Nonprofit Leadership Podcast
Episodes
How to make sense of the current fundraising landscape
08 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Shelley Hoss, President & CEO of OCCF Rob’s guests today are Shelley Hoss, president and CEO of OCCF for nearly 22 years, and Tammy Tumbling, the...
Why Is This Generation Responding to Racial Equality and Diversity Differently Than Past Generations?
01 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Racial equality and social justice are nothing new however they have become one of the most prominent conversations we are having now when it comes to...
How this organization is helping Gen Z find the jobs they are seeking
25 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Recruiters across the country have been feeling the pressure of the "great reshuffle" since COVID. They are relying on their existing networks to find...
Are large fundraising events making a comeback?
11 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
For years, one of the most effective ways a nonprofit could raise money was through large in-person fundraising events. However, fast forward to 2020,...
What a successful merger looks like
30 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Nonprofit mergers are a trend that is increasing more and more, especially since COVID first started. Are mergers the wave of the future? Although tha...
What major foundations are looking for in organizations they fund
24 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Donors don't give to organizations, they give to people. Fundraising at its core is relationship building. When a donor gives to your organization, th...
Five Minute Fridays with Rob Episode 3
17 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Previous episodes on achieving a healthy work-life balance discussed the importance of setting a pace and seeing your life as a movie. This is the fin...
How this nonprofit is fighting both climate change and poverty
09 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Have you watched the film Poverty, Inc.? If you haven't watched the film, it’s worth viewing, even if you disagree with it's premise or conclusions....
Why do you do what you do?
30 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Do you know why you do what you do? This is one of the most important questions you can ask yourself and your team. Many people are familiar with Simo...
How can nonprofits best respond to the “Great Resignation”?
22 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The great resignation is a very real thing and it's impacting all of us. Nonprofits are feeling the pressure of staying competitive to keep their peop...
How to grow your organization quickly while maintaining your core mission
13 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Whether you are an executive director, CEO, board member, or staff member of a nonprofit, it’s important that everyone works to grow the organizatio...
Five Minute Fridays with Rob Episode 2
06 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Nonprofit speaker and blogger Vu Le recently wrote an article that was all about our “toxic obsession with productivity,” and in that article, he ...
How to balance becoming high tech, while remaining high touch
04 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
One of the biggest challenges for nonprofit leaders today is how to balance being high tech while remaining "high touch". In other words, how do we co...
Five Minute Fridays with Rob
29 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
How do you create a healthy work-life balance? When you hear the phrase, healthy work-life balance, what goes through your mind? Do you think that it ...
How a rockstar’s vision has turned into a global movement
26 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Across the world, many people are familiar with the name Bono, the lead singer of the internationally famous band U2, but not everyone knows that Bono...
Why your employees are your greatest competitive advantage
19 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Your nonprofit’s team is your greatest competitive advantage. We don’t often use those terms in the nonprofit sector, but the sentiment is true fo...
How can you grow and scale your nonprofit most effectively?
11 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Growing a nonprofit takes more than just passion and creativity: it takes great leadership. The right leadership skills will help guide your organizat...
How can you develop a board that is ready for the future?
04 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to those who hold the most power in a nonprofit or a company, most people assume it’s the CEO or Executive Director. However, the real...
How to turn former gang members into nonprofit leaders
27 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Leading and motivating staff is a difficult job for every leader, especially the CEO or Executive Director of an organization. Staff communication, st...
Why two of the country’s largest nonprofits are working together Part 2
23 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to nonprofits, is working together really better? For two of our country's largest nonprofits, the answer is yes. Big Brothers and Big S...
Why two of the country’s largest nonprofits are working together Part 1
17 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to nonprofits, is working together really better? For two of our country's largest nonprofits, the answer is yes. Big Brothers and Big S...
How nonprofits can move from being an organization to a “brand”
09 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Too often, nonprofits think they're the cause that the community wants to support. But nonprofits are not the cause. They're the conduit for the cause...
How effective leaders adapt to a ever-changing environment
03 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Change is the one constant in our world, and most of us reluctantly acknowledged this truth perhaps never more than this past year. We all have been t...
How “Smart Tech” is changing the way we lead our nonprofit organizations
23 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Our world continues to change in so many areas, particularly in regards to technology, and specifically, smart tech. Smart tech is not just changing h...
How a disability advocate has changed how the President of the United States communicates on his website
17 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
20 years ago, at what she thought was the height of her career, Virginia Jacko was diagnosed with a condition that caused her to gradually become blin...
How to discover and encourage untapped generosity from your current donors
09 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Did you know that on average, most nonprofit leaders and organizations are only tapping into 13% of their current donors’ potential? In other words,...
Meet the 2021 .Org Impact Award Winner for Fighting Hunger and Poverty
01 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
There’s no doubt that we’ve moved into a new normal in our culture in the wake of the COVID pandemic. How should we lead in this new normal? Do no...
How can you make a successful transition from the for-profit world to the nonprofit world?
25 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to leadership, is there a difference between leading in the nonprofit sector versus the for-profit sector? Or are the principles of lead...
How to develop raving fans for your nonprofit
18 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Passion and dedication is the fuel that nonprofits run on. When you find an individual, whether that be a paid staff, person or volunteer who is passi...
Are you ready for the largest wealth transfer in our history?
10 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Did you know that we're heading into an unprecedented wealth transfer? It’s been said that within the next few decades, as much as 68 trillion in we...
How can you scale your organization’s programs?
05 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
How do you manage a global nonprofit organization during a pandemic in such a way that not only maintains your current programs, but actually grows an...
Did you know that everything you see at the White House, its furnishings, artwork and artifacts are maintained by a nonprofit?
29 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Everything you see at the White House, the furnishings, artwork and artifacts are all maintained by a nonprofit. The White House Historical Associatio...
How is cryptocurrency shaping the future of philanthropy? (Part two)
24 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Cryptocurrency is all the rage in many ways right now, but there still remains a lot of skepticism about the long term sustainability of cryptocurrenc...
How is cryptocurrency shaping the future of philanthropy? (Part one)
14 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Cryptocurrency is here to stay and it's coming to a nonprofit near you. Understandably, many of you might be very skeptical when it comes to cryptocur...
When a vision turns into a movement
06 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Having passion and being mission-driven does not necessarily guarantee that you will be successful when starting or growing a nonprofit. It takes a lo...
How a social enterprise is combining software with a human-centered approach
01 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
One goal of this show is to introduce you to leaders who are providing not just good products and services, but are providing those services in a uniq...
What the science of fundraising is all about
19 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
There's an art to fundraising but there’s not a one-size-fits-all approach for effective fundraising. At the same time, however, there is a science ...
How Noggin and Sparkler Learning have come together to provide a critical learning opportunity for kids across this country in response to COVID
15 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
One of the pandemic’s biggest impacts on society has been on children’s social and emotional skills. All of the time spent in remote school or int...
How can you improve your digital presence?
05 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Every nonprofit needs to have an effective digital presence in today's world. But how do you go about building your digital presence and what are the ...
What you need to know about Gen Z and how to recruit them for your nonprofit
27 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This is the third installment of the Emerging Leader Series featuring young, emerging nonprofit leaders who really want to invest their lives into mak...
What is the difference between lobbying and advocacy when it comes to your nonprofit organization?
18 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Do you struggle with how best to advocate for those you serve? So do many in the nonprofit sector. Today’s guest, Joanne Goldblum of the Nationa...
Why is telling your story so important to the mission and brand of your nonprofit?
13 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Telling your story as a nonprofit leader is absolutely critical and perhaps one of the most important aspects of your job as an Executive Director. So...
How have nonprofits changed both now and long term because of COVID?
04 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It's been 18 months since COVID first began to sweep across America. Guests on this show have shared their insights as to what they saw from their own...
This emerging leader is helping ensure our next generation has a shot at some of the best paying jobs of the future
26 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This is the second episode of the Emerging Young Leaders Series about young emerging nonprofit leaders who really want to invest their lives into maki...
How do you make a healthy and effective transition with your CEO/Executive Director?
20 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Leadership is hard, period. What can make it even more difficult is when those in leadership positions leave and a new staff person has to follow some...
Can you help fund a nonprofit and also get a “return on your investment”?
09 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Funding is absolutely critical for all nonprofits and there's a growing group of investors who want to invest in organizations and people who are real...
How can you preserve what’s best in your organization while still striving to innovate?
02 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Good to Great by Jim Collins is a fantastic leadership book that discusses how great companies each have a common trait of finding a way to continue g...
The baton of leadership has been passed at the YMCA
20 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Almost everyone is familiar with the YMCA, especially because of the Village People's infamous song. But many don’t know that the Y, with all of its...
How one nonprofit is ensuring that diversity and inclusion are informing the way we create and establish play spaces around our country
16 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Diversity, equity and inclusion are on the hearts and minds of every nonprofit leader today. After the events of last year, we started having conversa...
How can you turn a dysfunctional board into a healthy one?
09 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The relationship between a nonprofit’s board and a nonprofit’s staff can often become the demise of many nonprofits. To start a healthy relationsh...
What are three key marketing principles that can really help grow your nonprofit?
04 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Eric Linssen, Demand Generation at Community Boost Marketing is an area nonprofit leaders tend to underestimate when it comes to the impact effecti...
How one nonprofit helped to lead the effort for developing the vaccine in Brazil
02 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Just like the US, Brazil was hit really hard with COVID, and the Lemann Foundation was instrumental in forming a coalition of leaders to figure out ho...
Elizabeth Beisel, Three-Time Olympian Swimmer, Shares Her Story.
28 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Every little swimmers’ goal is to stand on that podium at the Olympics, but it all starts with that first jump in the water and someone to show you ...
Hear about some of the latest trends in the nonprofit sector; some may surprise you.
24 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
You may have noticed a slow return to normal occurring, and with that return comes the opportunity to reflect back on this past year to see what we've...
How is the rise in corporation’s increased focus on social good and philanthropic work impacting nonprofits?
15 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Social enterprises are surging, more B Corps are being formed and many large corporations now have a social impact arm. All of this has had a lot of n...
How Can You Future-Proof Your Fundraising?
06 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
2020 skyrocketed the move to online giving for all donors who give to nonprofits. Organizations who already had a clear and robust process for donors ...
Ever Wondered Who Makes Sure Your Nonprofit’s Website Works as It Should?
26 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wondered who makes sure your nonprofit’s website works as it should? Or who makes sure that when someone types in your nonprofit’s web addres...
Is It Possible to Achieve a Healthy Balance Between Work and Home?
20 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When you hear the phrase “healthy work-life balance”, what goes through your mind? That it’s impossible or possibly just a myth? Or perhaps you...
Why One Nonprofit Is Building Beautiful Websites for Numerous Underfunded Nonprofits
13 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
There is no doubt today, especially after this last year, that the first place people find out about your organization is through your website. Unfort...
“From Aristotle to Zuckerberg”, Learn How and When Philanthropy First Started and Where We Have Gone Wrong Today
06 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wondered how philanthropy and charity first began? The answer may surprise you! The Greek roots for the word “philanthropy” refer to the “l...
How Can a Small Nonprofit Have an Impact on a National Level
29 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Ursula Price, Executive Director of the New Orleans Workers’ Center for Racial Justice (NOWCRJ) Although racial injustice and social equity issue...
Did You Know That Google Is Doing This?
08 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Everyone knows Google by name, but not many people are aware of its social impact through its philanthropic arm, Google.org. Rob’s guest shares how ...
What Is Generation Z Doing to Make a Difference in Today’s World?
24 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The newest feature of the show aims to highlight young leaders making a difference in their world. Rob’s guest shares what inspired her to launch a ...
What’s Behind the “Red Nose Day” Campaign and Why Should You Be Interested?
11 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In 2015, Comic Relief US launched the Red Nose Day campaign to raise awareness and end child poverty. Rob’s guest explains how COVID impacted Red No...
Why Did This Emerging Leader Within a Prominent Wine Family Put All of Her Efforts Into This Nonprofit?
28 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Julia Jackson, founder of Grounded.org Nonprofits are sometimes created in celebration while others are caused by grief. Rob’s guest shares the a...
How Has COVID-19 Impacted Giving to Nonprofits?
20 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Even before the Pandemic, fundraising presented a challenge to most nonprofits. Thankfully, Rob’s guest shares tools and resources to help your orga...
Is It Time to Completely Rethink How We Lead and Manage Nonprofits?
07 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The COVID-19 pandemic has clearly forced most nonprofit leaders to reexamine their infrastructure and future viability. Rob's guest in this episode wi...
Why Is This Generation Responding to Racial Equality and Diversity Differently Than Past Generations?
22 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Racial equality and social justice are nothing new however they have become one of the most prominent conversations we are having now when it comes to...
What Is the Key Predictor of Your Success as a Leader
12 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Ian Morgan Cron, speaker, author, and pioneer in the contemporary Enneagram movement Personality tests have existed for centuries, yet many leaders...
Is Your Leadership Culture Stifling or Encouraging Progress and Innovation?
01 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
John Lehr, President & CEO of the Parkinson's Foundation When was the last time you evaluated your leadership culture? Every organization has a cul...
What Does Magic Have to Do With Nonprofit Leadership?
19 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Imagination, storytelling and living with a sense of wonder may not be the first skills that come to mind when describing a nonprofit leader. However,...
How Has COVID Impacted Global Nonprofits, Particularly Those Serving Refugees?
10 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The current Pandemic has certainly affected all of us, but there’s no denying that it has affected nonprofits quite deeply, throwing into question h...
How have the giving priorities of the Walton Family Foundation and other large Foundations changed because of COVID-19?
23 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The current Pandemic has certainly affected all of us, but there’s no denying that it has affected nonprofits quite deeply, throwing into question h...
Hear From Internationally Known Fundraising Expert Kathy LeMay on the State of Philanthropy for Today’s Nonprofits (Part 2)
17 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Kathy LeMay is back for part 2 of her interview about the state of philanthropy for today’s nonprofits. Kathy LeMay As a published author and...
Hear From Internationally Known Fundraising Expert Kathy LeMay on the State of Philanthropy for Today’s Nonprofits (Part 1)
13 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Development and fundraising for nonprofits are always a challenge. Perhaps one of the hardest things we face. Now, COVID-19 has made development even ...
Is Servant Leadership the Best Form of Leadership for Today’s Nonprofits?
28 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Servant leadership is a style of leadership that makes the primary goal of leadership to serve those around oneself. A servant leader is one who is fo...
What Are the Greatest Challenges Facing Nonprofits Today?
15 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Nonprofits are always facing unique challenges, but since COVID-19 hit the world, they are facing financial challenges like never before. Rob’s g...
The Impact of COVID-19 Internationally and What One Nonprofit is Doing About It
04 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Mohamed Ashmawey, the CEO of Human Appeal Maybe the most unfortunate part about COVID-19 has been its reach. This pandemic is a global one and ...
How One Nonprofit is Effectively Transitioning In-Person Events to Online and Hybrid Events
15 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
COVID-19 has wrecked the main source of donations for many nonprofits, that being, in-person fundraising events. How are nonprofit leaders meeting thi...
What is a B Corp and What Impact Are They Having on Nonprofits?
04 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ask yourself this question: do I consider a company’s stance on various issues before I decide to purchase its product or service? Chris Marquis,...
How To Dream Big and Relentlessly Pursue Your Vision
17 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Brittany Hebert Franklin, Founder and CEO of Sky High for Kids In the midst of a world pandemic, it is more necessary than ever for nonprofit lea...
How to Become an Advocate for the Most Vulnerable
07 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Becoming an advocate for the most vulnerable often means that you will have to get out of your comfort zone. Rob's guest on this episode has done just...
How To Best Support Those Hit Hardest by COVID-19
25 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Lisa Marsh Ryerson, CEO of the AARP Foundation, the foundation that supports the AARP. As we all make our way through this pandemic, it has been qu...
How to Lead Through a Crisis
09 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Right now, everything seems to be in a constant state of fluidity. How are nonprofit leaders supposed to guide their organizations through these const...
How do we overcome our growing divisiveness in today’s cultural context
01 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
There are so many challenges in our world today, whether they be economic, social, political, or otherwise. Additionally, there is a growing divisiven...
How to Emerge Out of Burnout to Sustainable Success
18 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when your company takes off but your rise to success is so rapid that it threatens to blow up your life? Michael and Kathryn Redman ...
What Does Effective Advocacy Look Like in Today’s Nonprofits, Especially Now?
05 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Eduardo Sanchez, Chief Medical Officer for Prevention and Chief of The Center for Health Metrics and Evaluation for the American Heart Association. ...
How Has a Global Pandemic Changed the Fundraising Landscape for Nonprofits?
16 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The landscape has shifted under our feet over the last three months. First the global pandemic of COVID-19 has directly impacted both donors and nonpr...
How One Nonprofit Is Helping Women Fight Back Against Sexual Assault
07 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Shannon Henry. Shannon, President and Founder of SASS GO On average, there are 20 victims of physical violence every minute by an intimate partner,...
Leadership in the midst of COVID-19
27 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Though most states around the country are beginning to reopen, we are in a time as a country and as a world where we are still far from "normal". Now,...
A Look Inside Our Foster Care System
07 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The world is ablaze with COVID-19, and that seems to be all that we see on the news. It’s easy to forget about the other areas of need in the world,...
How to be fearless about making change according to Jean Case
24 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
All of us have people who inspire us. We need people in our lives who inspire us. My guest today will not only inspire you, but has written a book a...
Finding Hope in the Midst of the COVID-19 Crisis
31 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What a year last week has been, right? The world has undergone a change that most people have never seen in their lifetime! In times like these...
How the National Dance Institute Is Changing Kids’ Lives
15 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Not enough can be said about the impact that arts education can have on developing motor skills, the ability to be creative, visual spacial skills, an...
Hear Harvard Divinity’s Dean and His Thoughts on Leadership and Educating Our Future Leaders
03 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. David N. Hempton, the dean of the Harvard Divinity School Rob is joined today by Dr. David N. Hempton, the dean of the Harvard Divinity School....
How a family foundation is helping to transform transportation in New York City
17 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Most often on this show, Rob features leaders in the nonprofit sector, such as Executive Directors/CEO’s of Nonprofits, Authors, and Researchers. Th...
Elizabeth Beisel, Three-Time Olympian Swimmer, Shares Her Story.
06 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Every little swimmers’ goal is to stand on that podium at the Olympics, but it all starts with that first jump in the water and someone to show you ...
How Millennials Are Impacting How We Lead
29 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
There are so many different challenges facing the nonprofit sector today. One of those is how nonprofit organizations can recruit and retain millennia...
Why Mark Kennedy Shriver Has Dedicated Himself to Serve Children in Poverty
14 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Mark Kennedy Shriver, President of Save the Children Action Network and Senior VP of US Programs and Advocacy of Save the Children Many politicians...
Carly Fiorina’s Insights On Leadership
31 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
One of the most important parts of being a great leader is having an innate ability to solve both simple and complex problems. Carly Fiorina, forme...