⁠Download PDF of episode transcript⁠

What does it look like when a major foundation decides that a crisis calls for more than business as usual? Bold but smart!This episode offers amazing insights and inspiration from Brenda Solórzano, President and CEO of The California Endowment. Brenda shares about how philanthropy can respond when nonprofits face rising demand, shrinking resources, and mounting pressure. She discusses how The California Endowment decided to substantially increase its spending, eliminate grantee reporting requirements, accelerate resource flows, and experiment! She explains why the Endowment signed the Level Up pledge and how it's spending the additional funds.

For funders and nonprofit leaders alike, this conversation offers practical ideas for moving from risk-aversion toward responsive partnership. Solórzano discusses what it takes to build trust between foundations and nonprofits; why multi-year funding alone isn't enough; how funders can create relationships where grantees feel safe talking honestly about burnout; and why philanthropy may need to rethink payout. perpetuity, and the business model of foundations. She also makes the case that, rather than simply trying to preserve existing systems, funders can help communities build what comes next.

For a Guest Bio, please click here: https://candid.org/authors/brenda-solorzano/

Key Links to Resources:

Featured Guest & Institution Links:

The California Endowment: https://www.calendow.org

The California Endowment: Increased Spending: https://www.calendow.org/tce-board-approves-increased-spending/ 

Level Up & CHANGE Philanthropy Links:

Level Up Campaign: https://levelupphilanthropy.org/

CHANGE Philanthropy: https://changephilanthropy.org

CHANGE Philanthropy / Our Work: https://changephilanthropy.org/elementor-397/

Trust-Based Philanthropy Links:

The California Endowment’s Go! Gifts: https://www.calendow.org/gogifts/

Headwaters Foundation of Montana’s Go Grants: https://www.headwatersmt.org/what-we-fund/go-grants/

Trust-Based Philanthropy Project: https://www.trustbasedphilanthropy.org 

CHANGE Philanthropy Member Organizations Links:

Asian American Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy (AAPIP): ⁠https://aapip.org⁠

ABFE - A Philanthropic Partnership for Black Communities: ⁠https://www.abfe.org⁠

Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy: ⁠https://www.epip.org⁠

Funders for LGBTQ Issues: ⁠https://lgbtfunders.org⁠

Hispanics in Philanthropy: ⁠https://hipfunds.org⁠

Native Americans in Philanthropy: ⁠https://nativephilanthropy.org⁠

National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy: ⁠https://ncrp.org⁠

Neighborhood Funders Group: ⁠https://nfg.org⁠

Philanthropic Initiative for Racial Equity: ⁠https://racialequity.org⁠ 

Women’s Funding Network: ⁠https://www.womensfundingnetwork.org⁠

Fund the People Links:

Fund the People website: https://fundthepeople.org/?utm_source=chatgpt.com 

Fund the People Podcast: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/fund-the-people 

Join the FTP Podcast Premium community over on Patreon for extended episodes, bonus content, and more: http://patreon.com/fundthepeople

Relevant FTP Podcast Episodes Links:

Level Up: Helping Funders Give More, Faster with Jodeen Olguin-Tayler, CHANGE Philanthropy (S10:E01 published 09/09/26) https://www.podpage.com/fund-the-people-a-podcast-with-rusty-stahl/level-up-helping-funders-give-more-faster-with-jodeen-olguin-tayler-change-philanthropy/ 

Meet the Moment: A Call to Action for Funders with Shaady Salehi, Trust-Based Philanthropy Project (S07:E17 published 04/02/25): https://fundthepeople.org/meet-the-moment/ 

MacArthur President Chooses Courage, Not Quiet with John Palfrey, MacArthur Foundation (S07:E27 published 06/11/25): https://fundthepeople.org/palfrey

Do Funders Understand the Nonprofit Burnout Crisis? with Elisha Smith Arrillaga, Center for Effective Philanthropy (S07:E01 published): https://fundthepeople.org/funders-understand

Synopsis:

In this episode, you’ll learn about a current organizing effort to get institutional funders to ‘level up’ their giving in response to attacks on nonprofits and communities. Host Rusty Stahl speaks with Jodeen Olguín-Tayler (CHANGE Philanthropy) about the Level Up campaign and its three-part pledge, in which funders agree to (1) increase giving for at least two years; (2) move money quickly and equitably to support 'frontline' communities; and (3) share how the commitments are put into practice.

The conversation also explores why increased payout rates matter right now; the role of donor advised funds; protecting racial justice grantmaking; and how funders can learn from one another to overcome internal barriers and turn commitments into action. This Season 10 premiere is an installment of our Defend Nonprofits, Defend Democracy Series. In a companion episode (S10:E2) next week, Brenda Solarzano shares why The California Endowment signed the Level Up pledge, and how its moving money in response to the current crisis.

Download transcript .pdf: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZpRvZ_zQQQkPSyX9t4FL0Uka0OcQgcAP/view?usp=sharing

Guest Bio:

Jodeen Olguín-Tayler (she/ella) is Director of Programs and Campaigns at CHANGE Philanthropy, where she supports the Level Up Campaign. Jodeen has served in executive roles in philanthropy, business, and nonprofits for over 20 years with a focus on democracy and an economy rooted in racial and gender equity. Her board service has included Movement Voter Fund, Poder Latinx, Chicana Empowerment Fund, Inclusive Democracy and Climate Equity Fund, and Movement Strategy Center. Her staff leadership has included the National Domestic and MoveOn. Full bio: https://changephilanthropy.org/about/team.

Essential Links:

Level Up Campaign: http://levelupphilanthropy.org

Level Up Campaign email: [email protected]

CHANGE Philanthropy: https://changephilanthropy.org/

Fund the People: http://fundthepeople.org

Fund the People Podcast: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/fund-the-people  

Fund the People Podcast Premium on Patreon: http://patreon.com/fundthepeople 

Key Resources from the Episode:

Racial Equity Advancement and Defense Initiative: https://www.abfe.org/racial-equity-advancement-and-defense-initiative-readi

Free Your Donor Advised Fund (DAF) website: http://freeyourdaf.org

CHANGE Philanthropy Member Organizations:

Asian American Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy (AAPIP): https://aapip.org

ABFE - A Philanthropic Partnership for Black Communities: https://www.abfe.org

Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy: https://www.epip.org

Funders for LGBTQ Issues: https://lgbtfunders.org

Hispanics in Philanthropy: https://hipfunds.org

Native Americans in Philanthropy: https://nativephilanthropy.org

National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy: https://ncrp.org

Neighborhood Funders Group: https://nfg.org

Philanthropic Initiative for Racial Equity: https://racialequity.org 

Women’s Funding Network: https://www.womensfundingnetwork.org

Relevant FTP Podcast Episodes:

How Nonprofits Fight Back Against Today’s Biggest Federal Threats w/ Sarah Saadian, National Council of Nonprofits (S9 Summer Bonus, 07.08.26) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-nonprofits-fight-back-against-todays-biggest-federal/id1531813289?i=1000775935067

‘Silence Isolates, Solidarity Shields’ w/ Tonya Allen, McKnight Foundation (S8:E07, 11.05.25) - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/silence-isolates-solidarity-shields-with-tonya-allen/id1531813289?i=100073541767

Meet the Moment: A Call to Action for Funders w/ Shaady Salehi, Trust-Based Philanthropy Project (S7:E17, 04.02.25) - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/meet-the-moment-a-call-to-action-for-funders/id1531813289?i=1000701886889

Want additional relevant episodes? Add our Defend Nonprofits, Defend Democracy Playlist to your Spotify library: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/45UnbWYeqzDY9U2DVWDcHm?si=_KJDjjPpSIKNUdiUIhuDnA

Hi everybody – this is Rusty Stahl, CEO of Fund the People and host of your Fund the People Podcast. Season 10 starts next Wednesday, September 9th. New episodes will be available every Wednesday throughout the fall.

So I wanted to say a quick hello to get you ready!

As you probably know, Fund the People is the only national organization dedicated entirely to increasing investment in America's nonprofit workforce. 

Our podcast equips YOU to invest in the nonprofit workforce! Whatever your role in the sector, we provide you with the ideas, research, tools, and leading voices you need to hear in order to invest in the nonprofit people around you!

Why does this matter? Because there's a chronic deficit of investment in the nonprofit workforce, which has undermined the effectiveness and impact of the sector for decades. But when nonprofits have the funding and incentive to invest in their people, they can dramatically increases the performance, results, and sustainability!

During the current era of political attacks, federal funding cuts; heightened levels of burnout, churn-out, and crisis across the nonprofit sector, investing in nonprofit people is an even more essential strategy to save nonprofit jobs, services, and organizations. Which means it’s time for all of us to learn the art of talent-investing.

Thankfully we’re making that easier than ever.

As we enter our seventh year of podcasting, the show just keeps getting better and better. More incredible guests. More real talk. More hard-hitting coverage of our sector's workforce issues. In fact, our guests are so great that the show is now ranked # EIGHT on the top list of 100 Best Nonprofit Podcasts in the U.S (FeedSpot).

This fall, Season 10 brings you even more wisdom and practical resources from across the sector. So come "find your people" on Fund the People: bee sure to subscribe, listen or watch, and share the show!

As nonprofits navigate the aggressively hostile political and policy environment of the current federal administration, communications strategist Vanessa Wakeman argues that organizations need more than legal and financial preparedness.

In this special summer bonus episode, you’ll learn about “narrative resilience,” - a term and concept developed by Wakeman. Learn how nonprofits – and their funders – can strengthen public trust; counter harmful storylines; and build lasting communications infrastructure that helps defend both the nonprofit sector and democracy itself.

View and download a .pdf transcript of this episode – https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_GMmCxBhbrIWcOQ5y5e1YzIk-ARBIe8W/view?usp=sharing 

Guest Bio:

An accomplished leader with deep knowledge about the politics of social change and mastery at advancing the efforts of values-driven organizations, Vanessa is a trusted advisor to organizations around the globe. She has been successfully leading initiatives to support communications for nonprofits, socially responsible companies and other stakeholder groups since she founded The Wakeman Agency in 2003.

Vanessa helps clients to build and restore trust with internal and external audiences, to develop ongoing communications that strengthen organizational positioning and amongst key audiences. Vanessa has increasingly been called upon by a host of organizations to help them reimagine their values, culture and operations through the lens of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion. Her approach to communications uses behavioral science practices to shift perceptions and behaviors.

Links

Resources:

The Wakeman Agency – Strategic communications firm serving nonprofits, foundations, and mission-driven organizations. https://www.thewakemanagency.com/

Narrative Resilience Program – Consulting and assessment program for nonprofits, available for individual organizations or cohorts, including foundation-sponsored cohorts. https://www.thewakemanagency.com/expertise/narrative-resilience-program/

The Wakeman Agency Insights – Articles and thought leadership explaining Narrative Resilience and communications strategy. https://www.thewakemanagency.com/insights/

Social Change Diaries podcast - https://www.thewakemanagency.com/the-social-change-diaries/

Social Change Diaries episode with Rusty Stahl – “Rusty Stahl’s Radical Vision for a Transformed Nonprofit World” from November 2018  – https://www.thewakemanagency.com/insights/rusty-stahls-radical-vision-for-a-transformed-nonprofit-workforce-development/

Contact Guest:

Vanessa Wakeman on linkedin – https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessawakeman 

Wakeman Agency on linkedin – https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-wakeman-agency

Relevant Episodes:
S9 Bonus – Sarah Saadian (National Council of Nonprofits) – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-nonprofits-fight-back-against-todays-biggest-federal/id1531813289?i=1000775935067

S9:E13 – The Value of the Nonprofit Workforce (Part 2) – ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/economy-the-unique-value-of-the-u-s-nonprofit-workforce-2-of-3/id1531813289?i=1000761500707⁠

S9:E18 – Vu Le (Nonprofit AF) – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/anger-hope-funding-and-the-future-of-nonprofits/id1531813289?i=1000768714659

Sarah Saadian of the National Council of Nonprofits explains how the Trump Administration policies are reshaping the nonprofit sector through a three-pronged effort to cut-off funding, silence organizations, and erode trust in nonprofits—and why these threats affect every nonprofit, regardless of mission. She shares practical ways nonprofit leaders can take action together to defend civil society, strengthen nonprofit advocacy, and protect the communities they serve.

Promo Video for this Episode: https://youtu.be/LmjA_DsErPQ

Download a .pdf of the transcript of the episode:

Transcript of Audio Version: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1y0sOKOxON29a-IRA6T3xGBGUqiUep1zj/view?usp=sharing

Transcript of Video Version: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1F3WG1qNKqerTrDwu8hyNa1xzfMx9klrq/view?usp=sharing 

Guest Bio:

Sarah Saadian is Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Campaigns with the National Council of Nonprofits. She has more than fifteen years of experience with national advocacy campaigns and has successfully advanced federal policies on Capitol Hill. Prior to joining NCN, Sarah served at the National Low Income Housing Coalition, Enterprise Community Partners and Rapoza Associates. She graduated from the University of Connecticut School of Law after receiving her bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia, and she is a member of the Virginia State Bar. 

Essential Links:

Rusty’s Call to Action YouTube Video⁠: ⁠Just Say NO to a Fake Nonprofit Pledge of Allegiance to President Trump - https://youtu.be/3Sz8zs35bMw?si=CKLrz2MquMvnI8n1⁠

NCN Resource and Action Page on Proposed Regulations: https://www.councilofnonprofits.org/articles/take-action-july-13-oppose-sweeping-changes-federal-grantmaking

NCN’s Chart of Proposed Regulations: https://www.councilofnonprofits.org/files/media/documents/2026/2026-chart-omb-uniform-proposed-changes.pdf

NCN’s Guide for Submitting Your Public Comments: https://www.councilofnonprofits.org/files/media/documents/2026/2026-proposed-omb-uniform-guidance-comment-guide.pdf

Add Your Organization to the National Letter: https://www.councilofnonprofits.org/form/national-letter-to-protect-and-s

Email Your Member of Congress: https://ujoin.co/campaigns/4287/actions/public?action_id=6970

NCN website: https://www.councilofnonprofits.org/

NCN’s Nonprofit Champion Newsletter - free biweekly updates on local, state, and federal policy and advocacy issues affecting nonprofits: https://www.councilofnonprofits.org/newsletter-archive 

Sarah's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-saadian-495933b/

NCN's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-council-of-nonprofits/posts/?feedView=all

Fund the People website: http://www.fundthepeople.org

Related Episodes:

Defend Nonprofits, Defend Democracy Series (A Playlist on Spotify - free Spotify account required): https://open.spotify.com/playlist/45UnbWYeqzDY9U2DVWDcHm?si=JqbTljbcSEqJZo3C6wPRhw 

The Federal Policy & Propaganda Landscape Facing the Nonprofit Workforce in 2026 (S9:E11, 04/01/26): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-federal-policy-propaganda-landscape-facing/id1531813289?i=1000758617691 

The Trump War on Charity (S8:E1, 09/24/25):

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-trump-war-on-charity/id1531813289?i=1000728221229

Defend Nonprofits, Defend the Social Safety Net - with Edward Hershey (S7:E25, 05/28/25): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defend-nonprofits-defend-the-social-safety-net/id1531813289?i=1000710317394
Silence Isolates, Solidarity Shields - with Tonya Allen, McKnight Foundation (S8:E7, 11/05/25): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/silence-isolates-solidarity-shields-with-tonya-allen/id1531813289?i=1000735417671
When Politicians Call Nonprofits “Thugs” and “Sleazebags,” What Will You Do? (S7:E6, 01/15/25): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/when-politicians-call-nonprofits-thugs-and-sleazebags/id1531813289?i=1000684096236

#DefendNonprofits #DefendDemocracy #FundThePeople

Vu Le is our guest for the Season Nine Finalé, which also serves as an installment of our ongoing Defend Nonprofits, Defend Democracy Series. Recorded with a live zoom audience during our spring webinar series, Vu discusses his burnout, funding instability, philanthropy’s power dynamics, and what it will take to strengthen nonprofits in an era of rising authoritarianism. Vu argues that nonprofits and funders must stop normalizing scarcity, invest deeply in leaders and infrastructure, and organize collectively for long-term change.

Drawing from his new book Reimagining Nonprofits and Philanthropy, Vu challenges conventional assumptions about fundraising, nonprofit leadership, and philanthropy itself. The conversation explores why progressive movements struggle to sustain leaders, how conservative leadership infrastructure has been built strategically over decades, and what nonprofit professionals can do right now to protect democracy and each other.

Download a transcript of the episode

About Our Guest

Vu Le is a prominent writer, speaker, and former executive director of Seattle-based Rainier Valley Corps. Widely recognized for his irreverent, no-nonsense approach to social justice and philanthropy, he authors the viral blog Nonprofit AF, and is a co-founder of the Community-Centric Fundraising movement. Most recently he is author of the book, Reimagining Nonprofits and Philanthropy. In 2020, Vu was our first guest on the Fund the People: A Podcast with Rusty Stahl.

Suggested Links:

Vu Le’s Blog, Nonprofit AF

Reimagining Nonprofits and Philanthropy (Book)

The Sally Covington Report (Moving a Public Policy Agenda: The Strategic Philanthropy of Conservative Foundations)

Community-Centric Fundraising

Nonprofits Are Message with Joan Garry - Episode 251 with Vu

Trust-Based Philanthropy Project

National Council of Nonprofits

Independent Sector

Bolder Advocacy

Rules of the Game Podcast (Note: Rusty misstated the name of the podcast in the recording. The correct name provided here)

Solidaire Network

Fund the People

Fund the People Webinar Series

Related Fund the People Podcast Episodes:

S1:E1 — Vu Le: Treating Nonprofit People Like Batteries - The very first FTP podcast episode, revisited in this conversation, on burnout, scarcity, and nonprofit workforce culture.

In this installment of our Defend Nonprofits Defend Democracy Series, you’ll get a deep dive into one of the least-discussed but most important democracy issues facing nonprofits and philanthropy today: attacks on ballot initiatives and direct democracy. Elizabeth DiLauro of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation joins Rusty Stahl to discuss how ballot measures have become critical tools for advancing health equity and why efforts to restrict citizen-led initiatives threaten both democracy and the nonprofit sector.

Liz shares how RWJF is funding organizations defending ballot access in multiple states, helping other funders understand the legal pathways for engagement, and why funders using their public voice matters as much as their grantmaking right now. The conversation also explores democratic backsliding, gerrymandering, philanthropy’s role in this moment, and why protecting democratic participation is foundational to every social justice mission.

Download the edited transcript as a .pdf

Guest Bio:

Elizabeth DiLauro serves as a Senior Policy Officer with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, where she shapes strategy and grantmaking at the state level to advance long-term change in the social policies that impact our nation’s health and well-being. 

Previously, Liz served as the senior director of advocacy at ZERO TO THREE, where she led the organization’s advocacy strategy to advance a policy agenda for young children and families. Earlier in her career, Liz worked with the Pew Charitable Trusts where she crafted state campaigns to increase access to children’s dental care, and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry where she advanced strategies to support children’s mental health policy. She has also worked in federal and state advocacy with Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) USA.

Liz holds a Master of Public Administration from the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service at New York University, with a specialization in public and non-profit policy and management.

Links to Resources Mentioned in the Episode

Organizations:

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF)

Ballot Initiative Strategy Center Foundation

Fairness Project Education Fund

Bolder Advocacy (program of Alliance for Justice)

Fund the People

Reports, Publications, Events, and Tools:

Rules of the Game Podcast⁠ (Bolder Advocacy, a program of Alliance for Justice)

Foundations on the Hill (policy conference and Capitol Hill visits for the foundations and philanthropy infrastructure organizations)

Answering the Call for a Healthy, Inclusive Democracy - Annual Letter (April 2026) by Dr. Rich Besser, President, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

All By April (a 501c3 campaign hosted by Democracy Fund)

In this episode (S9:E16), you’ll hear compelling evidence that investing in nonprofit workers isn’t a distraction from program results—it actually supercharges impact!

Burnout is widespread in the nonprofit sector, particularly in social justice groups. But it doesn’t have to be. Our guests share their research, experience, and thinking, based on a cohort of Northern California nonprofits working with All Due Respect to improve working conditions for organizers in their ranks. Geraldine and Rebecca vividly describe how better pay, stronger systems, and a culture of wellness can significantly improve job quality, employee retention -- and program results. Download an edited transcript in .pdf format

Our Guests:

Geraldine Alcid is Executive Director of Filipino Advocates for Justice (FAJ). Established in 1973 in response to the discrimination and alienation faced by Filipino immigrant newcomers, FAJ builds a strong Filipino community by organizing constituents, developing leaders, providing services, and advocating for just policies. Geraldine is also a founder and leads FAJ’s sibling 501C4 organization, FAJ Action Fund, established in 2022. She was born in Makati, Philippines, grew up in Chicago, IL. and currently lives in Oakland, CA. 

Rebecca Gorena (she/ella) is Senior Program Director at All Due Respect. She is a community advocate and campaign manager with over 14 years of experience across states and social justice sectors. Rebecca has led organizing and policy campaigns across many issues with an emphasis on developing the skills and autonomy of the organizers she works alongside.  This has resulted in her passion for building stronger movement spaces and leaders.

Links to Resources

Key Reports & Tools:

⁠Shared Guidelines: A Commitment to Bay Area Organizers⁠ (Report from All Due Respect)

⁠People Power Movements: Lessons from FAJ’s Deep Wellness Project⁠ (Report from All Due Respect)

⁠Youth Organizing in the Bay Area: An Exploration of Organizational Labor Standards⁠ (Report from All Due Respect)

⁠Sustainable Jobs Toolkit⁠ (Online toolkit from All Due Respect + Staffing the Mission)

⁠Upgrading Nonprofit Workplaces 2026 Case Study Series⁠ (Research from Fund the People)

Guest's and Host's Organizations:

All Due Respect (ADR) website

Filipino Advocates for Justice (FAJ) website

FAJ on Facebook

FAJ on Instagram

Fund the People (FTP) website

FTP on LinkedIn

FTP Mailing List

Related Networks & Partners Mentioned:

RYSE Center

AAPIs for Civic Empowerment (FORCE)

California Domestic Worker Coalition

East Bay Community Foundation

National Domestic Workers Alliance

Power California

Additional FTP Episodes with All Due Respect:

Thriving Wages for Community Organizers (S7:E6) – with Kara Park (All Due Respect) and Gabby Hernandez (Orale)

Fair Labor Standards for Community Organizers (S3:E8) – with Kevin Simowitz and Kinzie Mabon (All Due Respect)

More Relevant FTP Episodes:

The Guru of Burnout (S1:E10) – with Dr. Christina Maslach, Professor Emerita, University of California Berkeley⁠

⁠Using Capacity-Building Grants for People-Systems (S2 Bonus Episode) - with Andrea Frye, People’s Action (Bonus Episode)⁠

How Funders Can Support Nonprofit Workers in the Age of Burnout, Part 1 (S6:E1) - with Jamie Allison, Walter and Elise Haas Fund

New Study: Cost of Low Wages in Youth-Serving Nonprofits (S7:E22) – with Madison Holland, The Prosperity Initiative

What does it take to move from talking about racial equity to practicing it—inside philanthropy and across the nonprofit sector? In this episode, you’ll get visionary and pragmatic guidance on how funders and nonprofits can close the gap between intention and action. Rusty speaks with Kaci Patterson, Founder of Social Good Solutions and the Black Equity Collective. Kaci shares how her work brings funders and Black-led organizations together to build relationships, trust, and unding strategies that are rooted in community.

The conversation also digs into the economic and social impact of Black community organizations, the persistent under-funded/under-capacity paradox faced by these organizations, and the urgent opportunity facing philanthropy. As the DEI backlash and public sector staffing cuts disproportionately impact Black women, Kaci argues that philanthropy has a choice: retreat to old habits or invest boldly in a stronger, more equitable nonprofit workforce. This episode offers both a clear-eyed critique and a hopeful path forward—grounded in relationships, mutuality, shared leadership, and long-term sustainability.

Download an edited transcript .pdf⁠ of episode

About Our Guest:

Kaci is Founder and Chief Architect of Social Good Solutions (SGS), a Black woman-owned and operated boutique social impact consulting firm. Kaci also serves as Founder and Chief Architect of the Black Equity Collective, housed within Social Good Solutions.

Kaci launched SGS in 2014 after nearly 18 years of working in the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors. Always with an eye toward human and community development, SGS works with philanthropic institutions, nonprofit organizations, and public agencies to design, operationalize and manage racial justice initiatives from concept to implementation. The firm’s expertise is operationalizing equity, demonstrating what’s possible in philanthropy and creating new standards for equity-centered practices in the field. Since 2014, SGS has raised and leveraged over $86 million (and counting!) for Black-led organizations in California!

Links & Resources:

Kaci Patterson & Her Work:

• Social Good Solutions
• Black Equity Collective
• A Guide for Pursuing Black Equity & Racial Justice in Philanthropic Initiatives and Government Systems

Research & Data Mentioned:

• The Economic Contributions of California Black-Led Organizations, May 20, 2025, published by the Black Equity Collective and Nonprofit Finance Fund
• Black-led Nonprofits Didn’t See the Lasting Funding Boosts Promised After 2020’s Racial Reckoning, by James Pollard, April 7, 2026, Associated Press
• ⁠Candid + ABFE report on funding for Black-led nonprofits⁠

• Black Women Suffered Large Employment Losses in 2025—Particularly Among College Graduates and Public-Sector Workers, by Valerie Wilson, February 10, 2026, Economic Policy Institute

Related Organizations & Context:

• BLACC (Building Leaders and Cultivating Change) Fund (at Liberty Hill Foundation)
• ABFE - A Philanthropic Partnership for Black Communities (formerly the Association of Black Foundation Executives)
• Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO)
• California Community Foundation
• Liberty Hill Foundation
• Aspen Institute Civil Society Fellowship

Fund the People Resources:

• Fund the People
• Fund the People’s Talent Justice Research and Tools⁠
• ⁠Fund the People Premium Podcast on Patreon⁠

Fund the People's podcast is available on all platforms. Here are links where most people listen or watch:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• YouTube video feed or audio-only feed
• PodPage

Similar Episodes:

• Funding Advocacy for Racial Equity in a Hostile Climate – with Dr. Giridhar Mallya, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
• Coaching Black Women Leaders in White Nonprofit Spaces - with Kelli King-Jackson Coach and Consultant
• Racial & Generational Barriers in Nonprofit Careers - with Frances Kunreuther and Sean Thomas-Breitfeld, Building Movement Project
• Funding Black Leaders to Prevent Burnout - with Dany Sigwalt, Power Shift Network
  

In this episode, you'll get a clear, concise, and cogent argument for the unique value of the U.S. nonprofit workforce, with a specific focus on how nonprofit workers contribute to democratic participation and self-governance. Host Rusty Stahl discusses five ways this value manifests:

1. ​Bringing the First Amendment to life
2. ​Delivering services to citizens on behalf of government
3. ​Advocating to government for the public interest
4. ​Last bulwarks of democracy
5. ​Engines of civic participation

This is the third installment in our three-episode miniseries on the Unique Value of the U.S. nonprofit workforce. The first installment focused on our contributions to American community. The second focused on our contributions to the American economy. (You can find links to the prior installments below.) Taken together, we have a powerful picture of how the nonprofit contributes to American society

It's worth noting that, in this framing the 'third sector' contributes mightily to the first sector (the public sector, or government) and the second sector (the private sector, or business).

Download a transcript in .pdf format.

Relevant Episodes:

• ​The Unique Value of the U.S. Nonprofit Workforce - Part 1 of 3
• ​The Unique Value of the U.S. Nonprofit Workforce - Part 2 of 3
• ​S1:E4 - Lester Salamon (including this episode because at about minute 9 and 54 seconds, Dr. Salamon discussed how the federal government massively 'outsources' the delivery of its programs and services to 'third parties', many of which are nonprofits)