Nonprofit Leadership Podcast

Betsy Schmidt In this episode of the Nonprofit Leadership Podcast , host Rob Harter sits down with Elizabeth “Betsy” Schmidt, senior research fellow at the University of Massachusetts and author of the new book Rules of the Road for Nonprofit Leaders . Betsy brings her decades of experience in public policy and nonprofit law to the table to demystify complex legal frameworks and help leaders lever...

Rob speaks with Robert Stack, President and CEO of Community Options, a nonprofit that has been at the forefront of providing safe, dignified, and inclusive care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Stack shares his personal journey that led him into this field, beginning with volunteering as a young seminarian and evolving into decades of nonprofit leadership. Robert...

Laura Parker In this episode, Dr. Rob Harter speaks with Laura Parker, CEO and co-founder of The Exodus Road , a nonprofit combating human trafficking across the globe. Laura shares the deeply personal and powerful story of how she and her husband were first confronted with the realities of trafficking while working in Northern Thailand, which ultimately inspired them to launch their organization....

Jena Lynch In this episode, Dr. Rob Harter welcomes Jena Lynch from Donorbox, a longtime sponsor and leading platform in nonprofit fundraising technology. Jena brings her unique perspective as a nonprofit thought leader and co-host of her own nonprofit podcast, sharing front-line insights from her work with organizations across the country. Together, Rob and Jena dive into the key fundraising chal...

Sandy Rosenthal In this episode, host Dr. Rob Harter sits down with Sandy Rosenthal, the founder of Levees.org, to uncover the shocking truth behind the catastrophic flooding of New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina. While most people attributed the devastation to the storm itself, Sandy discovered a deeper, man-made failure at the core of the disaster—the collapse of federally designed levees. Des...

Asha Varghese In this episode of the Nonprofit Leadership Podcast, host Rob Harter welcomes Asha Varghese, President of the Caterpillar Foundation. Asha shares insights into the foundation’s expansive philanthropic efforts, having invested over $1 billion into global communities since its inception in 1952. She emphasizes that this achievement is not a finish line, but a launch pad for even greate...

In this episode, Dr. Rob Harter sits down with Aidan Reilly, co-founder of The Farmlink Project , a nonprofit that began as a college passion project and grew into a national food recovery movement. What started in 2020 as two friends trying to make a difference during the COVID-19 pandemic quickly evolved into a logistics powerhouse that has since delivered over 350 million pounds of food—soon to...

Jeff Schreifels As year-end fundraising pressures mount, it’s more important than ever for nonprofits to adopt effective, donor-centered strategies. In this episode of the Nonprofit Leadership Podcast, host Rob Harter welcomes Jeff Schreifels, Principal and Owner of Veritus Group—a global consulting agency focused on major and mid-level gift strategies. Jeff shares his proven insights into how org...

Dr. Kurt Ver Beek In this episode of the Nonprofit Leadership podcast, host Dr. Rob Harter sits down with Dr. Kurt Ver Beek — longtime sociologist, adjunct professor at Calvin University, and co‑founder of the Honduran‑based nonprofit Association for a More Just Society (ASJ). Kurt has lived in Honduras for 30 + years and helps lead ASJ’s mission of advancing justice through structural reform rath...

In this episode, Dr. Rob Harter reconnects with Larissa “Larz” May, founder of the nonprofit #HalfTheStory and the newly launched for-profit social enterprise Ginko . Larissa returns to the show three years after her initial appearance to share her incredible growth journey—one that has seen her organization gain the backing of influential figures like Oprah Winfrey and Melinda French...

Monika Bauerlein In this compelling episode of the Nonprofit Leadership Podcast, host Dr. Rob Harter sits down with veteran journalist Monika Bauerlein, CEO of the Center for Investigative Reporting (CIR), to explore whether transitioning to a nonprofit model could be the key to survival for today’s embattled media organizations. With a rich background that includes leading the nonprofit new...

In this insightful episode of the Nonprofit Leadership Podcast, host Dr. Rob Harter sits down with healthcare leadership experts Kurt Mosley and Neill Marshall to explore why a leader’s first 90 days are pivotal to their long-term success. Drawing from decades of experience interviewing and placing thousands of healthcare executives, Kurt and Neill share powerful stories and actionable strategies...

Jill Vorndran In this episode, Dr. Rob Harter sits down with Jill Vorndran, Chief Development Officer at Covenant House International, to explore a transformative approach to fundraising. Jill shares her unique perspective of using fundraising not just as a revenue tool but as a powerful bridge-builder—connecting generations, perspectives, and communities around a shared mission. With more than 20...

Betsy Cooper In this episode, host Rob Harter talks with Betsy Cooper of the Aspen Policy Academy / Aspen Institute about how nonprofit and social impact leaders can channel their passion for social change into tangible policy influence. They explore the balance between advocacy and legal constraints for nonprofits, the six‑step process for developing policy influence, and real examples of how ide...

Edgar Sandoval Sr., President and CEO of World Vision US, during a visit to Rwanda. In this episode of the Nonprofit Leadership Podcast, Dr. Rob Harter welcomes Edgar Sandoval, President and CEO of World Vision, one of the largest international humanitarian organizations in the world. With 75 years of impact across 60 countries, World Vision is now launching its most ambitious initiative yet—an ef...

Sam Fankuchen In this compelling episode of the Nonprofit Leadership Podcast, host Rob Harter sits down with Sam Fankuchen, the CEO and founder of Golden, a volunteer and donor engagement platform revolutionizing the way nonprofits operate. Sam shares how a deeply personal brush with tragedy on 9/11 catalyzed his mission to make volunteering more accessible and meaningful for everyone. Drawing on...

Jill Koski In this episode of the Nonprofit Leadership Podcast , host Dr. Rob Harter is joined by Jill Koski, President and CEO of the Morton Arboretum, a leading environmental nonprofit located just outside of Chicago. Jill shares her deeply personal and inspiring leadership journey, from her early beginnings in arts and culture to ultimately leading one of the nation’s most respected arbor...

Brian Crimmins When it comes to traditional giving to nonprofits, we are facing a downward trend. Today’s guest, Brian Crimmins, shares why traditional giving is declining. He also describes ways nonprofit leaders can change how they approach development and fundraising in order to turn things around.  Brian is the co-author of the book, The Generosity Crisis: The Case for Radical Conne...

In this episode, Rob Harter is joined by nonprofit experts Mandy Pearce and Marie Palacios from Funding for Good to explore how strategic planning and fundraising go hand in hand. They explain why your strategic plan isn’t just a leadership document—it’s the foundation for all successful fundraising efforts. As nonprofits enter the critical fourth quarter, Mandy and Marie share actionable strategi...

Dr. Rob Harter welcomes Julie Castle, CEO of Best Friends Animal Society, to the Nonprofit Leadership Podcast. In this inspiring episode, Julie shares her remarkable journey—from employee #17 with an $800,000 annual budget to leading a thriving $180 million organization. She highlights how steadfast commitment to brand, high-touch donor relationships, positive storytelling, and unwavering focus on...

Seb Boyer In this kickoff to a special four-week fundraising series, host Rob Harter welcomes Seb Boyer, President of Zeffy, a 100% free fundraising platform built for nonprofits. Seb, a former tech entrepreneur and AI startup founder, shares his insights into why Zeffy was created, how it sustains a completely free model, and what the latest fundraising data reveals about giving trends across the...

Brittan Stockert In this episode of the Nonprofit Leadership Podcast , host Rob Harter is joined by Brittan Stockert, a seasoned fundraising coach at DonorBox with over 20 years of experience in the nonprofit and social impact sector. As nonprofit leaders brace for the critical year-end giving season, Brittan provides an encouraging, realistic, and highly practical guide to making the most of it—w...

Alex Amouyel In this episode of the Nonprofit Leadership Podcast , host Dr. Rob Harter sits down with Alex Amouyel, President and CEO of the Newman’s Own Foundation, to explore how nonprofits can more effectively approach foundations for funding. With billions in grant requests competing for limited dollars, Alex shares candid insights into what makes a funding request compelling—and how nonprofit...

Adam Boddison In this episode, Dr. Rob Harter sits down with Adam Boddison, CEO of the Association for Project Management and Managing Director at Grant Genie, to explore how nonprofit leaders can effectively harness artificial intelligence for strategic impact. Rather than focusing solely on how AI is transforming the nonprofit sector, this conversation delves deeper into leadership—asking how le...

In this episode, Dr. Rob Harter welcomes Alexx Goeller, CEO of Waste Less Solutions, a Utah-based nonprofit dedicated to combating food insecurity and reducing food waste. With a deep-rooted passion for social impact and a strong background in leadership, Alexx shares how she has developed effective systems and patterns to scale impact, stay focused on core objectives, and navigate the unique chal...