Nick is committed to helping nonprofits and social impact organizations expand their impact to drive meaningful and measurable change. At Whole Whale, Nick emphasizes the role of digital political advocacy in the company’s work and has contributed to projects that include both political and human rights advocacy objectives. Nick has spoken on topics like Realtime Campaign Monitoring at NTC (Nonprofit Technology Conference), Digital Organizing at NETROOTS, and has worked with Whole Whale clients like Swing Left, PRX, Donate Life America, the Kaiser Family Foundation, and many more. Nick earned his B.A. in Political Science with a focus on comparative politics and international development from Villanova University. Throughout his undergraduate career, he interned with several different nonprofit organizations where he saw firsthand how successful communication and marketing strategies can increase impact. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 151: Engaging Volunteers to Make Your Nonprofit Vision A Reality (Diana Zhang) | 31 Mar 2022 | 00:48:17 | |
151: Engaging Volunteers to Make Your Nonprofit Vision A Reality (Diana Zhang)
Do you consider your nonprofit leadership a calling? Perhaps you saw individuals on the precipice during the pandemic, and simply had to do something. Like other talented professionals who have joined our ranks as a “lateral entry”, Diana Zhang recognized this crisis as a call to action and left her successful 15-year hedge fund career to co-found the nonprofit organization called NeighborShare. In episode #151 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, we discuss what it takes to pivot mid-career and launch a successful nonprofit startup. Diana shares the challenges she faced, the lessons learned and the humility required to seek and accept strategic partners for assistance. She has valuable lessons for every nonprofit leader regardless of where your nonprofit is in its life-cycle, and other potential lateral entries will get great advice about understanding the skills they’ll need to transfer from for-profit to the nonprofit sector. As the head of an almost exclusively volunteer organization that now operates in 26 states nationally, Diana discusses the three key elements of their value proposition and how this structure engages and retains excellent volunteers. ABOUT DIANA Diana Zhang is the CEO and Co-Founder of NeighborShare, a rapidly-growing direct giving approach that empowers our communities’ frontline heroes to help families through critical moments of need of $400 or less. Prior to that, she spent 15 years in strategy and operations as an executive at Bridgewater Associates, a premier asset management firm with $150 billion AUM. Outside of work, Diana is passionate about food and advocating on behalf of those who lack access to it. She serves on the Board of the Connecticut Food Bank / Foodshare. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 150: Developing the Right Mindset to be an Effective Fundraiser (Rhea Wong) | 24 Mar 2022 | 00:49:41 | |
150: Developing the Right Mindset to be an Effective Fundraiser (Rhea Wong) Do you struggle with fundraising? Have you truly reflected on why? In honor of our 150th episode of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, we discuss what it takes to maximize your fundraising with a leading expert, Rhea Wong. If your fundraising isn’t a strategy as much as it’s a mix of tactics and tools cobbled together, then listen as Rhea introduces her unique and innovative program called The Fundraising Accelerator. Learn how to motivate your board to engage in fundraising so you never again have to ask, beg or demand their participation. Before you can execute on even the best strategic plan, nonprofit leaders must first have the right money mindset. You’ll hear clearly articulated examples of deepening your relationships with donors and beneficial insight into the many variations of the fundraising cycle. As someone who recently released his debut book, Patton enthusiastically explores Rhea’s new book, Get That Money Honey: The No BS Guide to Raising Money for Your Nonprofit. Rhea helps nonprofits raise more money. Though she has deep experience with institutional, corporate and event fund-raising, she is passionate about major individual donors and helping organizations to establish individual giving programs. She has raised millions of dollars in private philanthropy and is passionate about building the next generation of fundraising leaders. She has become a leader in the New York nonprofit community and is a frequent educational commentator in the media. She has been recognized with the SmartCEO Brava Award in 2015 and NY Nonprofit Media’s 40 under 40 in 2017. For more information about Rhea, please see her LinkedIn Profile here. Rhea lives in Brooklyn with her husband and the World's Most Spoiled Dog Stevie Wonderdog. When she is not raising money for causes she loves, she can be found hosting her podcast Nonprofit Lowdown, promoting her newest book Get that Money, Honey! or onstage as a newbie stand-up comedian in downtown Brooklyn. For more information, check out rheawong.com
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| 266: Managing Overload as a Nonprofit Leader (Anton Skornyakov) | 13 Jun 2024 | 00:47:27 | |
266: Managing Overload as a Nonprofit Leader (Anton Skornyakov) How do you lessen your load and effectively delegate while also fostering an environment of continuous learning and creativity at your nonprofit? In episode 266 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, we dive into effective delegation strategies for nonprofit leaders with Anton Skornyakov, author of "The Art of Slicing Work." Anton shares invaluable insights on how to delegate results rather than activities, fostering both team creativity and growth. He explains the importance of setting clear, specific goals and providing regular feedback to ensure continuous learning. Anton also highlights the need to tackle high-risk tasks first to uncover potential challenges early on. By distinguishing between predictable and unpredictable projects and building a robust feedback infrastructure, nonprofit leaders can enhance their impact and adaptability. This episode offers a practical framework for managing projects and empowering teams, essential for anyone striving to lead a successful nonprofit organization. Anton Skornyakov is partnering with organizations to support them on their path to becoming learning & adaptive environments that encourage everyone to contribute their full productive and creative potential. For this Anton gives ScrumMaster trainings and Product Owner trainings, mentor, coach and a builder of internal and public communities. Anton believes in Scrum being a fundamental ingredient that enables motivating ideas to become reality with an order of magnitude higher effectiveness. Today, many organizations with hundreds and thousands of people are looking for answers on how to apply Scrum and engage everyone's full potential in their product development. Having successfully applied it, Anton is a firm believer in the body of knowledge behind Large Scale Scrum (LeSS). Anton is a believer in the transformative power of communities. He consistently nurtures communities around topics he is passionate about such as Large-Scale Scrum, Liberating Structures and coaching. Anton has co-founded and lead several digital startups. Here he made own experiences in Lean Startup - applying empiricism on developing sustainable business models. He has worked as a product owner, Scrum master and developer. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 149: Navigating Data for Nonprofit Leaders (Stu Manewith) | 17 Mar 2022 | 00:49:14 | |
149: Navigating Data for Nonprofit Leaders (Stu Manewith) SUMMARY Is your organization overwhelmed by data? Do you have fresh, error free, current and comprehensive data in one easy to access system or has confidence in your communications faltered because you recently noticed something simple like a donor’s name misspelled? Today’s guest, Stu Manewith discusses why nonprofit leaders should be paying more attention to their data. In episode #149 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Stu defines his 5 Keys to Data Quality and Management because when your data is not cared for, the processes based on that data become ineffective and lead to breakdowns in communication at all levels. Is your current CRM about to sunset and lose its functionality? A digital transformation may be required, and regardless of your nonprofit’s size, scope or budget, you will learn ways to more effectively manage and thus capitalize on your organization’s data. ABOUT STU Stu Manewith is considered one of the top thought-leaders in the non-profit sector. He is the Director of Thought Leadership and Advocacy for Omatic Software, a data-integration software for non-profits that allows them a complete view of their donors, promoting data-driven decision making. With over 30 years’ experience in the non-profit sector, Stu has implemented data and integration solutions at hundreds of non-profits across all subsectors - and been published by Blackbaud and Salesforce. He is a seasoned nonprofit authority, advocate, and consulting services leader, with deep experience serving the nonprofit sector, both as a nonprofit executive and as a technology consulting professional. He’s a Certified Fundraising Professional (CFRE) with a special passion for best practices surrounding the healthy ‘marriage’ of fundraising and other nonprofit revenue streams with the general ledger. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 148: How to Navigate Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership (Patton McDowell) | 10 Mar 2022 | 00:40:10 | |
148: How to Navigate Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership SUMMARY How can Patton’s new book, Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership: Seven Keys to Advancing Your Career in the Philanthropic Sector, help you on your journey to senior leadership? In episode #148 of the Path Podcast, guest host Ken Fuquay explores that exact question by turning the tables on Patton and asking why everyone in - or pondering - nonprofit leadership will benefit from reading it. One thing becomes clear: Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership will help you become the kind of leader every nonprofit organization needs to make an even greater impact on the communities they serve. ABOUT PATTON Patton McDowell is a nonprofit expert, author, speaker and coach. He’s the President of PMA Nonprofit Leadership, a consulting practice he founded after a successful twenty-year career in the nonprofit sector. His leadership experience includes work at Special Olympics International and Special Olympics North Carolina, and he led fundraising teams for UNC Wilmington and Queens University of Charlotte. He’s a sought-after consultant on nonprofit issues of strategic planning, organizational development and staff & board leadership. Patton received a BA from UNC Chapel Hill, an MBA from Queens University, and a Doctorate from the University of Southern California. ABOUT KEN Ken Fuquay is a son, a brother, a husband and friend who also happens to be an educator, business owner, ordained pastor, nonprofit CEO and someone learning to live in the unforced rhythm of grace. Ken earned a music degree at Emmanuel College, a Digital Media Certificate from Carolina School of Broadcasting and Master of Divinity and Master of Christian Education from Union Presbyterian Seminary. He is the planting pastor at M2M Charlotte and CEO of LIFESPAN Services, Inc., a NC nonprofit that serves more than 1,000 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across 23 NC counties.
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| 147: Creating A People First Environment at Your Nonprofit (Stamie Despo & Tom LaFalce) | 03 Mar 2022 | 00:54:07 | |
147: Creating A People First Environment at Your Nonprofit (Stamie Despo & Tom Lafalce) SUMMARY What are you doing to create a people first environment at your nonprofit? More than ever, nonprofit leaders must create a culture that attracts, orients, develops and retains talent. Two leaders in the higher education sector who have traveled varying career paths now find themselves leading together. In episode #147 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Stamie Despo and Tom Lafalce delineate four aspects of creating a people first environment. They discuss how communicating your “why” properly will attract passionate talent. Successfully onboarding new hires lays the foundation for future success, as well as presenting a series of professional development opportunities allows for their growth. They explore conversations that focus on racial equity, diversity and inclusion, which they acknowledge can be difficult, but “you get better with practice,” Together they demonstrate methods everyone can implement to encourage an open dialogue and better understanding of these vital topics. ABOUT STAMIE Stamie brings over 20 years of experience in philanthropy with her to Cornell University. Her most recent venture before Cornell was as the Executive Director of Susan G. Komen for the greater Charlotte, NC, area. Stamie was a 2019 honoree for the Charlotte Athena Leadership Award for Service. Her focus in philanthropy is engaging donors in a meaningful and authentic way, creating a culture of philanthropy, building relationships and providing strategic leadership. Stamie holds a Bachelor’s degree in economics, Cum Laude, from Smith College, a Masters in Teaching degree, Summa Cum Laude, from Monmouth University, a Non-Profit Management Certificate from Duke University, and an Event Planning Certificate from UNC Charlotte. ABOUT TOM Tom is a 1994 graduate of Cornell’s College of Human Ecology, he joined the Annual Giving Program’s team in 2004. In 2016, he began to focus more broadly on Annual Fund Leadership Giving. In this role, he partners with Alumni Affairs and Development staff to ensure the successful annual solicitation of donors of $1,000 or more, works with College and Unit staff to set Annual Fund Goals, serves on Cornell’s Giving Day Steering Committee and supports the development committees of the Cornell University Council and the President’s Council of Cornell Women (PCCW). In addition, Tom has served as the Acting Director of Annual Giving Programs on two occasions, in 2015 and from 2018 to 2020. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 146: 5 Key Productivity Moves for Nonprofit Leaders (Mike St. Pierre) | 24 Feb 2022 | 00:53:58 | |
146: 5 Key Productivity Moves for Nonprofit Leaders (Mike St. Pierre) SUMMARY Has navigating the shifts in remote work only exacerbated gaps in your productivity? Or, maybe it didn’t take a global pandemic to realize staying organized in the nonprofit sector can exhaust even the most dedicated leaders. This fatigue and sense of exhaustion is real. However, in episode #146 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, we have the founder of Nonprofit Productive, Mike St. Pierre, to equip you with smart and simple strategies to maximize your productivity and avoid burnout. Take back your schedule with Mike’s five key productivity moves. Patton and Mike clearly articulate the best tips and practices from technology to self-care that will provide even the busiest highly motivated leaders the clarity to focus on the right things that need attention. Cited specifically in this episode are: TickTick an organizational app, Carey Nieuwhof’s podcast on time management, the project management tool ActiveCollab, Mike’s own Ideal Week Template and much more! ABOUT MIKE Mike St. Pierre and his wife Cary have been married 24 years and are the proud parents of four children. Mike holds a B.A. in Philosophy (Catholic University of America), an M.A. in Theology (Seton Hall University), an M.A. in Educational Leadership (Seton Hall University) and an Ed.D. in Education (College of St. Elizabeth). His articles have appeared in Our Sunday Visitor, Busted Halo, Momentum, Give us This Day, Catechist, America, Faith CATHOLIC and Productive Magazine. His first book was published by Ave Maria Press, The 5 Habits of Prayerful People: A No-Excuses Guide to Strengthening Your Relationship with God. He has been an adjunct professor at Saint Joseph College of Maine, Seton Hall University and The College of St. Elizabeth. In 2017 he received the Seton Hall University Many Are One Alumni Award. He serves on the Board of Directors for Mission Madera, a nonprofit serving students in Uganda. And he’s the host of the Nonprofit Productivity Summit, an annual gathering of some of the brightest (and most heartfelt) people in the world. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 145: Tackling Toxic Leadership in the Nonprofit Sector (Andrew Olsen) | 17 Feb 2022 | 00:54:37 | |
145: Tackling Toxic Leadership in the Nonprofit Sector (Andrew Olsen) SUMMARY ABOUT ANDREW EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 144: Creating a Dynamic Culture at Your Nonprofit Organization (Curt Langford) | 10 Feb 2022 | 00:57:07 | |
144: Creating a Dynamic Culture at Your Nonprofit Organization (Curt Langford) Nonprofit leaders are always looking for better engagement with their key constituents and long-term donors. In episode #144 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, we look to Texas Tech Alumni Association’s President and CEO Curt Langford for valuable advice on building a dynamic culture, the power behind communicating your story effectively, and developing a strong connective network of long-term donors. A positive organizational culture is first established internally with a shift from the usual attributes such as purpose, mission, vision, value proposition, all of which are usually well documented, to understanding the specific, deeper and more powerful why. Curt explains how the organizational why and the personal why establish an emotional pride that is truly authentic, and when properly aligned, makes you more compelling to those you’re trying to reach. When people feel compelled to be a part of something, that’s when they are truly believing in your why. Curt clearly articulates the methods behind implementing this overall shift and the impact it has on leadership, staff, board and your long-term donor engagement, and it’s clear why the Association is celebrating 95 years of success! Curt Langford is the President and CEO of the Texas Tech Alumni Association, and a leader of a longstanding, independent organization that exists to connect, inspire and amplify the Texas Tech family. His charge is to "Strive for Honor," representing the Red Raider SPIRIT of Scholarship, Pride, Inclusivity, Respect, Integrity and Tradition. Curt holds a Master's degree in interdisciplinary studies with emphasis in higher education. Over his more than two-decade long career he’s excelled in true leadership skills such as team leadership, customer relations, public speaking, fundraising, social media strategies, regional & national sales territory management, strategic & operational planning, competitive presentations & proposal writing, investor & board relations, marketing & public relations, competitive research & analysis, feature & technical writing and media design & publishing.
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| 143: Elevating Your Grants Program as a Nonprofit Leader (Autumn Keck) | 03 Feb 2022 | 00:49:21 | |
143: Elevating Your Grants Program as a Nonprofit Leader (Autumn Keck) SUMMARY Is your overall fundraising plan built on a solid foundation of a comprehensive grant writing program? If not, can you identify the vital readiness steps necessary to best prepare your organization for success? In episode #143 of the Path Podcast, Autumn Keck, a fundraising expert with over two decades of experience in grant writing and major gifts solicitation, addresses these questions and more. She explains how best to present the strength of an organization and resist the urge to adjust your focus to “fit the mold” of a possible funder, just one of the key factors needed to bolster an organization’s chance for grant funding. As Patton discusses in his upcoming book, Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership releasing March 8th, professional development is a vital skill for the growth and success of every nonprofit leader. Autumn expounds on this by discussing specific resources and training to enhance your fundraising and grant writing skills. Learn how to set realistic expectations among your organization’s leaders and board around grant funding cycles and its impact on long term sustainable support. ABOUT AUTUMN Autumn Keck is a fundraising expert with over 20 years of experience specializing in grant writing, major gift solicitation, and individual giving. She began her fundraising career as Director of Development at Neighborhood House and then went on to work at the American University Washington College of Law, The JC Raulston Arboretum at North Carolina State University, and Girl Scouts of North Carolina Coastal Pines. In 2010, she branched out as an independent grant writing consultant, which led to the formation of Scribe, LLC. As Founder and Principal Consultant of Scribe, LLC, a fundraising consulting firm specializing in grant management services, Autumn works to connect nonprofits to the philanthropic community by effectively sharing the organization's impact on the people they serve. Autumn and her team work closely with nonprofits to help them become grant ready, and grow their grant writing programs. Scribe has helped raise millions of dollars by telling each organization's compelling story with a focus on their mission and community impact. Autumn is a graduate of NC State University with a BA in Communications and a minor in Journalism. She serves on the Board of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Charlotte Chapter as the Higher Education Chair and is also member of the Grants Professionals Association, and the Queen City chapter of Jack and Jill of America. She and her husband have four children. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 142: Understanding the Impact of Identity for Nonprofit Leaders (Nneka Allen) | 27 Jan 2022 | 00:49:39 | |
142: Understanding the Impact of Identity for Nonprofit Leaders (Nneka Allen) SUMMARY We are all responsible for the environments we create. And they should all be equitable. Nonprofit leaders clearly understand the impact of identity on an organizational culture and equity outcomes. In episode #142 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Nneka Allen, a descendant of the Underground Railroad, shares her remarkable story which began years ago with her freedom-seeking ancestors and ultimately set her on the path of community movements, social change and a desire to pursue justice. Now, after more than two decades as a fundraising professional in the nonprofit sector - a predominantly white field - Nneka embraced the powerful and tragic nature of her ancestors and founded The Empathy Agency. As someone who understands better than most the power of storytelling, she demonstrates how intentional communication of mission and vison will deepen the connection with donors. She also identifies three fundamental traits true leaders with a passion for change embody. As a nonprofit leader you’ll learn how to deliver more fairly on your mission through a better understanding of a dominant cultures’ impact on the organizational culture. Patton and Nneka discuss how leadership teams can take purposeful steps to implement racial equity throughout the entire organization. Finally, they discuss Collecting Courage: Joy, Pain, Freedom, Love, an anthology by 15 black nonprofit professionals and their experiences enduring racism in the philanthropic sector edited by Nneka, a powerful and enlightening must read for every leader regardless of where you are on your path. ABOUT NNEKA Nneka Allen is a Black woman, a descendant of the Underground Railroad, an Ojibwa of Anderson Nation and a sixth generation Canadian. Born in the 70’s, Nneka was raised during a time of Black power and acute political awareness. As a lover of justice, Nneka has inspired philanthropy as a fundraising executive for over 20 years. She is the principal and founder of The Empathy Agency, where she helps organizations deliver more fairly on their missions and visions by coaching teams to explore the impact identity has on culture and equity outcomes. Nneka is the founder of the Black Canadian Fundraisers' Collective. She is also an author and joint editor of a book featuring the first-person narratives of 15 Black contributors, mainly fundraisers from the US and Canada called Collecting Courage: Joy, Pain, Freedom, Love. Nneka’s ultimate joy is her daughter Destiny who along with her husband Skylar, are continuing their family legacy of philanthropic activism in Canada. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES | |||
| 141: Nonprofit Success in an Age of Disruption (Dave Lenox) | 20 Jan 2022 | 01:05:24 | |
141: Nonprofit Success in an Age of Disruption (Dave Lenox) SUMMARY Many nonprofits experience periods of volitivity as a result of leadership turnover. Covid has accelerated some nonprofit leaders to leave an organization after many years of service. In episode #141 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Dave Lenox, a former nonprofit executive director and current managing partner at The Valtas Group, explains the numerous resources available to organizations during these transitions. He and Patton discuss how a firm like Valtas provides guidance and stability during a turbulent time. Retaining an interim leadership position allows a board to be forward thinking, not reactive, when assessing their current needs and the overall direction of the organization and how it executes its mission. Dave dispels the misnomer of consultants who “come in with all the answers” by explaining the analysis he performs, the results of many of those findings, and how a unique team of listeners work in collaboration with existing personnel and board members to help find their own solutions. You’ll also learn how regular personal self-evaluation and reflection help guide nonprofit leaders through difficult transitions. And finally, Dave introduces us to the Distributed Leadership Model. He shares why more organizations are embracing this new management philosophy and how it may already be morphing into a new system of delegation. ABOUT DAVE Dave is an experienced leader with a demonstrated history of working in the non-profit, change management, and organization design and management fields. He’s skilled in international relations, inclusive governance models, organizational development, social media, and training with a Master of Business Leadership focused in Organization and Change Management from Capella University. Before joining The Valtas Group, Dave served as President and CEO of Special Olympics Washington. Dave began with Special Olympics (SO) in 1985 as Area Director for the Kansas City, Missouri area, later becoming Executive Director for SO West Virginia, and in 1989 he became CEO for SO North Carolina. In 1997 Dave was recruited to join the Headquarters office of SO as Director of Athlete Leadership Programming. He was the key strategist in the effort to develop leadership and education initiatives that support and advance the work of the Special Olympics Movement. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 140: A Nonprofit Leader’s Guide to Boosting Board Engagement (Lea Williams) | 13 Jan 2022 | 01:01:13 | |
140: A Nonprofit Leader’s Guide to Boosting Board Engagement (Lea Williams) SUMMARY The best nonprofit leaders create and maintain strategic partnerships between themselves, their staff, and their board. If you are looking to take your board to the next level, check out episode #140 of the Path Podcast where Dr. Lea Williams and I discuss five tactics for creating and sustaining a dynamic board of directors. Building off our work together with multiple boards, our conversations with our Mastermind participants, and Lea’s background as a meetings scientist, we reflect on characteristics of successful boards and how nonprofit leaders can cultivate a higher level of engagement with these important stakeholders. We discuss the importance of creating confident ambassadors, clarifying board member responsibilities through onboarding, building comfort around the organization’s financial model, building a pipeline of board leaders through year-round recruiting, and hitting “reset” on your board meetings. Listen for these strategies and other tactical recommendations to help with your nonprofit board development efforts. ABOUT LEA Lea is an Organizational Scientist who joined the PMA team in June of 2020. Prior to joining the firm, she dedicated her time to two main areas: earning her Ph.D. in Organizational Science from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and serving 15+ nonprofits through pro-bono consulting engagements through the Volunteer Program Assessment. In addition to her nonprofit work, while obtaining her Doctorate, Lea also worked in several Talent Management/Organizational Development roles at large organizations in Charlotte, such as Ingersoll Rand, Duke Energy, TIAA, and Jacobsen. Given her strong research background, she is skilled at gathering input and synthesizing it to help nonprofit leaders develop innovative solutions. Her specialties include meeting effectiveness (the subject of her dissertation), leadership, board, and staff training and development, data analysis, strategic planning, survey design, stakeholder research, and volunteer retention/engagement. She also received her Master's in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and her bachelor's degree in Psychology from Davidson College. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 265: Prioritizing Mental Wellness as a Nonprofit Leader (Yolanda Robano-Gross) | 06 Jun 2024 | 00:43:43 | |
265: Prioritizing Mental Wellness as a Nonprofit Leader (Yolanda Robano-Gross) SUMMARY How do you support your team when they (and you) are feeling the effects of a high-stress environment? In episode 265 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Yolanda Robano-Gross shares invaluable insights and experiences on building a supportive workplace culture. She discusses the importance of prioritizing staff well-being and creating a space where individuals feel valued and heard. From implementing strategic planning initiatives to engaging in innovative fundraising approaches, Yolanda emphasizes the significance of adaptability and empathy in navigating the challenges of nonprofit leadership. She offers practical advice on building and retaining an effective board of directors, highlighting the importance of diversity and inclusion. Through her candid reflections and commitment to kindness, Yolanda inspires fellow nonprofit leaders to embrace empathy, cultivate meaningful connections, and drive positive change within their organizations and communities. ABOUT YOLANDA Yolanda Robano-Gross joined Options for Community Living as Chief Executive Officer in 2014 with over twenty years of prior executive-level experience in the health care industry. She handles oversight of all agency affairs and reports to the Board of Directors. Responsibilities include fiscal management of an annual budget of over $24 million, personnel management, program development, and fundraising. She earned her Master’s in Health Care Administration from Hofstra University, Masters in Social Work from Yeshiva University, and her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Marist College. She holds a certificate in Executive Education, Non-Profit Leadership from The Fordham Center for Non-Profit Leaders. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 139: What Are the Best Practices of a Nonprofit Leader? (Katie O’Malley) | 06 Jan 2022 | 00:51:58 | |
139: What Are the Best Practices of a Nonprofit Leader? (Katie O’Malley) SUMMARY Have you found true passion along your career journey? Many in the nonprofit sector struggle to maintain their connection to the mission as they accomplish their daily work. With more than 15 years in the sector, Katie O’Malley experienced this dilemma first-hand before translating this struggle into action and sharing her wisdom through Encourage Coaching. In episode #139 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Katie discusses the value of self-reflection to recognize career opportunities and leadership development skills so that you can reclaim balance in your personal and professional life, avoid burnout, and find self-awareness and how the clarification of these skills will positively affect your ability to work alongside others, motivate your team, and enhance the overall performance and engagement of your organization. Katie also shares advice at every stage of the career journey, from young professionals finding their place in the corporate structure, to mid-career employees considering the great resignation (or what she likes to call the “great reshuffle”). Finally, she speaks openly to the experiences many senior leaders face and how various stresses affect their responses and interactions with staff, board and the clients they serve, and the steps to recognize and make proactive changes that will make you a stronger more well-balanced leader. ABOUT KATIE Katie O'Malley is a Leadership Coach + Educator with fifteen years of professional experience serving the nonprofit, corporate and education sectors. Across these workplaces, she noticed that her strengths and values consistently steered her toward the support and development of others. In 2012, Katie earned her Master's Degree in Counseling and Board Certification in Coaching. Coaching recent grads, experienced professionals, and small business owners aspiring to lead their teams and organizations is the most fulfilling, life-giving work on her resume. Currently, Katie works full-time as the Senior Associate Director of Leadership Development at The University of Chicago Booth School of Business and she’s building her practice Encourage Coaching + Consulting. At home, she loves spending time with her partner and pups in their backyard, jumping on the Peloton for an energy boosting ride, and visiting my favorite spot in Chicago—Wrigley Field. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 138: Global Expansion for Nonprofit Leaders (George Smith) | 30 Dec 2021 | 00:44:24 | |
138: Global Expansion for Nonprofit Leaders (George Smith) SUMMARY Regardless of where you are on Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, insight gained from today’s episode with George Smith will no doubt up your game. Within the first few minutes, George will inspire you as he and Patton reminisce on shared experiences with Eunice Kennedy Shriver and the single most important leadership skill the entire Kennedy clan learned early on. George expands on his early leadership experiences as he transitioned to the global sector. He shares how not relying on assumptions of standard practices but adapting and capitalizing on the different norms and values of other cultures will develop a higher quality and better performing team. George also lays out specific examples of leading through varying cultural norms in a collaborative way will build strong leaders throughout an organization who are confident and articulate in communicating with their superiors and peers. By implementing some of the adaptations discussed to your own leadership style, you’re sure to enjoy an environment of collaborative learning and development that will elevate your own skills as a nonprofit leader. ABOUT GEORGE George has worked for over 30 years in senior management for International Non-Government Organizations and is recognized as a leader in NGO management and international development. From 1985 until 2002, George worked for Special Olympics International (SOI). During his tenure he opened the first SOI office in China and served as the Managing Director, East Asia, based in Beijing, China. He led the development and global roll-out of Unified Sports, an inclusive program bringing together people with and without intellectual disabilities. Finally, he is recognized for his pioneering work developing SOI programs in other regions including Eastern Europe/Russia and the Middle East. Since 2010 he serves as the Managing Director, North Asia with Orbis. He has helped position Orbis North Asia as a leading International NGO in China and has strengthened relationships with the government and corporate communities. During his long NGO career, George has been responsible for high level strategic planning, staff management, project development and evaluation, fund raising, donor stewardship, government relations and advocacy. He has received several awards including the R. Tait McKenzie award for his contributions in Health and Physical Education around the world. He has been awarded the Presidential Citation by the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance for outstanding contribution to international development projects. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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| 137: Building A Strong Nonprofit Through Intentional Leadership (Teddy McDaniel) | 23 Dec 2021 | 00:51:44 | |
137: Building A Strong Nonprofit Through Intentional Leadership (Teddy McDaniel) SUMMARYMany for-profit leaders have followed their passion and transitioned to the nonprofit sector. Luckily for the Urban League of the Carolinas, Teddy McDaniel is one such leader who likes to say he doesn’t have a job, he’s on a mission. In episode #137 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Teddy discusses how being an intentional leader strengthens an organization. He and Patton discuss embracing the nonprofit competition with strategic networking which leads to a better exchange of ideas, resources, and talent. A good nonprofit leader will recognize when an organization is spread too thin – you can’t be all things to all people – and values coalition partners because a community isn’t well served by mediocre. Teddy also shares insight on building a strong mission-focused strategic plan as a living document. You’ll learn how a successful nonprofit leader, who began himself as a volunteer, takes intentional steps to attract and retain talented staff, volunteers, and board members. ABOUT TEDDYTeddy McDaniel currently serves as president and CEO of the Urban League of Central Carolinas in Charlotte, NC. Founded in in 1978, ULCC is an affiliate of the National Urban League, a historic civil rights organization dedicated to economic empowerment to elevate the standard of living in historically underserved communities. Previously, Teddy was president and CEO of the Austin, TX, Urban League from 2012 – 2017 and served as COO of the Greater Phoenix Urban League starting in 2009. Before entering the non-profit sector, Teddy spent 15 years in the financial service industry. From 2004-08, he was an assistant vice president at GE Capital in Scottsdale, Arizona, and started his career with Chase Manhattan Bank in New York and spent three years with Banco Popular de Puerto Rico, NA. Born in Atlanta, GA and raised in Columbus, Ohio, McDaniel is a 3rd Generation graduate of Morehouse College. He holds a B.A. in Finance and is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES
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