Isaac MacDonald: How Non-Profits Will Survive in the Trump Era

About Isaac MacDonald:

In his eight-year tenure at Trepwise, Isaac has consulted with over a hundred organizations and initiatives, including the New Orleans Youth Master Plan, the Jazz & Heritage Festival & Foundation, and the Orleans Public Defender’s Office. He received his B.A. in Urban Studies at Brown University, where he started the Urban Journal, an annual publication focused on building and sustaining the urban environments of the future. Before relocating to New Orleans, he worked at several environmental nonprofits in Washington, D.C. Isaac is a 2015 Venture for America Fellow and a 2021 New Leaders Council Fellow, and serves as Treasurer for the local chapter of the Sunrise Movement.

In this episode, Dean Newlund and Isaac MacDonald discuss:

• Nonprofit organizational challenges in changing political landscapes
• Reimagining leadership structures in social impact organizations
• Government funding and nonprofit sustainability
• Community-driven transformation and place-based solutions
• Adapting organizational models to complex environments

Key Takeaways:

• To build long-term resilience, nonprofits should reduce their reliance on unpredictable government funding by developing diverse revenue sources, including earned income and creative funding models.
• By moving away from rigid hierarchies, organizations that embrace shared leadership structures can foster a more collaborative culture, promote innovation, and respond more effectively to change.
• Community-led efforts, rooted in local knowledge and shared values, offer a strong alternative to top-down approaches—allowing solutions to emerge from those closest to the challenges.
• Navigating today’s dynamic political and social environments requires nonprofits to stay nimble. Embracing flexible, adaptive models can enhance responsiveness and support collective problem-solving.

"One of the things that we're seeing right now is that nonprofits are experiencing multiple layers of uncertainty.” — Isaac MacDonald

Connect with Isaac MacDonald:  

Website: https://trepwise.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isaac-macdonald-28229067 & https://www.linkedin.com/company/trepwise

X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/trepwise

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trepwise

See Dean’s TedTalk “Why Business Needs Intuition” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEq9IYvgV7I

Connect with Dean:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgqRK8GC8jBIFYPmECUCMkw

Website: https://www.mfileadership.com/

The Mission Statement E-Newsletter: https://www.mfileadership.com/blog/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deannewlund/

X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/deannewlund

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MissionFacilitators/

Email: dean.newlund@mfileadership.com

Phone: 1-800-926-7370

Show notes by Podcastologist: Hanz Jimuel Alvarez

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