Nonprofit Leadership Podcast

Racial equality and social justice are nothing new however they have become one of the most prominent conversations we are having now when it comes to nonprofit leadership and growth. *Note: This episode is from the archives* #ICYMI Rob’s guest today is Kishshana Palmer, CEO of Kishshana + Co., and founder of The Rooted Collaborative. She is a national speaker, trainer, and coach with a 17 year background in fundraising, marketing, and talent management. Kishshana’s first management experience was at 22 years old, right after grad school, when she was challenged to lead a team of 12 and had a million dollar budget.  Kishshana Palmer, CEO of Kishshana + Co., and founder of The Rooted Collaborative Kishshana explains why all nonprofits are avenues for social justice, and why more groups must dig deeper into their diversity and inclusion practices if they really want change and growth to occur. She believes organizations should focus on investing in the talent, time, and treasure of its team members, and details how employee satisfaction surveys can really paint a picture of where work is needed within an organization in order to continue fostering a healthy culture. Kishshana wants more leaders to recognize it’s time to change the way things are done because times are indeed changing, and our young people are living proof this movement for change. Links to Resources: Kishshana + Co: Website | Facebook | Instagram |  Kish Camp for Managers *Note: This episode previously aired. Enjoy this re-posting in case you missed it. #FromTheArchives If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at rob@ccofpc.org To be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/

Recruiters across the country have been feeling the pressure of the “great reshuffle” since COVID. They are relying on their existing networks to find talent quickly. Unfortunately, many recent college graduates have been left behind in this process without a recruiter or the right network, which too often means those from underrepresented communities, especially as Generation Z enters the workforce as the most diverse population in American history. That is why it is even more critical that they receive the appropriate assistance and mentoring opportunities in order to find their next job. Kalani Leifer — Founder & CEO of COOP Careers Rob’s guest today is Kalani Leifer — Founder & CEO of COOP Careers. COOP Careers is a nonprofit organization that offers a program focused on digital skills and peer connections to help low-income and first-generation college graduates overcome the barriers they face while finding gainful employment. Kalani assesses the current job market, focusing on Gen Z, and sheds light on nepotism in hiring and the phenomenon of young employees recommending their friends, neighbors, and schoolmates. He examines the barriers and challenges that Gen Z graduates, particularly those from underrepresented communities, experience when seeking employment. He discusses the changes students are experiencing in college, how that will affect them when they graduate and enter the job market, and the role Gen Z will play in the current job market and unemployment issues. Furthermore, he also shares the journey of COOP Careers, including why and how it began, the organization’s core objective, his plans for the organization, as well as the fundraising model of the organization. Finally, he discusses the differences in working styles that he has experienced between Millenials and Gen Z, what Gen Z looks for in an organization before joining, as well as some ideas for establishing a strong culture that attracts new talent. Links to Resources: COOP Careers – https://coopcareers.org/  If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at rob@ccofpc.orgTo be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/ This podcast is sponsored by Arts Midwest

For years, one of the most effective ways a nonprofit could raise money was through large in-person fundraising events. However, fast forward to 2020, when COVID literally put the brakes on all large in-person events for a significant period of time. Then, even when restaurants and schools and other public places began reopening, for many people the idea of getting together with a big group of people inside a hotel conference center was just something they were not ready to do. If you’re a nonprofit development director in particular or an executive director who depends on these large in-person events, what are you to do? What are the trend lines? Are larger fundraising events back? Are they going to ever come back? Rob’s guest today is Adam Christing, who has served as the emcee for hundreds of fundraising events all across the country, from galleries to dinners to charity concerts and luncheons. Adam believes that large in person events are back and back in a big way.    Adam Christing Adam shares how more nonprofits are reconnecting with their donors and partners in person, the benefits and drawbacks of hybrid events, and why he urges people to go for live experiences. He touches on six key components of effective fundraising events using the acronym MASTER: M-emcee, A-attendee experience, S-speaker(s), T-transformational stories, E-empowering givers, R-repeat the event. He explains the power of helping attendees shift from transactional to transformational giving and why donors must have an experience that touches their heart. Adam also gives tips for selecting a speaker aligned with your organization’s mission, how to prep speakers to make the  fundraising event as successful as possible, and why transformational stories should address both the pain and the prescription (or help) received from the organization. He encourages nonprofits to let donors share how they feel when they give, because generous giving is contagious. He also discusses the current state of fundraising and why it’s necessary to distinguish between projects and partners. He will delve into the importance of cultivating long term relationships with donors and development reps, and why it’s time to put the fun back in fundraising. Finally, he emphasizes that effective fundraising events require time and planning, they are held at a great venue, and provide attendees an experience that not only allows them to impact other people’s lives, but have their own lives touched as well. Links to Resources: Adam Christing – https://adamchristing.com/ If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at rob@ccofpc.orgTo be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/ This podcast is sponsored by Arts Midwest

Nonprofit mergers are a trend that is increasing more and more, especially since COVID first started. Are mergers the wave of the future? Although that remains to be seen, many nonprofits are merging more now than ever, especially ones established in an area where there is more than one nonprofit doing very similar work. It’s becoming more apparent that lone nonprofits may benefit from joining forces in order to better serve their community. Rob’s guest today is Paul Bancroft, the Executive Director of the Sierra Community House, a nonprofit organization that resulted from four nonprofits taking their collaborative relationship to the next level by merging together into one common mission. The four organizations that merged were two different family resource centers, a domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse organization, and a hunger relief organization.         Paul Bancroft, Executive Director of the Sierra Community House Paul explains how and why the four nonprofits merged and their intention around creating a fifth organization to serve the community at a much higher and much deeper level. He addresses resource challenges and the need for a more robust administrative team, along with the benefit of being able to mobilize across a greater organization during COVID. He shares how they’ve fostered unity in their new organization by forming committees across all programs along with leadership teams focused on embracing a larger mission and talking through issues as they arise. Paul discusses the surprising positive impacts of the merger in regards to donations and the importance of education to cultivate donors. He breaks down their biggest challenges of finding affordable housing for the local community, access to mental health services, especially for Spanish speakers, as well as access to services often hindered by inclement weather. He touches on drawbacks of the merger and why it’s always necessary to acknowledge the identity loss experienced in each organization. However, he emphasizes that the merger has allowed for better, more comprehensive services and increased their ability to serve more people. Finally, he encourages executive directors interested in a merger to leave egos at the door, focus on how to best serve their staff and community, and to approach conversations from an abundance mindset.          Links to Resources: Sierra Community House – https://sierracommunityhouse.org/ Paul Bancroft – pbancroft@sierracommunityhouse.org If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at rob@ccofpc.orgTo be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/ This podcast is sponsored by Arts Midwest

Donors don’t give to organizations, they give to people. Fundraising at its core is relationship building. When a donor gives to your organization, they’re giving because there’s a relationship with someone in your organization that has prompted them to give, and the stronger that relationship is, the more that donor will give and the more comfortable they are with increasing their giving over time. Rob’s guest today is Karen Marriott. Not only does she personally invest in several nonprofits locally, but she’s also a trustee with the Marriott Daughters Foundation. Karen was raised within a family who has an inspiring legacy of philanthropy, one that continues to shape how and where she gives today.      Karen Marriott, Marriot Daughters Foundation Karen shares details about the Marriott Daughters Foundation and how her family’s history of philanthropy is based on their passions, interests, and supporting local communities. She explains how COVID shifted her priorities around giving and how maintaining relationships with donors is crucial for organizations, especially when immediate needs are difficult to meet. She addresses the benefits of unrestricted gifts and whether unrestricted gifts are a crisis response because of COVID or a trend that will continue to grow. Karen discusses how nonprofits can build relationships of trust by providing data that shows their impact, keeping communication with donors open throughout the year not just when money is needed, and by sharing their challenges along with their successes. Karen also shares the areas of need that other foundations are noticing and why it’s time to dig into local communities to truly understand what work is most necessary. Finally, she explains how her father is the leader who has shaped her the most and why she believes “Where much is given, much is expected in return”.                 Links to Resources: Marriott Daughters Foundation – https://marriottdaughtersfoundation.org/ If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at rob@ccofpc.org To be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/ This podcast is sponsored by Arts Midwest

Previous episodes on achieving a healthy work-life balance discussed the importance of setting a pace and seeing your life as a movie. This is the final installment on this topic, and it focuses on workplace inclusiveness. Yes, maintaining a healthy work-life balance in your organization is linked to the issue of inclusion. Numerous authors and nonprofit executives have recently pointed this out when they have highlighted an unspoken narrative in many organizations which rarely includes inclusivity when it comes to this issue of establishing a work-life balance. To put it another way, the issue of developing a work-life balance in one’s organization can often disproportionately affect black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC community). It could be due to economic inequalities, family demands, educational disparities, etc.  Whatever the exact challenges are for your staff, take proactive steps to address the issue of inclusion by employing an inclusive lens and listening to the perspectives of those who are underrepresented in your organization. The ultimate result will benefit not only those traditionally underrepresented in your company but will also benefit your entire organization. Links to Resources: Forbes article: Is A Healthy Work Life Balance Possible? https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesnonprofitcouncil/2021/05/11/is-a-healthy-work-life-balance-possible/?sh=6cd081c44472 If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at rob@ccofpc.org To be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/

Have you watched the film Poverty, Inc.? If you haven’t watched the film, it’s worth viewing, even if you disagree with it’s premise or conclusions. This film raises important questions about how anti-poverty initiatives can often have unintended consequences, which then can create greater dependency rather than truly empowering people, local communities, and local economies to improve their situation. Rob’s guest is part of an international organization that really strives to empower both the people they are serving and the local economy within which they’re serving.  Josh Martin, US Development Director for ADES Rob’s guest today is Josh Martin. He is the US Development Director for ADES, an international nonprofit based in Switzerland that produces energy efficient stoves in Madagascar and encourages the reuse of renewable energy by saving large quantities of wood and charcoal. ADES is helping to protect the environment while tackling poverty at the same time.  Josh shares how ADES first started and its holistic approach to environmental education and restoration. He explains their focus on providing stoves and the training given to those who receive the stoves. He breaks down ADES’ impact over the past 20 years and how they have drastically reduced carbon emissions by using solar energy. Additionally, through their work, they have saved local families time, money, and energy. He addresses how ADES continues to help the people they serve by providing jobs to over 200 employees based in Madagascar, both in the surrounding rural and urban areas. Josh also shares why ADES has no plans to expand beyond Madagascar at this point. He sheds light on the impact COVID has had on ADES, along with how they’ve been able to successfully navigate through “destructive” stress that the last two years have brought. They have also been very successful with hiring local Malagasy people for middle management positions. He discusses why achieving “wins” as an organization is incredibly important to nonprofits. Finally, he shares the biggest challenges facing ADES and why maintaining partnerships is key to sustaining their work in Madagascar.           Links to Resources: ADES – https://ades-solaire.org/ Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/ADESolaire/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/ades4madagascar/ If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at rob@ccofpc.orgTo be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/ This podcast is sponsored by Arts Midwest

Do you know why you do what you do? This is one of the most important questions you can ask yourself and your team. Many people are familiar with Simon Sinek’s well-known TED talk entitled “Find Your Why” and it’s worth watching if you haven’t already. Along this same theme, another recommendation Rob has for nonprofit leaders is to check out a new book called 40 Laws of Nonprofit Impact, which is written by Rob’s guest today, Derik Timmerman. In his book, Derik spells out 40 key laws that will help you become more successful as a nonprofit leader.     Derik Timmerman, founder of Sparrow Nonprofit Solutions Rob’s guest today is Derik Timmerman, founder of Sparrow Nonprofit Solutions, a nationwide consulting firm helping nonprofits maximize their world-changing impact. In addition to coaching nonprofit professionals at all levels and prior to founding Sparrow, Derik was a management consultant at McKinsey and Company and a US Army Intelligence Officer with two combat deployments to Iraq. Derik shares his background and how his first volunteering experience after high school was the catalyst for his nonprofit journey. He explains why he believes Martin Luther King, Jr’s “Letter From Birmingham Jail” should be required reading for every nonprofit leader. He emphasizes why situational clarity is crucial for the success of nonprofits and sheds light on the three parts of a winning mission statement: core action, core object, and differentiator. He also shares why it’s important for organizations to define their fundamental unit of impact. He goes on to point out how trust is the currency of nonprofit leadership and what it means for leaders to have both a vulnerable generosity and a generous vulnerability. Derik discusses how nonprofits can get better at building their team and culture by focusing on building with a community versus for them. On the same note, he explains how a ‘surprise and delight’ approach allows organizations to be culturally sensitive and affirming at the same time. He breaks down how following a ‘lean’ methodology lets nonprofits know how to measure their impact and understand the “eight wastes” to eliminate as an organization. Finally, he shares why he believes the biggest challenges facing the nonprofit sector is accountability and creating a larger, world-changing impact.       This episode is sponsored by Sparrow Nonprofit Solutions. Links to Resources: Derik Timmerman – Derik@sparrowns.com If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at rob@ccofpc.org To be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/ This podcast is sponsored Arts Midwest

The great resignation is a very real thing and it’s impacting all of us. Nonprofits are feeling the pressure of staying competitive to keep their people. They are also scrambling to adjust to the reality of having staff who are leaving for better paying jobs. There are some who are starting to believe that the nonprofit sector can’t compete with the for-profit sector when it comes to salary, wages and benefits, and think the nonprofit sector will simply need to resign to the fact that they will have to settle for mediocrity. However, Rob’s guest believes strongly that nonprofits should never have to settle for mediocrity.  Evan Feinberg, executive director of the Stand Together Foundation Rob’s guest today is Evan Feinberg, the executive director of the Stand Together Foundation. Stand Together is a nonprofit that seeks to help create both strong and safe communities where all people can learn, contribute and realize their full potential.       Evan addresses how nonprofits don’t need to settle for mediocrity because nonprofits are one of the fastest growing sectors and are raising more money than ever. He explains why competitive wages and salaries are necessary to attract good talent along with the necessity of investing in good leadership. He discusses why nonprofits must build cultures of empowerment, not only in society, but within their organizations to help employees feel fulfilled and gain employees’ trust. He shares how the nonprofit sector needs a dynamic social economy of taking risks to foster innovation. Nonprofits also need to find better ways to solve problems by investing in talent rather than just seeking to lower admin costs. Evan explains the importance of viewing donors as investors and helping them believe in the transformative experience of the people your organization serves. He shares examples of organizations that have successfully continued to innovate and motivate their staff while keeping their core values intact. Finally, he discusses the major challenges the nonprofit sector is currently facing such as finding the right leaders, reducing loss by creating human-centered measures of customer value, and changing incentives to make fundraising easier. This episode is sponsored by the Stand Together Foundation.      Links to Resources: Stand Together Foundation: https://standtogetherfoundation.org/ If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at rob@ccofpc.orgTo be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/ This podcast is sponsored by Arts Midwest

Whether you are an executive director, CEO, board member, or staff member of a nonprofit, it’s important that everyone works to grow the organization, while at the same time preserving the core of its mission. Likewise, it’s crucial to avoid completely changing the organization’s mission just to chase growth.   Rob’s guest today is Dr. Marc Harrison, the president and CEO of Intermountain Healthcare. He’s also a pediatric critical care physician with a proven track record as a top operations executive on a global scale. He is nationally and internationally known as a thought leader on transformation and innovation, and ranked in Fortune’s Top 50 World’s Greatest Leaders in 2019. Dr. Harrison currently leads Intermountain’s 59,000 employees they call caregivers, to reimagine operations and ways to keep people and communities healthier.   Dr. Marc Harrison, president and CEO of Intermountain Healthcare Marc addresses trends he’s witnessed around the pandemic and how COVID has catalyzed businesses in the nonprofit sector both for good and for bad. He shares how Intermountain has preserved the core of its mission while simultaneously stimulating progress by being careful stewards of the resources they have been given. He breaks down how he’s navigated some of his most challenging leadership decisions by constantly reiterating his rationale and purpose, and keeping his actions consistent with his words. He also discusses two leaders who’ve shaped his leadership style. He further explains how organizations can create a healthy culture to attract the right kind of talent and new talent by creating an environment where people can independently make choices and share ideas. He shares how leadership happens at different levels throughout the organization and how choosing people who can manage a transformation revolves around listening to and utilizing front line workers. Marc addresses how he’s building collaboration with the Utah Alliance for the Determinants of Health and how its revenue model focuses on keeping people well, not just taking care of them when they’re sick. Finally, he shares why leaders must understand what their core mission is and why they must make sure that their time, energy, words and passion are all well aligned to bring about positive social change.                     Links to Resources: Intermountain Healthcare – https://intermountainhealthcare.org/ Marc Harrison LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcharrisonmd Twitter – https://twitter.com/marcharrisonmd Healthier Futures Podcast – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-healthier-future/id1612299596 If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at rob@ccofpc.orgTo be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/ This podcast is sponsored by Arts Midwest.