Inspired Nonprofit Leadership

My guest for this episode is John Baird. John's passion for bringing strong leadership and culture building skills to early stage ventures resulted in the founding (with Ben Tauber) of the Velocity Group in 2015. John is currently the Senior Partner and Board Chair at Velocity. He and Managing Partner Edward Sullivan have positioned Velocity as the "go to" coaching firm for early stage companies b...

My guest for this episode is Matt Hugg. Over his 30-year career,  Matt has held management and fundraising positions at the Boy Scouts of America, Lebanon Valley College, the University of Cincinnati, Ursinus College, and the University of the Arts. Matt teaches fundraising, management, and marketing at a number of graduate programs and corporation, online, and in person in the United States, Afri...

This is one of our bonus episodes – a moment with me.  As nonprofit leaders we've all had to form a work group of some type. That may be a short-term group, could be a board task force or even an ongoing board committee. It could be your leadership team. I adapted a framework I learned years back that has been helpful to me in thinking about forming small work groups. I've shared it with clients o...

My guest for this episode is Vivienne Hsu. Vivienne is founder and CEO of LENDonate, a unique marketplace lending and donation platform where nonprofits and supporters leverage their collective power for the greater good.  With over 20 years of financial services experience she is considered an expert in her field. She has appeared in numerous interviews on CNBC and Bloomberg TV and is frequently...

My guest for this episode is Rick Williams. Rick is the former CEO of the Sobrato Family Foundation,(SFF) one of Silicon Valley's largest philanthropic organizations, with annual charitable investments in excess of $40 million. Prior to joining SFF, Rick founded and was President of Realize Consulting Group, a management consulting firm focused on creating effective and sustainable solutions for p...

My guest for this episode is Aila Malik. Aila is an experienced leader who collaborates with venture-ready organizations to re-imagine their places within the education, correction, and community-based organization sectors. She specializes in launches, expansions, process design and implementation, and development coaching for high-performing executives. Aila has dedicated over 20 years to support...

This is one of our bonus episodes – a moment with me. At one of my workshops recently, a board member asked how to increase the engagement of her fellow board members. I asked her to say more about what their disengagement looked like. She described poor attendance and lack of participation of those who do attend. There can be a lot of reasons for this, but I asked: Do you have an active board exe...

My guest for this episode is Caitlin Kerk. Caitlin is a writer and communications strategist who has been writing about health and social issues for more than 25 years. In that time, she has developed communications plans and messaging platforms, conducted media campaigns, and created content for a wide range of communication vehicles, including promotional materials, websites, blogs, public healt...

My guest for this episode is Andrea Hummel. Andrea is trained in multicultural diversity, mediation and trauma recovery. She holds a Masters in applied anthropology American University (Washington, DC) with additional studies in refugee affairs and linguistics. Andrea holds a Theory certification in TSM psychodrama for post-traumatic growth and presents at conferences both in the US and abroad. In...

My guest for this episode is Christa Gannon, the founder and CEO of FLY program – Fresh Lifelines for Youth—which was formed as a nonprofit in 2000. FLY began with one staff member and a handful of volunteers serving youth in a few neighborhoods in San Jose. Today, with 55 staff and more than 200 volunteers, FLY serves approximately 2,500 youth annually in 25 cities throughout the Bay Area. The ag...

This is one of our bonus episodes – a moment with . Mary   "When you dance, your purpose is not to get to a certain place on the floor. It's to enjoy each step along the way." Wayne Dyer The board-executive director relationship is a dance. The whole team is dancing together! One thing that can throw everyone off balance or mess up the cadence is how the board manages (or doesn't) executive sessio...

My guest for this episode is Dr. Mary VanHaneghan.  Dr. Mary started her career in the human services field two decades ago as a direct service professional. During her tenure she has worked across the country in various capacities: day habilitation; post-secondary education; transitional services; case management; supported employment; behavioral health; and more. Dr. Mary received her doctorate...

My guest for this episode is Carol Hamilton. Carol grew up overseas and learned at an early age that cultures vary and there are few absolutes.  Living in the world between her home American culture and European culture, she became a student of history, culture and language. Carol is fascinated with ways to better understand human organizing systems and the cultures that emerge within these system...

My guest for this episode is Jan Berthold. Janice is a Senior Vice President with Heffernan Insurance and one of the few brokers who works with clients on a "Referral Only" basis. Prior to merging her firm with Heffernan, Janice was President and CEO of J. Berthold Insurance Service Inc. and a Principal of All West Insurance Brokers, one of the top five closely held insurance brokerage firms in Si...

This is a bonus episode with Mary. Relationships are the most important currency nonprofit leaders attract. You influence the quantity and the quality of the relationships your nonprofit has with the people who care about - or could care about - your mission. Mary has a story to tell and a tip for you. Be sure to subscribe to Inspired Nonprofit Leadership so that you don't miss a single episode, a...

My guest for this episode is Mindy Berkowitz. Mindy has been Executive Director of Jewish Family Services of Silicon Valley since July 2003.  In her tenure as Executive Director, Mindy partnered with the Board of Directors take the agency from a position of near crisis to one of success and growth.  Jewish Family Services of Silicon Valley is well-respected in Santa Clara County, and serves thousa...

My guest for this episode is Josh Selo. Josh is the Executive Director of West Valley Community Services, a Silicon Valley-based human services nonprofit. He is a CFRE certified fundraiser with more than 20 years of experience in nonprofit development, programs, and management. Josh has worked in senior positions for the YMCA of Silicon Valley and the Jewish Community Centers in both Rockland Coun...

This is a bonus episode with Mary. She discusses some insights gained from an article she read while considering the common belief:  It is better to give than to receive. Learn some interesting distinctions between giving and generosity and some tips for yourself. Be sure to subscribe to Inspired Nonprofit Leadership so that you don't miss a single episode, and while you're at it, won't you take a...

My guest for this episode is Maya Tussing. Maya is a Partner at Fairlight Advisors, providing investment management and risk consulting services for philanthropic institutions and individuals. Fairlight Advisors was founded to help philanthropic leaders fulfill their missions with investment and risk solutions. Fairlight provides investment management services offering nonprofits and philanthropic...

The guest for this episode is Mary Valloni. Mary has over 17 years working with hundreds nonprofits. Former Development Director for the American Cancer Society, the ALS Association and Special Olympics, Mary has raised millions of dollars and spent countless hours in the field of development. In 2014, she started Mary Valloni Consulting to spread a message of hope and encouragement to nonprofit l...

This is one of Mary's bonus episodes. In this episode she shares some insights about how form follows function applies to how board committees are formed and how board member capacity comes into play. Establishing strategic goals for the board and, following that, a structure – i.e., committees – to lead achievement of those goals can glaringly reveal whether or not the board really has the capaci...

My guest for this episode is Dr. Renee Rubin Ross. Renee has over 20 years' experience in education – including teaching, serving as director of a religious school and conducting research in schools. From 2011 to 2014, Ross served as a Program Officer at the Jim Joseph Foundation, which distributes ~$20 million yearly in Jewish education. She  left the Foundation to move to the "other side of the...

My guest today for this episode is Beth Williams. Beth has worked in the non-profit sector since 1994. Her experience includes fundraising, special event planning and program development.  Beth earned her professional designation as a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) in 2010 and has worked as a fundraiser for a variety of nonprofits including hospice, foster care and the county hospital.  Sh...

This is a bonus episode with Mary. Mary has found that many board members have not been oriented to their 3 legal duties. These duties apply personally to anyone serving as a director of a corporation (nonprofit or for-profit) board. She discusses not only the duties themselves but the implications for board members. Executive directors need to understand these duties too and be sure board members...

My guest for this episode is Emily Sterling. Emily Sterling has served as a strategic thought partner to thousands of innovative and influential philanthropists, community leaders, social entrepreneurs, nonprofits, boards, corporations, and governments for over 25 years.  She has enhanced the impact of organizations of every size, sector, stage of development, and mission focus. And, she has helpe...