Episodes

44: Building A Supercharged Nonprofit Board (Dolph Goldenburg) SUMMARY How do you best engage your board members as a nonprofit leader, especially given the challenges the sector is facing right now? This episode of the Path poses that question to someone who literally wrote a book about the topic, called Successful Nonprofits Build Supercharged Boards. Dolph Goldenburg and I certainly discuss board development in episode #44 of the podcast, but also talk about specific fundraising tactics you c...

43: What is Your Nonprofit Career Vision? 6 Questions You Need to Answer (Patton McDowell) SUMMARY These are challenging times for all kinds of reasons, given the isolation of the pandemic, the obvious disparities of race and privilege we’re seeing up close, and the economic uncertainties that affect our personal and professional livelihoods. These existential questions don’t have easy answers, but nonprofit leaders are looking for guidance as they get their heads around them and evaluate what i...

42: Challenging the Nonprofit Status Quo (Tina Postel) SUMMARY What should you put in place at your nonprofit organization before you encounter challenges like those we’re facing right now? That’s one of the many topics Tina Postel and I discuss in episode #42 of the Path podcast, and fortunately you’re not too late to implement many of her great ideas. Families struggling with food insecurities have enough barriers to overcome, and she knew her organization, Loaves & Fishes, had to be more eff...

41: Dealing with Adversity as a Nonprofit Leader (Michael Ward) SUMMARY It’s easy to celebrate successes when things are going well for you as a nonprofit leader, but what about when things don’t go so well? Michael Ward has had some fantastic successes as a fundraiser and nonprofit leader, but what made our conversation so powerful was his willingness to tackle adversity. His thoughtful and proactive approach to dealing with personal and professional challenges offers great insight for anyone o...

40: What Do I Do With My Nonprofit’s Strategic Plan? (Andrew Hollo) SUMMARY Given the uncertainty nonprofit leaders are facing right now, it’s no wonder many are dismissing long-range strategic plans as practically useless. However, Andrew Hollo brings a much needed and fresh perspective to this strategic planning dilemma and demonstrates that the work he has done across Australia is very much applicable to nonprofit leaders around the world. We discuss four existential questions every nonprofit...

39: Nonprofit Leadership in Healthcare Philanthropy (Adam Cook) SUMMARY What’s it like to lead a healthcare foundation in the midst of a pandemic? How do you stay organized when all of your events are pushed off the calendar and everyone you speak with has a new idea? Adam Cook has great insight and perspective on these questions and many more in episode #40 of the Path. He has served multiple health care foundations over the course of his nonprofit career, and we talk about many of the lessons...

38: The Secret Lives of Nonprofit Leaders (Kishshana Palmer) SUMMARY Kishshana Palmer is not afraid tell us what we need to hear, even if we’re not sure we’re ready for it! She’s the kind of truth-teller the sector needs, and our conversation on the Path provided all kinds of valuable insight for nonprofit leaders and fundraisers that can be applied right now. Kishshana shared a candid view of her journey into nonprofit leadership, and the challenges she’s overcome and the lessons she’s learned ...

037: Maintaining Strategic Focus as a Nonprofit Leader (Brian Maness) SUMMARY What do you do to stay organized in an ever-changing environment with children and families from across the state depending on you? Like many nonprofit CEO’s right now, Brian Maness has had to navigate both the personal and professional demands of nonprofit leadership despite an uncertain landscape around him. Brian is the President & CEO of Children’s Home Society of North Carolina, providing services ranging from ado...

036: Fortune 500 to Nonprofit Founder & CEO (Tina Admans) SUMMARY It’s quite possible that you (or someone you know) have contemplated leaving the for-profit world to pursue an opportunity in the nonprofit sector. That’s exactly what Tina Admans did after moving to Los Angeles over a decade ago. She could very well have stayed on a successful corporate track that included senior positions at Panavision, GE and NBC Universal, but she knew something was missing and nonprofit leadership was calling...

035: Vital Resources from BoardSource (Jim Taylor) SUMMARY How can a nonprofit leader take advantage of the resources BoardSource has to offer, especially in a time of uncertainty and strategic challenge? The answers come from Jim Taylor, who not only highlights the tools available from BoardSource for nonprofit leaders everywhere, but also leans on his personal and professional experience to add even greater value for listeners of this episode of the Path. A pandemic certainly highlights vulner...

034: The War for Fundraising Talent (Jason Lewis) SUMMARY Fundraising is on every nonprofit leader’s mind right now, and perhaps there is no one better to talk about that topic than Jason Lewis, who literally wrote a book about the topic, The War for Fundraising Talent. As Jason and I discuss, many of the topics he raised in the book are even more relevant right now. Why do so many organizations rely on “arms-length” fundraising tactics, and what can they do about it now? Why are more executive ...

033: Adapting to Short-Term Challenges with Long-Term Benefits (Carrie Bhada) SUMMARY Carrie Bhada’s journey in nonprofit leadership has led her to outstanding higher education and healthcare institutions, but it has also given her the experience of dealing with internal and external challenges. While nothing compares to the unique complexities of the COVID-19 situation, she has utilized previous experiences to adapt and lead her team at North Carolina State University as they navigate this unch...

032: Community Leadership in the Philanthropic Sector (Michael Marsicano) SUMMARY Michael Marsicano leads one of the largest community foundations in the United States. He is passionate about bringing communities together to maximize philanthropy and improve all aspects of society. Like nonprofit leaders around the world, he was faced with an unprecedented challenge – and opportunity – with the arrival of COVID-19. What did he do? He mobilized his team and collaborative partners throughout the r...

031: Making the Jump: Corporate America to Nonprofit Executive (Kristin Beck) SUMMARY After twenty years of success in the for-profit arena, Kristin Beck could have easily continued on her upward trajectory. But her inner voice confirmed something was missing and she knew a change might be warranted. She then began a thoughtful process to evaluate her options and make sure she was prepared for the eventual nonprofit leadership opportunity that could take advantage of the skills and experience sh...

030: Nonprofit Leadership in Uncertain Times (Angela Woods) SUMMARY As the COVID-19 situation descended on her organization with stunning speed, Angela Woods knew she would have to make critical strategic decisions without the luxury of time to thoroughly evaluate options or wait for additional data. Like so many nonprofit leaders right now, she had to rely on her instincts and experience to best “triage” an evolving situation. How she’s managed these circumstances so far is a great study in lea...

029: Agile Nonprofit Leadership During the COVID-19 Crisis (Mike Blackwelder) SUMMARY Uncertainty abounds in the charitable sector, but leadership is needed now more than ever. My colleague Mike Blackwelder and I tackle five critical areas of leadership, and lift up examples, suggestions and resources to better address each of them. Whether you’re a current nonprofit leader or aspire to be one, these are the types of circumstances you must be ready to manage. How do you work with your staff and ...

028: 5 Questions to Answer Before Using A Nonprofit Consultant (Heather Yandow) SUMMARY As you move into senior leadership in the nonprofit sector, the opportunity to explore external contractors and consultants will likely present itself. How do you evaluate such an option? What are the factors you should consider before engaging such a resource? These are exactly the questions Heather Yandow and I explore in this episode of the Path. Through her experience founding Nonprofit.ist, she is the pe...

027: Building A Culture of Philanthropy at Your Nonprofit (Stamie Despo) SUMMARY Despite her successful fundraising experience, Stamie Despo knew as a new Executive Director she would need the entire organization to embrace philanthropy for it to achieve the kind of mission success she knew was possible. That’s exactly what Stamie and I discussed during this episode. What exactly is a culture of philanthropy? What did she find when she began her role as Executive Director at the Susan G. Komen a...

026: 3 Essential Skills for Nonprofit Leadership (Hal Lewis) SUMMARY Dr. Hal Lewis was the perfect person to illustrate three critical skills that nonprofit leaders must develop. As a nonprofit executive himself, a scholar published on a variety of leadership topics, and a consultant working with leaders across the country, he was well-positioned to provide the practical advice and resources you need on your nonprofit path. Hal and I discussed the ability to attract and retain top-notch talent, ...

025: Utilizing A Coach to Strengthen Your Nonprofit Leadership (Nancy Beard) SUMMARY Nancy Beard offers great perspectives on the value of finding good mentors as well as the potential a coach can have on your personal and professional journey. Her path to nonprofit leadership was shaped by early volunteer roles, both as a board member and a volunteer, and she continued to hear a calling for social justice causes that began during her childhood. We had a great conversation about what she is seei...

SUMMARY Chris Delisio’s career in higher education has led him to a leadership role in one of the largest comprehensive campaigns in the country, as the Time and Change Campaign at Ohio State targets one million donors and a fundraising goal of $4.5 billion. While justifiably proud of his current leadership position, Chris is quick to point to the resources and advice that helped him move along the path to nonprofit success. Chris and I had a great conversation about the skills and experiences ...

023: Driving from the Backseat: Nonprofit Leadership Lessons (Ronnie Bryant) SUMMARY The title of Ronnie Bryant’s nonprofit leadership book says it all: Driving from the Backseat. It’s a wonderful illustration of the skill and finesse required by Executive Directors as they steer their organization along but allow a whole group of board members to sit in the front seat and “drive.” My conversation with Ronnie was just as enjoyable as reading his book, full of insight, experience and practical ad...

022: Essential Skills for Nonprofit Fundraising Success (Joanne Beam) SUMMARY Like many of us, Joanne O’Brien Beam did not aspire to nonprofit leadership following her undergraduate days, but the lure of her alma mater and the skills she developed in the for-profit sector combined to make her a very successful fundraiser and a highly sought-after consultant and coach. Joanne and I had a great conversation about the wonderfully practical advice she received during her journey along the leadership...

021: 3 Keys to Maximizing Your Nonprofit Leadership Opportunities (Justin Dionne) SUMMARY Justin Dionne knew he had a great opportunity on his hands when he arrived at the Cain Center for the Arts. As a relatively new executive director, he also knew he needed to maximize all of his productivity and professional development resources to get this new organization off the ground as well as navigate its very aspirational campaign of $25 million to build a new performing arts center. Justin and I ha...