We Are For Good Podcast - The Podcast for Nonprofits

Amir Samandi, founder and executive director of Students of Service, builds global citizens through local service and international learning. He recounts a life-changing study abroad that sparked SOS, explains the two-question decision filter they use, and describes how hands-on travel and volunteer-driven programs shape empathetic, purpose-driven young leaders.

Today, Jon and Becky sit down with Analía Weber, Development Director at The Family Center / La Familia, to explore a bold paradigm shift for the nonprofit sector. One that begins with how we speak about ourselves.Analia’s journey into fundraising didn’t follow a traditional path. A lifelong dancer and arts leader, she pivoted careers at 39 and stepped into nonprofit development with heart, courage, and a willingness to begin again. Now, less than four years later, she’s not only the Director of Development for a thriving, holistic family support organization — she’s chairing a regional nonprofit sector partnership and advocating for a 10-year movement to reposition nonprofits as trusted experts and essential community leaders.In this episode, you’ll hear:Why the language we use about “donors,” “nonprofits,” and “doing more with less” shapes power dynamicsHow nonprofits can shift from being seen as supplemental to being recognized as experts at the decision-making tableThe mindset of begin again — and why failure is part of the workHow La Familia funds the whole family through holistic, community-centered designA dance-inspired framework for leadership: show up, pay attention, tell the truth, and don’t get attached to the resultsIf you’re a nonprofit leader navigating uncertainty, funding shifts, or systemic barriers, this episode is your reminder: you don’t have to have it all figured out. You get to begin again. And the sector’s transformation starts with us.Episode Highlights: From dancer to development leader (2:46)​Finding La Familia and community (4:05)​Inside La Familia’s holistic mission (7:49)​Funding the whole family (10:15)​Fundraising with dignity and new language (12:20)​A 10-year paradigm shift for the sector (16:01)​“Begin again” as a leadership mindset (19:25)​Analia’s Story of Philanthropy (26:00)Analia’s One Good Thing: Compositional improvisation for everyday choices (26:34)Episode Shownotes: www.weareforgood.com/episode/685//Join the We Are For Good Community—completely free.Join fellow changemakers, share takeaways from this working session, and keep collaborating in a space built for connection, inspiration, and real impact: www.weareforgoodcommunity.comSay hi 👋LinkedIn / Instagram / Facebook / YouTube / Twitter

What does it really take to lead with courage in the nonprofit sector—especially when growth, complexity, and crisis collide?In this powerful conversation, Jon and Becky sit down with Glennda Testone, CEO of the Nonprofit Leadership Lab and co-host of Nonprofits Are Messy, to explore what it means to lead with integrity, accountability, and heart. With more than 14 years as Executive Director of New York City’s LGBT Community Center—where she tripled the budget, led a $9M capital campaign, and guided the organization through transformational change—Glennda brings lived experience and hard-earned wisdom to the mic.Together, they unpack:How trust is built through transparency, vulnerability, and doing what you say you’ll doWhy accountability isn’t about fear management—but about strengthening mission and relationshipsThe mindset shift from “trying not to disappoint anyone” to deciding who you’re willing to disappointPractical tools for prioritizing when everything feels urgentThe power of community—and why going it alone is a leadership trapIf you’re navigating growth, wrestling with hard decisions, or feeling the weight of leadership, this episode is a reminder: you don’t have to do this alone. Trust is the work. Community is everything. And sometimes the most meaningful wins come from getting it right according to the right people.Episode Highlights: Glennda’s origin story and path to nonprofit leadership (2:41)Leading through growth, complexity, and making mistakes (6:27)Building trust and centering justice and connection (10:59)Reframing accountability to build trust (16:58)How to prioritize when everything feels urgent (21:23)Learning to say no and let go of people-pleasing (25:47)A powerful moment of philanthropy in Glennda's career (28:15)Playing the long game in fundraising relationships (32:31)One Good Thing: Don’t go it alone in leadership (34:43)Episode Shownotes: www.weareforgood.com/episode/684//Join the We Are For Good Community—completely free.Join fellow changemakers, share takeaways from this working session, and keep collaborating in a space built for connection, inspiration, and real impact: www.weareforgoodcommunity.comSay hi 👋LinkedIn / Instagram / Facebook / YouTube / Twitter

Meet Leona 🤝, founder and CEO of Catalyst Exchange. Leona’s vision is bold and timely: to transform how nonprofits and schools build capacity—so leaders aren’t trying to change the world with a shovel and a dream. Through flexible funding, trusted expertise, and community-centered partnerships, Catalyst Exchange is strengthening the systems and people behind lasting impact.In this conversation, Leona shares her journey from India to the U.S., and how her experiences shaped a mission rooted in equity, agency, and trust. She challenges traditional, funder-driven models of capacity building and offers a more responsive, mission-driven approach that centers those closest to the work.Join us for a powerful conversation about sharing power, resourcing resilience, and showing up—especially when it’s hard.Learn:Why traditional capacity building often fails—and how to redesign it around mission and communityThe difference between “painkillers,” “vitamins,” and “vaccines” in strengthening organizationsHow flexible funding models restore agency to nonprofit leadersWhat effective, equitable capacity building looks like in practiceWhy resourcing community-based organizations is critical for long-term ecosystem healthLeona’s personal journey from immigrant professional to sector innovator—and how it shapes her leadership todayEpisode Highlights: The Real Problem with Traditional Capacity Building (06:12)From Program Funding to Systems Strengthening (07:45)Capacity Advisors: Strategy, Therapy + Clarity (10:02)Flexible “Wallet” Funding and Restoring Leader Agency (11:38)Painkillers, Vitamins + Vaccines: A New Capacity Framework (16:05)Place-Based Partnerships + Ecosystem Strength (14:52)Mission-Driven, Responsive + Timely Capacity Building (20:58)The Equity Gap in Capacity Resourcing (23:10)Making the Case: Connecting Capacity to Fundraising Outcomes (26:18)Moments of Generosity + Expanding Who Deserves Funding (29:42)Leona’s One Good Thing: Show Up + Practice Perspective (32:52)Episode Shownotes: www.weareforgood.com/episode/683//Join the We Are For Good Community—completely free.Join fellow changemakers, share takeaways from this working session, and keep collaborating in a space built for connection, inspiration, and real impact: www.weareforgoodcommunity.comSay hi 👋LinkedIn / Instagram / Facebook / YouTube / Twitter

Today’s episode continues our 12-part series: 12 Shifts in 2026 for Social Impact. Over twelve episodes, we’re unpacking the mindset and strategy shifts shaping the future of fundraising, leadership, and doing good in 2026. Explore the full series at weareforgood.com/12shifts.Shift 12 / Boards Are Culture CarriersIn this final episode of the 12 Shifts series, Jon and Becky close things out with a powerful conversation about boards, culture, and shared leadership — and they’re joined by the perfect voice to put a bow on it all.They sit down with Nakia James Jenkins, people and culture leader, board chair of STEM From Dance, and partner at On-Ramps, to explore why boards aren’t just governance bodies — they’re culture carriers who shape trust, voice, and leadership, often without even realizing it.Together, they unpack how boards and executive leaders co-create organizational culture, what it looks like to move beyond outdated, transactional board models, and how leaders can intentionally activate boards as authentic partners in mission, storytelling, and growth. Nakia shares hard-earned wisdom from across the nonprofit, public, and education sectors — plus real, practical ways leaders can redesign board engagement for today’s realities.If you’re ready to reimagine your board as a source of trust, courage, and shared leadership — not just oversight — this conversation is your invitation.Takeaways:Why boards can only be true culture carriers when CEOs and executive directors create intentional spaceHow outdated board models limit trust — and what co-creation with boards really looks likeWhat healthy, values-aligned board and executive partnerships require in practiceHow to activate board members beyond fundraising by clarifying expectations and “the ask”Why onboarding, training, and ongoing relationship-building are essential to board effectivenessHow small wins, honest conversations, and shared stories unlock deeper board engagementEpisode Highlights:Board Evolution: From Stable Funding to Strategic Redesign (07:37)​The Gap in Board Role Perception and True Influence (12:18)​Authentic Mission Connections Through Program Exposure (15:11)​Healthy Partnerships = Brené Brown's "Rumbling" (16:44)​Intentional Engagement Beyond Meetings (19:16)​Activating + Training Your Boards (20:30)​Activate with Specific Asks and Training (23:31)​Bring Programs to Boards for Storytelling Power (24:11)​Nakia's One Good Thing: Intentions, Space, Small Wins (27:03)Episode Shownotes: www.weareforgood.com/episode/682//Join the We Are For Good Community—completely free.Join fellow changemakers, share takeaways from this working session, and keep collaborating in a space built for connection, inspiration, and real impact: www.weareforgoodcommunity.comSay hi 👋LinkedIn / Instagram / Facebook / YouTube / Twitter

Today’s episode continues our 12-part series: 12 Shifts in 2026 for Social Impact. Over twelve episodes, we’re unpacking the mindset + strategy shifts shaping the future of fundraising, leadership, and doing good in 2026. Explore the series at weareforgood.com/12shiftsShift 11 / Story as InfrastructureIn today’s episode, Jon and Becky welcome Carolina Garcia Jayaram, CEO of the Elevate Prize Foundation, for a reflective and forward-looking conversation on why story is no longer a communications tool — it’s essential infrastructure for mission and culture.As attention fragments, trust erodes, and technology reshapes how people connect, Carolina invites nonprofit leaders to rethink storytelling as a relational practice rooted in humanity, proximity, and long-term investment. Together, they explore how centering people over issues, building trust-based relationships, and intentionally distributing stories can expand influence without sacrificing integrity.Carolina shares insights from Elevate’s work at the intersection of philanthropy, media, and culture — from scaling visibility for proximate leaders to embracing AI in ways that deepen creativity rather than replace it. This episode is both a mindset shift and a practical invitation for leaders ready to treat story as something to protect, resource, and evolve from the inside out.Episode Highlights: People Over Issues: What Actually Moves Audiences to Action (03:45)Trust → Relationship-Based Philanthropy (05:10)Distribution as Strategy: Reaching Beyond the Choir (07:20)Owning Platforms & Visibility (YouTube, Creators, Times Square) (08:45)Case Study: Scaling Impact Through Story — Hannah Freed & Democracy Defenders (11:00)Scaffolding Stories: Why Nothing Should Be One-and-Done (14:50)Building Story Systems: Briefs, Libraries, and Iteration (16:30)Low-Fi Tools That Make High-Impact Stories Possible (18:40)Visibility = Fundraising: What the Data Shows (20:30)AI, Creativity & Neurodiversity: Scaling Without Losing Humanity (23:35)Carolina’s One Good Thing (25:50)Episode Shownotes: www.weareforgood.com/episode/681//Join the We Are For Good Community—completely free.Join fellow changemakers, share takeaways from this working session, and keep collaborating in a space built for connection, inspiration, and real impact: www.weareforgoodcommunity.comSay hi 👋LinkedIn / Instagram / Facebook / YouTube / Twitter

Today’s episode continues our 12-part series: 12 Shifts in 2026 for Social Impact. Over twelve episodes, we’re unpacking the mindset + strategy shifts shaping the future of fundraising, leadership, and doing good in 2026. Explore the series at weareforgood.com/12shiftsShift 9 / Merge to MultiplyIn today’s episode, Jon and Becky explore why collaboration is becoming a defining strategy for nonprofits seeking to protect mission and scale impact — and why the funding side of mergers and partnerships doesn’t get nearly enough airtime.They’re joined by Ananya Poddar, Senior Associate at SeaChange Capital Partners, to unpack what it really takes to resource nonprofit collaboration — from shared infrastructure and strategic alliances to program transfers and full-scale mergers. Ananya shares insights from the SeaChange–Lodestar Fund for Nonprofit Collaboration, including why neutral third-party support is often the missing ingredient, how leaders can build trust with funders and partner organizations, and what becomes possible when collaboration is treated as a fundable priority.Episode Highlights: Introduction to Nonprofit Collaboration (01:52)SeaChange-Lodestar Fund for Nonprofit Collaboration (5:40)Forms of Collaboration (07:00)Building Trust with Partners (10:50)Technical Assistance Funding (15:18)Case Study: She's the First & Girl Rising Merger (16:23)Cost Savings Example: Detroit Human Services Merger (20:10)Case Study: Philly Food Rescue Program Transfer (21:22)Motivations for Partnerships (23:57)One Good Thing / Homework: Make yourself familiar with what opportunities exist. (29:00)Dive Deeper: She’s The First Girl RisingEpisode 653: Nonprofit Mergers Aren’t a Last Resort—They’re a Strategic First Choice, She's The First and Girl Rising: Listen on Apple / SpotifyEpisode Shownotes: www.weareforgood.com/episode/680//Join the We Are For Good Community—completely free.Join fellow changemakers, share takeaways from this working session, and keep collaborating in a space built for connection, inspiration, and real impact: www.weareforgoodcommunity.comSay hi 👋LinkedIn / Instagram / Facebook / YouTube / Twitter

Today’s episode continues our 12-part series: 12 Shifts in 2026 for Social Impact. Over twelve episodes, we’re unpacking the mindset + strategy shifts shaping the future of fundraising, leadership, and doing good in 2026. Explore the series at weareforgood.com/12shiftsShift 9 / Trust Is the Work NowIn today’s episode, Jon and Becky welcome back Abby Falik, Co-Founder & CEO of The Flight School, for a grounding and expansive conversation on why trust is no longer a byproduct of good leadership — it is the work.As institutions fracture, technology accelerates, and certainty feels harder to come by, Abby invites nonprofit leaders to rethink trust as a core leadership practice rooted in authenticity, courage, and inner alignment. Together, they explore what it looks like to lead without false certainty, release performative control, and build organizations that are worthy of trust — from the inside out.Abby shares wisdom from her lifelong work in leadership formation, her experience building trust-based systems, and the guiding principles behind The Flight School to help leaders move from fear to flourishing. This episode is both a call inward and a call forward for leaders navigating rapid change while trying to stay human.Episode Highlights: The Importance of Trust in Leadership (02:30)Trust as Core Work in a Fractured World (05:18)Warning Signs of Losing Trust in Organizations (12:29)Building Trust in Leadership (15:48)Leading with Hope in Uncertain Times (18:13)The Role of the Next Generation in Trust (21:51)Abby’s One Good Thing (24:31)Dive Deeper: Comfortable with Uncertainty / Purchase HereEpisode Shownotes: www.weareforgood.com/episode/679//Join the We Are For Good Community—completely free.Join fellow changemakers, share takeaways from this working session, and keep collaborating in a space built for connection, inspiration, and real impact: www.weareforgoodcommunity.comSay hi 👋LinkedIn / Instagram / Facebook / YouTube / Twitter

Today's episode continues our 12-part series: 12 Shifts in 2026 for Social Impact. Over twelve episodes, we’re unpacking mindset + strategy shifts shaping the future of fundraising, leadership, and doing good in 2026. Explore the series at weareforgood.com/12shifts.Shift 8 / Creators Are Your AmplifiersIn today’s episode, Jon and Becky sit down with Kathryn Baccash, Senior Director of Communications & Marketing at To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA), for a powerful conversation about why creators aren’t just marketing channels — they’re relationship-driven partners who can extend trust, credibility, and impact far beyond what organizations can do alone.Together, they unpack how TWLOHA has spent nearly two decades cultivating creators as collaborators rather than megaphones — prioritizing friendship over transactions, community over control, and long-term trust over short-term reach. Kat shares how creators function as core capacity inside TWLOHA’s storytelling ecosystem, how relationship-first partnerships have amplified their suicide prevention work, and why letting go of rigid expectations is often the unlock nonprofits are missing.If you’re ready to rethink influence, move from staff-led to community-led storytelling, and build creator partnerships that actually scale trust in 2026, this episode is for you.Takeaways: Why creators should be treated as a core capacity, not a campaign add-onHow to build relationship-first creator partnerships rooted in trust and shared valuesWhat it really means to give up control without losing your messageHow creators help nonprofits scale impact through borrowed trustWhy community depth and engagement matter more than audience sizeEpisode Highlights:Creators as a Core Capacity, Not a Nice-to-Have (2:15)Relationship-First Creator Partnerships (4:40)Borrowed Trust: Scaling Impact Through Creators (6:50)Giving Up Control to Build Real Influence (12:40)Why Community Depth Matters More Than Audience Size (21:30)One Good Thing: Create Something Yourself to Build Empathy (29:30)Episode Shownotes: www.weareforgood.com/episode/678TWLOHA //Join the We Are For Good Community—completely free.Join fellow changemakers, share takeaways from this working session, and keep collaborating in a space built for connection, inspiration, and real impact: www.weareforgoodcommunity.comSay hi 👋LinkedIn / Instagram / Facebook / YouTube / Twitter

Today's episode continues our 12-part series: 12 Shifts in 2026 for Social Impact. Over twelve episodes, we’re unpacking mindset + strategy shifts shaping the future of fundraising, leadership, and doing good in 2026. Explore the series at weareforgood.com/12shifts.Shift 7 / Volunteers as Core CapacityIn today’s episode, Jon and Becky welcome back Jennifer Sirangelo, President & CEO of Points of Light — the world’s largest organization dedicated to volunteer service, mobilizing nearly 4 million volunteers across 32 countries.Together, they explore why many nonprofit leaders are leaving capacity on the table — and how shifting from “volunteers as a nice-to-have” to “volunteers as core infrastructure” can accelerate strategy, deepen belonging, and drive sustainable growth. Jennifer shares practical examples (including a “board recruitment sprint”), how to spot the gaps volunteers can fill beyond program delivery, and why the volunteer experience must be digitally enabled to fit real life. You’ll also hear why the simplest lever still matters: people volunteer because they’re asked — and that invitation is fully in your control.If you’re ready to treat participation like a strategy (not an afterthought) and build a volunteer engine for 2026, this one’s for you.Episode Highlights:Volunteers as Strategic Plan Accelerators (3:10)The “Board Recruitment Sprint” + Activating Volunteer Leaders (9:20)What’s Driving a Rise in Volunteer Interest + How to Respond (15:40)Building Volunteer Infrastructure on a Lean Team (22:30)Designing a Digitally-Enabled Volunteer Experience (30:10)One Good Thing: Craft the Invitation That Gets People to Say Yes (37:45)Dive Deeper: pointsoflight.org - Sign up for Points of Light's monthly newsletter, packed with resources, trainings, and webinars.Episode Shownotes: www.weareforgood.com/episode/677//Join the We Are For Good Community—completely free.Join fellow changemakers, share takeaways from this working session, and keep collaborating in a space built for connection, inspiration, and real impact: www.weareforgoodcommunity.comSay hi 👋LinkedIn / Instagram / Facebook / YouTube / Twitter