The Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast CNLP 219 | Scott Harrison on How to Relate To High Capacity Leaders (and Donors), the Growth of Charity Water and What Being a Night Club Promoter Taught Him About Leadership
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Oct 2, 2018 
Scott Harrison, founder and CEO of Charity: Water and author of Thirst, went from nightclub promoter to building a transparent global clean-water nonprofit. He talks about using storytelling, design and proof to win trust. He explains courting high-capacity donors, the dual funding model, scaling through local leadership, and recovering from burnout while redefining success.
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Design + Transparency Win Trust
- Scott used lack of charity experience as an advantage to rethink donor trust and design.
- He combined 100% public funding, GPS tracking, and branding to create radical transparency.
Build From Donor Skepticism
- Ask everyday people why they don't give and build your model from those answers.
- Solve the core objection—money misuse—then prove your solution relentlessly.
Million-Dollar Lifeline Saved The Model
- Early Charity: Water faced insolvency with $881,000 for projects but no overhead funds.
- A stranger wired $1,000,000 to their overhead account, buying time and belief to continue.
