The Charity Charge Show - Nonprofit Podcast

In this episode of the Charity Charge Show, Grayson Harris sits down with Dan Lusk, Executive Director of Momentum Refresh , to discuss one of the most overlooked barriers to inclusion at public events: truly accessible restrooms. Dan shares how the organization was built to solve a basic but critical problem, why ADA compliance alone is not enough, and how their mission driven model is scaling na...

In this episode of The Charity Charge Show, we sit down with Rob Scheer, founder of Comfort Cases , a nonprofit that has delivered more than 300,000 backpacks filled with essentials to children entering foster care across all 50 states, Washington DC, Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom, and soon Canada. Growing Up in the System Rob did not come to foster care as an advocate. He came as a child who li...

In this episode of the Nonprofit Spotlight Series, hosted by Charity Charge, Grayson Harris sits down with Carol Klocek , CEO of the Center for Transforming Lives , to explore what it really takes to disrupt generational poverty and build long term economic stability for single mothers and their children. Founded in 1907 and rebranded in 2015, the Center for Transforming Lives has evolved into a c...

In this insightful episode, Grayson Harris sits down with Bennett Weiner , the newly appointed CEO of the BBB Wise Giving Alliance (Give.org) . As we move through 2025 and look toward 2026, the landscape of philanthropy is shifting rapidly. Bennett shares his expertise on the critical importance of nonprofit transparency, the "evolving" nature of accountability standards, and how organizations can...

In this episode of the Charity Charge Show, host Grayson Harris sits down with Joe Kendrick (Executive Director of Christian Mission) and Lacey Kendrick (VP of Financial Development) from the YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City . The duo discusses the 180-year history of the YMCA movement, the strategic importance of its Christian heritage, and the complex balance between earned revenue and philanthropi...

In Episode 144 of the Charity Charge Show , we sit down with a man who is quite literally building a better night's sleep for children across the globe. Luke Mickelson , the founder of Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP) Beds , joins us to share a story that started in a cold Idaho garage and has since ignited a national movement to end "child bedlessness." From a "Two-by-Four" Realization to a National...

In this episode of the Nonprofit Spotlight Series, we interview Ginny Hill, CEO of Girl Scouts of Central and Southern New Jersey . They discuss the mission of the Girl Scouts, the significance of the cookie program, community partnerships, challenges in nonprofit talent management, and future plans for the organization. Jenny highlights how the Girl Scouts empower girls through various programs a...

Most people think they know Girl Scouts because of one thing: cookies. In Episode 143 of the Charity Charge Show, Stephen Garten sits down in person with Paula Bookidis, CEO of Girl Scouts of Central Texas , to talk about what the public rarely sees. Yes, the cookie program is a powerhouse. But the real story is how Girl Scouts builds courage, confidence, and character through a leadership experie...

In this episode of our Nonprofit Spotlight series, Grayson Harris sits down with Rebecca Tallman, Executive Director of Veterans Community Project St. Louis, to discuss how the organization is tackling veteran homelessness by filling the gaps left by traditional systems. Founded by combat veterans, Veterans Community Project provides transitional housing through tiny home villages and delivers wra...

In this conversation, Grayson Harris interviews Jonathan Van Horn , the Executive Director of Pro Soccer for Athletes in Action . They discuss the organization's mission to support athletes through mental health resources, the importance of volunteerism, and the challenges athletes face in maintaining their identity beyond sports. Jonathan shares insights from his 20 years of experience, emphasizi...

Stephen Garten sits down with Dan Chu , Executive Director of the Sierra Club Foundation , to unpack how one of America’s most established environmental institutions operates and funds its mission. Dan explains the Sierra Club’s roots going back to 1892, why the Sierra Club Foundation was created in 1960, and how the Sierra Club’s (c)(4) and Foundation’s (c)(3) roles work together. They cover the...

Stephen Garten sits down with Cyndi Court to mark the TGR Foundation’s 30th anniversary and unpack how the foundation evolved from golf clinics into a scaled education model centered on “Learning Labs.” Cyndi explains how TGR built a repeatable program framework, standardized curriculum, and modern measurement systems before expanding to new cities. The conversation also covers durable skills, par...

Vu Le , founder of Nonprofit AF , joins Stephen Garten to talk about a problem many nonprofit leaders quietly live with: we are trained to tell funders half-truths because we fear losing funding. Vu breaks down how risk-averse philanthropy, obsession with overhead, and competitive grantmaking push nonprofits into scarcity and performance instead of honesty and impact. The conversation makes the ca...

In this episode of the Charity Charge show, host Stephen Garten interviews Melissa Lagowski, founder and CEO of Big Buzz Idea Group . They discuss Melissa's journey from being an executive director of a nonprofit to starting her own company that supports nonprofits. The conversation covers the challenges faced by nonprofit leaders, the importance of self-care, and the need for collaboration over c...

In this episode of the Nonprofit Spotlight Series, Grayson Harris interviews Andrea Croom, the Executive Director of InAlliance , a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Andrea discusses the organization's mission, the misconceptions surrounding disability services, and the importance of community engagement. She shares insights int...

In this episode of the Charity Charge Show, host Stephen Garten speaks with Marnie Webb, CEO of TechSoup , about one of the most influential infrastructure organizations in the nonprofit world. TechSoup has supported more than 1.4 million nonprofits, charities, and libraries across 234 countries and territories. It has delivered nearly 22 billion dollars in technology and financial resources to he...

In this episode of the Nonprofit Spotlight Series, we interview Renee Brown, CEO of DePaul Community Resources . We discuss the organization's mission to provide support for foster care, adoption, and individuals with disabilities. Renee shares insights on the challenges faced by nonprofits, the importance of community collaboration, and her leadership principles. The conversation emphasizes the n...

When people think about spinal cord injury rehabilitation, they usually picture learning to walk again, transferring safely from bed to chair, or figuring out how to dress and bathe independently. Those are critical pieces of recovery. But there is another part of life that rarely makes it into care plans or team meetings: intimacy and sexual health. In this episode of The Charity Charge Show, we...

In this nonprofit spotlight conversation, we interview Dr. John Boal, the Executive Director of Hume Christian Camps , about the camp's mission, community engagement, challenges faced in the nonprofit sector, and future plans for growth. John shares insights into the camp's impact on youth, the importance of collaboration with local churches, and the balance between mission-driven work and busines...

In this Nonprofit Spotlight episode of the Charity Charge Show, host Grayson Harris sits down with Matt Tanner , Executive Director of United Against Poverty , to walk through a very practical approach to fighting poverty. Matt explains how United Against Poverty runs a 46,000 square foot grocery and services center that feels like a normal store, yet delivers about a 70 percent discount on essent...

In this episode of the Charity Charge Show, Grayson Harris sits down with Herman Bulls , International Director and Vice Chairman at JLL , board leader across several public companies, and long time nonprofit board member. Herman shares how West Point, Army Ranger School, and decades in corporate real estate shaped his approach to leadership, relationship building, and governance. He explains how...

In this Nonprofit Spotlight episode of the Charity Charge Show, host Grayson Harris speaks with Bethany Cartledge , Executive Director of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Lane County . Bethany breaks down how the organization serves people across five counties in Oregon and two cities in California through three core pillars: affordable housing, retail and manufacturing, and homeless and emer...

In this episode of the Charity Charge Show , we talk with Tina Hsing , Director of the Panda Cares Foundation , about a model that many donors wish more organizations followed. Panda Cares is the philanthropic arm of Panda Restaurant Group, and it operates in a simple way. The parent company covers every administrative cost. That choice allows the foundation to send one hundred percent of store do...

In this conversation, Grayson Harris interviews Jamie Merrill, the president and CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of Central Florida . They discuss the organization's mission, the importance of engaging youth through programs like the Teen Advisory Council, and the challenges and successes of nonprofit leadership. Jamie shares her transition from the business world to the nonprofit sector, emphasizi...

In this episode of the Charity Charge Show, host Grayson Harris speaks with Renee Yandel, Executive Director of HIV Alliance , a community based organization serving 15 counties across Oregon. HIV Alliance provides holistic services for people living with HIV and those at highest risk, from nursing and pharmacy care to housing, behavioral health, and harm reduction services. Renee shares her perso...