Starting a Nonprofit Is Easier Than You Think!

You would think that starting a nonprofit is hard, but it's actually easier than you think.

Join us as we discuss the importance of compassion and community, exploring how to start a nonprofit to address unmet needs. Learn actionable strategies and insights on nonprofit marketing and building effective non profit organizations to make a positive impact. We will discuss how helping people can change your life and the lives of others.

In this episode of the Time We Discuss podcast, host Dan sits down with John Graham, founder and executive director of Good Samaritan Home, to explore what it really takes to start and grow a nonprofit organization focused on homelessness and prisoner reentry.

From renovating the oldest house in town to building a network of 21 homes across three counties, John shares the challenges, triumphs, and human stories behind Good Samaritan Home’s mission. He discusses the stigma surrounding homelessness, how to fund and sustain a nonprofit, and the power of partnerships with mental health providers, correctional officers, and community organizations.

You’ll also hear powerful personal stories, including the journey of Jimmy, a veteran with schizophrenia who found safety and dignity at Good Samaritan Home for 14 years.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How John Graham started Good Samaritan Home from the ground up
• Why nonprofits must go beyond donations and grants to build sustainable funding/li>
• How to overcome community resistance and stigma with compassion and service/li>
• The importance of partnerships in addressing homelessness, addiction, and reentry/li>
• Practical advice for anyone looking to start a nonprofit organization/li>

If you’ve ever wondered how to start a nonprofit, what it’s like to run a homeless shelter, or how to support prisoner reentry programs, this episode is packed with real-world insights and inspiration.

Listen to more episodes of the Time We Discuss podcast for deep conversations about careers, community, and the people making a difference.

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Timestamp:
0:00 - Intro
0:42 - How the Good Samaritan Home got started
4:14 - Stigma attached to housing homeless in a neighborhood
5:34 - As executive director and founder, what do you do now?
7:56 - Challenges in expanding homeless shelters to different counties
9:15 - Funding repairs for the shelter
11:43 - Why are you tackling homelessness?
14:51 - Importance of forming partnerships to help the homeless
17:37 - Finding partners
19:33 - How can someone else do what you are doing?
23:07 - Talent has the floor
26:28 - Outro

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Guest Information:

John Graham

• John Graham's Website
• Good Samaritan Home Website
• Running as Fast as I Can (Book)

Also Mentioned Directly or Indirectly in This Episode:

• Running a Nonprofit Organization
• Starting a Nonprofit Organization
• Licensed Professional Counselor of Mental Health
• Becoming a Mentor with Doug Lawrence
• The Dark Truth of Being a Corrections Officer

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