Podcast
Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership
Hosted by Patton McDowell · EN
Ranked #1 on FeedSpot's Nonprofit Leadership and Philanthropy podcast lists, Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership is the go-to resource for current and aspiring nonprofit leaders. Hosted by Dr. Patton McDowell and powered by Armstrong McGuire, the show delivers practical wisdom from the sector's most experienced executives, fundraisers, board leaders, and consultants — every Thursday.
Patton brings 30+ years of nonprofit leadership, coaching, and consulting experience, and shares proven best practices for individual and organizational success drawn from his work with hundreds of nonprofit organizations. With 366+ episodes, a 5/5 rating on Apple Podcasts, and listeners in 130+ countries, Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership is where serious nonprofit professionals come to grow. Hit subscribe and accelerate your path to nonprofit leadership. Learn more and access all episodes at www.armstrongmcguire.com/podcasts
30episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
370: How to Stop Losing Half of Your Recurring Donors (Dave Raley)
1w ago00:46:59Tap to summarize370: How to Stop Losing Half of Your Recurring Donors (Dave Raley)Episode SummaryIf your organization celebrates a 42% recurring donor retention rate (the national average), you may be focusing on the wrong number - because the real story is the 58% you’re losing every year. In this follow-up to Episode #301, Patton welcomes back Dave Raley, Founder and CEO of The Center for Sustainable Giving in Poulsbo, Washington, for a deeper dive into sustainable giving. Dave unpacks the two distinct faces of donor churn - involuntary (failed credit cards) and voluntary (donors who choose to leave) - and explains why treating them the same way is one of the most expensive mistakes a nonprofit can make. He introduces a practical three-part retention model - Affirm, Engage, Appeal - and makes the case that the middle step is where most organizations quietly lose the relationship. He also shares the data behind upgrade campaigns, including what a 25% average gift lift looks like in practice and when in the donor lifecycle to run one. Whether your organization is flying blind on churn or ready to move from knowing to doing, this episode delivers clear, immediate steps you can take this quarter.About DaveDave Raley is the Founder and CEO of The Center for Sustainable Giving, based in Poulsbo, Washington, where he helps nonprofit leaders build recurring giving programs that retain donors and grow long-term revenue. With a background spanning nonprofit fundraising strategy, technology, and the subscription economy, Dave has become one of the sector’s leading voices on donor retention, passive churn, and the structural shifts required to move organizations from transactional to relational fundraising. He is also the author of The Wave Report, a research publication tracking trends in sustainable giving, and was previously the founder of Imago Consulting. Dave joined Patton first on Episode #301 and returns here with deeper frameworks and sharper tools for leaders ready to act.ResourcesConnect with Dave on LinkedInLearn more about The Center for Sustainable GivingSubscribe to The Wave Report - Dave’s research publication on trends in sustainable givingListen to Dave’s first appearance: Episode #301: The Why Behind Sustainable GivingThe Rise of Sustainable Giving by Dave RaleyFollow Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership - and please leave a review!Learn more about the leadership resources at Armstrong McGuire: ArmstrongMcGuire.com
Transcribe →369: No Money, No Mission: Rethinking How Nonprofits Are Built to Survive (Ryan Dewey Smith)
2w ago00:37:54Tap to summarize369: No Money, No Mission: Rethinking How Nonprofits Are Built to Survive (Ryan Dewey Smith) Episode SummaryMost nonprofits don’t fail because their mission stops mattering - they fail because the structure holding that mission together was never built to last. In this episode, Patton sits down with Ryan Dewey Smith, Founding Executive Chairman & CEO of Inperium, Inc., based in Reading, Pennsylvania, to explore the structural fault lines quietly threatening even well-intentioned organizations. Ryan draws on more than a decade of building Inperium’s constellation model - a networked alternative to traditional mergers that preserves local autonomy while delivering shared back-office infrastructure, access to capital, and best-in-class talent - to explain why so many nonprofits wait too long to raise their hand, and what it costs the people they serve when they do. From navigating board resistance and staff fear during affiliation to the discipline of leading from strength rather than desperation, Ryan brings a practitioner’s candor to the structural questions most leaders quietly avoid. Listeners will walk away with a sharper understanding of the early warning signs of organizational vulnerability, and a concrete alternative to going it alone.About RyanRyan Dewey Smith is the Founding Executive Chairman & CEO of Inperium, Inc., a national nonprofit parent company headquartered in Reading, Pennsylvania, that provides shared back-office infrastructure, access to capital, and operational support to a constellation of 34 behavioral health and human services organizations operating across 20 states. Ryan founded Inperium after spending more than two decades as CEO of his own nonprofit serving individuals with intellectual disabilities - an experience that exposed firsthand the structural fragility most mission-driven organizations quietly carry. His forthcoming book, Sustaining the Mission, to be published by Forbes in September 2026, chronicles Inperium’s journey and offers a roadmap for nonprofits seeking lasting resilience without sacrificing the autonomy that makes their work meaningful.ResourcesConnect with Ryan on LinkedInLearn more about Inperium, Inc.: inperium.orgVisit Ryan’s website: ryandeweysmith.comSustaining the Mission by Ryan Dewey Smith — forthcoming from Forbes, September 22, 2026Nonviolent Communication by Marshall B. RosenbergFollow Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership — and please leave a review!Learn more about the leadership resources at Armstrong McGuire — ArmstrongMcGuire.com
Transcribe →368: Before You Merge: Five Factors Every Nonprofit Leader Must Weigh (Staci Barfield)
3w ago00:55:44Tap to summarize368: Before You Merge: Five Factors Every Nonprofit Leader Must Weigh (Staci Barfield)Episode SummaryFor too many nonprofit leaders, the word “merger” lands like a verdict, a sign something has gone wrong. Staci Barfield, Senior Director of Consulting Excellence at Armstrong McGuire in Cary, NC, argues the opposite: a merger belongs early on a leader’s strategic menu, not at the end. Drawing on her work facilitating the Arise Collective and MATCH (Mothers and Their Children) merger, Staci walks Patton through the full continuum of collaboration and unpacks the five factors every leader should weigh: mission alignment and strategic rationale, organizational and cultural fit, governance and leadership readiness, financial health and due diligence, and capacity to manage change while continuing to serve. She makes the case that funders are increasingly convening these conversations and that the strategic exercise itself has value even when it doesn’t end in a merger. Listeners walk away with a practical framework for assessing any form of collaboration, and a sharper read on when a merger isn’t a retreat but a way to magnify mission.About StaciStaci Barfield is Senior Director of Consulting Excellence at Armstrong McGuire, where she leads the methodologies, tools, and resources that equip the firm’s advisor team to deliver consistent, high-impact client work. She came to the philanthropic sector after a long corporate career in information technology and business process improvement at Gap, Inc., Andersen Consulting (now Accenture), Sprint, AT&T, and Springs Industries. The pivot was catalyzed when a Hurricane Katrina deployment with the American Red Cross showed her that her business skill set translated directly to mission-driven work. From there she went on to serve as Vice President of Development for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Eastern NC Chapter, Executive Director of National Students of AMF, and CEO of Children’s Flight of Hope, before joining Armstrong McGuire. Across all of it, Staci has been driven by the same instinct: maximizing an organization’s opportunities for success through both strategic and operational initiatives.ResourcesConnect with Staci on LinkedInCase study referenced in the episode: Arise Collective + MATCH (Mothers and Their Children)Shared services model referenced in the episode: Ascend Nonprofit Solutions (Charlotte, NC)Companion episode: #350 with Andre Anthony: What Every Nonprofit Leader Needs to Know About MergersStaci’s book recommendation: I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times by Mónica GuzmánFollow Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership and please leave a review!Learn more about Staci’s work and leadership resources at Armstrong McGuire (ArmstrongMcGuire.com)
Transcribe →367: Activate Good - Leading with Fearlessness and Purpose (Marjorie Maas)
May 700:45:16Tap to summarize367: Activate Good - Leading with Fearlessness and Purpose (Marjorie Maas)Episode SummaryNonprofit leaders carry the weight of the next grant, the next major gift, the next board meeting - and that constant worry doesn’t make the work more productive, it just makes it heavier. In Episode #367, Patton talks with Marjorie Maas, CEO of Share Good, based in Omaha, NE, about what it actually looks like to lead with fearlessness when stakes are high and resources are tight. Marjorie leads a national technology and community-building nonprofit that helps cities position generosity in one place - now active in nine markets from Charlotte to Detroit to Omaha and beyond - and she shares the mindset shifts that have shaped both her organization’s growth and her own “patchwork quilt” career path. She unpacks the difference between scarcity thinking and an abundance mindset rooted in logical thinking rather than blind faith, why emerging leaders shouldn’t talk themselves out of their passion, and why governance fluency is something professionals should be building early — not waiting for an executive seat to learn. Listeners will walk away with a practical framework for leading through uncertainty, language for coaching the next generation of nonprofit professionals, and a clearer sense of how to keep moving forward when fear shows up.About MarjorieMarjorie Maas is the CEO of Share Good, a national technology and community-building nonprofit that connects passion to action in hyperlocal communities by giving nonprofits a shared megaphone to tell donors and volunteers what they need. She leads the growth and expansion of Share Good’s national footprint and supports the SHARE Family of community partners across the country. Before joining Share Good in December 2022, Marjorie launched and directed SHARE Omaha, building a platform that promotes more than 700 nonprofits across the Greater Omaha and Council Bluffs metro, and earlier created and implemented the corporate social responsibility strategy for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska, redesigning their corporate giving and volunteerism programs. Her 20-plus-year career spans arts marketing, statewide grantmaking, and CSR — a winding path she calls a “patchwork quilt” and credits as the very thing that prepared her for the work she does now.ResourcesConnect with Marjorie on LinkedInLearn more about Share Good at ShareGoodUSA.org — visit the About Us page for community case studies and video testimonialsConcept referenced: Ikigai — the Japanese framework for the overlap of mission, vocation, profession, and passionBook recommendation: The Dip by Seth Godin — a quick, essential read on knowing when to push through a setback and when to walk awayAlso mentioned: Mindset by Carol Dweck (Patton’s reference on growth vs. fixed mindset)Follow Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership — and please leave a review!Learn more about the leadership resources at Armstrong McGuire — ArmstrongMcGuire.com
Transcribe →366: Stop Writing for Your Organization. Write for Your Donor. (Tom Ahern)
Apr 3000:51:09Tap to summarize366: Stop Writing for Your Organization. Write for Your Donor. (Tom Ahern)Episode SummaryMost nonprofit communications are, in Tom Ahern’s blunt assessment, built to fail. Not because the work isn’t worthy, but because organizations keep writing about themselves when they should be writing for the donor. In episode #366, Patton sits down with Tom Ahern, founder of Ahern Communications, Inc. and one of the most influential voices in fundraising copywriting, to unpack why so many appeals, newsletters, and annual reports fall flat. Drawing on decades of commercial copywriting experience before he “wandered into” the nonprofit sector, Tom walks listeners through the three questions every case for support must answer (Why us? Why now? Why you, the donor?) and explains why urgency without desperation, emotion over information, and a relentless focus on the reader are the difference between a gift and a pass. He shares a remarkable story of a Boys & Girls Club that owned a million-dollar crisis and came back stronger, makes the case that donors are already 99% of the way there, and offers a clear-eyed take on what AI can and cannot do for fundraising writers. Listeners will leave with a practical framework they can apply to their next appeal this week, a sharper understanding of donor psychology, and permission to stop trying to inform their way to a gift.About TomTom Ahern is the founder of Ahern Communications, Inc. and one of the leading voices in donor communications and fundraising copywriting. His clients have ranged from Save the Children US and Catholic Relief Services to the Animal Rescue League of Boston, Boston Children’s Hospital, the Anchorage Museum, and universities including Princeton, Carleton, and the University of Saskatchewan. He came to the nonprofit sector after fifteen years as a commercial copywriter, led, as he puts it, by an angel: his wife Simone, a longtime development professional and consultant. Since then he has coached fundraisers on best practices in appeals, newsletters, and cases for support, led communications audits (he prefers to call them “autopsies”), and trained nonprofit teams on four continents. Tom is the author of eight how-to books on donor communications, each rated 4.5 stars or higher on Amazon, and a sought-after faculty member for masterclasses and webinars. These days he volunteers most of his coaching hours for small and mid-sized charities, and still keeps Jerry Weissman’s book on his desk, the spine sun-bleached from daily use.ResourcesConnect with Tom on LinkedInLearn more at Ahern CommunicationsTom’s case-for-support framework: Why us? Why now? Why you, the donor?Book recommendation: Presenting to Win: The Art of Telling Your Story by Jerry WeissmanTom’s books on donor communications, including Keep Your Donors (co-authored with Simone Joyaux), available on AmazonFollow Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, and please leave a review!Learn more about the leadership resources at Armstrong McGuire: ArmstrongMcGuire.com
Transcribe →365: The Long Game: Building a Fundraising Career That Lasts (Jim Broschart)
Apr 2300:46:43Tap to summarize365: The Long Game: Building a Fundraising Career That Lasts (Jim Broschart)Episode SummaryWhat does it take to build a fundraising career that spans decades, and still choose a challenge over comfort when the next opportunity calls? In Episode 365, Jim Broschart, Vice President for Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement at the University of Louisville, shares the leadership philosophy behind a career that has taken him from community health centers in Syracuse to leading NC State’s $2.1 billion campaign, to his latest challenge of building a top-tier philanthropy program at UofL. Jim breaks down what makes a fundraising shop truly effective (hint: it starts with talent, not strategy), how he assesses emotional intelligence in candidates, why organizational health outperforms any strategic plan, and what leaders at every level can do to stay focused on the core work amid constant noise. Practical, candid, and grounded in hard-won experience, this conversation is essential listening for anyone navigating the long game in fundraising leadership.About JimJim Broschart is Vice President for Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement at the University of Louisville, where he oversees the university’s advancement, fundraising, and alumni relations efforts. He comes to UofL from North Carolina State University, where he served as Associate Vice Chancellor for University Development and Vice President of the NC State Foundation, Inc., leading the Think and Do The Extraordinary Campaign, which surpassed its $1.6 billion goal to raise $2.1 billion. Prior to NC State, Jim served as Vice President for Advancement at Binghamton University and held a range of leadership roles at Hartwick College, Syracuse University, and the State University of New York. He holds a bachelor’s degree in health services administration from Ithaca College and an MBA in marketing from Binghamton University.ResourcesConnect with Jim on LinkedInUniversity of Louisville — louisville.eduThe Advantage by Patrick LencioniMastermind Leadership Development Program — Learn moreFollow Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership — and please leave a review!Learn more about the leadership resources at Armstrong McGuire — ArmstrongMcGuire.com
Transcribe →364: What Will Your Donor Remember? (Norman Gildin)
Apr 1600:38:45Tap to summarizeEpisode 364: What Will Your Donor Remember? (Norman Gildin)Episode SummaryFundraiser burnout is real — and with average tenure in the profession hovering between two and four years, the sector is losing talent it can’t afford to lose. In Episode 364, Norman Gildin, a fundraising consultant and author with more than four decades in the field and over $100 million raised, cuts through the noise with the kind of plain-talk wisdom that only comes from doing this work at every level. Drawing on his framework of common sense, moral compass, and his RDC doctrine — respect, dignity, and consideration — Norman walks listeners through what’s really driving burnout, why fundraisers overwhelm donors instead of connecting with them, and how the fundamentals of annual giving, capital campaigns, planned giving, and endowments still come down to patience, persistence, and knowing what your donor actually wants. This is a master class from someone who has lived it, written about it, and is still in the room.About NormanNorman Gildin is a fundraising consultant, author, and sector veteran with more than four decades of experience in nonprofit development. Over the course of his career - which began with a master’s in healthcare administration from George Washington University and an administrative residency at Fairfax Hospital Association - Norm has served in senior leadership roles including executive vice president, directing fundraising strategy across annual giving, capital campaigns, planned giving, and endowments. He has raised more than $100 million under his direction and spearheaded multiple successful campaigns, case statements, and strategic plans for nonprofit organizations. Norman is the author of two books - Learn From My Experiences: A Collection of Essays in Fundraising for Professionals, Lay Leaders, Volunteers and the Public, and Fundraising Insights for Nonprofits (2025) - with a third book currently in development.ResourcesConnect with Norman on LinkedInNorman’s website, essays, and blog — normangildin.comFundraising Insights for Nonprofits by Norman Gildin (2025)Learn From My Experiences: A Collection of Essays in Fundraising for Professionals, Lay Leaders, Volunteers and the Public by Norman GildinDaily Rituals: How Great Minds Make Time, Find Inspiration, and Get to Work by Mason CurryPatton’s Mastermind Leadership Development Program — Learn moreFollow Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership — and please leave a review!Learn more about the leadership resources at Armstrong McGuire — ArmstrongMcGuire.com
Transcribe →363: Your Mission Is Clear. Is Your Story? (Brandy Walker)
Apr 900:42:08Tap to summarizeEpisode 363: Your Mission Is Clear. Is Your Story? (Brandy Walker)Episode SummaryMost nonprofit leaders are skilled at communicating their mission, but far fewer know how to tell their own story, and that gap is costing them donors, alignment, and influence. In Episode 363, Brandy Walker, M.A., CPC, founder of Brand Worthy Solutions and a former nonprofit fundraiser and educator, breaks down why personal storytelling isn’t self-promotion, it’s strategy. Drawing on her frameworks for trust, team alignment, and clarity, Brandy explains the three story types every leader needs in their toolkit (origin, impact, and transformation), why audience misalignment is the most common fundraising mistake she sees, and how even the most introverted leader can build visibility through a ladder of communication that starts with a simple weekly message. Practical, direct, and immediately actionable, this conversation will change how nonprofit leaders think about showing up, and who they’re showing up for.About BrandyBrandy Walker, M.A., CPC, is the founder of Brand Worthy Solutions and a strategist, storyteller, and trusted thought partner with more than 20 years of experience across education, nonprofit leadership, fundraising, and organizational strategy. A former K–12 educator, seven-figure grant writer, and nonprofit C-suite leader, Brandy stands at the intersection of strategy and storytelling — helping leaders and organizations tell better stories to, about, and for themselves so their work is understood, valued, and positioned for growth. Through Brand Worthy Solutions, she works with leaders navigating personal brand evolution, organizational reinvention, and new chapters of leadership, offering support across brand strategy and positioning, storytelling and messaging, and consulting and advisory services. She is based in Chicago, Illinois.ResourcesConnect with Brandy on LinkedInBrand Worthy Solutions — youarebrandworthy.comUnreasonable Hospitality by Will GuidaraPatton’s Mastermind Leadership Development Program — Learn moreFollow Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership — and please leave a review!Learn more about the leadership resources at Armstrong McGuire — ArmstrongMcGuire.comYour Path to Nonprofit Leadership | ArmstrongMcGuire.com/podcasts
Transcribe →362: It’s Never Just the Money: What Donor Psychology Means for Nonprofit Leaders (Marcia Dawood)
Apr 200:45:21Tap to summarize362: It’s Never Just the Money: What Donor Psychology Means for Nonprofit Leaders (Marcia Dawood)Episode SummaryMost nonprofit leaders approach fundraising as a logical transaction — make the case, present the data, close the gift. But according to Marcia Dawood, angel investor, author, and TEDx speaker, that approach misses the deeper psychology driving every giving decision. In Episode 362, Marcia draws on her experience investing in 50+ startups and chairing the Angel Capital Association to reveal what truly motivates donors — and it has far more to do with money stories, values alignment, and identity than logic ever will. From unpacking the scarcity mindset that keeps even wealthy donors from giving, to reframing legacy conversations as something donors can experience while they’re still alive, Marcia offers nonprofit leaders a practical shift in how they engage prospects. Listeners will walk away with new language for donor conversations, a powerful group exercise for unlocking money stories at events, and a fresh understanding of why the most effective fundraising ask isn’t an ask at all — it’s an invitation.About MarciaMarcia Dawood is an early-stage investor, author, and advocate for expanding access to capital across both the for-profit and nonprofit sectors. Having invested in over 50 startups and funds, she serves as a Venture Partner at Mindshift Capital, a member of Golden Seeds, and as Chair Emeritus of the Angel Capital Association (ACA), the global professional society for angel investors, where she chaired the board for a decade. Marcia also serves as Chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee and is the founder and chair of the ACA’s Growing Women’s Capital Group, which builds syndication and collaboration among U.S. investment groups focused on women-led companies. A TEDx Charlotte speaker and host of The Angel Next Door Podcast — now more than 170 episodes — she is the author of Do Good While Doing Well (2024) and Unapologetic Wealth (2026), and served as an Associate Producer on the documentary Show Her the Money, which debuted at the Women’s Film Festival in Philadelphia in 2023. She splits her time between New York City and Charlotte, North Carolina.ResourcesUnapologetic Wealth: Rewrite Your Money Story From Any Beginning by Marcia Dawood — releasing this week! Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Bookshop.orgConnect with Marcia on LinkedInMarcia’s website and free resources — marciadawood.comThe Angel Next Door PodcastDo Good While Doing Well: Invest For Change, Reap Financial Rewards and Increase Your Happiness by Marcia DawoodBuoyant: The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Becoming Wildly Successful, Creative, and Free by Susie DeVilleFollow Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership — and please leave a review!Learn more about the leadership resources at Armstrong McGuire — ArmstrongMcGuire.com
Transcribe →361: 5 Reasons Your Professional Development Isn't Working (Megan Joseph)
Mar 2600:42:26Tap to summarize361: 5 Reasons Your Professional Development Isn't Working (Megan Joseph)Episode SummaryMost nonprofit leaders are spending on professional development - and still not seeing results. The workshops get attended, the boxes get checked, and the notebook sits on the shelf. In this episode, Megan Joseph, Founder of Impact Launch, makes the case that the problem isn’t effort or intention, it’s strategy. Drawing on eight years of working hands-on with organizations across the country, she identifies the five reasons PD consistently fails to deliver: disconnected from strategy, scattered and episodic, reactive instead of preventative, aimed at the wrong problems, and lacking the leadership support to translate learning into lasting change. Megan offers a practical framework for measuring real ROI through behavioral change and organizational outcomes - not attendance or satisfaction surveys - along with clear action steps leaders can take in the next 60–90 days. Listeners will walk away with better questions, a sharper PD lens, and one guiding principle: define what success looks like before you spend a dollar.About MeganMegan Joseph is the Founding Director of Impact Launch, a collective of social impact practitioners who partner with nonprofits, philanthropy, and local government to design and implement effective organizational, systems, and community change. Impact Launch supports leaders across leadership capacity building, equity-centered initiatives, strategic planning, and expert facilitation - and to date has worked with over 40 organizations, impacted more than 50,000 teams and communities, and developed over 1,700 leaders through its Radical Transformational Leadership program. Before launching Impact Launch, Megan spent 20 years as a nonprofit leader and practitioner, gaining hands-on experience across nearly every role a mission-driven organization requires - from executive leadership, coaching, and fundraising to the behind-the-scenes work she describes as “mastering the art of hummus procurement.” She has worked across philanthropy, social services, criminal justice, homelessness, economic opportunity, education, and public health, and brings that full range of lived experience to every engagement - grounded in the belief that everyone, regardless of title, has the capacity to lead.ResourcesMegan Joseph on LinkedInImpact Launch — impactlaunch.orgBook: Radical Transformational Leadership: Strategic Action for Change Agents by Dr. Monica SharmaBook: Clear and Compelling: Communication Strategies for Big Thinkers with Bold Ideas by Salvatore Manzi — past guest on Episode 322Follow Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership — and please leave a review!Learn more about the leadership resources at Armstrong McGuire
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