Advertise on podcast: How We Run: Non-profit success stories

In this episode of How We Run, nonprofit consultants Julie Lacouture and Lisa J. Baxter sit down with Heather Hiscox, founder of Pause for Change and author of No More Status Quo. Heather introduces her five-step PAUSE framework, a practical and human-centered approach to designing nonprofit programs and solving challenges more effectively. Together, they discuss how nonprofit teams can move away from default habits, engage stakeholders meaningfully, and test solutions before scaling them. The conversation highlights the power of pausing to ask the right questions, using empathy-driven research, and embracing iteration over perfection. Whether you're rethinking a struggling program or building something new, this episode offers tools and inspiration to create lasting impact through thoughtful design and collaboration. For a transcript, please visit www.goodwaysinc.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Be brave. You know, just ask. The worst they can do is say no.” In this episode of How We Run, we sit down with Frank Velásquez Jr., Founder of 4 Da Hood, to explore how he transforms leadership development for communities of Color. Frank shares his journey of navigating nonprofit leadership as a Latino and how his experiences led him to create the Ascending Leaders in Color Fellowship, a protected space for upcoming leaders to build authenticity, bravery, and community. Discover how Frank’s innovative approach fosters authentic leadership, empowers participants to advocate for themselves, and transforms how organizations think about leadership development. Whether you’re a nonprofit leader, an entrepreneur, or simply passionate about community impact, this episode is packed with insights on bravery, authenticity, and the power of finding your people. Tune in to learn how Frank is paving the way for the next generation of leaders to thrive. For a transcript, please visit: https://goodwaysinc.com/creating-spaces-for-upcoming-leaders-with-frank-velasquez-jr/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You’re probably familiar with many proven strategies for nonprofit fundraising, but what about the role of creativity? In today’s episode, we’re diving into creative fundraising and innovative thinking with Brittney Miller, principal consultant at Bridge Impact Strategies. With her South Central Los Angeles roots and a mission to elevate underserved communities, Brittney’s insights will challenge you to rethink traditional approaches and find the FUN again in your fundraising efforts. In this episode, we cover: Why fundraisers should see themselves as creators  How embracing genuine connections and personal authenticity can reshape fundraising efforts How organizations can shift away from conventional fundraising practices to more personalized approaches Practical ways to bring leadership on board with creative ideas and involve them in the fundraising process How fundraisers can embrace their roles as creators, crafting campaigns that resonate on both emotional and strategic levels For a transcript please visit: https://goodwaysinc.com/creativity-in-fundraising-with-brittney-miller/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we speak with Kamilah Martin, founder and CEO of Katalyst Consulting. Kamilah discusses her journey from a VP of a humanitarian organization to creating a consulting firm that supports black and brown women transitioning from corporate roles to independent consulting.  In this episode: Discover the mission of Katalyst Consulting and how Kamilah organically fell into interim leadership roles through networking and being vocal on LinkedInLearn the importance of human-centered leadership to build trust within teams, and how to adapt to the evolving workspaceHear about common challenges faced by leaders during transitions Learn the significance of creating safe spaces for women of colorUnderstand the broader implications of the 'Great Resignation' and the importance of mental and emotional well-being in leadership and organizational structures For a transcript please visit: https://goodwaysinc.com/building-teams-with-kamilah-martin/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Amir Whitaker, educator, author, human rights lawyer, and artist. He is the founder and director of Project KnuckleHead, a nonprofit organization empowering youth through music, art, and educational programs since 2012. In this episode: Discover the mission of Project Knucklehead and how the organization serves youth through creative expression Learn how Amir leveraged his professional and social networks to build social capital, and how you can apply it to your own organization Hear how Amir balances his full-time job with running his own nonprofit, and the benefits of doing both Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Prospect researchers are the secret weapons in fundraising. Celeste Davies, an experienced and dynamic fundraiser, shares her talent for prospect research with us. As the Director of Prospect Management and Advancement Services at MLK Community Health Foundation, Celeste knows what it takes to understand donors, build connections, and create relationships that raise funds.  Celeste shares the importance of creating partnerships in your organization, encouraging researchers to have a 'seat at the table' and be proactive in their roles. Celeste provides valuable insights into improving data accuracy, building relationships, adapting to new challenges posed by AI, and changing fundraising dynamics. For transcript and more visit: https://goodwaysinc.com/prospect-research-with-celeste-davies Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Richard Reyes, founder and executive director of PLUS ME Project, shares his inspiring journey from being a first-generation college student to establishing a nonprofit organization focused on building confidence in youth through personal storytelling. Richard Reyes shares his organization's growth strategyRichard discusses the origins of the PLUS ME Project, the challenges he faced in growing the organization, and the key strategies he employed to ensure its success. He also highlights the importance of small growth, effective board recruitment, and embracing personal stories to inspire and connect with others.PLUS ME now works with over 75 schools and 20 organizations in Los Angeles, empowering youth to own their stories and achieve their dreams. For a transcript and more please visit: https://goodwaysinc.com/nonprofit-growth-with-richard-reyes/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"There are a lot of organizations that are out there hoping for this Hail Mary from Mackenzie Scott, but they don't have any idea how to prepare for the Hail Mary and they don't know how to get the Hail Mary and they don't even necessarily have a plan with what to do with the Hail Mary.” Trent Stamp joins to talk about the future of the nonprofit sector. Trent shares his views on good board meetings, big funders, and what’s next for intergenerational programs. Highlights of this conversation with Trent StampExpanding to New York City with The Eisner FoundationGoing beyond building awareness for intergenerational programming and taking more actionChallenges in the sector post-covid: delivering services and getting donors to come back and supportThe impact of MacKenzie Scott Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest is Tera Hilliard from Forgotten Children, Inc., a nonprofit organization on a mission to combat human trafficking through rescue, restoration, education, and hope. Founded in 2006, Forgotten Children, Inc. offers a range of programs, including case management, educational curricula, and a safe house for survivors. In this episode, Tera shares:How the organization measures the impact of its initiatives on the people they serveStrategies in fundraising and operations management of a nonprofit organizationWhich untapped markets have proven to be fruitful for continuing the organization's mission TW: discussion of sexual assault For a transcript and more please visit: https://goodwaysinc.com/changing-minds-and-building-relationships-with-tera-hilliard/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcoming Season Six with Co-Host Lisa J. Baxter: A Dive into Authentic Fundraising and Community Building In the debut episode of Season Six, we meet co-host Lisa J. Baxter. Lisa shares her extensive experience in nonprofit fundraising, emphasizing community building and authentic relationships. We discuss the importance of shifting from a scarcity mindset to an abundance mindset in the nonprofit sector. Lisa reflects on her transition to consulting and her joy in helping others navigate their careers. Additionally, Lisa addresses challenges faced by leaders from the global majority, the importance of human-centered leadership, and the evolving best practices in fundraising. This episode sets the stage for an exciting season filled with valuable insights and inspirational stories from the nonprofit world. Hosts: Julie Lacouture, founder Good Ways Inc Lisa J. Baxter, Coleman Baxter Agency For more please visit: https://goodwaysinc.com/season-6 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After only eight months in their new facilities, the Cayton Children's Museum faced the pandemic and subsequent reopening. According to their CEO, Jessica Aronoff, "I really did think the challenging part was when we were shut down. And that's not true. Sure, that was an existential challenge for us, for humanity. But from a business standpoint, the time since reopening has been the most challenging." In this episode, Jessica, who has worked as a funder and a non-profit executive, shares tips for talking to funders and how she leads her organization with "confident honesty." For a transcript and more please visit: https://goodwaysinc.com/leading-with-confident-honesty-with-jessica-aronoff/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Season 5, Episode 3 of the How We Run podcast has an amazing leader that has built an amazing organization. Our guest is Nichol Whiteman, the CEO of the Dodgers Foundation who shares with us how she led a turnaround to build an organization with a deep understanding of its mission and goals. Nichol shares: "It was very important for us to focus first on youth and families who we know needed us most, who could truly help us drive programming moving forward. We created a grant making program. We knew that it was essential to be supporting nonprofits here on the ground in the Los Angeles community." "In a weird way, I feel like a founder which is really special. We recreated ourselves. We created programs, we redefined our mission. We made it certain that clarity was provided for Dodger fans and for the broader Los Angeles community on who we are and what we're doing and why we're doing these things." Find a transcript here: https://goodwaysinc.com/reinventing-an-organization-with-nichol-whiteman/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are joined by Liz Forer, CEO Venice Family Clinic, who tells us about the recent successful merger of two nonprofits: Venice Family Clinic and South Bay Family Health Care. Liz talks through how the board started planning and coordinating this merger for almost two years and what she feels makes it successful. For a transcript and more please visit: https://goodwaysinc.com/growing-by-merging-with-elizabeth-forer/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jenna Hauss started as an intern at ONEgeneration and today she is the President and CEO of this $9 million organization in Southern California. Jenna shares what she's learned about the importance of succession planning and how she views it as a tool for the whole organization, not just executive roles. "Succession planning is also about replacing key staff, not just executive leadership, but our program directors who are truly carrying the programs. Recognizing internal potential candidates that have leadership ability and giving them the tools and resources that they need." "We are very selective when it comes to an individual who wants to potentially be on our board. There's a pretty in-depth process. We want to make sure that we're selecting individuals that are a good representation of the work that we do and of our community." "What we've learned over this past year is that we can only do so much as an organization and the power of collaboration really can create a positive impact." For a transcript and more please visit: https://goodwaysinc.com/succession-planning-with-jenna-hauss/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since we're giving thanks this week, we thought we'd look back on all the fantastic guests we've had on Season 4 of the How We Run podcast and share what we've learned from them. Leslie Ito of Armory Center for the Arts, Tony Brown from HOLA, Johng Ho Song from KYCC, Roger Castle from the LA Regional Food Bank, and Mollie Marsh-Heine from Earthjustice. For a transcript and more please visit: https://goodwaysinc.com/highlights-from-season-4/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.