People in Fundraising: A Nonprofit Podcast by Tim Wilson

People in Fundraising, ep. 138: Chris Cannon, Chief Strategy Officer at Zuri Group

Today's "People in Fundraising" guest, Chris Cannon, is a prolific thought leader and author in the nonprofit world. I highly value reading his LinkedIn posts. He is my first podcast guest to represent Missouri. Connecting with Chris was a real treat, and I am grateful to share his thoughts on the following topics from our conversation:
* Being the author or co-author of several books, including 2022's "Focused Fundraising: How to Raise Your Sights and Overcome Overload." Chris has called this book "a resource for the #techtug and #constantcraziness we experience in advancement."
* The influence of 400 B.C.-era Athenian historian and general Thucydides on Chris's outlook on life. Thucydides once remarked that "fortune goes to those best prepared." Chris describes how planning in 10-year cycles of his career has greatly benefitted him.
* Chris's "focus on first principles" in his life and career. What are those principles, and how does he focus on those?
* The innovations and adaptations that Chris has seen and participated in during his 25+ years in development - and which ones still have not been fully embraced or implemented to their utmost usage to significant enhance nonprofit development and practitioners.
Thank you Chris for a wonderful and very informative conversation! I look forward to following your thoughts on LinkedIn!

People in Fundraising, ep. 137: Dzenan Berberovic, Chief Philanthropy Officer, Avera Health

Continuing coverage to get at least one guest from each U.S. state, South Dakota today gets on the "People in Fundraising" map thanks to a phenomenal nonprofit leader, Dzenan Berberovic! I thoroughly enjoyed speaking with Dzenan and learning about his professional path in philanthropy and his personal journey in life. Thanks to recent guest Cherian Koshy for introducing me to Dzenan.
In our 30-minute conversation, Dzenan - who currently serves as Secretary of AFP Global - describes:
* Being a native of Bosnia-Herzegovina and how he and his mother became refugees from the Bosnian War in the 1990s, living in Germany for several years. His mother's commitment to working for Dzenan's educational development is absolutely remarkable.
* How "philanthropy and generous individuals were part of my life's journey, and part of some of the most pivotal moments in my life."
* His role as Chief Philanthropy Officer at South Dakota-based Avera Health (which provides comprehensive healthcare in the Upper Great Plains states), his tenure at Avera, and his move to Avera from public higher education fundraising at his alma mater, the University of South Dakota.
Dzenan, thank you for a phenomenal conversation! I wish you and Avera success in your future, and know that our audience will enjoy learning about your professional and personal achievements!

People in Fundraising, ep. 136: Kerry Vanaria and Josh Merrow, Longtime Harvard Business School Development Leaders

I am delighted to share this conversation with two longtime development leaders, Kerry Vanaria and Josh Merrow, who have both worked in fundraising at Harvard Business School for 25+ years. They each have also known me since my earliest days temping in HBS' development office in Teele Hall, where I worked for Paul Callahan, an incredible person and future "People in Fundraising" guest! 
In fact, Kerry was the one who first tipped me off to a junior analyst role on the HBS prospect research team in summer 2000. I didn't even know where in the building that team was located, or what "prospect research" was, but 
In our conversation, Josh and Kerry talk about:
* How they were hired at HBS by two great fundraisers, Josh by Anne Klein (who was then running the HBS Fund) and Kerry by the late Susan Hamilton (who hired Kerry the day after she interviewed).
* Donor engagement anecdotes that stand out as meaningful and memorable during their careers. Both Josh and Kerry have been instrumental in the development, launching, and close of several HBS capital fundraising campaigns.
* What has kept them both at Harvard Business School for their remarkable records of longevity, in an era where the majority of fundraisers frequently change employers.
* How he, Kerry, and countless other fundraisers "are all disciples in a way of Howard Stevenson," a longtime HBS professor and "lead fundraiser" in HBS' first campaign in the early 2000s. Howard talked enthusiastically about the impact of giving. They also mention other fundraisers like Florence Amoroso and Tracy Van Dorpe.
* The obstacles inherent to change and innovation in working for significantly large fundraising institutions, and the need to creatively figure out how to work around or work through.
Thank you Kerry and Josh for your time and sharing your insightful remarks and reminisces! It was wonderful to reconnect with you both.

People in Fundraising, ep. 135: Dhruv Sogani, Co-Founder and COO, AlmaConnect

I had the great joy of meeting today's guest, Dhruv Sogani, last summer at the Apra PD Conference in Seattle. We had an awesome chat about a variety of professional and life topics, and I am excited to share this continuation of some of those themes in today's episode. Dhruv is my first guest joining us from The Netherlands, where he is the Co-Founder and COO of alumni networking and philanthropy company AlmaConnect.
In our conversation, Dhruv talks about:
* His diverse entrepreneurial career experience (BMW, Bertelsmann Group) and his mechanical engineering education, and how these experiences have influenced where Dhruv now is.
* The range of services offered by AlmaConnect (news scanning on prospects across the world; employment updates; prospecting directories; alumni networking platform) and Dhruv's responsibilities there (operations, sales, customer support and success, finance, and HR - a.k.a. "everything that is non-tech!")
* Dhruv's upbringing in Jaipur, "the Pink City" of India, and why people and impact are two things in life he has always loved. And how Dhruv's professional and personal experiences in various parts of the world have shaped him, and how he and others are seeking to implement some Western fundraising best practices in his native India's philanthropy environment.
* Growing up with a combination of Hinduism and Jainism, and under the influence of his grandfather, whom other people called "a living saint." He modeled the importance of balance in life to Dhruv.
Dhruv concludes our conversation by encouraging our "People in Fundraising" audience to read about two key concepts that have positively impacted his life: Samatvam ("equanimity" and "balance"), and Karma Yoga ("selfless action"), both of which are from the Hindu scripture Bhagavad Gita (translated to English as "The Song of God").
Thank you very much for an outstanding and enlightening conversation, Dhruv! I hope to see you again at PD this summer in Baltimore.

People in Fundraising, ep. 134: Sarah Hall, Director of Data Governance, Harvard University

It is wonderful to share this fun and engaging conversation I had with Sarah Hall, who was my manager at Harvard Business School for almost 12 consecutive years! During that time, our team moved from a heavily reactive-prospect research model into prospect management and data, over two capital fundraising campaigns. She is hilarious, smart, and supportive, which was especially helpful for my career - during our time working together, I went from single to married, renter to homeowner, and then welcomed four kids with my wife. Having constancy in key aspects of work life was terrific.
In our conversation, Sarah talks about some things that I've long known are always important to her, and other topics:
* What experiences as an undergrad at Kenyon College transformed her life, and what have compelled her to be a longtime advocate for her alma mater.
* Insights into her current role as the Director of Data Governance for Harvard University's Alumni Affairs & Development.
* Sarah's thoughts on one of my all-time favorite quotes: "If you need a machine and don't buy it, you will ultimately find that you have paid for it and don't have it," from Henry Ford.
* Experiences from Sarah's career evolution, going from prospect research to prospect management and now data governance, and as a manager, that reflect this quote from one of my favorite actors, John Malkovich: "I'm wary of all the things that people believe which make them think, 'This is me.'"
* Several meaningful anecdotes from our time working together. We both started at HBS in fall 2000, and Sarah became the prospect research director in spring 2003.
Thank you, Sarah, for a delightful conversation! I loved reconnecting with you and learning more about your current role, while sharing laughs and reflections about our earlier career days.

People in Fundraising ep. 133: Cherian Koshy, VP at Kindsight

Cherian Koshy, my first "People in Fundraising" guest from Iowa, joins this weekly nonprofit podcast to share incredible insights about his career. Early on, he developed a fascination with "why people give, why people make a gift." Over the last 15 years, Cherian has since become deeply interested in neuroscience and behavioral science, leading to what he terms "neurophilanthropy," along with AI and ethics.
In a wide-ranging conversation, Cherian also discusses:
* What led Cherian to develop and launch NonprofitOS during and after the Covid-19 pandemic. NonprofitOS was later acquired by Kindsight. Also, what Cherian learned about himself through this significant endeavor.
* Why "there isn't another sector like the nonprofit sector, where people are open and dive in, and say, for example, 'I have a template and here's how it can be useful!'" * What led Cherian to become a board member of AFP Global, and why he feels that volunteer service at any level - the local, national, or international landscapes - is so important to our profession and can enrich people's experiences.
* His response to the "Eat, Pray, Love" author Elizabeth Gilbert's quote that "grace will take you places hustling can't." And how he, as a person of faith, realized that he had been doing things (like working hard) for the wrong reasons (to achieve), and how striving for more markers of achievement will be unsatisfying compared to understand one's identity. This realization now "makes me hustle harder, because I am doing this in the service of others."
* His thoughtful reply to actor Kyle MacLachlan's quote about his longtime collaborator, the late director David Lynch: "I was willing to follow [David] anywhere, because joining him on the journey of discovery, searching and finding together, was the whole point. I stepped out into the unknown because I knew David was floating out there with me."
Thank you Cherian for an incredible interview! I thoroughly enjoyed our conversation and the depth of your commitment to the social impact world and the many people striving to improve it.

People in Fundraising, ep. 132: Chris McGown, Fractional Planned Giving Specialist, Peak9860

Chris McGown delivers a fascinating conversation in today's "People in Fundraising" episode! He speaks energetically about his passion for demystifying planned giving for prospects, donors, and nonprofit employers alike. Chris is the founder of Peak 9860 (listen for the reason behind his company's name) and a fractional planned giving leader for small- and medium-sized nonprofits.
In our conversation, Chris discusses:
* Why he is committed to demystifying planned giving, and several common misconceptions or lack of awareness around planned giving/legacy giving.
* How, over his three decades in nonprofit leadership, he has seen planned giving evolve to be a more integral and resource-dedicated segment of overall frontline development work.
* "the tyranny of the urgent" in nonprofit work, and how hustle culture and its impact on nonprofit leaders' well-being are persistent topics in the fundraising world. Chris shares how he has experienced "the tyranny of the urgent," and what he does to mitigate its impact, both on him and his Peak9860 clients.
Thank you for a wonderful conversation, Chris! I learned a good deal about planned giving's evolution as a charitable vehicle, and I appreciate the enthusiasm you bring to doing and discussing this work!

People in Fundraising ep. 131: Ben Parker Sutter and Maynard Knepp, Mennonite Central Committee

Kansas gets on the "People in Fundraising" global map today, thanks to two terrific guests - Ben Parker Sutter and Maynard Knepp. They focus on fundraising work and resources management for the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC). MCC covers 16 U.S. states representing 15 religious communities (Amish, Brethren in Christ, and Mennonite), and has been in operation for over 100 years. I especially enjoyed hearing them talk about how their roles put faith into action.
In our conversation, Ben and Maynard share:
* MCC's origin as an international humanitarian services provider, with a focus on relief work, development, and promoting peace in the name of Christ.
* What drew Maynard and Ben to MCC and how this organization's "life-giving work" provides assistance people around the world, "setting aside particularities of different theologies," as Ben describes. For example, Maynard has been on-site in Rwanda and Burundi to see humanitarian resources deployed to communities in need of water via boreholes (similar to a well, but narrower and deeper underground).
* People interested in learning more about MCC's mission and how to support it can find a ton of info at MCC.org.
Thank you Maynard and Ben for an enlightening conversation, including touching on the intersection of faith/spirituality and development work in the service of providing aid to our fellow humans around the planet!

People in Fundraising, ep. 130: Wayne Olson, planned giving leader and author

Wayne Olson and I worked together at the Intermountain Health Foundation before and during the pandemic. He was its Planned Giving Officer, and we hit it off well. I am grateful to call Wayne a friend and share his insightful conversation today with the "People in Fundraising" audience.
In our chat, Wayne discusses and shares his thoughts on:
* How he entered the social impact/nonprofit world, and becoming focused on planned gifts
* Being a keynote speaker, author, mentor, and trainer for two decades. In fact, Wayne is presenting later this week at the annual, multi-day NEDRA Conference in Portland, Maine. His topic? "What Gift Officers Want to Tell You [in Prospect Development] But Don't Know How." Wayne discusses how he develops ideas for his presentations.
* His authorship of books including "Think Like a Donor," "The Disney Difference," "Fund-raising for Nonprofit Board Members," and "Big Gifts, Small Effort." Wayne has generously offered a discount on his books via his website at wayneolson.com/books; please use discount code "nonprofit," without the quotes or comma.
* What he has learned from a lifetime of public-facing employment and speakership, including how he has developed ways to energize himself and get over customary nerves that many people feel when speaking before large audiences.
Wayne, thank you very much for a delightful conversation! Please check out Wayne's website for the books he has written, all of which have direct application to nonprofit development.

People in Fundraising, ep. 129: Tim Lockie, CEO and Founder, The Human Stack

Tim Lockie, my first "People in Fundraising" guest from Montana, shares deeply thought-provoking and very interesting commentaries on a host of topics in today's interview. How he entered the nonprofit world is fascinating, studying economics in order to contribute to the social good economy. Tim first became concerned about nonprofit work while living in San Francisco and seeing the drastic challenges facing homeless people. Later lived in a commune for 13 years, working for an order that launched teams in low-income neighborhoods around the world. He quickly saw "the challenges that face orgs. solving the world's biggest problems with the world's worst technology over and over! Most data challenges are rooted in behavior issues created by human end-users."
In our conversation, Tim also discusses:
* How behavior does not come from utilitarian forces around getting my job done well. It comes from forces of 'am I appreciated for my work and my contribution?'"
* His deep interest in the intersection between faith and technology. "Thank you for asking the thing that people just don't ask!" Tim says to me at one point. He also mentions technologist Rev. Tracy Kronzak, and asks "How does our faith inform what we do?" "There is something that aligns around humans that is mysterious and beautiful and amazing, and so fragile and easy to destroy, and so resilient. If I understood it, it wouldn't be faith any more."
* Mental health, imposter syndrome, and the benefits of therapy.
* How much of what Tim does now is empowerment for individuals working with AI. He has launched a course called "AI for Anyone" and is writing a playbook that will help enable teams to use AI. It aims, for example, to help teams struggling with AI to save six months of work within just the first two steps of his playbook, allocating just four hours! More at the 18-minute mark.
* Two influential nonprofit leaders, Mallory Erickson - who has spoken about the nervous system re-sets and aligned fundraising - and Tasha Van Vlack - who launched "The Nonprofit Hive" two years ago.
Thank you very much, Tim, for an such a wonderful and expansive conversation touching on technology, spirituality, community, curiosity, mental health, and social good - all of the key themes that are of interest to many in the social impact world!