We Are For Good Podcast - The Podcast for Nonprofits

Latest Episodes:

673. Shift 3 — People Leave: Make Transition Readiness Part of Your Culture - Naomi Hattaway Jan 12, 2026

Show notes

Today's episode continues our 12-part series: 12 Shifts in 2026 for Social Impact. Over twelve episodes, we’re unpacking mindset + strategy shifts shaping the future of fundraising, leadership, and doing good in 2026. Explore the series at weareforgood.com/12shifts.

Shift 3 / Build for Health (People + Systems)

People Leave™ — and in 2026, the pace and intensity of transition is accelerating. In this episode, Naomi Hattaway, interim leader and organizational health builder, shares what it actually takes to build nonprofit health through uncertainty before someone resigns. We talk about the hidden fragility that uncertainty exposes (founder dependency, undocumented roles, disengaged boards), and the practical foundations that help teams stay aligned when everything feels on fire.

You’ll walk away with concrete tools for transition readiness, including how to:

Treat turnover as normal — not a crisis — so you plan for departures instead of getting blindsided
Build real financial resilience with reserves and budgets that account for searches, interims, and transition support
Create simple documentation so critical knowledge isn’t trapped in one person’s head
Grow “endings literacy” by talking openly about departures, loss, and what it means to leave well
Center humanity in hard moments with grief-aware practices, dignified layoffs, and stay interviews

Because healthy systems don’t stop people from leaving — they make it possible for people to leave well.

Episode Highlights

Understanding Uncertainty in 2026 (02:06)
Proactive vs Reactive Approaches (05:39)
The Importance of Infrastructure (07:54)
Endings Literacy: Navigating Transitions (13:30)
Creating a Culture of Grief and Loss (22:00)
Leaving Well: The Art of Transition (28:26)
Human-Centered Change in High-Stress Environments (31:25)
Naomi’s One Good Thing (35:07)

Dive Deeper:

Episode Shownotes: www.weareforgood.com/episode/673

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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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672. Shift 2 — Communication to Connection: The Reconnection Era - Susan McPherson Jan 07, 2026

Show notes

Shift 2 / Communication to Connection: The Reconnection Era

Ever felt that ache of reaching out endlessly, yet still standing alone in a crowded room? You're not alone, true connection is the heartbeat nonprofits are missing right now.

In this episode of Shifts in 2026, Susan McPherson, author of The Lost Art of Connecting and Founder + CEO of McPherson Strategies—returns with her signature warmth and wisdom to explore the deeper meaning of connection in today’s world. Together, they dive into the "reconnection era," shifting nonprofits from communication overload to dialog that rebuilds trust, sparks belonging, and tackles the loneliness epidemic head-on.

Susan shares eye-opening stats, candid truths on AI's limits, and a heartfelt playbook—from leading with twice-as-much listening and empathy, to simple local salons, skills-based volunteering, and brave vulnerability. It's honest, hilarious, and that rare human spark that leaves you lighter and ready to show up differently.

If you're craving deeper ties with your team, donors, and community, this one's pure gold.

Episode Highlights:

Understanding Loneliness and Disconnection (04:25)
Evolving Perspectives on Connection (12:11)
Shifting from Communication to Connection (15:41)
Actionable Steps for Nonprofit Leaders (24:06)
Susan’s One Good Thing + Homework (25:00)

Episode Shownotes: www.wearforgood.com/episode/672

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671. Shift 1 — Metrics With Meaning: Make Better Decisions With Less Noise - Ori Carmel Jan 05, 2026

Show notes

Today's episode launches our 12-part series 12 Shifts in 2026 for Social Impact. Over the next twelve episodes we're unpacking mindset + strategy shifts shaping the future of fundraising, leadership, and doing good in 2026. Explore the series at weareforgood.com/12shifts.
Shift 1 / Metrics with Meaning: Make Better Decisions with Less Noise
Feeling buried under dashboards and drowning in data? You’re not alone, and there is a better way.

In this episode, Jon and Becky welcome back impact measurement expert Ori Carmel for a refreshingly honest conversation about shifting from “more data” to better decisions. Together, they unpack how nonprofits can move past performative reporting, reconnect with what truly matters, and focus on the metrics that actually drive mission-forward impact.

Along the way, Ori shares candid stories, practical frameworks, and even a little Pearl Jam, reminding us that impact work is as human as it is analytical. From uncovering your organization’s unique strengths to making data feel less overwhelming (and more empowering), this episode is full of clarity, wisdom, and a few good laughs.

If you’re craving less noise and more meaning in how you measure success, this one’s for you.

Episode Highlights:

Data Reckoning in Nonprofits (02:00)
The Challenge of Impact Reporting (04:43)
Asking Better Questions (08:54)
Building Metrics with Meaning (18:36)
What to Stop Doing in Data Management (23:39)
The Importance of Stakeholder Mapping (30:28)

Episode Shownotes: www.weareforgood.com/episode/671
Explore the full series at www.weareforgood.com/12shifts

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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670. The Power of the Pause: A New Year Self-Sync + Reflection - Jon, Becky, and Lindsey Fuller Dec 31, 2025

Show notes

This episode is a year-end exhale.

Becky + Jon are joined by the incredible Lindsey Fuller for a cozy, heartfelt conversation as we gently close out 2025 and look toward a more grounded, intentional 2026. Together, we pause to reflect, breathe, and reconnect with what really matters.

Lindsey brings honest wisdom on navigating burnout, the constant noise of the world, and why hope and genuine community aren’t optional—they’re essential. You’ll hear what self-care actually looks like (hint: it goes way beyond bubble baths), plus a refreshing take on the messy-but-beautiful work of healing together.

Expect laughter, real talk, a few surprise shout-outs, and plenty of encouragement to step into the new year with clarity, intention, and peace. If you’re craving a reset—or just a reminder you’re not alone—this one’s for you 👊

Episode Highlights:

Introducing Lindsey Fuller & Community Impact (02:04)
Navigating Noise, Burnout, and Critical Hope (02:30)
Belonging, Transitions, and Recognition (03:46)
Coalition Building & the 2026 Vibe (05:50)
Critical Hope and Being Yourself (07:39)
Harm Reduction, Connection & Job Market Realities (09:52)
The Power of Self Sync & New Year Intentions (11:52)
Consistency in Self-Care and Recovery (17:25)
Designing Recovery with Intention (20:26)
The Ugly Side of Healing (22:17)
Healing Out Loud & Community Ripple Effects (24:33)
Special Message from Amina Mohamed (25:30)
Collective Healing and Peaceful Intentions (27:53)

Episode Shownotes: www.weareforgood.com/episode/670

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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669. How to Build Trust With Funders (and Know When to Walk Away) - Gloria Dixon Dec 29, 2025

Show notes

Trust isn’t built in boardrooms, it’s built in community.

In this episode, Gloria Dixon (Director of Philanthropy + Executive Director, BECU Foundation) joins us for a real talk on what it takes to share power and reimagine funding through a trust-based lens. From her journey in Milwaukee to leading community-centered giving in the Pacific Northwest, Gloria opens up about what’s shifting in philanthropy and what still needs to.

Together, they dig into why multi-year, unrestricted support matters, how authentic relationships drive impact, and what it means to show up with empathy (not just reports and metrics). It’s hopeful, heart-forward, and packed with practical wisdom for anyone navigating the changing landscape of nonprofit funding.

Episode Highlights:

Sector Challenges and Funding Changes (00:51)
Gloria's Background and Upbringing (03:18)
Disconnects Between Funders and Nonprofits (05:57)
BECU’s Community-Focused Funding Approach (08:09)
Multi-Year Funding Importance (10:32)
Funding Friction and Reporting Challenges (14:17)
Trust-Based Partnership Practices (17:58)
Employee Engagement and Community Impact (20:53)
Advice for Nonprofits: Building Trust (23:11)
Gloria’s Personal Story of Philanthropy (25:38)
Gloria’s One Good Thing (29:07)

Episode Shownotes: www.weareforgood.com/episode/669

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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668. Merge to Multiply: How a Purposeful Sunset Expanded Community Impact - Desiree Lyons, Namaste Direct + Kate Flatley, Women's Justice Initiative Dec 22, 2025

Show notes

Sunsetting isn’t failure—it’s leadership.

In this episode, Becky sits down with Desiree Lyons, CEO of Namaste Direct, and Kate Flatley, Executive Director of the Women’s Justice Initiative, for an honest conversation about what it really looks like to put community at the center—even when it means changing or ending your own model. Together, they share how Namaste Direct made the difficult decision to sunset with integrity and why transitioning its economic empowerment program to WJI became a powerful unlock for greater, more sustainable impact for women in Guatemala.

This conversation challenges the idea that success in the nonprofit sector is always about scale and growth—and offers a practical look at how merging, evolving, and ending well can be an act of responsibility, courage, and mission-first leadership.

Episode Highlights:

Kate’s Path to Guatemala and Law (02:04)
Women’s Justice Initiative Mission and Impact (03:06)
Namaste Direct’s Mission and Challenges (05:29)
Turning Point: Rethinking Microfinance and Debt (09:36)
Sunsetting and Succession: Strategic Decisions at Namaste (15:21)
Reaching Out: Collaboration and Merger with WJI (20:55)
Advice for Nonprofits: Mergers, Sunsets, and Impact (26:16)
One Good Thing: Final Thoughts and Reflections (31:58)
How to Connect and Closing Remarks (33:19)

www.weareforgood.com/episode/668

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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667. Working Session: How to Tell Stories That Drive Action with Jon and Becky Dec 17, 2025

Show notes

In this rapid-fire Working Session, Jon and Becky break down storytelling as a core nonprofit skill — not a marketing tactic — and share simple, practical frameworks you can use immediately.

From clarifying your values and audience to collecting and activating stories more intentionally, you’ll learn how to move supporters from empathy → connection → action and build a storytelling system that drives trust, belonging, and long-term engagement.

Top 3 Takeaways:

Story Drives Action — Not Tactics: People don’t act until they feel something, and they don’t stay until they feel like they belong. Learn how to anchor your storytelling in empathy, identity, and shared humanity so your calls to action actually land.
Build a Simple Storytelling System: From collecting stories at the end of emails and donation forms to syndicating one story across multiple channels, you’ll learn how to turn storytelling into a repeatable workflow — not a one-off creative lift.
Tell Stories With Dignity and Trust: Ethical storytelling isn’t about rules — it’s about relationships. Centering dignity, consent, and agency protects the people behind the stories, strengthens credibility, and builds the kind of trust that fuels long-term community and generosity.

This episode is packed with practical, low-lift storytelling moves you can implement today — whether you’re writing an email, planning content, onboarding new supporters, or stewarding long-term relationships.

Welcome back to Working Sessions: hands-on, clarity-filled conversations designed to help you move real work forward inside your organization.

Let’s get to work.

Episode Highlights:

Story as Meaning, Not Marketing (01:24)
Preparing for Storytelling: Values, Audiences, and Action (03:07)
Building a Culture of Storytelling (04:26)
Ethical Storytelling Principles (06:10)
Introducing the Impact Arc Framework (08:05)
Practical Working Session Activities (11:42)
Community as the Accelerant for Storytelling (15:04)

Episode Shownotes: www.weareforgood.com/episode/666

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665. Working Session: Activate Your Board + Grow Your Pipeline with Rhea Wong Dec 15, 2025

Show notes

If year-end fundraising feels like an all-gas-no-brakes sprint, this Working Session is your moment to regroup, refocus, and rally your strongest allies. We brought in fundraising expert and author Rhea Wong for a rapid-fire strategy session on two mission-critical moves: activating your board before December 31 and turning year-end gifts, signals, and conversations into a predictable 2026 pipeline — in under 30 minutes.

Rhea walks us through her signature approach to board engagement and donor outreach: one rooted in clarity, specificity, and creating micro-yes moments that move relationships forward.

You’ll learn how to give board members turnkey actions they’ll actually complete, how to structure two-call closes for warm prospects, and how to use January to set up a smarter, stronger pipeline for the entire year.

Top 3 Takeaways:

Your Board Is Your Force Multiplier: Stop sending blanket emails. Start giving individuals clear, specific, low-friction tasks — from making their own gift to nudging warm contacts to posting on LinkedIn. Activated intentionally, your board becomes your most powerful surface-area expander.
December Is for Decisions: Rhea breaks down her two-step outreach process — the R for R.O. (Reason for Reaching Out), the alignment call, the opportunity call, and the art of making a clear ask and then staying quiet.
January Is Your Pipeline Launchpad: Retention workflows, short donor surveys, micro-engagement signals, and a simple “schedule time with me” link in your email signature can dramatically increase donor conversations. Plus her favorite January homework: donor interviews that build your 2026 avatar and deepen relationships with zero solicitation pressure.

This episode is packed with low-lift, high-impact tactics to help you close strong this year — and build a donor pipeline that carries you confidently into the next.

Welcome back to Working Sessions: hands-on, clarity-filled conversations designed to help you move real work forward inside your organization.

Let’s get to work.

Episode Highlights:

Four Quick Board Actions for Year-End Fundraising (00:58)
Getting Your Nonprofit and Board Members on LinkedIn (03:39)
Making Board Engagement Fun & Effective (04:01)
Removing Friction: Scripts, Emails & Turnkey Tasks (05:08)
How to Move Unengaged Board Members to Action (05:39)
December is for Decisions: Triage Your Donor List (08:08)
The Two-Call Strategy for Major Gift Closes (09:10)
0:12:06 – Handling Objections & Building Consent at Every Step
What to Do in January: Retention & Stewardship (14:25)
Using Surveys & Engagement Data to Build Your Pipeline (15:16)
Hot Prospect Lists & Calendar Link Pro Tips (17:43)
Donor Interviews: Building Avatars & Deepening Relationships (18:15)
Final Reflections, Resources, and Closing (19:27)

Episode Shownotes: www.weareforgood.com/episode/665

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664. Working Session: Build Your Next Two Weeks of Content in 1 Hour - Julia Campbell Dec 10, 2025

Show notes

If creating content feels like a treadmill you can’t quite step off, this Working Session is your reset button. We brought in nonprofit marketing expert and author Julia Campbell to teach you how to build a simple, sustainable content calendar for your next two weeks — in under an hour.

Julia walks us through her signature approach to content planning: one rooted in clarity, consistency, and choosing the platforms that actually support your goals. You’ll learn how to identify your core content buckets, repurpose stories across channels, and build a weekly rhythm that doesn’t burn you out.

Top 3 Takeaways:

Build Around Four Buckets: Impact, Engagement, Authority, and Human-Centered content give you a reliable weekly structure. When your buckets are clear, your content becomes far easier to plan.
Work With Your Capacity, Not Against It: If you can’t build your content calendar in an hour, you're probably on too many platforms. Julia breaks down how to evaluate where your audience truly is, what each channel does best, and how to double down without overwhelm.
Stories Are Your Anchor: One strong story each week — with a hook, emotional resonance, and mission clarity — can power multiple posts across multiple channels. Storytelling is the breadcrumb trail that leads supporters toward deeper understanding (and engagement).

This episode is packed with low-lift, high-clarity tactics to help you show up consistently — without reinventing your content strategy every week.

Welcome back to Working Sessions: hands-on, clarity-filled conversations designed to help you move real work forward inside your organization.

Let’s get to work.

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

663. Working Session: LinkedIn Strategies for Year-End with Tania Bhattacharyya Dec 08, 2025

Show notes

If you want to show up meaningfully during the most generous—and most crowded—season of the year, LinkedIn may be your most overlooked year-end fundraising tool. We brought in LinkedIn strategist Tania Bhattacharya of Lumos Marketing to unpack how nonprofits can use the platform to grow visibility, spark connections, and strengthen warm relationships in the final weeks of the year.

Top 3 Takeaways:

Turn Gratitude Into Visibility — Year-end is the perfect moment to spotlight partners, volunteers, and community moments. Tagging people and companies creates a ripple effect that expands reach, builds trust, and even opens doors to corporate giving.
Use Polls to Listen, Not Just Ask — Simple LinkedIn polls help donors and supporters engage without pressure—especially the “lurkers.” Asking what issues matter most gives you insight, follow-up opportunities, and content direction right when you need it.
Lead With Humans, Not Just Logos — Personal profiles outperform company pages every time. Activate a visible leader, board member, or champion to share authentically, and use DMs, voice notes, and quick check-ins to nurture relationships before December 31.

This episode gives you low-lift, high-impact ways to leverage LinkedIn in the final stretch—without burning out or reinventing your entire strategy.

Welcome back to Working Sessions: hands-on, clarity-filled conversations designed to help you move real work forward inside your organization.

Let’s get to work.

Episode Highlights: