People in Fundraising: A Nonprofit Podcast by Tim Wilson

People in Fundraising, season 3, ep. 4: IESE Business School's Paola Horvath

International Development Officer Paola Horvath joins "People in Fundraising" from Spain - my second guest so far from Europe! Paola and I first became connected about 10 years ago via Nida Januskis, with whom I worked at HBS and Paola worked at INSEAD in Paris.
In our really enjoyable conversation focusing on international fundraising, Paola discusses:
* How fundraising is growing in the Latin America region and what excites Paola about this trend. Paola also shares current challenges.
* How Paola transitioned from business intelligence and prospect research on donors, to her current role as an international philanthropy director.
* A native of South America who is half-Uruguayan, Paola's general experiences living in 7 countries, and how this has helped Paola see how interconnected our world is. "It is a humbling experience," Paola says. "You see how beautiful their landscape is, how simple foods are prepared in so many different ways. People are resilient."
Paola, thank you for a fantastic interview! I am so glad that we reconnected and am delighted to feature you as a guest, with your terrific insights.

People in Fundraising season 3, ep. 3: Stephanie Brouwer

Stephanie Brouwer is my first guest to represent Indiana in "People in Fundraising," and she makes the Hoosier State proud!
Speaking of Indiana, Stephanie excitedly discusses having the 2023 Apra International Prospect Development conference in Indianapolis; she chaired the conference planning committee, a lengthy volunteer leadership commitment lasting over a year.
 
Stephanie also covers:
* What she is passionate about in social impact philanthropy
* Embracing being herself, with confidence and authenticity
* Stephanie's reply to a famous quote by jazz legend Miles Davis: "Sometimes you have to play a long time to be able to play like yourself."
* The importance and impact of community in one's professional and personal lives.
 
Thank you Stephanie for such an engaging and touching conversation!

People in Fundraising, Season 3, Ep. 2: Joan Ogwumike and Elizabeth Roma, The Obama Foundation

In a "People in Fundraising" first, we feature an interview with two guests who are also coworkers: prospect development veterans Joan Ogwumike and Elizabeth Roma, of The Obama Foundation!
Our conversation airs almost 15 years to the day of President Obama's first inauguration in 2009.
Joan and Elizabeth discuss their careers in prospect management and research; what trends and developments Elizabeth has seen over her 25-year career; and Joan's professional blog, "A Researcher's Diary."
Elizabeth and I served for a few years on Apra International's Online Content Committee.
And in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day today, both Joan and Elizabeth share their thoughts on Dr. King's message from his Dexter Avenue Baptist Church sermon in 1957: "“Love has within it a redemptive power. And there is a power there that eventually transforms individuals."
Thank you Elizabeth and Joan for a wonderful conversation!

People in Fundraising: Michelle Flores Vryn

People in Fundraising's third season kicks off with a fascinating conversation featuring top nonprofit leadership voice Michelle Flores Vryn! Among many intriguing topics, Michelle discusses:
1. what topics (DEI, burn-out, workplace balance, etc.) drive her level of engagement among social sector people and causes in her LinkedIn activity
2. Michelle's love of talking about the future of philanthropy and AI; how she stays current with emerging trends and developing thought leaders in these topics; what excites and gives her cause for concern about the future of philanthropy and AI (together and/or separately)
3. Michelle's daily habit of meditating (since June 2008) 
4. Her involvement with AFP GlobalThank you, Michelle, for such an engaging and rich conversation! 

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