The current Pandemic has certainly affected all of us, but there’s no denying that it has affected nonprofits quite deeply, throwing into question how foundations can best support them.

Rob’s guest today is Caryl Stern, Executive Director of the Walton Family Foundation. Previously, Caryl worked for 14 years at UNICEF seeking funding and recently transferred to “the other side of the desk” where she manages giving out funding. The Walton Family Foundation, which is dedicated to providing opportunities for people and communities especially through K-12 education and the environment, has been trying to support its grantees throughout COVID by truly listening to their needs.

Caryl discusses what she’s learned during the Pandemic, including that it’s important for organizations to remember to stay in their lane to do what they do best, and then help support others in doing what they do best. Nonprofits and the organizations that support them need to retool some of their fundraising and fund-giving strategies due to the Pandemic, especially because so much of fundraising is about relationships, which are trickier to maintain right now over Zoom. Humor, optimism, and going the extra mile to ask how folks are doing has proven key!

Links to Resources:

Walton Family Foundation: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Echelon Insights

Accounting and donation software: Aplos 

If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at rob@ccofpc.org

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Kathy LeMay is back for part 2 of her interview about the state of philanthropy for today’s nonprofits.

As a published author and sought-after speaker, Kathy has the expertise to address today’s fundraising problems for nonprofits. With more than 25 years of experience in the nonprofit industry and connections with nonprofit leaders all over the world, Kathy has raised over $100M in her career.

She shares in this episode about how organizations that are relationship-driven, lack a sense of entitlement, and bring their full humanity to every conversation are setting the right example that other nonprofits should model themselves after. Kathy also talks about how for now, in-person events have been canceled and online events will have to suffice. As nonprofit leaders try to find their way through this most challenging time, Kathy provides some clear guidance and strong encouragement.

Links to Resources:

Kathy LeMay: LinkedIn | Twitter

If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at rob@ccofpc.org

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Development and fundraising for nonprofits are always a challenge. Perhaps one of the hardest things we face. Now, COVID-19 has made development even more challenging. So how are we as nonprofits to respond to these challenges? What do we do now that most of our regular means of fundraising have been shut down by COVID? Is it time to completely retool our fundraising strategy?

Rob’s guest today is Kathy LeMay, an internationally known fundraising expert for more than 25 years, and currently the author of “The Generosity Plan”. Today, Kathy is here for Part 1 of her interview about the state of philanthropy for today’s nonprofits. Though she can’t leave the country right now, she still remains in contact with nonprofit leaders all over the world.

Among other things discussed, one of the topics she covers is how initially there was a surge in giving to nonprofits after COVID hit, but that has changed. For example, around 26% of nonprofits surveyed across Utah do not think that they will make it through the end of the year, and that sentiment stretches all over the country. Right now, many nonprofit leaders all over the world are innovating and collaborating as to how to respond to the downturn in giving, while at the very same time having to serve more and more people who are needing their services. Kathy will explore how to manage this tension.

Links to Resources:

Kathy LeMay: LinkedIn | Twitter

If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at rob@ccofpc.org

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Servant leadership is a style of leadership that makes the primary goal of leadership to serve those around oneself. A servant leader is one who is focused on serving one’s colleagues and organization. The question in this episode is whether or not servant leadership is the best form of leadership for today’s nonprofits.

Rob’s guest today is Dan Berger, an author, economist, and the President and CEO of the National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions (NAFCU). You probably didn’t know this, but the NAFCU is actually a nonprofit organization. In fact, all credit unions are nonprofits and separate themselves from banks, in that the members of the credit union own the institution. Credit unions are cooperatives. Whether it’s for-profit or nonprofit organizations, Dan is a firm believer that servant leadership is the right way to go regardless of the sector.

As a servant leader himself, Dan works for his staff, making sure that they have everything they need to make their job as simple as possible. Over the years, he has learned that one of the best ways to do this is to ensure that he never under-communicates with his staff. Lately, COVID has been especially difficult for servant leaders like Dan who fuel great company culture through face-to-face interactions. At the end of the day, leaders like Dan know that the better you treat your colleague’s in the work environment, the better they will treat the customer.

Links to Resources:

Dan Berger: NAFCU | LinkedIn | Twitter

If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at rob@ccofpc.org

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