In this inspiring episode of The Church Law Podcast, host Erika Cole, The Church Attorney®, sits down with Nicole Baker Fulgham, founder of The Townsend Collaborative, former Chief Impact Officer at Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies, and current Bridgespan Fellow with the Racial Equity in Philanthropy team. 

Nicole shares her remarkable journey—from her beginnings in education with Teach For America to leading efforts that reimagine philanthropy through a lens of racial equity and faith. Together, Erika and Nicole explore how churches and nonprofits can engage in equity-focused giving, collaborate with philanthropic networks, and strengthen their community impact while staying grounded in mission and values. 

Whether your church is navigating financial challenges or stewarding abundance, this episode offers practical insights and spiritual encouragement to help leaders cultivate generosity, justice, and sustainability. 

Tune in to learn: 

● How faith shapes effective, justice-centered leadership 

● What racial equity in philanthropy means for the Church 

● Strategies for building meaningful partnerships between churches and philanthropists 

● A vision for the future of faith-driven giving and community transformation 

SHOW NOTES 

Connect with Nicole Baker Fulgham: 

● http://www.townsendco.org 

● https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolebakerfulgham/ 

Watch this podcast on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@TheChurchAttorney 

Missed the 2025 Church Law & Leadership Summit? Grab the replay bundle for 20% only at this link: https://the-church-attorney.thinkific.com/courses/2025-CLLSBUNDLE?coupon=podcast20 

This event has been recommended for church leaders by Church Law & Tax and includes resources from partners like ECFA. 

Join the Faithful Foundations Membership today! 2025 Faithful Foundations Membership enrollment 

Download your FREE copy of The Church Attorney Legal Audit® System document checklist here, and check out Episode 29 (“Using a Legal Audit to Position Your Church for the Long Haul”) to learn about the importance of a legal audit for your church. 

Unlock exclusive insights and expert advice by subscribing to The Church Attorney® YouTube Channel! Get access to video podcasts, live recordings, and much more—designed to help you navigate the legal landscape of church management with confidence. Don’t miss out—subscribe today! 

Questions? Comments? We welcome them! Please contact Erika Cole at erikacole.com. Erika reads each comment and may answer your question in an upcoming episode. 

See all episodes of Church Law. 

The Church Law podcast is part of Gloo LLC’s ChurchLawAndTax.com. 

Erika E. Cole, Esq., known as The Church Attorney®, is the creator of The Church Attorney Legal Audit® System, a proprietary legal audit process that helps church leaders be confident they are operating with integrity, and avoiding costly risks. Learn more at erikacole.com.