Episodes

In this episode, you’ll get a clear-eyed look at the newest national data on nonprofit stability—and what it means for your organization, your funding strategy, your workforce or your grantees’ workforce. While you're here, w...

Download our Edited Transcript for this episode. Get the extended version of this and all episodes (and mucn more) by joining our Patreon community. In this installment of our ongoing Defend Nonprofits, Defend Democracy Serie...

In this episode of the Fund the People Podcast , you'll gain practical insights into how centering workers' perspectives -- and sharing power between employees and management -- can dramatically improve job quality in nonprof...

In this episode of the Fund the People Podcast , listeners will gain practical insight into how philanthropy can evolve to meet today’s interconnected crises—and what funders can do differently right now to support justice, s...

Download the transcript of this episode in .pdf format⁠ Join our premium version of the FTP Pod on Patreon , For just $6 a month, you get extended versions of this and all episodes; bonus content; community; and our Patreon-o...

In this episode, you’ll learn how nonprofits are really rated—and why the sector’s obsession with overhead could finally be ending. Charity Navigator CEO Michael Thatcher joins host Rusty Stahl to explain how nonprofit rating...

Click here for edited transcript (pdf format) According to the Trump Administration, nonprofits and philanthropic foundations are “terror-supporting organizations.” Peaceful protestors are “terrorists.” Violent mobs are simpl...

In this brief holiday wrap-up for the podcast season and the calendar year 2025, you’ll learn some behind the scenes Season 8 highlights, and you’ll get a sneak-peek at some of the provocative guests and valuable topics we’ll...

In this final episode of Season 8, you'll get a powerful, inspiring discussion on defending the nonprofit sector amid political intimidation and retrenchment, with a call to action for funders to act with courage rather than ...

In this episode, you’ll learn about a powerful alternative to restricted, project-based funding: enterprise capital for nonprofits. Guest Andrea Levere, founder and CEO of Capitalize Good, explains why nonprofits—like any ent...

In this episode, nonprofit finance expert Gretchen Upholt joins Rusty to introduce Nonprofit GPS , BDO’s free new online toolkit for scenario planning, business model resilience, and short-term coaching. Learn how your organi...

Just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday, Rusty sits down with consultant and PlayFull Podcast host Kristine Michie for a lively conversation about the role of joy, play, and ice cream in sustaining the nonprofit workforce. ...

This episode explores the stages of foundation responses to the Trump Administration’s War on Charities, through the lens of a place-based funder network. Rusty sits down with Megan Thomas, CEO of Catalyst of San Diego and Im...

In this episode, you'll get valuable insights from the CEO of one of the few foundations in the US focused on nonprofit people, not nonprofit programs. Our guest is Maria Cabildo, CEO of The Durfee Foundation. Durfee funds “p...

In this powerful episode of Fund the People’s Defend Nonprofits, Defend Democracy series, Rusty sits down with Tonya Allen, President of the McKnight Foundation, to explore how philanthropy can respond to the Trump Administra...

In this brief Bonus Episode, Rusty Stahl introduces the concept of Staff Operating Support (S.O.S.) Grants. It's a new type of grant for the new type of existential crisis we face. Download our new S.O.S. Grants Concept Paper...

Nonprofit burnout is real — and rising. In this episode, Rusty Stahl welcomes back Dr. Elisha Smith Arrillaga , Vice President of Research at the Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP) . They discuss new data revealing how s...

Advocacy expert Bethany Snyder joins Rusty Stahl to reveal how nonprofit leaders can reclaim their power, speak out boldly, and protect the sector from political attacks. In this powerful episode of Fund the People , host Rus...

Is your nonprofit stuck in an understaffing cycle, in which you need expertise but can't afford senior-level salaries? Are you overwhelmed by wearing multiple hats as an executive director, lacking specialized skills in fundr...

Are you feeling drained like we are by all the setbacks facing our work? Struggling to process the cycle of progress and backlash? Would you like to create space for your team to discuss their sadness, anger, and fear, but al...

In this episode, you’ll learn how many-year grants can bolster nonprofit people and programmatic impact. Host Rusty Stahl sits down with Betsy Leondar-Wright, Ph.D., the lead researcher at Fund the People, to discuss our bran...

In the season premiere of Season 8, your host Rusty Stahl (Founder, President & CEO of Fund the People) outlines the season’s focus on strengthening and defending the nonprofit sector. He previews upcoming conversations with ...

What happens when a major foundation president decides to speak out boldly during a crisis? How can philanthropy surge resources to protect nonprofit workers facing unprecedented job losses? In this season finale of the Fund ...

Why are so many talented community organizers burning out and leaving the field just when we need them most? What would it look like if nonprofits collectively committed to improving wages and working conditions for the peopl...