Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership

66: Maximizing Partnerships for Nonprofit Success (Sabrina Dawson)  SUMMARYHow can you create lasting partnerships that not only establish your nonprofit but help it accelerate its growth? That’s exactly what Sabrina Dawson and I discussed in episode #66 of the Path Podcast.  An educator throughout her professional career, Sabrina is the Co-Founder and Vice President of Programs for The Collective, a Memphis-based organization working with schools, employers and community stakeholders to establish career pathways and ensure equitable access to support, resources, and opportunities for young adults between the ages of 18 and 30.  Sabrina and her Co-Founder, Sarah Lockridge-Steckel, have built unique alliances with employers, sponsors, funders, as well as general volunteers, which offer great insight for nonprofit leaders everywhere. ABOUT SABRINA   Sabrina joined The Collective to develop and implement their careers program, which connects opportunity youth to high demand careers, while providing intensive support services.  Sabrina began her career serving 6-12th grade students through the esteemed Teach for America program. During that time, she served in many roles within the educational environment, including Teacher, Vice Principal of Instruction, Associate Director of College Counseling, and a member of an Academic Leadership Team. She has served as an educator and instructional leader in inner-city public and charter schools and her work in college counseling led to 100% college matriculation. Sabrina has also designed and executed the Career Pathways model to support older youth in the DC foster care system with college and career supports which significantly increased the percentage of youth exiting foster care with sustainable employment. She has presented her model for educational and career success at many conferences including the National Pathways to Adulthood conference and the Office of the State Superintendent of Education’s Post-Secondary and Career Education Conference. Sabrina has a BA in Philosophy from The Florida State University and her Master of Arts in Teaching from The Johns Hopkins University.EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCESKerry Patterson & Joseph Grenny’s book Crucial ConversationsBrene’ Brown’s book Dare to Lead

65: Why You Shouldn’t Start a Charity (Matthew Zachary) SUMMARYAs a cancer survivor and marketing expert, Matthew Zachary approaches most things in life with a very different perspective, including nonprofit leadership.  This approach is provocative and thought-provoking, and is sure to make you think differently about many of the “standards” of nonprofit leadership.  On episode #65 of the Path Podcast, Matthew shares his rationale for NOT starting a nonprofit, why charitable organizations often get the short end of the stick in corporate partnerships, and what every nonprofit leader needs to be reading.  He also shares – from personal experience – when it’s time to step down as a nonprofit leader, particularly when you're the Founder.  All this and much more in this entertaining and free-wheeling episode of the Path!ABOUT MATTHEW  Ten years after surviving brain cancer at age 21, Matthew founded Stupid Cancer, the world's largest young adult cancer community, and launched The Stupid Cancer Show, the first health podcast, which amassed a global listenership in the millions. He stepped down as Stupid Cancer's CEO in 2019 and launched his latest venture, OffScrip Media, the first audio broadcast network focused on consumer health and patient advocacy. Matthew is now back behind the mic with his new show, "Out of Patients," hailed as "the people's voice in healthcare."  As he continues to be outspoken about the perils of the healthcare system, the through-line of Matthew's entire career is patient advocacy. Matthew is also an acclaimed keynote speaker, accomplished film composer, and award-winning concert pianist.EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCESDan Pallotta’s books Uncharitable and Charity CaseDan Pallotta’s 2013 Ted Talk "The way we think of charity is dead wrong"Vu Le’s Blog Nonprofit AFMatthew’s website MatthewZachary.com

64: How Can We Address Compensation Gaps in the Nonprofit Sector? (Sally Loftis)SUMMARYIt’s a cliché to say no one gets into nonprofit work to get rich.  However, if leaders in our sector do not take steps to address the compensation gaps that exist, all of the important work being done will be further diminished by turnover and burnout. In episode #64 of the Path Podcast, Sally Loftis brings a researcher’s eye and HR expertise to this strategic challenge for nonprofit leaders, and provides a wealth of resources and ideas to help you address what is often an elephant in the room. How do you develop a compensation philosophy?  How can you do a pay equity assessment?  How do you better understand the compensation factors affecting your community?  And finally, how can you engage your funders in your efforts to provide a better compensation platform for talent recruitment and retention? Find these answers - and much more - in this episode!ABOUT SALLY Sally Loftis is the Managing Director of Loftis Partners, and is tugging at the webs of relationship that hold our systems of injustice in place through consulting. Her professional experience lies mostly in human resources roles while her lifelong volunteer experience spreads across social justice causes. Sally has worked in strategic roles for a Fortune 50 corporation, a boutique consulting firm, and the largest non-academic craft school in the US. She sees a need to bring equity and inclusion work into all levels of organizations through brave practices, community safe spaces, shared power, active vulnerability, and consent culture. Sally received her Master of Science in Organization Development from Pepperdine University, where she did her thesis on Talent Investment Strategies & Nonprofit Employee Pay.  She received a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Duke University and a Bachelor of Business Administration (Concentration: Human Resources) from Freed-Hardeman University.EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCESDan Pallota’s 2013 Ted Talk "The way we think of charity is dead wrong"Cost of living research by US Bureau of Labor StatisticsSociety of Human Resource Management article America’s Pay Gap is WideningSociety for Human Resources Management’s Study on Effective Workplaces Fund the People’s Toolkits for Talent Investment and Talent JusticeRusty Stahl’s article on Talent Philanthropy  Peter Block’s book Community: The Structure of Belonging Ijeoma Oluo’s book So You Want to Talk About RaceSally’s great blog post about this topic

63: Confronting Wicked Problems as a Nonprofit Leader (Lynn Fick-Cooper)SUMMARYAs a nonprofit leader, you are likely trying to address “Wicked Problems” every day, social challenges that are systemic in nature and incredibly complex. To help us better address these types of problems, Lynn Fick-Cooper offers a fantastic analysis of these issues, and provides five crucial strategies to address them in episode #63 of the Path Podcast.  Lynn’s 30-year journey in nonprofit leadership is also instructive around the types of professional development she’s invested, including advocacy, fundraising and communications.ABOUT LYNN Lynn Fick-Cooper is currently the Managing Director for Societal Advancement Group at the Center for Creative Leadership in Greensboro, NC.  Lynn has more than 30 years of experience in leadership positions from a variety of organizations including directing government and community affairs for the Greensboro Area Chamber of Commerce; serving as Chief Marketing Officer for Huthwaite, and serving as Director of Public Relations for IHFRA (International Home Furnishings Representatives Association). Lynn’s previous experience at CCL includes serving as Chief Development Officer and Group Director of Institutional Advancement and Manager. Since 2007, Lynn has also been in a full-time faculty role at CCL, designing and delivering leadership development programs across a variety of sectors, with a specific focus on developing nonprofit, community, and executive nurse leaders in health and health care. In her current role, Lynn is the Program Director and Lead Faculty for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s (RWJF) Public Health Nurse Leaders Program, Community Coalition Leadership Program, and the Program Designer and Lead Faculty for the RWJF Executive Nurse Fellows program at the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL®). She also manages CCL’s relationships with other foundations such as the Kate B. Reynolds Trust, Kresge Foundation, the Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation of North Carolina, and the Community Memorial Foundation in Chicago. Lynn received her B.A. in Communication with a concentration in public relations and M.B.A. from the Bryan School of Business at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCESThe full white paper: Confronting Wicked ProblemsCCL’s work in Nonprofit Leadership Training Martin Linsky & Ron Heifetz’ book Leadership on the Line

62: What Should We Learn from the Giving USA Report? (Melissa Brown)  SUMMARYYou’ve likely seen the numbers each year that represent philanthropic support in the United States through the Giving USA report.  The question is, do you really understand what the numbers mean, and how they apply to you and your nonprofit?  There is no one better suited to help us understand those questions than Melissa Brown, who has spent some of her stellar 30-year career literally editing the Giving USA report.  In this bonus episode of the Path podcast, #62, Melissa shares practical applications of the data, as well as multiple ways you can better position your nonprofit to take advantage of donor trends and preferences.  ABOUT MELISSA Melissa helps charities turn knowledge into action. Drawing on nearly 30 years in the nonprofit sector, Melissa knows what drives charities to deliver on their mission. She uses research about giving trends and donor motivations to help clients plan effective fundraising; consulting services include presentations, training, surveys, and program evaluation. She was rated as one of the country’s top philanthropy speakers in 2016. Melissa began work as a fundraiser in 1989. Since 2011, her firm Melissa S. Brown & Associates has served clients throughout North America. Major projects include The Fund Raising School, evaluation for Indiana Youth Institute, data analysis for National Philanthropic Counsel, and project management for Carter, a global consulting firm based in Florida. She also volunteers with AFP Research Council and currently chairs the Association of Philanthropic Counsel. Before founding Melissa S. Brown & Associates in 2011, Melissa worked at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, where she edited Giving USA. She studied at Reed College and the University of Pennsylvania. Melissa & her historian husband live in southern Washington state, where they are reveling in the mild climate of Zone 8b after 30+ years in gardening Zone 5a. She enjoys kayaking, bird watching, and spending time with family and friends. Her own giving focuses on climate change mitigation, the arts, and social justice.EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCESBill Meehan and Kim Jonker’s book Engine of Impact Lisa Knowlton and Cynthia Phillips’ book The Logic Model GuidebookFree Donor Advised Fund widgetMelissa’s work through Melissa S. Brown & Associates LLCMelissa’s work through Carter Global 

61: 4 Ways to Advance Your Nonprofit Career (Jay Dowd)   SUMMARYWhat are some practical ways you can advance your nonprofit leadership career? In episode #61 of the Path, South Carolina native Dr. Jay Dowd brings experience from leading four different university fundraising teams to answer that question. He shares the critical advice he learned early in his career from mentors and donors themselves, as well as the value of his network and his involvement in professional associations that continue to help him to this day. Jay also gives candid advice for those seeking employment in the sector, and specifically what he’s looking for when he interviews a candidate. Finally, we discussed his exploration of both a masters and doctoral degree, and how he and The Citadel Foundation have been so successful in fundraising, even in the midst of a pandemic!  ABOUT JAY John P. “Jay” Dowd, III, Ph.D., has served as the President and CEO of The Citadel Foundation since 2013. Jay coordinates fundraising activity with the college’s five academic schools as well as the Krause Center for Leadership and Ethics and The Citadel Graduate College. Under his leadership, TCF publicly launched the $175 million Foundation for Leadership campaign in 2015, coinciding with The Citadel’s 175th anniversary in 2018, and raised in excess of $250 million. Before joining TCF, Jay served as VP for Development and Executive Director of the Francis Marion University Education Foundation (Florence, SC), VP for Advancement at Columbia College (Columbia, SC) and VP for institutional Advancement at Methodist College (Fayetteville, NC). He earned his BA in history from Winthrop University, his Master of Education from the University of South Carolina, and his Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Administration with a cognate in Public Administration from USC as well. Jay currently serves as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), on the Board of Directors of the Alston Wilkes Society in Columbia, S.C., and on the Board of Directors for the SC United Methodist Conference for Camps and Retreat Ministries. A native of Bennettsville, SC, Jay currently resides in Mount Pleasant, SC, with his wife and two children. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCESThe Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB)Keith Ferrazzi’s book Never Eat AloneRick Warren’s book Purpose Driven LifeDoris Kearns Goodwin’s book Team of RivalsGoodwin’s book Leadership in Turbulent Times

60: Maximizing The Leadership Trio for Fundraising Success (Theresa Lee)  SUMMARYTheresa Lee has enjoyed an exceptional fundraising career, doing some of her best work in the greater Boston area for institutions like MIT, Boston College and Holy Cross.  Her advice on the critical “leadership trio” (the CEO/Executive Director, the Chief Development Officer and the Board Chair) is not only applicable to large institutions, but very relevant to any sized organization trying to maximize its senior staff and board leaders as fundraisers. In episode #60 of the Path Podcast, Theresa shares her insights on each of the three positions, and what they can do to maximize their individual roles as well as better interact with the other two. Lots of good ideas here, as well as bonus content on fundraising in a virtual setting!ABOUT THERESA For 25 years as a philanthropy executive at some of the top ranked universities in the country, Theresa has accumulated the skills and expertise that have enabled her to inspire and lead teams to fundraising success. And, now as a consultant and teacher, she provides advancement professionals with the tools they need to learn and grow. She has served as a senior executive in advancement during comprehensive campaigns at MIT, Boston College, Holy Cross, Worcester Polytechnic Institute and UMass Lowell. She has worked in a variety of advancement roles including major gift fundraising, management of annual and major gift fundraising teams, alumni and parent relations, human resources, and budget management. She is a leader in CASE District I, co-chairing the educational program for the annual conference for two years. As an instructor for Boston University's professional fundraising course and a frequent speaker for AFP, CASE, and WID, she has shared strategy and practical solutions with fundraising professionals from across the world in all types of non-profits. Theresa earned an M.A. in College Student Personnel from Bowling Green State University. As a proud graduate of the University of Maine, she serves as both an admissions ambassador and on the Board of Directors of the Alumni Association.EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCESTheresa’s work through Responsive Fundraising Theresa’s firm TJL PartnersOne of Theresa’s appearances on The Fundraising Talent PodcastTheresa’s book recommendation: John Hope Bryant’s Love Leadership

59:  5 Keys to Leading Dynamic Virtual Meetings (Lea Williams)  SUMMARYEven before the pandemic, the lack of effective meetings was one of the biggest productivity challenges for many nonprofit organizations.  As a leader, you cannot afford to waste the collective time and talent of your staff, board and key volunteers. To offer practical advice for better meetings - especially in a virtual setting - Dr. Lea Williams shares her five keys for creating a more dynamic and productive culture when you bring your team together in episode #59 of the Path.  She discusses how to assess your “meeting ROI”, how to design a thoughtful agenda, how to prepare with purpose, how to master your virtual platform, and how to keep the momentum going.  Listen for these and other ideas to help you lead your nonprofit.  ABOUT LEALea is an Organizational Scientist who joined the PMA team in June of 2020. Prior to joining the firm, Lea dedicated her time to two main areas: earning her Ph.D. in Organizational Science from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and serving 15+ nonprofits through pro-bono consulting engagements through the Volunteer Program Assessment. In addition to her nonprofit work, while obtaining her Doctorate, Lea also worked in several Talent Management/Organizational Development roles at large organizations in Charlotte, such as Ingersoll Rand, Duke Energy, TIAA, and Jacobsen. Given her strong research background, she is skilled at gathering input and synthesizing it to help nonprofit leaders develop innovative solutions. Her specialties include meeting effectiveness (the subject of her dissertation), leadership, board, and staff training and development, data analysis (both quantitative and qualitative), strategic planning, survey design, stakeholder research, and volunteer retention/engagement. She also received her Master's in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and her bachelor's degree in Psychology from Davidson College. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCESSteven Rogelberg’s book The Surprising Science of MeetingsRogelberg’s 10 Quick Tips to Make Remote Meetings WorkLea’s work at PMA through consulting and meeting facilitation

58: How to Make Nonprofit Leadership Your Dream Job (Carson Tate) SUMMARYGiven the uncertainty we all face right now, it is reassuring to speak with someone like Carson Tate who understands the challenges of maintaining personal and professional balance, as well as the nuances of productivity.  Carson offers great advice and resources for nonprofit leaders in Episode #58 of the Path, starting with an understanding of your personal productivity style, and how to adapt if your style does not match those you work with!  We also explored the origins of her first book on productivity, Work Simply, and the exciting debut of her second book, Own It, Love It, Make It Work: How to Turn Any Job into Your Dream Job.  Ready to jump start your personal and professional productivity?  This episode is a good place to start!ABOUT CARSONA dynamic teacher and coach, Carson is known for igniting personal transformation through her simple, powerful and actionable strategies and tools. She wants people to work smarter, not harder and is on a mission to debunk the time management myths that keep us trapped and overwhelmed, and help us personalize our productivity so we can work simply AND live fully. Carson has the professional magic and personal spark to ignite change quickly, easily, and efficiently. So many experts in the productivity space offer tools help people work smarter. But with Carson’s strategies comes a call to action for each of us navigating our fast-paced, results-driven world to look deeper into our lives to discover the meaning that drives us. Carson serves as a consultant, coach, and trainer to executives at Fortune 500 companies including (but not limited to) AbbVie, Deloitte, FedEx and Wells Fargo. The author of Work Simply and Own It. Love It. Make It Work, her views have also been included in top-tier business media including Bloomberg Businessweek, CBS Money Watch, Fast Company, Forbes, Harvard Business Review blog, The New York Times, USA Today, Working Mother and more. Carson holds a BA in psychology from Washington and Lee University, a Masters in Organization Development, and a Coaching Certificate from the McColl School of Business at Queens University.EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCESCarson’s resources for podcast listeners HEREPreorder a copy of Own It. Love It. Make it Work.What is your work style?  Take the Productivity Style Assessment Brene’ Brown’s book Dare to Lead

57: Bringing Authenticity to Nonprofit Leadership (Lisa Baxter)  SUMMARYLike many in the nonprofit sector, Lisa Baxter did not seek a role in philanthropy; the sector quite literally sought her out.  And while the path to nonprofit leadership has not always been accommodating to her, the lessons learned and wisdom gained has helped Lisa not only succeed but also provides valuable advice for other leaders on a similar career track.  In episode #57 of the Path podcast, Lisa discusses the systems she has in place to remain productive while balancing work and family, and also how she’s even more sensitive to the value of her time.  She also shares some great resources that have helped her develop her skills and encourage others to join the profession.ABOUT LISALisa is the Director of Major Gifts for MLK Community Health Foundation in Los Angeles and is responsible for the strategic direction and management of key donors and fundraising initiatives essential to developing, expanding and stewarding major philanthropic support for the hospital.  Lisa has worked in the nonprofit sector for 12 years including roles as the Director of Development for After-School All-Stars, Los Angeles (ASAS-LA), the Associate Director, Corporate Giving at Starlight Children’s Foundation and the Director of Corporate Development at Make-A-Wish Greater Los Angeles. Prior to Make-A-Wish, Lisa worked at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) for five years as an Associate Director, Major and Planned Gifts. Lisa began her career in nonprofit as a Match Support Specialist at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles and earned her BA in English from Mount Saint Mary’s University and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Association of Fundraising Professionals of Greater Los Angeles (AFP-GLAC) and Conaxion a non-profit that supports small businesses in South LA with access to capital, technical assistance and resources needed to grow and thrive. Lisa is also the 2020 Chair of the AFP-GLAC I.D.E.A. (Inclusion. Diversity. Equity. Access.) Committee.EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCESWomen of Color in Fundraising and PhilanthropyCreating Safe Spaces for Crucial Conversations about Race: Virtual WorkshopLaura Frederick’s book The AskDale Carnegie’s book How to Win Friends & Influence PeopleThomas Crane’s book The Heart of Coaching