Podcasts about fundraising professionals

Abby Trahan is the Associate Director of Philanthropy at MD Anderson Cancer Center and one of two recipients of the 2025 Outstanding Young Professional award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals. In just five years, Abby has delivered transformational fundraising results—from growing monthly giving at the Houston Food Bank to securing major gifts and endowed support at the University of Houston Law Center. Now at MD Anderson, she brings her passion for equity, mentorship, and community-driven impact to one of the nation's leading cancer centers. We spoke with her live at ICON, the association's international conference in Seattle, Washington.

Jeremy Wells is the Senior Vice President of Philanthropic Services at the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation. With more than twenty-five years of experience in fundraising and nonprofit leadership, he's been instrumental in advancing equity and community-led solutions through philanthropy. In recognition of his outstanding contributions, Jeremy was named the 2025 Outstanding Fundraising Professional of the Year by the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

African Americans donate approximately $11 billion annually to nonprofit organizations and charities — yet the person asking for the donation is most often not Black. According to the Association of Fundraising Professionals, 89% of fundraising professionals are white, while only 4% are Black. That picture may be changing in Hampton Roads! We introduce you to three Black women who are changing attitudes on inclusion in philanthropy. Stephanie Cuffee, Christy Hunt, and Vivian Oden are engaging major donors and raising funds for their organizations. They'll share their personal journeys, their passion for fundraising and why representation matters in this field.

As President/CEO of MVS, Inc. (Mountain View Services), a leading healthcare supply and distribution company serving more than 500 care facilities for developmentally disabled adults and children, home care facilities, hospice care companies, non-profit organizations, schools, care centers, and homeless shelters, Eric and MVS' mission is to provide the highest quality products and services available to our clients, so they in turn can provide the highest quality service to the residents they serve. Eric acquired Chem-Pak, a janitorial, facility, and office supply company, from his father in 2023, making the 37-year-old family business second-generation owned. Chem-Pak services janitorial contractors, businesses, schools, office buildings, and more. Chem-Pak's mission is to help clients with products for their business. Eric fosters his core belief in building relationships within the community. He has served on the board of directors for several prominent non-profit organizations, including the American Heart Association and Ronald McDonald House Charities. MVS, Inc. was a Points of Light the Civic 50 honoree in 2022, 2023, and 2024, being recognized as one of the top 50 most community-minded companies in Orange County. MVS was named the Orange County Business Journal Medium-Sized Family-Owned Business of the Year in 2023, and the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Orange County National Philanthropy Day Outstanding Small Business in 2024. Eric was honored as the Greater Irvine Chamber Philanthropist of the Year in 2024. Eric has been married to his wife, Roxanne, for 30 years. They have two children, Vanessa (30) and Grant (25), and one grandchild, Delaney. In additional to his work and family life, Eric holds a passion for photography. His work has appeared in galleries, and all proceeds from his work (website: newportbeachsunsets.com) are donated to charity. Eric is also a classic car enthusiast. He is President of the Vintage Volkswagen Club of America, the largest vintage Volkswagen club in the county.

The critical art of cultivating donors for the long term—a concept that many nonprofits struggle to implement effectively.Co-host Julia Patrick sets the stage by highlighting the challenge: “We live check to check. Such a bad mentality… we just get this and then we're moving.” She speaks to the need to shift from short-term survival mode to a sustainable donor cultivation strategy. Co-host Tony Beall, a leading nonprofit consultant, breaks down the process, distinguishing cultivation from stewardship and offering practical steps to build trust-based relationships with donors.One of Tony's keys is the difference between cultivating and stewarding donors. He explains, “Cultivating a donor means getting them engaged, building trust, and preparing them to make an investment in your organization. Stewardship happens after the gift—it's about gratitude and long-term relationship-building.” This distinction is crucial for nonprofits looking to create sustainable funding models.The fast (and often witty) conversation also tackles a major issue in the nonprofit sector: fundraiser burnout. Citing data from the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Julia describes how the average tenure of a development professional is only 19 months. Tony offers input on combating this trend: “I'm more interested in building trust than likability. Saying no with an explanation builds trust. And trust is what makes donors stay committed beyond any single fundraiser's tenure.”The discussion extends to how fundraisers can navigate gatekeepers, effectively identify high-potential donors, and educate nonprofit leadership on the time and strategy required for successful fundraising.For any nonprofit leader, fundraiser, or board member looking to increase donor engagement and retention, this episode is packed with essential strategies to build that ‘sustainable donor pipeline'.#NonprofitFundraising #DonorCultivation #FundraisersFridayFind us Live daily on YouTube!Find us Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits! 12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

A great way to spread your wings, learn new skills, and gain leadership experience is to get involved with a professional organization. For grant and fundraising professionals, groups like the Grant Professionals Association (GPA), Association of Fundraising Professionals, and National Grant Management Association, are organizations that offer a wide variety of volunteer opportunities.   During the 2024 GrantSummit we spoke with GPA leaders and volunteers. We're hearing from folks representing national boards (GPA, Grant Professionals Certification Institute, and Grant Professionals Foundation), the GPA Ethics Committee, GPA Publications Committee, GPA staff, and the inductees of the 2024 Grant Professionals Distinguished Fellows. Learn how you can join a committee or board today.   JOIN THE FUNDRAISING HAYDAY COMMUNITY: Become a member of the Patreon   SHOW NOTES: Grant Professionals Association's 2025 GrantSummit Annual Conference - Grant Professionals Association   Grant Professionals Association Committees (Volunteer Opportunities) NOTE: You must be signed in as a GPA member to access this site Committees - Grant Professionals Association   Grant Professionals Association's Publications Publications - Grant Professionals Association   Grant Professionals Association's Ethics FAQs Ethics FAQs - Grant Professionals Association   Grant Professionals Certification Institute GPCI – Grant Professionals Certification Institute   Grant Professionals Foundation Grant Professionals Foundation – Strengthening Nonprofits – Advancing The Grant Profession   WHERE TO FIND OUR GUESTS:   Barb Boggs (5) Barb Boggs | LinkedIn Headquarters Staff - Grant Professionals Association   Amanda Day (5) Amanda Day, GPC | LinkedIn HayDay Services   Debbie DiVirgilio (5) Debbie DiVirgilio, MNM, GPC, CGT, CCNL | LinkedIn Front Page - DiVirgilio & Associates   Laura Gore Meet the Team | Boyd Grants   Ericka Harney (5) Dr. Ericka Harney | LinkedIn Harney & Associates - ErickaHarney Home   Shavon Richardson (5) Shavonn Richardson, MBA, GPC (Grant Writer) | LinkedIn Think and Ink Grant Consulting | Atlanta Grant Writers and Grant Consultants   Tammy Tilzey (5) Tammy Tilzey | LinkedIn Innovative Marketing for Nonprofit-Focused Businesses — Willow Peak Consulting   Bernard Turner (5) Bernard Turner | LinkedIn Bernard Turner | Belmont University   Erin Van Gilder (5) Erin Van Gilder, M.A., CGW, GPC | LinkedIn Cherokee Nation Commerce Services

In this episode of the Fundraising Masterminds Podcast, we're discussing the controversial topic of commissions for fundraisers: are they legitimate? Tune in to find out! Join us as we discuss why the idea of commission-based fundraising sparks so much debate in the nonprofit world today. From the legal and professional standards nonprofits must navigate to ethical concerns and relational risks, we're talking about everything you need to know to protect your organization's reputation and build trust with your partners. Learn the 5 critical standards every nonprofit needs to consider. Find out what some governing bodies like AFP or ECFA have to say on this important topic. Uncover the legal ramifications of paying your fundraiser on a commission basis. And discover our 6 alternatives to commission-based fundraising. So whether you're curious about our opinion on this controversial topic or searching for ethical fundraising alternatives, this episode is for you. Remember that in the end, what truly matters is the interests of your partner. Your reputation is worth far more than gold. Don't forget to subscribe to our channel for more Biblically-based nonprofit development training. ASK US A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/fundraisingmasterminds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ NEED HELP WITH YOUR NONPROFIT? Most nonprofits are under-funded. Even if you think your nonprofit is doing well, we've found you could be doing much better. However, most nonprofits don't have a clear development strategy that keeps them grounded. As a result, they "get creative" and "try new things" based on what is popular or trending, or they get comfortable with where they are at and don't realize the dangers they will be facing in just a few short years. The Perfect Vision Dinner Course is a 20-week "live video" course that addresses this problem head on. The course was developed by Jim Dempsey after 38+ years as a Senior Development Director at Cru. After Jim had personally done over 2,500 vision dinners in his lifetime and raised over $1 billion worldwide, Jim and Jason have partnered together to bring you Fundraising Masterminds. Our first course, The Perfect Vision Dinner is a time-tested proven formula that will introduce our development system and grow your nonprofit to its maximum potential. The course includes 20-hours of personalized development coaching from Jim Dempsey and Jason Galicinski and also includes a real-time community group where you have access to everyone attending the course and also our Masterminds throughout the course. The goal for this course is to fully equip you with a Biblical basis for Development so that you can Win, Keep and Lift new partners to higher levels of involvement with your nonprofit. → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://FundraisingMasterminds.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA: → Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/fundraising.masterminds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠→ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://facebook.com/fundraising.masterminds⁠⁠⁠ Episode Keywords: Association for Fundraising Professionals, Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, contract work, nonprofit governance, fundraising ethics, nonprofit fundraising strategies, nonprofit compliance, professional fundraising, nonprofit motivation, donor protection, nonprofit regulation, development experience, nonprofit board members, commissions for fundraisers, commissions for fundraisers are they legitimate, are commissions for fundraisers legitimate, is it legitimate to pay fundraisers commission, fundraisers on commission, commission-based fundraising, nonprofit standards, professional standards nonprofits, nonprofit ethical concerns, build trust with your partners, standards every nonprofit need, standards for nonprofits, afp, ecfa, afp standards, ecfa standards, ethical fundraising, nonprofit development.

Nonprofits worked hard last year and gained valuable insights along the way. In today's episode, we share the top lessons learned by 10 fundraising professionals, and ways to apply them to make an even greater impact in 2025. Listen for tips on donor engagement, the importance of managing your data, leveraging your annual fund for major gifts, the value of unrestricted funds for capacity building, and more — plus a message of inspiration that every nonprofit should hear. Free 30-minute fundraising consultation for NPFX listeners: http://www.ipmadvancement.com/free Want to suggest a topic, guest, or nonprofit organization for an upcoming episode? Send an email with the subject "NPFX suggestion" to contact@ipmadvancement.com. Additional Resources IPM's free Nonprofit Resource Library: https://www.ipmadvancement.com/resources Why Donor Retention Should Be Your Top Fundraising Priority https://www.ipmadvancement.com/blog/why-donor-retention-should-be-your-top-fundraising-priority Writing a Great Thank You Letter: The First Step in Successful Donor Stewardship https://www.ipmadvancement.com/blog/writing-a-great-thank-you-letter-the-first-step-in-successful-donor-stewardship [NPFX] Measuring More than Money: Why Donor Relationships Matter https://www.ipmadvancement.com/blog/measuring-more-than-money-why-donor-relationships-matter [NPFX] Meaningful Donor Relationships: The Key to Financial Stability https://www.ipmadvancement.com/blog/meaningful-donor-relationships-the-key-to-financial-stability The Secret to Keeping Your Donors Giving: Make Them Feel Special https://www.ipmadvancement.com/blog/the-secret-to-keeping-your-donors-giving-make-them-feel-special Shereese Floyd is CEO of Witness My Life and founder of AI Consultants for Nonprofits. With more than 20 years of experience in nonprofit marketing, Shereese has helped organizations increase their influence and revenue, generating over $2 million in direct campaigns. She is dedicated to social change, with a focus on development, branding, women's leadership, and artificial intelligence. Through AI Consultants for Nonprofits, Shereese offers AI literacy and training programs tailored to nonprofits, schools, and government entities. Her approach empowers organizations to certify internal team members as AI experts, fostering a culture where technology handles routine tasks, allowing people to focus on meaningful work. Shereese's mission is to make AI accessible and beneficial for organizations focused on social good. https://www.linkedin.com/in/shereesefloyd/ https://aiconsultantsfornonprofits.com/ Sami Zoss, is the founder of Zoss Collaborations, a business solutions consulting firm specializing in nonprofit growth and operational efficiency. With an MBA in Finance and Marketing, Sami brings a wealth of expertise in donor engagement, technology integration, and strategic planning to her clients. Before founding Zoss Collaborations, Sami served as the COO and later as Acting CEO of the Dakota State University Foundation, where she led record-breaking fundraising campaigns and implemented innovative donor engagement strategies that significantly expanded DSU's donor base. In addition to her work with educational institutions, she has been a dedicated volunteer with organizations like Camp Gilbert Inc., supporting children with Type 1 diabetes. https://www.linkedin.com/in/samizoss/ https://samizoss.com/ Samantha Timlick, partner & CEO of IPM Advancement, has been with IPM since launch. She's worked with nonprofit clients on donor renewal, appeal, stewardship, and acquisition programs encompassing more than 250 million total recipients across all fundraising channels — including highly segmented direct mail microtargeting, personalized inbound and outbound telemarketing, and integrated e-campaigns. https://www.linkedin.com/in/stimlick/ https://www.ipmadvancement.com/ Emily Berry leads the Annual Giving effort at Miami University, generating more than $6 million each year. With more than two decades of fundraising and advancement experience, Emily brings a wealth of experience and knowledge as a session presenter. She has previously served on the District V conference committee, and her team has been recognized with CASE Circle of Excellence Awards for their annual day of giving, #MoveInMiami. https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-berry-3b23867/ https://moveinmiami.org/ Nicolette Dumais is the Constituent Communications Manager at USS Hornet Sea, Air and Space Museum. She excels at crafting and executing strategic fundraising plans, building lasting stakeholder relationships, and identifying funding opportunities to drive organizational growth. Nicolette has successfully led development teams, fostering collaboration and professional growth. Holding a Bachelor's in Communications and a Master's in Nonprofit Management, she combines deep expertise with a passion for making an impact, helping organizations achieve sustainable success. https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolette-dumais/ https://uss-hornet.org/ Josh Gryniewicz, founder of Odd Duck, a storytelling for social change consultancy, has spent his career in nonprofit. He served as the communication director for Cure Violence, an internationally renowned violence prevention program featured in the award-winning film The Interrupters. Josh helmed the rebrand of Integrate Health, a global health initiative in West Africa, helping increase their budget by nearly $1 million. Most recently, Josh led communication efforts for Data Across Sectors for Health (DASH), a program focused on national multi-sector data sharing to address social determinants of health. He is the co-author of the national bestseller, Interrupting Violence, a moving story of redemption and social change. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jgryniewicz/ https://oddduck.io/ Ally Barron is Chief Development & Communications Officer at the Hope and Heal Fund. With over 15 years of experience, her expertise spans corporate social responsibility, fundraising strategy, donor relations, event management, and strategic communications. In her current role, Ally has transformed fundraising strategies, securing over $2.5 million annually and cultivating a $5 million grant from Governor Gavin Newsom's Office of Emergency Services. Her leadership extends to managing a statewide public awareness campaign focused on mental health, violence prevention, and equity. Ally holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Arizona State University. https://www.linkedin.com/in/allybarron8/ https://hopeandhealfund.org/ Elizabeth Silverstein has served the not-for-profit sector for more than 40 years, specializing in transformational giving, vision casting, inspiring boards, and building passionate, effective teams. Beth has been instrumental in cultivating major gifts for capital campaigns in healthcare, two presidential libraries, higher education, K-12 independent schools, and social service organizations. https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-reynolds-silverstein-b211b7a/ Russ Phaneuf, co-founder, managing partner & chief strategist for IPM Advancement, has spent more than 25 years in nonprofit fundraising, with key roles in higher education development. Russ has been a finalist for the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) “Rising Star” award, and he has earned an AMA Spectrum Award recognizing outstanding collateral. He has also presented on strategic communications and constituent engagement for CASE, the Association of Fundraising Professionals, and the National League of Cities. https://www.linkedin.com/in/russphaneuf/ Rich Frazier has worked in the nonprofit sector for over 30 years. In his role as senior consultant with IPM Advancement, Rich offers extensive understanding and knowledge in major gifts program management, fund development, strategic planning, and board of directors development. https://www.linkedin.com/in/richfrazier/

Today's episode was way more than I expected. Our guest is Deb Ayres of the Avalon Foundation. Avalon is Deb's daughter who was born with a rare condition called HPP. Fast forward to last week, Avalon has the same life expectancy as the rest of us and was given quite an honor from the Association of Fundraising Professionals. First, why does that school bus stop so much, such a let down, yet again from the Rockets, and Party in the Park is about to return. 

**This episode is our FIRST-EVER SPONSORED EPISODE! Keep scrolling for more information. Scroll further down for details!** Being a Jew is difficult. Being anyone is difficult but the difficulties of existing as a Jew in this turbulent world is ever more clear, especially after October 7th, 2023. It's nearly impossible to navigate this world alone and that's why mentors exist.  Cari Uslan of Jewish Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Los Angeles knows this too well. She helps run an organization built on making life more manageable. 'Littles' get assigned 'bigs' and vice versa, all to clear the fog that is reality. Uslan elaborates on the Jewish approach to mentorship in this special episode of Bad Jew.  00:00 Introduction AND sponsor message 06:26 Jewish identity is inescapable; mentors guide. 07:15 Mentors expand worldview, crucial for personal growth. 10:44 Mentors inspire transformative growth and opportunities. 15:22 Impactful Jewish mentorship changes lives positively. 20:07 Commitment-focused vetting and support for mentors. 21:02 Mentorship: Supportive guidance, friendship, showing up. 25:24 Giving time enriches mentors and community. 28:22 Excited partnership offers mentorship resources, visit jbbsla.org. About Cari Uslan: Cari B. Uslan has been a nonprofit leader for over 20 years. In 2016, Ms. Uslan joined Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters of Los Angeles (JBBBSLA). Currently serving in her third year as Chief Executive Officer; she spent two years as the Executive Vice President, and two years as the Vice President of Development. As Executive Vice President, Ms. Uslan was responsible for overseeing Camp Bob Waldorf, College Access + Success, and the Development department. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, she was integral in transitioning JBBBSLA's in-person programming to virtual programming and ensuring that all youth and their families being served by the agency were being fully supported by JBBBSLA. Ms. Uslan has also led the organization through financial challenges. Her focus on new fundraising efforts, increased communication, and creative outreach strategies ensured a lower than anticipated deficit in 2020, 2021, and 2022. She also led JBBBSLA through difficult employee transitions. Under Ms. Uslan's leadership, JBBBSLA created the Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) committee that is comprised of a diverse group of staff members representing all staffing levels in the agency. In all cases, her adept leadership and open communication has allowed the organization to overcome the current challenges and continue to grow in the future. Prior to JBBBSLA, Ms. Uslan worked at MAZON, developing their national fundraising strategy to fight hunger in the U.S. and Israel. Ms. Uslan also served as a Development Officer for Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Ms. Uslan is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and has served on several nonprofit boards. Connect with Cari Uslan: https://www.jbbbsla.org/contact-us/ IG @JBBBSLA YouTube: @JBBBSofLA   FB: https://www.facebook.com/jbbbsla SPECIAL THANKS TO THE SPONSOR OF THIS EPISODE: JEWISH BIG BROTHERS AND BIG SISTERS OF LOS ANGELES! Become a big today! JBBBSLA.org/mentorship Connect with Bad Jew:  BadJew.co https://linktr.ee/badjew BadJewPod@gmail.com Ig @BadJewPod TikTok @BadJewPod

"...For with wisdom cometh patience, And with patience cometh rest..."This week, I am reading the poem The Hardest Time of All, by Sarah Doudney. Written in 1896.Reflection Questions:Where are you waiting for some major change to occur as a result of your work?  Is it time to gain more wisdom or to be more patient or to stop and rest in that area?Will you take the time to document your hopes for change in the coming year and then schedule an email to send that reflection to yourself in a year as a way to see that those hardest times of waiting was when the change was actually occurring?Reflection on the poem:This week, I attended our statewide Association of Fundraising Professionals conference, just to sit in the audience and learn.  A recurring theme was perseverance in small daily tasks that will yield fruit.  Our work does take patience in order to see change. Whatever your faith tradition, let's take a moment to reflect on wisdom, patience, and rest as it works itself out in faith. With wisdom comes patience and patience comes rest.  If we stop and reflect on the changes that have occurred in the last year, in those moments, those changes would have seemed minuscule filled with times of waiting.  Yet, after a year of those tasks - making calls, sending emails, writing thank you notes - I am confident that you can look back and see major changes just as the poem - we must wait for the blossoms to fall in order to gather the fruit. And now, the hardest time of all - or should I say, the hardest time in the next few months is to continue to actively wait for breakthroughs and major changes.  But, in wisdom, patience, perseverance, and rest, we see the real difference we are making.This work has entered the public domain.What do you think?To explore fundraising coaching deeper and to schedule an exploratory session, visit ServingNonprofits.com.Music credit: Woeisuhmebop

When there's an EFM who has turned what seems to be a location-dependent career into something globally portable, you know you'll eventually meet them here on Available Worldwide. In this episode, Amy shares what it was like to unexpectedly dine with some global power-players, how she made the tough decision to quit a portable job without the guarantee of something new, and what things are really like in the sub-basements of some of America's iconic buildings. Talking with her felt like listening to an old movie trailer, "You'll laugh, you'll cry, but you'll never regret...." -----Amy Parker is passionate about the power of philanthropy to serve the public good and improve people's lives.A strategic leader with more than twenty years of director-level fundraising experience, Amy has worked for iconic institutions including the Wikimedia Foundation, Smithsonian Institution, The New York Public Library, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In her time as a fundraising consultant, she's provided services to clients and spoken at conferences across four continents.Some of Amy's career highlights have been raising funds for projects such as the official portraits of Barack and Michelle Obama for the National Portrait Gallery, renovation of the historic façade of the New York Public Library's flagship building at Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street, and the launch of an endowment fund that supports Wikipedia, the world's largest compilation of human knowledge.Amy has been part of several record-setting fundraising campaigns, including the Smithsonian's first-ever comprehensive campaign, which raised over $1.8 billion, and the $2 billion Carolina First Campaign, which was one of the 5 largest campaigns in US higher education at the time. She is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and has held the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) credential since 2009.

283: How Do You Stop the Nonprofit Board Blame Game? (Hardy Smith)SUMMARYThis episode is brought to you by our friends at Armstrong McGuire & Associates. Check them out for your next career opportunity OR for help finding an interim executive or your next leader.Are you frustrated with your board's lack of engagement or feeling like they aren't meeting expectations? Could the real issue be deeper than just pointing fingers? In episode 283 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, board expert Hardy Smith explores the critical importance of building intentional relationships between nonprofit executives and their board members. Drawing from his brand new course Stop the Nonprofit Board Blame Game, he explains that board dysfunction is a symptom of deeper issues stemming from unclear expectations, poor communication, and lack of proper orientation. ABOUT HARDYHardy Smith is author of Stop the Nonprofit Board Blame Game. As a consultant and speaker, he works with organizations who want to benefit from a fully engaged board. Through board retreats, workshops, keynotes, and planning sessions Hardy provides solutions to board engagement challenges. Hardy's results-oriented approach was developed during a longtime career in the high-performance world of NASCAR racing. He has had wide-ranging personal and professional involvement with nonprofits, associations, chambers of commerce, and community groups nationwide. He is a member of the National Speakers Association, ASAE, Association of Fundraising Professionals, BoardSource, Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, and Florida Society of Association Executives. He is a faculty member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation's Institute for Organization Management.EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCESReady for your next leadership opportunity? Visit our partners at Armstrong McGuireCheck out Hardy's online course: Stop the Nonprofit Board Blame GameCreativity, Inc by Ed CatmullHave you gotten Patton's book Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership: Seven Keys to Advancing Your Career in the Philanthropic Sector – Now available on Audible

Nonprofit organizations are constantly seeking ways to engage younger generations in their causes. Melissa Watkins from the Pacific Autism Center for Education joins this episode to unpack strategies to attract and retain Gen Z and millennial donors through innovative digital marketing and communication techniques. This episode is essential for nonprofit leaders and marketing professionals looking to secure the future of their organizations by tapping into the digital fluency and civic-mindedness of younger donors. About the guest Melissa Watkins has over ten years of experience in marketing and over five years of experience in nonprofit development and leadership. She currently heads the marketing and development department at the Pacific Autism Center for Education, a nonprofit organization based in Santa Clara, CA, that provides a range of vital services for autistic children and adults. As a dual marketing and development leader, Melissa brings her expertise to drive impactful initiatives at PACE. Melissa holds a degree in Sociology from the University of California, Davis and is currently working toward her Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) certification. She enjoys serving on the Board of Directors for two Bay Area-based nonprofits, running half marathons, and chasing after her 18-month-old twin daughters. Resources Benevity: https://benevity.com/Association of Fundraising Professionals: https://afpglobal.org/Fidelity Charitable: https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/Blackbaud: https://www.blackbaud.ca/Unleashing the Power of Gratitude Using Handwritten Thank You Notes with David Wachs of Handwrytten: https://brooks.digital/health-nonprofit-digital-marketing/unleashing-the-power-of-gratitude/ Contact Melissa Website: https://www.pacificautism.org/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/watkinsmelissa/

The percentage of individuals giving to nonprofits has reached its lowest point in 40 years. As a result, more and more nonprofits are depending on big gifts. That's why it's vital to attract and retain the fundraisers who can cultivate strong relationships with your most generous donors. In today's episode, we examine the latest findings from AFP's 2024 Compensation and Benefits Survey Report and discuss ways to keep your best fundraisers happy (beyond a competitive salary) to sustain and advance your nonprofit's mission. Free 30-minute fundraising consultation for NPFX listeners: http://www.ipmadvancement.com/free Want to suggest a topic, guest, or nonprofit organization for an upcoming episode? Send an email with the subject "NPFX suggestion" to contact@ipmadvancement.com. Additional Resources IPM's free Nonprofit Resource Library: https://www.ipmadvancement.com/resources 2024 AFP Compensation and Benefits Survey Report https://www.afponline.org/training-resources/resources/survey-research-economic-data/Details/compensation-survey NonprofitHR 2024 Total Rewards Practices Survey https://www.nonprofithr.com/2024-total-rewards-practices-survey/ Navigating the New Normal: Compensation, Benefits, and Flexibility in Fundraising https://afpglobal.org/news/mikes-message-takeover-navigating-new-normal-compensation-benefits-and-flexibility-fundraising Nonprofit Staff Retention, Part 1: Are Higher Salaries Really the Answer? https://www.ipmadvancement.com/blog/nonprofit-staff-retention-are-higher-salaries-really-the-answer Nonprofit Staff Retention, Part 2: How to Attract and Keep the Best Employees https://www.ipmadvancement.com/blog/nonprofit-staff-retention-how-to-attract-and-keep-the-best-employees Colton C. Strawser, PhD has built his consulting career working with leaders at community foundations, United Ways, homeless shelters, senior service agencies, youth programs, arts and culture organizations, and more. He has trained more than 1,000 organizations and generated over $25 million in government grants. In addition to being a Certified Fund Raising Professional and Certified Nonprofit Professional, he has also completed a Certificate of Nonprofit Board Consulting through BoardSource and is a Master Trainer through the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Dr. Strawser completed his PhD in Nonprofit and Philanthropic Leadership at The Nonprofit Institute at the University of San Diego. https://www.coltonstrawser.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/coltonstrawser/ Julie Trimarchi, Senior Compensation Consultant for NonprofitHR's Total Rewards practice, has over 20 years of experience in compensation for both nonprofit and for-profit organizations. Most recently, she consulted nonprofit organizations on the design and/or redesign of base pay programs, pay philosophy, pay policies and best practices. Prior to consulting, she held the position of Director of Compensation for 10 years with the Continental Division of Hospital Corportation of America (HCA), a fortune 500 company. She also worked for five years with nonprofit Kaiser Permanente as a Senior Compensation Analyst. She has also designed and delivered compensation training to various audiences, including front line leaders, executives, HR colleagues and employees. https://www.nonprofithr.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-trimarchi-06a50b5/ Russ Phaneuf, a co-founder of IPM Advancement, has a background in higher education development, with positions at the University of Hartford, Northern Arizona University, and Thunderbird School of Global Management. As IPM's managing director & chief strategist, Russ serves as lead fundraising strategist, award-winning content creator, and program analyst specializing in applied system dynamics. https://www.linkedin.com/in/russphaneuf/ Rich Frazier has worked in the nonprofit sector for over 30 years. In his role as senior consultant with IPM Advancement, Rich offers extensive understanding and knowledge in major gifts program management, fund development, strategic planning, and board of directors development. https://www.linkedin.com/in/richfrazier/

Ron and Sue Rescigno, VP of Rescigno’s Fundraising Professionals. A colleague, after reading Ron’s blogs and newsletters, once said, ” He is a person I would like to have a glass of wine or beer with. His literary voice is approachable, friendly, and has a Chicago southside feel to it. His style of writing is […]

In this episode, we explore barriers to prioritizing professional development in nonprofits. discover local opportunities for investing in yourself and your staff with host Autumn Vest and Midland Education Foundation Director Anita Gamertsfelder.  West Texas Rural Philanthropy Days, July 17-19 in Alpine, https://www.wtxrpd.org/  Nonprofit Management Center, https://www.nmc-pb.org/  Permian Basin Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals,   https://community.afpnet.org/afptxpermianbasinchapter/home  Leadership Acceleration Program (LAP), https://abell-hanger.org/our-initiatives/leadership-acceleration-program/   "State of the Nonprofits" is a program of MSS produced in partnership with the⁠ ⁠Recording Library of West Texas⁠⁠.      

The state of charitable giving has a profound impact on hundreds of nonprofit organizations throughout Central Ohio, ranging from mighty arts, healthcare, and higher education institutions to local civic clubs and direct service providers. Trends in giving affect all of them — from the decline of giving among “everyday households,” increasing dependence on high-net-worth donors, trends in corporate giving, and the rise of donor advised funds, this dynamic sector represents more than 12% of Ohio's workforce – about as many as are employed in manufacturing. Following the June 25 release of Giving USA's annual report, we host a landmark conversation diving into the state and future of charitable giving.  Featuring: Erika Gable, President, Association of Fundraising Professionals, Central Ohio Chapter Rachel Lustig, CEO, Lutheran Social Services Dr. Una Osili, Associate Dean for Research and International Programs, Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, who also provides opening remarks.  The host is Laura MacDonald, Principal & Founder, Benefactor Group Opening remarks by Dan Sharpe, Vice President for Community Research and Grants Management, The Columbus Foundation. The presenting sponsor was The Columbus Foundation. This forum was also sponsored by The Hodge Group. The forum partner was AFP Central Ohio. It was supported by The Ellis. The livestream presenting sponsor was The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation. The livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus, Ohio's historic Italian Village on June 26, 2024.     

Ken Phillips was named Outstanding Fundraising Professional by the Association of Fundraising Professionals in 2024, the organization's highest honor. Since his career began in 1961, ken has served in leadership roles at the Institute for International Education, Save the Children, and Plan International, where he revolutionized marketing and donor outreach, dramatically increasing public awareness and revenues. He founded his consultancy, NGO Futures, in 1995 and has since provided hundreds of training courses in 35 countries and his books and articles on fundraising, leadership, and strategic planning have reached audiences around the world. We spoke with Ken in April at AFP ICON in Toronto.

In this episode, we speak with Ryan Zapolski, one of four individuals honored with the Outstanding Young Professional Award by the Association of Fundraising Professionals in 2024. Ryan serves as Senior Manager of Development at Smile Train, a nonprofit dedicated to comprehensive cleft care now celebrating its 25th anniversary. There, he oversees the mid-level giving and stewardship team and his expertise in donor research has led to numerous major gifts, including a million-dollar donation. We caught up with Ryan in Toronto at AFP ICON, the fundraising association's annual international gathering. 

A lively talk about maintaining a culture of philanthropy within nonprofits, covering the importance of communication, transparency, and ethical practice in all fundraising efforts. This engaging Ask & Answer episode highlights the evolving nature of nonprofit fundraising and the ongoing commitment to ethical practices within the sector.  Jack Alotto, a seasoned expert in nonprofit fundraising, shares his enthusiasm about the increasing participation in his CFRE (Certified Fundraising Executive) training programs, noting that the numbers remain high with classes reaching around 170 participants. He describes a new initiative tailored for Muslim-affiliated nonprofits, reflecting the inclusive approach of the training sessions. This enjoyable learning episode focuses mainly on the ethical dilemmas fundraisers often face. Jack emphasizes the importance of adhering to ethical standards, especially when dealing with competitive situations between nonprofits, advising against disparaging other organizations, stressing that the goal should be to enhance the entire community's well-being rather than focusing solely on individual success. This approach aligns with the AFP (Association of Fundraising Professionals) code of ethics, which promotes integrity and respect among fundraising professionals. One of Jack's statements from the episode encapsulates his philosophy on this issue: "I am reluctant to engage in a conversation which would disparage another nonprofit... we should continue to talk about the benefits of giving to our organization and the importance of making a gift to advance our mission. It's OK if they also want to give to another organization doing similar work. It just makes the whole community much better."  With input from host Julia Patrick, the episode explores the role of ethics in donor relations, with Jack advocating for the inclusion of the AFP code of ethics in donor packets to educate and align expectations with donors.Watch on Video!Follow us on the Twitter: @Nonprofit_ShowSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

In This Episode: In Silicon Valley, high venue costs often exceed $30,000, creating significant financial burdens for nonprofits. Additionally, frequent event invitations lead to donor fatigue, reducing gala attendance by 20%, and a 35% volunteer shortage critically affects the execution and staffing of these events. Gala Fundraising Problems Of Silicon Valley High Venue Costs: High venue costs in Silicon Valley, often exceeding $30,000 due to demand, pose financial challenges for smaller nonprofits hosting galas. Donor Fatigue: Silicon Valley donors frequently experience donor fatigue due to many charity event invitations, leading to a 20% decrease in repeat attendance and reduced donation rates at galas. Volunteer Shortage: Silicon Valley faces a volunteer shortage, with a 35% gap in the needed volunteer base for events. This affects the execution and staffing of large-scale fundraising galas. About Anne Davis East: Anne Davis East, with over 30 years in nonprofit management, is the CEO of Davis East Consulting. She specializes in nonprofit compliance, board development, ethics training, and strategic planning. She's active on several boards, focusing on community development and assisting underserved youth. Her affiliations include notable organizations like the National Association of Business Women and the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Anne earned a BS from William Woods University and an MS in Elementary Education from Lesley University. Show Notes: Auction Considerations: Anne Davis East highlights the need to issue a 1099 form to auction winners at fundraising galas, as these winnings are considered income for tax purposes.  Raffle Regulations: Anne discusses the importance of obtaining a permit for raffle events from the attorney general and suggests securing a year-long permit for monthly raffles to ensure compliance and cost-effectiveness.  Online Raffle Ticket Sales: In some states, including California, selling raffle tickets online is prohibited. Anne stresses the need for transparency and careful management of raffle tickets to avoid legal issues.  Fair Market Value of Raffle Items: Organizations must determine the fair market value of raffle items, except for gift certificates, which are valued at the amount stated on them.  The Risks of 50-50 Raffles: Anne explains that 50-50 raffles are only legally permissible for professional sports teams in California, and engaging in such raffles can lead to significant legal consequences.  Alcohol Management at Galas: Handling alcohol at events requires careful consideration, including ensuring that volunteers serving alcohol are properly trained and certified. Anne discusses the implications of alcohol service and the importance of managing consumption responsibly.  Training for Alcohol Servers: Volunteers serving alcohol must be certified, and Anne mentions that training can be done online for a fee, and certification lasts several years.  Event Revenue Streams: Anne advises on collaborating with wineries or breweries for events, using a ticket system to track sales, and effectively managing financial transactions.

Discover the heart of multifamily leadership with a visionary leader who has dedicated his career to building communities and fostering relationships. From his role as Chairman of the National Apartment Association to his philanthropic endeavors, his commitment to making a difference is evident. In this episode, he shares his insights into the multifamily industry, the power of intentional relationship-building, and the transformative impact of education. With a focus on building strong communities and empowering individuals, his journey is as inspiring as it is impactful. Jerry Wilkinson is founder and Chairman of The Wilkinson Companies, a privately- held real estate investment and management firm. Since 1984, Wilkinson has directed the operations and growth of the Wilkinson Companies and its subsidiaries. Wilkinson served as 2012 Chairman of the National Apartment Association (NAA). He has previously served as President of the Georgia Apartment Association (GAA) and the Atlanta Apartment Association (AAA). He is a member of the NAA and GAA Hall of Fame. He received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Duke University, an MBA in Finance from the Wharton School and has done post graduate work at Harvard. He is the recipient of the 2023 Philanthropist of the Year for the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Greater Atlanta Chapter. He has served on several Boards including the Duke University School of Engineering BOV, Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, LaGrange College, Apartment Life Inc., and the Atlanta Community Food Bank. He has taught Bible Study for over 30 years and has served as Chairman of Deacons for Dunwoody Baptist Church. Jerry has made 13 mission trips around the world including India, South Korea, South America, China, and the Soviet Union. He and his wife, Beverly, have three daughters and eight grandchildren, and split their time between Atlanta, Georgia and Amelia Island, Florida.LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jerry-wilkinson-94b02330Hear from Jerry about:His amazing career journey.The challenge with bigger organizations.The skills learned in our industry being transferrable.How he intentionally gets to know his teams and build a connection.The one thing that can't be taken from you.The important role of apartment associations.Subscribe to and review the Multifamily Streamlined Podcast here.Streamline Multifamily Group is your specialized consulting partner for multifamily operations, training, and more! We offer consultative support in project management, construction, development, renovations, auditing, and also organize industry events.Ready to elevate your property's performance? Connect with Streamline Multifamily Group at www.StreamlineMultifamilyGroup.com !Registration for EmpowHER 2024 is now open, click here. For sponsorship opportunities, please contact jzhang@streamlinemultifamily.com.

Are you looking for fresh, new ways to up your individual fundraising game? This is the episode for you! I chatted with special guest, Haley Cooper, CFRE, about how she is empowering new nonprofits to be strategic with their individual fundraising.  We dove into how Haley stumbled into the nonprofit world after one mission trip completely changed the trajectory of her life. Plus, how she is using her experience as both a nonprofit founder and an entrepreneur to help organizations build a strong fundraising strategy, effectively build relationships and communicate with their donors, get buy-in for fundraising initiatives, and create a strong sense of belonging. This episode is full of strategies nonprofit leaders can implement to elevate their individual fundraising and meet their goals.   About Haley Haley is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), Certified Stress Management Coach, and Certified EmC train the trainer. She is the Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser, a nonprofit consulting and coaching business. Haley is a Founding Board Member and past Board Chair for the Orange County Nonprofit Professionals Network, and a board member of OC Advisors in Philanthropy. She has also served on the boards of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, OC Chapter, and Impact Giving.   Read the podcast transcript here.   Episode Summary In this episode, you'll learn ways to elevate your nonprofit's individual fundraising strategy including: Empowering emerging new nonprofits (3:00) How one mission trip completely changed the trajectory of Haley's life (4:32) Being strategic about fundraising efforts (8:40) Getting buy-in for your fundraising strategy (12:05) Effectively communicating your vision to donors (14:25) Being strategic about building a sense of belonging (19:00) Upping your individual fundraising game (22:50) Ways organizations can build relationships with individual donors (26:10)   Teasers “Sometimes fundraising is just a band-aid beyond an issue that's actually there.” “Not all money makes sense for your organization. That $5,000 grant costs way more than $5,000 to apply for, manage, report on, etc.” “Make that space for safe conversations, because it's a strategic imperative. It's a non-negotiable. Your team will become higher performing and you'll see more results.” “You have people in your database. You've been around for a while. You've had board members. You've had those events. You've had volunteers. What if you strategically started investing your time in those people so that no matter what grant contract might end, you'll be able to have that sustainability through those seasons?”    Resources The Savvy Fundraiser Website: https://thesavvyfundraiser.com/quiz/  Haley's Fundraising Course: https://90-day-fundraising-course.teachable.com/p/fundraisingcourse  Connect with Haley on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/haley-cooper-cfre  Keep up to date with the podcast: @100degreesconsulting Follow Stephanie on Instagram: @stephanie.skry/  Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanieskryzowski/  Visit the podcast page: https://100degreesconsulting.com/elevating-individual-fundraising    Want more of the podcast? New episodes are released weekly! Find them all plus show notes and exclusive bonus content at 100degreesconsulting.com/podcast. Leave us a review! Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Let me know what you loved most about this episode! Subscribe to the show so you don't miss a thing!  

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.

In This Episode: In Silicon Valley, Donor-Advised Funds soared to $78.6 billion, highlighting a trend toward delayed philanthropy. Nonprofits face significant fraud risks, prompting adopting protective measures like Positive Pay. Guidestar exemplifies financial health through revenue diversification, covering 90% of its costs via service fees, suggesting a sustainable model for nonprofits. NonProfit Management Problems Of Silicon Valley Growth of Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs): Silicon Valley's DAFs grew from $33.6 billion to $78.6 billion, showcasing a shift towards “parked” philanthropy, in which donors control when their gifts are distributed to nonprofits. Check and ACH Fraud Threats: Nonprofits facing $18 billion in U.S. check fraud losses must use advanced security, like Positive Pay, to reduce risk. Revenue Stream Development: Guidance for nonprofits to diversify income and earn revenue, as GuideStar did by funding 90% of its operations from fees, showcases a solid strategy for financial health. About Anne Davis East: Anne Davis East, with over 30 years in nonprofit management, is the CEO of Davis East Consulting. She specializes in nonprofit compliance, board development, ethics training, and strategic planning. She's active on several boards, focusing on community development and assisting underserved youth. Her affiliations include notable organizations like the National Association of Business Women and the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Anne earned a BS from William Woods University and an MS in Elementary Education from Lesley University. Show Notes: Introduction to Davis East Consulting—Learn about Davis East Consulting's origins and what motivated Anne to focus on helping nonprofits regain their tax-exempt status.  The Impact of the Patriots Act on Nonprofits – Anne discusses how post-9/11 legislation affected thousands of nonprofits, leading to the loss of their tax-exempt status and how her consultancy responded.  Challenges of Nonprofit Management in Silicon Valley – Explore the unique management challenges that nonprofits face in the Silicon Valley area, including compliance with evolving regulations.  Common Compliance Issues – Anne highlights the most frequent noncompliance issues encountered by nonprofits, particularly the implications of not being properly registered.  Strategic Nonprofit Management – Learn about Anne's strategic approach to managing nonprofits, from compliance checks to registration renewals and adjusting organizational processes.  Changes in Nonprofit Compliance – Discussion on how state and federal legislative changes affect nonprofit operations, particularly in California.  The Role of Professional Fundraisers – Understanding the critical role and legal considerations of professional fundraisers in nonprofit organizations.  Board Development and Management – Anne stresses the importance of board development and its critical financial role in nonprofit management.  Ethics and Compliance Training – The significance of ongoing ethics and compliance training for nonprofit boards and staff to avoid financial mismanagement.  Technology and Nonprofit Management – Insight into the role of technology in modern nonprofit management, including social media policies and the importance of keeping up-to-date with digital trends.

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. 

In this episode of IMPACTability, host Josh Hirsch interviews Dan Samuel, the Director of Philanthropy for the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, about sustaining donor relationships. They discuss the challenges and opportunities that arose during the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to a significant increase in donors for the food bank. Dan shares how they adapted their systems, operations, and staffing to engage and steward these new donors. They also talk about the importance of storytelling, personalization, and relationship-building in donor retention. The episode concludes with a segment of Coaches Corner, where Sheryl Soukup discusses balancing mission-driven work with the business aspects of running a nonprofit. Guest Bio For the past 5 years, Dan Samuels has served as the Director of Philanthropy for Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. In his role, Dan has the opportunity to engage directly with individual and corporate donors and represent the organization through media and speaking engagements. For the 10 years before joining the Second Harvest team, Dan worked as a fundraising professional at two well-respected organizations in Central Florida, Devereux and Central Florida Hillel. Outside of his professional role, Dan served on the board of directors and is a past president for the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Central Florida Chapter. He has also been an instructor at the Edyth Bush Institute for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership at Rollins College. When not at work, Dan enjoys spending time with family and friends. He and his wife, Ashley, are animal lovers and have two dogs and two cats. Dan considers himself to be pretty handy and enjoys spending time working on their home. Takeaways The COVID-19 pandemic presented challenges and opportunities for nonprofits, including a significant increase in donors for the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. Adapting systems, operations, and staffing is crucial to effectively engage and steward new donors. Storytelling, personalization, and relationship-building are key strategies for donor retention. Leave a review! Reviews are hugely important because they help new people discover this podcast. If you enjoyed listening to this episode, please leave a review. Like this episode? Subscribe to our podcast on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcasting app. Got a question that you'd like to ask a nonprofit professional? Email your questions to IMPACTcoaches@IMPACTability.net and listen to next episode to see if your question gets answered!This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

What will you be retiring to? Don't just wing it. Design it. Join our next Design Your New Life in Retirement small group program starting on April 26th. There's one spot left... _________________________ What lessons learned can you glean from a top financial advisor who's helped many people successfully retire? Scott Hanson, of Allworth Financial, joins us to share his insights and discuss the Four Pillars you'll want to put in place to build the satisfying retirement you've earned. Scott Hanson joins us from California. _________________________ Bio Scott Hanson is a founding principal and Vice Chair at Allworth Financial. A nationally recognized financial expert, he's been named to Barron's list of the Top 100 Independent Wealth Advisors  in America numerous times and has been listed as one of the 25 most influential people in the financial services industry nationwide. For over 28 years, Scott has co-hosted Allworth Financial's Money Matters, a call-in, financial topic radio program and podcast, making it one of the longest-running shows of its kind in America. A frequent guest columnist for several national financial publications, Scott is the author of Personal Decision Points: 7 Steps to Your Ideal Retirement Transition and Money Matters: Essential Tips & Tools for Building Financial Peace of Mind. In 2010, Scott was recognized as the Outstanding Philanthropist by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, California Capital Chapter, and has received the Distinguished Alumni Award from his alma mater, California State University, Chico. It 2021, he was recognized by Investment News as one of the 10 “Icons and Innovators” of the financial services industry nationwide. In 2019, Scott was the inspiration behind the founding of Allworth Kids, which has provided laptops, overnight kits, and financial assistance to over 200,000 foster kids to date. Scott and his wife Valerie reside in El Dorado Hills, CA and have four children. ____________________________ For More on Scott Hanson Allworth Financial Allworth Financial's  Money Matters _____________________________ Podcast Episodes You May Like Life in Retirement: Expectations & Realities – Catherine Collinson Live Life in Crescendo – Cynthia Covey Haller Independence Day – Steve Lopez ______________________________ Wise Quotes On Work as an Option "So I think it's really important that people get to a point where retirement's an option and where work is an option, not an obligation. When people get to that point where they have the financial independence, I think it changes their mindset and they can look at work a lot differently. They have other options available to them. And so for us, for financial advisors, it's really about getting to that point where you've got that independence where you can choose your own future." On Planning for Life After You Retire "A lot of people think 'Well, as soon as I retire, I'm going to get rid of all my responsibilities and just going to have all kinds of blank space and a blank canvas to build from.' That's not always a very healthy way to approach retirement. I'll never forget, years ago, I had a client, she was an executive, a CEO of a mid-size company with a couple of hundred employees, and she had done a nice job saving. She'd come in and we'd talk about her retirement preparedness. So we're having the same conversation again - our annual review. And I said to her 'Stacy, let's assume you're retired today. Tell me what your next few weeks look like. How are you spending your time?' She says 'What do you mean? 'I said 'Well, your entire career, you've been coaching people, mentoring people, you've been involved in strategic plans, you've been working as teams. What are you going to do in retirement to still have some of those activities? 'And she sent me an email two weeks after our conversation and she said: Your questions haunted me.

In this episode, host Josh Hirsch interviews Meredith Rae Feder, Deputy Director for the Museum of Discovery and Science, about vision and action in nonprofit leadership. They discuss starting and completing capital campaigns, building a high-performing team, balancing long-term goals and short-term needs, building a professional network, and hiring team members with complementary skills.TakeawaysBelieving in the mission and having a passion for the work are critical for success in nonprofit management.Building a high-performing team is essential for completing successful campaigns and achieving organizational goals.Striking a balance between long-term goals and short-term needs requires setting aside time for strategic thinking and seeking input from trusted colleagues.Building a professional network and seeking out resources and mentorship opportunities are important for personal and professional growth in nonprofit leadership.Chapters05:06 Starting and Completing Capital Campaigns07:16 Building a High-Performing Team08:57 Hiring Team Members with Complementary Skills20:00 Building a Professional Network24:30 Coaches Corner: How can we engage corporate partners in a mutually beneficial wayGuest BioMeredith Ray Feder serves as the Deputy Director for the Museum of Discovery and Science. As a member of the executive team, Feder is responsible for setting departmental goals, generating $12M in earned revenue and philanthropic support annually. During her tenure at MODS, she has also overseen two capital campaigns. By connecting advancement and engagement elements to the mission of the institution, Feder and her team have been successful in enhancing the reputation, relationships and resources of the organization, emphasizing partnerships, outcomes and impact.Feder is a leader in nonprofit management and brings over 20 years of strategic advancement, operational, marketing and communications experience to the Museum of Discovery and Science. Prior to joining the museum, she was senior director of advancement for Gulliver Schools, one of largest private schools in South Florida. In this role, Feder oversaw development, marketing, branding, publications, web content management, public and community relations, divisional operations, government and community relations, alumni relations, social media and strategic partnerships. She has also held positions with Pensacola Museum of Art, Northwest Florida Ballet, and Starlight Children's Foundation. Feder graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in art history and studio arts from the University of West Florida, a certificate in fine and decorative art appraisal from New York University and a master's in arts administration from Florida State University and is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) professional and a graduate of the Getty Leadership Institute program for museum professionals.Her industry contributions have earned the Broward Chapter of Association of Fundraising Professionals the Ten Star designation for accomplishments toward the association's strategic plan and have earned institutions various Hermes Creative Awards, Muse Awards, Audio Visual Arts Awards, Communicator Awards and National Medallion by the Institute for Museum and Library Services for excellence in the industry. In addition, Feder was recognized as the Outstanding Fundraising Professional of the Year by the Broward Chapter of AFP, as the Mother of the Year by Health Mothers Healthy Babies and a Distinguished Fellow by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Global.She is a past president of the Association of Fundraising Professionals' Broward Chapter as well as the Greater Florida Caucus, a professional mentor in the...

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.

Haley Cooper grew up in Orange County California. She clearly grew up loving life. After attending college she was deciding what to do with her life when an opportunity appeared to travel to Malawi, Africa as part of a Christian mission. Eight months after returning to California from this first mission she was approached and asked to return to Malawi to help start and grow a manufacturing program to create food to help improve the nutrition of people in villages who, up to that time, tended to be quite malnourished. The plant Haley started manufactured, ready, peanut butter. Actually, there was a bit more to the product, but peanut butter was the main ingredient. Haley will tell us the whole story and show us how what she did made an incredible difference to so many. After returning to the United States after two years Haley embarked on a career as a fundraising professional for various nonprofit companies. Along the way she married and now is the mom of three children. Her oldest son who is four years old is adopted. The adoption story for Haley is inspiring and worth hearing. Two years ago Haley began her own philanthropic fundraising consulting company, The Savvy Fundraiser. While we discuss the company and fundraising in general you get to hear a conversation about sales, selling and fundraising. Our discussion about the philosophy of these topics is fun and quite relevant. I leave it to you to listen and decide for yourself if Haley and I are on the right track. As always, I would love to hear your thoughts about our episode. Please feel free to email me at michaelhi@accessibe.com. And, of course, when you listen to this episode, please give us a 5* rating. Thanks. About the Guest: Haley is a passionate and accomplished professional with a diverse skill set in the nonprofit sector. As a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), Certified Stress Management Coach, and Certified EmC train the trainer, she brings a wealth of expertise to her work. Haley's journey began in 2012 when she founded PB+J in Malawi, Africa, establishing her commitment to making a positive impact for children and youth. Since then, she has honed her abilities while working with various small and large nonprofit teams, focusing on human services, homelessness, and youth sectors. Haley is the Founder and CEO of The Savvy Fundraiser and her specialties include the EmC process, nonprofit leadership, board development, and fundraising. Ways to connect with Haley: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/haley-cooper-cfre/ Website: https://thesavvyfundraiser.com/ Subscribe: https://thesavvyfundraiser.ck.page/subscribe About the Host: Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog. Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards. https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/ accessiBe Links https://accessibe.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/accessiBe https://www.linkedin.com/company/accessibe/mycompany/ https://www.facebook.com/accessibe/ Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts. Transcription Notes **Michael Hingson ** 00:00 Access Cast and accessiBe Initiative presents Unstoppable Mindset. The podcast where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet. Hi, I'm Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe and the author of the number one New York Times bestselling book, Thunder dog, the story of a blind man, his guide dog and the triumph of trust. Thanks for joining me on my podcast as we explore our own blinding fears of inclusion unacceptance and our resistance to change. We will discover the idea that no matter the situation, or the people we encounter, our own fears, and prejudices often are our strongest barriers to moving forward. The unstoppable mindset podcast is sponsored by accessiBe, that's a c c e s s i  capital B e. Visit www.accessibe.com to learn how you can make your website accessible for persons with disabilities. And to help make the internet fully inclusive by the year 2025. Glad you dropped by we're happy to meet you and to have you here with us. **Michael Hingson ** 01:21 Hi there and welcome to another episode of unstoppable mindset. Today we're going to have some fun we've got a really interesting person to chat with Haley Cooper, unless you talk to her mom and sometimes her mom pronounces it Haley Cooper but and my computer by the way with Jaw's pronounces at Halle, but I'm smart enough to know that it's really Haley. But Haley Halle tomato tomahto I couldn't resist this. Well anyway, welcome to unstoppable mindset, Haley, and we're really glad that you're here with us. **Haley Cooper ** 01:56 Well, thank you so much, Michael. It's so good to be here. And I'm so glad that we found a time that has worked for us. And I'm just delighted and honored to be able to chat with you. **Michael Hingson ** 02:06 And on top of everything else, sports fans. Haley lives in Lake Forest, California, which is only what would you say about oh, from Victorville? Probably about 60 miles. No more than **Haley Cooper ** 02:19 Yeah, maybe. Maybe I could throw you a football? Yeah, yeah. **Michael Hingson ** 02:24 Well are probably easier for me to throw something from here because we're up higher. **Haley Cooper ** 02:29 Oh, there you go. Yeah, you'd **Michael Hingson ** 02:30 have to throw away up hill. But Haley lives fairly close to where I attended college at University of California at Irvine. And then we live my wife and I in Mission Viejo for a while. So anyway, we're really glad you're here with us. And I want to thank you for for joining us. So why don't we start? The fun way to start? Tell us about kind of the early Halley growing up and all that sort of stuff? **Haley Cooper ** 02:55 Yeah, that's a good question. And I've been reflecting on that. And you know, as I've been listening to your podcasts episodes, I'm like, What is my story? Who who is Haley, who is family **Michael Hingson ** 03:05 anyway? Who has real power that really Haley Halle, stand up? **Haley Cooper ** 03:12 There you go. But you know, obviously, I grew up in Orange County, and I grew up and over really good family that, you know, my family was deeply committed to philanthropy and giving back to the community. It's been a part and ingrained in my life from as early as I can remember. You know, my grandparents would always invite us to ballet shows. They were a part of an organization called the St. Joseph ballet that is now the wooden floor at you know, reflecting back I'm like, now I'm a nonprofit leader, which we'll get to like, I didn't understand philanthropy, I just understood that it was a way of life. I also grew up in the Christian church. And so service is giving to others, and helping others it's just ingrained in in me. And, you know, aside from service with my family, I loved playing sports. I grew up running cross country and track played soccer was a very active child's love to play. I'm one of five children. And with my two parents, and I just, you know, remember as a child, volunteering, and aside from playing sports, volunteering with my family, and, you know, from a young age, I was exposed to the importance of that and making a positive impact on the world. **Michael Hingson ** 04:30 So where did you grow up? What Round Lake Forest or where I grew up in Laguna Niguel? Ah, so still right in the area? **Haley Cooper ** 04:39 Yeah. And I went to from preschool to 12th grade I went to the same school St. Margaret's in San Juan Capistrano. And it's funny because one of my one of my very best dear friends is my friend from preschool. So we've been friends for I mean, I won't date myself but 36 years. You That's okay. **Michael Hingson ** 05:03 Nothing wrong. Don't be ashamed. I mean, I was born in 1950. You can do the math. Yes. So so I'm not I'm not ashamed by it. It's okay. Well, that's that's pretty cool. I did student teaching when I took teacher training at UC Irvine from the teacher's college, their university high in Irvine. So that was kind of fun. Yeah, **Haley Cooper ** 05:28 we played them in soccer. Who won? We did. Okay. No, actually, I think it was pretty fair, pretty. I remember them being pretty competitive. But I, I would like to remember that we, we kicked their butts. **Michael Hingson ** 05:43 Now we need to get somebody on from University High from from back in those days. Yeah. And and see what we can do. So we need to get somebody from somewhere in the 1990s. And so on to come on and see if we can get a real story. So **Haley Cooper ** 06:03 that's two sides of the story. Right? Yeah. But **Michael Hingson ** 06:06 unless they say, Yeah, they really kicked our butts. **Haley Cooper ** 06:12 Well, I hope I hope they remember it the way I **Michael Hingson ** 06:15 so what did you major in in college? **Haley Cooper ** 06:17 Yeah, so I went to St. Mary's College of California in Moraga, California at the East Bay. And I studied Kinesiology, Health and Human Performance. That's what I graduated with my bachelor's degree in. And I love science, all things science, I love learning how the body works, and being able to help others implement that. Well. I don't necessarily do that now. **Michael Hingson ** 06:44 So what's the big? So what's the big bang theory, one of your favorite TV shows? **Haley Cooper ** 06:48 I guess I do like that show. Just checking the genus of that show. But yeah, I really, you know, like I said, I was always involved in sports, and it was a part of my lifestyle growing up. And, you know, somehow, my dad has five kids was able to make it to every single person's that soccer game or sports event, sometimes you're playing at the same time on the same field, but he was able to make it to all so being able to leverage that in college, and it was something that I was really excited about. And I really enjoyed, you know, it was one of the only colleges at the time that offer that major, specifically, there are different tracks that you could take, but I've chose Health and Human Performance and really enjoyed it. **Michael Hingson ** 07:34 How did you say health and human performance? **Haley Cooper ** 07:36 How helping human performance? **Michael Hingson ** 07:39 Okay, yeah. Okay, that's that was just making sure. That's that, though, is pretty interesting. Why did you choose that? **Haley Cooper ** 07:48 So like I said, you know, sports was heavily involved in my upbringing, my dad had also graduated with a degree in exercise physiology. And so it was just something that, you know, I was passionate about, and found interest in and was able to excel in. And so I really, yeah, I just like the aspect of learning how the body works, and being able to help that other people implement healthy lifestyles. **Michael Hingson ** 08:19 Cool. Well, and why did you? Well, what, what drove you to doing that? Like, was it just your upbringing that you just felt that that was kind of a way to give back a little bit, do you think? **Haley Cooper ** 08:34 I think so. So I actually entered college as a communications major, because that's what I thought I wanted to do. But looking back, I'm glad I did not go down that road, because that is just, it's, it was just not for me. And I found, you know, I found this and I think it was because of my upbringing, that really was instrumental in helping me choose, choose this major, and get interested in all and specifically, you know, I really liked physiology and Exercise Physiology and what we would do, as our final project, as a senior was developing, like, we had all the you could do the waterway, I forget what it's called, but like weigh yourself underwater, and that's the most accurate way to weigh yourself. And then we did different activities. And we were able to prescribe exercise and nutrition plans based on the measurements that we took. **Michael Hingson ** 09:29 So how do you weigh or how do you weigh yourself underwater? **Haley Cooper ** 09:33 You know, college was a long time ago, I have to remember Ah, there you go. But you sit on a chair and you go underwater, and I think it takes out everything. I wish I remembered what I now I'm gonna have to Google it. But yeah, I think it's the most accurate way because it takes out all the other like, fluid and build up that you can get on other scales. **Michael Hingson ** 09:57 Interesting. I'm gonna have to google that and learn about that. myself, that would be kind of fun to do. But it makes sense. As you say, it takes up a lot of other things. So **Haley Cooper ** 10:07 says it's the most accurate way to measure body fat. You're submerged in water while you sit on a scale and then you calculate your body fat percentage. **Michael Hingson ** 10:17 Got it? Okay. Yeah. Interesting. I'm gonna have to go see where I can do that. Yeah, **Haley Cooper ** 10:26 maybe at your local gym? Possibly. So **Michael Hingson ** 10:29 you graduated from college? And then what did you go off and do? **Haley Cooper ** 10:36 So I was sitting in my parents church in Aliso Viejo, California, right? When I graduated college, and I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do and on stage. You know, someone was like, Hey, we're doing a missions trip to Malawi, Africa. Does anyone want to go? All we ask of you is to sponsor children through World Vision. And then, you know, obviously raised the money. I think it was about $2,500 to go on the trip. And that included the flight, the stay the food, everything. And like I said, my family was philanthropically. Locally, we had never really traveled outside of the country. I had been to England once when my older sister studied abroad there. But again, it was very local. And I was like, Hey, mom, and dad, guess where I'm going this summer? I was like, I'm going to Malawi, and they're like, Haley, what are you like, what's like, where did you get that idea from? And, you know, when I graduated from college, he more inclined to give me gifts or money was part of my family tradition. But I asked him to give me money to go towards this trip. And so in August of 2012, by August 2011, sorry, that's when I graduated college, I went to my first trip to Malawi, Africa. And honestly, before I went, I had to Google where the country was because it's a little sliver of Africa. And this little country, next to Tanzania and Mozambique, and Zambia. And I went there and my eyes were just opened, you know, someone who grew up in Orange County, just open up to a different way of living a different lifestyle. And it really changed. It changed my life. And I came back and you think after two weeks, or you know, you go on a retreat, you go on a missions trip, you get back into the daily life, and you kind of forget that invigorating feeling, and that joy that you experience, obviously, there was a lot of hardship. But on that trip, we did a lot of discipleship, we hosted games for kids. We went and did gospel outreach in the communities met with chiefs. And got to know got to know the community. And after that, I was I came back and I was living at my parents house working at a local coffee shop. It was right kind of in the middle of the recession. So finding jobs is hard. And I was applying to colleges to become a registered dietician. And I kept getting denial after denial, and it just was not working out. That's the path that I thought I wanted to go down. And I remember one night that I just broke down. And like I said, I'm a Christian. So I said, God, like give me an answer. I will submit to you like, show me something that you want me to do, because this is not working out. And what I want isn't working. And that literally that next day, the guy who led the missions trip called my dad, because they were good friends at the time. It was like, Hey, does Haley want to go make peanut butter and Malawi for a year? And I went to go, my dad was like, hey, like, do you want to do this? So I met with a guy that is he was a former lawyer, and I met in his office and he presented me the idea. And I was like, Yes, I will send me I will go. And this is about eight months after my initial trip. And he was like Haley literally go home and pray on it. Like you gotta think about this overnight. And I was like, nope, what are we doing? How are we doing this? And this really evolved out of this idea that, you know, with the original missions trip that we went on, they were trying to end malaria deaths for all children under five. But they found that these children were still passing away because they didn't have the nutrition table to fight disease. And the original founder had heard about this company on 60 minutes with Anderson Cooper about ready to use therapeutic food that was making tremendous difference in children experiencing malnutrition. So I got out my mom's KitchenAid mixers in her kitchen. And luckily, this company who had developed this product gave us the formula obviously with the agreement that if we ever sold it, they would get a royalty off of it. But we've I started making peanut butter in my parents kitchen, and in August of 2012. I moved to Malawi, for For about two years and then went back and forth for for two years leaning missions trips and checking on the mission. And then I literally started, I always like to say this is like a fun fact is I literally started a peanut butter factory from scratch, and learned how to make it UNICEF approved. So my last trip was to Copenhagen to a UNICEF conference that was on this product, to literally it's kind of like, they're kind of like the FDA, if you will, like of regulation for this product. And there's very specific tests you have to do. We had to send our product to London, to get it tested before we could give it out to people and get the test results back. And because some things in the peanut butter, because there is a milk powder in it, there could be bacteria, and also the way that people prepare the nuts. Could be there can be aflatoxin, if they get wet. And people generally put rocks in it. Or if they sell bags, they put they get them wet so that they way more way more. Yeah, yeah, so we actually started a co op of peanut farmers that would then sell it to a business and they would make the good price. And then they would blend in roast them for us. And then we had a whole factory that we developed that was next to a hospital. Meanwhile, while I'm building this, I'm also living in an apartment with three other Germans, German ladies, and we didn't have water, we now have water in our apartment. So we had someone who would come and clean our house daily, she also made the most amazing bread. And she would go to the well and get us water each day. And we would have to heat it up and heat it up in the water heater, and then you take a bath out of the bucket. And so that's how that's how I lived. And then we were finally able to get water. Yeah, that's a really amazing and hard experience. I think I learned a lot about, you know, I was 24 at the time, so a lot about myself and a lot about other people's cultures and how to really, really work with a diverse group of people. **Michael Hingson ** 17:17 How, how well, was the whole mission effort, especially at the beginning, how well was it accepted? Was there a lot of skepticism as you came in and wanted to start this whole manufacturing process? And all that? Or did people feel that it made perfect sense or what? Yeah, **Haley Cooper ** 17:37 that's a good question. So we had to get approval by a few people. So when was the so there's a hierarchical system in the villages. And I remember we had to go to the chief have to there's chiefs that run each village. And then there's like the chief of the chief, and we went to her house, and we had to bring her like six chickens and a goat or something. And we waited in her house. And we had to ask her for permission to start this, we weren't able to start it unless we had permission from her. And luckily, she granted, we we made the case that we were going to bring it out into villages, because a lot of people would travel at least 20 miles to go to the hospital. And we found that, you know, they're waiting till the last minute. And so we wanted to go out into the health care centers and deliver this product to the to the healthcare screening so that people didn't have to wait till the last minute, because if they're traveling, they're missing a day of getting water cooking for their family. And so we were able to bring it out and get their approval, and then we obviously had to get them allow government approval. And I think what else really helped was employing Malawian people to run the factory. So we wanted to get buy in from the local people and be able to empower them to have jobs. **Michael Hingson ** 19:06 So were you able to see a difference that you made in the time that you were there because you started providing the peanut butter and is it you've referred to it as peanut butter, but you've also said it's a food I guess there's a lot of other stuff in it isn't just peanut butter. **Haley Cooper ** 19:26 Yeah, so in the product, there's peanut butter. It literally tastes like the inside of a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup. Because there is sugar, there's sugar in it milk, a protein powder. And I think that was all that was it. Okay. So it is very nutritious each it's like in a packet and each packet has 500 calories in it. So it was an enclosed package. So we had like this, we would put the peanut butter in it and then put it in the package and seal it and we did on an hour average of two weeks, like kids were making leaps and bounds, they were gaining weight, they were healthy. I mean, health, healthy as a relative term, getting healthier from things, we also use it to help. Mothers with, or individuals with HIV tend to be more mothers that are identified people with tuberculosis so that they could fight the disease. And also for that people who are taking HIV medicine, they need that protein to be able to digest the medicine. And so we are able, we're seeing that, you know, it really was working. And, you know, we also partnered with another organization that would provide supplemental food, called Luke Cooney, Paula, to help supplement the rest of the family, because we did find that, you know, if a kid is getting it, sometimes the family you know, everyone shares everything. And so we had to be able to supplement it so the kid can actually get the beneficial nutrients from that product. **Michael Hingson ** 21:03 Did they eat it straight? Or did they put it on bread? Or how was it generally taken in? **Haley Cooper ** 21:10 Both so gonna just cut out cut open the Sasha and eat it? Or they would mix it into their porridge? Or they call it in Sema, which is pretty much it's kind of like a mashed potato bow bun kind of consistency. It's made of corn powder. And that's what they would mix it with me. Okay. **Michael Hingson ** 21:33 But you certainly gained acceptance for, for providing this and people realize that it was doing good for them. **Haley Cooper ** 21:42 Yes, yes, I would, I would agree with that statement. **Michael Hingson ** 21:45 So you did this for a couple of years. And then why? Well, it doesn't continue today. Why did you leave? Or did you feel that it had grown that to the point where it could could go on without you or what? So **Haley Cooper ** 22:03 it still does exist today? I have, like I said, I'm been involved since 2016. And, you know, I moved back after two years, and I got involved with our local AFP Association of Fundraising Professionals chapter and really learned about fundraising and found that I really enjoyed it. And it just came to a time where I think like you said, like it had grown to a point where I felt comfortable leaving and letting other people there was a Malawian Country Director kind of run. And then there's another founder that from the US that kind of oversees it. Not the original founder, but one of the original founders does. And so, you know, I had joined this AFP Association really got involved in the local community. And really, that's really what started my fundraising journey over the last 1011 years, is getting involved in local community, mostly organizations serving people experiencing homelessness, and youth experiencing homelessness and hunger. **Michael Hingson ** 23:10 So you came back? And what what did you do first, when you came back? Or how did you evolve to what you're doing now? What did you start with? And what do you do? **Haley Cooper ** 23:22 So it was funny, because, as you know, I was a founder and executive director right at 2425 20 sites. And I had to start from the bottom again, I had to go back to being an entry level development person, which was actually really beneficial, because it helped me learn a lot about the ins and outs and intricacies of fundraising. So I was working for a local organization that was helping kids experiencing homelessness from kindergarten to 12th grade. And then I think they expanded to college because they found that the need was still great here locally. And since then, you know, I've just gained really valuable experiencing by working in these fundraising roles, like starting from the bottom. My last role was as Director of Development. I've worked at both large and small nonprofits. So I have seen it all. And I've seen that I really, you know, when I was in person really enjoyed the grassroots organizations that, you know, a lot of the ones that I had been hired at, had been around for 30 years, but never prioritized fundraising. They had been so focused on programs. And then they came to a point where they're like, well, we want to go our programs, but we need fundraising. And fundraising is always a board term that people scare away from and they're like, we don't we don't like fundraising. We, we don't want to I just did a board training last week and they were like, We don't know anyone. We don't want to fundraise and I was like you're my favorite person. I'm gonna get that mindset change. Yeah, and this is serious just working on all these levels. All of these different organizations just helped me understand like the challenges and opportunities and emotional whirlwind that it can be working in the nonprofit sector. **Michael Hingson ** 25:12 So let's talk about the whole idea of fundraising a little bit. I've been in professional sales, basically, all of my adult life. And I still think as a speaker, I'm in sales. Now I, as I love to tell people selling philosophy and life as opposed to computers, but still, the sales processes there. I've met a lot of fundraisers and I worked at Guide Dogs for the Blind, which is a pretty large charity up in Northern California and one of the largest in California, and certainly the largest guide dog school in the country. And in dealing with all of the development folks up there and meeting a lot of people at the association, fundraising professionals in San Francisco, they love to say fundraising isn't sales, it's totally different. And it's not the same. And you can't look at it the same. What do you think **Haley Cooper ** 26:05 about that? So I think there's aspects of fundraising that is salesy, and I think salespeople can come into fundraising roles and vice versa. I think the thing that is different is sales is based on a transaction. So it's based on getting a service in return and paying a price. I think in fundraising what, what it should be, obviously, some people still treat it as a transaction, exchanging informational, it should be helping people realize their greatest potential through your mission. And I had someone on my podcast last week, talking about like, helping people realize their generosity, helping people become their most generous selves, their most their highest potential, because we all know the benefits of generosity, we all know the benefits of giving. And my role is to help understand as a fundraiser, what that looks like for you. And then once you give, once you give, reporting back to you how that's making a difference. So I think that's that's the difference. It's not just me asking you for money. It's me, trying to figure out what your passions and interests are, how that aligns with our mission, and then helping you fulfill those passions and interests. By investing in the area that you're you're interested in. See, **Michael Hingson ** 27:22 I have a slightly different view of sales. And my career in sales began when I was called into an office and I was doing basically different kinds of human factors studies for Ray Kurzweil and computer Kurzweil Computer Products, dealing with reading machine for the blind and another technologies and finding out how to make them be better. I was called in one day and was told well, we're having to lay you off because you're not a revenue producer. And we need more revenue producers, unless you want to go into sales. And what I chose to do was to go into sales, I felt that God was leading me to do that. I had moved to Boston, and I didn't want to go off and try to find another job, especially when the unemployment rate among employable blind people back then, and still pretty much today is in the 65 to 70% range. But anyway, I took a 10 week, Dale Carnegie's sales course. And what I learned is that real sales, is, you can say that there's a transaction that takes place. But real sales is a lot more about being a teacher and a counselor, and learning what the customer needs. And seeing if what you say and what you can do, and if you can provide something to help meet those needs. And the reality is I've had situations where I've done demonstrations for customers, and even going into the demonstration and conversing with them learned that what we had wouldn't work for filling all of their needs. But I went ahead and did our product demonstrations for the purpose of saying, here's why what we have doesn't work. But the other side of that is by doing that. I was also building trust, and teaching people a lot about the technologies so that oftentimes we would get calls sometime later saying, we have another project and we understand what your product does, and it's perfect for what we want to do. So we're not even going to put it out for bid just give us a quote. But the reality is that the sales part is really more about teaching and developing and report, which is a lot of what happens in fundraising. Unfortunately, I think a lot of salespeople don't realize that. **Haley Cooper ** 29:52 Yeah, that I mean, that's valid. I like that. I like that reflection of what sales is, I think both in the comments All it is relationship building, and building that rapport, before you go to the transaction that is inevitable to happen if you've done your homework and you build that relationship. Yeah, you **Michael Hingson ** 30:11 got to do that otherwise, it doesn't work in the long run. And I've actually, as a public speaker, now, I've met people who I sold to many years before, and they would come up to me and say, Do you remember me, and sometimes I recognize their voices, but sometimes I didn't. But when they said who it was, we had all sorts of great conversations about it. But again, it was because of building the trust. And I think that's what real sales is all about. And the fact we're all if we're really cognizant of what we do in life, we're all selling in one way or another. And a lot of times, what we should be selling is being open to trust, and developing trusting relationships. And, you know, we are we are seeing in our society so much today, a lack of trust, or a lack of even being open to trust, because the people that we should be trusting aren't doing anything to earn our trust, which is also one unfortunate thing. **Haley Cooper ** 31:14 Yeah, and yeah, and I've seen that a lot in the nonprofit sector as well. Of, of that lack of trust, to giving, but I think, like you said, it is all about building that trust. And you know, on the board training I did last week, I was like, if you build that trust, if you build those relationships, because board members get there like we don't, we don't like asking, I'm not going to ask people for money. Now it's like, well, you don't have to ask for money, you can ask for advice. But the asking comes easy. If you have built that trust, if you have built that relationship, because it is so aligned, that it makes sense to ask that person if they're willing to give X amount of dollars, whatever, whatever it is, but it is all built on that trust and connection with the mission with the person who's facilitating that investment. Because otherwise, people don't want to give. Yeah, **Michael Hingson ** 32:08 so the people you were training last week, what were some of the backgrounds of the people who said they didn't like to ask for money. **Haley Cooper ** 32:16 And a lot of educational, higher ed professionals, like they did not have a network of people to ask. So or the financial ability to ask and to give. But we know that there's more than financial ability, what I coached them on was asking for advice. So if you ask for advice, I don't know the quote. But if you ask for advice, people give money. And so I think people in I don't remember the quote. But yeah, inviting people in and asking in a different way. And then also, you know, could you give $5 a month, instead of, you know, we've all heard that, like, give $5 instead of purchasing a Starbucks drink, which is now like $10, for one? Could you invite them to do like peer to peer fundraising? So is people who felt they didn't really have assets now to be more than network now to be able to give, but I kind of did the bubble chart with them. Or it was like, Where do you hang out? Like, what do you do identify one or two people of where you hang out? Whether that's like the gym or religious plays a chamber of commerce, your workplace, your family, friends? And then tell them about the mission? Like, yeah, people don't like my husband always has to remind me that I have a network of people that I can like, talk to you. Sometimes you just need that reminder that there are people out there. **Michael Hingson ** 33:41 Well, and another thing to look at is, what is teaching? Isn't that really a form of sales in a way because you're you're selling students on the idea of gaining knowledge. And the better teachers are the ones that can establish again that relationship and convey knowledge in a way that makes students want to pick it up. And if that isn't sales, I don't know what is. **Haley Cooper ** 34:09 Well, Annie, you know, this organization is serving at promise youth and it pairs college people, college students with kids K through eight, or I think that's what it is. But they understand, you know, what these youth experience. I mean, one in five students in California and the community college system are experiencing homelessness and hunger, so they understand it. So I'm like, Well, you understand it at a level of the students that have come across to you. So they have that level of passion and story that they can share. From that level of knowledge. **Michael Hingson ** 34:48 I really do believe that the best salespeople are teachers, first and foremost. And I think that's also true for fundraising, having been been very much involved in development work for six and a half years it Guide Dogs for the Blind. And it was fascinating to hear the development people say, this isn't a salesy thing at all. Well, they really need to maybe go back and look at things, but it's like so many things, people create their own mystique about what they do, rather than looking for the commonalities and ways to establish up a more synergistic relationship. **Haley Cooper ** 35:30 Yeah, I mean, I have to go back to them and say, like, you're a teacher, you make the perfect fundraiser? **Michael Hingson ** 35:35 Well, yeah, I mean, look what you're doing, you're, you're only trying to sell knowledge and convince people that they should learn this stuff, why should they learn it. And that's actually an interesting thing in society, we seeing all the stuff going on around the country, and whether it's book banning, or all the other things and people trying to talk about this whole concept of, we can't have critical race theory, or we have so many different things they, they're trying to, again, to, to sell stuff that makes no sense. Or there are a number of good teachers who are trying to sell things that do make good sense. And I think the biggest thing that we can teach people is to really evaluate for themselves, which is another whole story. Rather than just accepting, even from the best teachers, the best teachers would tell you go research it yourself and learn it. Because ultimately, teachers can't teach us all they can do is convey the knowledge we have to teach ourselves. That's good. You know, I used to say, I'm my own worst critic, and I realized earlier this year, actually, not the thing to say, I'm my own best teacher, because I am the one that's going to have to teach me to do whatever it is. And it's also a much more positive thing to say that. **Haley Cooper ** 36:52 Yeah, like that perspective, anything out of our own, it's always a learning opportunity, right? To teach us something. Yeah. And **Michael Hingson ** 37:00 that's just as much what fundraising is all about. Because you're, you're teaching people you want them to, to give, but you also want them to understand what's going on. And it is so hard, I think, for so many people here to realize what it must have been like in Malawi or, and other places, because we've not really as a society overall experienced a lot of that. I haven't experienced a lot of the poverty that that you have probably seen, and other people have seen, and I've been to a number of countries, but I've seen enough that I can understand it and relate to it. And I've also seen how blind people and people with physical disabilities are oftentimes treated here. Again, because people don't know how to relate. And we're not doing enough to really educate people about some of these things to get them to the point where they would be maybe much more apt to want to contribute to address the issues. **Haley Cooper ** 38:03 Yeah, I definitely agree with that. I think the role is a fundraiser is to educate to educate people on the cause. Because, you know, like I said, I grew up in Orange County, and most people think of Newport Beach. But when it comes down to it, there's over, I don't know what the status is now. But when I was working with youth facing organizations are about 28,000 kids experiencing homelessness. And so you think of, you know, you think of Disneyland you think of Newport Beach, and so it was our role to explain what that looks like, like, what does homelessness look like for a family and also in inspire and inform? So I think those are the three areas that we have the privilege of fundraisers or nonprofit professionals. It's part of our responsibility is to educate, inform and inspire. **Michael Hingson ** 38:50 Yeah, I think that's absolutely true. And maybe that's the most important part of the responsibility, because people have to start doing more thinking. And I certainly don't have any problem with somebody saying, Well, I hear what you're saying, but I'm going to check it out for myself. My response is go to it. But make sure you really check it out. And then let's talk about it. And you learn very quickly, who really checks things out and who doesn't, but it still is the way to do it. Yeah, I agree. So it's kind of fun. And I don't know, the world is an interesting place. And I think over time, we'll, we'll see that people will. I think, when they really think about it, we'll learn to investigate, but we've got to get back to encouraging people to do that. And one of the things I talk about a lot, and I mentioned it earlier is the whole issue of trust. We have so many environments where trust is under attack in our country. And that's the difference between us and dogs, right dogs don't trust arbitrarily. They love unconditionally but they don't trust unconditionally. but dogs are more open to trust, unless they've just been so abused. But typically, dogs are much more open to trust, and they want to establish a trusting relationship. We need to learn how to do more of that ourselves. **Haley Cooper ** 40:15 Yeah, I heard you say that on another podcast. I don't remember his name. But you had mentioned that and I was I was that that piqued my interest. And I think, you know, people have to do their due diligence because there's so much stuff, it readily access to things that you have to do you have to discern the truth for yourself and understand what is the truth and facilitate that trust? Yeah. **Michael Hingson ** 40:41 It's important to do that, when that will also tell you and teach you who you can trust or not trust. Yeah, that's true. So, anyway. So now do you work for yourself? Or do you work for a company or what? **Haley Cooper ** 40:59 So I had I in 2022, I embarked on my entrepreneurial journey to start my own business. I am a mom of now three kids under four. And working as a full time director development just wasn't realistic. When of my son, my oldest son is adopted, and he had some developmental delays. And so the all of 2022 was really dedicated to getting him services and working full time just wasn't realistic. Because as a fundraiser, you have to be available in mornings at all hours. And that just, you know, as becoming a mom, that just wasn't realistic. So I started my own business called the savvy fundraiser. And it's evolved in the last few years that it started. But you know, one thing that really, I found, and I'm trained in a process called the EMC process, it's about emotional connection. And that's, that's an area that, you know, I help facilitate psychological safety and trust within teams. You know, I've done the fundraising roles, I've done the fundraising trainings, but I truly believe that fundraise inside job, we have to take care of ourselves, we have to understand the language of emotions. And also, you know, it's, it's always a two fold thing, like it's an individual thing, but it's also a systemic thing. Because burnout is so pervasive in our culture, people are leaving, there's high turnover. And that that costs the sector a lot of money. And we're already limited resources. And so how can we better invest in our people and invest in ourselves to be able to do the work that we intend to do so my focus right now is group coaching and creating masterminds, but like I said, I also do trainings that help create emotional connection and buy in among staff members, so that they can actually focus on their fundraising efforts. And part of that is, you know, really understanding the language of emotions, because there's a lot of, you know, nonprofits, it's an emotional world. And like I said before, and we're seeing the hardest issues. And it can take us through, you know, the depths of sadness and anger to profound joy, where I saw a kid getting healthy, or a kid having access to food so that they can focus at school and getting good grades, and graduating college. And I think, you know, it's not just essential for our well being, but just building this idea of a culture of emotional connection. And facilitating that within ourselves, can actually increase your productivity. So that's where I'm at right now is really focusing on this process, and helping leaders understand the language of emotion and practice mindfulness practices, so that they can get back to that creative state of being. What **Michael Hingson ** 43:53 does EMC stand for? emotional connection, it is emotional connection. Yeah, so the EM is emotional and then connection. That's **Haley Cooper ** 44:02 right. And it was developed by Dr. Lola Gershenfeld, who is a mentor and coach of mine, and she developed it based on decades of experience. And you know, I found her in 2017 No, sorry, 2019 When I was in the midst of an organization that had a lot of burnout and stress, and I don't want to say toxicity, but that's probably too steep of a word, but there was there was just this, I should say disconnection between team members between me and the IDI and I'll totally on my part in that, but it was this lack of emotional disconnection, where we no longer felt in the team that we were safe. We didn't really trust each other we didn't feel seen or heard. And so you know, in those moments, productivity and effectiveness go down. So I thought out low let and I'm one of those people who likes to go all in so I was like, I want to become a trainer in this process. I See this in multiple organizations where people are really reactive. And when you know, we go into that flight or fight response, your amygdala is activated, and it takes over your prefrontal cortex and you're no longer able to communicate or collaborate. So my role is to really help, like calm your amygdala so you can get back to doing the work that you do. And that's by naming specific emotions. Because emotions are our high processing system, they tell us if we're in flight or fight mode, they help us go into that protection mode. And so they run fast. And so my job is to help you understand specific emotions, because from a science standpoint, it does help relax that amygdala and be able to turn on, like, be able to reconnect with each other. **Michael Hingson ** 45:50 Well, and unfortunately, we're living in a world today where fear is all around us. And people mark it with fear. And they're, they're doing things to stir up emotions. And again, people don't take the time to analyze, which is what really tends to drive people nuts after a while, because by not taking the time to slow down and be a little bit more mindful, they just become afraid or whatever. I'm actually writing a book called Live like a guide dog lessons I learned from a guide dogs in my life, by I forget the exact wording of the, the, the subtitle. But the whole point is that we're basing it around lessons I've learned from working with a guide dogs about how to control fear. And the reality is that we don't need to be as I would put it, blinded by fear, we can learn if we practice mindfulness, like you talked about. And if we really work at it, we can learn not to just go off the deep end, just because something unexpected happens like an airplane crashes into a building that we're in, or any number of other things that we can learn to let that fear be a strong motivator and a guide and an incentive to us. **Haley Cooper ** 47:16 Yeah, I'll be interested to read that book. Because I think fear is a huge thing in the nonprofit sector. I mean, especially as case managers or social workers, like if you're not on call, if you're not, you're working with the hardest issues, you're seeing the hardest issues, you're seeing people living on the street, you're seeing women being abused, you're seeing children being abused. And so if you're not working, like you're afraid that something bad is gonna happen. And so you have to you're in that flight and fight mode all the time. Because you're still focused on that fear, which is a valid fear, obviously, which is **Michael Hingson ** 47:54 a valid fear, but you can't be valid, but you have to get beyond it and not let it be the only thing that that drives you rather than being more strategic. **Haley Cooper ** 48:04 Yeah, definitely. **Michael Hingson ** 48:07 Now, my cat says she's abused all the time. So I, you know, I'm not sensitive to fear. But no, it's, but I hear what you're saying. And you're absolutely right. And people who are very committed to the the, the things that they do in the nonprofit world are, are very committed, because they, they appreciate it, they understand it, and they want to be successful and can't argue with that. **Haley Cooper ** 48:34 Yeah, and you think when, you know, part of this process, we go through different stages, and one of them is about fear. So, you know, we asked, like, how do you feel in your body emotions are stored in your body? And then, you know, I walked through this process with a family member because they were experiencing deep burnout. And I was like, What's your fear? Like, what are you fear about yourself about the organization, about the relationship, and it was that they were going to let that person down, or the organization was going to run out of money. And once we were able to really understand where that fear was from and the emotion surrounding that, because this person was stuck, like they were not able to move forward. And there was a clear path ahead. But they couldn't get to that because they were stuck in that fear. Just by naming it and understanding how they thought that fear impacted their relationships and themselves. They were able to make a decision. And that decision was to leave the organization. But it just helped them see that bigger picture and be able to be like, Oh, this makes sense. This is valid. But there's also another way. **Michael Hingson ** 49:44 We always think we have to be in control of everything. And the reality is there is so much that we don't directly have control over and one of the lessons that I talked about, and I'm sure you've heard it on another podcast where we've talked about it is don't worry about the things that you can't control focus Something that you can, because if you worry about everything else, you're just going to drive yourself crazy. **Haley Cooper ** 50:06 Yes, I'm a recovering control freak. So that that applies to be. **Michael Hingson ** 50:11 Well, we all have some of that, you know, and it is hard to let go. But it's important to learn to to let go. Now, you said your oldest son is adopted. Tell me about that. That must have been quite a challenge to go through. **Haley Cooper ** 50:26 Yeah, so you know, prior to 2019, my husband, I've been married for nine years now, I think eight and a half. I should, I should do the math. And either the first at least five years, we were like, we don't well, specifically me, I was like, I don't want kids, let's just live our life. But you know, working in shelters, and just seeing the heartbreak. Really. And then, you know, having a kid when I was in Malawi, he was 12. And I was 24 at the time was like, I'm going home with you, you're gonna adopt me. You know, I think, you know, if you are a believer, this is kind of God's call for me. He saved my life by going to Malawi, and then he really helped cultivate my heart for having children. And in 2018, I remember I was sitting in a shelter. And I heard a mom who, you know, had some mental health issues, say her five year old was too broken to be loved. And I was a fundraiser. So I wasn't really involved in the process. But I remember just breaking down and being so sad for that five year old and beat every single child, and I mean parent to deserves to be loved. And I went home, and you know, foster care. And adoption has been a story in my husband's side of the family. He has two adopted brothers. And I went home to him. And I was like, hey, guess what we're doing? We're gonna be some foster parents. And he was like, that just came out of left field. What like, Who are you is, are you my wife. And I, he was like, if you do the homework, I will go on this journey with you. So we decided to go through the county. And it took us about nine months, six to nine months to do all the training, you have to do a number of trainings. And, you know, he's broke my heart when you saw the, the movies or the show, like they had a number of videos of children who were like, Yeah, we were fostered. But every time the parents went on vacation, they would leave us home. We weren't allowed to go with them. And you know, as this process, we wanted to really take in a child and love them and give them the experiences that they deserved. And we became certified in March of 2020. When everything shut down, we literally got the notice like two days before everything shut down. And our social worker was like, there's no kids in the system. And whether that's because they were all fostered out. There's about 3000 children at any given day in the foster care system in Orange County. So or they weren't being identified because they weren't in school or after school activities. And that's where a lot of kids get identified. So we were just kind of sitting with a certification at home, trying to figure out what to do, and praying about it. And because you wanted a baby, and I get a call about a month later from my uncle, who was like, hey, a family member had her child taken away. And and he had seen that I had posted it on Facebook that I was a foster care parent. And so about in May of 2020, may 21 2020 is when we met our son, I will never forget it. He was so happy. We had to meet him in mass until we gotten to the car. We couldn't kiss him like in front of the social workers. We had to drive down to San Diego. And we picked him up and he's been in our family ever since. So we officially adopted him on my birthday two years ago. So I got engaged on my birthday and adopted a child on my birthday. No, I tell my husband adoption was a better gift. But don't tell him that. Wow, tough crowd. You're kidding. I'm just kidding. But they're wonderful guests. **Michael Hingson ** 54:08 Where is he anyway? Go ahead. **Haley Cooper ** 54:10 He's listening. He's rolling in the other room. And so yeah, I was so happy that we were able to and it was funny because we hadn't gotten any calls. And the day that I got him that next week, the next five days, I got a call each day saying hey, we have because we are emergency parents too. So we were we said like if there's someone who's just bored, we will take them out of the hospital like fresh baby. And you know, the challenge is that is you don't know what's going on. You don't know if they were on drugs, whatever. I literally got a call every single day that week, asking if we would take like a sibling pair or because we always said we would take somebody in Paris to so I had to put our foster care on pause because now I have three kids and it's funny last week actually got a call from our new social worker and I was like I'm not ready to open that door yet. I don't think it's closed. I think we probably will in the future. But yeah, it was. It's a really beautiful journey. And I'm so glad that he entered our life first and really feels like he's, I mean, he's my son. He's only called me mom. And every time I pick him up from school, and he runs with a big smile, saying, Mommy, I just don't take it for granted. And I'm just so grateful that I have the privilege of being his mom. But **Michael Hingson ** 55:24 the real burning question is, what about that now? 24 year old from Malawi? Is he going to come and knock at your door and say, hi, mom. **Haley Cooper ** 55:33 I don't know. His name is frm. And he was our first client in Malawi. And he was he was 16 Or no, how old was he? I think he was 12. But he had the body of like an eight year old, because he's so malnourished. Yeah. And he walked into her office, and he pointed me out. And he said, and then we followed up with him a couple months later, and he was happy and healthy. And yeah, I always remember that him telling me he wanted me to adopt him. And I was like, I'm just a child myself. **Michael Hingson ** 56:07 Do you ever hear from him seriously? Or any more I hear about **Haley Cooper ** 56:10 him? No, I haven't. But I **Michael Hingson ** 56:14 bet he'll never forget you. Because of all the things that you did. I've had as a as a student teacher, I've had students who I taught, and years later, and I never recognized her voice. It's changed so much. But they come up and say, Hey, Mr. Ensign, do you remember me, and this is a deep voice guy, you know when it is cool, but it's always nice to know that you make a difference. But you're not making the difference just to satisfy your own ego, you're doing it because you want to, to do good things. And it's always neat when you when you get to see the benefits of all that. **Haley Cooper ** 56:53 Well, and I think honestly, my life was changed more than maybe i i changed other people's lives unintentionally. So I think other people impacted me just as much. **Michael Hingson ** 57:05 Yeah, well, and that says it should be you, you get the chance to have other kinds of experiences and so on. And that's how we learn. **Haley Cooper ** 57:16 Yes, I definitely agree with that. **Michael Hingson ** 57:20 So what kind of advice would you give to young, aspiring fundraisers today that want to make a difference and are starting out just thinking they're gonna conquer the world? **Haley Cooper ** 57:31 I love this question. And I get asked it all the time **Michael Hingson ** 57:33  I bet you do. **Haley Cooper ** 57:37 Build a network and get a mentor. So I would say mentorship. First, when I first got into fundraising AFP, at least our local chapter offers a mentorship program. So I joined I mean, I'm one of those people if I joined something, I go all in. So I joined AFP. And I did their mentorship program, and out of that place, and now an organization that I'm a Board Chair of I just over the years, I've been able to build a network. So those relationships have helped me find clients now. But also, they're just people that help you navigate the ups and downs and help you brainstorm ideas. So mentorship, or coaching in a network of people that you can rely on. One **Michael Hingson ** 58:19 of the things that I have always done, and I always encourage people to do especially, but not only when they're starting out a new job, but even on the job is picture yourself as a student first, especially when you're starting out. You can be a student for a year. And you can, as you pointed out earlier, ask lots of questions. And people mostly love to relate to people, where they're asked questions, and they can convey knowledge, and help guide people, people love to do that. But I think that playing if you will, the student card for your first year on a new job is a reasonable thing to do. But I also think that even the most experienced person, other people are going to come along with experiences and different perspectives that are just as relevant and may show you something that you didn't even think of. And so we should always be interested in learning and never think that we know it all. **Haley Cooper ** 59:23 Anything sometimes you know, when you're like focusing on something so hard, like you need that outside perspective to take you out of the bubble and help you give that new perspective. And honestly, if you ask questions to people, like you said, people are like, I have people who don't, they're busy. They don't need to meet with me, but they do and I think that's the important part is if you're going to take time with either a mentor or a network of people. I mean obviously relationships are first and you want to make it authentic, but make it intentional. Like if you have quiet come with questions to your mentor come with goals that you Want to work on make it intentional. So it's a beneficial time for both you and the mentor. **Michael Hingson ** 1:00:06 And that's the real operative part about it. It's for both of you. And make no mistake, your mentor will be learning along the way as well. If they're any good at all. Yeah, I **Haley Cooper ** 1:00:19 would agree with that. **Michael Hingson ** 1:00:21 I love to try to make people laugh. I know when I go through airports, I always try to make the TSA people laugh, because they have such a thankless job. But even today, on the phone, I had to call someone, and then ask a question. And when they when they answered, they, of course, didn't know me. They didn't know who I was. But the first thing they said is, so how can I help you? And I said, Well, I'm looking for a million dollars, can you just shoot that right out? And that was the whole point is that they laughed. And you know, we kind of went from there. And I really think that we need to respect people more. People always ask me how much I will charge to, to give a speech. And I don't want to abuse anyone too much. But I always love to tell people. Well, in 2016, Hillary Clinton got $250,000 for speaking to Goldman Sachs. And I think I'm worth as least as much as she is. Nobody's taking me seriously with that. Yeah, nobody said no problem. We can give you that. Very disappointing, you know? **Haley Cooper ** 1:01:23 Yeah, yeah, definitely. Humor is an important part and treat treating people with respect. I always, you know, my big thing is like, if you're a minute grocery store, and it's taking a long time, you go to the cashier, you're next and they always apologize. And I'm like, hey, it's fine. Like, not I tried to go with Yeah, Grace, instead of being like, I've been waiting here for 10 minutes, you can just figure it out. Because you know, they're getting that all day by other people's have that one kind interaction? You never know what that'll do for their day? No. **Michael Hingson ** 1:01:57 And it doesn't, and you don't need to know, sometimes you will find out and and always will be a positive thing. But you don't need to know, it's still important to do it. **Haley Cooper ** 1:02:07 Definitely, yeah. **Michael Hingson ** 1:02:09 Well tell me if people want to reach out to you and learn more about what you do. Maybe explore using your services and so on. How do they do that? **Haley Cooper ** 1:02:18 So I'm pretty active on LinkedIn. It's Haley Cooper CFRE. And Haley is spelled H a l e y. And then Cooper's C o o p e r, that's my very name. And also the savvy fundraiser.com. My business is the savvy fundraiser. So mostly on LinkedIn is probably where I hang out. And you can always connect with me DM me, and I would love to chat. Well, **Michael Hingson ** 1:02:45 that is how we connected and I'm so glad that we did. I really appreciate you coming on and being with this and spending an hour chatting about all this, we'll have to do more of it. When are you going to write a book about fundraising and all the things that you do? **Haley Cooper ** 1:03:00 You know, maybe in a couple years when my kids are older, but someone did tell me that that is on my growth trajectory is to write a book. So are you going to? **Michael Hingson ** 1:03:10 Well, I believe everyone has stories to tell. And even if you need help writing it, it's worth doing. So I hope that that you will do it. That'll be fun that you'll have to come back and tell us all about it. **Haley Cooper ** 1:03:25 That sounds great. **Michael Hingson ** 1:03:26 And we'll let you know when live like a guide dog comes out. **Haley Cooper ** 1:03:30 Well, thank you so much, Michael, you've been such a gift to me, and I've really enjoyed talking to you. **Michael Hingson ** 1:03:36 Well, let's stay in touch. And I hope that all of you listening out there will stay in touch as well. We really appreciate you listening. Hayley and I both do. We'd love to hear from you. You know how to reach her and you can reach me as well. You can email me Michaelhi at accesibe A C C E S S I B E.com. Or go to www dot Michael hingson.com/podcast. And hingson is h i n g s o n. Love to hear your thoughts love to hear what you thought about our episode today. Hopefully it was positive and that you learned something and took something away from it. Wherever you are, and however you're listening, please give us a five star rating. We really appreciate your ratings and your comments. And of cour

Is your major gifts  fundraising aligned with your organization's core values? In today's episode, we're tackling the sometimes intimidating (but rewarding!) world of major gifts through a values-aligned, community-centric lens. We are joined by Sarah Staiger, a fundraiser with over two decades of experience. Sarah is passionate about building power through organized people and organized money. She is a partner at Staiger Vitelli Associates and has been exploring Community-Centric Fundraising methodologies since 2017. She also volunteers with the Minnesota Association of Fundraising Professionals.Key Highlights: Put Values at the Forefront: Join Sarah and I as we dive into how to rethink major donor engagament. It's about connecting on shared values and building something bigger together.Educate and Empower Your Donors: We are done with one-way conversations. Sarah emphasizes the need for continuous donor education and engagement, creating true partnerships and avoiding transactional communications..Values-Based Qualification for Major Gifts: Sarah introduces a transformative concept: using a values-based qualifier alongside financial capacity to identify major gift prospects. This transforms supporters into advocates for your cause.Investing in a Community-Centric Approach:  Sarah makes a compelling case for re-envisioning how we report impact.. She shares how reporting impact in a different manner can lead to crucial cultural shifts within our sector and drive the mission forward.Don't forget to become a supporter of our show!Watch this episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/VhzvjcgPQcILinks and Resources:  Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/staigervitelli/ Sarah's Values-Based Donor Qualification: https://www.staigervitelli.com/vbdqConnect with Maria on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mariario/Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/208666/supporters/newSupport the show

On this episode of Charity Therapy, we're digging deep into fundraising - specifically, how to do it ethically. If we're going to be asking people for their hard-earned dollars, it's important that we do it right, right?! Check out this episode to help make sure you're on the right side of the law, focusing on your mission, and keeping donor info private.  We're dissecting the Association of Fundraising Professionals' code of ethics and tackling a sticky real-life situation from a listener about a board member wanting member emails. Talk about needing a solid privacy policy! But we're not just chatting about ethics. We're going right to the heart of the culture of nonprofit organizations. Documents like your conflict of interest policy and donor privacy policies aren't just boring paperwork. They're really important tools that can shape your organization, especially when the going gets tough. We also discuss how overwork and burnout can impact decision-making and the need for a healthy, values-driven work culture to stop any unethical practices.  Whether you're a seasoned pro in the nonprofit world or just starting, this episode is packed with pearls of wisdom. In this episode, you will hear: What ethical fundraising even is About the Association of Fundraising Professionals'  and their code of ethics Whether it's okay to share your donor's private info with others (hint - NOPE!) The need for robust privacy and conflict of interest policies How the nonprofit's culture can make or break your fundraising practices How clear policies and a positive work culture can prevent unethical messes The harmful effects of overwork and burnout on decision-making How to foster a positive, values-driven work culture Resources from this Episode Association of Fundraising Professionals Code of Ethics: https://afpglobal.org/ethicsmain/code-ethical-standards Sign up for the Birken Law Email list: https://birkenlaw.com/signup Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/birkenlaw Follow and Review: We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

Raj Asava, originally from India, enjoyed a successful corporate career in senior/executive roles for renowned companies, including serving as President of two startup organizations. He retired in 2010 as the Chief Strategy Officer at Perot Systems. Aradhana (Anna) Asava, has over 20 years of experience in the Global Information Technology industry, specializing in leading organization-wide transformational programs. In 2009, Anna transitioned from corporate America to philanthropic endeavors, demonstrating her results-oriented approach and knack for creative problem-solving. Together, Raj and Anna founded HungerMitao in 2017, a movement aimed at uniting the Indian American community to combat food insecurity. Within six years, HungerMitao expanded to multiple cities, facilitating over 55 million meals for the Feeding America network of Food Banks. Notably, the HungerMitao model has been shared with the Chinese and Hispanic communities. Their outstanding contributions to philanthropy have garnered recognition and accolades: • August 2021: Raj and Anna honored as top 100 philanthropists of Indian origin. • August 2022: President Joe Biden awarded them the prestigious "Lifetime Achievement" medal. • January 2023: Raj was selected as one of the prominent Indo-Americans in "Jewels of India: Leading Indo-American Personalities (Vol II)" where his personal, professional, and philanthropic journey is highlighted along with that of other leaders like US Vice President Kamala Harris and Google CEO Sundar Pichai. • May 2023: Hunger Free America commended the impactful HungerMitao movement and honored Raj and Anna Asava for their tireless efforts. • November 2023: Anna and Raj received the 2023 National Philanthropy Day Outstanding Volunteer Fundraisers award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals. The Asavas' dedication to eradicating hunger and their innovative approach through HungerMitao have left a lasting impact on communities in need. https://www.hungermitao.org/ https://nexuspmg.com/

Laura MacDonald joins us to share giving trends as addressed by the most recently released Giving USA report. One issue that they discuss is that overall giving is down in the United States by 6.4%. Laura and Sybil discuss what to consider in this new era of giving, especially in the era of the “Mega Donor” and the rise of the Donor-Advised Fund. Laura also delves into the specific sectors and interest areas that received funding. Episode Highlights:Giving trends that have risen and fallen.The issues that are receiving the most support.The interesting rise in giving from the “Mega Donor” and from Donor-Advised Funds.Laura MacDonald Bio:Laura MacDonald, Board Member for Giving USA and Founder of Benefactor Group, has earned a national reputation for her dedication to the nonprofit sector. She is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) with decades of experience in nonprofit leadership, fundraising, and philanthropy. In 1999, she established Benefactor Group to serve the needs of those who serve the common good.Laura's work with clients combines her talent for identifying innovative and practical strategies with data-driven decision-making. She has guided clients to achieve unprecedented successes: the largest contribution ever to an arts organization in central Ohio; consistent increases in annual fund revenue for a women's fund; an innovative digital giving strategy for a conservation organization; a reinvigorated board for a literary society. Laura is constantly curious about trends in fundraising and philanthropy and an astute storyteller. She is a frequent speaker at local, regional, and national conferences (AFP, AAM, AMDA, Fundraising Bootcamp, etc.) and has addressed hundreds of nonprofit boards. Her articles related to advancement and philanthropy have appeared in Advancing Philanthropy, Nonprofit Quarterly, and other professional publications. A past chair of the Giving USA Foundation, she contributes to Giving USA: The Annual Report on Philanthropy, the seminal study of the sources and uses of charitable giving in the United States, and is consulted widely by publications such as The New York Times, Ms. Magazine, Penta Barron's, and the Chronicle of Philanthropy. She is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and was named her chapter's “Fundraising Professional of the Year” in 2007.Links:Benefactor Group: https://benefactorgroup.com Giving USA: https://givingusa.orgIf you enjoyed this episode, listen to these as well:https://www.doyourgood.com/blog/110-Laura-MacDonaldhttps://www.doyourgood.com/blog/112-Michael-Chatmanhttps://www.doyourgood.com/blog/99-Meta-LoftsgaardenCrack the Code: Sybil's Successful Guide to PhilanthropyBecome even better at what you do as Sybil teaches you the strategies and tools you'll need to avoid mistakes and make a career out of philanthropy.Sybil offers resources including free mini-course videos, templates, checklists, and words of advice summarized in easy to review pdfs. Check out Sybil's website with all the latest opportunities to learn from Sybil at https://www.doyourgood.com Connect with Do Your Goodhttps://www.facebook.com/doyourgoodhttps://www.instagram.com/doyourgoodWould you like to talk with Sybil directly?Send in your inquiries through her website https://www.doyourgood.com/ or you can email her directly at sybil@doyourgood.com.

DiploChatz welcomes you to our Second Season - Episode 2!Guest Co-Host: We are joined as a guest co-host on this second episode by Yulia Rajeh who is a Legal Case Assistant for NNIC's Refugee Resettlement Program.Episode 2 Description:We will begin every DiploChatz show with a warm welcome to you! We will take this opportunity to introduce you to our episode's guest co-host. On Episode 2 of DiploChatz, we are joined by Dr. Todd Felts, Associate Professor at the Reynolds School of Journalism at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR).Dr. Felts teaches media & society, crisis communications, and graduate classes in leadership, innovation, and engagement.  Before joining the faculty more than a decade ago, Dr. Felts directed public relations for international companies and causes, providing media relations counsel during crises and litigation. The University awarded him Outreach Faculty of the Year and he was the Human Services Network Board Member of the Year for his work for Northern Nevada HOPES, a federally qualified health facility in Northern Nevada.  This year, the Association of Fundraising Professionals named him Volunteer Fundraiser of the Year. Segment 1 & 2: During the first and second segments of Episode 2, The rules of crisis communications are often used to mitigate and manage public perceptions of issues that affect us all.  A key ingredient in this process is trust.  The way we communicate plus how we act equals the reputation of individuals, organizations, and multinational corporations.  By understanding the cycle of a crisis from detection to listening, we are better equipped to make the right decisions at the right time, reducing the likelihood of the crisis getting out of hand.Players in international markets are often faced with additional challenges.  From language to culture differences, before we speak and act, there is a lot to learn.This discussion will focus on proven leadership approaches to communicating during a difficult time.  It will feature stories of success and how we can all, regardless of our responsibilities, create more positive situations for ourselves and the people impacted by a crisis. DiploChatz featured an ongoing Segment:Every month DiploChatz proudly features a segment called Mindfulness Moment with Dr. Yvonne Stedham. This segment provides practical advice on how mindfulness can support you in your daily life.  Who is Dr. Yvonne?In addition to a three-decade-long career in academia as a professor in the College of Business at the University of Nevada, Reno, Dr. Yvonne Stedham is a Center for Mindfulness-trained mindfulness instructor. She has taught Mindful Leadership courses to MBA students, judges, and business executives and has a variety provided mindfulness programs to many organizations, including Microsoft, Hometown Health, and the Nevada Department of Transportation. Dr. Yvonne has been continuously affiliated with the Northern Nevada International Center for decades.Credits:  Manuel Mederos, DiploChatz Host, Producer, Audio Editor, Content Director, Sound Engineer, FX/Music Coordinator, and Guest Coordinator   Send any chatz ideas we should take into consideration on future shows:Email us:  diplochatz@nnic.org  Support the show

At 26 years of age, Jeri Perkins already has a Master's of Social Work Policy, Administration, and Community Practice degree and has her own business and coaching program. She also works as a councilor, so actually, she has two jobs.   Jeri helps clients and students to understand that while all of us may exhibit differences we are really all part of the same race. She fiercely works to promote equity and inclusion.   We talk about a variety of subjects around DEI and we even have a discussion about language and why words matter.   Our discussion was not only lively, but it was informative and, to me, inspiring. I hope you find it the same. Jeri will be one of those people who throughout her life will enhance the world for all of us.     About the Guest:   The mission of Impact Action Network is to Educate to Liberate, so that Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, & Justice (DEIBJ) is a priority and not a checkbox in academic and professional settings. The organization's vision is for Communities of Color to have access to advocacy resources that enable them to navigate effectively and safely through systemic and institutional racism and oppression.   Working with individuals one-on-one, in groups and within nonprofits, for profit, and educational institutions, Ms. Perkins' consultant services are devoted to guiding students and professionals, as well as organizations, to navigate through environments of institutionalized racism to tear down the barriers of oppression and inequities. Coaching and trainings are tailored to the needs of each client.   Ms. Perkins' heart for service led her to earn a Master of Social Work Policy, Administration and Community Practice degree from Arizona State University's Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions. While at ASU Ms. Perkins served as an Inclusive Design for Equity & Access (IDEA) Jr. Scholar. Her experience in witnessing faculty/staff and scholars cater to the fragility of whiteness and the normalization of racism and oppression perpetuated against students of color led to her founding the BIPOC Student Network, now known as the Multicultural Students Network/Alliance.   While an undergraduate student at Historically Black College & University (HBCU), Lincoln University (MO), Ms. Perkins produced and hosted the Impact with Jeri Perkins talk show on JCTV Access to raise social awareness on the systemic and institutional challenges and barriers communities are experiencing.   Ms. Perkins earned her start in the media industry as an Emma Bowen Foundation Fellow with corporate sponsor NBC Bay Area News. Her experience has led her to become a sought-after keynote speaker to address such issues as the Invisible Tax of Scholars of Color Navigating Academia; Intersectionality of Historical & Generational Trauma; Answering the Call to Leadership; Strategically Navigating Systems and Institutions; and Trauma, Grief, and Healing the History of Colorism, Texturism, and Featurism to name a few.   Ms. Perkins' determination to use education as the pathway to liberation has led her to pursue an EdD in Organizational Leadership with an emphasis in Organizational Development at Grand Canyon University.   She was a 2021 Greater Phoenix Urban League of Young Professionals Rising Award nominee for her educational and economic empowerment and civic engagement work in communities of color. Her clients include Brenton Family Dental, R.O.C.K Foundation, The Purposeful Mind, State of Black Arizona, and Association of Fundraising Professionals to name a few. Ms. Perkins recently was a guest speaker for the University of Phoenix Inclusive Leadership Summit, Youth World Education Project Urban Experience Conference, the 2023 Annual ATTITUDE Mental Health Summit for African American Women, and the Arizona Statewide Child Abuse Prevention Conference.   Ways to connect with Jeri:   Website: ImpactActionNetwork.com Instagram: @impact_action_network Facebook: Impact Action Network Advocacy Consulting Agency LinkedIn: Impact Action Network Advocacy Consulting Agency     About the Host: Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog.   Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards.   https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/   accessiBe Links https://accessibe.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/accessiBe https://www.linkedin.com/company/accessibe/mycompany/ https://www.facebook.com/accessibe/       Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!   Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.   Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.     Transcription Notes    Michael Hingson ** 00:00 Access Cast and accessiBe Initiative presents Unstoppable Mindset. The podcast where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet. Hi, I'm Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe and the author of the number one New York Times bestselling book, Thunder dog, the story of a blind man, his guide dog and the triumph of trust. Thanks for joining me on my podcast as we explore our own blinding fears of inclusion unacceptance and our resistance to change. We will discover the idea that no matter the situation, or the people we encounter, our own fears, and prejudices often are our strongest barriers to moving forward. The unstoppable mindset podcast is sponsored by accessiBe, that's a c c e s s i  capital B e. Visit www.accessibe.com to learn how you can make your website accessible for persons with disabilities. And to help make the internet fully inclusive by the year 2025. Glad you dropped by we're happy to meet you and to have you here with us.   Michael Hingson ** 01:20 Well, hi there once again. And this is unstoppable mindset where inclusion diversity in the unexpected meet. And who knows what else and our guest today is Jeri Perkins who has a master's in social welfare. And I don't know what all and she told me, she just started a new job. And she also owns her own business. And I can keep going on and on and on. But I'm gonna let her do all that because that's why we got her to come on unstoppable mindset rather than me telling it to you. Let's have her do it. But anyway, Jeri, welcome to unstoppable mindset. We're really glad you're here.   Jeri Perkins ** 01:58 Thank you, Michael, I appreciate the opportunity.   Michael Hingson ** 02:01 Well, we're glad that you were able to make it and we want to talk about you and all sorts of stuff. So let's start with maybe the the earlier Jerry, you know, growing up and all that sort of stuff. Tell us a little bit about you   Jeri Perkins ** 02:16 know, little Jerry was quite a little girl. She was very mischievous. Everything, you know, mind in everybody's business, but our own and still doesn't sometimes tries to cut down on that. Because these days, I'm more busier. But I would just say I was always inquisitive. And I was always very, like self aware, and reflective of everything that was going on around me not always accepting of it. You know, I think ever since I was a little girl, I was very disillusioned with a lot of social injustice and inequity in the world that various communities face. But I was very passionate about even from a young age using my platform to evoke change. And as Gandhi would say, being a part of the change that I want to see occur in the world.   Michael Hingson ** 03:13 So where are you from originally?   Jeri Perkins ** 03:15 So I grew up in San Jose, California border of Cupertino, Cupertino years, I went to high school over there Cupertino law.   Michael Hingson ** 03:26 And, and so you could watch the growth and development of Apple.   Jeri Perkins ** 03:32 Yes, we saw that in my father's a computer software engineer. So he was up in San Francisco. So we were over there too, during that time. Uh huh.   Michael Hingson ** 03:44 So, how long ago was that? I don't, not trying to pray in your age, but roughly, oh, well, I   Jeri Perkins ** 03:51 mean, I'm 26 years. All   Michael Hingson ** 03:53 right. Well, now we know so we can continue.   Jeri Perkins ** 03:57 And I love you know, even sometimes, and I know, in my profession, as a Licensed Master, social worker, you know, some people may look at, you're 26 years old, what are you now but like, other than that, I really do like to share my age, because I feel like it's important for young people to know that they can lead while young and that you know, your age is just the number and it doesn't have anything to do with your impact.   Michael Hingson ** 04:23 And that's a really good point because I am someone at the other end of the spectrum being 73. And I don't think that matters. You know, the bottom line is, it's what you can do and what you choose to do and how you learn and continue to be effective. And that's all that really matters. Anyway.   Jeri Perkins ** 04:40 You are absolutely right. And to even elaborate on that my grandmother is 86 years old and she was running around the track at the park so she was about A D. So you know she's a smoker, but grandma is healthy as she can be from what we know and still going strong because of all that   Michael Hingson ** 05:00 Sigh Well it keeps her busy. And I don't tend to do a lot of walking around outside, I actually developed a, a track here in the house. So I do a lot of walking. But we have a living well, a kitchen, great room area, and there's a bar in the middle of it. So I love to read books, audio wise, and walk around the bar. So I can I can walk, you know, 10,000 steps or any number of miles just walking around while I'm reading a book and never even really notice it other than the university, I'll sort of get tired, but I just keep going in. It's kind of fun to do. So I get lots of exercise. But I do it indoors. And that works out really pretty well. So I can't complain about our   Jeri Perkins ** 05:47 natural environment. That's,   Michael Hingson ** 05:49 that's it? Yeah, yeah. And then the fridge is always nearby. I do resist, I do Resist.   Jeri Perkins ** 05:57 Resist so good for you.   Michael Hingson ** 06:00 Well, I love to tell people then I occasionally from the Girl Scouts will buy lots of boxes of Thin Mints. And the thing is out of sight out of mind. So they're up on shelves or in the freezer. Don't see them. Don't go after them unless I happen to think of it. And then I'll bring them box down and and eat it slowly. So I do try to exercise a little bit of willpower every so often anyway.   Jeri Perkins ** 06:27 Yeah, that's a good strategy. I'm gonna try that. Yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 06:31 you know, hide him in the freezer where you're not gonna see him and then you're in good shape. Okay, Gary RC. Well, thanks for being on unstoppable mindset. What a great, wonderful day. Wait, no, not really. We'll go on. So, you went through high school, you were up in Cupertino. And then what did you do?   Jeri Perkins ** 06:52 So I went to Lincoln University, Missouri, go blue tigers, founded by the 62nd and 65th Soldiers of the United States Colored inventory. It's a historically black college and university in Jefferson City, Missouri. And I majored in broadcast journalism. And I had a talk show on JC TV access called impact with Jerry Parkins.   Michael Hingson ** 07:15 will tell us about your show.   Jeri Perkins ** 07:19 Yeah, basically, I interviewed community leaders and organizations on their impact, to raise local global awareness on the challenges and barriers that I'm developing countries such as Haiti face, and nonprofits such as the help for Caribbean kids that does missionary work in Haiti. And also just giving a platform to up and coming leaders such as myself, or people who may not necessarily have that name recognition across the country, or, you know, as national or global leaders, but have such a powerful local impact, just giving a platform for those people to share their stories and raise awareness for the resources that exists on our college campus community and beyond.   Michael Hingson ** 08:19 So, what, what caused you to want to do that kind of a show? What, what really fascinated you enough about the subject that you felt that it would be a show worth having? And you made it obviously work?   Jeri Perkins ** 08:35 Yeah, so I did several different interviews. So that was one example of what I covered on my show and also on the Dr. Jabulani Bates, International Student Center and our travel to Haiti and my reporting over there and just raising awareness for developing countries but I also covered a local church in the community. The Joshua house church I interviewed Miss Tammy notables who was the director of the women's resource center in the brain, that bystander intervention team to minimize incidents of reported power based violence on campus. So I had a number of interviews I interviewed Helen Casa over girls leap forward at Global Education Initiatives for girls in Ethiopia, and also to aspiring Olympians for on the US National synchronized swimming team. I'm Jacqueline Lu and Nikki's articles. So just being able to interview these individuals, like I said, before they really, you know, we really grew together in terms of career because that was when I was an intern at NBC Bay Area News as a Immobilien fellow, and now I may look, I'm a guest on shows just like I was interviewing people, so you know, life does come full circle in that way.   Michael Hingson ** 09:59 So When were you on NBC Bay Area?   Jeri Perkins ** 10:02 So I interned at NBC Bay Area News in San Jose, California. They were my corporate sponsor, and I was a fellow and the Emma Bowen foundation for emerging interested in media. So it's a four year summer internship program that gives diverse talent a head start, and starting their career in the media industry.   Michael Hingson ** 10:25 What years were you there?   **Jeri Perkins ** 10:27 So the summers are 2014 2015 2016 and 2017.   Michael Hingson ** 10:35 Were you on TV during that time, as part of though   Jeri Perkins ** 10:37 I mean, that's like a smart market five or six. So like, I was an intern and college, I was learning trying to get to where those phenomenal. My news mentors and the phenomenal journalists there are, but I filmed some things in studio and they were very gracious to help me production was with my filming of my show and different activities that I did. And it was a phenomenal experience.   Michael Hingson ** 11:07 I was just curious, we moved out of the bay area, we were in Novato, actually, we moved out in late June of 2014. So we wouldn't have seen you if you're on TV. But I was curious.   Jeri Perkins ** 11:18 Well, hopefully one day, you know, hopefully this will lead to other opportunity.   Michael Hingson ** 11:24 Well, yeah, that would be good. Yes. Well, nothing, nothing like being a guest to get questions that help you kind of figure out how to respond to whatever comes along, when, especially when you don't expect it? Absolutely. So you you did that for a while, went through college? And then what did you do once you left college?   Jeri Perkins ** 11:47 So for two years, I had a period of time where I had to navigate like my next steps, I thought that, you know, I was gonna go to law school and become a civil rights attorney. And I mean, as I'm sure you know, like life doesn't always go as planned. And along the way, you know, your steps are ordered. And I would say that I had a lot of challenges and barriers. With the LSAT, the law school admissions test, you know, I didn't do very well on the LSAT and I didn't really have a desire to do much better, which is what got me to the point where I was like, oh, maybe this isn't for you.   Michael Hingson ** 12:30 Maybe last night, the way I'm gonna go,   Jeri Perkins ** 12:32 You know what I'm saying? Like, I had a lot of other gifts. And I remember my pastor at the time, Pastor John Nelson and my first lady, Miss Heather Nelson at Soma Community Church in Jefferson City. You know, they told me like, I remember walking out of the LSAT exam and column Pastor John, and him just telling me, you know, Jerry, God, they have in store for you a career of helping people, you know, and service to the community. And I'm thinking to myself, why, you know, how am I gonna make any money? You know, how am I gonna survive and live? I've worked so hard in school and all of this, but I mean, look, what I am now a Licensed Master social worker. So again, life coming full circle, and that's just four years later from that experience. So   Michael Hingson ** 13:18 So where did you get your MSW? Arizona State?   Jeri Perkins ** 13:23 Okay, watts College of public service and community solutions.   Michael Hingson ** 13:29 Well, there you go. Well, so what got you to go to ASU and to seek that degree?   Jeri Perkins ** 13:38 Well, my parents were retired and they moved to Australia, Mountain Ranch and Goodyear. And after I got out of college, I was navigating, you know, my next step so I moved home with them we're not home it was a new place because we were in California but um, I started working in the behavioral health field with children, behavioral children and child family teams and a just child welfare systems and group home settings with kids in the system and smi series mentally ill adults and residential treatment facilities. And I really developed a passion for service serving people like being that bright light in their in their day or in their path and being that solid object in their life. But I noticed early on that I wanted to expand my scope of authority because at the bachelors level like and having a degree outside of the field, I just didn't have a stamp of authority to really impact change like I wanted to. So I said, you know, the system like we need to bridge the gap between the system institutions and the communities they serve. So a lot of people that came across in my path would be like you're a social worker, like you need to get an MSW like you sound like a social worker? You know you. So I'm just like these people really think and this is the last thing I ever expected to get. And look, I sure did as soon as I applied, you know, I was fortunate to get in and start my journey. And well, two years later.   Michael Hingson ** 15:17 Yeah, why ASU?   Jeri Perkins ** 15:21 ASU. At the time, you know, I really felt like it had, it was a very affluent school, and it had a lot of access to opportunities. One of my colleagues was in the Walter Cronkite school of journalism. And you know, she gave me a tour of ASU. And you know, I also went over there. So the Sandra Day O'Connor School of Law, I was over there for some meet and greets, and trying to find out more about how to get in to law school, and I saw him I could see myself on the campus and I'm like, okay, you know, and watts colleges downtown, and we're really in the midst of the communities that we're serving. So I'm like, it's a good school, it has good faculty. And it's a good program. And I think it was ranked 25th in the nation at the time, but just just saying the plethora of opportunity. That was there. Really, you know, number one, and innovation and research is what led me to ASU.   Michael Hingson ** 16:22 Hmm. Well, and and you obviously did that. And when did you graduate? Um, last   Jeri Perkins ** 16:28 year? Wow. Oh, 4.0 GPA?   Michael Hingson ** 16:35 Well, congratulations.   Jeri Perkins ** 16:37 Yeah, that's a blessing from God, I always tell people because it was a lot going on.   Michael Hingson ** 16:43 Well, and you obviously coped with it, and you succeeded? And that's all you can ask for. Right?   Jeri Perkins ** 16:50 You're absolutely right. And I say it was the, you know, the grace of God and my parents, I had such a strong foundation from being young in seeing my parents and grandparents and great grandparents, college educated, and my sister. So really being the baby, once I got along, like, it was like, no question like that I was going to achieve greatness, it was just what path that I was gonna go down, and was I going to have the capacity to better myself, and not let my own challenges become barriers to the impact that AI could have in the lives of others?   Michael Hingson ** 17:29 Well, you know, it's always a good goal. And it's always great when you can do it when you can have an impact. And you know, sometimes you won't even necessarily know what the impact is, until much later. But you got to start by planting the seeds.   Jeri Perkins ** 17:42 Absolutely.   Michael Hingson ** 17:45 And then they grow and they nourish, flourish. And you, you succeed because of that, which is great. Well, when did you start impact Action Network?   Jeri Perkins ** 17:57 Yes, thought started in the summer of last year. So job, I was very eager to start. So I always tell people, I did things backwards. You know, I started with my website and my like, had the language and knew, like the blueprint, like the roadmap of what I wanted to do, but not actually how to get there. So I mean, I had I started speaking at events and by December, I filed for an LLC, and then I kept speaking at various events around the valley, and doing trainings for various organizations, and continue to develop my strategic business plan, my business fact sheet, my bio, the impact that I wanted to have, and, you know, my brochures, promotional materials, my brand statement, my banner that I take to events, my business cards and everything, so that I can really increase my visibility, authority and income.   Michael Hingson ** 19:04 Well, tell us a little bit about what impact Action Network is all about, if you would,   Jeri Perkins ** 19:09 yeah, so our mission is educated to liberate them so that diversity equity, inclusion, belonging injustice is a priority and not a checkbox. And our vision is to provide communities of color with access to advocacy resources, through individual and group coaching trainings and speaking engagements to navigate systemic and institutionalized racism and oppression, power dynamics and conflict resolution safely and with confidence.   Michael Hingson ** 19:42 So you so what all What all do you do with the organization or what does it do today?   Jeri Perkins ** 19:50 Yes, so I mean, lately, like I've spoken at Attitude mental health summit for African American women, and youth square education's projects urban experience on the intersectionality of historical trauma, historical intergenerational trauma, I spoke at University of Phoenix inclusive leadership summit on the invisible tax of scholars of color navigating academia. I've been on a podcast on the diverse minds, award winning podcast in the UAE on tackling social injustices. I've been on art of advocacy live stream about making dei BJ a priority and not a checkbox. Featured and shout out Atlanta and voyage ATL for my work like African American made a bunch of different stuff, like I said, just to get myself out there. And also I did a training for the Association of Fundraising Professionals idea committee on navigating microaggressions in the workplace.   Michael Hingson ** 20:55 You said the EIB J What does that all stand for? I know summer   Jeri Perkins ** 20:59 city equity, inclusion, belonging and justice.   Michael Hingson ** 21:03 Oh, injustice, okay, great. You've talked some about disabilities, do you have a disability?   Jeri Perkins ** 21:09 You know, I always say I do not let my disability disable me for meeting my goals. And I encourage my peers and family who struggle with challenges to not let them become barriers. And I made I really, I don't see it as a disability just because, like what I said, it's never disabled me for meeting my goals, but it has made my path more challenging. And I mean, mental health. Anxiety and depression is something that I've dealt with. And I'm high functioning, like I have a high functioning, generalized anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder. And as well as a compulsive binge eating disorder. I don't have it anymore, though. Because you know, I'm in treatment. And I have a dietitian and a counselor, but these are things I struggle with, but they don't define who I am. And I just assign value to myself by continuing to show up and continuing to just be the beautiful person that I am inside and out despite those challenges.   Michael Hingson ** 22:19 Disability should not mean and as far as I'm concerned, does not mean a lack of ability. And the reality is, every human has a disability. For most of you. It's like dependency right? Now guys don't do well, when the lights suddenly go out because you lose power. For some of us, it doesn't matter. Disability is a characteristic and everyone's characteristic manifests differently, but it's still there.   Jeri Perkins ** 22:44 That's very powerful. Yes. And person first language, you know, differently abled, or disability   Michael Hingson ** 22:53 but differently abled is horrible. You may not think so Oh, absolutely. I'm not differently abled, my abilities are the same. I may perform them differently, but I'm not differently abled. And that's part of the problem is that we spend so much time trying to tell people with a disability, because you have a disability, you're different. No, we're all different. But I'm not differently abled than you I deal with a computer just like you do. I may not use a monitor, I may use software to verbalize the screen or a Braille display. But there are people who are left handed, who don't necessarily do things the same way you do. And tall people don't necessarily do things the same way short people do. So the reality is that differently abled is just a way of trying to hide from addressing the issue. And the fact is, we're all in this planet. Look, Thomas Edison invented the electric light bulb, right? He invented the electric light bulb if you use the Americans with Disabilities Act, and I've said it before on this podcast, if you use that as an example, it's a reasonable accommodation for light dependent people who can't do well in the dark. So technology has covered up your disability but it doesn't change the fact that it's still there. Which is again, why I say disability doesn't mean lack of ability, but does it mean you're differently abled, because you turn on the lights? It's just part of the characteristic of your disability that you have to deal with. And that's why I think that differently abled is really just some people's way of trying to hide from dealing with the fact that disability is a characteristic we all in one way or another experience and that's what we really need to deal with.   Jeri Perkins ** 24:36 You're absolutely right and I think that person first language or not, Oh, what about something else? I'm not person first language but our use of language is important because you know, things one may feel like they are being inclusive or allowing others to subscribe the identity to themselves that they I believe that they have and one may not, you know, so I appreciate you corrected me on that, because it's another perspective that I can, you know, see things differently even in my work. So I really do appreciate that. And I would also say that, along with not addressing the issue or use of language that may suggest not addressing the issue, I think that there's a real stigma and shame associated with accessing mental health care and reasonably, within the disability community, or within those who do have some type of these different challenges we all do. So it's important for us to access resources to enhance our quality of life, because I know a lot of people, brilliant people, hard working people who do, you know, have a disability, who do not access resources, and their life is very challenging. So I think what you said is very important, because yes, it's how you deal with your challenges. But it's also acknowledging that a challenge exists. And where do you go from there?   Michael Hingson ** 26:12 Well, and everyone faces challenges. Your gifts aren't the same as my gifts, and neither of our gifts are the same as someone else. It doesn't mean that any of our gifts are less or more than anyone else's. The question is, how do we learn to use our gifts? And how do we move forward with them, which is something that we all have to face. But when we really try to compare our gifts, or compare ourselves to others, whose gifts are different than ours, then we tend to really run into difficulties like, words do matter? You're right. I've talked about the concept of visually impaired before, it's a horrible term, because first of all, blind people visually aren't different. And second of all, why do I need to be compared with how much eyesight someone has? It's not visually impaired. It's blind or low vision. But the reality is, like deaf or hard of hearing, people who happen to not hear well, would hate you to call them hearing impaired for that very same reason. The reality is we've got to stop trying to compare, because that just continues to promote the stigma.   Jeri Perkins ** 27:32 Yeah, that's true. Like the standard, like, we're normal, I feel like it's we're making. It's like a sense of other reason that someone is not aligned with what the standard is where the norm is. And the reality is, there should be no standard, or norm, no norm, because everybody is different in their differences should be valued.   Michael Hingson ** 27:58 Right. And we need to get to the point where emotionally and intellectually, we accept people who are different than we and that's a big challenge.   Jeri Perkins ** 28:13 Absolutely.   Michael Hingson ** 28:15 So for you. You talk a lot about Dei, and BJ, and you talk about dealing with different kinds of identities and the intersection of identities. Where does all of that play? I guess maybe the best thing is where what kind of role does intersectionality play in that? I think we're talking about that. So I thought I'd just ask you that question and bring it right up?   Jeri Perkins ** 28:46 Yeah, that's a good question. I think that, um, there's different levels of privilege, and there's different levels of oppression and at the intersection of race, ethnicity, socio economic status, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, status, or whatever the case may be. There's intersections, like no one person that people fit in multiple categories, oftentimes. So it's just like, assessing and evaluating each intersections of their identity holistically, to be able to understand who this person is not just from one dimension, but multiple dimensions. So I think that's what intersectionality means. And when I think about it, in terms of person and environment, life path and life trajectory, depending on other systems and subsystems that make up a person's environment, it influences their decision making their actions and their life path and life trajectory. And I think that that plays a role in the intersectionality of people's identity there Is there access to social determinants of health, which are quality of life predictors and indicators of health outcomes. So it's just intersectionality of identity is such a dynamic, broad topic to address. And oftentimes, as a society, we don't address each intersection of an individual family or communities identity.   Michael Hingson ** 30:31 So language becomes, of course, a very important part of that, and how do we change the language or get people to change the language and grow to recognize that, that we're all really part of the same thing, and that our identities intersect in so many ways.   Jeri Perkins ** 30:50 I think that strengths based language, and not problematizing communities who experience marginalization, or oppression, but looking at the root of systemic and institutional pervasive issues, as a means of this person, it's not, you know, if somebody needs access to like, Student Accessibility and Learning Services, that's a resource to enhance their learning and quality of life and experiences, that doesn't mean that this person is problematic, or there's a step more you have to deal with, to provide these resources, this should be available to meet each individual student's needs and tailored to each individual person are professional in the workplace, so that they have equitable access and to opportunities. That's inclusivity. And I mean, I would say that that's justice. And that represents the diversity of human experience. And I often say, I don't think you can have D IB J without the other. I mean, obviously, you know, all the letters may not be there within the experience of individuals and students and professionals navigating systems and institutions. But I feel like it's like any equation. If you have each of these variables in there, that's an indicator that you're doing it right. And that quality of life of the communities you're serving as being in advance.   Michael Hingson ** 32:28 How do we change the conversation though, since we, we've identified that there are so many people who view some of these things as a problem or, you know, another example might be the concept of affirmative action, where that was used to try to make part of our, like university system and our employment system more inclusive. But yet we also have people who oppose that. So how do we change that conversation? And get people to be more open?   Jeri Perkins ** 32:58 That's another good question. And, you know, it's unfortunate that people are affirming they are, are opposing affirmative action. And I actually saw a news story with an individual who I believe, identified as Asian American, and was just as you said, opposing affirmative action, saying that he was denied from, you know, six Ivy League schools, and that the reason why he was denied was because his black counterparts who weren't, you know, up to par or at his standards was given preference over him, and not looking at all the the legacy admits, and the people who are admitted into institutions because you know, their families give money to the school or are very involved. So it's like to tell to center the narrative to be the same oppressive narrative that got us to needing affirmative action in the first place, is unfortunate, because affirmative action was not just created on the basis of race and ethnicity. Sure, that's what was center to not discriminate against anyone based on their race or ethnicity and admissions, and hiring practices. But across the board, we talk about intersectionality of identity, affirmative action applies to that as well, not discriminating against people for their age, or for their ability, or for their it could be a number of things, their sexual orientation, their gender identity. So I mean, I feel like like you mentioned, everybody has something different about them. And this is not the oppressive oppression Olympics. We all have differences, we should value differences and and make that conversation inclusive to the demographics of the communities that we serve, and that we are as a people In this country, and its global citizens across the world,   Michael Hingson ** 35:04 that's part of the interesting part about it, right? global citizens across the world. And we, we so often just lock ourselves in our own little world and don't look beyond it. And that, that tends to be a real problem, because we don't learn, if we if we don't look beyond our own little sphere of influence, perhaps.   Jeri Perkins ** 35:30 That's absolutely right. And that's also a sense of other reasons. People, you know, a lack of social empathy. You know, there's an article by Elizabeth Siegel, and it says, you know, it's titled, a lack of social empathy, work, working but still poor, like how we can be the richest nation in the world. But we have people living below the poverty line experiencing homelessness is the most out of any industrialized nation, I believe. And it's like these policies, this legislation, it's not inclusive of the the demographics that legislators serve. And oftentimes, in that article and mentioned, most legislators are older, white men who are making decisions on behalf of Communities, that they share no intersectionality of identity in terms of live and shared experiences. So that requires empathy, to make decisions that are going to be for the betterment of the greatest good for the greatest number of people.   Michael Hingson ** 36:37 What's going to change that,   Jeri Perkins ** 36:40 you know, I'm not sure anything can change it at this point, because I try to be, you know, optimistic and remain hopeful. And that's why I do the work that I do. And I believe education is the pathway to liberation. So I think increasing knowledge base and awareness on advocacy, having more social workers in the spaces, lobbying for policy change, because the lens that a social worker has, it's just, it's like nothing I've ever seen before. It's just a different set of experiences, because of the education and practicum sites, the situations were placed. And, you know, we need that diverse worldview in these spaces. But I think that at the end of the day, the powers that be those who are in control, who will devour within systems and institutions have the power to evoke change and have the power to say how fast the needle moves forward when it moves forward, and whom it impacts. So I think at this point, it's larger than just touching the hearts and minds of people. It's a it's really built on power dynamics, and conflict resolution. And, you know, my mother always used to say, as I was a child growing up, the world is divided into the haves and the have nots, and you want to be one of the ones who have. So there's an element of perhaps, manifest destiny. And there's Wale, I asked myself all the time, as a black woman in this country who's highly educated working on a doctorate in Organizational Leadership and Development. And I know there's many highly educated black women and women of color in this country, and also those who did pull themselves up by their bootstraps, and, you know, navigate higher education and professional settings, and much respect to, you know, our immigrant community and that those efforts as well. But I've just noticed that what is the difference between the privilege that I've experienced growing up in private schools and affluent neighborhoods, and my counterparts who found even when I was attending Lincoln, who had a very different lived and shared experience coming from inner city schools, and it's not that those students were any less capable than me, it's not that they were any less intelligent than me. They just had a different access or lack of access to certain College and Career Readiness resources than I had coming from California public schools. And it showed in terms of college and career readiness. I stepped on the college campus with an internship at NBC. You know, it's just, honestly, depending on social economic status, it's like the playing field is not even. It's not even it's not even close. And who is to say that my life or my experience matters more than my counterparts. It doesn't it should be the same. They're students just like me, their lives and experiences matters. Their right to education is a right but I'm here and you know, many of them are doing phenomenal things too. Oh, but I say that to say, the difference in just lack of access to social determinants of health, you know, safe neighborhoods, nutritious food, um, what else like education, um, the standard of education, higher paying jobs, economic opportunity, upward mobility, to break those generational cycles of poverty or generational curses, even that because of the intersectionality, of historical and generational trauma we experience as people of color in this country. So again, multi dimensional and multi faceted, there's many different perspectives you can use to look at it.   Michael Hingson ** 40:48 What does success mean to you?   Jeri Perkins ** 40:52 That's another phenomenal question. Have you not I feel like failure is not an option. So success to me, is just just being better, you know, like, success to me, I don't even think success is ever really attainable. Because each day, if you're striving to be better than you were the next day, or more successful, it's more like you're meeting a goal or a milestone, and not necessarily, you know, quote, unquote, being successful. Because what does that mean? I mean, I could say in my field, success is about the impact I made. When I see the lives of the clients that I serve, be in touch, because of my spirit, because of my knowledge, and education and work experiences, being able to, to impact them. That's really what success looks like. But again, each day striving to be a better clinician striving to be a better business owner, organizational leader, all of that. So I mean, someday success to me could be having a positive attitude, you know, not rolling my eyes when I'm frustrated, or, you know, being able to maintain a professional facial expression that does not show every emotion that's in my head. So that could be success for me, but it just varies depending on the day. Sometimes it's just showing up and being in the room. You know, I always say that too. Sometimes you just have to show up. Yeah. So yeah. Well,   Michael Hingson ** 42:34 you know, it's the reason I asked the question is that the people define success in so many different ways. And the other one is, what does happiness mean to you?   Jeri Perkins ** 42:48 Oh, nice questions. I think happiness, peace, I would just say peace of mind, body and spirit is happiness to me. Liberty, liberation.   Michael Hingson ** 43:02 Uh huh. Yeah, I had the opportunity to interview someone recently. And we were talking about competence. He teaches young men, executives and leaders to be better leaders. And he talks about life being an adventurer. And he also talks about confidence. And a teaches people to build confidence. And the point is, though, he distinguishes between confidence and arrogance, and says that, usually well, arrogance typically is something that manifests itself because someone's insecure, and they bluster or they try to bluff their way through something. Whereas a person who is confident, truly understands where they're coming from, they understand what they can do and can't do. And they speak from, if you will, and not in an arrogant way, but a position of strength, and that people can tell the difference between the two. And so I didn't ask him about happiness. But I think it's interesting, people are always talking about how we seek happiness. But no one ever really can define it and, or, or knows how to define it in such a way that you could identify how you're going to seek it. You know, and I think that that really happiness is something that is something that needs to be defined by every individual in terms of what they need. Obviously, you can't be happy if you're going around blowing people away with a gun and consider yourself really happy in the moral sense of the word but you can certainly be happy if you know you're doing a good job of helping other people survive and grow and thrive like you're talking about. And that can lead to Happiness.   Jeri Perkins ** 45:01 Yeah. And that is so powerful that you say that because it's like, I find the greatest joy, not in the clothes that I wear or the way my appearance and how I present myself in the world, although that's important to model those behaviors in my line of work for my clients, but just meeting with them, and just thinking about how I can enhance their quality of life, like, I genuinely find joy from that. And I cannot say that I've ever found joy, it really in a job before, like I have in the social work field, being a clinician, and that might grow one on one individual practice of just seeing how I coaching with clients, just really like, it's a different person, their spirit is uplifted from the time they step in my office to the time they leave. And that, you know, brings me joy, because I'm like, job well done. And, like all your education and experience know, it's not just a piece of paper. No, it's not just credentials, or a resume or CV, you're impacting people's lives. It's not just about you. And that's the power, I feel like and happiness, for myself for what for the work that I do. And even my family, being able to, you know, break those generational curses, like I mentioned, with mental health, um, I feel like I don't have anybody in my family. I'm the one you know, who advocates not just for myself, but for my siblings, and for my parents to access health care and mental health care resources. Because as I mentioned, there's such a stigma and shame associated with accessing those resources and communities of color. Yeah.   Michael Hingson ** 46:58 And again, you have found something that brings you joy and satisfaction, then when you step back and look at it, it brings you joy, satisfaction, and yes, happiness, because you see how it's impacting other people. And that impacts you as well.   Jeri Perkins ** 47:18 Absolutely, it makes life worth living, it makes that, you know, 50 minute drive worth driving to know that, you know, clearly, you know, the higher power has put me where I'm at, for a reason, because the stars really did align. And it didn't make sense when it was happening. But it really is chess, not checkers, and all the pieces were put together for me to be where I'm at now doing the work that I did.   Michael Hingson ** 47:47 Right? And that makes a lot of sense. What perspectives Do you think that people should adopt? Since we have so many different people who have so many differences in the world? What kind of perspectives Do you think that we should really adopt in order to thrive in life   Jeri Perkins ** 48:09 value in differences, culture as a strength is not a deficit, resiliency is a protective factor. Strengths, both perspectives, person first language, narrative, the power of personal narratives like these are all perspectives of solution focused, lens accountability, approach, collective responsibility, like I use this in my professional practice and in my personal life, to navigate decisions that I make that I feel like. Also, I would say, more of like ideologies. Health care as a human right, is a perspective that I feel like would make the world such a better place like alleviating homelessness and poverty, by utilizing access to this capitalist system, to to level the playing field for those who may not have had the access that some of these millionaires and billionaires had, or the generational wealth. And obviously, when we talk about intersectionality of identity, that's a whole different conversation about generational wealth and certain families and communities and lack of access. But I think every time social empathy, that's another ideology, if you put yourself in someone else's shoes, how do you see the world? Are you able to see the world from their lens from their lived and shared experiences? If we all could do that we would stop doing all this crazy stuff, like you mentioned earlier with the gun control and the gun control law. Like No, nobody's trying to infringe upon people's human rights. So Second Amendment rights to bear arms. No, but what about the welfare of our children and families like, happy people don't do stuff like that. And I think there's a lot of people in this world who hide behind greed, and money and their fancy lifestyles, and they're not happy, and they're, you know, doing a lot of unhealthy things because of it. And that's unfortunate, because truly, this, we put money on a pedestal as if it's a as something to aspire to. And it's like for you to have all of the access to it in the world, and still not be happy and still be a miserable person. You know, I often used to say, when I was growing up, what is wrong, like I knew from a young age, and that's why I encourage other young people who feel like they're going through challenges to speak up about it. Because I knew that I had depression, since I was probably in middle school, I knew something was wrong, I didn't know what it was. I didn't have the language. I didn't know how to put a word to. But like, by the time I was in high school, I was able to put to diagnose myself and obviously, in my field. Now, I know that was out of my scope of authority, but I knew you now. And I think I read something in the book that said, you can find peace, in honesty and acknowledging that experiences are the way they are, and things exists. That's where you find peace and liberation. That's why I say Educate to liberate. Because when you educate your mind, you liberate your body and your spirit.   Michael Hingson ** 51:40 Do you when, in the course of all the things that you do, do you ever meditate?   Jeri Perkins ** 51:47 You know, it's difficult for me to meditate. And I often think it's because I may have a touch of ADHD. But, um, I shouldn't do that.   Michael Hingson ** 51:59 I was just curious if you did, do you? Yeah, I do. And I, and, you know, meditation can take on many forms. It's as much well, one form of it is as much about introspection at the end of the day and thinking about what happened that day, and how did it go? And things that didn't go, well? Why didn't they? And what do you do to make them better? I've learned to recognize that I'm my own best teacher. And the best way I can learn is to analyze what what I do in the course of the day and think about it, and move forward. And we we mostly just don't take time at the end of the day to think about what happened, why it happened. He said that there's no room for failure and failure isn't an option. And I think that the reality is that we view failure in the wrong way. Because failure is really a learning opportunity. And it doesn't necessarily mean failure, it means okay, we didn't do something that worked the way we expected to the expected it to is that failure was bad. And we didn't think it was bad at the time. It may have turned out bad. But the issue is, then how do we deal with it?   Jeri Perkins ** 53:20 Right. And I agree with that, for sure. And I think from a resiliency perspective, when I say failure is not an option. I mean, that I'm resilient to the point that whatever outcome I desire, I'm going to relentlessly pursue, for example, my mental health and wellness holistically, or, you know, like my education or career, you know, I remember when I was in grad school, and it really became very overwhelming not only my first year that I have imposter syndrome when I think about intersectionality. And that, you know, and how that played a role in that because obviously, I was qualified, it's not overqualified. And I earned the right and deserve to be there. But I think that when I say failure is not an option. There definitely is room to fail. And you're absolutely right. It's a learning experience. But when I say it's not an option, I mean, you I expect myself to learn from that experience, and to not make the same mistakes again, and as you mentioned, meditating that reflection and awareness. So yes, I do meditate because I do that all the time. And it's a very useful scale. So I completely agree with you.   Michael Hingson ** 54:42 Yeah, it's, it's a very important thing to, to think about what we do and why we why we did it. And sometimes it's that we didn't have the right knowledge. That's okay. We learn from it and we move on to the next time.   Jeri Perkins ** 55:00 Absolutely. And that's the air Mom, sorry, go nuclear? Oh, no, I was just about to say that I feel like that's the earmarks of a someone who to know that you have room to learn and grow, like the feeling that you have best a person who has no glass ceiling, because every day, they know that all they can do is just reach higher, higher and higher for their goals and milestones, because they know that they will make mistakes. And that is okay, that, like you said, that's a part of the learning process. But to not let those mistakes define their goals and milestones, or how far they can go or how high they can reach.   Michael Hingson ** 55:46 Right. Tell me a little more about what impact Action Network does. And why you have that. And what does it do for people today?   Jeri Perkins ** 55:58 Yeah, so impact Action Network was birthed out of my experience navigating higher education. And I actually started a bipoc student network at ASU, would we change the language me to the multicultural students Alliance Network, because I witnessed a lot of my colleagues of color, and even scholars of color, navigating the racism and oppression in power dynamics, and unfair structural conditions and conflict, and academia that appeared sometimes to have no resolution. And I remembered being an advocate and being a leader at the college level, and having access to leadership to allies and female scholars as a color that helped guide me and mentor me. And I thought to myself, well, I want to create a network of resources so that students and professionals have the same access to trainings and coaching and speaking engagements, recording so that they can learn how to learn. And that's why I created impact Action Network to bridge that gap between the system institution and students and professionals to have the confidence and knowledge to navigate systemic and institutionalized racism and oppression safely and with confidence.   Michael Hingson ** 57:23 So what exactly do you do with it? And how does it work? And how do people access it or utilize it?   Jeri Perkins ** 57:31 So now, I'm in the stages of community stakeholder engagement. So I go out to events in the community, and I engage with community stakeholders, I have books, as resources by authors of color that I sail to support my work and also have, like I mentioned, I've done a plethora of speaking engagements. So that's really key notes and different things, to support my work and to get on that broader stage. And those trainings and workshops as well, on navigating microaggressions in the workplace, you know, there's a lot of interactive discussion, and embedded in that, and people are able to ask me questions about how to navigate certain experiences, and prior evidence informed and evidence based practice experiences, I'm able to provide them with insight, you know, and I still like the coaching component, more so than one on one or group coaching. The coaching is ingrained and embedded in my speaking engagements in my trainings in my workshops, because, as we know, you know, the role of the therapist and my other job I know changes, you know, constantly during the session. And I feel like the role of someone who's changes the narrative and blaze their own trail, and creates their own vision for the future and inspires to do others the same, it changes. So as a consultant, my role may be a coach, a trainer, or a speaker, and knowing when to just having that box of tools and when to pull out which tools and being able to connect and, and make those, create those relationships and engage with community stakeholders. Because my concentration was policy administration, community practice, and my passion is macro level social work. So that's what I do. And just all those elements of my practice are just opening up the doors and the windows of opportunity, so that the gatekeepers don't keep the gates close.   Michael Hingson ** 59:36 Do you want to get back into journalism or do things in the public media again?   Jeri Perkins ** 59:42 Um, I would like a talk show. Talk show one day so there you go. And it just felt like that would just provide a bigger platform to have a bigger impact and reach more people and audiences. So you know, Oprah Ayana, Mr. Tyler Perry Miss Eva duveneck I'm here, you know, I'm ready to serve. I have different passions and I'm skills and experiences. I mean, I'm here, you know,   Michael Hingson ** 1:00:16 there you go. Well tell me if people want to reach out to you and learn more about the impact Action Network, maybe hire you or somehow use your skills, how do they do that?   Jeri Perkins ** 1:00:28 So you can visit impact action network.com and schedule a consultation. You can also email me impact action network@gmail.com. And you can also follow me on social media, Instagram impact underscore action underscore network, Facebook and LinkedIn impact Action Network advocacy consulting agency.   Michael Hingson ** 1:00:54 A lot of ways for people to find you.   Jeri Perkins ** 1:00:57 Absolutely, because there's more than one platform. So there's no excuse not to reach out.   Michael Hingson ** 1:01:03 Well, there you go. Well, cool. Well, I want to thank you for being here and giving us your valuable time and talking with us about all this. It's kind of fun. And I love the fact that we were able to have a real conversation and, and hopefully inspire people, and hopefully people will reach out to you. And so impact Action Network is the way to do it. So please reach out and do all that you can to help Jeri and what she's up to its J E R I Perkins. So Jeri, I want to thank you for being here. And I want to thank you all for listening. Please reach out. We'd love to hear your thoughts. And I'd love to ask you to please give us a five star rating wherever you're listening to this. If you'd like to reach out to me, please do so Michaelhi at accessibe.com. AccessiBe spelled A C C E S S I B E. Or you can visit our podcast page www dot Michael hingson.com/podcast. And Michael Hingson is spelled M I  C H A E L  H  I N G S O N. So hopefully you will reach out we'd love to hear from you. And if you can think of anyone else who should be a guest please let us know Jeri same for you. If you know some other people who we ought to have on as guests on the podcast, I would really appreciate you performing introductions and letting us know who what, who we ought to visit with next. So again, I want to thank you though one last time for being here. And I really appreciate your time. So thanks, Jeri, for being with us today. Thank you   Michael Hingson ** 1:02:44 You have been listening to the Unstoppable Mindset podcast. Thanks for dropping by. I hope that you'll join us again next week, and in future weeks for upcoming episodes. To subscribe to our podcast and to learn about upcoming episodes, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com slash podcast. Michael Hingson is spelled m i c h a e l h i n g s o n. While you're on the site., please use the form there to recommend people who we ought to interview in upcoming editions of the show. And also, we ask you and urge you to invite your friends to join us in the future. If you know of any one or any organization needing a speaker for an event, please email me at speaker at Michael hingson.com. I appreciate it very much. To learn more about the concept of blinded by fear, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com forward slash blinded by fear and while you're there, feel free to pick up a copy of my free eBook entitled blinded by fear. The unstoppable mindset podcast is provided by access cast an initiative of accessiBe and is sponsored by accessiBe. Please visit www.accessibe.com. accessiBe is spelled a c c e s s i b e. There you can learn all about how you can make your website inclusive for all persons with disabilities and how you can help make the internet fully inclusive by 2025. Thanks again for listening. Please come back and visit us again next week.

Kerry-Ann is a global business strategist, speaker and champion of small and medium sized businesses. Her interview style is a balance of humor, motivation and powerful strategic content that will leave your audience inspired to take action in their businesses. Kerry-Ann's varied experience of over 20 years as a Washington, DC attorney, lobbyist, and fundraiser positions her as an authority of what it takes to strategically succeed while confronting difficult obstacles. After raising $120 million to build the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial she launched her strategic business and consulting firm, Trafalgar Strategies. She and her team advise business owners from various industries and countries on creating the strategies, systems, and mindsets to thrive in business and in life. Over the years, Kerry-Ann's expertise and speaking have been sought after by international brands, organizations, and institutions, such as Working Women's Magazine, Dallas Leadership Foundation, CIEE, Association of Fundraising Professionals, Mogul and Philanthropist Russell Simmons' Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation and more. Kerry-Ann is committed to spreading the gospel that running a small and medium-sized business is vital and important to our economies, yet it doesn't have to feel like trying to manage a chaotic tornado. And business owners can run their businesses smoothly and feel confident that they will thrive. When not speaking, running her business and working with her clients, Kerry-Ann can be found traveling, practicing her Spanish, and enjoying a good meal with good people. Get the 8 True Culprits Causing Chaos in Your Business. The PDF details the 8 important underlying challenges that most SMEs are facing in their businesses and what they need to do to address them. http://www.nobusinesschaos.com

Small and medium-sized business owners, are you tired of the chaos and stress that comes with running your business? In this episode, Kerry-Ann Powell, a global business strategist, reveals the key to running a business smoothly without chaos. But just when you think you've found the answer, a shocking twist leaves you wondering - can you really overcome the chaos or are you doomed to be trapped in the never-ending cycle of stress? Stay tuned to find out. The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:00 - Introduction,  00:02:18 - Kerry-Anns Story,  00:06:48 - Identifying Chaos,  00:10:49 - Delegation and Systems,  00:13:45 - The Role of Strategy,  00:15:01 - Running Your Company as is,  00:16:55 - The Importance of Leadership,  00:18:30 - Dealing with Conflict and Toxicity,  00:23:01 - Recognizing and Addressing Poor Behavior,  00:28:48 - The Importance of Openness to New Ideas,  00:30:02 - Creating an Ecosystem of Gifts,  00:30:52 - People Want to Work for Inspired Leaders,  00:31:38 - Identifying and Fixing Business Chaos,  00:32:18 - Connecting and Exchanging Ideas If you found the information presented in this episode helpful, you may also enjoy listening to: Design Your Business to Run Itself with Mike Michalowicz https://youtu.be/OOJb-OEQW4U Links: https://www.kerryannspeaks.com/  LinkedIn URL  https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerry-ann-powell/  Twitter URL  https://twitter.com/KerryAnnPowell  FB URL  https://www.facebook.com/kerryanntpowell/  Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/kerryanntpowell/?hl=en  Youtube  https://www.youtube.com/@kerryanntpowell Offer: I know that sometimes, running a business can feel like trying to manage a chaotic tornado.  This FREE e-book gift is for small and medium-sized business owners who want to scale and grow without drama.  https://www.nobusinesschaos.com/?r_done=1   Bio: Kerry-Ann is a global business strategist, speaker, and champion of small and medium-sized businesses. Kerry-Ann's varied experience of over 20 years as a Washington, DC attorney, lobbyist, and fundraiser positions her as an authority on what it takes to strategically succeed while confronting difficult obstacles. After raising $120 million to build the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial she launched her strategic business and consulting firm, Trafalgar Strategies.  She and her team advise business owners from various industries and countries on creating strategies, systems, and mindsets to thrive in business and in life.  Over the years, Kerry-Ann's expertise and speaking have been sought after by international brands, organizations, and institutions, such as Working Women's Magazine, Dallas Leadership Foundation, CIEE, Association of Fundraising Professionals, Mogul and Philanthropist Russell Simmons' Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation and more.  Kerry-Ann is committed to spreading the gospel that running a small and medium-sized business is vital and important to our economies, yet it doesn't have to feel like trying to manage a chaotic tornado. And business owners can run their businesses smoothly and feel confident that they will thrive.  When not speaking, running her business, and working with her clients, Kerry-Ann can be found traveling,BHB2024Support the show

Autumn Vest, MSS ED, and Bailee Hennis, RLWT ED, join forces to co-host this episode of State of the Nonprofits. Autumn and Bailee visit with Catherine Ashton, Founder and CEO of The Giant Squid Group. This conversation dives into thinking beyond the box when it comes to staffing and building your nonprofit team. Through meeting team members' individual needs and understanding their experiences, your agency can find creative ways to grow and succeed.     In this episode:   Giant Squid Group, https://www.giantsquidgroup.com/   The UnderDeveloped Report: A National Study of Challenges Facing Nonprofit Fundraising, A Joint Project by CompassPoint and the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund Association of Fundraising Professionals of the Permian Basin, https://community.afpglobal.org/afptxpermianbasinchapter/home     MSS is proud to be a partner with Pioneer Natural Resources. With Pioneer's partnership, we are working to create impact in our nonprofit community with programs like State of the Nonprofits, IT Services and more.    "State of the Nonprofits" is a program of MSS produced in partnership with the Recording Library of West Texas.  

The release of the Giving USA 2023 annual report sent shivers through the nonprofit community with its finding that total charitable giving had declined for the first time since 2009. In today's episode, we look behind the data to share key insights and advice for how nonprofits can navigate changes in donor behavior, weather an uncertain economy, and find creative opportunities to boost fundraising and membership. Free 30-minute fundraising consultation for NPFX listeners: http://www.ipmadvancement.com/free Want to suggest a topic, guest, or nonprofit organization for an upcoming episode? Send an email with the subject "NPFX suggestion" to contact@ipmadvancement.com. Additional Resources IPM's free Nonprofit Resource Library: https://www.ipmadvancement.com/resources Why Monthly Giving Matters for Every Nonprofit Organization https://www.ipmadvancement.com/blog/why-monthly-giving-matters-for-every-nonprofit-organization Planned Giving: The What, Why & How of Legacy Fundraising https://www.ipmadvancement.com/blog/planned-giving-the-what-why-how-of-legacy-fundraising Donor-Advised Funds — Making DAFs Work for Your Nonprofit https://www.ipmadvancement.com/blog/donor-advised-funds-making-dafs-work-for-your-nonprofit Colton C. Strawser, PhD has built his consulting career working with leaders at community foundations, United Ways, homeless shelters, senior service agencies, youth programs, arts and culture organizations, and more. He has trained more than 1,000 organizations and generated over $25 million in government grants. In addition to being a Certified Fund Raising Professional and Certified Nonprofit Professional, he has also completed a Certificate of Nonprofit Board Consulting through BoardSource and is a Master Trainer through the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Dr. Strawser completed his PhD in Nonprofit and Philanthropic Leadership at The Nonprofit Institute at the University of San Diego. https://www.coltonstrawser.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/coltonstrawser/ Samantha Timlick, vice president of client services for IPM Advancement, provides subject matter expertise that covers all aspects of client and project management including direct mail, telemarketing, and digital campaigns. Since 2007 she has managed renewal, appeal, and acquisition programs encompassing more than 200 million total recipients. https://www.linkedin.com/in/stimlick/ Russ Phaneuf, a co-founder of IPM Advancement, has a background in higher education development, with positions at the University of Hartford, Northern Arizona University, and Thunderbird School of Global Management. As IPM's managing director & chief strategist, Russ serves as lead fundraising strategist, award-winning content creator, and program analyst specializing in applied system dynamics. Rich Frazier has worked in the nonprofit sector for over 30 years. In his role as senior consultant with IPM Advancement, Rich offers extensive understanding and knowledge in major gifts program management, fund development, strategic planning, and board of directors development.

Published: December 21, 2021 On August 6, 2021, Bishop Koenig, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington, announced Ms. Sheila O'Hagan McGirl, CFRE, would take the reigns as the new Director of Development for the diocese. On today's show, Changing Our World's Jim Friend talks with Sheila about her career path to this new role and how God guided Sheila and her family each step of the way. Sheila shares her focus for the office and her focus to serve this mission. Sheila O'Hagan McGirl, CFRE Ms. McGirl comes to the Diocese of Wilmington from the Central Association of the Miraculous Medal in Philadelphia, where she was Senior Director of Institutional Advancement. Prior to that, she served the Diocese of Camden, New Jersey as Associate Director of Development. She also held positions in the Camden Diocese's Family Life and Youth, Young Adult, and Campus Ministry offices, as well. Ms. McGirl holds degrees in Business Administration from Gloucester County College and Liberal Studies from Rowan University. She serves as Founder and Chairperson of the Board of the Catholic Business Network of South Jersey and is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Planned Giving Association, International Catholic Stewardship Conference, and Board of the Irish American Building Society. She is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE). Diocese of Wilmington The Catholic Diocese of Wilmington was established in 1868 and comprises 56 parishes, 18 missions and 27 schools serving the State of Delaware and the nine counties of Maryland's Eastern Shore. There are over 240,000 Catholics in the diocese. Information about the diocese is available at www.cdow.org. Don't miss Changing Our World's FORGING FORWARDDon't miss the webinar series FORGING FORWARD, a virtual philanthropic conference designed to bring you nonprofit experts from around the country who are leading through the COVID-19 crisis. Daily Spiritual Reflection and Prayers on “Kristin's Crosses” Join Jim and Kristin Friend and their family on Kristin's Crosses YouTube Channel for “Today's Catholic Prayers.” Jim and Kristin offer the daily Gospel and Reflection along with the Rosary and Catholic Prayers of the day. Click here to visit the YouTube Page and subscribe. If you would like to join the Kristin's Crosses prayer group on Facebook, click here to request to join.

No matter the reason an executive director or CEO leaves a nonprofit, planning for future leadership is not something many organizations do very well.  The best thing we can do for our missions, is to plan ahead and be prepared for the future. In this episode, two guests to chat with me about how Midland Childrens' Rehabilitation Center (or MCRC) faced succession planning. Our host MSS Executive Director Autumn Vest is joined by Brooke Mueller who retired in 2020 as executive director of MCRC after 19 years in the role, and Kristal Kidd, the current executive Director of MCRC.  In this episode:   Midland Children's Rehabilitation Center, https://www.midlandchildrens.org/  Association of Fundraising Professionals of the Permian Basin, https://community.afpglobal.org/afptxpermianbasinchapter/home   MSS is proud to be a partner with Pioneer Natural Resources. With Pioneer's partnership, we are working to create impact in our nonprofit community with programs like State of the Nonprofits, IT Services and more.    "State of the Nonprofits" is a program of MSS produced in partnership with the Recording Library of West Texas.  

My guest for this episode is Linda Lysakowski. Linda has been serving and educating the nonprofit community for more than thirty years. She is one of slightly more than one hundred professionals worldwide to hold the Advanced Certified Fund-Raising Executive designation. In her thirty-plus years in the development field, she has managed capital campaigns, helped dozens of nonprofit organizations achieve their development goals, and trained more than 40,000 professionals in Mexico, Canada, Egypt, Bermuda, and most of the fifty United States. Linda is a graduate of Alvernia College in Reading, PA, with majors in Banking and Finance; Communications; and Theology/Philosophy. She is a graduate of AFP's Faculty Training Academy and has received two AFP research grants.   Linda has received the Outstanding Fundraising Executive award from the Eastern PA, Las Vegas, and Sierra (NV) chapters of AFP (Association of Fundraising Professionals) and was recognized internationally with the Barbara Marion Award for Outstanding Service to AFP. She was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Las Vegas Chapter of AFP.   Linda is a speaker and the published author of well-over two dozen books. In addition to her full-length books, Linda has written three AFP Ready Reference Books and has been published in numerous other Publications, including International Journal of Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Marketing, Contributions, Advancing Philanthropy, Associations Now, CASE Currents, Major Gifts Report, Grant Station, New Directions in Philanthropy, and more.   Here's what to expect during the episode: What are the 3 key elements of strategic planning? What are some common mistakes that organizations make when developing a strategic plan? Why is strategic planning important for a nonprofit? What are the challenges that nonprofits face when implementing strategic planning? How can organizations ensure that their strategic plan aligns with their mission, vision, and values? What are the key benefits of strategic planning for nonprofit organizations? Linda can help you with your nonprofit fundraising needs: To inquire about specific consulting services: Linda@LindaLysakowski.com.   To schedule a 30-minute, one-hour, or 90-minute coaching session: https://www.lindalysakowski.com/speak-with-linda/.   To check out Linda's online courses https://www.lindalysakowski.com/courses-by-linda or her books: https://www.lindalysakowski.com/store.   Sign up for News from Linda to get invited to Linda's free online “Learn with Linda” sessions: www.LindaLysakowski.com.   Go to https://hilandconsulting.org/6stepsreport to get your free guide: 6 Steps You Must Know to Unleash the Potential of Your Nonprofit Board   Mary's book is available on Amazon or wherever books are sold: Love Your Board! The Executive Directors' Guide to Discovering the Sources of Nonprofit Board Troubles and What to Do About Them.   Be sure to subscribe to Inspired Nonprofit Leadership so that you don't miss a single episode, and while you're at it, won't you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated!     Let us know the topics or questions you would like to hear about in a future episode. You can do that and follow us on Facebook.   Connect with Mary! LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryhiland Inspired Nonprofit Leadership Facebook Group: https://tinyurl.com/inspirednonprofitleadership Company Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hilandconsulting Website: https://www.hilandconsulting.org

Kerry-Ann Powell is a globally recognized business strategist, speaker and champion of small and medium sized businesses. Kerry-Ann's varied experience of over 20 years as a Washington, DC attorney, lobbyist, and fundraiser positions her as an authority of what it takes to strategically succeed while confronting difficult obstacles. After raising $120 million to build the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial she launched her business strategy consulting firm, Trafalgar Strategies.  She and her team advise business owners from various industries and countries on creating the strategies, systems, and mindsets to thrive in business and in life. Over the years, Kerry-Ann's expertise and speaking have been sought after by international brands, organizations, and institutions, such as Working Women's Magazine, Dallas Leadership Foundation, CIEE, Association of Fundraising Professionals, Mogul and Philanthropist Russell Simmons' Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation and more. In addition to listening to the episode, you can watch a video of their discussion on our YouTube Channel.  And be sure to subscribe to support the podcast! For general information about the podcast, send an email to info@beinhakerlaw.com To follow Mitch and the podcast, go to linktr.ee/beinhakerlaw. You can subscribe and listen to episodes on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify and most other directories. Please review us whenever possible and thanks for your continued support! Sponsorships and paid guest appearances are available. Connect with us by email or on social media. The Accidental Entrepreneur is brought to you with the help of our sponsor, AWeber - the world's leading small business email marketing and automation service provider. Since 1998, AWeber has helped more than 1 million small businesses, entrepreneurs through its suite of web-based email marketing, automation tools and education. AWeber – the best option when it comes to marketing your business. Visit http://bit.ly/3HK3DVB for more information and to sign up for a trial account. We are also brought to you by TAB. Since 1989, The Alternative Board (or TAB) has been one of the leading peer advisory and business coaching organizations for independent business owners and CEOs across the world. By facilitating peer advisory boards, private 1-on-1 coaching and strategic planning services, TAB helps business owners improve their businesses in ways that change their lives. https://www.thealternativeboard.com/jersey-shore-north Also brought to you by Beinhaker Law, a boutique business & estates legal practice in Clark, NJ. To learn about shared outside general counsel services and how to better protect your business, visit https://beinhakerlaw.com/fractional-gen-counsel/ Opening music written and performed by Howie Moscovitch and Made to Order Music. For more information about Howie and his music services, visit https://howiemoscovitch.com/made-to-order-music/ Please support our affiliate sponsor (https://beinhakerlaw.com/podcast-affiliates/) One of One Productions - a New Jersey-based studio, just over the George Washington bridge, that caters to the booming business of podcasting. Be sure to check out the guesting kit that they've created exclusively for our listeners! https://one-of-one-productions.myshopify.com/products/mitchell-beinhakers-guesting-kit Also, support the show and get your own podcast merch! (https://beinhakerlaw.com/podcast-store/) The Accidental Entrepreneur is a trademark of Mitchell C. Beinhaker. Copyright 2018-2023. All rights reserved.

Jonah Nigh joined The New School in September 2021 as Senior Vice President of Development and Alumni Engagement. In this role, Jonah leads The New School's strategic fundraising, institutional advancement, alumni engagement, corporate, and foundation relations. He came to The New School from the Jewish Museum, where he served as the Director of Major Gifts, Senior Director of Individual Giving, and Acting Deputy Director of Development before being appointed Chief Development Officer. Other development roles included positions at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Columbia University, Opera America, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.A classically trained singer, he earned his undergraduate degree at Lawrence University and a Master of Music degree from the New England Conservatory. Performance credits include roles at the Aspen Music Festival, Boston Lyric Opera, Dorian Opera Theatre, Opera Boston, and on TV and film. In 2021, he and his husband were semi-finalists on NBC/Peacock's Baking It, a new baking competition produced by Amy Poehler and hosted by SNL alums Maya Rudolph and Andy Samberg.A frequent public speaker, he has served in a variety of roles for NBC, Peacock TV, ABC, WNYC, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, NYC Pride March, Asian Leadership Collective, Association of Fundraising Professionals, The Aspen Leadership Group, Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design, Development Debrief and DonorScape podcasts, Con Edison Musicians' Residency Program, Columbia Business School, Florida State University, Lawrence University, Museum of the City of New York, The Jewish Museum, The New School, Phi Sigma Pi National Convention, among other organizations. In 2019, he was appointed to Bronx Community Board Four by former Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and served on its executive and economic development committees. He currently serves on the boards of The Association of Fundraising Professionals (NYC Chapter) and Grapevine.When he's not fundraising, he's usually baking or running. He and his husband currently reside in the Bronx.Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter: @nighjonahFacebook: @Jonah Nigh

195: Leading a Nonprofit in a Post Pandemic Working Environment (Katherine Lambert)SUMMARYThe pandemic put a unique pressure on nonprofit organizations and its leaders to do more with less, and adapt to new technologies and structures. As we usher in a post Covid-19 future, what will the new normal in the nonprofit sector look like? In episode #195 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, we speak with veteran philanthropic leader, Katherine Lambert, about finding balance post-pandemic and moving from surviving to thriving. While the sector sometimes lags in innovation, the pandemic has forced organizations to adapt which has brought positive transformation to how they communicate, engage donors and volunteers, and raise funds. A philanthropic organization's work is as effective as the people who perform it, and Katherine shares how they have revamped work culture, hours and practices to find and retain quality talent. ABOUT KATHERINEKatherine Lambert joined the Alzheimer's Association, Western Carolina Chapter in April, 2014 as its Chief Executive Officer. She works with a volunteer and staff team across the 49 counties in Central and Western North Carolina to achieve the Association's mission to eliminate Alzheimer's disease through advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. In January, 2017 Katherine's role with the Association expanded to serving as the Regional Leader for all chapters in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. Prior to leading the Alzheimer's Association, Western Carolina Chapter, Katherine served as Executive Vice President for Girl Scouts, Hornets' Nest Council for five years and as Chief Development Officer for an additional three years. She also founded and led The Lambert Group for four years providing strategic planning, fund development and training resources for non-profit organizations. Preceding her non-profit career, Katherine spent six years in the financial services and headhunting industries. A native of Charlotte, Katherine earned her Bachelor's Degree in Political Science with a Certificate in Marketing and Management from Duke University and has achieved her CFRE (Certified Fundraising Executive) designation. Currently, she is an active member of Trinity Presbyterian Church and Women Executives. She has served on the Board of Directors and as chair for two non-profit organizations, Sharon Towers and the Association of Fundraising Professionals.EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCESYour Path to Nonprofit Leadership: Seven keys to Advancing Your Career in the Philanthropic Sector by Patton McDowell Learn more about the Alzheimer's Association hereTake our Podcast Survey and let us know what you want to hear!

In this HCI Podcast episode, Dr. Jonathan H. Westover talks with Daniel Sims about a new model for DEI education. Daniel Sims (https://www.linkedin.com/in/dasims/) is the founder and CEO of Daniel Sims Consulting Group, where he connects data-driven DEI strategies to organizations seeking transformational systemic change. Daniel has nearly 15 years' experience in fundraising, coaching, strategic planning, & DEI education. Daniel has managed over 140 campaigns, trainings, and strategic plans, raising over $425 million and training over 5,000 stakeholders. Daniel also believes in giving back to his community through board service. He has served on several local, national, and international boards and committees, including ACCESS Community Health Centers, the Association of Fundraising Professionals, the Community Empowerment Network, and as board president of BOSS (Building Opportunities for Student Success), an organization dedicated to connecting students of color with internship opportunities in architecture and design. Daniel holds a Master of Public Service from the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service, is a certified development and nonprofit executive, and is a member of (For)bes the Culture. He resides in Madison, WI with his wife and collaborator, Althea, two children, Andrea and Seth, and family dog Kobe Biscuit. Please consider supporting the podcast on Patreon and leaving a review wherever you listen to your podcasts! Check out Ka'Chava at www.Kachava.com/HCI. Check out BELAY here. Check out BetterHelp at www.BetterHelp.com/HCI to explore plans and options! Check out the HCI Academy: Courses, Micro-Credentials, and Certificates to Upskill and Reskill for the Future of Work! Check out the LinkedIn Alchemizing Human Capital Newsletter. Check out Dr. Westover's book, The Future Leader. Check out Dr. Westover's book, 'Bluer than Indigo' Leadership. Check out Dr. Westover's book, The Alchemy of Truly Remarkable Leadership. Check out the latest issue of the Human Capital Leadership magazine. Each HCI Podcast episode (Program, ID No. 592296) has been approved for 0.50 HR (General) recertification credit hours toward aPHR™, aPHRi™, PHR®, PHRca®, SPHR®, GPHR®, PHRi™ and SPHRi™ recertification through HR Certification Institute® (HRCI®). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices