Social Good Instigators Podcast

We’re told to do more with less, but sometimes, it pays to invest in the infrastructure of our organizations. On this episode, Travis Laws, President and chief Executive of WIN Warehouse, based in St. Louis Missouri, will be sharing with us about the value of investing in your organization and the importance of telling your story.

The key points covered in this podcast discussion are: • How underinvesting in overhead can backfire •...

What do you think about leadership in the nonprofit sector? In this episode, we’ll be talking with Marc A. Pitman about a report he just commissioned called ‘The Wake-Up Call.’ He’ll share a few of the highlights from the report, information about benefits and risks for different styles of nonprofit leadership, as well as suggestions about what nonprofit leaders can do next. The report is available at concordleadershipgroup.com/rep...

Do you ever wonder what the next generation is interested in and how they choose to be involved with, and give to, different charities? Listen in as Sharna Goldseker, co-author of How Next Gen Donors are Revolutionizing Giving shares some insights into this topic – and about her personal giving journey. Visit https://2164.net/generation-impact/ for more information.

The key points covered in this podcast discussion are that NextGen...

If you’re running a small and growing nonprofit, this show is definitely for you. Sandy Rees will be sharing all sorts of tips and ideas about fundraising, time management, and communicating clearly with your core audiences. She also mentions in the interview a free upcoming webinar where she’ll go more in-depth about this. To learn more visit her website at www.getfullyfunded.com/accel The key points covered in this podcast discus...

Sometimes an idea starts small and grows into something much, much bigger. That was the case for Tim and Agata Scott and Mitscoots Outfitters. What started with manufacturing socks to sell – and give away – is now an outfitter company that employs transitioning homeless, manufactures a full line of products, serves agencies that help the homeless and ships their products around the world. In this episode, we talk about the process ...

Have you ever wondered what successful social enterprises do differently? On this call, Kathleen Kelly Janus shares about many aspects of social entrepreneurship. These findings are a result of hundreds of conversations Kathleen had with social entrepreneurs over the last few years. In the interview, she shares 5 specific strategies (from her book, Social StartUp Success) that she found successful social entrepreneurship ventures u...

The nonprofit sector is going through some pretty significant shifts right now. These include a focus on sustainability, measuring impact, and developing more strong leaders. In this episode, Wayne Elsey shares about these, as well as suggestions for managing critics and leading a full (but not too busy) life.

The key points covered in this podcast discussion are: * Hire for your weaknesses * If you’re not sure what to do, go back ...

Starting a nonprofit or entrepreneurial endeavor requires people, commitment, ideas, and possibly a little bit of luck. Tamar Kedar Harris, from NGT3 based in Nazareth, Israel, shares about her experiences working with startups in a tech incubator with a social mission. We talk about some of the unique dynamics of working in Israel, the value of diversity, and some of the key components of founding a successful organization. Some o...

It can be extremely difficult to start a new venture that is successful, and much more so when it’s in a different culture. In this episode, Caleb Belanger, with New Leaf Development, shares about how they have built trusting relationships that have already, in a pilot test, resulted in 11 new jobs in a community in South Africa. The key points covered in this podcast discussion are: * Poverty Stoplight: A Tool to Gauge Success * A...

Sharing about what we do is at the core of every endeavor. That’s even more true for the nonprofit and social entrepreneurial space. In this episode, Adam Walker shares tips for sharing about what you do, as well as some things to think about as you develop your online presence. He’s recently launched a podcast about nonprofit digital marketing, so if you’re looking for more about that, be sure to visit sideways8.com to listen in. ...

Changing careers can be difficult for anyone. When you’re a corporate, number-focused person transitioning to the nonprofit world it can probably go either way. For Diane Nelson and for VIPS, where she serves as executive director, it’s been a perfect match. In this episode Diane shares a bit about the transition, as well as ways they increased their budget from $1.1 to about 2.6 million. The key points covered in this podcast disc...

For a nonprofit, having a high performing board is essential. Unfortunately, many nonprofits struggle with this issue. In this episode. Nathan Webster with Dream Big Community Center in Vancouver Washington shares about a board challenge, what he learned from it, and how he’s approaching board members now. The key points covered in this podcast discussion are: • Don’t be Afraid to Start a Conversation with a Potential Donor • When ...

Most of us work in environments that are in constant flux. It’s a sign of our times right? In this episode, Jason Steinberg shares some stories – and advice – from the unpredictable environment of a refugee camp. The key points covered in this podcast discussion are: • Tactics may change, but the goal remains the same • When working in a changing environment, you learn to roll with the punches • Sometimes Plan B works out better th...

Have you ever felt that your organization could achieve better results if they just faced problems differently? If so, this interview is for you. Randy Salzman shares some background about thinking through and addressing problems more comprehensively, or design thinking, and how to help your organization shift to that approach. He is a co-author of Design Thinking for the Greater Good: Innovation in the Social Sector, which covers ...

Travel sometimes sounds really glamorous, but the behind the scenes work can be crazy. In this interview, you’ll hear from Dominique Callimanopulos who is giving back through her travel business. She’ll be sharing about creating an environment that encourages risk taking and how building a network and being a thought leader can make your job easier. The key points covered in this podcast discussion are:

• Sometimes the best way to ...

In this interview with Scott Reichenbach, we explore ways Cure Clubfoot has learned to extend their reach through various partnerships – with local professionals and affiliates as well as a partnership with RemitRadar, a payment processing company. While not a primary focus of the call, one things that really stands out for me in this interview was how sometimes the simple act of raising awareness can help eliminate negative stigma...

Partnerships are best developed when two (or more) people or entities realize they can make a bigger impact by working together. This partnership, between Bethel University and Bright Light Volunteers is one of those. Stacie Freeman, shares her perspective on what's gone well, as well as a couple of learning experiences.

Key points include:

• Relationships Can Lead to Partnership Opportunities;
• Volunteers Pay Their Own Way – and...

Jennifer Aronson explores key issues from the Boston Foundation’s recently published report, “Opportunity in Change.” Key points include: • Leadership Changes are Happening Across Generations • Transition Times Can Be an Opportunity to Make Structural Changes • The Importance of Avoiding the Temptations of the Frankenstein Model of Nonprofits • Seeing Transition Times as an Opportunity to Address Diversity, Equity and Inclusion • D...