The Beacon

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel Senior Consultant Harry Chapman talks with Dr. Russell James, professor in the School of Financial Planning at Texas Tech University, about making the ask. In their discussion, Russell addresses: • What Obi-Wan, Gandalf and Morpheus can teach us about major gifts.
 • The specific process to epic storytelling that puts the donor front and ce...

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel Director of Business Development Ryan Woroniecki speaks with John Taylor, principal at John Taylor Consulting, a leading firm in the field of advancement, campaign management and board development, about preparing for a capital campaign. In their discussion, John addresses: • The Association of Advancement Services Professionals, which he f...

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel Senior Consultant Martha Ross talks with Ken Cheeseman, head of school at The Webb School, a boarding and day school in Bell Buckle, Tennessee. In their discussion, Martha and Ken talk about: • The challenges of leadership and fund development at a boarding and day school. • Helping students who are attending from other countries deal with...

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel Senior Consultant Martha Ross speaks with Patricia Glaser Shea, founder and CEO of Being Giveful, about giving as a wellness practice and how individuals and nonprofits can foster a more giveful life. In their discussion, Pat addresses: • The benefits of developing a philanthropic mindset to our physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing • Ho...

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel President Jeff Jowdy welcomes Dr. Lilya Wagner and Dr. Mark Hager for a discussion on dysfunctional organizations. Mark and Lilya go way back to when they co-authored “Board members beware! Warning signs of a dysfunctional organization” in the late ‘90s for Nonprofit World magazine. In this lively discussion, they address the five most comm...

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Director of Business Development Ryan Woroniecki talks with Micah James, manager of professional services at data management company Bloomerang, about technology for nonprofits. In their discussion, Ryan and Micah discuss topics including: • Some of the biggest advances in technology over the past decade and how they’ve empowered fundraisers • The important c...

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel Senior Consultant Martha Ross talks with longtime independent school leader Brad Gioia about some of the changes he’s seen in the independent school landscape over his 40-year career. Martha and Brad talk about topics including: • How both students and parents have changed over 40 years in what they expect, what they want, what they need • ...

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel Senior Consultant Joan Bahner speaks with Bob Poole about donor relationships. For 14 years, Bob was senior vice president at Meherry Medical College and is now senior philanthropic advisor at Saad & Shaw. In their discussion, Joan and Bob talk about: • The unfortunate circumstance where fundraisers think of themselves more as salespeople r...

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel Senior Consultant Dr. Lilya Wagner speaks with Erik Daubert, who’ll be sharing insights from AFP’s Fundraising Effectiveness Project’s latest report. The Fundraising Effectiveness Project was created in 2006 as a joint project of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and the Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy at the Urban Institut...

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel Director of Business Development Ryan Woroniecki talks with David Lawson, the son of fundraising icon Doug Lawson, who passed away in 2020. In their discussion, David talks about: • Change management lessons gleaned from Doug’s role in helping to integrate Randolph-Macon College • Doug’s impact on the modern capital campaign • How organizat...

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel Senior Consultant Dr. Lilya Wagner talks with David Patrick King about the Lake Institute on Faith & Giving at Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and about what faith-based giving looks like now. David is the Karen Lake Buttrey director of the institute and associate professor of philanthropic studies at the school. In...

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel Content Coordinator Margaret Gardner talks with Willeke van Rijn, CEO of The Resource Alliance, about participative leadership and how it can transform the culture of an organization. In their discussion, Willeke: • Explains what participative leadership is • Offers examples of what it looks like in action • Talks about the importance of gi...

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff Jowdy is joined by John O’Kane for a discussion on nonprofit boards and fundraising. John has been an influence in the nonprofit sector in the US for more than five decades and recently joined Lighthouse Counsel of counsel. In their conversation, John talks about: • The stumbling blocks that make board members uncomfortable with fundraising and how to ov...

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel Director of Business Development Ryan Woroniecki talks with Erik Tomalis, director of business development and chief evangelist at responsive fundraising platform Virtuous. In their discussion, Erik shares some of the thought-provoking insights and questions from the joint Lighthouse Counsel/Virtuous 2023 Giving USA Briefing, including: • H...

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel President Jeff Jowdy talks with Héctor Colón, president and CEO of Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. Héctor also is a seven-time national boxing champion and the author of “My Journey from Boxing Ring to Boardroom: Five Essential Virtues for Life and Leadership.” In their discussion about the qualities of impactful l...

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, OneCause CEO Steve Johns talks with Lighthouse Counsel Director of Business Development Ryan Woroniecki, about fearless leadership and what that looks like in the nonprofit world. Steve, author of “Fearless: Leadership Lessons at the Crossroads,” answers questions including: • What is fearless leadership and what does it look like in the day-to-day operations...

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel Senior Consultant Martha Ross speaks with Mark Stanek, head of school at Shady Hill School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Mark shares his experience in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic as an education leader and addresses topics including: • The effect the pandemic has had on board and administrative team leadership operations. • Its impact...

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Margaret Gardner talks with fundraising guru and rabble rouser Roger Craver. Roger is the editor of fundraising and communications blog The Agitator, which has been his main space for rousing rabble for more than a decade. So, it seemed only natural to ask, “What’s agitating you now?” Roger shares his thoughts on: • Direct response fundraising now and what th...

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Ryan Woroniecki talks with Nathan Chappell, author of the book, “Generosity Crisis: The case for radical connection to solve humanity’s greatest challenges.”  In their discussion, Nathan explains what the generosity crisis is and answers questions including: • What are the implications of the generosity crisis to the nonprofit world and the missions it suppor...

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, fundraising icon Kay Sprinkel Grace talks with Margaret Gardner about how and why nonprofits should collaborate to increase their impact. Kay shares experiences and words of wisdom gleaned from her decades-long career and discusses: • How organizations retain their brand if they are collaborating or partnering with other nonprofits • How collaborating with ot...

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Margaret Gardner speaks with Ted Bilich, founder and CEO of Risk Alternatives, about managing your nonprofit for resilience. Ted talks about the current economic landscape for nonprofits and answers questions including: • What makes this such an uncertain time for nonprofits? • What formula can nonprofits use to stay agile and resilient during times like this...

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel Senior Consultant Susan Hosbach speaks with Kevin Foyle, chairman of the global board for the Association of Fundraising Professionals, about AFP and what fundraisers and other nonprofit staff can expect from membership. During the interview, Kevin discusses: • What AFP is, its structure and goals and how it has changed over the years • Wha...

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel Senior Consultant Joan Bahner talks with author and PR pro Marc Whitt about the public relations in the nonprofit sector. Marc shares his eight habits that elevate a public relations professional to the masterful level and discusses topics including: • The changing role of public relations in fundraising for nonprofit organizations • How an...

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel Senior Consultant Susan Hosbach speaks with Kevin Foyle, chairman of the global board for the Association of Fundraising Professionals, about maximizing the role of volunteers in a successful fundraising campaign. During the interview, Kevin discusses: • The board’s role in a fundraising campaign • Specific ways to get board members engaged...

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Pat Duffy, co-founder of The Giving Block, joins host Margaret Gardner for a discussion on cryptocurrency. Pat provides a primer on the subject and answers questions including: • What is cryptocurrency is and how does it work? • How does cryptocurrency fit into the philanthropic landscape? • Why should nonprofits be accepting cryptocurrency? • How would a non...