Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership

225: Bridging the Gap: Technology’s Role in Nonprofit Success (Jack Fanous)SUMMARYAre you using today’s technology to further advance your mission and better serve your community? In episode #225 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Jack Fanous, founder and leader of two successful, shares how technology can both increase your fundraising and better connect your mission with those you serve. Understand how having a better knowledge of software options can help nonprofit leaders better navigate transactional fees allowing 100% of charitable gifts funnel directly to your mission. Lean how this busy philanthropic executive built, manages, and scales his mission. Jack shares ways our sector can harness technology to better connect existing resources to the people who need them.  ABOUT JACKJack Fanous is the co-founder and CEO of JobPaths, a SaaS Enabled Marketplace (SEM) that fulfills the original goals of the internet community by bringing people together with those who can help them along their journey. JobPaths is designed as an immersive network to bring people together to support one another through sharing employment opportunities, resources, training, and guidance. At the core of the company is the network of platforms JobPaths has established that include nonprofit, governmental, and corporate partners who license the software in order to support their clients. Within each of these licensed platforms lives JobPaths intelligent systems and easy-to-use software that connect Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) users to job openings, resources, career and life trainings, and mentorship opportunities. Jack developed his company based on his years of nonprofit experience as CEO and co-founder of GI Go Fund. Started in 2006 after the death of a childhood friend Lt. Seth Dvorin, GI Go Fund provides military veterans across the country with job training and employment opportunities, as well as access to healthcare, benefits help, and connections to housing. The organization has recently expanded its efforts to support all populations within the DE&I community. Through his work at GI Go Fund, Jack discovered the shortcomings in veteran hiring and acted. He testified before the United States Senate Veterans Affairs Committee regarding veteran issues in 2008, and serves as the co-chair of the VA’s Community Veterans Engagement Board (CVEB) Newark, NJ chapter, and is a board member of Habitat for Humanity NJ.EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCESDisability Friendly: How to Move from Clueless to Inclusive by John D. KempLearn more about JobPath and GI Go FundReady for a Mastermind? Learn more here!Check out Patton’s book Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership: Seven Keys to Advancing Your Career in the Philanthropic Sector

224: 5 Truths for Transformational Nonprofit Leaders (Ed Mishrell)SUMMARYDo you want to elevate your nonprofit leadership to the next level? What are the five key principles of mission-driven leadership? In episode #224 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, former Chief Strategy Officer for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and author of The Five Truths for Transformational Leaders: How Nonprofit Organizations Thrive, Grow and Make a Profound Difference, Ed Mishrell, delivers an insightful and practical discussion of how to achieve extraordinary results when leading nonprofit organizations. Ed shares how to use your organization’s mission as your north star and build an exciting, thriving nonprofit. He highlights hurdles nonprofit leaders typically face and how you can navigate them for optimal results. Understand the vital importance of leadership growth and how you can ensure you’re consistently growing and adapting.   ABOUT EDFor over four decades, Ed Mishrell worked to provide opportunities for America’s youth. Ed began a nearly 40-year career in the Boys & Girls Clubs Movement beginning at the Crime Prevention Association, a Boys & Girls Club organization in Philadelphia, PA. In 1987, Ed joined the staff of Boys & Girls Clubs of America as the Director of the Targeted Outreach Delinquency Intervention Program. He has held many positions at BGCA, including the Director of Staff Development and Senior Director of Training and Development, among others. He has led the development of numerous national program and strategic initiatives including executive leadership, deepening impact and assuring public trust. In 2009, Ed became the Chief Strategy Officer at Boys & Girls Clubs of America, responsible for organizational strategy, strategic planning, operational planning, organizational data and outcome measurement systems. After retiring from Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Ed became an adjunct professor at Georgia State University. Ed holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Alfred University, a Master of Education from Elmira College, and a Master of Social Work Administration from Temple University.EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES Learn more about Ed hereWhat Got You Here Won’t Get You There: How Successful People Become Even More Successful by Marshal Goldsmith and Mark ReiterReady for a Mastermind?  Learn more here!Check out Patton’s book Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership: Seven Keys to Advancing Your Career in the Philanthropic Sector

223: Does Your Nonprofit Brand Effectively Communicate Who You Are? (Mark Miller & Ted Vaughn)SUMMARYHow can your nonprofit stand out amidst all of the great causes in your community? In episode #223 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Mark Miller and Ted Vaughn, authors of the book Culture Built My Brand: The Secret to Winning More Customers Through Company Culture discuss the role of storytelling in attracting and retaining donors and why most attempts at storytelling fall short. They share effective tactics to help you clearly communicate who you are and explain how brand building begins with the organization's internal culture and leadership.   ABOUT MARK & TEDMark Miller & Ted Vaughn are the cofounders of Historic Agency, a brand strategy, innovation, and design partner that helps ambitious brand do more good. They are the authors of Culture Build My Brand: The Secret to Winning More Customers Through Company Culture. Mark leads product strategy, marketing transformation, and brand at Historic. He’s rebranded nearly 100 organizations and also specializes in all things strategy, including brand, product, and marketing. Ted leads client transformation at Historic and specializes in executive leadership, brand development, and strategic clarity. He has served hundreds of for-profit and nonprofit brands. His passion is to serve senior leaders by helping them align everything they do to build their brand from the inside out.EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCESLearn more about Mark & Ted at Historic AgencyThe Business of Expertise: How Entrepreneurial Experts Convert Insight to Impact and Wealth by David C. BakerUnreasonable Hospitality by Will GuidaraFormula X by Jurriaan Kamer and Rini SolingenReady for a Mastermind?  Learn more here!Check out Patton’s book Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership: Seven Keys to Advancing Your Career in the Philanthropic Sector

222: Why Doesn’t Your Nonprofit Have a Succession Plan? (Mandy Pearce)SUMMARYDo you have a succession plan in place at your nonprofit? Most nonprofits don’t, and you may be facing any number of challenges when planning for the inevitable transition that occurs at every organization. In episode #222 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, we learn from Mandy Pearce why having proper strategic and succession plans is vital to an organization’s long-term health. She shares the key benefits of having a succession plan and answers questions you might face when planning for one. Mandy discusses how nonprofits can ensure a smooth leadership transition during the succession process that will minimize disruptions to the organization.   ABOUT MANDY Mandy Pearce is the Founder of Funding for Good, which equips organizations with all the skills and tools needed to become successful and sustainable. She continues to enjoy developing this company to meet the changing demands of the nonprofit world. For over two decades, Mandy and her team of experts have shared their proficiency in fundraising through executive coaching, strategic and development planning, seminars and specialized consulting programs. Mandy’s dynamic teaching style has brought thousands of people to her presentations at conventions, training workshops and online platforms. Mandy established Funding for Good, Inc. upon the core values of honesty, efficiency, direct communication and bringing sustainable dollars to local communities. Mandy lives in Hickory with her husband, Ricardo, and their two fur babies, Dalli and Max. She and Ricardo also own and operate a successful landscaping and custom woodworking company, Two Green Thumbs and More. On her days off, Mandy enjoys working in their garden, sipping sweet tea on their porch swing with a good magazine and cooking gourmet meals for their family and friends.EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect by Will GuidaraLearn more about Mandy here, and check out the resources at Funding for GoodReady for a Mastermind? Learn more here!Check out Patton’s book Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership: Seven Keys to Advancing Your Career in the Philanthropic Sector

221: Turning your Passion into a Movement (Lynn Margherio)SUMMARYStarting a successful nonprofit often begins by transforming a passion project into a well-defined organization. But how do you turn that project into an actual movement? In episode #221 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Founder and CEO of the national nonprofit Cradles to Crayons, Lynn Margherio shares just how she’s created a movement from her personal mission to end clothing insecurity.  She shares her 5 keys to building a movement and how she’s activated the corporate community to engage them in her cause. Lynn discusses the staff and volunteer networks she’s built, her approach to strategic planning, and most importantly, knowing how and when to scale into new markets.   ABOUT LYNNA leader in the fields of social justice and children’s issues, Lynn Margherio is the Founder and CEO of Cradles to Crayons. She leads this national nonprofit with Giving Factories® in Boston, Chicago, and Philadelphia, and an online donation platform, Giving Factory Direct®, serving NYC and the San Francisco Bay Area. The largest national nonprofit with Clothing Insecurity at the core of its mission, Cradles to Crayons provides children living in low-income and homeless situations with clothing and other everyday essentials—diapers, winter coats, shoes, hygiene items, backpacks, and more. Lynn launched Cradles to Crayons in 2002, and to date, the organization has distributed more than 4 million packages to kids’ birth through age 12. Under Lynn's leadership, the organization has successfully fulfilled the needs of millions of children and connected more than half a million volunteers to meaningful engagement opportunities and donation experiences, mobilizing people of all ages in communities all over the country. In her role as CEO, Lynn directs all aspects of the organization including strategic planning, operations, fundraising, brand/marketing, product acquisition, external relations and ongoing collaboration with both national and local Boards of Directors.  She has led multiple successful capital campaigns raising millions of dollars to fund expansion and has steered the organization through major relocations and organizational restructurings. She is spearheading a national expansion campaign to serve the more than 20 million children across the U.S. who are Clothing Insecure. A graduate of Georgetown University, Lynn completed the Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management program at Harvard Business School.EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCESHidden Figures: The American Dream and Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race by Margot Lee ShetterlyLearn more about Lynn and Cradles 2 Crayons hereReady for a Mastermind?  Learn more here!

220: Finding Your Voice as a Nonprofit Leader (Sabrina Gilchrist)SUMMARYWhat does it mean to find your voice as a nonprofit leader? In episode #220 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Sabrina Gilchrist shares the journey to find her voice as a nonprofit leader and the positive effect it has on furthering the mission of her organization. Are you the kind of leader talented people want to follow to further a mission in which donors have confidence investing? Learn the skills and experiences that helped Sabrina advance into senior leadership that can work for you too. Sabrina shares her approach to strategic planning, fundraising, building a dynamic board of directors and what she looks for when developing a team.   ABOUT SABRINASabrina Nichole Gilchrist is an author, public speaker, Clinical Mental Health Counselor, ordained Christian minister, and nonprofit professional. She earned the Bachelor of Arts from Winston-Salem State University and the dual Master of Arts (Counseling) and Master of Divinity from Wake Forest University. Sabrina has served the Charlotte community since 2010 through her work with Right Moves For Youth (RMFY), a school-based youth development and student support organization that leverages group work to help teens in grades 6-12 succeed in school and life. Beginning in direct service as the Program Manager, Sabrina now has the honor of leading RMFY as Executive Director.  She is a lifelong learner committed to professional development efforts that build and refine her nonprofit leadership skills. Since becoming Executive Director, Sabrina has completed the following:  the Allstate Foundation Executive Leadership Program; the Allstate Foundation Leading with Equity Program; and the Patton McDowell & Associates Mastermind Program.  She is also a member of the third cohort of the Black Social Capital Initiative (BSCI), a Charlotte-based organization dedicated to increasing the representation of black leaders in the nonprofit sector at the executive and board levels.Sabrina works in private counseling practice with Reconciliation Counseling and Consulting, PLLC, and occasionally teaches aspiring helping professionals as an adjunct instructor at Queens University of Charlotte. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES How the Best Leaders Lead by Brian TracyCEO Excellence: The Six Mindsets That Distinguish the Best Leaders from the Rest by Carolyn Dewar, Scott Keller & Vikram MalhotraLearn more about Sabrina and the work she does at Right Moves for YouthReady for a Mastermind? Learn more here!Check out Patton’s book

219: Building a Career in the Nonprofit Sector (Amie Dugan)SUMMARYAre you prepared for the hard work the nonprofit sector requires? Working for a mission you believe in can certainly be both rewarding and fulfilling, but many well-intentioned individuals are surprised by the realities of being a professional in the sector. In episode #219 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, we talk with a seasoned nonprofit leader, Amie Dugan, about what it truly takes to build and sustain a successful career in the philanthropic sector. Amie discusses specific skills and attributes found in leaders that naturally draw exceptional talent to follow and learn from to advance their missions.  ABOUT AMIEAmie Dugan’s 27+ year career and experience in the nonprofit sector encompasses working with missions and organizations ranging from the grassroots to international levels. She currently serves as Vice President, Organizational Development for Special Olympics North America and leads the Organizational Development team which provides guidance and oversight to all SONA Programs in the US, Canada and the Caribbean), guiding the operational and programmatic advancement, excellence, and sustainability. She also served as VP of Marketing and Communications - a role she established. She began as a Special Olympics volunteer in 1994, and was inducted into the Special Olympics Florida Hall of Fame in 2011. Prior to Special Olympics International, she worked for Special Olympics Florida, the Walt Disney World Company and the Juilliard School of Music. Amie is an instructor, consultant, and curriculum developer for the nonprofit governance certificate program and custom consultation programming at The Edyth Bush Institute for Philanthropy & Nonprofit Leadership at Rollins College. She is a BoardSource certified nonprofit consultant and is a WISE (Women in Sports and Events) Within mentor, on the Board of Directors for Girls on the Run (Central Florida), and is a member of the Greater Orlando Organizational Development Network.EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCESAmie recommends reading anything by Brene BrownHear more from fellow Special Olympics leader Keith Fishburne in episode #129Ready for a Mastermind?  Learn more here!Check out Patton’s book Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership: Seven Keys to Advancing Your Career in the Philanthropic Sector and watch for the audiobook coming soon!

218: 5 Ways to Turn Around a Struggling Nonprofit (Lance Kawaguchi)SUMMARYIs your nonprofit organization not delivering on its mission? Is it struggling from poor governance, alienating key donors and staff and producing lackluster results? In episode #218 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, we talk with Lance Kawaguchi, who committed to fighting cancer when the disease hit his family in 2016 and became the new CEO of the struggling nonprofit, Cure Brain Cancer Foundation. Although he built a successful career in the world of finance, he proved to be the right leader to turn around the organization. Lance shares his 5 essential keys to turn a struggling nonprofit into a powerful organization that delivers on its mission.  ABOUT LANCELance Kawaguchi, CEO of The Cure Brain Cancer Foundation, has over 25 years of global finance and banking experience. His outstanding leadership and innovative approach to diversity and inclusion have been recognized by many peak global bodies including the Treasury Management International, the BAME100 Board Talent Index and as one of UPstanding 100’s leading ethnic minority executives. Lance was recently named CEO Magazine’s 2022 Non-For-Profit Executive of the Year in his first year at the foundation. Connect with him on LinkedIn.EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCESThe 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. CoveyLearn more about Lance and Cure Brain Cancer Foundation hereFollow Lance on his journey to the South Pole for research and awareness of brain cancerTake our Podcast Survey and let us know what you want to hear!Check out Patton’s new book Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership: Seven Keys to Advancing Your Career in the Philanthropic Sector

217: What Can We Learn from an Unconventional NGO? (Marko Kasic)SUMMARYHave you made the transition from the for-profit sector to nonprofit? How would you transfer your skills to effect genuine social change? In episode #217 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Marko Kasic shares his why and how he founded an “unconventional” NGO. Through his goal to create a social enterprise, he created a self-generating revenue model which addresses food insecurity while simultaneously providing workforce development. Marko shares how he has built his staff, volunteer teams, and an internationally diverse board of directors. As an NGO, fundraising is critical and Marko illustrates how to identify funders and build a global fundraising strategy.   ABOUT MARKOMarko Kasic is the Founder and Executive Director of FundLife, a grassroots "for-social-profit" organization based in Tacloban, Philippines. FundLife combines a unique experiential learning curriculum with purposeful play to create enabling pathways for some of the world's most vulnerable children and young people living in short-term and chronic emergencies. FundLife mission is to ensure every single child has a right to a safe childhood, quality education, and equitable opportunity to reach their full potential - as we say, for every young person to ' Dream in Colour' Away from FundLife, Marko is an avid runner, traveler, and motorcycle enthusiast.EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCESCreating a World Without Poverty: Social Business and the Future of Capitalism by Muhammad YunusLearn more about Marko and FundLife hereErnesto Sirolli’s TED Talk - Want to help someone? Shut up and listen!Check out Patton’s book Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership: Seven Keys to Advancing Your Career in the Philanthropic Sector

216: How Your Nonprofit Can Benefit from a Digital Transformation (Bob Green)SUMMARYWhat does digital transformation mean for nonprofits? In episode #216 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, strategic IT expert Bob Green explains how digital transformation is a pathway for nonprofit organizations to succeed by increasing overall efficiency, facilitating donor and volunteer relationships, and improving communications to reach wider audiences. He shares how incorporating new technologies in the workplace benefits nonprofits and their employees by eliminating redundancies, automating tasks, and allowing team members to focus on work that makes the most significant impact. Bob also lays out keys to effective IT governance for nonprofit leaders.  ABOUT BOBBob Green, CPA, CITP, CGMA is Lead Partner for SingerLewak’s "SL Business Informatics" advisory practice. His team is retained as trusted, independent advisors to help achieve the benefits of strategic IT planning and direction for growing organizations. Their skills include comfort with complex projects around ERP, CRM and other application types, Cybersecurity and ongoing Cybersecurity Program management, IT Audit and Assurance (SOX, SOC), IT Risk, IT project rescue, and others. Bob’s background combines CPA, CFO, Consulting and Technologist skills, as applied to challenges faced by many industries including non-profits of many varieties and complexities (501c3, 501c4 and 501c6) as well as entertainment, technology, government, food and beverage, medical devices and cosmetics, and others. Bob spent 8 years at PWC, later became a CFO, and is a frequent speaker and presenter at AICPA and other professionally sponsored education conferences and produces podcasts and articles regularly. In his spare time, he organizes hiking experiences, volunteers in the non-profit space and enjoys time with his family in the Los Angeles area. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCESWho Moved My Cheese? An A-Mazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life by Spencer Johnson, M.D.Learn more about Bob and SingerLewak hereFor additional resources visit Foresight-SLBICheck out Patton’s new book Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership: Seven Keys to Advancing Your Career in the Philanthropic Sector