Inspired Nonprofit Leadership

My guest for this episode is Gayle Gifford. Gayle has spent years in the trenches, organizing for peace, environmental, human and civil rights. She served as Director of Development and Communications at  PLAN USA , as Deputy Director/Director of Development and Marketing at  Save The Bay , and as Director of Development at  CityYear RI  before launching her own business in 1996 with master commun...

This is a bonus episode with Mary. Nonprofit organizations provide critical and life-enhancing services to our communities. If you are a nonprofit executive or board member, you know first-hand what a valuable role you play. We all have a stake in nonprofits' success. And, we know that to be successful a nonprofit must be led by an effective board of directors. One of the biggest opportunities to...

My guest for this episode is Dr. Terrie Temkin. Dr. Temkin is a founding principal of CoreStrategies for Nonprofits, Inc., an international consulting firm that builds organizational infrastructure. She is an award-winning speaker and an engaging group facilitator, who brings more than 40 years of nonprofit management and adult education experience to her work.  Considered by her colleagues as a t...

I have two guests for this episode:  Luis Vergara and Bob Harrington. Luis brings over 20 years in program and nonprofit management. He was a Strategic Director at the national research and strategy firm Cheskin. He also served as executive director of Youth Radio, a Senior Policy Associate with Safe Passages, and has worked extensively in youth development and gang prevention. He joined La Piana...

My guest today is Mike Burns. Mike began his career as an executive director of a community health center and now has over 20 years' experience as a nonprofit manager. Since 1994 Mike has been an organizational development consultant and partner in BWB Solutions. Since 2017 Mike has been faculty in the University of New Haven's Nonprofit Management Certificate Program. Mike's consulting practice f...

This is one of our bonus episodes – a moment with Mary.  In this episode, Mary discusses Advisory Groups. She gives examples and shares the benefits you can reap from forming an Advisory Group. Mary also goes over the important steps to take to evaluate if an Advisory Group is right for your nonprofit and how to form one with success. Please sure to subscribe and, while you're at it, rate and revi...

My guest for this episode is John Robins. John Robins has 18+ years of leadership experience, with nonprofits, faith communities, and technology companies. Previously, he served as the Interim Executive Director of the Winchester Multicultural Network, where he led a cross functional team spanning program, advocacy, communications, development, and finances. John was a partner in supporting the st...

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...

This is one of our bonus episodes – a moment with Mary.  In this episode, Mary discusses our capacity and shares some tips for how to make the best use of it--particularly as it relates to the work of nonprofit leaders. Do you have unlimited capacity? Of course not! Listen to this episode to learn how to maximize the capacity (time, energy, etc.) that you do have. Please sure to subscribe and, whi...

My guest for this episode Don Tebbe. Don is a consultant and author based in the Washington, DC, and one of the nation's leading authorities on nonprofit leadership succession. Serving over a decade as a nonprofit senior executive, chief executive, and interim CEO, he experienced first-hand the challenges of leadership transitions. Founding his consulting practice in 1993, he has since helped over...

My guest for this episode is Maria Nicolacoudis. Maria has twenty-five years of experience working in mental health, providing workforce development and rehabilitation services for youth and adults with disabilities.  She has developed model, local, and state-wide service programs and social enterprises and served as a corporate consultant for integrated workforce issues.   Currently Maria is the...

My guest for this episode is Michael Davidson. Michael has a very diverse and interesting background. He has been a Peace Corps Volunteer, an Assistant Professor of Anthropology, an Assistant District Attorney and an attorney in private practice. He holds a BS in mathematics from New York State University College on Long Island, a JD from Columbia Law School and an Masters in Anthropology from Yal...

My guest for this episode is Rita Fuerst Adams. Rita has worked with nonprofit throughout the United States for over 30 years with budgets ranging from $1 mil. to $450 million. Rita was the executive director of National Parents Organization – the only national organization advocating for shared parented and gender equality in family law. She has extensive experience in fundraising and marketing....

This is one of our bonus episodes – a moment with Mary.  In this episode, Mary shares some ideas about conducting a good board of directors' self-assessment. If you want to have a board that is truly an asset and you know changes are needed, then the place to start is with Board assessment. In this episode, Mary shares how to do that.  She starts with a review of the benefits of doing a board asse...

My guest for this episode is Stephanie Shaterian. Stephanie is a founder of fLO Content, fLO is a video content producer specializing in original, authentic, documentary style pieces that serve specific goals or strategic purposes. They work with decision makers in the for profit and non-profit sectors who have immediate video needs for marketing, promotional, or development goals. She is a gradua...

My guest today is Lauren Cesare. Lauren has been practicing tax law in California for 34 years. The last 23 years Lauren has operated her own practice with an emphasis on tax exempt organizations – what we mostly call nonprofits, as well as limited liability companies. Lauren has served on the Boards of Directors and as an officer of two nonprofits. She is the author of three books on Private Foun...

My guest today is Cindi Phallen. Cindi was a successful executive director for 18 years with Y's around the country and is the founder and President of Create Possibility which provides consulting to nonprofits. Cindi is an author, speaker, and an educator. She teaches fundraising at the University of San Diego's Nonprofit Management Certificate Program. Cindi is the author of "The Impact Triangle...

My guest today is Sarah Olivieri. Sarah is a nonprofit strategist with a passion for helping organizations thrive. The founder of PivotGround, Sarah helps human-service nonprofits increase capacity, deliver better programming, attract more funding, and make the world a better place.  She has over 15 years of nonprofit leadership experience. Sarah co-founded the Open Center for Autism and was the e...

This is one of our bonus episodes – a moment with Mary.  In this episode, Mary shares some tips for effectively evaluating the executive director and some cautions about pitfalls to avoid. We all know that effective leadership requires clarity of expectations and feedback on an ongoing basis helping people know how they are doing. It is disconcerting that the anecdotal information is that many Exe...

My guest for this episode is Ellen Bristol. Ellen founded Bristol Strategy Group in 1995 after a 20-year career in corporate sales. She quickly transitioned to the nonprofit sector, where she has become a thought leader in fundraising management and now has over 20 years experience. Ellen created the SMART Way™, a training and consulting solution that improves fundraising results and productivity...

My guest today is Karen Mathews Radau. Karen is deeply experienced in human resources consulting, organizational development, and executive coaching. She is a recognized author and currently is the CEO of her own business, Small Business HR Services. Karen specializes in helping small to mid-sized companies, including nonprofits, with not only how to comply with labor laws but how to apply best pr...

This is a bonus episode – a moment with Mary. In this episode, Mary shares what her research and that of others has shown are three critical success factors for improving a board of directors. Some nonprofit leaders have little trouble articulating what they think should, or could, be better about their boards. But, even if you are one who knows where you want your board to go, the challenge may b...

My guest today Theresa Kiernan. Theresa has over 20 years of corporate training experience. She is a consultant and coach in communications and leadership. Theresa has been an executive director in three nonprofits and a board member for several as well. She likes having fun and creating a safe environment where people can let down their guard. In today's episode, we talk about communication mista...

My guest today is Mike Burns. Mike began his career as an executive director of a community health center and now has over 20 years' experience as a nonprofit manager. Since 1994 Mike has been an organizational development consultant and partner in BWB Solutions. Since 2017 Mike has been faculty in the University of New Haven's Nonprofit Management Certificate Program. Mike's consulting practice f...

This is a bonus episode – a moment with Mary. In this episode, Mary talks about how conflicts of interest come up in nonprofits – both with staff and board members and what to consider when addressing them. Mary shares her personal experience from her own board service as well as when she was a CEO and she offers three tips for safeguarding your nonprofit from the potential negative affects confli...