People in Fundraising: A Nonprofit Podcast by Tim Wilson

People in Fundraising, Season 2, Ep. 31: Randall Hallett, Nebraska

Recorded in fall 2023: Nebraska gets on my "People in Fundraising" map thanks to my friend and podcast mentor Randall Hallett! I became acquainted with Randall five years ago through our work at Intermountain Health. Since then, he provided incredible guidance to me two years ago as I planned to launch this webcast. I am grateful for Randall's ideas and support.With 25+ years of fundraising experience, Randall is the CEO and founder of philanthropy consulting firm Hallett Philanthropy. In our really enjoyable conversation, Randall covers:* His upbringing in Nebraska and how he entered the philanthropy world* His recently published book, "Vibrant Vulnerability: Mastering Philanthropy for Today's and Tomorrow's Healthcare CEOs." https://lnkd.in/gdA7EU3N
* How Randall develops content for his own weekly podcast, "Around with Randall." It is a terrific resource on a wide variety of nonprofit, work/life, and general interest topics. Well worth anyone's time to listen and subscribe: https://lnkd.in/gxXccTpK
* Randall's and his family's long connections to the University of Nebraska. This is a touching and insightful part of our conversation. * Why he chose to conclude each "Around with Randall" podcast episode with this Gaelic observation: "Some people make things happen. Some people watch things happen. And then there are those who just wondered what happened." This reminds me of how the late Robert F. Kennedy was eulogized by his brother Ted in 1968, inspired by Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw: "Some men see things as they are and ask, 'Why?' I dream of things that never were and ask, 'Why not?'" 

People in Fundraising, Season 2, Ep. 30: Joanna Schofield, Maryland

Recorded in fall 2023: My first guest to represent Maryland, Joanna Schofield, does a masterful job articulating two critical issues: Development work, and "the silent crisis" in American society concerning the millions of full-time professionals who need to adjust schedules and energy to fulfill their employment while also serving as caregivers to loved ones.
Joanna discusses:*Serving as the sole fundraiser for the Moore Center for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse, at Johns Hopkins University*How she transitioned from prospect development to frontline fundraising - bridging the processes and data utilization aspects of the former with the implementation and creativity aspects of the latter as she engages donors*Beginning at the 26-minute mark, her cofounding role (with Talia Selove) of "Professionals Who Care," as a vehicle to give full-time workers who are also caregivers outlets and resources to assist them. Creating more workplace cultures where such employees are acknowledged and accommodated are critical and a win for employers trying to recruit and retain such talent. Donor Participation Project's Louis Diez is a member-at-large of Professionals Who Care.

People in Fundraising, Season 2, Ep. 29: Paul Majnik, University of Utah

Recorded in fall 2023: I am grateful to have known Paul Majnik since meeting him in summer 2006 while visiting my extended family in Utah. Paul and Katie Nelson kindly had an info interview with me, when it was two of them in prospect research at the University of Utah. Since then, Paul's team has grown in leaps and bounds, and a lot of staffers have been there for many years.Paul discusses:* Overseeing multiple teams with their own managers (prospect research, prospect management, reporting, IT, and gift services)* Successful traits Paul sees in managing people and teams, including "hiring the smartest and nicest people I can, and then finding out how I can help them succeed."

People in Fundraising, Season 2, Ep. 28: Zena Lum, DEI and Social Justice Advocate

Recorded in fall 2023: Zena Lum joins “People in Fundraising” as a strong recommendation from season one guest Jessica McNeill. They and many others in the Boston nonprofit world endeavor to create a more equitable work environment and build a network of people of color in philanthropy.The bulk of our conversation focuses on social justice, DEI, and volunteer work. Her interview shows the lived wisdom of doors closing and new doors opening, and of Zena’s resiliency and passion for nonprofit work. Her volunteer work has been both formative and informative, including with Women of Color in Fundraising and Philanthropy (WOC). 

People in Fundraising, Season 2, Ep. 27: Erin and Chris Lawler, Donor Relations & Prospect Development

Recorded in fall 2023: In the second "People in Fundraising" episode to feature a couple that both work in nonprofits, I am grateful to welcome Erin Powers Lawler and Chris Lawler! Erin and Chris describe how they became familiar with nonprofit work before starting tenures at Harvard University (Chris at Harvard Medical School, Erin at Harvard Business School). Erin joked, “I’ve been at HBS in the same department for 21 years but I’ve had about 23 different jobs!” They offer intriguing thoughts on former Harvard President Larry Bacow’s statement on being “loving critics” of our institutions. They talk about how their respective work universes rarely overlap and don’t tend to be a focus of the “how was your day?” check-ins once Erin and Chris get home or their hybrid workday ends. 

People in Fundraising, Season 2, Ep. 26: Meena Das, NamasteData.org, British Columbia

Recorded in fall 2023: Meenakshi (Meena) Das shares her genuine and invigorating thoughts on her nonprofit career and data equity in this next "People in Fundraising" conversation! She is the first guest to represent British Columbia in this program.
Born in India, Meena moved from the tech industry to nonprofit work about five years ago. Many guests know her from Meena's free e-newsletters, "Dear Human" and "Data Uncollected," and her other free resources at NamasteData.org
. I became acquainted with Meena through her LinkedIn presence and quickly grew to admire Meena for her insights and humility. ​Meena talks about:* How to sustain our nonprofit work with joy* Her desire to see "everyone feel represented in the data and comfortable in it"* How her "Learn, Write, and Reflect" approach every seven or eight weeks helps Meena to stay centered* How volunteering uplifts, connects, and empowers everyone

People in Fundraising, Season 2, Ep. 25: Kelli North, University of Michigan

Recorded in fall 2023: Halloween is the favorite holiday for my next “People in Fundraising” awesome guest Kelli North, MSW. In honor of this, her conversation is going live today! She is also the first guest to represent Michigan in this program.Kelli’s current role was years in the making. She has a foot in prospect development and analytics and also attends meetings of the DEI team, whose initiatives Kelli supports and assists to bridge DEI theory and reality. A first-gen college student – where she was a member of the university’s Native American Student Association – Kelli talks about her lifelong passion for social work and advocacy, and how her desire to work in those spaces led to her nonprofit career. Part of Kelli’s role focuses on identifying donors for the very same scholarship she received that enabled her to attend the University of Michigan.Kelli also discusses:* How her current role developed, with help from Kat Walsh, Heather McPhail, and Craig Leonard, among others;* The University of Michigan’s campus-wide focus on DEI (in strategic planning, KPI’s for DEI activities);* Efforts to diversify the University’s Campaign Council and other campus-wide committees;* Efforts to diversity the University’s donor pipeline, looking at wealth more holistically and discussing indicators that may be introducing biases into their prospect identification and larger donor life cycle program;* Michigan’s DEI Data Policy; demographic data erasure; and white-passing identities and privileges;

People in Fundraising, Season 2, Ep. 24: Jason Roesler, Apra Board Member

Recorded summer 2023: Jason Roesler has spent his entire 16-year career to-date in prospect development at his alma mater, Washington State University, from which he has earned three degrees! Jason joined People in Fundraising on *the same day* that WSU went live with a new CRM! Like most other guests across nearly 70 episodes, Jason describes his entrée into fundraising as happenstance. He “felt at home in prospect development almost immediately.” Jason talks about:* The importance of intellectual curiosity in prospect management and research*Taking “informed chances,” a lesson learned from Jon Thorsen*The benefit of informal check-ins with his teams, and how to do that in our hybrid/remote structure*Jason’s answer to a question once posed to “Schitt’s Creek” actor Eugene Levy – “What would you have missed in life without the work you do?” 

People in Fundraising, Season 2, Ep. 23: Rachael Walker, Prospect Development Guru

Recorded in fall 2023: Prospect Development Guru Rachael Dietrich Walker is my next guest in "People in Fundraising." She discusses her love of "anything to do with the written word," per her LinkedIn, and how that curiosity led to synergies with prospect research.Rachael covers:* Trying to put curiosity to productive use, and what parameters, like a timer, help Rachael* Being not afraid of the AI revolution, since "computers don't have curiosity." :-)* Rachael's goal, as a breast cancer survivor, to fund nonprofits that research the intersection of this disease and mental health, which is currently not funded well * Rachael's openness in discussing ADH and being neurodivergent* Her reaction to Bono of U2's distinction between an "activist" and an "actualist."

People in Fundraising, Season 2, Ep. 22: Lindsey Nadeau, UNICEF U.S.A.

Recorded in summer 2023: Longtime Apra volunteer and leader in the prospect development community, Lindsey Nadeau, CFRE shares a lot of great advice in our conversation about volunteer leadership. She also discusses how, as an undergrad phone-a-thon volunteer, she first became familiar with fundraising and, in short order, prospect research.
We also cover:*How Jon Thorsen's management rules inspired Lindsey and her team to build out UNICEF USA's Prospect Development Standards of Collaboration (link in comments to this incredible guide!)*Overcoming imposter syndrome: "You do not need to be an expert to be a volunteer in your profession. You do the work, and that's how you become an expert."