Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership

56:  10 Essential Skills & Experiences for Nonprofit Leadership (Patton McDowell)SUMMARYThis episode of the Path Podcast, #56, includes a top-10 list of the most important skills and experiences necessary for successful nonprofit leadership:Lifelong Learning PlanPersonal OrganizationLeadershipNonprofit/SectorFinancial AcumenSpoken CommunicationWritten CommunicationListening/Conversation SkillsNetworkingStrategic PlanningABOUT PATTONPatton has spent his entire 30-year career helping talented individuals raise more funds and effectively lead their nonprofit organizations. After starting his consulting practice in 2009, he and his colleagues have worked with the leaders of more than 230 nonprofit organizations.  Before starting PMA Consulting, he spent a decade in higher education as Vice President for Advancement at Queens University after serving in the same role at UNC Wilmington, where he was the youngest vice chancellor in the UNC system. Prior to his tenure in higher education, he worked with volunteers from 85 different counties as the state Program Director for Special Olympics North Carolina and as an Assistant for Education & Training for Special Olympics International in Washington DC, where he helped design coach and volunteer training curriculum used worldwide. Patton grew up in Elizabeth City, NC, and went to UNC Chapel Hill as a Morehead Scholar where he received a BA in English Education. He received his MBA from the McColl School of Business while working at Queens, and his Doctorate in Education (Organizational Change & Leadership) from the Rossier School at the University of Southern California. He is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), and a Master Trainer for the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) International. He also serves as the Lead Faculty Member for the Institute for Philanthropic Leadership in Charlotte, where he works with aspiring nonprofit leaders through the New Development Directors program and coaches an annual cohort of Executive Directors and Chief Development Officers through Leadership Gift School. EPISODE RESOURCESPMA's Masterminds ProgramRegister for IPL's New Development Professionals ProgramDavid Allen’s book Getting Things Done Listen: What is Your Nonprofit Career Vision?

55: Recalibrating Your Fundraising Strategy as a Nonprofit Leader (Alison Singer) SUMMARYLike most nonprofit leaders, you are likely driven by passion for a cause that is meaningful to you.  Alison Singer is certainly a great example of that drive, but she has also taken her lifelong commitment to serving individuals and families with Autism and turned it into a national nonprofit called the Autism Science Foundation.  Her story is a fascinating one, and her podcast episode, #55 on the Path, also serves as a master class in the fundamentals of starting a nonprofit, and real-time adaptations to special event planning, fundraising and powerful online resources. We also discussed her organizational and team-building strategies during the pandemic, and what things she expects to continue beyond COVID-19.   ABOUT ALISONAlison is the Co-Founder and President of the Autism Science Foundation and she manages the foundation’s strategy and directs it to fulfill its mission of supporting autism research and educating the public to increase awareness of autism and the needs of individuals and families affected by autism. Alison has served on the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) since 2007. She also currently serves on the executive board of the Yale Child Study Center, on the external advisory board of the Marcus Autism Center at Emory University, and on the external advisory board of the CDC’s Center for Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities. Alison chairs the International Society for Autism Research public relations committee and is a member of the IMFAR program committee and community advisory committee. She graduated magna cum laude from Yale University with a B.A. in Economics and has an MBA from Harvard Business School. During the COVID-19 pandemic, ASF has launched several new programs to respond quickly to the changing needs of the autism community and make sure that critically needed autism research continues to progress. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCESThe Autism Science Foundation’s Day of Learning (September 22, 2020)The Autism Science Foundation’s Pivot Grants program The Autism Science Foundation’s Webinar Series for SiblingsAlison’s pick: Nir Eyal’s book Indistractable 

54: Building a Leadership Gift Culture at Your Nonprofit Organization (Chris McLeod) SUMMARYHow do you assure your nonprofit is in a position to receive Leadership Gifts?  Many nonprofit organizations dream of that type transformational donor investment, but fail to put themselves in a good position to receive one.  Chris McLeod knows all about that challenge, and helped co-found the Institute for Philanthropic Leadership - and its signature program called Leadership Gift School – to help organizations better articulate their case for leadership giving.  Chris and I had a great conversation about LGS on episode #54 of the Path Podcast, and also discussed the work she’s done over her 25-year nonprofit career in planned giving and in other fundraising settings.  Chris was also willing to open up about her battle with cancer and the career choices she’s made as a result of personal and professional challenges. ABOUT CHRISChris is the Director of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Duke University and her professional experience is wide-ranging prior to OLLI. It includes working as a Congressional Affairs Officer for the Office of Congressional Affairs with the Federal Emergency Management Agency; as Director of Corporate and Foundation Development for the Kenan-Flagler Business School at UNC-Chapel Hill; as Director of Fund Development and Planned Giving for the Carolinas HealthCare Foundation; as Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations for UNC-Charlotte; as Executive Director for The Greater Charlotte Cultural Trust of the Foundation For The Carolinas; and as founder and president of Giving Matters, Inc. (a consulting firm focused upon providing philanthropic counsel). In 2008, Chris was part of a group of philanthropy leaders in Charlotte who were inspired to develop a program to help educate nonprofit leaders about how to cultivate individuals for major gifts; this effort resulted in the creation of the Institute for Philanthropic Leadership and its inaugural program, the Leadership Gift School. Chris earned her bachelor’s degree in political science with honors from Wheaton College and a J.D. from American University. Following her graduation from American, she was admitted to the Maryland Bar. She has also completed the Bridges Program for Academic Leadership (Chapel Hill) and the Innovation Institute of the Transformational Leadership Program (McColl Center for Visual Arts). EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCESRegister for IPL’s New Development Professionals or Leadership Gift School ProgramsApply for PMA’s Mastermind ProgramHenri Nouwen’s book A Spirituality of FundraisingOsha Davidson’s book The Best of EnemiesBruce Feiler’s book Life is in the Transitions: Mastering Change at Any Age

53: Building A Legacy Organization Through Nonprofit Leadership (Jeff Michael) SUMMARYEvery nonprofit organization has an upcoming anniversary, whether it’s their first, their 150th, or somewhere in between.  While simply celebrating an anniversary may not help your organization achieve strategic success, it may well provide a unique opportunity to raise awareness of your organization's history, as well as elevate your vision going forward.  That’s exactly what Jeff Michael and I discussed during episode #53 of the Path Podcast.  Jeff is the Director of UNC Charlotte’s Urban Institute, a unique and collaborative organization that partners with nonprofit and municipal entities to improve all aspects of the region it serves.  Jeff brings great insight not only from his leadership journey, but from how he’s embraced innovation during this time of virtual programming, and utilized his organization’s 50th anniversary to sharpen his vision for future success.  He also offers great suggestions for nonprofit leaders on their professional development plans, and how they might partner with organizations like his to make a data-driven case for support that is appealing to funders and to the community at large.    ABOUT JEFF Jeff received a BS in Business Administration and a Master of Regional Planning from UNC Chapel Hill, as well as a J.D. from the UNC School of Law. He is often called upon by the media and policy makers to draw upon his professional and personal knowledge of the Charlotte region to provide expert commentary on the economic, environmental and social issues facing the region. In addition to his administrative responsibilities, Jeff has played a lead role in the creation of the Institute’s Charlotte Regional Indicators Project, and frequently lends his expertise in land use and environmental law to research projects. He also serves as acting Director of the RENCI@UNC Charlotte Engagement Center. Prior to coming to the Institute in 2003, Jeff served as Executive Director of the Wildacres Leadership Initiative in Durham, as founding Director of The Land Trust for Central NC in Salisbury, and founding Director of the Yadkin-Pee Dee Lakes Project in Badin. He was selected as a William C. Friday Fellow in 1997 and as an American Marshall Memorial Fellow in 2005. He serves on the boards of the Conservation Trust of NC, Wildacres Retreat, and The LandTrust for Central North Carolina, the Advisory Council of the Carolina Thread Trail, and the Trust for Public Land’s Carolinas Advisory Board.EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCESFinding a University Public Service Institute through CUPSORaj Chetty’s research on economic mobility through Opportunity InsightsRon Heifetz’s book Leadership Without Easy AnswersJames Baldwin’s Collected Essays

52: Celebrating Black Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership (Valaida Fullwood) SUMMARYWhat can your nonprofit do to better engage Black philanthropists?  There is no one better suited to answer the question than Valaida Fullwood, who brings her pioneering experience through Charlotte’s New Generation of African American Philanthropists (NGAAP) and its Bold Project, as well as her experience as a champion for Black Philanthropy Month and the #BPM2020CLT initiative. She also brings to life more than 200 examples of Black philanthropy through her award-winning book Giving Back.  Valaida and I discussed her journey in nonprofit leadership, lessons she’s learned along the way, and how to be an “idea whisperer” and someone who can bring philanthropic innovation to their organization. Much more in this episode of the Path Podcast, as she has powerful and timely advice for any current or aspiring nonprofit leader.    ABOUT VALAIDA Valaida brings unbridled imagination and a gift for harnessing wild ideas to her work as a writer, public speaker and consultant. She is the award-winning author of Giving Back, a book profiling stories of philanthropy among African Americans that was developed with photographer Charles Thomas.  Valaida is a recognized thought leader on African American philanthropy and community-led philanthropy and is frequently invited by a variety of groups to write, talk and consult on the topic. She is featured in a 2013 TEDx Talk on philanthropy and was named the 2014 Lake Distinguished Visitor at Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. In 2015, Valaida collaborated with HBCUs, museums and other cultural institutions to launch the multimedia, touring exhibition Giving Back: The Soul of Philanthropy Reframed and Exhibited. In 2020, the Charlotte Chapter of the Association of Funding Professionals (AFP) named Valaida Charlotte’s Outstanding Champion of Diversity. She also earned the 2020 Trailblazer Award from ABFE, the national network of Black executives and professionals in philanthropy.  Valaida’s writing and projects are featured on valaida.com, and she enjoys social media connections on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter at @ValaidaF.   EPISODE RESOURCESThe Bridgespan Group and Echoing Green’s study: Racial Equity and PhilanthropyBlack Philanthropy MonthJim Taylor’s episode #35 on nonprofit commitment to equity

51: Is a Merger Right for Your Nonprofit? (Laura Belcher)SUMMARYAs uncertain conditions continue to challenge nonprofit leaders and their ability to plan strategically, the need for effective collaboration is greater than ever.  While effective partnerships and collaborative opportunities exist without an actual merger taking place, many nonprofit leaders are contemplating what an actual merger might do for their organization.  In episode #51 of the Path Podcast, Laura Belcher, the President & CEO of Habitat for Humanity of the Charlotte Region, and I had a great discussion about all three phases of a nonprofit merger.  What should you be looking for in a potential merger partner?  How do you effectively plan for the merger to take place?  How do you implement the merger once the decision has been made?  These are just a few of the strategic topics Laura and I discussed, and she offers a wealth of ideas and advice based on her journey that will help anyone on the path to nonprofit leadership. ABOUT LAURALaura joined Habitat Charlotte in 2014. The organization’s mission is to remove barriers to affordable housing by bringing people together to build homes, communities and hope. During her tenure, Laura has overseen a 30% growth in production, led the effort in the creation and implementation of the 2016-2020 strategic plan, and in February of this year, managed the merger between Habitat Charlotte and Our Towns Habitat, creating Habitat for Humanity of the Charlotte Region. Over the last two years, she has been instrumental in the affiliate’s offering more diverse housing solutions and an expansion in financial literacy offerings. Laura has served on numerous committees of Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI); she currently co-chairs the Collaborative Operating Model Executive Task Force and was elected to a 3-year term on the HFHI US Council. She spent the first 20 years of her career in corporate roles with Arthur Andersen, Wachovia Securities and Transamerica. Laura is a CPA, a graduate of the College of William and Mary, and spent 9 years in nonprofit work as CFO/COO of the Arts & Sciences Council prior to joining Habitat. She attributes her passion for Habitat to her church where she started volunteering and building houses over 20 years ago. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCESHabitat for Humanity InternationalGino Wickman’s book Traction

50: Elevating A Cause Through Nonprofit Leadership (Curtis Drafton)SUMMARYNot many nonprofit leaders have actually experienced the personal and professional challenges facing the individuals their organization serves.  After two Army tours in the Middle East left him injured, Curtis Drafton then had to overcome the tragic loss of his fiancé to cancer.  In his words, he was “mentally broken and confused,” but also realized he was not alone in his struggle.  Few would have blamed him for taking years to get his life and career in order, but Curtis realized many of the challenges he faced were not dissimilar from thousands of other veterans who had selflessly served this country. From that point on, Curtis found his calling, and helped found the U.S. Veterans Hall of Fame.  In episode #50 of the Path Podcast, Curtis and I had a great conversation in which he shares practical insight for nonprofit leaders trying to turn a cause into a successful organization.  What resources were most helpful to Curtis?  How did he approach fundraising on a local, regional and national level?  How did he identify the volunteers, partners, and resources necessary to make the concept of a Hall of Fame much more than a building?  Answers to these questions and much more in this episode! ABOUT CURTISAfter an all-state high school track and field career in Ohio, Curtis enrolled at Columbus State Community College with dreams of transferring to Ohio State and eventually training for the Olympics. Two nagging knee injuries ended his athletic career, however, and an enlistment in the Army followed.  After getting his degree in kinesiology, he completed a four-year military contract, and then took a year to care for his ailing fiancé who was diagnosed with ​acute lymphocytic leukemia​. After she passed away, he re-enlisted for an additional two-year commitment. Following his military service, he took on several positions in corporate America, bringing passion to each, but not finding the calling he was looking for. He then launched a volunteer rescue team to help veterans affected by natural disasters, and knew he had found his purpose.  It was then he also became a Chaplain, and heard God’s calling for the U.S. Veterans Hall of Fame.  Curtis is also a Minister on staff at Uplift Christian Ministries in Charlotte, NC, a collegiate athletics mentor, a veterans' needs advocate, a Search & Rescue Team Leader and an avid gardener.EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCESJamel Jackson’s book The Value of RelationshipsMark Batterson’s book In a Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day

049:  4 Tips for Effective & Efficient Fundraising (Patton McDowell)SUMMARY Patton had an opportunity to be a guest on Dolph Goldenburg’s great podcast and discuss four key tips he’s found to help nonprofit organizations organize their fundraising efforts.  This was also our first opportunity to participate in a “reverse podcast,” as this episode first appeared on Dolph’s feed on July 16, 2020, and now is included on our feed as well.  Description from The Successful Nonprofits Podcast: Small and medium-sized nonprofits face unique fundraising challenges and all too often overcompensate in ways that can cause lasting damage. Today’s guest, Patton McDowell, is not only a nonprofit podcast sensation himself, but a fundraising expert. Patton shares 4 simple tips to accomplish efficient and effective fundraising: adopt an achievable fundraising strategy, use positive messaging, properly engage your board and executive director, and keep your development staff happy. Listen in for details on how you and your nonprofit can achieve each of these and improve your fundraising outcome!ABOUT PATTONPatton has spent his entire 30-year career helping talented individuals raise more funds and effectively lead their nonprofit organizations. After starting his consulting practice in 2009, he and his colleagues have worked with the leaders of more than 230 nonprofit organizations.  Before starting PMA Consulting, he spent a decade in higher education as Vice President for Advancement at Queens University after serving in the same role at UNC Wilmington, where he was the youngest vice chancellor in the UNC system. Prior to his tenure in higher education, he worked with volunteers from 85 different counties as the state Program Director for Special Olympics North Carolina and as an Assistant for Education & Training for Special Olympics International in Washington DC. Patton grew up in Elizabeth City, NC, and went to UNC Chapel Hill as a Morehead Scholar where he received a BA in English Education. He received his MBA from the McColl School of Business while working at Queens, and his Doctorate in Education (Organizational Change & Leadership) from the Rossier School at the University of Southern California. He is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), and a Master Trainer for the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) International. He also serves as the Lead Faculty Member for the Institute for Philanthropic Leadership in Charlotte. Patton is the host of the weekly podcast Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership.EPISODE RESOURCESListen: Dolph Goldenburg’s episode #44 Building A Supercharged Nonprofit BoardListen: Patton’s episode #165 on the Successful Nonprofits Podcast

48: Agile Arts Leadership in the Nonprofit Sector (Devlin McNeil)SUMMARYHow do you manage an Arts organization when every aspect of your program is disrupted? Perhaps no nonprofit sector has more challenges right now than Arts & Culture organizations, given the limitations to programming, performances and gatherings.  And with the philanthropic community understandably focused on health and human services, the Arts sector faces even greater needs for agile leadership.  Fortunately, Devlin McNeil, the President & Executive Director of Arts+, provides great insight as to how any organization can adapt and change despite challenges from every direction in episode #48 of the Path Podcast.  In addition to her change management strategies, Devlin and I discussed how she’s attracted and retained a very talented team of staff leaders, as well as built an incredibly dynamic board of directors.  She also provides great insight about evaluating and ultimately choosing the right nonprofit leadership role to fit your personal mission and career goals.   ABOUT DEVLINDevlin joined Community School of the Arts (CSA), now Arts+, in June 2013. As President & Executive Director, she is responsible for the leadership and management of the organization, facilitates programs and key partnerships, and directs efforts to ensure sustainable funding. Devlin received her BFA, as a non-traditional student, from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC) with concentrations in Photography and Art History and has completed coursework for the Master of Arts in Arts Administration (MAAA) program at Winthrop University. Prior to her role at Arts+, she worked for McColl Center for Visual Art for 10 1⁄2 years – with a brief hiatus of 10 months to work with the Public Art Program of the Charlotte Area Transit System. Her roles at McColl Center included Marketing, Education Director, Program Director, and before leaving her tenure there, Chief Operating Officer. Devlin began her career in non-profit arts management after formerly working for First Union National Bank (now Wells Fargo) and brings a complementary blend of non-profit and corporate experience to her role as Executive Director. She has been a presenter at the North Carolina Arts Education Conference, a panelist for the United Arts Council of Greater Greensboro and the Charlotte Area Transit System—where she also served as a curator, and a juror for many art competitions including UNC Charlotte and Scholastics. She has associations with NAEA – National Art Education Association, National Guild for Community Arts Education, Charlotte Symphony Guild, Women Executives, and serves on the board of the Charlotte Lesbian and Gay Fund. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCESArts+ Programs & ClassesPaulo Coelho’s book The Alchemist

47: Millennials & Corporate Partners: What Nonprofit Leaders Need to Know (Derrick Feldmann)SUMMARYHow do you get the millennial generation to engage in your nonprofit’s cause?  That’s the first question Derrick Feldmann and I explored during our conversation on episode #47 of the Path Podcast.  There is no one more qualified to answer that question, given his decade-long research on the millennial generation.  While Derrick provided a fascinating look at that demographic, we were also able to follow his research journey into two other specialty areas as well.  His work around Social Movements for Good explored what makes some causes not only go viral, but truly engage their constituencies.  Finally, we delved into the findings published in his latest book, The Corporate Social Mind, which provides invaluable insight about what companies are looking for ion their nonprofit and community partnerships.  All of these topics certainly should be ingrained in the minds of nonprofit leaders as they strengthen their organizations as well as engage critical support from community and corporate leaders.  Not only are Derrick’s books ones to add to your collection, but he also adds four others to your wish list!ABOUTDerrick Feldmann is a sought-after speaker, researcher and advisor for causes and companies on social movements and issue engagement and is the author of three books, Social Movements For Good: How Companies and Causes Create Viral Change andCause for Change: The Why and How of Nonprofit MillennialEngagement and The Corporate Social Mind. He has been recognized as a leading researcher in cause engagement for more than a decade and his work is regularly cited by such outlets as Forbes, Fast Company and The Wall Street Journal and as a reliable source of data on today’s cause engagement. During the prior 10 years, he led the research team for the Millennial Impact Project, producing the comprehensive study on how the generation has engaged with causes from varying perspectives. Derrick currently splits his time between INFLUENCE|SG and the Ad Council Edge, the Ad Council’s strategic consulting division that advises during the formative stages of public engagement programs. EPISODE RESOURCESDerrick’s study on Influencing Young America to ActMark & Paul Engler’s book This is an Uprising Robert Shiller's book Narrative Economics Walter Isaacson's Leonardo Da Vinci Samantha Power's The Education of an Idealist