Fund the People: A Podcast with Rusty Stahl

Sarah Saadian of the National Council of Nonprofits explains how the Trump Administration policies are reshaping the nonprofit sector through a three-pronged effort to cut-off funding, silence organizations, and erode trust in nonprofits—and why these threats affect every nonprofit, regardless of mission. She shares practical ways nonprofit leaders can take action together to defend civil society,...

Vu Le is our guest for the Season Nine Finalé, which also serves as an installment of our ongoing Defend Nonprofits, Defend Democracy Series. Recorded with a live zoom audience during our spring webinar series, Vu discusses his burnout, funding instability, philanthropy’s power dynamics, and what it will take to strengthen nonprofits in an era of rising authoritarianism. Vu argues that nonprofits...

In this installment of our Defend Nonprofits Defend Democracy Series, you’ll get a deep dive into one of the least-discussed but most important democracy issues facing nonprofits and philanthropy today: attacks on ballot initiatives and direct democracy. Elizabeth DiLauro of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation joins Rusty Stahl to discuss how ballot measures have become critical tools for advancing...

In this episode (S9:E16), you’ll hear compelling evidence that investing in nonprofit workers isn’t a distraction from program results—it actually supercharges impact! Burnout is widespread in the nonprofit sector, particularly in social justice groups. But it doesn’t have to be. Our guests share their research, experience, and thinking, based on a cohort of Northern California nonprofits working...

What does it take to move from talking about racial equity to practicing it—inside philanthropy and across the nonprofit sector? In this episode, you’ll get visionary and pragmatic guidance on how funders and nonprofits can close the gap between intention and action. Rusty speaks with Kaci Patterson, Founder of Social Good Solutions and the Black Equity Collective. Kaci shares how her work brings...

In this episode, you'll get a clear, concise, and cogent argument for the unique value of the U.S. nonprofit workforce, with a specific focus on how nonprofit workers contribute to democratic participation and self-governance. Host Rusty Stahl discusses five ways this value manifests: ​Bringing the First Amendment to life ​Delivering services to citizens on behalf of government ​Advocating to gove...

In this episode, host Rusty Stahl makes the economic case for valuing the nonprofit workforce—nearly 13 million workers powering 10% of the U.S. private workforce. Drawing on fresh data, he reveals how nonprofits create jobs, stabilize communities during crises, and fuel broader economic growth. If policymakers and funders overlook this workforce, they’re missing one of the most significant econom...

“Nonprofit workers are an unspoken part of our social contract.” Why do we need to explicitly talk about the value of the nonprofit workforce—especially to people already working within it? In this opening episode of a three-part series, Rusty Stahl argues that the nonprofit workforce has long been overlooked in public policy, media narratives, and even within the sector itself. Drawing on insight...

In this episode, you get a firsthand report from "Foundations on the Hill." Rusty discusses emerging federal threats and opportunities for our sector. From new legislation to executive action, he shares what’s at stake for the nonprofit workforce—and why we must engage now to shape the narrative. Download episode⁠ transcript Watch episode Promo Video Links to Information Discussed: Chall...

In this episode, you’ll get a bold, provocative new idea for investing in the nonprofit workforce—and why it may be essential to the sector’s survival. We all know that restricted project support doesn't empower nonprofits to invest in their staff. But, we argue, general operating support isn't up to this task either. Staff Operating Support (SOS) offers a new way that funders and fundrais...

Why do private foundations give away so little of their wealth each year—and how does that affect nonprofits and the people who work in them? Especially as the Trump Administration's War on Charity continues to rage? Rusty Stahl talks with Glen Galaich, author of the new book ⁠Control: Why Big Giving Falls Short⁠ , about philanthropy’s culture of control, the limits of the 5% payout model, and...

In this episode, you'll hear what nonprofits can learn from broader labor market trends—and how organizations can compete for talent in an era of increasing transparency. And you'll get a provocative perspective on how employers have been assessing the "market rate" for salaries, and how we should be thinking differently. Fund the People's Rusty Stahl speaks with Cary Sparrow...

In this episode, you’ll get a clear-eyed look at the newest national data on nonprofit stability—and what it means for your organization, your funding strategy, your workforce or your grantees’ workforce. While you're here, we invite you to register for Fund the People’s next webinar and live podcast recording on March 12, 2026 ⁠ . We'll explore Staff Operating Support (SOS), a new kind of...

Download our Edited Transcript for this episode. Get the extended version of this and all episodes (and mucn more) by joining our Patreon community. In this installment of our ongoing Defend Nonprofits, Defend Democracy Series , you’ll get practical, real-world examples of how funders and nonprofit leaders can engage in policy advocacy to defend values such as racial equity and democracy, when tho...

Download the Episode Transcript in .pdf format In this episode of the Fund the People Podcast , you'll gain practical insights into how centering workers' perspectives -- and sharing power between employees and management -- can dramatically improve job quality in nonprofit organizations. Host Rusty Stahl sits down with Brianna Rogers and Rob Hope of Rework The Bay to unpack a bold funding...

In this episode of the Fund the People Podcast , listeners will gain practical insight into how philanthropy can evolve to meet today’s interconnected crises—and what funders can do differently right now to support justice, sustainability, and nonprofit workers. Host Rusty Stahl is joined by nationally recognized philanthropic leader, lawyer, and author Dimple Abichandani , whose new book, A New E...

Download the transcript of this episode in .pdf format⁠ Join our premium version of the FTP Pod on Patreon , For just $6 a month, you get extended versions of this and all episodes; bonus content; community; and our Patreon-only show, Riverside Reflections. What happens when a nonprofit uses a six-figure, one-time gift not to launch a new program—but to fundamentally improve job quality for its st...

In this episode, you’ll learn how nonprofits are really rated—and why the sector’s obsession with overhead could finally be ending. Charity Navigator CEO Michael Thatcher joins host Rusty Stahl to explain how nonprofit ratings are shifting toward impact, leadership, and organizational health—and why investing in people matters more than lean budgets. In a candid moment, Thatcher hints at a future...

Click here for edited transcript (pdf format) According to the Trump Administration, nonprofits and philanthropic foundations are “terror-supporting organizations.” Peaceful protestors are “terrorists.” Violent mobs are simply tourists having a picnic. And the masked gunmen they’ve deputized are hard-working joes just trying to do their jobs. As we recall how Dr. King and his colleagues used non-v...

In this brief holiday bonus, you’ll get behind-the-scenes highlights of Season 8. Plus a sneak-peek at some of the provocative guests and valuable topics we’ll cover in season 9! Season 9 will start in late January 2026. If all goes according to plan, S9:E1 will drop on Wed., Jan. 21, 2026 at 8am ET. From thereon, new episodes will publish weekly on Wednesday mornings throughout the season. You’ll...

Get the Extended Version of this episode on our Premium show on Patreon: patreon.com/FundThePeople. ​ Engage with Rusty and guests during episode recording ​ Learn with other listeners, guests, and Rusty in our discussion forum ​ Access extended episodes with video ​ Enjoy Riverside Reflections (RR), our new Premium-only extra show! Get the inside scoop from Rusty while getting outside for a water...

In this episode, you’ll learn about a powerful alternative to restricted, project-based funding: enterprise capital for nonprofits. Guest Andrea Levere, founder and CEO of Capitalize Good, explains why nonprofits—like any enterprise—need multi-year, flexible capital that strengthens their balance sheets, builds reserves, and supports the people and systems that drive impact. Andrea breaks down the...

In this episode, nonprofit finance expert Gretchen Upholt joins Rusty to introduce Nonprofit GPS , BDO’s free new online toolkit for scenario planning, business model resilience, and short-term coaching. Learn how your organization can navigate revenue risk and make informed financial decisions in 2026, as the impact of the Trump Administration's War on Charity continues to roll across the sec...

Just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday, Rusty sits down with consultant and PlayFull Podcast host Kristine Michie for a lively conversation about the role of joy, play, and ice cream in sustaining the nonprofit workforce. Kristine shares how her lifelong roots in activism shaped her worldview, and how her consulting firm, ImpactFull, emerged with a mission to help social-change leaders weave fu...

Get the extended version of this episode on our Patreon site: Subscribe for just $6 per month and support our advocacy for the nonprofit workforce: patreon.com/FundThePeople. This episode explores the stages of foundation responses to the Trump Administration’s War on Charities, through the lens of a place-based funder network. Rusty sits down with Megan Thomas, CEO of Catalyst of San Diego and Im...