“I get by with a little help from my friends.” -The Beatles Before I was an Executive Director, I could scarcely imagine what a high-wire act it was. Fundraising, managing a reticent board, dealing with staff issues, budgeting, dumpster diving for lost retainers–yup, all in a day’s work. The hardest part of the ED job […]
It’s lonely at the top Read More »
“A nation’s greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members.” -Mahatma Gandhi Last week, Asians joined a club that nobody ever wants to be part of. Like our Black brothers and sisters, our LGTBQ+ brothers and sisters, and so many others, Asians were gunned down for simply being. Make no mistake, this is
What we owe each other Read More »
I’m the first to admit it–I HATE seeing my face on video. As the face of an organization or company, our jobs might include being the public face, but many of us don’t like it. Join me and Jeany Park, actress turned video producer, to talk about how to come across your best in video.
5 Steps Towards Being Comfortable as the Face of an Organization with Jeany Park Read More »
For a career 501c3 ED such as myself, I thought of 501c4s as a mystifying entity. I thought, they’re like us…but different. In this conversation with veteran nonprofiteer, Steven Choi, he pulls back the curtain on the differences between the two from a fundraising and policy perspective. If you’ve ever considered a 501c4 arm of
Fundraising for 501c4s with Steven Choi Read More »
Join me and the iconic Rich Buery to talk about all the lessons he’s learned so far. Rich has founded organizations, headed up some of the most influential in New York and been the deputy mayor of New York City. He has maintained his commitment to serving children and leading with humility and grace through
Lessons in Leadership with Richard Buery Read More »
Join me and my pals, Shruti Sehra and Hassan Brown, to learn about how venture philanthropy firm, New Profit, has re-designed giving for equity. We talk about how community proximity IS expertise, how they redesigned proposal processes to be more accessible and equitable and what questions they are asking of themselves and the field. I
Centering Communities in Grant-making with Shruti Sehra and Hassan Brown Read More »
My friend and colleague April Walker has worn many hats: funder, consultant and development director. In this honest and engaging interview, we discuss the problematic dynamics of traditional philanthropy, how she, as a Black woman, navigates predominantly white funder spaces and what we can all do to de-center white supremacy in philanthropy. April is insightful
Fundraising While Black with April Walker Read More »
Join me and my new pal Ramon to talk about similar best practices in sales and fundraising. Ramon and I explore how bad salespeople and bad fundraisers give us all a bad name, the power of relationship and the need to invest in yourself to succeed. Some key takeaways: Bringing the right energy and being
What Sales and Fundraising Have in Common with Ramon Basie Read More »
With the pandemic lockdown, are you dreaming about open roads and exotic vacations? Join the club. Listen in to today’s interview with Maryann Remsburg, a certified coach, mom of four, author and co-founder of Adventurous Life. In this conversation we talk about how we get so caught up in obligations, “should-ing all over ourselves” and
Your Adventurous Life Awaits with Maryann Read More »
This episode is not for the faint of heart. Join me and my friend Stephen Lasser to talk about how to generate leads and income with zero BS. Stephen’s clear-eyed, plain-spoken approach to fundraising is refreshing. We talk about how to use your boards effectively (don’t expect everyone to do everything), how to approach donors
How to Fundraise like a Banker with Stephen Lasser Read More »
“We can’t afford that.” “There’s not enough money.” “There’s not enough time.” “Must be nice to have enough staff.” Any of that sound familiar? As a sector, we live under constant pressure for resources, exacerbated by the pervasive scarcity mindset that plagues us. When we live in scarcity, we are stressed with “never enough” and
Banishing Scarcity Mindset with Nell Edgington Read More »
How is fundraising like dating? From first meeting to courtship to finally “sealing the deal” Jonah and I take a humorous perspective on major gift fundraising. Learn how to avoid the most common pitfalls (i.e. talking too much about yourself) and learn why I call major gift fundraising the “jazz” of the development world. Remember,
Dating Your Donors with Jonah Halper Read More »
“What about fee-for-service?” If you’ve ever heard this in a board or staff meeting, then this episode is for you. We talk with Brian Joseph, Co-Founder and CEO and Lizzie Honan, Regional Director NYC of RevJen about how to think about launching a fee-generating venture within your nonprofit. We discuss the internal decisions, how to
Sales and Revenue Generating Strategies in Nonprofits with Brian Joseph and Lizzie Honan Read More »
Hi folks, Today’s episode is a brief solo show about time and money. I’ve gotten a real bug up my butt about the scarcity mindset that we see in nonprofits. It shows up everywhere from the way we talk about time and money. What would it take for us to tell ourselves different stories and
RealTalk about Time and Money with Rhea Read More »
Ah, founders…they are the stuff of legend. The ones who birth a nonprofit, nurture it through its infancy and watch it grow. But, what happens when founders move on? Today, we’re talking with Anne Eidelman, CEO and Elandria Jackson Charles, VP of Development and External Affairs of Blue Engine about what happens when a charismatic
Leading After a Founder with Anne Eidelman and Elandria Jackson Charles Read More »
Join me for this incredibly candid and vulnerable interview with Iris Chen. Iris was one of the founding members of Teach for America and has built her career in education and social justice over the last twenty years. We talk about perceptions of Asian-American leadership, what we have learned the hard way and what drives
Reflections on Leadership with Iris Chen Read More »
Usually, we feature episodes that help nonprofit executives to run their nonprofits better. Today, we’re talking with Clara Chow about her work in creating pathways to financial sustainability and a product that can help low-income Americans from falling prey to payday loans. I’ve seen what financial instability and predatory lending practices have done to families. Take a
Why Payday Loans Suck with Clara Chow Read More »
It’s a whole new gala world where fundraisers are online, formal wear means your house slippers and hosts are the size of your screen. The pandemic has made the entire gala industry pivot in ways we couldn’t imagine. Join me and Benjamin Ryan Nathan, founder of All of Us Films, as we discuss some of
Keys to a Successful Virtual Gala with Benjamin R. Nathan Read More »
This one is for all of you aspiring nonprofit founders. In this episode, we serve up a hefty dose of reality about what it takes to found and run a successful nonprofit organization. News flash: running a nonprofit is actually running a small business. We speak with new founder, Kenneth Brown, about everything he’s learned
Real talk about starting a nonprofit with Kenneth Brown and Andrea Ortega Read More »
True story: on top of my nonprofit work, I’m an aspiring stand-up comedian. And, lemme tell ya, it’s rough out there for a comic. Join me and fellow stand-up comedian and Chief Story Smith Carlos Maestas to talk about how to be a better communicator. We talk about how to find your own story, why
What Stand Up Comedy Teaches about Nonprofit Communication with Carlos Maestas Read More »
