Nonprofit Leadership Podcast

When it comes to sustaining long-term success for nonprofits, planned giving is a critical component. Designating nonprofits in your will is one of the best things that you can leave behind, and Rob’s guest today, Patrick Schmitt, is making it easier than ever. Patrick, along with Jenny Xia Spradling, co-founded FreeWill, a company created to help you write your will and provide guidance on where you want your money to go after you die. It’s their goal to make estate planning warm, accessible, and completely free. Patrick Schmitt and Jenny Xia, Co-Founders of FreeWill FreeWill is an award-winning social venture founded by these two graduate students of Stanford University in 2016, with the help and support of many of the world’s leading experts in law, design, and philanthropy. It is an online platform that makes estate planning incredibly easy for individuals. Whilst many will prefer to do so through https://www.essaylibrown.com/ and similar services, this opens up the market for those who may not normally make use of such services. When people plan their estate through FreeWill, they are six times more likely to leave money for charities and nonprofits. Through partnering with nonprofits, FreeWill can help make custom websites and avenues to donate. Through careful planning and an environment of giving, FreeWill has already helped donate almost $1 billion to nonprofits and charities. When people near the end of their lives or even when they hit retirement age, some will want to contribute to charities that they feel passionate about but were not able to previously give much to them. The right retirement plan can help you out with what you want out of your retirement income and how you want to handle it when the time comes, checking out sites such as SoFi will be of great benefit to those who need to make that decision at any age. Links to Resources:See how you can make a difference after you go with FreeWill! Connect with Patrick on LinkedIn! If you have questions or want to be on the show, email Rob at: rob@ccofpc.org To be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/

Mission creep can happen to the best of nonprofit organizations. In particular, when nonprofits are seeking funding, the risk of mission creep becomes higher. How do we as nonprofit leaders avoid mission creep, in particular when nonprofits work with government agencies. Author Liana Downey is my guest on this week’s Podcast and she will address this critical question. Liana is an internationally acclaimed strategic advisor dedicated to creating social change. As executive director of Liana Downey & Associates, Downey leads a high performing global team that helps visionary social leaders and organizations increase focus and change lives. In this episode she explains how nonprofits and government agencies can work together more effectively, without experiencing mission creep. Her book is “Mission Control”. Enjoy today’s show. The Nonprofit Leadership Podcast is sponsored by Cinch and CCPC.

David Rivel, CEO of The Jewish Board Running the largest social services nonprofit organization in the largest city in the United States is incredibly rewarding, but it is no walk in the park. David Rivel is the CEO of The Jewish Board, a nonprofit organization that provides mental health and social services to some of New York’s most at-risk residents. As government funding has changed the way that human services are paid, David has been presented with challenges to take The Jewish Board in new directions. Just 4 years ago, The Jewish Board absorbed about 9,000 clients at 22 locations, along with 800 new staff members from one of New York City’s largest social services organizations, following its collapse. This move would vault The Jewish Board into New York City’s top spot as the largest social services organization. The Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services, or The Jewish Board, aims to help people facing unique challenges in three main categories, those with mental health issues, people who have been neglected, and those born with severe intellectual and developmental disabilities. For all three populations, The Jewish Board provides both residential and community-based services. Most of their funding comes from government contracts at both the local and federal levels while raising about $16 million a year on their own. When David came in, he immediately began to work building up the amount of fundraising for the organization following the stock market crash of 2008. From that challenging time, he was able to bring The Jewish Board from a middle-tier nonprofit to New York City’s largest. Enjoy today’s show. Links to Resources:Find out more about The Jewish Board and help make a difference today!Join the conversation on Facebook and InstagramIf you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at nonprofitleadershippodcast@gmail.com

Ivan Gomez, Head of Marketing, Innovation, and Research at World Vision There is nothing scarier in this world than change, because what we are often most afraid of is the unknown. How do you summon the organizational courage to bring about change in light of this? Today’s guest answers this question and explains why this $2 billion dollar nonprofit chose to dramatically change the most important program they had. Rob’s guest today is Ivan Gomez. Ivan is the Head of Marketing, Innovation, and Research at World Vision, a nonprofit organization that focuses on humanitarian aid, development, and advocacy. World Vision is active in nearly 100 countries with a total revenue of more than $2 billion. They recently decided to turn everything around in their successful child sponsorship program. Instead of sponsors choosing a child, the child now gets the opportunity to choose their sponsor. This emerged, in part, out of the desire World Vision had to further empower those in extreme poverty. Making a massive change like this comes with many challenges from a marketing standpoint and Ivan’s here to tell you how they are navigating those obstacles. World Vision started out of the struggles of children and refugees that were impacted by the Korean War. Throughout the years, World Vision has been at the forefront of the largest crises around the world, from the Vietnam War to the AIDS crisis. Working alongside these shattered communities, they work to assist people in pulling themselves out of poverty. Their goal is to identify and address the sources of poverty within each community in order to stop these problems at the source. Links to Resources:Make a difference at: https://www.worldvision.org/Keep up with World Vision on Instagram! If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at: rob@ccofpc.org

Unfortunately, cancer is something that impacts each and every one of us, whether it be through your parents, siblings, friends, etc.  Lori Kun, Head of Social Impact at Qualtrics Qualtrics is a company founded in the wake of a man discovering that he had cancer. What originally started in the basement of a home in Utah now is one of the most established tech companies today. Qualtrics is an experience management company that utilizes surveys and feedback software to close the experience gap in order to provide data-informed results. What’s really amazing about this company is that they have been able to make social impact a part of their DNA, specifically in the area of cancer research. When it comes to making an impact on the world, it is necessary to dream big dreams. Rob’s guest today is Lori Morency Kun, the Head of Social Impact at Qualtrics. In her position, Lori has devoted her career to cancer research. People in today’s world want to have a positive impact on the world just as much as they want to make money. Laurie thinks it is important for people to be involved, especially as employees. That’s why at Qualtrics it is important to make sure that everyone has their opportunity to make a difference in what they are passionate about. Through this goal, they are able to measure and ultimately improve employee experience in order to make a positive cultural impact while also improving revenue. Many believe that cancer is the disease of our generation, and Qualtrics wants to make sure that we are the generation that finally cures it. Links to Resources:5 For The Fight If you want to find out more about Qualtrics, go to https://www.qualtrics.com Keep up with Lori on Twitter! If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at: rob@ccofpc.org

How can we as individuals and a society help break down the systemic barriers that keep different economic and social groups in a cycle of stress and poverty? Laura Zumdahl, President and CEO of New Moms Rob’s guest today, Laura Zumdahl, heads an organization that focuses on serving new moms. She is the president and CEO of New Moms, a Nonprofit in Chicago that helps young mothers and their children find safe and stable housing, paths to employment, and develop the parenting skills that they need to thrive and survive for both them and their children. New Moms’ ultimate goal is to interrupt the cycle of poverty and hardship in which many young mothers find themselves. These women often need mentors to help show them the dreams that they can’t perhaps see on their own. There may be no more important group of people in our societies than mothers. They yield so much influence in our lives and help determine how so many of us turn out as human beings. Supporting young mothers in those critical childhood years can not only help mothers through a very stressful time but also helps young children develop in a healthy way. New Moms helps put these young mothers in the driver’s seat of their own lives, through goal setting and leadership training. Links to Resources: New Moms  Bright Endeavors If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at: rob@ccofpc.org

Ami Dar, Founder and Executive Director of Idealist.org Rob truly believes that inside each and every one of us, there is a desire to make the world a better place. The only question is, how do we make our impact? Rob’s guest today, Ami Dar, didn’t stop at that question. He also sought to figure out a way to bring others together who also wanted to do good. Creating future leaders for positive change is Ami’s biggest mission. He has been influenced and shaped as a leader throughout his life by various people and experiences, such as his wonderful mother and his time in the military. Ami understands that in order to change this world and really make an impact, you have to connect to others with a similar mindset and you must be willing to take risks.  Ami is the founder and executive director of Idealist.org, one of the most popular non-profit resources online. Idealist.org is a site that is focused on the interaction of those who want to make a difference from all over the world. He believes that by connecting people that want to do good with ideas and opportunities around the world, each individual can make their impact. Closing the gap between intention and action will change the world, one person at a time. Links to Resources:Doctors Without BordersAshoka Fellowship To connect with other difference makers and make your impact, visit Idealist.orgIf you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at: rob@ccofpc.org

There are so many challenges in our world today, whether they be economic, social, political, or otherwise. Additionally, there is a growing divisiveness in our own culture today. So what are we to do with our divisive environment? My guest on the show believes it starts from within. My guest is Tim Shriver, who has been both CEO and Chairman of the Special Olympics for 25 years. Tim Shriver, Chairman of Special Olympics, Inc. He works to promote health, education, and a more unified world through the joy of sports. Tim’s mother Eunice Kennedy Shriver started the Special Olympics in 1968, and he will talk about what prompted her to first start the Special Olympics. He currently leads the International Board of Directors for the Special Olympics and serves together with over 5.6 million Special Olympics athletes in 172 countries. He serves on several well-known boards, has written a NY Times best selling book and produced 4 films. The Special Olympics has created so many moments that bring people face-to-face with those with disabilities. These moments are not always quantifiable or measurable, but they have certainly changed millions of people’s lives for the better all over the world. In order to overcome this divisiveness in today’s culture, leaders must push for people to keep their hearts open. The ability to lead by example through showing acceptance is a superpower of all great leaders. With our hearts open, we can learn to accept anyone, no matter what their disability. There are beautiful things in all of us that are capable of shining a light of acceptance, and through that light, lead others to open up their hearts too and eventually change the world. Links to Resources: Find out more about the Special Olympics at specialolympics.org This show is sponsored by CCPC, a humanitarian, community resource center, helping to meet people at their point of need. If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at: rob@ccofpc.org

What is adversity if not someone’s attempt to write our story for us? How do you break out of the story that someone has attempted to write about you in order to write your own story? My guest today is Flip Flippen, founder and chairman of Flippen Group, one of the fastest-growing educator training, corporate training, and team development companies in North America. Flip has spent the majority of his life investing in people, whether that be through the Flippen Group or his non-profit work with troubled youths. He is the author of the New York Times and USA Today bestseller, Your Third Story, where he shares how you can write the story that you want for your life, rather than having someone else dictate your chapters. You can’t build anything worthwhile if you don’t do it at a personal sacrifice. When you are building any company or just going through life, there are certain setbacks and obstacles that you are bound to face during your journey that test who you are as a person. It is vital that you are surrounded by the right people to help you or your company through the unique constraints that await you. When you’re faced with these challenges, you can either be a victim or find your way through adversity and make something beautiful out of it. It is in these moments that we unknowingly write our own stories, instead of allowing someone else to do it for us. We can’t let our fears dictate our future decisions. Enjoy the show! Links to Resources: Flippen Group Your Third Story Follow Flip on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook! If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at: rob@ccofpc.org

Jill Violet – courtesy of James Irvine Foundation How many of you remember recess as being your highlight of the day back in elementary school? Would you be surprised to learn that in the last decade, nearly half of all school districts nationwide have either completely eliminated or reduced specific time for recess. Even though more rigorous academic standards and measurements typically dominate the headlines when it comes to our children’s educational future, the importance of playtime continues to be a critical, yet often neglected, aspect of our developmental and educational growth. Research has shown that students who play develop healthier lifestyles, are more attentive in class, and achieve greater academic, social, and emotional success.  For over 20 years, the nonprofit organization Playworks has been the leading national nonprofit leveraging the power of play to transform children’s social and emotional health. My guest today is Jill Vialet, Founder and CEO of Playworks, the leading national nonprofit leveraging the power of play in America’s schools today.