Episodes

142: Understanding the Impact of Identity for Nonprofit Leaders (Nneka Allen) SUMMARY We are all responsible for the environments we create. And they should all be equitable. Nonprofit leaders clearly understand the impact of identity on an organizational culture and equity outcomes. In episode #142 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Nneka Allen, a descendant of the Underground Railroad, shares her remarkable story which began years ago with her freedom-seeking ancestors and ul...

141: Nonprofit Success in an Age of Disruption (Dave Lenox) SUMMARY Many nonprofits experience periods of volitivity as a result of leadership turnover. Covid has accelerated some nonprofit leaders to leave an organization after many years of service. In episode #141 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Dave Lenox, a former nonprofit executive director and current managing partner at The Valtas Group, explains the numerous resources available to organizations during these transitions. ...

140: A Nonprofit Leader’s Guide to Boosting Board Engagement (Lea Williams) SUMMARY The best nonprofit leaders create and maintain strategic partnerships between themselves, their staff, and their board. If you are looking to take your board to the next level, check out episode #140 of the Path Podcast where Dr. Lea Williams and I discuss five tactics for creating and sustaining a dynamic board of directors. Building off our work together with multiple boards, our conversations with ou...

139: What Are the Best Practices of a Nonprofit Leader? (Katie O’Malley) SUMMARY Have you found true passion along your career journey? Many in the nonprofit sector struggle to maintain their connection to the mission as they accomplish their daily work. With more than 15 years in the sector, Katie O’Malley experienced this dilemma first-hand before translating this struggle into action and sharing her wisdom through Encourage Coaching. In episode #139 of Your Path to Nonpro...

138: Global Expansion for Nonprofit Leaders (George Smith) SUMMARY Regardless of where you are on Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, insight gained from today’s episode with George Smith will no doubt up your game. Within the first few minutes, George will inspire you as he and Patton reminisce on shared experiences with Eunice Kennedy Shriver and the single most important leadership skill the entire Kennedy clan learned early on. George expands on his early leadership experiences...

137: Building A Strong Nonprofit Through Intentional Leadership (Teddy McDaniel) SUMMARY Many for-profit leaders have followed their passion and transitioned to the nonprofit sector. Luckily for the Urban League of the Carolinas, Teddy McDaniel is one such leader who likes to say he doesn’t have a job, he’s on a mission. In episode #137 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Teddy discusses how being an intentional leader strengthens an organization. He and Patton discuss embracin...

136: Maximizing Volunteer Engagement as a Nonprofit Leader (Lauren Kaufman) SUMMARY Are you utilizing the full abilities of your best volunteers? As the leader of an all-volunteer organization that has seen a 40% growth in the past six months, Lauren Kaufman discusses strategic actions to attract, activate, grow, and retain diverse young professional volunteer talent. Connecting the individual volunteer’s skills and experiences with specific organizational roles and committee opportunit...

135: Sharpening Your Vision as a Nonprofit Leader (Pat Millen) SUMMARY Most well-intentioned ideas never become a viable nonprofit organization. But after Pat Millen’s daughter Franny raised the issue of the digital divide after school one day, the family decided to do something about it. Less than 10 years later, one family’s inspiration has evolved into E2D (Eliminate the Digital Divide), and Pat has elevated the organization to state and national prominence. Not only is h...

134: Why Corporations Should Look at Philanthropy in a New Way (Holly Welch Stubbing) SUMMARY Nonprofit organizations worldwide study ways to capitalize on corporate relationships in their fundraising efforts. Having been on both sides of this equation, Holly Welch Stubbing, the President & CEO of E4E Relief, identifies specific challenges she sees as nonprofits try to connect with corporate leaders. She shares her thoughts on how corporations can look at philanthropy differently gi...

133: How to Improve Your Nonprofit Leadership Experience (Patton McDowell) SUMMARY Are you thankful for your current nonprofit leadership role? The sector should be thankful for talented individuals like you who are dedicated to a vital cause in your community, but I know you may not feel that gratitude as you do even more for an organization that needs your every contribution. In this special Thanksgiving Day episode, I offer some ideas that may help you be an even better l...

132: The Power of Donor Stewardship as a Nonprofit Leader (Caitlin Donley) SUMMARY Fundraising is more than simply communicating your mission effectively to your donors and asking for support. The real magic happens after the gift is received, and doing more than just saying “thank you” means a nonprofit leader has an intentional strategic plan around donor stewardship. In episode #132 of The Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Caitlin Donley introduces us to three distinct categories nonprofit lea...

131: Paying it Forward as a Nonprofit Leader (Michael DeVaul) SUMMARY Passion is often found in young leaders, while wisdom and experience are words associated with successful senior nonprofit leaders. Where are you on your journey of nonprofit leadership? Do you realize the value of self-assessment? Michael DeVaul has been on both sides of that bridge for more than three decades in the nonprofit sector and reflects on leading by example through action. In episode #131 of The Path...

130: How Do You Prepare for Nonprofit Leadership? (Manuel Campbell) SUMMARY When funders approach you and ask, “why do we need this organization?” are you able to answer with more than just passion? Seasoned nonprofit leader, Manuel Campbell, shares what it takes to go from a passion project to a strategic case for support to benefit your community and maintain a sustainable, upwardly mobile, and fully-funded nonprofit organization. In episode #130 of the Path Podcast, we discuss key...

129: How to Retain Talent Through a Dynamic Nonprofit Organization (Keith Fishburne) SUMMARY Are you struggling as a nonprofit leader to retain your best talent? Keith Fishburne, whose career spans over 30 years at Special Olympics North Carolina, shares his best practices to recognize, develop, and ultimately retain quality employees. Many of Keith’s senior staff have been with him for over a decade, unheard of in the nonprofit sector. The experiences we discuss in episode #129 of th...

128: Leading Your Organization Through Strategic Execution (Logan Herring) SUMMARY Should you stop calling your organization a nonprofit? That was one of many intriguing topics Logan Herring and I discussed during our conversation in episode #128 of the Path Podcast. Logan is the dynamic leader of The WRK Group in Wilmington, Delaware, and is not only transforming his community, but also offers a unique organizational model for communities around the world to consider. We discuss ...

127: 5 Priorities of the Best Nonprofit Leaders (Patton McDowell) SUMMARY Ever wonder on what the best nonprofit leaders are focused? After working with nearly 250 nonprofit organizations, and having interviewed over 120 talented nonprofit leaders from around the world on the podcast, Patton has narrowed his list to these five priorities which distinguish the best leaders from the rest in episode #127 of the Path Podcast. Are you able to articulate a clear vision for your...

126: Finding the Resources You Need as a Nonprofit Leader (Stephanie Minor) SUMMARY The best nonprofit leaders embrace the concept of life-long learning because they know they must stay on top of the issues that face their organization and the sector in which it operates. Managing issues of fundraising and philanthropy, human resources, mental health, diversity, equity & inclusion, strategic planning, finance, human resources and countless other topics can easily become overwhelmi...

125: The Surprising Gift of Doubt for Nonprofit Leaders (Marc Pitman) SUMMARY As a nonprofit leader, you constantly face new challenges for which none of your training and previous experience can prepare you. Under such circumstances, it’s easy to lose confidence and succumb to those feelings of doubt, and wonder where leadership solutions might come from. As a long-time leadership coach and fundraiser in the nonprofit sector, Marc Pitman understands these feelings of insecurity, and ha...

124: How to Make Yourself an Outstanding Candidate for Nonprofit Leadership (Shana Plott) SUMMARY As a nonprofit leader, you’ve likely encountered both sides of the talent development equation: seeking a new opportunity for yourself, or finding the perfect person to fill your nonprofit’s most important vacancy. Regardless of whether you’re looking yourself or trying to hire a rock star, Shana Plott is the perfect guest to help you on your quest. Shana has spent most of her career helpin...

123: 4 Steps to Breakthrough Marketing for Nonprofit Leaders (Cheryl Williams) SUMMARY In an environment when the term “hybrid” represents a new layer of complexity for nonprofit programming, fundraising and communications, it’s easy to get lost in a flurry of activity without effectively marketing your nonprofit organization. As a nonprofit leader, how do you best determine what effective marketing and communication even looks like for your organization? Fortunately, Cheryl Hudg...

122: How Nonprofit Leaders Can Jumpstart the Funder Partnership (Kelly Chopus) SUMMARY The partnership between nonprofit leaders and their counterparts at grant-making organizations is a critical one, and Kelly Chopus understands both sides of this collaborative dynamic. In episode #122 of the Path Podcast, Kelly and I discuss what makes a nonprofit more attractive to funders, and what nonprofit leaders can do to better demonstrate their ability to maximize investments in their communities. K...

121: New Nonprofit CEO? 5 Keys to Success (Ken Fuquay) SUMMARY Have you wondered what it would be like to lead a nonprofit organization? Many talented professionals, both within and outside of our sector, are considering a move into senior leadership at a charitable organization, but are not exactly sure what to expect. Ken Fuquay is a great example of a talented professional who made a move later in his career to embrace nonprofit leadership. Thankfully, he’s not only embraced the chal...

120: Is Your Nonprofit Board Leading with Intent? (Jim Taylor) SUMMARY As Jim Taylor shared on episode #35 of the Path Podcast, conversations around race and inclusion are more prevalent than ever in nonprofit meeting rooms around the world. But are these discussions leading to significant change in the recruitment, make-up and leadership style for these same board leaders? That’s exactly what BoardSource’s latest Leading With Intent report set out to explore, and the results are fascin...

119: Building A Career in Nonprofit Leadership (Elizabeth Abel) SUMMARY As more talented professionals enter the nonprofit sector, they are looking for ways to develop their skills, find the best professional development opportunities, and better navigate the personal and professional challenges that can inhibit success. Elizabeth Abel not only works with nonprofit leaders across the country as they manage all of these issues, she’s also teaching the next generation of talent through her work...