Frontlines of Social Good Podcast

September 23, 2026: After the news, Jeff Jarvis, veteran journalist and author, Emeritus Leonard Tow Professor of Journalism Innovation at CUNY’s Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, and co-host of AI Inside, joins us to examine the escalating warnings that advanced artificial intelligence could pose an existential threat to humanity—and his skepticism about what he sees as AI “doomerism” and moral panic. We explore whether fears of superintelligent AI are justified, the assumptions behind the latest warnings, the real risks AI presents today, and how society should think about regulation, risk, and the technology’s potential. Then fundraising expert Gail Perry discusses her new book, Easy Fundraising and Friendmaking for Board Members: How to Raise Friends and Funds for Your Cause, and a different way to engage board members in fundraising—one that focuses less on asking for money and more on opening doors, building genuine relationships, connecting people with the mission, and turning friends into supporters.

September 9, 2026: After the news, Joanne Florino, Adam Meyerson Distinguished Fellow in Philanthropic Excellence at Philanthropy Roundtable, joins us to discuss financially struggling colleges tapping restricted endowment funds for operating expenses—why institutions may be tempted to do so, the legal and fiduciary issues involved, and what these cases mean for donor intent and confidence in charitable giving. Then Bob Carter, CFRE, chairman of Carter and author of Unfinished: Lessons in Recovery, Leadership, Philanthropy, and Purpose, reflects on his remarkable personal and professional journey, the lessons he has learned through recovery and more than four decades in philanthropy, and what it means to continue learning, listening, leading, and finding purpose in a life still in progress.

August 26, 2026: After the news, Dr. Jacqueline “Bouvier” Copeland, Founder of Black Philanthropy Month, Reunity: Black Women Give Back, The WISE Fund, and AGAPE: A Global and Pan-African Philanthropic Economy, joins us to discuss Black Philanthropy Month, the history and growing influence of Black giving, and the future of Black philanthropy. Then Scott M. Curran, author of the new book Better Good, Founder and CEO of Beyond Advisers, and former General Counsel of the Clinton Foundation, joins us to discuss how individuals and organizations can turn good intentions into meaningful impact—and the practical framework he believes can help all of us make better use of the time, talent, treasure, and other resources we already have.

August 12, 2026: After the news, we speak with Erica Wertheim Zohar, philanthropist and author of High Trust Worth, about "institutional infidelity" and what her experience reveals about how universities engage with—and sometimes fail—their female donors. Then we talk with Joe Manok, Vice President for University Advancement at Clark University, and David Woodruff, Founder & Executive Coach at Holdfast Coaching and Consulting Partner at Marts&Lundy, about their new book, Becoming AI-Ready: Designing Future Nonprofit Teams.

After the news, we speak with Alex Daniels, Senior Reporter at The Chronicle of Philanthropy, about his reporting on the SDG Impact Fund scandal. Then we talk with Paul Clolery, VP and Editorial Director of NPT Publishing Group, about the newly released NonProfit Times Power & Influence Top 50. Finally, we interview Dale Nirvani Pfeifer, Chief Executive Officer of Giving Compass, about her new book, Artificial Intelligence for Nonprofit Fundraising.

June 24, 2026: On today's show, Roger D. Ali, Board Chair of AFP Global; Nicola Lawrence MSc MSFP PgC CAP® CFRE, Chair of the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners, and Vice President, Individual Giving at Phoenix Children's Foundation; Bill Stanczykiewicz of the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and The Fund Raising School; and, Brent Grinna, President at EverTrue, join host Jay Frost to discuss the new Giving USA results.  

June 3, 2026: After the news, Sara Herschander, Future Perfect Fellow at Vox, talks about billionaire environmental philanthropy. Later in the program, we talk with Elizabeth Ginexi, former NIH Scientific Program Official, and Jacob Malcolm, Founder and Executive Director, Next Interior, and former Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of the Interior, about proposed new rules for federal grantmaking.

May 20, 2026: After the news, Jenny Cooke Smith, Executive Director of CASE Insights, tells us about what is revealed in the new CASE Insights on Voluntary Support of Education report. Later in the show, Mark Quigley talks about his new book, "One Year Before Your Capital Campaign: A 12-month pre-campaign guide to success."

May 5, 2026: After the news, Shannon McCracken, President & CEO of The Nonprofit Alliance, joins us to examine how the federal indictment of Southern Poverty Law Center could reshape the legal boundaries of nonprofit activity—and why silence from the sector may carry long-term consequences for all. Later in the program, we feature an interview with Daniel Freeman about his forthcoming book, Burn't.

April 22, 2026: After the news, Digital Transformation Advisor Wayan Vota talks about his analysis of the full Yield Giving dataset. Later in the program, Ben Porter, former CAO at Kellogg and Tuck and leader of principal gifts at Northwestern’s $6B campaign, and author of Principal Gifts Checklist, talks about his latest survey and analysis of principal giving across US higher education.