Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership

231: Leadership Reimagined: Letting Your Community Take the Lead (Vichi Jagannathan)SUMMARYAre you a mission-driven leader in the nonprofit sector with more passion than answers? Vichi Jagannathan was one such leader, and in episode #231 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, she shares what it means to let your community take the lead and provide the answers you need as the nonprofit leader. Vichi explains how building on design thinking ideas from across the country brought clarity to the challenges she faced in a rural and under-resourced community. She discusses the biggest challenges she had to overcome in running a small nonprofit, and the solutions she found when building staff, volunteers, and a board of directors. ABOUT VICHIEntrepreneur, strategist and social change leader who applies innovative ideas in unlikely settings to catalyze impact and community transformation. Vichi began her career as a high school science teacher in Northampton County, NC through Teach For America. She then spent two years on the West Coast leading the expansion of Microsoft’s TEALS computer science education program into California. In 2016, Vichi participated in the Innovation Next accelerator, where she received coaching from IDEO in human-centered design to develop a mobile sex education app called Real Talk, which has been downloaded over 10,000 times in over 100 countries. She also interned with SelfHelp Credit Union in Durham, NC where she created the strategy for Self-Help’s branch expansion into Eastern North Carolina. In 2017, Vichi co-founded Rural Opportunity Institute (ROI). ROI builds the capacity of rural communities to support people’s healing from generational trauma to achieve health, safety, connection, and self-determination. Based in rural Eastern North Carolina, ROI has grown from a small, grassroots effort to an influential organization that affects over 20,000 people in 15 states. ROI’s innovative approach has captured the interest of national state funders including New Profit and the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust. Vichi holds a Master of Business Administration from Yale University School of Management, a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University, and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University.EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCESWinners Take All: The Elite Charade of Changing the World by Anand GiridharadaTake My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies by Resmaa Menakem, MSWLearn more about Vichi hereReady 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

230: Why Your Nonprofit is Doing Strategic Planning All Wrong (Sarah Olivieri)SUMMARYWhat exactly is strategic planning for a nonprofit organization? Does your plan truly align with your mission, and do you know how to actually get the plan in motion? Sarah Olivieri shares her unique approach to strategic planning and board engagement that every nonprofit leader will want to consider in episode #230 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership. She explains her 5 keys to better strategic planning and the role your board should play in building an effective strategic framework.   ABOUT SARAH Sarah Olivieri has been called a “Business Alchemist” in the nonprofit space; others have called her “The Money”. She’s the wizard behind the curtain who has orchestrated the transformation of nonprofit organizations, from failing to thriving, which never fails to make the jaws drop of for-profit business experts. As the former director of three nonprofits and founder of five for-profit businesses, she understands, deeply, the challenges and complexities facing organizations. She’s brought nonprofits back from the brink of insolvency. She’s averted major cash-flow crises, solved funding droughts, resolved board conflicts, and everything in. Sarah, who is also an international best-selling author and globally renowned speaker, is the creator of the Impact Method™ - a framework she designed and built from the ground up, to help organizations simplify their operations, build aligned teams, and make a bigger impact without getting overwhelmed or burning out. Her company, PivotGround, supports nonprofits to become financially sustainable world-changers, and she has an incredible 100% success rate. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES Hiring for Attitude by Mark MurphyLearn more about Sarah and her Impact Method hereReady for a Mastermind?  Learn more here!Have you gotten Patton’s book Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership: Seven Keys to Advancing Your Career in the Philanthropic Sector Watch for the companion workbook and the audio version of Patton’s best seller, Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, coming soon!

229: What Should You Outsource at Your Nonprofit? (Eric Thomas)SUMMARYAs a nonprofit leader, are you short-handed or unable to scale your team to keep up with growth, especially in more technical areas like technology and finance? In episode #229 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Eric Thomas shares how outsourcing may be a practical solution for your organization. Learn exactly what outsourcing in the nonprofit sector is and how it can help address your needs. Eric discusses the talent shortage, particularly in specialized roles like finance and accounting that currently exist in our sector. He provides specific keys to integrate an outsourced position into your nonprofit, and which roles and functions are most effectively outsourced. Eric also provides examples of automation that nonprofit leaders should consider to streamline operations.   ABOUT ERICEric Thomas is a consulting partner with over 20 years of experience serving nonprofit and for-profit organizations. Since joining Armanino, he has focused on helping nonprofits with their finance and accounting needs, so they can concentrate on developing their organization and delivering on their mission. He works with a diverse group of clients on their digital transformation and believes that regardless of size and age, organizations can benefit from incorporating enterprise best accounting practices through a solution that uses cloud technology and paperless processes. Prior to joining Armanino, Eric led accounting and finance functions at Robert Half, Analytic Services, and Serco NA. He received a B.S. in business administration from West Virginia University.EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCESThe Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers by Ben HorowitzLearn more about Eric and Armanino hereReady for a Mastermind? Learn more here!Take our Podcast Survey and let us know what you want to hear!Check out Patton’s book Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership: Seven Keys to Advancing Your Career in the Philanthropic Sector

228: Strategic Planning Doesn’t Need to be Painful (Carol Hamilton)SUMMARYIs your nonprofit on a clear path, grounded with specific goals, to achieve its mission? Can you articulate organizational priorities that reflect a shared board and staff vision? In episode #228 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, strategic collaborator Carol Hamilton shares key components of an effective strategic plan, the timeline necessary to build one and why more organizations struggle without one. You’ll learn who should be involved in the framework process and questions to consider as you envision your organization’s next 3-5 years. Carol also describes impact mapping and how it can help nonprofit organizations become more effective at realizing their mission.   ABOUT CAROLCarol Hamilton, Principal, Grace Social Sector Consulting, LLC, and host of Mission: Impact podcast, facilitates whole-brain strategic planning, impact mapping, service audits and organizational assessments for nonprofits and associations. She combines left-brain strategy and analysis with right-brain wisdom about human complexities for a proven, whole-brain, whole-organization process through which every stakeholder thrives. She is also part of a consultant collective focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion that has a particular focus on racial equity, All In Consulting.EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCESInclusion on Purpose: An Intersectional Approach to Creating a Culture of Belonging at Work by Ruchika TulshyanLearn more about Carol hereReady for a Mastermind? Learn more here!Take our Podcast Survey and let us know what you want to hear!Check out Patton’s book Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership: Seven Keys to Advancing Your Career in the Philanthropic Sector

227: 3 Keys to Effective Nonprofit Leadership: (Christina Edwards)SUMMARYWhere are you on your path to nonprofit leadership? Are you effectively serving your mission, your donors, and your board of directors with integrity, consistency, and clarity? In episode #227 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, acclaimed purpose and profit coach Christina Edwards discusses vital qualities effective leaders share within the philanthropic sector and how you can effectively grow and enhance your skills. Do you struggle with calendar management? Christina explains how and why it’s essential to seize control and manage your time. Learn how she advises nonprofit leaders to increase their organization’s visibility with donors and hear how Christina addresses a lack of time and funding, two challenges nonprofit leaders often face.  ABOUT CHRISTINA Christina Edwards is the Founder of Splendid Consulting and host of the Purpose and Profit Club Podcast, a lifelong entrepreneur, marketing and business coach who works with ambitious nonprofit leaders. Her popular courses, Easy Emails and Amplify Social Impact, teach organizations how to get noticed and funded, create a magnetic voice, and make lead generation simple and painless!EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES Cues: Master the Secret Language of Charismatic Communication by Vanessa Van EdwardsLearn more about Christina hereReady for a Mastermind? Learn more here!Take 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

226: Why Do People Give to Your Nonprofit? (Tim Kachuriak)SUMMARYDo you know how to write your nonprofit value proposition to increase donations? Do you know why people give? In episode #226 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Tim Kachuriak, founder of NextAfter, a fundraising research lab and consultancy, explains why he’s obsessed with discovering what inspires people to give and how his organization is helping nonprofit leaders answer those questions and more. He shares key takeaways learned through their research and how it compares with the latest Giving USA results. Is there a true generosity crisis among mid-level donors happening now? Learn how and why nonprofit leaders should sharpen their value proposition and what that can mean for their key volunteers and board members.  ABOUT TIMTim Kachuriak is the founder and Chief Innovation and Optimization Officer for NextAfter, a fundraising research lab and consulting firm that works with businesses, nonprofits, and NGOs to help them grow their resource capacity. A nonprofit thought leader, Kachuriak is the author of the book Optimize Your Fundraising, lead researcher and co-author of the Online Fundraising Scorecard, Why Should I Give to You? (The Nonprofit Value Proposition Index Study), and The Midlevel Donor Crisis. Kachuriak has trained organizations in fundraising optimization around the world and is a frequent speaker at international nonprofit conferences. Kachuriak is also the co-founder and board member for the Human Coalition, a member of the board of directors for Open Doors USA, an Advisory Board Member for the SMU Digital Accelerator, Advisory Board Member for Kids Prosper Kids, and an Advisory Board Member for the Blackbaud Institute for Philanthropic Impact. Kachuriak lives in Prosper, TX with his wife Rebecca, and their four children.EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES The Marketer as Philosopher by Flint McGlaughlinLearn more about NextAfter and find helpful value proposition resources hereReady 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

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