The Nonprofit Leadership Podcast discusses important issues facing nonprofit leaders in our community and features real stories from real leaders about what strategies and practices have made them successful. Enjoy the show!
Are you ready for the largest wealth transfer in our history?
Jan 10, 2022
Show notes
Did you know that we’re heading into an unprecedented wealth transfer? It’s been said that within the next few decades, as much as 68 trillion in wealth will pass from the Baby Boomers to the next generation, specifically Gen-xers and Millennials. This is a critical moment for nonprofits to connect meaningfully with their potential donors. So how can you best connect with donors in a truly meaningful way?
Rob’s guest on this episode is Lisa Greer, a philanthropist and entrepreneur, a convener and an author as of 2021. She’s the commissioner of the California State Commission on the Status of Women and Girls and the chair of the Giving Back Fund, and also has a new book called Philanthropy Revolution: How Inspired Donors Build Relationships and Make a Difference.
Lisa Greer, philanthropist and entrepreneur
Lisa addresses the potential transfer of massive wealth and what that means for nonprofits. She also shares why more nonprofits need to understand and accept donor-advised funds. One of the things she emphasizes is the need for fundraisers to treat donors as human beings and improve relationships and communication with potential donors. She discusses why nonprofit leaders must protect their organization’s brand, business and staff, and common mistakes to avoid manipulating donors when messaging about funding needs. She also explains the drawbacks of competition in the nonprofit sector as well as the huge opportunity in working with millennials both as potential donors and board members. Lisa shares why she believes nonprofits need to overhaul how they fundraise and how to maintain relationships with donors by treating them with the same care they show the communities they serve. Finally, she gives simple ways organizations can make donors feel valued and appreciated as a person instead of a dollar sign.
If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at rob@ccofpc.org To be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/
How can you scale your organization’s programs?
Jan 05, 2022
Show notes
How do you manage a global nonprofit organization during a pandemic in such a way that not only maintains your current programs, but actually grows and scales many of those same programs? Rob’s guest today shares how his organization, Smile Train, has done just that.
Rob’s guest is Dr. Richard Hopper, who is the Surgical Director of the Craniofacial Center at Seattle Children’s Hospital and was recently selected to serve on Smile Train’s Medical Advisory Board. Smile Train is a global nonprofit dedicated to empowering local medical professionals with training, funding and resources in order to provide free cleft surgery and comprehensive cleft care to children. For over twenty years, Smile Train has supported safe and quality cleft care for more than 1.5 million children globally, and its clear mission and stellar organizational reputation has helped them to expand their services to 87 countries.
Dr Richard Hopper, Surgical Director of the Craniofacial Center at Seattle Children’s Hospital and Smile Train’s Medical Advisory Board Member
Dr. Hopper shares what he’s learned from working at Smile Train and the overall positive global impact he’s witnessed. He describes how Smile Train’s unique program model utilizes local medical professionals that helps both sustain and scale the organization. He shares how local leaders are selected and trained to support programs and why engagement and a shared mission and values are crucial to this nonprofit’s success. On the same note, he explains how Smile Train is able to integrate into the for-profit sector of hospitals and government entities by building a global reputation and a shared understanding of challenges, limitations, and priorities. He discusses why Smile Train will always remain a nonprofit and how they’ve overcome challenges when it comes to expanding services to more communities. Finally, Dr. Hopper shares the surprising positive impact of shifting Smile Train’s mission during COVID.
If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at rob@ccofpc.org To be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/
Did you know that everything you see at the White House, its furnishings, artwork and artifacts are maintained by a nonprofit?
Dec 29, 2021
Show notes
Everything you see at the White House, the furnishings, artwork and artifacts are all maintained by a nonprofit. The White House Historical Association is responsible for all of these items, and in fact, this year marks the 60th anniversary of the White House Historical Association since its founding by First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy.
Rob’s guest today is Stewart McLaurin, who is the president of the White House Historical Association. He recently worked with the National Park Service to spearhead the creation and unveiling of historical markers in Lafayette Square, documenting the history of the involvement of slave labor in the construction of the White House. Stewart mentioned that he was inspired by then First Lady Michelle Obama’s famous quote at the 2016 Democratic Convention, when she said “I wake up every morning in a house that was built by slaves.” Since then, Stewart and his team of historians at the WHHA have uncovered the complicated past and paradoxical relationship between slavery and freedom in the nation’s history, and the nation’s capitol.
The White House (photo courtesy of White House Historical Association)
Stewart dives into the history of the White House Historical Association and why they receive no government funding and are a nonpartisan organization. He shares how their budget varies annually and how the curatorial staff maintains inventory by acquiring pieces at auctions. Additionally, he sheds light on how the George Floyd protests inspired his team to learn more about racial equality and racial justice which led to their recent project of giving voice to the voiceless by sharing the good, challenging, sad and difficult stories of the White House and its history. Stewart also explains why education and learning from younger generations is necessary to address issues of diversity and inclusion, and why understanding our country’s history is important for leaders of any nonprofit organization. He discusses his recent appointment to Concordia and its mission to connect more leaders from the private and public sectors. Finally, Stewart shares examples of leaders who have impacted him and why more nonprofit organizations need to collaborate and work together to address the growing needs of our country.
If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at rob@ccofpc.org To be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/
How is cryptocurrency shaping the future of philanthropy? (Part two)
Dec 24, 2021
Show notes
Cryptocurrency is all the rage in many ways right now, but there still remains a lot of skepticism about the long term sustainability of cryptocurrency and just the uncertainty around it. There’s a lot of misunderstanding when it comes to cryptocurrency’s use for nonprofits and philanthropy. This is part two of our series on cryptocurrency and part one featured Robbie Heeger from Endaoment.
Rob’s guest today is another expert in cryptocurrency, Pat Duffy. He’s the co-founder of The Giving Block, a for-profit company that seeks to help provide all a nonprofit needs to fundraise Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies in order to support their missions.
Pat Duffy. Co-founder of The Giving Block
Pat gives a quick overview of cryptocurrency and why nonprofits should be more engaged and educated about it, and how blockchain technology has solved many financial issues since its inception in 2009. He breaks down crypto’s three versions of safety and why cryptocurrency is becoming a safer investment strategy. He discusses Giving Block’s mission and the many benefits they provide to nonprofit organizations, along with their secret sauce of never-ending energy to establish themselves in the crypto sector. He shares what it takes for nonprofits to begin accepting crypto from donors and scale up to crypto fundraising programs. He addresses skepticism nonprofit leaders may have around cryptocurrency and how Giving Block can save organizations not just money, but time and energy spent on trying to create something from scratch. Finally, Pat explains how his previous experience at a nonprofit inspired him to offer innovative solutions to nonprofits, why crypto is a great way to boost engagement and fundraise effectively for organizations, and his predictions for what role cryptocurrency will play for philanthropy.
How is cryptocurrency shaping the future of philanthropy? (Part one)
Dec 14, 2021
Show notes
Cryptocurrency is here to stay and it’s coming to a nonprofit near you. Understandably, many of you might be very skeptical when it comes to cryptocurrency, in general, and certainly when it comes to how it might impact your nonprofit fundraising efforts.
Rob’s guest today is Robbie Heeger, the CEO of Endaoment, a new public charity that offers donor-advised funds (DAFs) built atop the Ethereum blockchain. Their mission is to manage and encourage the charitable giving of cryptocurrencies.
Robbie Heeger, the CEO of Endaoment
Robbie demystifies cryptocurrency and explains how Endaoment uses donor-advised funds to convert cryptocurrency donations into US dollar grants for charities and philanthropic causes. He also discusses DeFi, or decentralized financing, and Endaoment’s use of blockchain networks to recreate behaviors of established financial institutions with more transparency, interoperability and emphasis on community foundation. He addresses how they try to mitigate skepticism by using the world’s most trusted stable coin. He goes on to explain the difference between Bitcoin, NFTs (non-fungible tokens) and various forms of cryptocurrency. Robbie shares tips for organizations to participate in the crypto ecosystem and sheds light on how nonprofits have the opportunity to shift into a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO). He also explains how nonprofits can take advantage of Endaoment’s “end to end” donor-advised fund experience to begin receiving cryptocurrency gifts and donations. Finally, Robbie predicts what nonprofits can expect over the next few years as the cryptocurrency industry blooms.
When a vision turns into a movement
Dec 06, 2021
Show notes
Having passion and being mission-driven does not necessarily guarantee that you will be successful when starting or growing a nonprofit. It takes a lot more than that. It takes a lot of work and a relentless commitment to fundraising. It also takes a willingness to tell your story as much as possible, and on as many platforms as possible. Rob’s guest had a vision while she was living in the Philippines after she witnessed Filipino nurses risking their lives on the frontlines. She wanted to offer nurses a global message of gratitude for their bravery and sacrifice during these difficult times of COVID, so she launched The One Heart Movement.
Krista Kleiner, founder and executive director of The One Heart Movement
Rob’s guest today is Krista Kleiner, the founder and executive director of The One Heart Movement, whose mission is rooted in a global effort to rally community love and support of our healthcare heroes who continue to fight on behalf of all of us. She started this organization from scratch and has grown a significant social media presence and fundraising support in a short amount of time.
Krista shares how and why she started The One Heart Movement and what it was like to launch her own nonprofit organization. She explains how they have managed to experience exponential growth over the past year even as a very young organization. Krista also talks about the challenges of fundraising and why research is key to keeping The One Heart Movement going. One story she shares is about how their social media presence exploded with a unique challenge to rebrand Valentine’s Day by focusing on community support. She explains why maintaining your social media presence should be viewed as a full-time job but it is worth the investment. Finally, Krista shares which leaders have influenced her, the biggest leadership challenges her organization is currently facing and how she plans to continue building up the organization’s outreach to donors and other strategic partners.
If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at rob@ccofpc.org To be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/
How a social enterprise is combining software with a human-centered approach
Dec 01, 2021
Show notes
One goal of this show is to introduce you to leaders who are providing not just good products and services, but are providing those services in a unique way. Rob’s guests are based in the UK, and are considered in the UK as a community interest company, or CIC for short, which is the equivalent here in the US of a social enterprise business. They now have expanded into both Australia and the US, and they’re essentially a software company, but they have a desire to help people and nonprofits improve their service by providing a more compassionate way to help others.
Gary and Sarah Pettengell, leaders of ECINS
Rob’s guests today are Gary and Sarah Pettengell, leaders of ECINS, a company that provides software for case managers primarily, but are a social enterprise that seeks to provide smarter and more collaborative ways of working across the public and third sectors.
Gary and Sarah explain why collaboration is at the core of ECINS’ mission and why they believe people achieve more when they work together. They discuss their company’s experiences with cultural barriers and how they’re able to understand clients’ pain points and help find solutions to complex issues. They share how their background in law enforcement shaped the vision of who they want to serve through their business. They explain how their social enterprise is organized and the growth they’ve experienced, and how they have created a case management system that is hugely beneficial across three continents to help as many people as possible. Gary and Sarah talk about how ECINS has remained a self-sustaining organization, along with the leadership challenges they’ve encountered. They share how their own early struggles as a social enterprise influenced them to want to help nonprofits with similar problems and be able to respond quickly to an organization’s needs with no caveats or fine print. Finally, Gary and Sarah address what it’s like to work together as a married couple and why teamwork and passion about the work you’re doing can make all the difference!
If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at rob@ccofpc.org To be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/
What the science of fundraising is all about
Nov 19, 2021
Show notes
There’s an art to fundraising but there’s not a one-size-fits-all approach for effective fundraising. At the same time, however, there is a science to why and how people give. In fact, there is a growing industry around the neuroscience of philanthropy and fundraising that helps us understand how people make decisions and what drives their behavior. Rob’s guest has many years of experience in the fundraising sector.
Rob’s guest today is Bill Crouch, the founder and CEO of BrightDot, which is a fundraising consultancy company that helps development professionals. One of the unique aspects of their approach is that they utilize the coaching and expertise of psychologists in their training of fundraising professionals.
Bill explains the “95/5” rule and how statistics around donations and donors have changed as the gap between upper and lower income increases. He sheds light on why many nonprofits struggle to build trust and relationships with high wealth donors and why emotional intelligence training is key in addressing this issue. He also talks about the six touch points and brain science every development professional needs to know to connect with wealthy donors. Bill breaks down why donation matching is critical for nonprofits and the importance of having a mobile-friendly website and strong social media presence. He shares why nonprofits with smaller budgets should reach out for donated time and expertise, and also why it’s time for more organizations to learn about and leverage cryptocurrency. Finally, he discusses the impact of COVID on fundraising and how it’s now possible to ask for a million dollars on Zoom!
How Noggin and Sparkler Learning have come together to provide a critical learning opportunity for kids across this country in response to COVID
Nov 15, 2021
Show notes
One of the pandemic’s biggest impacts on society has been on children’s social and emotional skills. All of the time spent in remote school or interacting from behind masks has been tough on developing brains and has resulted in a learning gap for this generation.
Luckily, a very creative initiative from several for-profits and nonprofits is working to address this issue. On today’s show, Michael Levine (Senior Vice President of Learning and Impact for Noggin) and Julia Levy (Executive Director of Sparkler Learning) are here to chat about this initiative. While Sparkler Learning is now an independent 501c3 nonprofit (and not owned by Noggin, nor Noggin’s primary nonprofit arm), together Noggin and Sparker Learning are bringing a critical learning opportunity for kids across this country.
They discuss:
*The initiative – Big Heart World – which Noggin and Sparkler are partnering on.
*How creativity and music really drive Big Heart World.
*Why they have sought to make this free, the research they did to identify the needs kids from low-income groups, and how they got the project funded.
*The power of music and why they decided to make Big Heart World music-based.
*How Julia built partnerships with other organizations that made Big Heart World possible.
*Factors like reach and impact that they looked for when finding partners.
*How people are responding so far and how they hope to grow the program’s audience.
*The biggest challenges people are facing right now that Big Heart World can help with.
*What kids and families have learned in the past year and a half.
How can you improve your digital presence?
Nov 05, 2021
Show notes
Every nonprofit needs to have an effective digital presence in today’s world. But how do you go about building your digital presence and what are the most important social media platforms? Is it Facebook, TikTok, or Instagram? And then beyond social media, how important is it for nonprofits to have their own videos as part of their overall social media strategy? Rob’s guest has grown his digital presence from literally nothing to now reaching 30 million people with some posts.
Rob’s guest today is Tom McGowan, CEO of All Things Good Company, whose mission is to show the good side of humanity and is a one-of-a-kind service, set out to find good things and share them in the world.
Tom McGowan, CEO of All Good Things
Tom explains why All Good Things wants to elevate the nonprofit sector and how he worked to get eyes on his digital brand and help nonprofits do the same. He shares the nuts and bolts of building your social media base so you can tell your organization’s story. Tom also addresses ways to utilize video content even with little to no budget options. He breaks down how different platforms engage different demographics and why engaging your target audience is key. He discusses the value of social media advertising and other ways to promote your organization. Finally, Tom talks about how just a little bit of research got him a lot of celebrity coverage and how your nonprofit organization can too.
If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at rob@ccofpc.org To be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/
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