The Nonprofit Podcast

Send us a textAren’t dreams of the future what youth should be about?  Shareen Baptiste thinks so, so when she realized high school girls didn’t have the confidence to do this, she stepped right up.  Today she talks to Jena Lynch about the 5-year journey she and her Dream On Purpose co-founder Joanne Karagnara have been on since that moment, promoting informed, safe and healthy choices that strengthen parental relationships and serve as a connector to higher education and scholarship opportunities. Between elementary and high schools young girls’ self-esteem drops 3.5 times more than boys!  Dream On Purpose, a Florida-based nonprofit empowers American girls 18 and younger, to actualize their dreams through interactive workshops, local resources, and socialization in structured forums.  Support the show

Send us a textHome is where the heart is, but for an increasing amount of people a home of their own is just a dream.  Affordable housing is a challenge in most communities, without the work and support of organizations that support low-income families, a great many would never be able to own their homes.Heidi Bianco sat down with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sacramento to discuss how they are impacting the lives of hundreds of families by building homes, communities, and hope.  Laine shares how this organization and its really committed group of volunteers build community, hope, and a future - not just houses.Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sacramento is dedicated to eliminating substandard housing locally and worldwide through constructing, rehabilitating, and preserving homes; advocating for fair and just housing policies, and providing training and access to resources to help families improve their shelter conditions.https://habitatgreatersac.orgLaine Himmelmann | LinkedInSupport the show

Send us a textIt is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men…Frederick Douglass may have spoken directly to JosiahKids founder and Chair Marlene Maina, when he said these words.JosiahKids is a nontraditional young leadership school committed to the mission of raising the next generation of service-minded leaders. From September through May, on the first and third Saturdays of the month, JosiahKids hosts a myriad of educational classes and events that include quality guest speakers, community service events, panel discussions, educational workshops, and leadership classes in a faith-based environment for young people between the ages of seven and 17.Educate, empower, equip! Strong and powerful words to live by, building strong and powerful leaders for tomorrow.  This is a remarkable interview, deeply moving, entirely motivational…Marlene has applied her life lessons, her heart, and soul to building a safe, community-led space that is making a difference, in the lives of our children, our future leaders.  Support the show

Send us a textThis week The Nonprofit Podcast gets to grips with running a lean nonprofit team in challenging times.  Jena sits down with Dr Linda Prieto, Executive Director of Upward Scholars, and Bertha Sanchez, a recent graduate on a remarkable upward trajectory! Upward Scholars is a Latinx-led organization that provides adult immigrants the boost they need to move up the economic ladder through education and career development support.Many immigrants that arrive in the US do not come with education and economic privilege. Upward Scholars is the only 501(c)(3) nonprofit in the Bay Area, California providing financial, academic, and career development support to adults struggling with economic hardship. As a result of their programs, students continue their education, get higher-paying jobs, and serve as role models and advocates for their children and community. Upward Scholars’ graduate Bertha Sanchez modestly shares her groundbreaking achievement with Jena, and you are going to have to listen to find out just how much this remarkable woman has achieved Upward Scholars support. Support the show

Send us a textFeeling a little overwhelmed by the work that awaits you in 2022?  If you think your passion for your nonprofit cause won’t push you far enough, listen to this!“One well and a water filter will change the future health, education access and way of life for 15 people, or three families.  It’s amazing what you can do with a PVC pump.”This is Co-founder and Executive Director Chris Coats speaking about the origins of Trailblazer Foundation to influencer Heidi Bianco on The Nonprofit Podcast with Donobox’s nonprofit evangelist Cara Augspurger.“We began with a school project, but quickly learned that water was the first priority. A person must have access to clean, potable water to improve health and sanitation. People must also have a water resource for growing their crops, livestock, and fish—the source of their food and commerce. Bad water is the cause of illness, malnutrition, and poverty. When there is good water, associated developments can occur to improve livelihoods and establish sustainable commerce.”  The Trailblazer Foundation is dedicated to improving the health, food security, education, and economic development in rural Cambodia; by providing clean water in ways that are self-sustaining by the individuals and the communities.  We sat down with Chris to discuss how they are improving the lives, health, and communities of hundreds of Cambodian families for over 17 years. https://thetrailblazerfoundation.org/Donorbox’s powerful fundraising software supports over 50,000 global organizations and individuals, including non-profits, charities, schools, churches, open-source projects, and medical research groups. We have learned an enormous amount about donor engagement, management, and administration along the way. More nonprofit resources and tutorials to help you on your journey:-- Learn more about nonprofit fundraising (https://donorbox.org/nonprofit-blog)- Some prominent case studies (https://donorbox.org/case-studies)- Donorbox full features (https://donorbox.org/features)- See how Donorbox integrates with other apps (https://donorbox.org/features)- Sign up for FREE today at, https://donorbox.org/orgs/newYou can also check out this short video, to see how you can easily start fundraising with us online, in as little as 15 minutes:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gctpjmjgeMwHost:Cara AugspurgerCara Augspurger has more than 20 years of experience in fundraising program development with specific experience in project management. Through experience in higher education, student affairs, faith-based, advocacy, and fraternal organizations, she now works with Donorbox.org to help nonprofit organizations to navigate their organizational goals and social impact by consulting and coaching on fundraising practices and fundamentalsInterviewer: Heidi Bianco - InfluencerExperienced Manager with expertise in Cross-Functional Relationship Management, Operational Improvements, and Experience Design. Executing memorable events, developing thought leaders into evangelists through social networks and program management. Utilizing creative energy and an inspiring attitude to provide the calm in any chaos, maintaining details without losing sight of the big picture, negotiations without devaluing the relationship, and mentoring to breathe life into performance management.#nonprofit #donation #donateSupport the show

Send us a textWelcome to our premiere episode of Donorbox’s The Nonprofit Podcast!   In this new season, we make keeping up with thought-leaders, influencers, and the committed, hardworking people who shape our sector as easy as pressing play!The Nonprofit Podcast is also the perfect place to get to know some of our leading nonprofit organizations.  Our nonprofit advocates will be drilling down on the hard-won, rich vein of experience sitting at the heart of organizations that have established successful nonprofits, working through their wins and warnings.  The Nonprofit Podcast is available every Thursday on all your favorite podcast platforms, so follow, rate, and download and don’t miss an episode.In our season kick-off, Men’s health is in the Nonprofit Spotlight as Movember’s Rich Loesing joins Heidi Bianco to share Movember's taboo-busting journey.  As the leading charity, including mental health and suicide prevention, prostate cancer, and testicular cancer, Movember is transforming the way research into men’s health is done, and the way health services reach and support men.Movember has raised over $1B, funding over 1 250 mens’ health projects across the globe. By 2030 they aim to reduce the number of men dying prematurely by 25% and are well on their way to achieving their goal.Support the show

Send us a textThis is a mini episode (more of an announcement) covering our name change from "The Important Podcast" to "The Nonprofit Podcast." You'll also be introduced to some awesome new hosts who are working to tell these stories. While the name has changed, the mission remains the same. This episode marks the end of season 1. We hope you enjoy the upcoming stories in season 2 :)Support the show

Send us a textIn this episode, you will meet co-founders Dan McKernan and Kelly Holt, the dynamic duo who founded Barn Sanctuary in 2016. You will hear the founding story, the challenges they faced and the lessons they learned along the way. You might have heard of Barn Sanctuary during Covid19 when Animal Planet released the hit TV show Saved By The Barn in April 2020. Saved By the Barn, a show full of feel good stories and warmth, chronicles the trials, tribulations and joys of Dan, his twin brother Chris and Kelly who run the animal sanctuary. If you haven’t seen it, check out Saved By the Barn on Animal Planet. Links and ResourcesBarn Sanctuary, https://www.barnsanctuary.org/Cora the cow, https://www.barnsanctuary.org/animals/cora/Henry the cow, https://www.barnsanctuary.org/animals/henry/Charles the cow, https://www.barnsanctuary.org/animals/charles/ Saved by The Barn, https://www.animalplanet.com/show/saved-by-the-barn-animal-planet Living the Farm Sanctuary Life by Gene Baur, https://www.amazon.com/Living-Farm-Sanctuary-Life-Mindfully/dp/B01HP0NX1A The Way We Think About Charity is Dead Wrong by Dan Palotta, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfAzi6D5FpM&ab_channel=TED Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries, https://www.sanctuaryfederation.org/ Microsanctuaries, https://microsanctuary.org/Farm Sanctuary, https://www.farmsanctuary.org/The Open Sanctuary Project, https://opensanctuary.org/ New Leaders Council, https://www.newleaderscouncil.org/High Noon Entertainment, https://www.highnoontv.com/ Did you enjoy the podcast?Please leave us a 5-Star iTunes Review 🙂Support the show

Send us a textIn this episode, you will meet Dameion Brown. At age 24, Dameion went to prison. He was expected to get out in 5-7 years. It took 23 years. Near the end of his time in prison, Dameion took a Shakespearian acting class that would set him on the path of becoming an actor. After leaving prison, Dameion would play the lead role in Marin Shakespeare’s Othello and win several awards as a professional actor in the San Francisco Bay Area. In addition to working as an actor on stage and on screen, Dameion’s mission is to “drain prisons of the lifeblood that feeds them.” A leader in the community, Dameion helps children at two juvenile prison facilities in Stockton California. In this episode you will hear Dameion’s story and the lessons he’s learned along the way: from his arrival at San Quentin prison to the present where he is a professional actor, storyteller, teacher and mentor who serves others.In this Episode, You Will LearnDameion’s lesson from his first day at San Quentin PrisonHow survival depends upon paying attention and being present in prisonPrison group dynamicsHow Dameion was reluctant to commit to the Shakespeare class in prison, but would end up seeing it throughWhat it’s like to learn to act in Shakespeare plays in prisonHow Dameion went from prisoner to being a professional actorHow Dameion relates to the character OthelloDameion’s favorite play by ShakespeareDameion’s philosophy of loving fully with an open heartDameion’s mission to “drain prisons of the lifeblood that feeds them” and how he works with children in juvenile prisons in Stockton CaliforniaLinks and ResourcesKALW local public radio interview - insights on Prison Shakespeare Programs from Dameion BrownArtist in Residence 2019 Dameion BrownCommon Wealth Club Speech - Dameion Brown - July 2019The Box by Sarah ShourdUbuntu TheaterOthelloMerchant of VeniceMidsummer Night’s DreamStan RothNick ThurstonLisa Keating PhotographyN.A. Chaderjian Youth Correctional Facility (aka ‘Chad’)Prison Population by Gender - 92.9% men and 7.1% womenThe Prison System Compared to the US Population - ...the United States now has more than 2 million people in prisons or jails--the equivalent of one in every 142 U.S. residents--and another four to five million people on probation or parole. A higher percentage of the population is involved in the criminal justice system in the USA than any otheSupport the show

Send us a textIn this episode, you will meet Suraya Keating - a woman who teaches classical Shakespeare acting to prison inmates in the United States. Evidence suggests that arts education programs in prisons, such as this one, reduces recidivism. In other words, this training reduces the likelihood that a prisoner will re-offend and break the law again after being freed. Suraya’s classes are diverse, comprised of a variety of people who don’t normally associate in the prison environment, but who come together for deep play within the stories of Shakespeare.By taking on the emotional lives of these characters and learning to live truthfully within the character’s imaginary life circumstances, the students develop empathy and are freed to express a range of emotions safely in class that they often feel unable to show in the prison environment (like sadness, fear or rage).In this episode we will explore Suraya’s remarkable story and the lives she’s affected through teaching Shakespeare to prisoners.In this Episode, You Will LearnWe’re all born with the ability to use our imaginations and playAbout the healing power of playHow theatre and Shakespeare training can help people develop empathy and be emotionally presentSome intense moments and lessons learned from teaching Shakespeare in San Quentin State PrisonHow prisoners write and perform their own theater pieces based on their lives and themes from ShakespeareHow deep play brings people from all different racial, religious and economic class backgrounds togetherHow to reframe our view of mistakes and our relationship to failureHow prisoners grapple with the challenging language of ‘Old English’ and apply the narrative themes of Shakspeare to their lives (Thanks to podcast listener Geniya Avilov for submitting this question)Suraya’s journey from growing up in an achievement oriented Jewish family in New York City to helping others through drama therapy and joyful deep playHow Suraya is most present when she’s serving others in the way she wants to be serving othersA lesson from Rick on emotions: Thank YouHow when we’re highly triggered, it’s often not the best time for dialogue“A sailor doesn’t learn how to sail on a calm sea”What scares SurayaSuraya’s goalsLinks and ResourcesShakespeare for Social Justice and Training in Theatre For Social Justice by Marin ShakespeareAbout Suraya KeatingTedX San Quentin: Parallel Plays - “Ever wonder how prisoners greet each other or what they think about love? Based on themes from Shakespeare, watch two original theater pieces written by incarcerated men drawn from their real-life experience.”Video - Prison Bridges, theme: healingReturned Citizens Theatre TroupeThe Actor’s Gang Prison Project | Tim Robbins | The Shawshank RedemptionSupport the show