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The Beacon Podcast

Reflections on 50 years in philanthropy

April 4, 2024

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel Senior Consultant Karen Baldwin talks with Mike Richey, who retired recently as vice president of philanthropy and alumni engagement at the University of Kentucky after a five-decade career at the school. In their discussion, Mike addresses: About our guest Mike Richey retired in January 2022 as […]

What Can Obi-Wan Kenobi Teach You About Major Gifts Fundraising?

March 28, 2024

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel Senior Consultant Harry Chapman talks with Dr. Russell James, professor in the School of Financial Planning at Texas Tech University, about making the ask.  In their discussion, Russell addresses: ABOUT OUR GUEST Dr. Russell James is a professor in the School of Financial Planning at Texas […]

Addressing the special leadership and funding challenges of a boarding and day school

March 1, 2024

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel Senior Consultant Martha Ross talks with Ken Cheeseman, head of school at The Webb School, a boarding and day school in Bell Buckle, Tennessee. In their discussion, Martha and Ken talk about: About our guest Prior to Webb, Ken Cheeseman served as head of school of […]

Those who give… receive: Living a ‘giveful’ life

February 28, 2024

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel Senior Consultant Martha Ross speaks with Patricia Glaser Shea, founder and CEO of Being Giveful, about giving as a wellness practice and how individuals and nonprofits can foster a more giveful life. In their discussion, Pat addresses: About our guest Patricia Glaser Shea is a visionary […]

How to Spot a Dysfunctional Organization and What to Do When You Do

February 19, 2024

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel President Jeff Jowdy welcomes Dr. Lilya Wagner and Dr. Mark Hager for a discussion on dysfunctional organizations. Mark and Lilya go way back to when they co-authored “Board members beware! Warning signs of a dysfunctional organization” in the late ‘90s for Nonprofit World magazine. In this […]

Technology for fundraising: Choosing and implementing it for maximum success

January 19, 2024

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Director of Business Development Ryan Woroniecki talks with Micah James, manager of professional services at data management company Bloomerang, about technology for nonprofits. In their discussion, Ryan and Micah discuss topics including: About our guest In her role as manager of professional services at Bloomerang, Micah supervises a […]

Reflections on 40 years as an independent school headmaster

January 11, 2024

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel Senior Consultant Martha Ross talks with longtime independent school leader Brad Gioia about some of the changes he’s seen in the independent school landscape over his 40-year career. Martha and Brad talk about topics including: About our guest Brad Gioia was the headmaster at Montgomery Bell Academy […]

Connecting, not collecting: the critical importance of donor relationships

December 15, 2023

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel Senior Consultant Joan Bahner speaks with Bob Poole about donor relationships. For 14 years, Bob was senior vice president at Meherry Medical College and is now senior philanthropic advisor at Saad & Shaw. In their discussion, Joan and Bob talk about: About our guest Bob Poole […]

Latest Insights from The Fundraising Effectiveness Project

November 14, 2023

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel Senior Consultant Dr. Lilya Wagner speaks with Erik Daubert, who’ll be sharing insights from AFP’s Fundraising Effectiveness Project’s latest report. The Fundraising Effectiveness Project was created in 2006 as a joint project of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and the Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy at […]

Insights from the legacy of fundraising great Doug Lawson

October 26, 2023

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel Director of Business Development Ryan Woroniecki talks with David Lawson, the son of fundraising icon Doug Lawson, who passed away in 2020. In their discussion, David talks about: About our guest David Lawson is co-founder and CEO of Call Simulator, an AI-powered call center software. He […]

Insights from the Lake Institute on Faith & Giving on how to connect with faith-based donors

October 20, 2023

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel Senior Consultant Dr. Lilya Wagner talks with David Patrick King about the Lake Institute on Faith & Giving at Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and about what faith-based giving looks like now.  David is the Karen Lake Buttrey director of the institute and associate […]

Participative leadership and how it can transform your nonprofit

September 20, 2023

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel Content Coordinator Margaret Gardner talks with Willeke van Rijn, CEO of The Resource Alliance, about participative leadership and how it can transform the culture of an organization. In their discussion, Willeke: About our guest The Resource Alliance exists to strengthen the social impact sector by ensuring […]

Getting Your Board Comfortable – and Engaged – with Fundraising

August 9, 2023

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff Jowdy is joined by John O’Kane for a discussion on nonprofit boards and fundraising. John has been an influence in the nonprofit sector in the US for more than five decades and recently joined Lighthouse Counsel of counsel. In their conversation, John talks about: About our guest […]

Practical insights from the Giving USA 2023 Briefing 

July 25, 2023

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel Director of Business Development Ryan Woroniecki talks with Erik Tomalis, director of business development and chief evangelist at responsive fundraising platform Virtuous.  In their discussion, Erik shares some of the thought-provoking insights and questions from the joint Lighthouse Counsel/Virtuous 2023 Giving USA Briefing, including  About our […]

Five Essential Virtues for Life and Leadership

June 14, 2023

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel President Jeff Jowdy talks with Héctor Colón, president and CEO of Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. Héctor also is a seven-time national boxing champion and the author of “My Journey from Boxing Ring to Boardroom: Five Essential Virtues for Life and Leadership.”  In […]

Fearless Leadership for Nonprofits

May 12, 2023

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, OneCause CEO Steve Johns talks with Lighthouse Counsel Director of Business Development Ryan Woroniecki, about fearless leadership and what that looks like in the nonprofit world. Steve, author of “Fearless: Leadership Lessons at the Crossroads,” answers questions including: About our Guest Steve Johns is the CEO of nonprofit digital […]

Education Leadership in the Pandemic Era

April 6, 2023

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel Senior Consultant Martha Ross speaks with Mark Stanek, head of school at Shady Hill School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Mark shares his experience in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic as an education leader and addresses topics including: About our Guest Prior to joining Shady Hill as head […]

What’s Agitating Me Now — An Interview with Roger Craver

March 29, 2023

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Margaret Gardner talks with fundraising guru and rabble rouser Roger Craver.  Roger is the editor of fundraising and communications blog The Agitator, which has been his main space for rousing rabble for more than a decade. So, it seemed only natural to ask, “What’s agitating you now?” Roger […]

The Generosity Crisis and the Case for Radical Connection

March 9, 2023

In today’s episode of The Beacon Podcast, Ryan Woroniecki  talks with Nathan Chappell, author of the book, “Generosity Crisis: The case for radical connection to solve humanity’s greatest challenges.”  In their discussion, Nathan explains what the generosity crisis is and answers questions including: About our Guest As a thought leader, public speaker, author and inventor, […]

Collaborating for Impact

February 22, 2023

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, fundraising icon Kay Sprinkel Grace talks with Margaret Gardner about how and why nonprofits should collaborate to increase their impact. Kay shares experiences and words of wisdom gleaned from her decades-long career and discusses: About our Guest More than 1,000 organizations and tens of thousands of participants at […]

Managing your Nonprofit for Resilience

February 15, 2023

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Margaret Gardner speaks with Ted Bilich, founder and CEO of Risk Alternatives, about managing your nonprofit for resilience.  Ted talks about the current economic landscape for nonprofits and answers questions including: About our Guest Before founding Risk Alternatives LLC, Ted Bilich was a Distinguished Visiting Professor from Practice […]

Here’s What You Need to Know About AFP

January 27, 2023

In this episode of  The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel Senior Consultant Susan Hosbach speaks with Kevin Foyle, chairman of the global board for the Association of Fundraising Professionals, about AFP and what fundraisers and other nonprofit staff can expect from membership. During the interview, Kevin discusses: About our Guest Kevin Foyle is the senior vice […]

Fine-tuning Public Relations for Nonprofit Fundraising

January 20, 2023

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel Senior Consultant Joan Bahner talks with author and PR pro Marc Whitt about the public relations in the nonprofit sector. Marc shares his eight habits that elevate a public relations professional to the masterful level and discusses topics including: About our Guest Marc Whitt has served […]

Getting your board on board with supporting your campaign

January 12, 2023

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel Senior Consultant Susan Hosbach speaks with Kevin Foyle, chairman of the global board for the Association of Fundraising Professionals, about maximizing the role of volunteers in a successful fundraising campaign.  During the interview, Kevin discusses: About our Guest Kevin Foyle is the senior vice president for […]

Cryptocurrency: Another way to meet donors where they are

December 29, 2022

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Pat Duffy, co-founder of The Giving Block, joins host Margaret Gardner for a discussion on cryptocurrency. Pat provides a primer on the subject and answers questions including: What is cryptocurrency is and how does it work? How does cryptocurrency fit into the philanthropic landscape?

Keeping donors engaged and giving during a crisis – when your mission isn’t crisis-related

December 19, 2022

“Before the pandemic, we were all moving in a million different directions and everybody knew what they were doing. And we were just moving quickly through a busy programming schedule. The pandemic forced us to slow down a little bit; it created the opportunity for us to work on strategy and really keep mission front […]

Successful Strategies for Legacy Giving

December 15, 2022

“Before you dive in deeply to these types of strategies, you want to make sure that you have solid donor relationships, you want to make sure that you have a good annual effort and that you are moving into those major gifts to really establish these legacy and lifetime gifts.” Lisa Chmiola In this episode […]

Is It Time to Transform Your Fundraising?

December 9, 2022

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, host Margaret Gardner speaks with fundraising strategist and mentor Tammy Zonker about transforming fundraising.  Tammy explains how sometimes just changing isn’t enough and discusses: About our Guest Recognized as one of America’s Top 20 fundraising experts, Tammy Zonker is an inspiring international speaker and trainer in the discipline […]

Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone as a Nonprofit Leader

November 27, 2022

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel President Jeff Jowdy speaks with Glenn Cranfield, president and CEO at the Nashville Rescue Mission, about how nonprofit leaders can get out of their comfort zone and embrace risk – and why they should. Glenn covers topics such as: Why comfort zones are detrimental to nonprofit […]

The Magic of Major Gift Fairy Dust

November 16, 2022

“A lot of organizations aren’t clear on what a best prospect or a major gift prospect is. And once you define that, using some kind of formula or lens or matrix through which to examine your donors or your prospects, magically, they appear; you can identify them.” Jennifer Filla In this episode of The Beacon […]

How Nonprofits Can Erase the Poverty Mindset to Truly Thrive

November 8, 2022

“I think we continuously miss the opportunity to talk about what we need and how what we do makes an impact. Because if we told that story of how what we need to accomplish includes having a rock solid back office, I don’t think donors would be offended at that.” Jess Birken In this episode […]

Successful Leadership: Casting a bold vision – and following through

October 28, 2022

“Hope is what it takes to pull people together. It’s hard to get pumped up and motivated, but hope can really take you a long ways.” Dr. Bob Fisher In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel Senior Consultant Harry Chapman talks with Dr. Bob Fisher, president emeritus of Belmont University in Nashville. Bob […]

Making the most of Giving Tuesday

October 24, 2022

“People are giving to people. So really focus your storytelling on the people and how a giver can actually affect change – and make it real and tangible and easy.” Celeste Flores In this episode of The Beacon, Margaret Gardner speaks with Celeste Flores, US Communities Lead for Giving Tuesday, about making the most of […]

From Competition to Collaboration: How nonprofits can and should work together for greater impact

October 18, 2022

“In the end, we want to make a positive impact on the lives of the people we serve. Sometimes that means getting outside of what we do and partnering with somebody else because they do it and they do it well.” – Glenn Cranfield In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel President Jeff […]

Understanding behavioral science and its role in fundraising

October 7, 2022

“We have what’s called system one and system two. System one is our irrational, emotional side – the Captain Kirk. And system two is our rational, logical side – the Mr. Spock. Fundraisers very often think that Mr. Spock is in charge and, actually, Captain Kirk’s in charge. That’s why he’s called the captain and […]

Countdown to Year-End: What Your Direct Response Should be Doing Three Months Out

September 29, 2022

“Year-end does an amazing thing. It happens at the same time every year, there’s never guesswork, we don’t wake up one morning and hear on the radio or read on an app that year-end this year has been scheduled for such and such a date. It is always December 31. So, if you’re behind the […]

The Journey of African Americans and Philanthropy

September 25, 2022

“I would suggest that nonprofits invite African Americans to sit on large foundation boards so that they are a part of the decision-making process. Blacks are not only recipients of charitable giving; we also are important donors.“ Joan Bahner In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel Communications Manager Yolanda Darville talks with Lighthouse […]

Making the Ask: The artful science of high-value fundraising

September 1, 2022

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Margaret Gardner talks with Bernard Ross, director of The Management Center, a global management consultancy working in the social impact sector, about an essential part of fundraising – making the ask. Bernard shares insight from his book, “Making the Ask: The artful science of high-value fundraising, and answers […]

Golden Nuggets: Simone Joyaux’s Wisest Words of Wisdom

August 11, 2022

“One of the things she just harped on all the time were what she called cage-rattling questions, questions that kept a conversation with a prospect going and alive and productive for both sides. So instead of going in and talking, you were doing a lot of listening with the occasional prompt.” Tom Ahern This edition […]

A Practical Guide to Impactful Educational Leadership 

July 27, 2022

“In my world, I can’t tell you how often I hear people say ‘my’ … my board, my school, my faculty. And when you say ‘our,” it just sounds like a little bit different message.” Jim Kubacki In this edition of The Beacon Podcast, we talk with Jim Kubacki, author of the book “Choose to […]

Key Takeaways for Nonprofit Leaders from the Pandemic

June 28, 2022

In this edition of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel Senior Consultant Gail Glasser talks with Steve Ives, president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Houston, about things nonprofit leaders were able to glean from the chaos that was and, to some degree, still is the coronavirus pandemic. In this discussion, Steve answers questions including: […]

Skillful relationship building that will keep your fundraising on par

May 18, 2022

In this edition of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel Senior Consultant Kathy Gaston talks with Dick Horton, past president of the Tennessee Golf Foundation, about relationship building and its importance in fundraising. Dick shared his insights on how organizations can harness the power of relationships to keep their fundraising going strong. Among the topics discussed: […]

Simple Lessons that Make Fundraising Easy (or at Least Not So Hard)

May 5, 2022

“I don’t care if it’s fear of asking for a gift. I don’t care if it’s fear of root canal or anything else. Usually, fear is based on fear of the unknown. And I think too few of our board members and our volunteers have actually experienced a solicitation for themselves.” Jim Eskin In this […]

Harnessing the Power of Peer-to-Peer Fundraising for Your Organization

March 28, 2022

“Nonprofits should look at their community of participants, community of donors, kind of as a tribe, a group of people that have like-minded interests and ways of looking at a particular challenge or issue that the nonprofit is trying to solve for.” Chris Lyons In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, writer and podcast coordinator […]

Responsive Fundraising and How You Can Treat All Donors Like Major Donors

February 11, 2022

“Amazon knows I need detergent before I know I need detergent, right? And so every brand experience I have is hyper-personalized to me. Donors now expect that sort of personalization because they care deeply about these causes. They expect you to know who they are and be connected with them.” Gabe Cooper In this edition […]

Raising more money by guiding donors to budget for charitable giving

January 28, 2022

“Nonprofits should consider going beyond the typical ask of recurring donations and really encourage donors to incorporate charitable giving into every budget decision that they make.” Rebecca Moffett In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel Senior Consultant David Snow speaks withRebecca Moffett, president of Vanguard Charitable, a national donor-advised fund provider and one […]

How Nonprofit Leaders Can Inspire and Empower Their Teams

January 20, 2022

In our world of nonprofits, one of the big things we have is a changing of the guard. Baby boomers are retiring and we must embrace the millennials, Generation X, Generation Z. We must embrace that they are coming into their roles as leaders. Bo Ryles In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse President […]

Communicating with Donors and Staff During a Crisis

December 3, 2021

“Putting in best practices ahead of time helped us. For those organizations that hadn’t, I would recommend looking at those types of things and saying. ‘Hey this wasn’t a pandemic fix, but maybe there are other ways we could be organizing the way we do our business, the way we treat our donors so that […]

Endowment Development: Planning for Long-term Success and Stability

November 11, 2021

“One common misconception is that an endowment fund will hurt annual giving. Research has shown that endowment donors not only continue to support the annual fund but often increase their annual support.” David Snow In this edition of The Beacon Podcast, Karen Baldwin speaks to David Snow, a senior consultant with Lighthouse Counsel, about endowment […]

The Importance of Organizational Purpose in Impactful Nonprofits

October 22, 2021

“It’s not enough for a nonprofit to just be thinking about the mission, vision, values of your organization. You need to think about how you can engage your employees so that they are also in alignment and helping you drive that forward because it’s helping them live their own individual life purpose.” Patrice Tanaka In […]

Your Strategic Plan: How to Do It Right and Keep It Right

September 30, 2021

“In a strategic plan, the goals need to be S.M.A.R.T. Smart goals are goals that are specific and measurable, goals that are attainable and that are responsive and relevant and goals that are timely.” Howard Cohen In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel Senior Consultant Karen Baldwin speaks with Howard Cohen, a senior […]

Continuing to do Good In Spite of a Worldwide Pandemic

September 20, 2021

The organizations that I saw, the nonprofit that I saw that now, in retrospect I should have known would be the ones that would thrive during all of this were the ones that reacted quickly and proactively. Alice Ferris Think about those things that were the rules and the norms that you used to live […]

Understanding the role of investment governance for nonprofits

August 31, 2021

“Really thoughtful governance is a lot of work. It doesn’t just happen. It forces hard decisions. But if you can get those decisions memorialized, you’re going to be better off in the long run for sure.” Adam Dretler In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel President Jeff Jowdy speaks with Adam Dretler, a principal […]

Using stories to increase planned giving

August 19, 2021

“A lot of times nonprofits tend to be focused on telling their story. And looking for small gifts, you can focus on telling your story as a nonprofit. But for major gifts, which includes planned gifts, it’s really about the donor’s story and how your organization fits into the donor’s story.” Russell James In this […]

Unpacking Critical Traits for Successful Nonprofit Leadership

July 23, 2021

“The leaders that seem to struggle the most, or have teams that struggle the most, are the ones that … have just given up and feel like, ‘I don’t want to learn anymore. I’ve been at this too long. Been there, done that.’ Marc Pitman In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Margaret Gardner speaks […]

Understanding Donor Motivation to Increase Giving, Engagement

July 2, 2021

“If you’re not out there actively asking for support, you are doing a disservice to your organization and therefore a disservice to those you serve.” Jim Anderson In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel President Jeff Jowdy speaks with Jim Anderson, a founding partner of GoalBusters Consulting, about donor motivation and how properly […]

Servant Leadership in the Nonprofit World

July 1, 2021

“Servant leadership is not about acquiring power, wealth or fame for oneself as a leader; it’s about identifying and meeting the needs of others.”  Kent Keith In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff Jowdy talks with Dr. Kent Keith,  author of “Anyway: The Paradoxical Commandments.” You no doubt have heard of the “paradoxical commandments” […]

Hiring and Workplace Trends During and After COVID

June 15, 2021

“Conversations about diversity, equity and inclusion have been ongoing for decades, but they’ve really reached a new level of intentionality and thought over the past year; organizations we’re working with want a rich tapestry of voices at the table.” Sally Bryant In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel President Jeff Jowdy talks with […]

Staying the Course During Changes in Leadership

June 8, 2021

“Coaching is a huge piece around a succession, and it doesn’t have to be elaborate. It’s about having the right conversations with your people, developing others through direct coaching. And I think it’s becoming more and more important as a skill for nonprofit leaders.” Frank Parsons In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff Jowdy […]

The Importance of Diversity and Inclusivity in Philanthropy

April 1, 2021

“Acknowledging that giving by diverse population groups or buying by diverse population groups is nothing new. But we need to understand how and why donors might give because one size no longer does fit all.“ Lilya Wagner In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff Jowdy talks with Lilya Wagner, retired director of Philanthropic Service […]

Build Strong Corporate Donor Relationships

February 7, 2021

“The one thing you don’t want to do is go into a corporation as a nonprofit asking for a million dollars when their traditional giving level is only $5,000.” Jeremy Park In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff Jowdy speaks with Jeremy Park, CEO of cityCURRENT, about identifying and maintaining relationships with corporate donors. […]

Engaging Genuinely and Effectively with the Hispanic and Latino Market

January 30, 2021

“The first thing that fundraising experts are missing is the huge opportunity that exists within the Latino market. And the high return on investment that focusing on this market could bring.” Patricia Ramirez Pinckney In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel Senior Consultant David Key speaks with Patricia Ramirez Pinckney, founder of the […]

Advocating for Associations During COVID-19

January 22, 2021

“We are going to have to face the reality that we are just going to be in a different world for the near term.” Cecil Staton In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff Jowdy speaks with Cecil Staton, president and CEO of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), about how associations can advocate […]

Building Your Bench Strength

January 5, 2021

“Succession planning is not an independent entity. It needs to be related to the organization’s vision and mission and their plans.” – Dan Ryan In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff Jowdy and Dan Ryan, CEO and president of Ryan Partners, discuss succession planning and the importance of building bench strength. Dan explains: which […]

Strengthen Diversity and Inclusion in University Advancement

December 29, 2020

“Those schools that have more success are the ones that build a structure and a plan around diversity and inclusiveness that is both internally focused and externally focused.” – Matthew Winston In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Joan Bahner speaks with Matthew Winston, former senior associate vice president for alumni relations at Virginia Tech, […]

Strategic Relationship Building

December 3, 2020

“The better, the deeper, the more connected the relationship, the easier, the faster the resources, infrastructure, and so on will come.” – Derek Young In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff Jowdy speaks with Derek Young, owner of YMG Enterprises, about strategically building relationships for your nonprofit. Believing that relationships are an organization’s most […]

Planned Giving During a Pandemic

November 25, 2020

“You need to be sensitive; you need to be a professional about how you approach people. But it is important to recognize that these are some of your best donors.” – Joe Chickey In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff Jowdy speaks with Sharpe Group Vice President Joe Chickey about estate giving, and why […]

Is Your Nonprofit’s Fundraising Automation Effective?

November 16, 2020

“There is an essential human element to fundraising that can never be replaced and should never be replaced.” Steven Shattuck In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Bloomerang’s Chief Engagement Officer, Steven Shattuck, joins Jeff Jowdy for a conversation about fundraising automation. Steven explains what fundraising automation is and: How nonprofits can use automation to […]

Building Relationships in Higher Education

November 16, 2020

“One of the most important ways an institution can facilitate having alumni who are engaged, loyal and generous is by helping them have profoundly positive experiences as undergrads.” Jay Lemons In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff Jowdy and Jay Lemons, president of Academic Search, discuss fundraising in higher education and the importance of […]

Position Your Nonprofit to Stand Out

November 12, 2020

“Positioning is all about creating a perception about your organization in the minds of your prospects.” Dave Goetz In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff Jowdy talks with president of CZ Strategies, Dave Goetz, about nonprofit positioning strategies. Dave explains what a positioning strategy is and shares: How nonprofits can craft a positioning strategy […]

Donor Tools for Planned Giving

November 12, 2020

“You want to make a gift in planned giving that will last; that will carry forward into the future; that will share your beliefs and your sense of mission with an organization that you care deeply about.” Bill McMorran In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff Jowdy and Bill McMorran, founder, senior partner and […]

Excel as a Fundraising Professional

November 10, 2020

“If you have met one foundation, you have met one foundation. Don’t treat all foundations the same.” Steve Rasmussen In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff Jowdy speaks with Steve Rasmussen, executive director of the Andrea Wiatt Carlton Family Foundation. Through their discussion, Jeff asks Steve for advice for fundraising professionals. Steve shares: What […]

Understanding the Dynamics Between the Board and Head of School

November 10, 2020

“It’s in everybody’s best interest – ultimately the students’ – that the board chair and head of school are figuratively on the same page when it comes to governance and administrative responsibilities.” Bill Mott In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff Jowdy speaks with Bill Mott, an adjunct instructor for the master’s program in […]

Donor Data, Strategy and Security

October 25, 2020

“Without the data behind it, to know how to achieve it is a pipe dream; it’s not a strategy” Clay Buck In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff Jowdy speaks with fundraising consultant Clay Buck about donor data, how to use it and how to keep it secure. Clay emphasizes the importance of maintaining […]

University Advancement Through the Years

October 16, 2020

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff Jowdy speaks with Vern Snyder about university advancement, the field from which he retired after a long and successful career. Vern discusses: The changes in university advancement over the decades How university fundraising work differs from that of other nonprofits Advice he would give to someone looking […]

Creating Corporate Engagement for Your College

October 14, 2020

“When you’re dealing with individuals, it’s more of a longer-term cultivation that matches your institution’s or your organization’s needs with their passion, versus foundations and corporations, where it’s a checklist.” Patrick Johnson In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Joan Bahner, senior consultant, talks with Patrick Johnson, senior vice president of institutional advancement at Meharry […]

Breaking the Glass Ceiling in Higher Education

October 8, 2020

“Recognize that leaders of your organization come in all different sizes and styles, so leadership is not one finite category.” Karen Baldwin In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff Jowdy speaks with Karen and Norm Baldwin about women and higher education leadership roles. Karen is a philanthropy consultant and the former vice president for […]

Planned Giving: Where to Start

August 24, 2020

“If you have five years or more, and you have individual donors who are roughly 55 and over, then you’re ready to embark on planned giving.” Tony Martigentti In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff Jowdy is joined by planned giving consultant and host of Nonprofit Radio, Tony Martignetti. As a planned giving expert, […]

Finding Virtual Gala Success

August 14, 2020

“Have a plan. Be flexible with that plan; it will change. And then follow it regularly.” – Rick Byrd In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel Senior Consultant David Snow discusses how Executive Director Rick Byrd successfully executed a virtual gala with the Houston Gulf Coast Chapter of JDRF. Rick shares: About JDRF […]

Avoid Arm’s-Length Fundraising

August 6, 2020

“This arm’s-length fundraising culture ultimately interferes with the fundraising professional’s ability to accomplish their goals.” – Jason Lewis In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff Jowdy speaks with Jason Lewis, managing partner of Lewis Fundraising and author of “The War for Fundraising Talent.”In their discussion, Jason explains how we can be better fundraising professionals […]

PR Lessons Learned Along the Way

July 29, 2020

“We need to take time to listen. We need to take time to observe. Then, listen even more. Listen to counsel. Listen more, and then act.” – Marc Whitt In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff Jowdy speaks with Marc Whitt, the University of Kentucky’s Office of Public Relations and Strategic Communication’s director of […]

Coordinating Communications and Fundraising

July 3, 2020

“Coordination of the message is not luxury but is critical as institutions communicate with their donors.” – Marc Whitt In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Marc Whitt, director of philanthropy and advancement communications for the University of Kentucky’s Office of Public Relations and Strategic Communications’, joins Jeff Jowdy to discuss integrating fundraising and communications […]

Nonprofit Legal Compliance

June 23, 2020

“It’s not that IRS-compliance necessity has gone down. It’s just that the state-level compliance has gone up and there’s a number of things that are driving that.” – Greg McRay In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff Jowdy is joined by Greg McRay, founder and CEO of the Foundation Group. Greg shares the different […]

Red Flags When Hiring Fundraising Professionals

June 23, 2020

“Genuineness and excitement about the candidate could be very helpful, but you have to take them with a grain of salt.” – Bill Moran On this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff Jowdy speaks with executive search professional Bill Moran, the founder of The Moran Company. Bill explains the executive search process and shares tips […]

Don’t Stop Cultivating

June 23, 2020

“Don’t let the next three months go by without seeing a big uptick in the number of cultivation calls.” – Shannon Williams In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Armstrong McGuire’s principal advisor and director of client engagement, Shannon Williams, joins Jeff Jowdy to discuss major gift fundraising during difficult times.With over two decades of […]

Finding The Perfect Leadership Fit

June 9, 2020

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff Jowdy speaks with Tommy Thomas, lead partner of  JobfitMatters, and board member and managing director of SIMA International. Tommy specializes in cabinet-level retained executive searches for nonprofits. In his discussion with Jeff, Tommy shares: emerging trends in regard to the executive search, particularly in fundraising. advice for […]

Relief For Nonprofits

May 28, 2020

“Everything is open to public inspection and every decision, I feel, that you make as a nonprofit organization should be assuming that the public is going to be looking at that same decision, whether they are or not.” – Jeff Fucito In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Karen Kemp speaks with Jeff Fucito, CPA […]

Does Your Organization Have An Investment Statement Policy?

May 12, 2020

“One of the biggest benefits with investment policy statements is that it removes the emotion and any personal biases on a board.” – Jeff Schultz In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff speaks about investment policy statements with Jeff Schultz, executive vice president and financial advisor for Schultz Wealth Management of Janney Montgomery Scott […]

Benefiting from Donor Advised Funds

May 12, 2020

“How do donor advised funds compare to family foundations? Very favorably, assuming you prefer fewer costs and administrative burden.” – Kevin McKane In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff speaks with Kevin McKane about the uses and benefits of donor advised funds during these challenging times. Kevin is the senior financial planner for Schultz […]

How Nonprofits Can Adapt In A Time of Crisis

May 10, 2020

“When you’re fearful, you make a plea. When you’re courageous, you make a plan.” – Chuck Bentley In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff is joined by Chuck Bentley, CEO of Crown Financial Ministries, to discuss ways to lead your nonprofit through a crisis. Chuck shares examples of how his team adapted to the […]

What Should We Do Now? A Discussion for Nonprofits During a Global Pandemic, Part Two

May 5, 2020

“If your work is directly impacted by COVID-19, yes, it makes sense for you to raise money for it. But if it isn’t, don’t do it — because your donors are going to see through it.“ – Pamela Barden This is part two of Jeff and Pamela’s discussion. To listen to the fist half, click […]

Working from Home: How to Manage Teams and Succeed at Remote Work

April 28, 2020

“Just like remote work will challenge you to become a better manager, I think remote work also challenges your team members to become better contributors.” — Ben Stroup In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff Jowdy hosts Ben Stroup, chief growth architect and president of Velocity Strategy Solutions. Ben describes how to lead and […]

What Should We Do Now? A Discussion for Nonprofits During a Global Pandemic, Part One

April 27, 2020

“I think this is a really good time to correct some problems that we’ve created for ourselves in the nonprofit community.” — Pamela Barden In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Pamela Barden, president of PJBarden Inc. and of counsel to Lighthouse Counsel, joins Jeff Jowdy for a discussion on what nonprofits can do to […]

Strategically Employing an Endowment During Economic Uncertainty

April 3, 2020

“The most important thing — and we stress this in all environments — is for all organizations to have some sort of an operating reserve in addition to their endowment. Maybe three months of barebones, keep-the-lights-on expenses in cash … with very little volatility for times like these that we’re in right now.” – Clare […]

Major Gifts: When to Ask Someone to Stop and Think

March 2, 2020

“Remember, there are four types of no, and only one of them is permanent. The others are not now, but maybe later; no to this amount; and no to this project.” – Bill Sturtevant Making a major gift ask is a crucial moment for any nonprofit. In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, fundraising consultant, […]

Top 40 Nonprofit Trends for 2020

March 2, 2020

“If [a nonprofit] leverages [personalized communications] well, it can elevate the number of engaged folks. And not only how well they are engaged, but also how much they contribute to your cause.” – Chris Lyons In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Chris Lyons, publisher for NonProfit Pro and group president and chief revenue officer […]

How Giving Changes The Lives Of Givers

January 7, 2020

“There’s no such thing as a successful fundraiser who is not a giver.” – Doug Lawson In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff Jowdy speaks with fundraising icon Doug Lawson. Doug has nearly 50 years of nonprofit and fundraising consulting experience as the founder of Lawson Associates. He also is the best-selling author of Give […]

Fine-Tuning The Search For Higher Education Leadership

December 8, 2019

This episode of The Beacon Podcast looks at executive searches, specifically focused on the search for higher education leadership. Finding the perfect leader for your college or university is proving to be more difficult with tenures in development and advancement positions becoming increasingly shorter. The hiring of an executive search firm simplifies the process and […]

Motivating And Inspiring Your Nonprofit Board

November 24, 2019

“Nonprofit board members across the country tell me the number one reason they become disengaged is because of poor communication. And it is not communication isn’t happening, it’s the communication is not effective.” – Hardy Smith In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff Jowdy speaks with Hardy Smith about nonprofit boards. Hardy is a […]

Disruptive Thinking In Leadership Benefits Students

November 13, 2019

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff Jowdy speaks with Pat Bassett, founder and president of Heads up Educational Consulting and former president of the National Association of Independent Schools. Pat has decades of independent school experience as both a teacher and head of school and advocates for change agency leadership within education. Through […]

The Fundraising Effectiveness Project

October 21, 2019

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff Jowdy speaks with Ben Miller, chief analytic officer at DonorTrends and an AFP Fundraising Effectiveness Project Growth in Giving Initiative steering committee member, about the Fundraising Effectiveness project. Ben uses his mathematics background to discover trends in the nonprofit industry. In his conversation, Ben answers: What is […]

Developing A Coaching Culture Within Your Nonprofit

September 30, 2019

“Trust within an organization is foundational to how effective it is.” – BG Allen In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel President Jeff Jowdy speaks with BG Allen, leadership coach for Coachwell, a customized coaching program for individuals, teams and organizations. BG has extensive experience in military, business and nonprofit leadership, which has […]

Advantages Of The Association Of Fundraising Professionals

September 18, 2019

“It’s incumbent upon the development officers to really advocate for AFP and membership in AFP.” – Susan Hosbach In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel President Jeff Jowdy speaks with Susan Hosbach, chief development officer of the Adventure Science Center in Nashville, Tenn., and immediate past chair of the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy. […]

Redefining The Story: Overcoming Obstacles In Liberal Arts Institutions

September 15, 2019

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel Senior Consultant Joan Bahner speaks with Jens Frederiksen, Fisk University’s vice president for institutional advancement and strategic development.  Jens was instrumental in increasing alumni giving participation and raising a record $25 million during a critical time for the university.  During their conversation, Jens answers: What were […]

Refining Engagement Strategies

August 22, 2019

“A new donor, who has given once… they probably need to hear different things from you than someone who has given 10 years in a row like clockwork. Those are two very different donors, even if the gift amount is the same.” -Steven Shattuck In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff speaks with Steven Shattuck, […]

At The Intersection Of Capacity And Interest: Tools For Identifying Major Donors

July 30, 2019

“Find every opportunity to really listen to people, to ask them questions that nobody else has really taken the time to ask them.” – Jay Frost In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel President Jeff Jowdy speaks with Jay Frost, nonprofit and fundraising consultant, advisor, speaker and trainer. Jay has worked with thousands […]

The Expanding Role Of The Dean In Higher-Ed Advancement

July 14, 2019

“Just about everything a dean does is directly related to advancement. Like when we hire the best faculty, we have to turn around and say, ‘We need to advance their work with support.’” – Cully Clark In today’s podcast, Lighthouse Counsel President Jeff Jowdy speaks with E. Culpepper “Cully” Clark about advancement in institutions of higher […]

No ‘Winging It!’ The Crucial Role Of Market Research For Nonprofits

July 11, 2019

“Nowadays you get a lot of data; it’s almost like data overload. But what’s missing from [a lot of these] direct responses is the why. Understanding the why can only be achieved by market research.” – Li Li In today’s podcast, Lighthouse Counsel President Jeff Jowdy speaks with Li Li, managing partner at FourSquare Research, Inc. […]

Advancement In Higher Education

July 7, 2019

“In terms of major giving, what I see trending is the concept of metrics and the necessity of us as professionals to be much more proactive in figuring out what the end game is for each individual development officer and how to appropriately measure someone’s success.” – Dr.Perry Moulds In today’s podcast, Lighthouse Counsel President Jeff […]

Big Data, Big Good

June 22, 2019

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff Jowdy speaks with David Lawson, co-founder and CEO of NewSci and author of Big Good:Philanthropy in the Age of Big Data. With over 25 years as a fundraising and tech entrepreneur, David Lawson focuses on bringing actionable insight to the nonprofit arena. In his conversation with Jeff, David […]

The Importance Of Donor Education

June 21, 2019

“There’s so much more to giving, and giving well, than just trying to prey on donors’ emotional responses.” – Gray Keller In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel President Jeff Jowdy discusses intentional giving with writer, speaker and philanthropic leadership consultant Gray Keller. The author of Everybody Wants Your Money: Helping You Navigate Through Philanthropy, Gray […]

AFP Announces New Member Benefits For Personal And Professional Development

May 16, 2019

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff Jowdy speaks with Association of Fundraising Professionals President and CEO Mike Geiger about AFP and three new member benefits designed to elevate nonprofit professionals – and the sector as a whole.  For more than 50 years, AFP has offered guidance and education for fundraisers on how to […]

Align Donors And Board Members With Projects That Ignite Their Passions

January 28, 2019

“If the development staff gets to really understand the interests and the direction that a potential donor wants to go in terms of how they give their money, it just sets up a wonderful situation where the development staff then can early recognize opportunities that would really fit the bill. When someone brings you an […]

Leadership And Integrity: The Backbones Of Nonprofit Success

January 5, 2019

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff Jowdy speaks with Lighthouse Counsel senior consultant, David Snow. David has more than four decades of experience in leadership and development roles, and today he’s speaking with Jeff about best practices around campaigns and case statements, fundraising, and staff development. He also addresses critical issues such as […]

Data Driven Nonprofits

December 1, 2018

Steve MacLaughlin, Vice President of Data and Analytics at Blackbaud and best-selling author of Data Driven Nonprofits, speaks with Jeff Jowdy in this episode of The Beacon Podcast to discuss how nonprofits can use data to drive their fundraising efforts. Steve describes the competitive edge data driven nonprofits have among nonprofits who do not use […]

Nonprofits And Digital Content Creation

August 20, 2018

Nhu Te, editor-in-chief and content director for NonProfit Pro, rejoins The BeaconPodcast to discuss the importance of nonprofits creating their own digital content. Through her conversation with Jeff Jowdy, Nhu shares what qualifies as“good content” and gives her own insight to help you transform your nonprofit into a thought leader online. She answers questions such […]

The Evolving Role of a College President

July 26, 2018

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff Jowdy meets with the former chancellor of the University System of Georgia, Hank Huckaby, who recently retired with several leadership and achievement awards to his credit. Here, Hank sheds light on what makes college presidents effective. Some points he ponders: What are the top roles for a […]

Change for Good

July 3, 2018

On this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff Jowdy sits down with Bernard Ross, director at the UK-based Management Centre (=mc) to talk about what motivates people to care, to change, to act, to give.   Understanding the way people think and behave is a huge part of fundraising, but people often don’t act as expected. […]

Navigating the Digital Landscape for Nonprofits

May 30, 2018

On this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff Jowdy speaks with Nhu Te, editor-in-chief and Content Director for NonProfit Pro, about hot topics in nonprofits. Some of the questions she answers include: What are some hot topics and trends nonprofits should be aware of today?What topics on your site garner the most attention and why […]

Working through Wicked Problems

May 24, 2018

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff Jowdy asks Bob Smith, Special Advisor for Executive Leadership and Talent Development at the University of the Tennessee, about the kind of leadership demands that a university faces. With over 14 years of experience in different university leadership positions, Bob answers questions such as: What are some […]

Aspiring Nonprofit CEO Advice

February 26, 2018

On this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff Jowdy sits down with Roland Lundy, Operating Partner of Buffkin/Baker, to discuss CEOs and leadership. Some of the questions he answers include: What differences do you look for in a nonprofit CEO compared to a for profit CEO? What advice would you give someone aspiring to be […]

Work, Play, Pray Hard

January 15, 2018

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel Senior Consultant David Snow speaks with Carolyn and Clark Baker. Clark spent much of his life as a YMCA executive in Tennessee and Texas. Throughout his career, he successfully raised millions of dollars to build new YMCAs and camps. He is also proud of the 23 […]

Adapting To Regional Differences

September 29, 2017

On this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff Jowdy speaks with Beth Ann Locke, director of advancement at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver about best practices in fundraising and adapting to regional differences. Some of the questions she answers include: What practices do you depend on today that you learned early in your career? As […]

Social Media—Misuses And Misconceptions

August 10, 2017

On this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff Jowdy speaks with Mark Galvin, CEO and Founder of ePresence, LLC, about nonprofits and nonprofit leaders having a presence online. Some of the questions he answers include: If I only had an hour to improve my LinkedIn profile, what should I attack?When you land on a LinkedIn profile for someone new to you, what […]

Communication And A Culture Of Excellence

July 28, 2017

In today’s episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff Jowdy sits down with Pat Wathen, who recently retired after 20 years working with Toyota Indiana. They focus their discussion on how to empower a culture of excellence and communication within an organization. Pat shares his knowledge, answering questions that include: How can a nonprofit build open […]

View From The Top

June 30, 2017

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff Jowdy speaks with Dr. Michael Lindsay, president of Gordon College, to discuss leadership. Dr. Lindsay shares his findings on leaders in his most recent book, “View from the Top.” Their discussion gives answers to these questions: What is one thing that does make a major difference in […]

Communications Strategy: The Power Of Positive Promotion

November 18, 2016

On this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Karen Kemp sits down with Sandy Lish, Principal and Founder of The Castle Group, to discuss communications strategy. Sandy taps into her vast amount of experience with communications strategies to go over everything from why it’s important, to where to start creating one, to tailoring it to your […]

Crisis Communications: It’s Not A Matter Of If But When

November 4, 2016

On this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Karen Kemp interviews Philip Hauserman, Vice President of The Castle Group. Karen and Philip discuss crisis communications and the importance of planning for the inevitability of needing a plan in place. A highly experienced expert in crisis communications and communications plans, Philip answers vital questions including: What is a […]

The Essentials Of Major Gift Fundraising

October 21, 2016

On today’s episode, Tom Landrum has a conversation with Greg Daniels, Senior Executive Director of Leadership Giving at the University of Georgia. Greg has 26 years of fundraising experience, with much of it in today’s topic: major gift fundraising. Their conversation covers topics like: Greg’s career as a major gift officerCharacteristics of a great major […]

The Five Languages Of Donor Love

September 23, 2016

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff Jowdy interviews envelope-pushing fundraising practitioner Tammy Zonker. They discuss the five languages of donor love, an idea that Tammy formulated in response to the challenge of donor retention and the “#donorlove” movement. Some of the questions that Tammy answers with great insight include: Why did you come up with […]

Retention Fundraising

September 16, 2016

On this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff Jowdy interviews Roger Craver, a pioneer in various kinds of fundraiser and author of “Retention Fundraising: The New Art and Science of Keeping Your Donors for Life.” Jeff and Roger discuss the significance of donor retention as a metric in fundraising, and Roger touches on: Trends in […]

The Truth of Fundraising

August 26, 2016

Kay Sprinkel Grace is the guest in this episode of The Beacon Podcast. Jeff Jowdy and Kay discuss the “truth” of fundraising, based on her most recent book The Busy Volunteer’s Guide to Fundraising. Kay uses her experience and research to inform this insightful conversation. Some of the questions she answers include: What are some effective […]

Lousy Board Members

August 12, 2016

On this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff Jowdy interviews Simone Joyaux, an internationally recognized expert in fund development, board and organizational development, strategic planning and management. Simone is the author of Firing Lousy Board Members – And Helping the Others Succeed, which much of today’s conversation is drawn from. Some of the questions Simone answers […]

Seeing Through A Donor’s Eyes

August 5, 2016

On this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff Jowdy speaks with Tom Ahern of Ahern Donor Communications, one of the most respected authorities on donor-centered communication. Through the conversation, Tom shares what it’s like to see through a donor’s eyes and how that can help nonprofits operate more effectively. Some of the questions Tom addresses include: How […]

Venture Philanthropy

July 29, 2016

On this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff Jowdy discusses venture philanthropy with author, editor, publisher and media executive W. Randall Jones. Jeff and Randall cover some of the history of venture philanthropy, the characteristics of venture philanthropy in today’s world, and some of the most important factors that are influencing wealthy donors’ decisions about where […]

Measuring Fundraising Success

July 22, 2016

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff Jowdy interviews Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations at Seattle Children’s Hospital Peter Drury. They cover the topic of measuring fundraising success. “Your measurement for fundraising success has to give you insight into future years and how you’re doing in planning for future years,” Peter shares. “If […]

Loving Your Donors

July 15, 2016

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff Jowdy interviews John Lepp, donor champion and partner at Agents of Good. Their conversation focuses on the importance of donor love and what nonprofits can do to improve it. Jeff and John address many critical questions, including: How can nonprofits improve their relationships with donors?Are both large and small organizations […]

Key Factors Driving Nonprofit Success

July 8, 2016

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Karen Kemp interviews Alicia Philipp of the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta. They discuss the work being done at the Community Foundation, how they identify nonprofits that are the most effective, and key factors driving nonprofit success. These factors, Alicia says, include good strategic planning, staff and board […]

Unleashing Your Potential

June 28, 2016

In today’s episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel President Jeff Jowdy speaks with Matt Bodnar, a partner at Fresh Hospitality and the host of “The Science of Success” podcast. They discuss some of the surprising findings from Matt’s podcast, which uses research-based evidence to explain the science of being successful, and how those findings impact nonprofit […]

Bridge The Communication Gap

June 22, 2016

On this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Dr. Pamela Barden, a well-respected 35-year successful fundraising executive, is interviewed by Lighthouse Counsel President Jeff Jowdy to discuss communications in fundraising. Pamela addresses some of the most critical issues when it comes to communications, including: What is the number one job of fundraising communications?What are the three […]

Great Boards Demand Great Relationships

June 6, 2016

In today’s episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel Senior Consultant Tom Landrum sits down with fundraising professional Mac Corry, who recently retired from his longtime role with the University of Georgia. In this conversation, they discuss the relationship between board involvement and fundraising, always a current topic for small nonprofits and large organizations alike. […]

Storytelling Grows Philanthropies

April 20, 2016

In today’s episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel President Jeff Jowdy talks with storytelling and philanthropy powerhouse Ruth Ann Harnisch. In this conversation, they discuss the crucial role storytelling plays in raising funds for nonprofit organizations, and offers an inside look at how nonprofit leaders, fundraisers and board members can better reach donors through […]

Donors Benefit Too

February 5, 2016

Harvey McKinnon is working to expand our thinking about giving. His new book, “The Power of Giving: How Giving Back Enriches Us All,” provides readers with ideas, exercises and stories that help reveal the unique gifts each person has to give. It emphasizes that the more you give, the more you have, and that we […]

The Art Of Asking

January 15, 2016

In today’s podcast, “The Art of Asking,” Lighthouse Counsel President Jeff Jowdy talks with fundraising icon Jerry Panas. Some of the crucial topics they’ll cover: What motivates donors to give?What are the attributes of a great gift solicitation?What are common mistakes made during solicitations? In this chat, Jerry admits that he’s gotten a couple of […]

Moving Toward Stress-Free Partnerships

December 19, 2015

James Finck has been figuring out ways to spread the YMCA’s mission as far as possible since he began his career as director of health and fitness with the Kern County Y in Bakersfield, Calif., right after graduating from college. Finck has been president and CEO of the YMCA Austin since 2008. Along the way, […]

Creating A Culture Of Ethics

December 11, 2015

On this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Joe Scarlett, the retired CEO and chairman of Tractor Supply Company and founder of the Scarlett Leadership Institute in Franklin, Tennessee, shares his insight on forming a culture of ethics in any organization. He covers: Success stemmed from personal ethicsMaintaining ethics during rapid growthHow to build a culture […]

Annual Funds In Higher Education: A Conversation With David Jones

December 2, 2015

David Jones, Executive Director for Annual Giving & Constituent Development at the University of Georgia, remembers when annual giving campaigns were 2 mailings and a single-ask telemarketing effort. Now, it’s a much more sophisticated operation. “Annual giving offices are focused on channeled integration using every tool we have to communicate a consistent message, and honoring […]

Harness The Power Of Staff Donors

November 2, 2015

“By sharing the story with our staff through proper cultivation, asking, and stewardship, all levels will understand the story…. If they understand the story, they’re better connected to what they do each day, and they’re more likely to support the organization in both time and treasure.” Adam Clevenger, Regional Collaboration Manager for the YMCA of […]

Psychology Of Philanthrophy

October 9, 2015

Bernard Ross, director of the Management Centre, shares how fundraisers can apply the nobel-prize winning work of psychologist Dr. Daniel Kahneman to better understand how donors think. Kahneman argues that we use two processes to make decisions: System 1 and System 2. System 1 is fast, instinctive, and emotional, while System 2 is slower, more […]

Moving The Needle On Retention

October 2, 2015

Guest of The Beacon Podcast is Steven Shattuck, VP of Marketing for Bloomerang which helps nonprofit organizations to reach, engage and retain the advocates they depend on to achieve their vision for a better world. This successful industry executive is interviewed by Lighthouse Counsel President Jeff Jowdy to share his expertise on the important metric […]

Watch Your Overhead

August 19, 2015

Dr. Pamela Barden, a well-respected 35-year successful fundraising executive is interviewed by Lighthouse Counsel President Jeff Jowdy to share her insight on the important topic of overhead and the dramatic role it plays in our industry. According to Pamela, “Overhead is the cost of doing business and we should stop treating it like a nasty […]

A Deeper Understanding Of Campaign Planning And Feasibility Studies

August 19, 2015

Does your next campaign have the kind of appeal that makes people say, “I can’t wait to write a check for that. That is just so important.”? If you’d like it to, you’ve come to the right place. In today’s edition of The Beacon Jeff Jowdy talks with development powerhouse Jerry Linzy about campaign planning […]

Building A Fundraising All-Star Board

July 7, 2015

Gail Perry, international fundraising consultant, speaker and thought leader, shares her insight on an essential element in fundraising success – board involvement! “When in doubt, throw a party,” Gail shares her perspective on: What a great board looks like: How to get a board involved in fundraisingThe top fundraising challenges with boardsHow to recruit members […]

Importance Of Donor Retention And Steps To Improve It

July 6, 2015

In this edition of The Beacon Podcast, Jay Love, founder and CEO of Bloomerang discusses why donor retention is important: It is easier to retain a donor than aquire one It is less expensiveMulti-year donors refer other donors and yield larger gifts and legacy gifts. Donor retention is a hot topic in the nonprofit arena […]

Legal Considerations And Planned Giving As More Than An Afterthought

February 5, 2015

Jeff Jowdy speaks with Tony Martignetti in this edition of The Beacon. Tony is the host of the Nonprofit Radio podcast and consults with many organizations about their planned giving strategies. He is also an author and speaks nationally about opening dialogue with donors about their planned giving options. In this segment, Tony discusses the […]

Factors That Drive Changes To A Charitable Bequest

January 27, 2015

Today’s issue of The Beacon features an insightful discussion with Dr. Russell James about recent findings in the American Charitable Bequests Demographics Report. The report is a portion of the larger Health and Retirement Study, a national, longitudinal study began in 1992 that serves as the premier study of retirement and giving patterns in the […]

Trends In Grant Making And Fundraising

December 10, 2014

In this edition of The Beacon Podcast features a conversation with J.D. Elliott, president of The Memorial Foundation in Hendersonville, Tennessee. J.D. Elliott has been involved in philanthropy for over 20 years and shares his insights on current trends in fundraising and grant making. He offers perspective on attributes he looks for – both in […]

Keys To Sustainable Fundraising

December 5, 2014

In this edition of The Beacon, Larry Johnson, author of the award-winning book The Eight Principles of Sustainable Fundraising, talks with Jeff Jowdy about the bilateral relationship of fundraising. Larry shares that nonprofit organizations must recognize that what they are offering to donors is as significant as what they are asking from donors. He challenges […]

Insight From A Foundation Leader

November 7, 2014

Pete Bird offers tremendous perspective from a foundation CEO in this Beacon Podcast interview with Jeff Jowdy. Pete discusses:  The need for recurring revenue: both philanthropic support and earned income Features of a strong proposal Trends in the foundation arena Attributes of a great nonprofit board chair, CEO and chief development officer About our guest Pete Bird has […]

The Growing Need For Fundraising In Public Higher Education

October 8, 2014

In this conversation with Lighthouse Counsel president Jeff Jowdy, Bob covers the challenges with greatly diminished state funding, the need for college presidents to be focused on fundraising and the challenge of securing the right fundraising talent. Bob also looks at: Trends in public higher education fundraisingChallenges facing private fundraising in today’s institutionsSome strategies higher […]

The Importance Of Higher Education Annual Giving And Young Alumni Participation

July 4, 2014

Tom Landrum, former vice president for development and alumni relations at the University of Georgia, discusses the importance of an annual fund and engaging younger alumni. In this conversation with Jeff Jowdy, founder of Lighthouse Counsel, Tom covers: Importance of annual givingChallenges in higher education annual fund programsWhy some fundraising programs are directed at younger alumniThe importance […]

Elements To Successful Annual Campaigns

April 11, 2014

In this podcast, Curt Hazelbaker, President and Chief Executive Officer for YMCA of Northwest North Carolina discusses the importance of several elements in nonprofit annual campaigns with Dave Fulscher. Curt came to the YMCA of Northwest North Carolina in March of 2003 as the Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer after spending twenty years […]

An Introduction to Annual Campaigns

April 4, 2014

This podcast features Erik Daubert, Director of Fund Development Partnerships for the YMCA of the USA, discussing a variety of topics regarding annual campaigns with David Fulscher. With almost 25 years of non-profit experience, Erik Daubert is regarded as a leader in the nonprofit sector. Erik has worked and trained with thousands of nonprofit organizations […]

Alumni Engagement and the Work of Alumni Relations

March 28, 2014

This week’s podcast features Deborah Dietzler, Executive Director of Campaign Engagement for the University of Georgia’s Development Office. Deborah provided leadership to UGA’s Alumni Association for 17 years. Prior to her arrival at UGA, she was the Director of Alumni Services at Teachers College, Columbia University and Director of Alumni Affairs at Stony Brook University. Topics […]

Global Fundraising: How the World is Changing the Rules of Philanthropy by Penelope Cagney

February 11, 2014

This week’s podcast features Penelope Cagney, MA, CFRE, CEO of the Cagney Company on the topic of global fundraising. She has 25 years of experience in planning, development and governance. About our guest Penelope began her nonprofit management career at one of the largest healthcare institutions in Chicago and soon after dedicated herself to consulting. […]

A Step Beyond Multichannel Fundraising

October 29, 2013

Jeff Jowdy hosted this week’s podcast with Margaret Battistelli Gardner, editor-in-chief and founding editor of FundRaising Success: the fundraiser’s complete source for multichannel strategy and integration techniques. Together, they discuss nonprofit organizations moving beyond multichannel integration and into holistic fundraising. In this podcast Margaret covers the following: What is holistic fundraising?How does it relate to […]

An Introduction to Endowment Campaigns and Planned Giving Programs

September 10, 2013

In our second podcast of The Beacon: Your Connection to Nonprofit Success, Dave Fulscher of Lighthouse Counsel speaks with Gail Glasser, Senior Vice President for Association Advancement at the Capital District YMCA in Albany, New York. Previously, Gail served as President and CEO of the YMCA of Central Kentucky in Lexington. She has also worked […]

The Formula for Effective Case Statements: Double H + Quad W

September 2, 2013

In our very first podcast of The Beacon: Your Connection to Nonprofit Success, Jeff Jowdy of Lighthouse Counsel introduces Del Martin of DEL-ux Consulting Group. Del has earned numerous accomplishments in the nonprofit community. Of her many achievements, Del has provided results-oriented counsel to hundreds of capital and endowment campaigns, as well as helping clients […]