DonorSearch Philanthropy Masterminds

Ron Davis Alvarez is Founder of the Dream Orchestra in Gothenburg, Sweden and one of 2024's Top Five CNN Heroes. Since 2016, Ron has brought together refugees, immigrants, and locals, speaking in over 20 languages, to create music and build community. His work shows how people can rebuild lives and connect across cultures. 

The U.S. has one of the highest incarceration rates in the world with approximately 1.9 million people in federal and state prisons and local jails. 95% of those incarcerated today will be released but 70$ are likely to return to the system. However, for participants in Jumpstart, an innovative organization in South Carolina, the recidivism rate is just 4%. Today, we speak with Don Williams, one of Jumpstart's founders, about his journey from incarceration to freedom, the work they do to help others to rebuild their lives, and their plan to make this path available to others.

Devin Thorpe is a best-selling author, new media journalist, and champion of social good. His show, Superpowers for Good, has featured over 1,200 influential guests and his articles and books, including "Crowdfunding For Social Good," have reached millions of readers around the world. In this episode, we discuss his journey from high finance to social impact, beginning with his conversation with Bill Gates about the importance of patience.

Allison Fine is a successful entrepreneur, futurist, and author of several award-winning books, including Momentum, Matterness, The Networked Nonprofit, and The Smart Nonprofit. She founded and ran nonprofit organizations, led nonprofit boards, served in elective office, and recently ran for Congress. In this episode, we discuss her work in politics, philanthropy, civil society, technology, and leadership. 

Anthony Cernera is dedicated to understanding how humans learn, grow, heal, and change. A three-time living organ donor, public speaker, consultant, researcher, and psychotherapist, Anthony has also led high-performing development teams for over sixteen years, managing campaigns from $25 million to $600 million. When not helping others, he volunteers in hospice care, instructs meditation, and competes as a skydiver, holding gold and silver medals in the USPA National Skydiving Championships. We spoke with Anthony on the eve of the latest phase of his epic journey. 

In this episode, we speak with Paul Clolery, Vice President and Editorial Director of NPT Publishing Group and The Nonprofit Times, the leading publication for America's charitable sector. A lifelong journalist, Paul began his career on his high school and college papers, then worked at leading papers like the Fort Worth Star Telegram and later as an editor of publications including The Practical Accountant before taking the helm of The Nonprofit Times in 1994. Over the last three decades, he and his team have covered every conceivable story in the charitable sector. He has been recognized repeatedly for excellence in reporting, including an Associated Press Managing Editors Award and citations from the Society of Professional Journalists. We spoke with Paul about his journalistic journey, some of the most significant stories he has covered, and the challenges and opportunities that remain on the road ahead.

Ken Phillips was named Outstanding Fundraising Professional by the Association of Fundraising Professionals in 2024, the organization's highest honor. Since his career began in 1961, ken has served in leadership roles at the Institute for International Education, Save the Children, and Plan International, where he revolutionized marketing and donor outreach, dramatically increasing public awareness and revenues. He founded his consultancy, NGO Futures, in 1995 and has since provided hundreds of training courses in 35 countries and his books and articles on fundraising, leadership, and strategic planning have reached audiences around the world. We spoke with Ken in April at AFP ICON in Toronto.

In this episode, we speak with Ryan Zapolski, one of four individuals honored with the Outstanding Young Professional Award by the Association of Fundraising Professionals in 2024. Ryan serves as Senior Manager of Development at Smile Train, a nonprofit dedicated to comprehensive cleft care now celebrating its 25th anniversary. There, he oversees the mid-level giving and stewardship team and his expertise in donor research has led to numerous major gifts, including a million-dollar donation. We caught up with Ryan in Toronto at AFP ICON, the fundraising association's annual international gathering. 

In this episode, we speak with Stacey Buckner, one of the Top Ten CNN Heroes of 2023 and recipient of the North Carolina Governor's Medallion Award. After surviving a nearly fatal stroke and traumatic brain injury, Stacey turned her journey of recovery into a mission to serve others. She founded Off-Road Outreach, an organization which provides meals, mobile showers, laundry services, and much, much more to the large homeless veteran community in Fayetteville, North Carolina. We spoke with her about her work, what inspired it, and what keeps her fulfilled today. 

In this episode, we speak with William Cabaniss, a high school student from Knoxville, Tennessee, and founder of Vanilla Feeds Tomorrow, recipient of the 2024 William R. Simms Award for Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy, sponsored by Carter through the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy. Recognized for his dedication to combating hunger and food insecurity, William's nonprofit sells homemade vanilla extract and donates the proceeds to Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee. His efforts have provided over 631,000 meals. We caught up with William at AFP ICON in Toronto.