Frontlines of Social Good Podcast

5/27/2025: Featured Stories: “The One, Big, Beautiful Bill" and The Giving Gap Widensns

May 27, 2025: After the news, we speak with Shannon McCracken, CAE, President & CEO of The Nonprofit Alliance, about “The One, Big, Beautiful Bill”—a controversial proposal that, despite its name, poses serious threats to the nonprofit sector’s ability to serve communities nationwide. Later in the show, Tim Sarrantonio, Director of Community Engagement at Neon One and Chair of the Fundraising Effectiveness Project, joins us to unpack new data revealing how the giving gap is widening—and what it means for the future of charitable fundraising.

5/20/2025: Featured Stories: Funding for Public Broadcasting and The WHO Foundation

May 20, 2025: After the news, we speak with Michal Heiplik, President & CEO of the Coalition for Public Broadcasting, about the future of public media funding and what proposed cuts could mean for civic education and local journalism. Later in the show, we’re joined by Anil Soni, Chief Executive Officer, and Bob Carter, Founding Board Member of The WHO Foundation, to explore how global philanthropy is fueling frontline health solutions.

5/13/2025: Public Funding for the Arts

May 13, 2025: After the news, we speak with Tooshar Swain, Director of Public Policy at Americans for the Arts, to discuss the threat to the National Endowment for the Arts, and what’s at stake for artists, organizations, and communities across the country. Later in the show, we speak with Dr. Aaron Conley and Dr. Genevieve Shaker, authors of Fundraising Principles for Faculty & Academic Leaders and recipients of the 2023 AFP/Skystone Partners Prize for Research on Fundraising and Philanthropy, to discuss how academic leaders can become better champions for their institutions.

5/6/2025: Where Are the Boards? Defending institutional independence.

May 6, 2025: After the news, we speak with Dr. Raquel Rall of the University of California Riverside and Dr. Demetri Morgan of the University of Michigan about their opinion piece in Inside Higher Ed, "Where Are the Boards?" Later in the show, we speak with Derrick Feldmann, Managing Director of the Ad Council Research Institute, on philanthropy and communications in the current environment.

4/29/2025: The $100 Trillion Wealth Transfer

April 29, 2025: After the news, Laura MacDonald, Principal and Founder of Benefactor Group, to explore The $100 Trillion Wealth Transfer and what it means for fundraisers, philanthropists, and generational giving. Later in the program, we speak with Chris van Bergen, co-author of Certifiable: How Businesses Operationalize Responsible Sourcing, about the intersection of business, ethics, and impact—and what nonprofits can learn from the corporate world when it comes to building trust and transparency.

4/15/2025: "10,000 Job Cuts in 70 Days"

April 15, 2025: After the news, Sara Herschander, Staff Reporter at The Chronicle of Philanthropy, discusses her article, "10,000 Job Cuts in 70 Days," which addresses recent job losses in the nonprofit sector. Later in the show, Ken Miller discusses his new book, "Becoming Ken."

4/8/2025: Purpose-Driven Board Leadership

April 8, 2025: After the news, Gene Takagi, Principal at NEO Law Group, joins us to talk about the growing movement toward purpose-driven board leadership—what it means, why it matters, and how boards can become stronger agents of mission and equity. Later in the show, Patton McDowell, author of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, shares practical guidance for emerging and seasoned leaders alike.

4/1/2025: Donor and Staff Retention

April 1, 2025:  After the news, Louis Diez, Founder of the Donor Participation Project & Annual Fund Toolkit, shares proven strategies to boost donor retention and long-term engagement. Then, Evan Wilstein, co-author of the Social Impact Staff Retention (SISR) Study, examines key factors influencing nonprofit staff retention and how organizations can foster a more sustainable workforce.

3/25/2025: Four Nonprofit Advocacy Superpowers

March 25, 2025: After the news, Bethany Snyder, MPP, Director of the Iowa Nonprofit Alliance and Founder of Snyder Strategies, reveals four nonprofit advocacy superpowers that can amplify impact, mobilize supporters, and drive meaningful policy change.

3/18/25: Game Changing Tech for Nonprofits

March 18, 2025:  After the news, Jay Love, active angel investor and former tech CEO, explores the latest game-changing technologies transforming the nonprofit sector and what they mean for the future of fundraising. Then, Julia Campbell, Founder & Principal of J Campbell Social Marketing, shares key insights from her forthcoming book, Minimalist Marketing for Nonprofits, offering practical strategies to streamline outreach and maximize impact.