Five years ago, Derrick Young, Jr. embarked on a mission to address the lack of diversity in advanced education, particularly in fields like law, medicine, and STEM. Despite facing challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic and shifts in corporate support, the nonprofit he founded, Leadership Brainery , has emerged as a beacon of hope for underrepresented communities seeking access to higher education.  Co-hosts Julia Patrick and Mitch Stein welcome back Derrick for an insightful discussion on the organization's journey and impact. Young's personal experiences as one of the few men of color i ..read more

From including both spouses on nonprofit’s campus tours to the effectiveness of donor swag and the choice between upscale venues and authentic experiences for wealthy donors, LaShonda Williams and Julia Patrick share actionable insights on questions from viewers. When a viewer asks about including both spouses on a campus tour for potential major donors, LaShonda points to the importance of involving both individuals in the relationship-building process. She stresses the need for alignment and engagement from both parties. Julia prompts a discussion about the role of women in philanthropy, l ..read more

In the fast-changing world of nonprofits, staying true to mission while resisting the allure of scope creep can be a challenging dance. Miriam Dicks, founder and CEO of 180 Management Group, recently shed light on this topic during a riveting chat with hosts Mitch Stein and Sherry Quam Taylor.  Miriam begins by defining scope creep, drawing parallels to its militaristic synonym, mission creep. She shares the webster definition, "Mission creep is a gradual shift in objectives during the course of a military campaign, often resulting in unplanned long-term commitments." She then links this ..read more

The role of leadership development in the nonprofit sector, emphasizing the need for leaders to be adaptable, self-aware, and mission-focused to effectively guide their organizations through challenging times, shared in a compelling dialogue with two notable experts in nonprofit leadership development, John Tiso, Director of Client Services at JMT Consulting, and Dr. John Davidoff, founder and Chief Mission Officer of Davidoff Mission-Driven Business Strategy. This dynamic interview explores nonprofit leadership, and the importance of fostering a mission-driven culture and continuous leadershi ..read more

The historic venue, WOW Hall, a cherished cultural anchor in Eugene, Oregon, stands as a testament to community resilience and collaboration.  Executive Director of the nonprofit, Deb Maher, shared their story, which embodies a vision-driven approach, emphasizing the power of positivity and collective action in transforming communities. WOW Hall, originally established in 1932 as a fraternity for woodworkers, faced near-demolition in 1975. However, a swift community effort saved the building, transforming it into a nonprofit performing arts center. Deb takes us through WOW Hall's rich hi ..read more

Groundbreaking insights behind understanding major nonprofit donors, with a donor research tool that determines how much a donor might give. Donor Abacus operationalizes donor research, providing an objective, bias-free approach to determining the ideal donation amount for major gifts. By analyzing key data points and leveraging subscriber insights, Donor Abacus boasts predictive accuracy within 5% of actual pledges, empowering fundraisers to confidently navigate gift conversations and assess pipeline value. We learn about it all from fundraising expert Larry Ruff. "We all know you can collec ..read more

The transformative potential of strategic fundraising approaches grounded in donor-centricity, digital innovation, and proactive volunteer engagement in 2024.  We are led by Katie Gaston, Senior Product Marketing Manager at Bloomerang, and she talks about meeting donors where they are, leveraging technology, and cultivating volunteer support.  By embracing these principles, nonprofits can unlock new avenues for growth, sustainability, and mission impact. As Katie begins, being a storyteller is foundational to effective fundraising. She emphasizes the importance of crafting compellin ..read more

12-year-old Arjun Sharda, founder, and executive director of Tleem.org, shares his remarkable nonprofit journey towards empowering individuals through education and technology. We hear how he formed Tleem.org at such a young age. With its mission to foster creativity and entrepreneurship among youth, Arjun’s insights demonstrate the power of purpose and persistence. He’s a “Student by day and Executive Director at night”! Arjun Sharda reflects on his youthful passionate journey by pointing to the significance of empowering individuals to pursue their passions and unlock their potential from a ..read more

From dealing with large nonprofit donors and trust advisors, sorting nonprofit board member financial obligations, to explaining concepts like nonprofit cause selling and board dynamics, hosts Julia Patrick and Muhi Khwaja answer questions from nonprofits. When faced with the dilemma of whether to bring someone else to a meeting with a large donor and their trust advisor, Muhi advises diversifying the skill set within the organization. He suggests involving estate planning lawyers or seeking pro bono services from local law firms to address legal questions effectively. Muhi emphasizes the imp ..read more

Mental and physical burnout in the nonprofit sector is an unfortunate reality, but there are ways to address it constructively. Meico Whitlock, founder of Mindful Techie, shares insights on how to protect ourselves from the ravages of nonprofit work.  Meico introduces a refreshing perspective on navigating burnout, urging us to change the conversation, with guidance that begins with, "We're not chasing dollars or titles; we're driven by a personal mission to leave the world better than we found it."  With that thought in mind, rather than a reactive approach, he advocates for proact ..read more