Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership

205: What Issues Will You Face as a New Nonprofit Leader? (Tom O’Toole)SUMMARYAre you on the path to nonprofit leadership? How prepared are you for the challenges you’ll face? In episode #205 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, we speak with Tom O’Toole, Executive Director of Public Affairs Programming at Cornell University’s Brooks School of Public Policy about what skills aspiring leaders need to efficiently and effectively run a nonprofit organization. Tom shares serious concerns of burnout - not just work/life balance - but losing the sense of intrinsic motivation that drives many to nonprofit leaders face given the fact that the challenges they’re trying to confront may never be solved in their lifetimes. In today’s world, it’s more important than ever to be adaptable. Tom discusses how adaptability gives you the ability to face challenges and obstacles effectively, but it also makes you a better leader and team player.   ABOUT TOMThomas O’Toole is the Executive Director of Public Affairs Programming at Cornell’s  MPA Program. He teaches the MPA Program’s core course on “Issues in Public Administration,” a seminar on “Comparative Public Administration: The Case of Seoul, Korea,” and has collaborated on projects and educational programming with the White House, the United Nations Division of Public Administration and Development Management, the UN World Food Programme, and the International Food Policy Research Institute. He is also responsible for monitoring the strategic direction of the MPA Program, as well as providing ongoing oversight to ensure the achievement of the program’s educational and professional missions. As part of his responsibilities, Professor O’Toole oversees all student professional development activities related to the graduate field of public affairs at Cornell, including maintaining institutional relationships with organizations in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors and facilitating job and internship placements for Brooks MPA students. He received his undergraduate degree at Bucknell University and master’s and Ph.D. from Cornell.EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCESDriving from the Backseat: Tips for Surviving as a Not-for-Profit CEO by Ronnie L. BryantThe Song of Spider-Man: Inside Story of the Most Controversial Musical in Broadway History by Glen BergerLearn more about Tom and the MPA program at Cornell hereWant to know why Tom recommends Patton’s book Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership: Seven Keys to Advancing Your Career in the Philanthropic Sector? Pick up your copy today!

204: How Can Nonprofit Leaders Bring Innovation to Their Organization? (Leah Kral)SUMMARYHow can you foster sustainable innovation within your nonprofit? Between the pandemic and workforce shortages, many nonprofit leaders today are likely exhausted and running out of actionable ideas. It’s said that adversity drives innovation, but for many, that well is drying up too soon. So where are all the good ideas? In episode #204 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, nonprofit strategist and author, Leah Kral, explains that as leaders of nonprofits, we have the power to create the perfect formula for innovation within our organizations. While there are no quick fixes, the effort and energy you put into these solutions now will be the garden for future innovative abundance. Innovation and impact are not a gamble that might someday payoff, but with intentional mission drive, culture building and strategic planning, innovation and impact are within reach of any nonprofit organization.  ABOUT LEAHLeah Kral is an expert facilitator and author who helps nonprofits innovate and further social change. She is a sought-after speaker at nonprofit industry events and writes frequently about her research. Her new book is Innovation for Social Change: How Wildly Successful Nonprofits Inspire and Deliver Results (Wiley, 2022). Leah is the senior director of strategy and innovation at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, in Virginia. The Mercatus Center is the home of heterodox thinkers and economists who work to discover what aspects of institutions and culture help societies prosper. Leah has been with Mercatus since 2006, where she has been providing tailored workshops and consulting to internal teams and to a network of university research centers across the country. For decades, she has been helping teams to break out of the busy daily routine and draw out their best creative thinking. She helps teams to design pilots, program strategies and meaningful evaluation approaches, leading to better outcomes and more compelling stories for supporters. She has a passion for helping altruistic organizations achieve their missions and is an active volunteer in her community. She holds a Master of Arts in public policy from Duquesne University and is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Jamaica 2002-2004).EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCESInnovation for Social Change: How Wildly Successful Nonprofits Inspire and Deliver Results by Leah KralThink Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know by Adam GrantLearn more about Leah and the work she’s doing hereTake 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

203: Finding Success as a New Nonprofit Leader (Aaron Randolph)SUMMARYHow do you find success as a new nonprofit leader? Starting any new business is difficult, and while similar, starting a nonprofit has a whole host of unique complexities. In Episode #203 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Aaron Randolph shares his best advice for others looking to start, fund and run a successful nonprofit organization. Aaron navigated the “big three” - new leader, new organization, new community – and thoughtfully recounts the lessons learned that can help you as well.  Specifically, we explore four key functions of successful senior leadership and the value of conducting a thorough community assessment.  ABOUT AARONAaron Randolph is the Executive Director and Co-Founder of Carolina Youth Coalition (CYC), a nonprofit organization that nurtures and propels high-achieving, under-resourced students to and through college. Aaron earned his Master’s in Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education in 2013 and a B.A. from Cornell University in 2011. A native of Lake City, FL, he relocated to Charlotte, NC in 2017 with his wife, Lizzy, from Baton Rouge, LA. Driven by a fervent belief in the power of education to create lasting generational change, Aaron began his career in education as a City Year AmeriCorps member and social studies teacher before finding a passion for college access work through joining the Baton Rouge Youth Coalition staff in 2015. Since moving to Charlotte, Aaron has led Carolina Youth Coalition’s launch and growth from serving 40 students in 2018 to over 300 high school and college students this school year. Through CYC, students in the program have earned over $45 million in scholarships and grants and two-thirds are attending four-year universities across the state and across the country completely debt-free.EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCESDriving from the Backseat: Tips for Surviving as a Not-for-Profit CEO by Ronnie L. BryantWant to hear more from Ronnie Bryant? Listen to Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership episode #23Learn more about Aaron and Carolina Youth Coalition hereBefore His Time: The Untold Story of Harry T. Moore, America’s First Civil Rights Martyr by Ben GreenCheck out Patton’s new book Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership: Seven Keys to Advancing Your Career in the Philanthropic Sector

202: Turning Your Financials into a Nonprofit Leadership Tool (Melisa Galasso)SUMMARYAre you and your board members confident when it comes to the financials?  Many nonprofit leaders - staff and board - are not. In episode #202 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Melisa Galasso brings two decades of experience making complex accounting topics easy to understand, and will empower you with the financial acumen to better lead your nonprofit. She breaks down the sometimes complex world of accounting so that you and your board of directors will be better equipped to harness the power of your financial statements. ABOUT MELISAMelisa Galasso is the founder and CEO of Galasso Learning Solutions LLC. A CPA with nearly 20 years of experience in the accounting profession, Melisa designs and facilitates courses in advanced technical accounting and auditing topics, including not-for-profit and governmental accounting. She also supports essential professional development, audit level training, and train the trainer efforts. Melisa is a Certified Speaking Professional, a Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD), and has earned the Association for Talent Development Master Trainer™ designation. Her passion for instructional design and adult learning techniques is one differentiator that set her apart from other CPE providers. Within the industry, Melisa serves on the FASB’s Not-for-Profit Advisory Committee (NAC), AICPA Council and serves as a Subject Matter Expert for the Center for Plain English Accounting. She previously served on the AICPA’s Technical Issues Committee (TIC), the VSCPA’s Board of Directors, and is a past-Chair of the NCACPA’s A&A committee. Melisa is the author of Money Matters for Nonprofits: How Board Members Can Harness the Power of Financial Statements by Understanding Basic AccountingEPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCESMelisa’s book Money Matters for Nonprofits: How Board Members Can Harness the Power of Financial Statements by Understanding Basic AccountingThe Little Book of Boards: A Board Member’s Handbook for Small (and Very Small) Nonprofits by Erik HanbergLearn more about Melisa and the work she’s doing hereTake 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

201: Key Fundraising Trends Nonprofit Leaders Need to Know (Matt Nash)SUMMARYAs a nonprofit leader, are you aware of the unique motivations many Donor Advise Fund (DAF) givers share? Do you target stewardship efforts to this group of individuals specifically? In episode #201 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Matt Nash, who has been on the cutting edge of recent key fundraising trends in the philanthropic sector shares his extensive knowledge about the rise of this donor group. Learn more about the psychology and intent behind these donors and how best to steward them. Matt discusses top trends such as strategy, digital platforms, relationships, and the rise of crypto that are affecting fundraising in 2023 and how nonprofit leaders should address each.  ABOUT MATTMatthew Nash is the Executive Director of the Blackbaud Giving Fund, leading the organization’s mission to unleash generosity by connecting people to causes they care about around the world. An experienced executive with a focus on customer relationships, he previously served as the Executive Director of the Generosity Commission Working Group, where he continues to volunteer, focusing on implementing a research agenda aimed at more deeply understanding generosity in America. Previously, he was Senior Vice President of Marketing and Donor Experience at Fidelity Charitable, one of the largest grant-makers in the United States, where he studied donor behavior and worked to make giving accessible, simple, and effective. An expert in donor-advised funds and philanthropy, Matt is an advocate for local public education, having served as a foundation president funding innovative educational programs and on the board of advisors for District C, a nonprofit that brings students together across schools to solve real problems of local businesses. He received a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering and an MBA from the University of Minnesota.EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCESThe Good Boss: 9 Ways Every Manager Can Support Women at Work by Kate Eberle WalkerLearn more about Matt and The Blackbaud Giving Fund hereWant to read Matt’s full list of Fundraising Trends you need to know?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

200: Nonprofit Leaders: Which Trends Should You Follow? (Becky Endicott & Jon McCoy)SUMMARYWhat key trends are you following as a leader in 2023? For the enterprising nonprofit executive, one of the best sources of cutting-edge information on hot topics in the sector is We Are For Good, and that’s why we waited until the  #200th episode of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership to speak with Becky Endicott and Jon McCoy, two thought leaders in our sector who will zero in on some of the key trends that will help you steer your nonprofit in the right direction this year.  ABOUT JONAfter a career of 15 years serving within the nonprofit sector - leading teams in marketing, design and annual giving - I left my job to create what I wanted to see in the world. An open table and place to connect this generation of nonprofit leaders with the best tools, guides and inspiration to take their impact further. We Are For Good was taken full time in 2020 - co-founded alongside my career-long dear friend Becky Endicott. The first phase of bringing our vision to life is the We Are For Good Podcast - which debuted in August 2020 as the #1 nonprofit podcast on Apple iTunes. Now counting more than 250 episodes, we regularly welcome some of the industry’s most respected thought leaders as guests, and We Are For Good consistently ranks among the top downloaded nonprofit podcasts in the US and charts in more than a dozen countries worldwide.ABOUT BECKYWe Are For Good, a digital kindness and social impact community, is revolutionizing the nonprofit industry through profound compassion, best-in-class education/training, authentic storytelling and crazy good marketing all leading to an #ImpactUprising. Its podcast of the same name debuted at #1 in the nonprofit category and is frequented by nonprofit colleagues around the world as well as Do Gooders who are simply looking for a reason to smile or celebrate humanity. The company’s ethos stems from the core belief that everyone matters, and our passion is to bring innovation, social impact, and, well - a little bit of good - into the world. You matter here. Come join our community or learn more at weareforgood.com or @weareforgood on most social platforms.EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES The Generosity Crisis: The Case for Radical Connection to Solve Humanity’s Greatest Challenges by Bryan Crimmins et al.Learn more about Jon & Becky and We Are for Good hereTake 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

199: Finding Your Passion as a Nonprofit Leader (Helena Scott)SUMMARYHow do you find – and keep - your passion as a nonprofit leader? In episode #199 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Helena Scott shares her remarkable two-decade journey with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and what sustains her energy and motivation. She discusses challenges, benefits and unique opportunities inherent to being a part of a national chapter organization and her leadership approach to such things as fundraising, board engagement, and talent acquisition and retention. Helena also shares her best advice for finding that proverbial work-life balance.ABOUT HELENAHelena Scott is a Regional Advancement Director of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), covering North Carolina and Virginia. She has been with LLS in a variety of roles over the past 22 years and has worked in the oncology field since graduating from Washington University in St. Louis in 1999. Helena began her career at Memorial Sloan Kettering working in business management before accepting her first position at LLS in its New York office in 2001. During her tenure in NY, Helena oversaw the largest fundraising campaign and market in the country, generating over $8MM in a single year through LLS's flagship sports endurance program Team in Training. In 2011, shortly after the birth of her first son, Helena co-founded LLS’s Moms In Training program, a unique initiative bringing like-minded moms together to achieve their fitness and philanthropic goals. In 2015, Helena accepted a position as the Director of the Charlotte office where she quickly transformed the languishing market. Under her leadership, the Charlotte team increased its flagship campaigns from $900,000 to $5,500,000 in just 4 years, breaking LLS fundraising records, and elevating Charlotte to one of the fastest markets nationally. During her time running the Charlotte office, Helena oversaw the first Man & Woman of the Year campaign to ever break $3 million nationally, and also initiated a multi-million-dollar Students of the Year campaign in Charlotte. She has been a top national fundraiser for the past decade, raising just shy of $1,000,000, a milestone she hopes to break this year.  EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace: Empowering Organizations by Encouraging People by Gary Chapman & Paul WhiteLearn more about Helena and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

198: Dirty Little Secrets of Direct Response Fundraising (Andrew Olsen)SUMMARYWhat is direct response fundraising? Is it part of your overall fundraising plan and are you getting the returns you expect? In episode #198 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Andrew Olsen returns to the podcast and explains why you need a better way to fundraise. Many nonprofits coming out of Covid are achieving their highest levels in giving. However, Andrew explains why giving patterns over the last decades don’t match the trends of giving today. Learn the dangers of approaching fundraising with a mass volume strategy. Andrew shows why relationships are the key to long-term giving that will sustain your organization throughout the years. Would your organization benefit from outsourcing their direct response fundraising? Do you truly understand what it means to be a good steward to your donors? Andrew has the answers.ABOUT ANDREWAndrew Olsen is on a mission to help leaders increase mission impact by developing healthy cultures that accelerate revenue growth. Throughout his career, he’s helped over 500 ministries and other nonprofits raise more than half a billion dollars. Andrew has built and led fundraising programs on behalf of organizations like Covenant House International, Museum of the Bible, The Salvation Army Eastern Territory, The Salvation Army California South Division, Jews for Jesus, CARE USA, Save the Children, Best Friends Animal Society, and dozens of Rescue Missions and Food Banks across the U.S. and Canada. Andrew is a two-time best-selling author and host of the top-ranked show, The Rainmaker Fundraising Podcast. Andrew recently joined DickersonBakker & Associates as Senior Vice President of Fundraising Solutions, where he’ll lead the firm’s major gift consulting practice as well as oversee the Impact Messaging division that provides communication vehicles to support our clients’ major gift and capital campaign efforts. Andrew will also be responsible for developing and launching new products and services for the firm.EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCESInbound Organization: How to Build and Strengthen Your Company’s Future Using Inbound Principles by Dan Tyre and Todd HockenberryLearn more about Andrew Olsen hereRainmaking: The Fundraiser’s Guide to Landing Big Gifts by Andrew Olsen & Roy JonesCheck out Patton’s book Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership: Seven Keys to Advancing Your Career in the Philanthropic Sector

197: Building a New Community as a Nonprofit Leader (Sherri Chisholm)SUMMARYStepping into a new leadership role is an exciting challenge, but doing it in a new community can create new complexities. In episode #197 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, seasoned nonprofit leader Sherri Chisholm shares how she navigated a new community while maintaining her personal and professional connection to the cause. She shares the steps she took to hone the organization's vision and message, and how each of her colleagues plays a role in advancing it. Traversing the nuances and politics of any community presents its own set of opportunities, and Sherri gives practical examples about how she established and developed these relationships. We also take a deep dive into economic mobility and the methods and resources available to individuals and organizations to increase the outcomes for all children.  ABOUT SHERRISherri Chisholm joined Leading on Opportunity as its new director in September of 2020, bringing nearly a decade of experience as an educational and nonprofit strategist to the role. She has worked in senior leadership at national nonprofits and major school districts across the country, where she drove transformation through strategic planning, organizational effectiveness, and leadership development. Prior to joining Leading on Opportunity, Sherri served as the founding Executive Director of Urban Alliance Detroit, a national youth workforce development nonprofit that aims to expand access to economic opportunity for youth from under-resourced neighborhoods through paid internships, job skills training, and mentoring. She is also the founder and CEO of FreeSpace Consulting Group where she has worked to guide and support districts and nonprofit organizations across the country seeking to effect positive change in public education. Sherri holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Organizational Studies and Spanish from the University of Michigan; a Master of Arts degree in Education from the Harvard University Graduate School of Education; and a Master of Arts degree in Education Leadership from the Los Angeles-based Broad Center for the Management of School Systems.EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES The Black Girl’s Guide to Financial Freedom: Build Wealth, Retire Early, and Live the Life of Your Dreams by Paris WoodsLearn more about Sherri and Leading on Opportunity hereCheck out Patton’s book Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership: Seven Keys to Advancing Your Career in the Philanthropic Sector 

196: Key Strategies for Becoming an Exceptional Nonprofit Leader (Denver Frederick)SUMMARYAs a nonprofit leader, you’re committed to achieving greater impact, yet recent challenges could hinder the effective implementation of your mission. In episode #196 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, we’re joined by Denver Frederick, a pioneer in the philanthropic sector who has been on the cutting edge of many fundraising principles used today. As someone who created the model for corporate sponsorships, he shares his opinions on the state of corporate giving today. Denver also addresses scaling for impact and how organizations can grow and replicate ideas to increase impact. He defines systems change and breaks down how nonprofit leaders can live up to their potential to advance true systemic change. He advocates for decision-making velocity and the benefits nonprofit organizations experience when they embrace the urgency. Denver discusses the shift in unrestricted giving and the balance of power in our sector.    ABOUT DENVERDenver Frederick is a trusted advisor and executive coach to nonprofit CEOs, acting as a comprehensive resource, confidante, and consultant. In his 40-plus years in the nonprofit sector, he has served as a CEO, led the fundraising campaign to restore the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, and assisted renowned actor Michael J. Fox in launching his Parkinson’s Foundation, and pioneered the movement of peer-to-peer fundraising. For the past ten years, Denver has hosted The Business of Giving, a nationally syndicated radio show-turned-podcast. In nearly 1,000 interviews with nonprofit CEOs and subject experts, he’s revealed their challenges and the innovative solutions comprising “new best practices” for charitable organizations. He’s also conducted over 150 team focus groups to surface the “secret sauce” of organizational cultures that makes them irresistible places to work. Denver has taught at the NYU School of Fundraising Management and is a Certified Professional Executive Coach. He is a sought-after speaker who has appeared at forums such as the Harvard Social Enterprise Conference and the Citi Foundation Annual Convening of Grantees and Partners.EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCESThe Business of Giving: New Best Practices for Nonprofit and Philanthropic Leaders in an Uncertain World by Denver FrederickLearn more about Denver hereCheck out Patton’s new book Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership: Seven Keys to Advancing Your Career in the Philanthropic Sector