Beyond The Blog

In this Beyond The Blog episode, focused on the Advancing Philanthropic Leadership initiative, Debra Jacobs, President and CEO of The Patterson Foundation, sits down with John Ferguson, TPF Fellow 2020/21, to reflect on his winding path to The Patterson Foundation and how the Fellowship experience continues to shape his leadership journey.

Throughout the conversation, John shares how his professional path led him to the TPF Fellowship and how the experience evolved in real time as the Fellowship pivoted during the COVID-19 pandemic. He reflects on pride points from his Fellowship year, including his work with the Digital Access for All initiative and his participation in national conversations and webinars that expanded his understanding of philanthropy's reach and responsibility.

John also discusses developing a catalytic mindset—recognizing philanthropy's role beyond funding to inspire collaboration, possibility, and impact. He also shares why saying yes to the Fellowship became a defining professional decision and how experiences like TPF Beyond helped cultivate a growing community of Possibilitarians committed to learning, sharing, and strengthening connective tissue across communities.

Looking beyond the Fellowship, John reflects on his launch phase and the evolution of his career, including his role as Director of Member Programs at the Indiana Philanthropy Alliance (IPA) and his embrace of new opportunities to support philanthropic leaders through initiatives such as CliftonStrengths workshops. His journey highlights how the Fellowship experience continues to influence his leadership approach, professional growth, and commitment to advancing philanthropy in meaningful ways.

Timestamps 

• 2:18: John's Winding Path to The Patterson Foundation
• 6:30: Pivoting The Fellowship Experience During COVID-19
• 12:22: Pride Points from The Fellowship
• 13:48: Participating in a National Webinar
• 16:18: Developing a Catalytic Mindset 
• 18:07: Why Say Yes to the TPF Fellowship Opportunity
• 20:02:  Creating a Community of Possibilitarians through TPF Beyond
• 23:07: The Experience & Evolution After Launching From the TPF Fellowship  
  • 23:19: Director of Member Programs, Indiana Philanthropy Alliance (IPA)
• 26:12 - Stepping into A New Opportunity at IPA with CliftonStrengths Workshop
• 29:35 - John Ferguson Encourages You To Embrace What's Possible 

Links to Learn More 

• About John Ferguson, TPF Fellow 2020/21
• Glimpse "A brief history of John A. Ferguson" through early 2022
• View John's Blog Library
• Two graduates earn Fellowships with The Patterson Foundation

Connect Beyond The Blog

• Join John on Twitter: @TheRealJohnFerg
• LinkedIn: John Ferguson
• To contact John: [email protected]

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Join The Journey

In this episode of the Nonprofit Thrivability Podcast, host Read Corley speaks with Michael Corley, Consultant with The Patterson Foundation, and Meher Shulman, Associate Director of the Greater Hartford Gives Foundation, to explore how both foundations are working with No Margin, No Mission to strengthen nonprofit sustainability. 

The conversation focuses on how No Margin, No Mission supports nonprofit organizations through the Patterson Foundation’s Margin & Mission Ignition program and the Greater Hartford Gives Foundation’s Social Enterprise Accelerator. Together, they discuss how social enterprise ventures, earned income strategies, and nonprofit-run businesses are helping organizations diversify revenue, build resilience, and approach mission delivery with an entrepreneurial mindset.

Timestamps 

• 00:00 – Introducing Michael Corley and Meher Shulman
• 03:20 – Why earned income became a priority for the Patterson Foundation
• 06:08 – How the Greater Hartford Gives Foundation partnered with No Margin, No Mission
• 09:06 – Early outcomes and examples from the Social Enterprise Accelerator
• 11:05 – Why relationships are critical to sustaining social enterprise work
• 14:24 – Collaboration versus competition inside nonprofit cohorts
• 16:51 – Reflections from the all-cohort learning session
• 19:54 – How foundations leverage entrepreneurial success to strengthen nonprofits
• 22:20 – The broader benefits of earned income beyond revenue
• 24:15 – What strengthening the nonprofit sector truly means

Links to Learn More 

• Greater Hartford Gives Foundation Website

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This podcast explores how a seemingly simple connection can turn into something that can change the trajectory of your life. 

Timestamps 

• 00:14 – Welcome & Introduction
• 00:37 – Ericia highlights the history and background of her and Laurin’s relationship
• 01:49 – Laurin shares what inspired her to start her firm and how it has evolved over the years
• 03:00 – Laurin discusses how relationships shaped her growth and the direction of her consulting firm
• 04:18 – Laurin provides examples of how relationships opened doors and created new opportunities
• 06:17 – Advice from Laurin for emerging leaders on building authentic connections
• 08:20 – Laurin reiterates the importance of relationships and their direct correlation to long-term success

Links to Learn More 

• Battle Plan Strategic Consulting 
• Fellowship 

Connect Beyond The Blog

• Battle Plan Strategic Consulting 
• Laurin Kelly LinkedIn

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In this Beyond The Blog episode, focused on the Advancing Philanthropic Leadership initiative, Debra Jacobs, President and CEO of The Patterson Foundation, sits down with Andrew Spector, Senior Fellow 2023/25, to reflect on his winding path to the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy (LFSOP) and The Patterson Foundation and his experience in year three as a Senior Fellow. 

In this conversation, Andrew discusses the value of the TPF Fellowship in broadening his understanding of the role and impact funders can have beyond the check, and diving into a range of skill-building and networking opportunities that benefit both him and the organization. The work has challenged him, strengthened him, and evolved his aspirations as he looks for what’s next within his launch phase. 

Timestamps 

• 2:22 - Andrew Spector’s Winding Path to the Indiana University Indianapolis Lilly Family School of Philanthropy (LFSOP) and The Patterson Foundation (TPF)
• 4:56 -  The Jewish Studies Fellowship
• 6:28 - Getting to LFSOP
• 11:00 - Learning about TPF’s Fellowship
• 12:20 - Andrew’s Perception of a Fellow Versus The Reality 
• 13:39 - The Evolving Role of a TPF Fellow
• 15:20 -  Philanthropy Beyond a Check 
• 16:50 - The Experience of Being Loaned Out to Other Funders 
• 19:13 -  Podcasting as a Form of Strategic Communications
• 24:42 - The Launch Phase

Links to Learn More 

• About Andrew Spector 
• Change Happens at the Speed of Trust
• The Patterson Foundation Fellowship
• Blog: A Multifaceted Approach to Making an Impact in The Philanthropic Sector

Join The Journey

Leah Verier-Dunn sits down with the Director of the ESOL, Migrant, and Dual Language Program for Manatee County Schools, Deb Estes, to discuss how Manatee County has established systems to foster widespread support and programming for families in need of resources. 

Timestamps

• 00:30 Intro ​
• 01:13 Debra dives into her history and her work.
• 03:18 Debra explains “Two-way Immersion.”
• 06:25 Debra breaks down how students get identified to be in the program and how they establish services for those families.
• 12:55 Debra talks about how the communication between the district, the school, and the families works.
• 18:20 Debra Talks about some of the difficulties immigrant and migrant families face regarding schooling and what they are doing to help.
• 19:56 Debra shares whether or not immigration status affects a child’s ability to register for school.
• 20:58 Debra discusses some of the barriers families face in gaining access to public education.
• 24:33 Debra talks about what they do to help connect families with the resources available.
• 26:23 Debra discusses The Patterson Foundation’s ESOL & ELL Ecosystem
• 30:31 Big Picture Small Steps
• 30:50 Debra shares her hopes for the dual language program in the next 5 years and beyond.
• 32:46 Debra explains what families can do now to connect with community resources and other simple steps families can take to help their children succeed in school.

Links to Learn More 

• Dual Language Program Manatee County Facebook 
• Manatee County ESOL
• Blog: Learning Made Accessible Through ESOL, Migrant, and Dual Language Programs

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Digital equity goes far beyond internet access. It touches people, trust, language, and the systems that shape opportunity. In this episode of Digital Access Discoveries, Cook County’s inaugural Director of Digital Equity, Kyla Williams Tate, shares how digital inclusion works best when it is treated as a living ecosystem. She explores the role of storytelling, small but strategic investments, trust-building, and designing programs with dignity at the center. The conversation also looks at AI, digital literacy, and the human infrastructure needed to support communities. Listeners will walk away with practical insights on building digital equity that lasts and truly serves people.

Timestamps 

• 00:00 Welcome and framing digital equity as a living ecosystem
• 01:44 Cook County’s approach to digital equity and systems-level impact
• 04:01 Storytelling, small investments, and community-centered success
• 06:12 Why definitions of digital access, inclusion, and equity matter
• 09:09 Engaging stakeholders through trust, collaboration, and shared value
• 12:18 Lessons from the Affordable Connectivity Program and trust challenges
• 15:21 Digital equity initiatives that are working and scaling impact
• 18:33 Building trust through dignity, confidence, and digital literacy
• 22:32 Preparing communities for AI with ethics, literacy, and human support

Links to Learn More 

• Kyla Williams Tate LinkedIn
• Webinar Link
• Cook County Digital Equity Action Plan
• Cook County Digital Equity Map
• Cook County Digital Equity Impact Small Grants Program
• Cook County Digital Equity Website

Connect Beyond The Blog

• Kyla Williams Tate LinkedIn

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In this episode of the Nonprofit Thrivability podcast, host Read Corley talks with Megan Howell, founder and executive director of Second Heart Homes, about what it really takes to build sustainable nonprofit fundraising. Megan shares how Fueling Dynamic Fundraising helped her move beyond transactional asks and toward a true culture of philanthropy. The conversation covers donor relationships, legacy giving, and the Linkage, Interest, and Ability framework, along with real stories that led to six-figure gifts and long-term support. The conversation highlights how nonprofit leaders can approach fundraising with confidence, clarity, and purpose.

Timestamps

• 00:00 Welcome and overview of Fueling Dynamic Fundraising
• 00:34 Meet Meghan Howell and the mission of Second Heart Homes
• 02:07 The eight-year relationship that led to the founding of the organization
• 05:12 Why fundraising is essential to sustaining housing solutions
• 05:39 Core principles behind Fueling Dynamic Fundraising
• 10:31 Linkage, Interest, and Ability explained in real terms
• 12:19 The story behind a surprise $400,000 gift
• 15:09 How legacy giving led to a $100,000 commitment
• 20:05 Building a culture of fundraising across the organization

Links to Learn More 

• Megan Howell LinkedIn
• ​Second Heart Homes
• Blog: Building a Culture of Fundraising That Lasts

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Join The Journey

In this episode of the Nonprofit Thrivability Podcast, Read Corley sits down with Lisa Intagliata, CEO of Resilient Retreat, to unpack how a young nonprofit built a mission-aligned social enterprise to diversify revenue and protect its ability to offer free, confidential healing programs for adult survivors of trauma and abuse, including first responders and helping professionals. 

Lisa shares how Margin & Mission Ignition helped turn an idea into The Retreat Sarasota, an earned-revenue event rental venture, and why

clear internal and external communication became the make-or-break factor for alignment. You’ll hear practical lessons on launching a business plan, managing systems, and calendaring to keep mission first, and expanding into wellness retreats without losing staff buy-in or community trust.

Timestamps 

• 00:00 - Introducing Lisa Intagliata, CEO, Resilient Retreat
• 04:30 - Margin & Mission Ignition and the commitment required
• 06:30 - Building The Retreat Sarasota from concept to business plan
• 08:30 - A major misconception about fundraising and earned income
• 10:15 - Donor excitement, staff caution, and early tension
• 13:00 - Choosing event rentals as the first social enterprise
• 16:30 - Expanding into wellness retreats using existing strengths
• 20:30 - Leadership lessons on communication and internal alignment

Links to Learn More 

• Resilient Retreat Website
• The Retreat Sarasota Website
• Blog: Building Earned Income Without Losing Trust: Lessons from Resilient Retreat’s Work with Margin & Mission Ignition

Connect Beyond The Blog

• Lisa Intagliata Linkedin
• Read Corley Linkedin

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The Patterson Foundation’s Community Preparedness, Recovery, and Resiliency (CPR-R) initiative is really starting to get its footing as it continues to uncover areas of need in the disaster ecosystem. Most notably, CPR-R has chosen to focus its current efforts on strengthening Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs). Karen Windon, CPR-R Initiative Lead, joined host Leah Verier-Dunn on Rising Resilience, a Beyond The Blog Podcast, to share more about what focusing on CERTs looks like. 

Timestamps:

• 00:00 - Introducing Karen Windon, Initiative Lead
• 03:01 - Why CPRR Was Created
• 06:48 - What Are CERT Teams?
• 13:12 - Disaster Ecosystem Overview
• 16:33 - CERT Summit Announcement

Links to Learn More:

• Community Preparedness, Recovery, and Resiliency 
• Community Emergency Response Teams
• 2026 CERT Summit: Rising Resilience - Ready Together
• Blog: Getting to Know the Community Preparedness, Recovery, and Resiliency Initiative

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On this episode of Discover DeSoto, Alicia Exantus speaks with Maribel Martinez, a consultant with The Patterson Foundation’s Digital Access for All initiative. 

Although Maribel isn’t from DeSoto County, she has spent three years working closely with the community and has seen it shift from a rural area facing major challenges to one energized by new investments, partnerships, and growing momentum.

The episode highlights DeSoto’s progress in expanding digital access. More residents now have broadband or are seeking devices and training, yet affordability and rural terrain remain major barriers. Maribel emphasizes that access isn’t meaningful unless families can actually afford to get online.

This is why the Digital Access for All initiative focuses on three essentials: connectivity, devices, and digital skills. A key effort is the Digital Navigator Program, which trains community members to help residents secure affordable internet, obtain refurbished devices, and build confidence in using technology. A new cohort is now being developed specifically for DeSoto, inviting both organizations and individual residents to get involved. Spanish-speaking navigators are especially needed to support those who learn best from someone who shares their language and culture.

The episode also spotlights Suncoast Digital Inclusion Month and a device-refurbishing partnership with STUG. We encourage you to stay connected through DeSotoCountyAhead.org

Timestamps 

• 00:38 - Introduction to Maribel, consultant with The Patterson Foundation
• 01:18 - Maribel shares what makes DeSoto special
• 03:07 - Maribel clarifies and explains Access vs Adoption
• 04:30 - Maribel talks about the importance of affordability
• 4:45 -Maribel defines “lighting up a house.”
• 5:50 - Maribel defines and explains to listeners more about the digital divide
• 8:35 - Maribal goes into detail about the DA4A (Digital Access for All) initiative and the DN (Digital Navigator) programs
• 13:41 - Maribel describes the 4 levels of participation in the Digital Navigator program
• 20:22 - Maribel highlights the Suncoast Digital Inclusion Month as well as the Device Drive
• 24:00 - Maribel wraps up this episode by sharing her Discover Desoto Gem, The Yellow Deli

Links to Learn More 

• Digital Access for All initiative
• Digital Navigator Program
• Blog: Discover Desoto: Bridging the Digital Gap in Desoto County With Maribel Martinez

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Join The Journey