Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership

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

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