The PM Podcast (DonorSearch)

For over 20 years, top global philanthropies, ultra-high net worth donors, celebrity activists, foundations, wealth advisors, and Fortune 500 companies have sought Kris Putnam-Walkerly’s philanthropic advisory services to dramatically increase the clarity, speed, impact and joy of their giving.

Kris is a Global Philanthropy Advisor, and President of Putnam Consulting Group. She is the author of the award winning book, Confident Giving: Sage Advice for Funders, and The New Book, Delusional Altruism. She's also a Forbes.com contributor on the topic of Philanthropic Giving.

Bob Carter is one of the world's most respected and recognized voices in fundraising and philanthropy. Over the last four decades, he has guided major resource development efforts around the world, served as a longtime CEO at Ketchum, a Senior Advisor at Omnicom, a board Chair at Major Institutions, and since 2011 as CEO of Carter. He's a former chair of AFP and in 2020, received the rare distinction of the Chairs award for outstanding service presented by the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Join us as we catch up with Bob at his home in Florida.

Heidi Johnson is a nonprofit founder, storyteller, and the creator of Charity Matters, a platform and podcast highlighting everyday heroes who make the world better through service. After a personal tragedy in 2002, Heidi founded the Spiritual Care Guild at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, which became a national model for pediatric chaplaincy. Today, she inspires others by sharing stories of purpose, resilience, and the transformative power of giving. Heidi is also the author of Change for Good: The Transformative Power of Giving as the Ultimate Cure.

Robert Egger is a visionary in the nonprofit sector. He pioneered the "community kitchen" movement with DC Central Kitchen, turning donated food into both meals and opportunities through a revolutionary job training program. His initiatives, including founding board membership at World Central Kitchen with Chef José Andrés, have produced over 350 million meals and propelled thousands toward self-sufficiency. His book "Begging for Change," now celebrating its 20th anniversary, made the case for a new model for the nonprofit sector, one he continues to advocate for today. 

Ron Davis Alvarez is Founder of the Dream Orchestra in Gothenburg, Sweden and one of 2024's Top Five CNN Heroes. Since 2016, Ron has brought together refugees, immigrants, and locals, speaking in over 20 languages, to create music and build community. His work shows how people can rebuild lives and connect across cultures. 

We want to thank all of our listeners and Masterminds for a great first year of the Masterminds Series podcast and we can't wait to bring you more in 2021. 

Linda Lysakowski is a consultant and master trainer, who has been informing and inspiring fundraisers and other non-profit leaders for decades. The author of 33 books, and editor of “Still More”. Linda has spoken around the world and been honored by many chapters of EFP, as well as being the recipient of the Barbara Marion Award for outstanding service to AFP.

Jennifer Li Dotson is a veteran fundraising leader whose extraordinary work is only eclipsed by a personal journey that has taken her from an emergency landing in Hawaii to a near-death experience on Mount Everest and virtually everywhere in between. in our conversation, she recounts the many volunteers, teachers, friends, mentors, and organizations who have helped and inspired her over the years and inspire her to do the same for others today.

Tim Burcham's early training in musical theater provided the perfect training for a stunning career in higher education fundraising. Handpicked by his university’s president, he rose from recruitment officer to leader of a new, $900 million, 16-institution system and chair of the international board of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Tim shares his story and tells how he is working today to help attract and mentor a rising new generation of fundraising leaders.

Maya Kupperman has spent her career building organizations that drive innovation in philanthropy. As co-founder and CEO of Temelio, she’s using AI to make grantmaking faster and more efficient. Before that, she helped grow MainStreet from a seed-stage startup to Series B and advised The Farmlink Project, which connects surplus farm produce to food banks. With a background in tech, nonprofits, and software development—and a degree in Human Biology and Education from Stanford—she brings a unique perspective to the space. But her passion for impact started much earlier. We begin our conversation with the story of A Chance to Dance, the organization she founded at 12 to bring free dance classes to children in migrant farmworker communities where she was born.

Today we speak with Nejeed Kassam, he's the CEO and Founder of Keela, and also the founder of the Better Candidate Initiative, and former Executive Director of both End Poverty Now and Conversations for Change. He has the experience of working for the United Nations and the Senate of Canada as the author of the book, High on Life.

Andrew Olsen is a best selling author, popular podcaster, speaker, and nonprofit marketer who has guided over 500 nonprofits in raising more than half a billion dollars. Over the years, he has built and led fundraising programs on behalf of organizations ranging from Covenant House International to CARE USA, and dozens of Rescue Missions and Food Banks across the U.S. and Canada. Today, he serves as Senior Vice President of Fundraising Solutions at DickersonBakker & Associates, leading the firm’s major gift consulting practice, overseeing the Impact Messaging division, and with responsibility for developing and launching new products and services for the firm. In our conversation, he takes us on the journey from the rough neighborhood and tough times of his LA childhood to farm country in Tennessee with his family and menagerie of 227 animals and counting. 

In this episode, we speak with Tony Myers, internationally acclaimed consultant, strategist, author, speaker, teacher, mentor, board member, and executive coach who has guided leaders to realize their vision, mission, and financial goals at over 60 nonprofit organizations on six continents. Dedicated to building a sector guided by sustainability, accountability, and leadership, his approach is to listen first, seek deep understanding, identify challenges, and find ways to work collaboratively to meet those challenges head-on. We began our conversation by exploring his earliest days, learning how he found “the juice” to persist when others only saw limits, and discovering his vision for “a world driven by love.”

In today's episode, we speak with Brian Lacy, a long-time leader in the field of sustained giving in the US and Canada. Brian takes us on a journey from his college days at the University of Toronto through to leading the program at the University of Connecticut and, finally, running his own firm today out of Texas today. Along the way, he shares his reflections on the faith, family, and philanthropy that have sustained him in the darkest hours and given him the strength to help others navigate their own greatest challenges at work and at home. 

In today's program, we speak with Anne Bishop Shoup, an advancement leader whose extraordinary journey has taken her from the bush planes and fishing boats of her rugged Alaskan childhood to her current role as Associate Vice President at Michigan State University, one of the world's largest and most distinguished higher education institutions.  

In this episode, we speak with Yasmine Arrington Brooks, Founder of ScholarCHIPS and one of the Top Ten CNN Heroes of 2023. Since 2010, her organization has provided renewable scholarships, book awards, and mentoring to college-bound youth with incarcerated parents. We learn about her discovery, at age 15, that there were no scholarships dedicated to aspiring students like herself with incarcerated parents, arguably among the most in need and vulnerable, and how she developed a program that now provides a way for those like her to attend and graduate from college. 

Allison Fine is a successful entrepreneur, futurist, and author of several award-winning books, including Momentum, Matterness, The Networked Nonprofit, and The Smart Nonprofit. She founded and ran nonprofit organizations, led nonprofit boards, served in elective office, and recently ran for Congress. In this episode, we discuss her work in politics, philanthropy, civil society, technology, and leadership. 

Over her extraordinary career, Brenda Asare has guided nonprofits to more than $2 billion in philanthropic support. As the President and CEO of The Alford Group, she heads a woman and minority owned and led firm which has provided advice and support to more than 3,000 organizations in such critical areas as fundraising, governance, and organizational strategy. We caught up with her during a break in the Giving Institute's Summer Symposium and she shared her observations on activism in fundraising, the need for allies in the cause of social justice, and the opportunity we all have now to create something new.

In this episode, we speak with Chris Miano, Founder of MemoryFox, the software platform that aims to help nonprofits raise funds and stand out on social media by leveraging grassroots content. We learn about Chris' journey from Buffalo to Army Platoon Leader and Company Commander in Iraq and Afghanistan and back again and discover the stories he heard in the field and at home that fuel his passion to make authentic life stories available and accessible at last. 

Bill Littlejohn is a nationally recognized leader in healthcare philanthropy. As Senior Vice President and CEO of the Foundations of Sharp HealthCare, he has driven initiatives raising more than $300 million and spearheaded Sharp's $2 billion ENVISION campaign to transform healthcare in San Diego. A former AHP Chair and Si Seymour Award recipient, Bill has advised healthcare systems worldwide and is widely celebrated for his visionary leadership and impact. In this wide-ranging conversation, we explore his beginnings in the field, the work he and his colleagues have done over the years, the critical importance of continual innovation, and his personal commitment to philanthropy.

Stephen Knight is one of the top five CNN Heroes of 2024 and the founder of Dogs Matter, a nonprofit organization that has provided foster care for over 1,200 pets belonging to individuals in substance abuse recovery. Inspired by his journey of overcoming addiction and the transformative bond with his rescue dog Jayde, Knight has created a program that saves animals from shelters and offers hope and support to their owners during critical times in recovery.

Gayle Roberts is a seasoned fundraiser whose journey began at the age of six with a backyard carnival. Now, as Chief Development Officer at Larkin Street Youth Services, she's raised over $200 million to combat youth homelessness and support other good causes in San Francisco. A respected figure, Gayle is not only a leader in nonprofit fundraising but also a proud transgender professional Her story is as unique as it is inspiring.

In this episode, we speak with Rachel Hutchisson, a social impact executive with over three decades of experience working at the intersection of business, society, and the nonprofit sector. Rachel is a former leader of the Global Social Responsibility effort at Blackbaud, a 3,300-person publicly traded cloud software company. During her tenure at Blackbaud, Rachel built the company’s “give back” function from the ground up, relying on her expertise in ESG/sustainability, strategic communications, corporate philanthropy, and building programs that drive social impact while engaging employees, customers, and the community. Rachel is also a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion, women's leadership, and investing in future generations. She currently serves on the board of various organizations, including The Giving Institute, Common Impact, and Athletes' Voices. We begin with her earliest recollections as a world traveler at the age of five.

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. 

After leading development efforts in secondary and higher education, healthcare, the arts, human services, and faith based organizations, Linda Wise McNay founded Our Fundraising Search, where she and her colleagues guide clients with strategies in campaigns, governance, and recruiting top fundraising talent. She is the author of several books including Fundraising for Churches, Fundraising for Schools, Fundraising for Museums, the recently released Fundraising for All: What Every Nonprofit Leader Should Know.

In this episode, we speak with Lynnie Meyer, RN, EdD, CFRE, Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer at Norton Healthcare, and recipient of the Outstanding Fundraising Professional Award from AFP, the association’s highest honor. 

Lynnie has been leading the operations of the Norton Children’s Hospital Foundation and Norton Healthcare Foundation since 2004, generating over $300 million in support, following key roles at The Center for Women and Families in Louisville, Caritas Health Services, University of Louisville Hospital, Caretenders, and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. 

She has received numerous honors during her career, including the Center for Nonprofit Excellence Art of Leadership Award, the National Conference for Community and Justice Humanitarian Award, the Presentation Academy Tower Award, and the National Philanthropy Frank W. Penick Founders Award for excellence in fundraising.

In this interview, she talks about how her beginnings as a registered nurse in clinical care still inform her work as a fundraising leader today.

Devin Thorpe is a best-selling author, new media journalist, and champion of social good. His show, Superpowers for Good, has featured over 1,200 influential guests and his articles and books, including "Crowdfunding For Social Good," have reached millions of readers around the world. In this episode, we discuss his journey from high finance to social impact, beginning with his conversation with Bill Gates about the importance of patience.

Jim Langley is a leading voice in philanthropy. As President of Langley Innovations, he’s helped hundreds of institutions rethink fundraising through research-driven strategies. A former advancement leader at Georgetown, UC San Diego, and Georgia Tech, he’s led groundbreaking campaigns and shaped best practices in donor engagement. Through his books, articles, and seminars, he continues to guide organizations in navigating the evolving world of philanthropy. In this conversation, we traced the arc of his life and work, starting with a visit to his hometown. 

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.

Lois Buntz is the author of "Generosity and Gender: Philanthropic Models for Women Donors and the Fund Development Professionals Who Support Them," recipient of the prestigious AFP/Skystone Partners Prize. A career veteran who has served on over 20 boards, raised more than $125 million, and been the first woman to serve as CEO of United Way of East Central Iowa, Lois draws from extensive personal and professional experience in addition to new research and insights from 70 interviews with leading women in philanthropy to bring us a rare and profound view of the new fourth wave of philanthropy by women. This interview was recorded live at AFP ICON in Toronto.

Formed in 1988, Apra is the premier organization for professionals who strategically harness information and data to drive fundraising for philanthropic institutions. At this year's international gathering, Apra Prospect Development 2023, we pulled together four of the field's leading voices--Carrick Davis, Rodger Devine, Lindsey Nadeau, and Melissa Bank Stepno--to discuss the organization's and the field's past, present, and future, from DEI to data science and from AI to due diligence. This is a window on that discussion.

Sara Lomelin is a philanthropy disruptor and the founding CEO of Philanthropy Together, a global movement advancing collective giving. She’s the creator of the Latino Giving Circle Network, the largest network of Latinx philanthropists in the U.S., and a TED speaker recognized on Forbes’ 50 Over 50: Impact List. Sara is passionate about shifting power in philanthropy and proving that everyone can be a philanthropist.

The U.S. has one of the highest incarceration rates in the world with approximately 1.9 million people in federal and state prisons and local jails. 95% of those incarcerated today will be released but 70$ are likely to return to the system. However, for participants in Jumpstart, an innovative organization in South Carolina, the recidivism rate is just 4%. Today, we speak with Don Williams, one of Jumpstart's founders, about his journey from incarceration to freedom, the work they do to help others to rebuild their lives, and their plan to make this path available to others.

Derrick Feldmann is Managing Director of INFLUENCE|SG a movement design studio working with leading brands and causes to research, ideate and test new movement approaches and the Managing Director of Ad Council Edge, the Ad Council’s strategic consulting division that advises during the formative stages of public engagement programs.  

He's a well-known researcher and advisor for causes and companies, social movements, issue engagement, as well as the author of three books, Social Movements for Good: How Companies and Causes Create Viral Change. Cause for Change, the Wind howled, non-profit, Millennial Engagement, and most recently, The Corporate Social Mind, published by Fast Company Press in June, 2020.

It's obvious that leadership impacts nonprofits. And that leader's behaviors affect fundraising. But how? Now we know. The latest nonprofit leadership research shows how specific leadership styles impact nonprofit outcomes. And the research shows three surprising aspects that significantly impact philanthropy.

Marc’s expertise and enthusiasm engages audiences around the world and has caught the attention of media organizations as diverse as The Chronicle of Philanthropy, Al Jazeera, SUCCESS Magazine, and Fox News. Marc tweets regularly at @marcapitman.

In this episode, we speak with Paul Clolery, Vice President and Editorial Director of NPT Publishing Group and The Nonprofit Times, the leading publication for America's charitable sector. A lifelong journalist, Paul began his career on his high school and college papers, then worked at leading papers like the Fort Worth Star Telegram and later as an editor of publications including The Practical Accountant before taking the helm of The Nonprofit Times in 1994. Over the last three decades, he and his team have covered every conceivable story in the charitable sector. He has been recognized repeatedly for excellence in reporting, including an Associated Press Managing Editors Award and citations from the Society of Professional Journalists. We spoke with Paul about his journalistic journey, some of the most significant stories he has covered, and the challenges and opportunities that remain on the road ahead.

In this special episode, we speak with Tim Sarrantonio and Benjamin Johnson who were just completing their first Generosity Roadshow, a cross-country listening tour with three aims: to learn about the ways nonprofit practitioners do their jobs; to better understand the role that data plays in that work; and, to chart a path forward on how nonprofits can use data in actionable and insightful ways. This conversation was recorded live in the exhibit hall at AFP ICON in New Orleans.

In this episode, we speak with William Cabaniss, a high school student from Knoxville, Tennessee, and founder of Vanilla Feeds Tomorrow, recipient of the 2024 William R. Simms Award for Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy, sponsored by Carter through the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy. Recognized for his dedication to combating hunger and food insecurity, William's nonprofit sells homemade vanilla extract and donates the proceeds to Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee. His efforts have provided over 631,000 meals. We caught up with William at AFP ICON in Toronto. 

As we are in the midst of UNBOUND we sit down with Josh Birkholz, chief executive officer of BWF. Josh is a leader in big philanthropy and innovator for the business of fundraising. In his 15 years of consulting the leading nonprofits, universities, and healthcare centers around the globe, Josh has redefined how we look at modern program design, fundraising in a smart economy, and branding in the high net-worth marketplace.

In April, Sean E. McCarthy was honored as an Outstanding Young Professional by AFP, an award reserved for individuals under 31 displaying excellence in raising funds, inspiring donors, managing campaigns, and demonstrating dedication to the charitable sector. Following corporate and foundation fundraising successes at both the Center for American Progress and CSIS, Sean took on the role of Development Manager at the National Center for Transgender Equality, advocating for trans youth, conducting groundbreaking surveys, and increasing corporate support 100-fold in just over two years. Today, Sean serves as Development Manager at the National Housing Trust (NHT), which works to protect and improves existing affordable rental homes so that low-income individuals and families can live in quality neighborhoods with access to opportunities. In this episode, we speak with Sean about reimagining philanthropy for the 21st century and how both donors and fundraisers must be held to a higher standard.

Jay Love is a charity sector titan whose profound influence spans four decades and counting. He has developed and led a succession of major software firms serving the nonprofit fundraising world, beginning with Master Software in the 80s, eTapestry at the turn of the century, and Bloomerang starting in 2012. In each case, he identified a problem bedeviling nonprofits, pioneered a solution, and then was a key figure in transforming the way organizations build relationships with supporters. Today he continues in that work, serving as Chief Relationship Officer at Bloomerang while advising a rising generation of social good tech pioneers. We begin this conversation by hearing about his Indiana roots, the field of dreams he and his brothers built, and his first encounters with philanthropy as chauffeur to one of his college community’s major donors.

Yamilée Toussaint is the founder and CEO of STEM From Dance, a trailblazing nonprofit that inspires girls from underrepresented communities to pursue STEM careers by merging the creativity of dance with the power of technology. An MIT graduate and former Teach for America educator, Yamilee has been recognized as a thought leader in reimagining STEM education and as one of the Top Five CNN Heroes of 2024. 

Clay is an experienced fundraiser with proven experience in all aspects of development. He has particular expertise in developing the systems and infrastructure that support donor-centered fundraising, particularly with individual donors and annual giving. Having been both a front-line fundraiser at several nonprofits across the country and a consultant for large, national firms, he brings a unique perspective on developing and crafting fundraising programs that really work.

Pamela R. Clay has been at the helm of Living Advantage Inc. for nearly three decades, working tirelessly to uplift at-risk youth in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. Building on her mother's legacy, she has broadened the nonprofit's scope, enhancing education, technology, access, and career readiness to disrupt cycles of adversity. As the number and needs of foster youth grow and expand, Living Advantage's work is more critical than ever. Today, Pamela Clay and her team are providing a broad range of essential services to reduce the number of youth who face homelessness, joblessness, and incarceration as they transition out of the foster care system and into successful, independent lives that defy the odds.

Payton McGriff is the founder and CEO of Style Her Empowered (SHE), a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering girls and women in Togo through education, employment, and innovation. Established in 2017 as a class project, SHE has grown into an international organization, providing over 1,500 girls with free uniforms, school fees, and resources, while employing 33 women across 21 rural communities. Recognized as one of the Top Five CNN Heroes of 2024, she is breaking barriers and changing lives, one uniform at a time.

A grant writing expert, executive and development coach, fundraising consultant, and national fundraising trainer, Mandy Pearce, launched Funding for Good, Inc. in 2009 to equip organizations with the skills and tools needed to become successful and sustainable.

Mandy has taken her passion and expertise for fundraising to the development field and shared it with individuals and organizations for over 2 decades through executive coaching, strategic and development planning, seminars, and specialized consulting programs. Mandy’s dynamic teaching style brings thousands of people annually to her presentations at conventions, trainings, and workshops, in-person and online.

Mandy’s passions are development and executive coaching, fundraising planning, budget development, and all things grant writing. Mandy lives in Hickory, NC with her husband and their rescue dogs, Leo and Dalli, who share her enthusiasm for the outdoors.

In this episode, we speak with Tiffany Yu, CEO & Founder of Diversability, an award-winning entirely disabled-run and led social enterprise to elevate disability pride, and a content creator with 200k+ followers across platforms. She is a 3x TEDx speaker and has been named a TikTok API (Asian & Pacific Islander) Trailblazer, a LinkedIn Top Voice in Disability Advocacy, and a Well+Good Changemaker. Her first book, The Anti-Ableist Manifesto, will be published by Hachette Go in 2024.

Brian Becker is Founder of Leaders Edge, a boutique consulting firm focusing primarily on helping non-profits develop strategic plans, high performing teams, becoming more sustainable and increasing impact. He also provides leadership coaching to executives and aspiring leaders, Brian is the co-author with his son of Tender Lyon's, building the Vital Relationship between father and son.

In this episode, we speak with Michael Goldberg, Co-founder of I.CARE and one of the Top Ten CNN Heroes of 2023. Since 2018, he and his organization have organized coral restoration dives for more than 2,000 people and transplanted over 10,000 coral, both educating the public to the need for ocean restoration and working to bring back to life the lungs of the world. We speak with him about what inspired his journey to the underwater world and his passion for saving what he discovered there.

Sherry Quam Taylor teaches nonprofit leaders how to pivot from small-dollar donations to securing larger, investment-level donations so they can finally fund their missions. The leaders she works with are experts in their field, but when it comes to individual donor fundraising, they’ve simply never been trained on how to do it, so it feels uncomfortable and frustrating. She helps them learn the exact steps to launch a mid- and major level gift program that feels comfortable, involves less dread, and fully funds their mission for the long-haul.

In this episode, we speak with Nelly Cheboi, Founder of TechLit Africa, one of Forbes' "30 Under 30 for Social Impact," and 2022 CNN Hero. She shares her journey from childhood poverty in rural Kenya to raising money to build a school while only a junior in college, bringing computers and training to thousands of children in her home country, and her vision of a world where young girls have enough to eat, a roof over their heads, the resources to go to school, and can grow into women who will be known by their own names.

Beth Kanter is an international thought leader on digital transformation and well-being in the nonprofit workplace. Named the most influential woman in technology by Fast Company, she is the coauthor of The Network Nonprofit, The Happy Healthy Nonprofit, and The Smart Nonprofit, the voice behind her popular, long-running Beth's Blog, and a consultant and trainer, leading nonprofits and grant makers around the world. She recently received the Lifetime Achievement award from NTEN. In this episode, we speak with Beth about her life and work, beginning with her days as a flute student unafraid to knock on the door of an admired musical giant. 

Jim Anderson is Partner at GoalBusters and has over three decades of experience and donor psychology, brand strategy, social media marketing, multimedia production, and board and organizational training. Jim currently serves for the third time as the President of AFP Northern Arizona and he has also been a key voice on the AFP International Communications and Marketing Committee, The Committee on Directorship, and serves as an instructor at Northern Arizona University. He's known as one of the funniest people in fundraising and you can find him online, social media, and through his popular Jim-isms column.

In this episode, we speak with Rajiv Vinnakota, a pioneering social entrepreneur with a passion for civic education.

In past years, he co-founded the SEED Foundation, the nation’s first network of public, college-preparatory boarding schools for underserved children, and then served as Vice President of the Aspen Institute, where he launched and led the Youth & Engagement Programs division devoted to youth leadership development, civic engagement, and opportunity. 

Today, he is President of the Institute for Citizens & Scholars, leading its mission to cultivate the talent, ideas, and networks that develop lifelong, effective citizens.

In our conversation, we speak about a range of issues, from building “unlikely alliances” among funders and the importance of patient philanthropic capital to his vision for how the nation can come together to solve the problems of our communities, states, regions, and nation. 

We begin by hearing the remarkable journey of his family to the US and learn how reading the paper and debating the news with his father over the dinner table influenced his view of civic responsibility.

Until recently, Vu Le served as the executive director of RVC a non-profit in Seattle that promotes social justice by developing leaders of color, strengthening organizations led by communities of color, and fostering collaborations between diverse communities a singular voice on issues such as non-profit funding, the sustainability myth, equity, and diversity in the non-profit sector. Vu Le has been rocking everyone's boat at conferences around the world and through the pages of his powerfully irreverent, no nonsense blog, non-profit AF. www.nonprofitaf.com

Stacy Palmer has served as a top editor at The Chronicle of Philanthropy since its founding in 1988, overseeing its growth and development from the print to the digital era. In this episode, we talk about the arc of her career, from her early days as a lifestyle reporter to her work today in shepherding her influential publication into an independent nonprofit, as well as her thoughts about the media’s coverage of the nonprofit world, and her hopes for the future of the sector.

Krista Slade is an international leader whose epic voyage from Toronto to Hong Kong, Melbourne, Singapore, Oxford, and back again has had a lasting impact on the size, shape, and scope of advancement programs around the world. In today's episode, we take that journey with her, learning about each of these unique environments, the challenges and the successes, and the enduring characteristic which continues to fuel her optimism for the work we do in fundraising and philanthropy.

Anthony Cernera is dedicated to understanding how humans learn, grow, heal, and change. A three-time living organ donor, public speaker, consultant, researcher, and psychotherapist, Anthony has also led high-performing development teams for over sixteen years, managing campaigns from $25 million to $600 million. When not helping others, he volunteers in hospice care, instructs meditation, and competes as a skydiver, holding gold and silver medals in the USPA National Skydiving Championships. We spoke with Anthony on the eve of the latest phase of his epic journey. 

James Misner is committed to building systems that create lasting impact. Growing up near Philadelphia in the 1990s, he was struck by his community’s negative attitudes toward refugees from the Balkans and Rwanda. This led him to study political science, work in resettlement, and dedicate his career to helping nonprofits secure the resources they need to drive change. After roles in refugee resettlement at Wheaton Bible Church and McLean Bible Church, he spent a decade at World Relief as Senior Vice President of Strategic Engagement, leading partnerships and revenue strategy. Now, as Founder and CEO of The Kipos Group, he helps small and mid-sized nonprofits overcome fundraising barriers and grow sustainably. In this conversation, we explore his journey—from hands-on refugee work to rethinking nonprofit fundraising—beginning in the neighborhood where it all started.

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.

Did you know that 100 monthly donors are worth an average of $24,000 a year? That they’ll give two to four times more than other donors? That they’ll stay with you for at least 5 to 7 years and often even longer? Wow, right? In this episode, we sit down with Erica Waasdorp. Not only is she President of A Direct Solution, located on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Erica lives and breathes direct response and fundraising and can be considered a Philanthropyholic. She works with non-profit clients all over the country helping them with their appeals and monthly giving.

A child of the great migration, Ava Willis-Barksdale has risen from a stint as a student in the steel mills to the Vice Presidency of Lincoln University, the nation’s first degree-granting HBCU. She has made her mark in both healthcare and higher ed fundraising, demonstrating a unique capacity for combining teaching and leadership with mentoring the people in her teams, leading to the development of cultures of transformational philanthropy. Ava shared some of her journey with us in this conversation.

Randy Cohen is Vice President of Research at Americans for the Arts—the national advocacy organization for the arts—where he has been empowering arts advocates since 1991. Randy stands out as a noted expert in the field of arts funding, research, and using the arts to address community development issues. He publishes Americans Speak Out About the Arts, the nation’s largest public opinion study about the arts, and produces the two premier economic studies of the arts—Arts & Economic Prosperity, the national economic impact study of nonprofit arts organizations and their audiences; and Creative Industries, a mapping study of the nation’s 675,000 arts businesses and their employees. Randy has given speeches in all 50 states and, regularly appears in the news media, including, within the pages of the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, and on C-SPAN, CNN, CNBC, and NPR. 

“Serving Others.” That is how Jennifer Oyer, Founder and Chief Joy Officer of Community Impact Advisors, describes the foundation of her life and her work in Hawaii, across the pacific islands, and around the world. For two decades, she has led and grown development efforts at organizations across Hawaii, including The Salvation Army, the Arthritis Foundation, the Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawaii, and her own alma mater, Hawaii Baptist Academy, before launching her firm in 2019. Always leading by example and with generosity, Jennifer has been active on several nonprofit boards as well as in supporting the profession, including her current role on AFP’s US Foundation for Philanthropy. In this episode, she describes her personal and professional journey and shares what we can do to connect with others and build meaningful relationships. 

Amy Eisenstein, CEO and Co-Founder of the Capital Campaign Toolkit, is one of the leading voices in the field of fundraising. Amy is an AFP certified Master Trainer, former president of the board of AFP-NJ, and one of the few ACFRE designation holders in the profession. Her books include Major Gift Fundraising for Small Shops, Raising More with Less, and 50 A$ks in 50 Weeks. In our conversation, Amy gives us a window into her highly innovative approach to the campaign feasibility study, showing how she guides nonprofit leaders to greater success.

Alice Ferris, Founding Partner of GoalBusters started her fundraising career and her long affiliation with Public Broadcasting, as a volunteer at Wisconsin Public Television, in Madison, Wisconsin, blowing bubbles onto the set during pledge breaks for the Lawrence Welk Show. She serves on the ACFRE Credentialing Board, as well as the CFRE International Board and the Wisconsin School of Business Bolz Center for Arts Administration Advisory Board. You may recognize Alice and her voice for her on-air presence on many public television and radio pledge drives, including top revenue generating fundraisers such as those for Downton Abbey, Ken Burns', America Storyteller, The Civil War, and others.

In this episode, we speak with Brian Saber, author, President of Asking Matters, and a veteran fundraiser with nearly four decades in the field. In his recently released fourth book, Fundraising for Introverts, Brian challenges the myth that it takes an extrovert to generate revenue for a good cause. We talk about his journey, the significance of close friendships, humor, parallel play, and vulnerability. 

Today's guest is Armando Zumaya, a man who has been a significant force in major fundraising efforts since the 1980s. From door-knocking to billion dollar plus campaigns and, more recently, leading development efforts for top arts and social service institutions, Armando has become synonymous with fearless, data-driven fundraising. He is also a leading advocate for Latinx philanthropy and fundraising, putting this topic front and center through his newly formed organization, Somos El Poder. We spoke with him about the origins of this work, its importance, and the change he envisions is possible through this advocacy.

Chris Carnie is the Founder of Factary, Europe's leading prospect research agency, an instructor in fundraising at the University of Barcelona, Director of Fundacio Terra, and the author of three books on fundraising and philanthropy, including his latest, How Philanthropy Is Changing Europe. In this episode, we speak with Chris about his personal and professional journey which started in Scotland and eventually led him to Spain, the generosity he has witnessed along the way, and how nonprofits can be the leaders of change in the years ahead. 

In this episode, we speak with Rachel Rutter, founder and executive director of Project Libertad, a nonprofit that supports unaccompanied immigrant youth with free legal representation, essential services, and newcomer programs. An immigration lawyer and passionate advocate, Rachel has been recognized as one of the Top Five CNN Heroes of 2024 for helping over 1,100 individuals navigate the legal system and rebuild their lives in the United States.

Betsy Chapin Taylor, Founder and CEO of Accordant, is one of healthcare philanthropy's most provocative and influential thought leaders. An award-winning author, speaker, and consultant, she is a Fellow of the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy and a recipient of the prestigious Si Seymour Award. She is also an advocate for the sector who speaks powerfully from both personal and professional experience about the critical importance of healthcare philanthropy.

Nathan Chapell is one of the world's foremost experts on the intersection between artificial intelligence and philanthropy. Over the past 20 years, he has served in leadership positions within several large and complex non-profit organizations, including City of Hope and UC San Diego, guiding fundraising efforts that have generated over one billion dollars in philanthropic revenue. Today, he serves as Senior Vice President of DonorSearch Aristotle, leading a research and development division dedicated to leveraging artificial intelligence to help non-profits harnessed actionable insights from big data.

DonorSearch Introduces DonorSearch Aristotle - A New Research Division to Deliver Artificial Intelligence for Nonprofits: https://prn.to/37A5knm

Al Cantor has been working with nonprofit organizations since 1982, as a staff member, executive, board leader, and consultant. Al “has been there” – raising funds, dealing with donors, balancing budgets, recruiting the right people, and making difficult strategic decisions. Al meanwhile has built a national following on issues affecting the nonprofit sector. Al is a popular keynote speaker at nonprofit conferences and a frequent contributor to the opinion pages of the leading nonprofit journals. He has been cited on nonprofit issues in publications from the New York Times to Vanity Fair to The Atlantic, and he maintains a popular blog on his website.

Randall Hallett is a person who makes things happen. Over the last three decades he has led major healthcare and independent school development programs, presided over a major healthcare fundraising consultancy, and, most recently, founded the influential practice that bears his name, Hallett Philanthropy. Insatiably curious, he first earned his Bachelors and MBA and then continued to garner his JD and Educational Doctorate while advancing the success of his institutions and somehow finding time to serve as a longtime broadcaster for UMKC Athletics and the Kansas City Chiefs. His recent book, Vibrant Vulnerability, takes on the challenges facing healthcare in America today and the unique role CEOs can and must play. 

The motto of the Three Musketeers— All for One and One for All —might have something to teach us about the power of coming together around a shared vision that can drive a major donor campaign. Bob Hotz has immersed himself in strategic planning, executive nonprofit management, development, and fundraising for the past 33 years.  His strong dedication to nonprofit organizations is rooted in his belief that successful leaders strive to align all available human, financial, and physical resources of an organization with its mission. 

In this special episode, we speak with Masataka Uo, Founder and CEO of the Japan Fundraising Association, the nationwide network that promotes philanthropic giving and social impact investment. He discusses the rapid evolution of the nonprofit sector and the fast growth of the association, his efforts to expand links between nonprofits throughout Asia, and how charitable fundraising is key to creating "a new capitalism." This interview was recorded live in the exhibit hall at AFP ICON in New Orleans.

Sharise Harrison is the Assistant Vice President of Advancement Services and Prospect Management at California State University-Sacramento. A leader in philanthropy and data equity, she’s spent over a decade redefining how nonprofits approach prospect research to reduce bias and build more inclusive fundraising practices. Sharise also serves as President-Elect of Apra.

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. 

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.

With close to three decades in the non-profit, political, and media sectors, Sam Laprade is a singular voice in the world of social good from her work, as a strategist at Griffin Fundraising, to her role as host of “An Hour To Give” in Ottawa and from the fundraising stagers around the world, to the stand-up stage. She's provided a unique insight into the art and science of 21st-century fundraising. Take a listen as you’ll learn about her new love for comedy and how her new puppy relates to the hit show “The Office”.

From his early career in counseling to his thought leadership and the application of AI to fundraising, Scott Rosenkrans has been working to better identify, interpret, understand and explain the guideposts that lead people from thought to action.

Today, in his role as Associate Vice President, for DonorSearch Aristotle, which delivers advanced AI capabilities into actionable insights for non-profits around the country. He is working to present more strategic and predictive, donor prospecting approaches.

We caught up with Scott in the middle of his work.

DonorSearch Introduces DonorSearch Aristotle - A New Research Division to Deliver Artificial Intelligence for Nonprofits: https://prn.to/37A5knm

In today's episode, we speak with Helen Brown, President of the Helen Brown Group, the world's largest and most influential development research consulting and training agency. A fundraising professional since 1987, she served in leadership roles at several major institutions before launching her firm in 2005. Since that time, she and her team have worked with over 1,000 nonprofits around the world. Along the way, she served as president of NEDRA, which honored her with the Ann Castle Award, on the board of Apra, which recognized her with the Distinguished Service Award, and co-authored the definitive book in the field, Prospect Research for Fundraisers.

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.

After beginning travelling the world to protect the assets of the wealthy, fundraising icon Paul D’Alessandro pivoted to guide nonprofits to billions in philanthropic support. In today’s conversation, Paul shares the story of his own personal and professional evolution and insights on the field from his new book, “The Future Of Fundraising Is Here.”

In this episode, we speak with Karen E. Osborne, a master fundraiser, teacher, and storyteller who loves and believes in the power of philanthropy and nonprofits. She built her career around these passions not only as a frontline fundraiser, speaker, trainer, teacher, consultant, and coach but also as a donor, volunteer, and board member. She has served in senior positions at colleges and universities and, for the past 25 years, as President and now as Senior Strategist at The Osborne Group. Nationally and internationally recognized, Karen is the recipient of CASE’s Crystal Apple for Outstanding Teaching and Public Speaking and the Ashmore Award for Outstanding Service to the Profession and is an adjunct faculty member for Johns Hopkins University’s graduate certificate program in nonprofit management. Karen is also a published author. Her first novel, “Getting It Right,” debuted in 2017 followed by the thriller “Tangled Lies” in 2021. Her third novel, “Reckonings,” will be released this summer.

In this episode, we speak with Stacey Buckner, one of the Top Ten CNN Heroes of 2023 and recipient of the North Carolina Governor's Medallion Award. After surviving a nearly fatal stroke and traumatic brain injury, Stacey turned her journey of recovery into a mission to serve others. She founded Off-Road Outreach, an organization which provides meals, mobile showers, laundry services, and much, much more to the large homeless veteran community in Fayetteville, North Carolina. We spoke with her about her work, what inspired it, and what keeps her fulfilled today. 

Natalie Silverstein is an author, speaker, and podcast host whose work is all about inspiring kindness and service in families and teens. Natalie is the founder of the New York affiliate of Doing Good Together and the host of the award-winning podcast Simple Acts, Big Impact: Celebrating Teen Changemakers, where she highlights incredible stories of young people making a difference. She’s also the author of two nationally recognized books, Simple Acts: The Busy Family’s Guide to Giving Back and Simple Acts: The Busy Teen’s Guide to Making a Difference.

Richard Pordes is one of the foremost figures in global fundraising. For decades, he has been pioneering, introducing, and successfully executing extraordinary direct response efforts throughout the world, first with UNICEF’s national chapters and country offices and later with many of the leading international charities, including MSF, WWF, Save the Children, UNHCR, and others. Born in Shanghai to Jewish refugees from Europe, raised in Hong Kong, and educated in the UK and USA, he is frequently traveling between Europe, Asia, and America, showing organizations that “everything is possible.” We begin our conversation with the stunning story of his mother’s flight from the recent Nazi occupation of Vienna.

In this episode, we speak with Adam Pearce, Co-founder of the LoveYourBrain Foundation and one of the Top Ten CNN Heroes of 2023. Since 2014, LoveYourBrain has served and trained more than 35,000 individuals in 31 countries affected by traumatic brain injury through free in-person and online programs. We speak with Adam about the injury that sparked his journey and how the level of adversity we face can lead to opportunities for meaning.

Today's guest is Lisa Wolf. She is a self-described accidental fundraiser whose work has taken her from major political campaigns to advancing the work of CURE International and now fueling the work of non-profits around the country through Westfall Gold. At the heart of it all has been a focus on building successful relationships. In our conversation, she shares details on the importance of identifying and connecting with donors, helping them to understand the case, building a community of support, and her personal reflections on the concept of generosity.

In today's episode, we speak with Lisa Zola Greer, an entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist who has managed her family's giving for the last decade. She has served on dozens of boards and commissions, including the Beverly Hills Cultural Heritage Commission, the international board of the New Israel Fund, the Make-a-Wish Foundation, and the Los Angeles District Attorney Crime Prevention Foundation. In her new book, Philanthropy Revolution, she describes how she and her husband found themselves in the 1% virtually overnight and how their efforts to give generously to charity were often thwarted by the seemingly inflexible processes and scripts of fundraisers who suddenly saw them as piggy banks. Now the self-described "fixer" is working to reverse the decline in the number of Americans who give to charity by showing how nonprofits can establish and maintain truly collaborative and effective relationships.

Osei Boateng, Executive Director of OKB Hope Foundation, is on of the Top Ten CNN Heroes of 2023. Since February of 2022, OKB has brought mobile healthcare screening and services to over 5,000 people in 52 rural communities across Ghana. In this episode, we learn what inspired his work and what he envisions for the future.

David Woodruff has been a key figure in some of the largest and most successful fundraising efforts in healthcare and higher education. He oversaw the $1.5 billion Campaign for the Third Century of Massachusetts General Hospital and then directed a record-setting $6 Billion Campaign for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. David joined Marts & Lundy as a consulting partner following his retirement as Associate Vice President and COO of Resource Development at MIT this month. In this episode, we speak with him about his journey, lessons learned, and opportunities for engaging the rising generation of donors.

Carlton Ford is an innovative changemaker, nonprofit sector leader, and fundraiser for the arts. A native of southside Chicago, he found his calling for music early and pursued a successful career as an operatic baritone, performing at the Metropolitan Opera, Carnegie Hall, Royal Albert Hall, and beyond before taking his talent and vision to nonprofit leadership. Today he serves as Chief Effective Philanthropy Officer at The Taproot Foundation, which drives social change by connecting social good organizations with skilled volunteers. In this conversation, we hear about the trajectory of his career as an artist and leader, the gift, and the inheritance. We begin with his earliest memories of finding his way to music. 

Welcome back Masterminds, this week we jump back into the series with an amazing interview. Heather Mansfield has been on the leading edge of applying tech to social good for over 25 years. Since the mid-nineties, she has pioneered efforts in crowdfunding, e-mail, fundraising, and then social media marketing for the non-profit world. As the editor-in-chief and founder of non-profit Tech for Good, author of the best-selling books Mobile for Good: Social Media for Social Good, the Global NGO Tech Report, and the Global Trends and Giving Report as well as The Voice Behind non-profit aurochs reaching hundreds of thousands on social networks. She’s presented at conferences around the world online and in real life as well as trained and inspired hundreds of thousands, if not millions, to successfully use tech for the benefit of humanity. We caught up with Heather at her home office in Tucson, Arizona.

Want more on the DonorSearch Masterminds Series? Be sure to follow us on Twitter @DonorSearch. 

Tycely Williams has inspired individuals and institutions to invest more than $92 million dollars in charitable causes.  Over the past 23 years, Tycely advanced philanthropy as vice president of development of YWCA USA, as the chief development officer for the American Red Cross National Capital Region, an association director of major gifts for the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington, a director of development for two health and human services organizations, the artistic director of two community-based dance studios, and the executive director for a nonprofit organization founded by a Fortune 500 company.

In her spare time, she chairs the Board of Trustees for Monument Academy Public Charter School and volunteers with numerous youth-serving organizations. Tycely is a Certified Fundraising Executive, past president of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Washington DC Metro Chapter, and the immediate past chair of the Women’s Impact Initiative of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. A joyful divorcée, Tycely enjoys traveling, crashing charitable fundraising galas, taste-testing fried green tomatoes and conversing with values-driven leaders in preparation for her first book.

For nearly forty years, Paul Edwards has been at the center of several miraculously successful philanthropic efforts. He began his career with a record-breaking higher education campaign and then decided he needed to leave the field for his faith, entering the seminary. There he unexpectedly discovered a new and profound spiritual role for fundraising which he applied when tapped to lead the fundraising effort at Prison Fellowship. Since then, he has led a successful major campaign for Mercy Ships International, Gordon College's $75.5 Million Capital Campaign, and Wycliffe's $2 Billion Last Languages initiative, making the Bible available in all the world’s languages, as well as serving as a teacher and guide to hundreds of other organizations. Today, as Principal Consultant at Edwards & Creson, he collaborates with inspired leaders and organizations to produce inspiring results. In this episode, I speak with Paul about his remarkable journey and what he describes as his Theology of Fundraising.

Jon Stettner is a fundraising leader who has spent decades making dreams come true. His career has taken him from the hospital hallways and theater stages to the long-time leadership of Make-A-Wish International and, most recently, the global clients of The Cagney Company. In this episode, Jon shares his lessons from these very unusual times.