Nonprofit Leadership Podcast

Hal Donaldson, founder & CEO of Convoy of Hope Change. Some people avoid it, while others thrive in it. Tension can sometimes rise when leaders of nonprofits seek to bring about change to their organization. Rob’s guest today is Hal Donaldson who offers his insight into how leaders can bring positive change to their organizations and how individuals can bring positive change to the world.  Hal is the founder and CEO of Convoy of Hope. Convoy of Hope is a faith-based, nonprofit organization with a driving passion to feed the world through children’s feeding initiatives, community outreaches and disaster response. For the past 30 years, Convoy of Hope has been dedicated to bringing help and hope to those who are impoverished, hungry, and hurting. Hal discusses why change is so hard to accept and how leaders must earn the right to bring about change to their organizations. He shares the two exercises his organization goes through when doing an internal “audit”, that can help position your organization for desired positive changes. Hal discusses what it looks like when an organization’s mission and values are not aligned and what leaders can do to remedy that problem. He also shares what has made his nonprofit successful for the past 30 years. Hal describes a unique opportunity he had to interview Mother Theresa and how a simple lesson she gave changed his life. He believes that giving hope is a lot easier and a lot less expensive than one would think. Finally, Hal gives countless examples of the selfless acts he witnesses, that are bringing him hope for the future.  Mentioned:Convoy of Hope Book – Disruptive Compassion Links to Resources: If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at nonprofitleadershippodcast@gmail.comTo be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/ This Episode is sponsored by:

Julie Gehrki, Vice President of Philanthropy at Walmart We know that Walmart is a large, profitable corporation selling goods throughout the world, but that is not all they do. You may be surprised by the impact Walmart is making through their many philanthropic efforts, local and world-wide. Today’s guest, Julie Gehrki, explains the various ways Walmart is supporting nonprofits through their new social impact program, Spark Good. Julie is the Vice President of Philanthropy at Walmart. Last year, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation provided more than $1.5 billion in cash and in-kind to support programs that align with their philanthropic priorities. Through the combined philanthropic efforts of both Walmart and the Walmart Foundation, Walmart is creating opportunities for people to live better every day. Julie shares information on Walmart’s new social impact program, Spark Good, and how it is meeting both the needs of customers and the local nonprofits they want to support. She explains the four main tools that make up the Spark Good program, and how each of these tools offer support to the various needs nonprofits may have. Julie also shares that Walmart often matches customer donations and fulfills the material requests of the nonprofits they work with. Julie believes companies cannot have real impact if they are not truly listening. That is why Walmart is trying to thoughtfully walk alongside both local communities and nonprofits, to really understand their needs. Julie offers advice to large companies who are seeking to make an impact by becoming involved in philanthropy. Finally, she shares some insight into Walmart as a whole and what she wishes more people knew about the corporation. Mentioned: Sign up for Spark Good  Walmart.org Connect with Julie on LinkedIn Links to Resources: If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at nonprofitleadershippodcast@gmail.comTo be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/ This Episode is sponsored by: 

In order to have a successful nonprofit, sometimes changes must be made. While it may be difficult to bring change, it is necessary. Rob’s guests, Jeffrey Appell and Keith Heller explain how implementing new technology strategies can help bring positive results, and they share when it’s the best time to bring about that positive change. Jeffrey Appell and Keith Heller, Heller Consulting Jeffrey Appell and Keith Heller are the leaders behind Heller Consulting. Team Heller is commited to helping nonprofit organizations & higher education institutions, developing and implementing technology strategies and ecosystems. Jeffrey is the CEO and Keith is the Founder and Chief Strategist for Heller Consulting.  Team Heller often refers to the term “technology ecosystem” and they explain what a technology ecosystem is and how it is supportive to the work and mission of nonprofits. They explain not only the importance of the implementation of these technology strategies, but the critical things a nonprofit needs to identify before implementing technology changes. Team Heller shares why they believe the best time to bring change to an organization is when things are going well. They also believe that nonprofits can actually enhance their relationships by using technology, in order to connect better than before. Finally, they share the biggest challenges leaders face when making a significant tech investment and what nonprofit leaders can do to approach those challenges. Mentioned: Heller Consulting Keith’s LinkedInJeffrey’s LinkedIn Links to Resources: If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at nonprofitleadershippodcast@gmail.comTo be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/ This Episode is sponsored by:

We have all heard of Visa, a world leader in digital payments, but most don’t realize that the corporation has a philanthropic arm to their company. Today’s guest, Graham Macmillan, explains what the Visa Foundation is doing. He also shares key lessons nonprofit leaders can learn from corporate philanthropies.  Graham Macmillan, President at the Visa Foundation Graham is the President at the Visa Foundation. The Visa Foundation seeks to support inclusive economies where individuals, businesses and communities can thrive. Through grants and investments, the Foundation prioritizes the growth of gender diverse and inclusive small and micro businesses. The Foundation also supports broader community needs and disaster response in times of crisis. Graham explains how the Visa Foundation is meant to support Visa’s overall purpose by uplifting everyone everywhere. He also explains that gender and underrepresented communities are at the center of their strategy. When it comes to institutional philanthropy, he believes that foundations should be rewarded for giving more. Graham speaks to the dynamic between those with capital and those who seek access to capital and how too often the power dynamic is not equitable. He also discusses why it is so important to not only adapt and evolve with changes, but to be a driver to change. Graham also shares how the Visa Foundation looks at an enterprise as a whole when investing and why investors should give unrestricted gifts to their nonprofit partners. Finally, he shares the value that corporate foundations, like the Visa Foundation, can bring to smaller nonprofit organizations. More Resources:Graham’s LinkedIn The Visa Foundation Visa’s investment in Africa Grant to the Center for Black Entrepreneurship If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at nonprofitleadershippodcast@gmail.comTo be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/ This podcast episode is sponsored by:

Some people will use the phrase “the great resignation” to describe current employment trends, while others will use the phrase, “the great reshuffle.” Regardless which phrases are being used, the current trends are impacting us all. Rob’s guest today is Don Howard and he argues that there is not a worker shortage, but a quality jobs shortage.  Don Howard, President & CEO, The James Irvine Foundation Don is the President and CEO of The James Irvine Foundation, in California. The James Irvine Foundation is a private, nonprofit grantmaking foundation dedicated to expanding opportunity for the people of California. Their goal is to ensure that every low income worker in California has the power to advance economically.  Don explains that there is a shortage of quality jobs and he describes what a quality job is. While he believes there is a shortage of quality jobs, he is optimistic things will improve as more and more employers recognize the need to improve the jobs they are offering. Don also explains the reasons why workers have been languishing over their jobs for many years, and he shares the various ways philanthropy can play a role in making equitable prosperity obtainable for low paid workers. Don shares success stories of California communities with improved inclusive economic development and the role nonprofits played in achieving that. Don also describes the biggest challenges facing the nonprofit sector and what needs to be done to overcome them. Finally, he offers words of encouragement directed to both funders and nonprofit leaders. Mentioned:The James Irvine FoundationThe Nonprofit Starvation Cycle Links to Resources: If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at nonprofitleadershippodcast@gmail.comTo be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/ This Episode is sponsored by: Heller Consulting 

Community foundations play an important role in the geographic regions they offer support. Today’s guest, Joel Zarrow, helps us to further understand the purpose of a community foundation and how community foundations offer resources and tools to help nonprofits accomplish their mission. Joel is the President and CEO of Park City Community Foundation in Park City, Utah. The Park City Community Foundation helps nonprofits to thrive, grows community initiatives that address unmet issues, partners with donors who want to create positive change, and convenes the community to facilitate collaboration. Joel Zarrow, President and CEO of Park City Community Foundation Joel explains the two main roles that most community foundations focus on and shares how his community foundation is different compared to others. He also describes the difference between donor advised funds through community foundations versus those with large financial institutions. Joel shares an inspiring example of a successful collaboration between the Park City Community Foundation, nonprofits, and for-profit companies. He believes it is important for community foundations and nonprofit organizations to have a close relationship and he explains what an ideal relationship would entail. Joel explains the problems with restrictive donations and the types of reports nonprofits are expected to make. Finally, he shares what he is most looking forward to in 2023. Mentioned: Park City Community Foundation Joel’s Email: joel@parkcitycf.org  Links to Resources: If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at nonprofitleadershippodcast@gmail.comTo be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/If you have any suggestions for the show, email nonprofitleadershippodcast@gmail.com This Podcast is sponsored by:

Improving the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) of your organization in terms of recruiting, is becoming increasingly important for both nonprofits and for-profit companies. While this has become an important mission for organizations, it is not necessarily an easy process. Today’s guest, Matt Wilkerson, explains how his company is helping nonprofits and Fortune 500 companies to find qualified candidates from underrepresented populations. Matt is the Co-founder and CEO of Paragon One. Paragon One unites the worlds of education and workforce together, through externship programs. Paragon One uses the power of technology to collaborate with organizations, to provide flexible remote externships that help students gain hands-on work experience in different industries before they graduate. Matt Wilkerson, Co-founder & CEO of Paragon One Matt explains what inspired the mission of Paragon One and their goal of leveraging technology in a way that benefits students and companies. He describes the problems with traditional internships and how their approach offers a great ROI to companies while also providing real world opportunities to students from all over the world. Matt explains how Paragon One is able to reach underrepresented students. He also highlights the benefits to the students in the programs and shares some success stories from the externs. Matt outlines Paragon One’s three core value propositions and also shares how his company gets their funding. Finally, he believes that nonprofit organizations need to keep human connection at the heart of everything. This episode is sponsored by Paragon One Mentioned:Connect with Matt on LinkedIn Matt’s Email: matt@paragonone.com Links to Resources: If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at nonprofitleadershippodcast@gmail.comTo be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/If you have any suggestions for the show, email nonprofitleadershippodcast@gmail.com This Podcast is sponsored by:

Amazon is not just a place full of great products to purchase and movies to stream, but the company is also making a social impact. Rob’s guest, Allyson Fryhoff, explains how Amazon Web Services is providing tools to nonprofits, helping them to go further and faster.  Allyson Fryhoff, is the Managing Director of Nonprofit and Nonprofit Health at Amazon Web Services. Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the world’s most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud platform. AWS provides cloud solutions to nonprofits, that can help with fundraising, donor engagement and donor retention. Allyson Fryhoff, Managing Director of Nonprofit and Nonprofit Health at Amazon Web Services Allyson explains how their new program, Tech Action, is supporting nonprofits in building fundraising, growing donations, and improving member engagement. Allyson believes nonprofits need to effectively connect and communicate with donors, and she shares how the Tech Action program is helping with these and other fundraising efforts. She explains how AWS can help organizations collect donor data and simplify it into visual systems so nonprofit leaders can make faster and better decisions. Allyson also shares how the use of these ‘high tech’ tools can actually help provide nonprofit leaders more time to invest in ‘high touch’ relationships with donors while also helping them to scale. Finally, she provides information about the Imagine Grant Program that AWS offers to 501c3 organizations.  Mentioned: AWS for Nonprofits AWS IMAGINE GrantAWS IMAGINE: NONPROFIT ConferenceAWS Solutions Library for Nonprofits (posts relevant to nonprofits)Five Ways nonprofits can reduce the burden associated with fundraising activities  AWS Marketplace for Nonprofits Allyson’s LinkedIn Links to Resources: If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at nonprofitleadershippodcast@gmail.comTo be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/If you have any suggestions for the show, email nonprofitleadershippodcast@gmail.com Podcast Sponsors:

Steve Creech, President of the Wyland Foundation Most in the nonprofit sector are passionate about affecting change with a particular issue in the world. Having a singular, focused mission in one’s organization is critical to having sustained impact and to avoid mission drift. Today’s guest, Steve Creech, explains how his nonprofit has been able to establish and maintain a clear focus that has led to sustained growth. Steve says the mission of your organization needs to be the “North Star”, just as many of us have a personal “North Star” that gives us direction. Rob’s guest, Steve Creech, is the President of the Wyland Foundation. The Wyland Foundation is dedicated to promoting, protecting, and preserving the world’s ocean, waterways, and marine life. The foundation encourages environmental awareness through education programs, public arts projects, and community events. Steve tells us how the Wyland Foundation started and gives advice on how to create sustainable organizational growth. He explains a common obstacle organizations must overcome and why nonprofits must get others to care about their important mission as well. Steve goes on to share how his nonprofit started a fun competition across the United States that is having a positive impact on environmental change. Steve admits that establishing a clear mission throughout an organization is a long process, but it is worth it. Finally, he explains the best way to establish a brand footprint and how that clarity can positively impact a nonprofit’s finances. Mentioned: Wyland Foundation info@wylandfoundation.org Links to Resources:If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at Nonprofitleadershippodcast@gmail.comTo be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/If you have any suggestions for the show, email nonprofitleadershippodcast@gmail.com

Our world continues to change in so many areas, particularly in regards to technology, and specifically, smart tech. Smart tech is not just changing how we use technology, but it’s actually changing the way people make decisions.  Rob’s guests today are Beth Kanter and Allison Fine, co-authors of the upcoming book entitled The Smart Nonprofit. They point out that smart tech and other advanced digital technologies are actually now making decisions for people instead of just being used by people. And that’s why they claim that this is not just a tech evolution, but a revolutionary shift in moving power away from people and towards tech. Allison Fine, co-author of The Smart Nonprofit Beth Kanter, co-author of The Smart Nonprofit Allison and Beth address what smart tech is and what it is not, and why smart automation is so revolutionary. They discuss how nonprofits can use technology in an ethically responsible way and how to avoid using racist smart tech with embedded bias. They also share why the key message of their book is about being human centered and why nonprofits should use automation and technology to encourage innovative thinking in order to have a bigger impact. They explain how smart tech allows nonprofits to shift from being transactional to being relational and why strong leadership is really the key to implementation. They give tips for finding technology that aligns with your values and why it’s time to turn the page on frantic busyness. Finally, they share some of the most important steps organizations should take today in order to become a smart nonprofit. #ICYMI #FromTheArchives This episode previously aired. Links to Resources: The Smart Nonprofit: Staying Human-Centered in An Automated World  https://www.amazon.com/Smart-Nonprofit-Staying-Human-Centered-Automated/dp/1119818125/ Beth Kanter – https://bethkanter.org/ Allison Fine – https://www.allisonfine.com/ If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at nonprofitleadershippodcast@gmail.com To be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/