The PM Podcast

In this episode, we speak with William Cabaniss, a high school student from Knoxville, Tennessee, and founder of Vanilla Feeds Tomorrow, recipient of the 2024 William R. Simms Award for Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy, sponsored by Carter through the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy. Recognized for his dedication to combating hunger and food insecurity, William's nonprofit sells homemade vanilla extract and donates the proceeds to Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee. His efforts have provided over 631,000 meals. We caught up with William at AFP ICON in Toronto. 

Lois Buntz is the author of "Generosity and Gender: Philanthropic Models for Women Donors and the Fund Development Professionals Who Support Them," recipient of the prestigious AFP/Skystone Partners Prize. A career veteran who has served on over 20 boards, raised more than $125 million, and been the first woman to serve as CEO of United Way of East Central Iowa, Lois draws from extensive personal and professional experience in addition to new research and insights from 70 interviews with leading women in philanthropy to bring us a rare and profound view of the new fourth wave of philanthropy by women. This interview was recorded live at AFP ICON in Toronto.

In this episode, we speak with Dimetri O'Brien, Development and Communications Manager at New Endeavors by Women and a recipient of the Outstanding Young Professionals Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Dimetri has raised significant sums across several roles and organizations, including over $250,000 for HIV/AIDS Programs, upwards of $500,000 for the first national STI testing campaign, playing a key role in securing $1 million for St. Coletta of Greater Washington, and a 30% increase in online support in his current position. We caught up with Dimetri at AFP ICON in Toronto.

Santana Febrey is one of four individuals honored with the Outstanding Young Professional Award by the Association for Fundraising Professionals in 2024. Santana serves as Development Officer at Autism Edmonton where she has spearheaded the organization's first fund development strategic plan and been instrumental in building partnerships leading to corporate support nearly 300% over projections. We caught up with Santana at AFP ICON, the fundraising association's international conference.

Madeleine Durante is one of four individuals honored with the Outstandig Young Professional Award by the Association of Fundraising Professionals in 2024. Madeleine serves as Director for Donor Retention and Direct Response at MoveOn with responsibility for maintaining relationships with over 100,000 of the organization's grassroots sustainers. She is also a board member for the New York Abortion Access Fund, co-leading the organization to 750% revenue growth over the last three years. We spoke at AFP ICON, the fundraising associations annual international conference. 

Pamela R. Clay has been at the helm of Living Advantage Inc. for nearly three decades, working tirelessly to uplift at-risk youth in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. Building on her mother's legacy, she has broadened the nonprofit's scope, enhancing education, technology, access, and career readiness to disrupt cycles of adversity. As the number and needs of foster youth grow and expand, Living Advantage's work is more critical than ever. Today, Pamela Clay and her team are providing a broad range of essential services to reduce the number of youth who face homelessness, joblessness, and incarceration as they transition out of the foster care system and into successful, independent lives that defy the odds.

Betsy Chapin Taylor, Founder and CEO of Accordant, is one of healthcare philanthropy's most provocative and influential thought leaders. An award-winning author, speaker, and consultant, she is a Fellow of the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy and a recipient of the prestigious Si Seymour Award. She is also an advocate for the sector who speaks powerfully from both personal and professional experience about the critical importance of healthcare philanthropy.

Gayle Roberts is a seasoned fundraiser whose journey began at the age of six with a backyard carnival. Now, as Chief Development Officer at Larkin Street Youth Services, she's raised over $200 million to combat youth homelessness and support other good causes in San Francisco. A respected figure, Gayle is not only a leader in nonprofit fundraising but also a proud transgender professional Her story is as unique as it is inspiring.

Ken Miller's story is one of personal transformation and professional achievement. After a battle with addiction and a period of incarceration in the Lower 48, he returned to Alaska to remake his life, marrying his high school sweetheart and embarking on a career in the nonprofit sector. He served as the director of development for Bean's Café and then launched Denali Fundraising Consultants, a nonprofit fundraising and management consulting company located in Anchorage. Today, Ken is an influential leader and mentor in the field, serving on the boards of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, the African American Development Officers network, and many others. We begin with a discussion of the place he calls home, what makes it unique, and what originally brought him there.

Randall Hallett is a person who makes things happen. Over the last three decades he has led major healthcare and independent school development programs, presided over a major healthcare fundraising consultancy, and, most recently, founded the influential practice that bears his name, Hallett Philanthropy. Insatiably curious, he first earned his Bachelors and MBA and then continued to garner his JD and Educational Doctorate while advancing the success of his institutions and somehow finding time to serve as a longtime broadcaster for UMKC Athletics and the Kansas City Chiefs. His recent book, Vibrant Vulnerability, takes on the challenges facing healthcare in America today and the unique role CEOs can and must play.