We Are For Good Podcast - The Podcast for Nonprofits

Latest Episodes:

441. Giving USA 2023 Report: Breaking Down the Philanthropy Trends - Elizabeth Abel Jun 26, 2023

Show notes

Meet Elizabeth. The queen of interpreting philanthropic data reports is back in our house for year three, and today we're breaking down Giving USA's 2023 Report 📈CCS Fundraising's brilliant Senior Vice President is explaining what’s causing the decline in individual giving, and how we can turn the tide. We’re also exploring how to encourage meaningful giving from people of all generations and income levels, and the role of storytelling, advocacy, and volunteerism in engaging millennials, Gen Z and Gen Alpha. Tune in to get up to speed on all the data from this report and how we can take actionable steps to build a culture of philanthropy in our communities🤝

💡Learn

Insights into the current philanthropic landscape
Key data points from the Giving USA Report
Actionable steps to leverage knowing this latest data

Today’s Guest
Elizabeth Abel, Senior Vice President, CCS Fundraising
Episode Highlights

Insights into the Current Philanthropic Landscape (5:30)
Other factors playing into the decrease in giving (6:35)
Two key themes (8:00)
The roles that individuals play (8:15)
The role that foundations play (9:40)
Building and strengthening relationships with foundations (11:00)
Mega gifts (15:00)
Actionable Insights (23:00)
A powerful moment of philanthropy in Elizabeth’s life (30:00)
Elizabeth’s One Good Thing: Prioritize family. (32:00)
How to connect + get the report (34:00)

For more information + episode details visit: weareforgood.com/episode/441.

Join us at The Spread!

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We Are For Good is joining forces with GB to host in-person hackathon meetups on Friday, Oct. 2, in New York, Seattle, LA, Denver, and Indianapolis, so you can build alongside other nonprofits in the community.

Learn more and save your free spot today.

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440. Storytelling for Good (Part 2) - Jon McCoy, CFRE and Becky Endicott, CFRE Jun 23, 2023

Show notes

It’s no secret that we believe in the power of storytelling to do more good in the world. We’re wrapping up our Storytelling for Good Friday series with more of the most frequently asked questions we get about marketing from folks in our community. We’re diving into the importance of storytelling for your mission, tools to unlock your inner storyteller and create a culture that values storytelling. Join us to get on a path toward a better - more inspiring - way to work🔍

💡Learn

Mindsets needed for storytelling
How to incorporate storytelling into your orgs everyday operations
The importance of building your storybank

Episode Highlights

Evolution of storytelling in the sector (1:40)
#AMA Question 1: “How do you prep for interviews? How do you get people to go deeper?” (4:30)
#AMA Question 2: “How do I balance what my ED/Board expects with what the storyteller expects?” (15:00)
Case Study (20:00)
Storytelling for Good: We Are For Good Premium Course (24:00)

For more information + episode details visit: weareforgood.com/episode/440.

Join us at The Spread!

Givebutter's biggest innovation event of the year is here — The Spread, built entirely around co-creating with nonprofits like yours. 💛

Learn more and save your free spot today.

Say hi 👋
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439. The Power of the Collective for Systems Change - Anne Marie Burgoyne Jun 21, 2023

Show notes

Meet Anne Marie. She’s the Managing Director of Philanthropy at the Emerson Collective, where her passion for amplifying voices has shaped her career and the impact of Emerson Collective's programs in education and environmental justice. She’s sharing her wisdom about how strong leaders and strong models have the capacity to scale and create systems change. Don’t miss this inspiring conversation that answers the question - can the collective power of individuals truly create lasting change?

💡Learn

History of Emerson Collective
The power of the collective
Mindsets need for systems change

Today's Guest
Anne Marie Burgoyne, Managing Director of Philanthropy, Emerson Collective

Episode Highlights

Anne Marie’s story and journey to where she is today (5:00)
The Power of the Collective + History of Emerson Collective (9:00)
Emerson Collective’s impact areas and their impact to date (15:00)
Mindsets + Systems Change (20:35)
Frictionless Philanthropy + Emerson Collective’s Evolved Partnership Model (30:00)
How funders can evolve today (35:00)
A powerful moment of philanthropy in Anne Marie’s life (42:00)
Anne Marie’s One Good Thing: Have you asked enough questions? (45:00)
How to connect (48:00)

For more information + episode details visit: weareforgood.com/episode/439.

Join us at The Spread!

Givebutter's biggest innovation event of the year is here — The Spread, built entirely around co-creating with nonprofits like yours. 💛

Learn more and save your free spot today.

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438. Assets-Based Approach: Creating New Narratives in Leadership and Philanthropy - Darren Isom Jun 19, 2023

Show notes

Meet Darren. He’s an advocate for amplifying diverse voices and narratives within our sector. As a partner at The Bridgespan Group, he advises mission-driven organizations and philanthropic foundations. He’s also the host of the podcast Dreaming in Color: Creating New Narratives in Leadership, which offers leaders of color space to share how they have leveraged their unique assets and abilities to embrace excellence, drive impact, and more fully define what success looks like. He’s sharing how diversity is a critical asset to organizations and the potential impact endowments can have on long-term sustainability and growth for nonprofits. Don’t miss this conversation as we dive into the role we all play in creating more meaningful narratives in philanthropy.

💡Learn

Creating new narratives in leadership
New narratives in equitable impact
Establishing sustainable Investments by endowing Black-led nonprofits

Today’s Guest
Darren Isom, Partner, The Bridgespan Group’s San Francisco Office

Episode Highlights

Darren’s story and journey to where he is today (4:45)
Creating new narratives in leadership (12:00)
How identity and leadership are intertwined (17:00)
New narratives in equitable impact (28:00)
Changing the narrative around funding (34:00)
Sustainable investments: endowing Black-led nonprofits (42:00)
A powerful story of philanthropy in Darren’s life (49:00)
Darren’s One Good Thing (55:00)

For more information + episode details visit: weareforgood.com/episode/438.

Join us at The Spread!

Givebutter's biggest innovation event of the year is here — The Spread, built entirely around co-creating with nonprofits like yours. 💛

Learn more and save your free spot today.

Say hi 👋
LinkedIn / Instagram / Facebook / YouTube / Twitter

437. Storytelling for Good (Part 1) - Jon McCoy, CFRE and Becky Endicott, CFRE Jun 16, 2023

Show notes

It’s no secret that we believe in the power of storytelling to do more good in the world. In our new Storytelling for Good Friday series, we’re diving into the importance of storytelling for your mission, tools to unlock your inner storyteller and create a culture that values storytelling. Join us to get on a path toward a better - more inspiring - way to work🔍

💡Learn

Mindsets needed for storytelling
How to incorporate storytelling into your orgs everyday operations
The importance of building your storybank

Episode Highlights

#AMA Question 1: “Who is the hero? (the donor or the beneficiary - or the collective)” (3:30)
The collective is the hero (4:15)
#AMA Question 2: “How do I find the right people’s story to tell - I have no board members to ask?”(9:50)
Engagement signals to look for to help develop your stories (12:00)
Tech tools and resources we love to help you elevate your storytelling (17:00)
Storytelling for Good: We Are For Good Premium Course (21:00)

For more information + episode details visit: weareforgood.com/episode/437.

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436. Building Sustainable Movements for Systems Change - Deepa Iyer Jun 14, 2023

Show notes

Meet Deepa. She's played many roles in supporting social movements, weaver, frontline responder, storyteller + guide. Her political and community homes include Asian American, South Asian, Muslim, and Arab ecosystems where she spent fifteen years in policy advocacy and coalition building in the wake of the September 11 attacks and the ensuing backlash. She now leads projects on solidarity and social movements at the Building Movement Project, a national nonprofit organization catalyzing social change through research, relationships, and resources. Don’t miss this conversation that’ll provide the building blocks for building sustainable movements💪

Today's Guest
Deepa Iyer, Senior Director, Strategic Initiatives, Building Movement Project

Episode Highlights

Deepa’s story and journey to where she is today (3:30)
Lessons learned from building movements (5:15)
The role of nonprofits in building movements (8:40)
The importance of reflection (11:20)
Overview of the framework within Deepa’s book “Social Change Now: A Guide for Reflection and Connection” (14:15)
Deepa’s reflections on her own journey using this framework (17:40)
Defining solidarity (22:05)
Deepa’s advice for young professionals that want to be change-makers (26:30)
Resources and tools from Building Movement Project (30:00)
A powerful moment of philanthropy in Deepa’s life (32:05)
Deepa’s One Good Thing: How are we tending to the urgency of now? (34:30)
How to connect with Deepa (36:00)

For more information + episode details visit: weareforgood.com/episode/436.

Join us at The Spread!

Givebutter's biggest innovation event of the year is here — The Spread, built entirely around co-creating with nonprofits like yours. 💛

Learn more and save your free spot today.

Say hi 👋
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435. Reimagining Community Foundations Through Transparency, Accessibility, and the Joy of Giving -Amy Freitag Jun 12, 2023

Show notes

Meet Amy. Last summer, she became only the fourth leader in the nearly 100-year history of The New York Community Trust, one of America's oldest and most respected community foundations. Drawing from her diverse background in environmental advocacy, the arts, LGBTQ issues, and historic preservation, Amy's passion and energy are shaking up this longstanding institution. Tune in to celebrate the joy of giving and the incredible impact of community foundations🎉

💡Learn

Demystifying Community Foundations
How Community Foundations are meeting the moment
Using milestones to build relationships and set the stage for the future

Today's Guest
Amy Freitag, President, The New York Community Trust

Episode Highlights

Amy’s story and journey to where she is today (3:50)
Demystifying Community Foundations (6:15)
How to partner with community foundations (9:45)
How Community Foundations are meeting the moment (15:20)
Showcasing the joy of giving at The New York Community Trust (21:35)
Learning from the Cleveland Foundation (24:10)
The New York Community Trust’s Centennial (28:15)
A powerful moment of philanthropy in Amy’s life (33:05)
Amy’s One Good Thing: Build trust, and build it one person at a time. It’s all about honestly seeing and connecting with people. (37:10)
How to connect with The New York Community Trust (38:25)

For more information + episode details visit: weareforgood.com/episode/435.

Join us at The Spread!

Givebutter's biggest innovation event of the year is here — The Spread, built entirely around co-creating with nonprofits like yours. 💛

Learn more and save your free spot today.

Say hi 👋
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434. Small But Mighty: From Founder's Passion to Global Impact - Jon McCoy, CFRE, Becky Endicott, CFRE and Martice Sutton Jun 09, 2023

Show notes

We’re wrapping up Small But Mighty: How Small Nonprofits are Raising Big Dollars in our Givebutter Friday series with an inspirational case study. As a small organization, hosting fundraising campaigns can feel daunting. It’s typical to wonder... How do we get enough supporters? Who will fundraise on our behalf? What happens if we don’t reach our goal? Where do we even begin? Jon, Becky and Floyd Jones have been breaking down how small organizations raise BIG funds through grassroots fundraising. In Part 3, we’re chatting with Martice Sutton, the founder and executive director of Girls Going Global, a pipeline program to greater opportunities for girls. Tune in to hear from a small org making a BIG global impact🌎

💡Learn

History + Overview of Girls Going Global
Building a fundraising strategy + telling your story
Mobilizing volunteers + supporters

Today's Guest
Martice Sutton, Founder + Executive Director, Girls Going Global

Episode Highlights

Martice’s story and journey to where she is today (2:50)
Girls Going Global (7:20)
What these experiences unlock for girls (11:30)
Girls Going Global’s Fundraising strategy (14:15)
How to share your story (22:05)
Challenges Girls Going Global faces (29:10)
Martice’s One Good Thing: Be attached to the vision and not the path. (35:45)
How to connect with Girls Going Global (37:15)

For more information + episode details visit: weareforgood.com/episode/434.

Join us at The Spread!

Givebutter's biggest innovation event of the year is here — The Spread, built entirely around co-creating with nonprofits like yours. 💛

Learn more and save your free spot today.

Say hi 👋
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433. Your Fundraising Field Guide: 10 Core Behaviors of Servant-Leaders - Evan Wildstein Jun 07, 2023

Show notes

Meet Evan. He’s a nonprofiteer, musician, seasoned fundraising professional, new dad, We Are For Good rabid fan, and oh yeah, he just published a new book called “The Nonprofiteer’s Fundraising Field Guide”🎉 If you’re curious about evolved servant leadership and how it plays into building vibrant cultures, communities and (bonus!) yourself - this is your episode. He’s passionate about the intersection of philanthropy, creativity, and learning, and has dedicated his career to supporting initiatives that build stronger communities. He’s giving us a sneak peek into the book by breaking down the 10 core behaviors of servant-leaders. Don’t miss the chance to learn from this incredible human

💡Learn

Key traits and qualities that distinguish exceptional leaders
10 Core Behaviors of Servant-Leaders
How effective leadership contributes to organizational culture

Today's Guest
Evan Wildstein, Director of Community Philanthropy, Every Texan and Author of The Nonprofiteer’s Fundraising Field Guide

Episode Highlights

Evan’s story and journey to where he is today (5:00)
Today’s modern leader (7:30)
Fundraiser’s Field Guide (17:00)
10 Core Behaviors (22:00)
- Listening
- Empathy
- Healing
- Awareness
- Foresight
- Persuasion,
- Conceptualization
- Stewardship
- Growing Other People
- Building Community
Evan’s One Good Thing: (46:00)
How to connect with Evan (47:00)

For more information + episode details visit: weareforgood.com/episode/433.

Join us at The Spread!

Givebutter's biggest innovation event of the year is here — The Spread, built entirely around co-creating with nonprofits like yours. 💛

Learn more and save your free spot today.

Say hi 👋
LinkedIn / Instagram / Facebook / YouTube / Twitter

432. The Future of Philanthropy: Gen Z's Unique Giving Habits and How to Reach Them - Elizabeth (McDonough) Ruikka + Alyssa Boger Jun 05, 2023

Show notes

Meet Elizabeth and Alyssa. They’re sharing insights from The Nonprofit’s Guide to Engaging Gen Z created by Classy and Pursuant (bravo on evolved partnerships 👏). Gen Z just doesn’t operate like any other generation, and we love how they break the status quo. We’re chatting about how nonprofits can create long-lasting partnerships with this deeply generous generation. Tune in for your guide on engaging with this generation that’s already making its mark on philanthropy.

💡Learn

How to understand Gen Z’s motivations
An overview of The Nonprofit’s Guide to Engaging Gen Z
Ways nonprofits can partner with Gen Z for greater impact

Today's Guests
Elizabeth (McDonough) Ruikka, Senior Director, Demand Generation & Digital Marketing, Classy + Alyssa Boger, Senior Vice President, Client Strategy, Pursuant

Episode Highlights

Alyssa’s story and journey to where she is today (4:30)
Elizabeth’s story and journey to where she is today (6:10)
Understanding Gen Z’s motivations (10:30)
How to Engage Gen Z (17:00)
How + Where Gen Z is gathering (20:00)
How we begin building our Gen Z donor bases (25:00)
The top 3 values of Gen Z donors (28:00)
A powerful moment of philanthropy in Elizabeth’s life (39:00)
A powerful moment of philanthropy in Alyssa’s life (41:00)
Alyssa’s One Good Thing: No is a complete sentence. (45:00)
Elizabeth’s One Good Thing: You want to hire people that are smarter than you. (47:00)
How to connect (50:00)

For more information + episode details visit: weareforgood.com/episode/432.

Join us at The Spread!

Givebutter's biggest innovation event of the year is here — The Spread, built entirely around co-creating with nonprofits like yours. 💛

Learn more and save your free spot today.

Say hi 👋
LinkedIn / Instagram / Facebook / YouTube / Twitter