Future Nonprofit

“As CEO of Water4, every trip I take, I go out to communities, I spend the night and go house to house and see if the taps are working, talk to customers, see what's going on, see what life's really like. And then my job is to thank them for being a customer, not for them to thank me for being a benefactor.” - Matt Hangen

In a sector filled with beneficiaries and benefactors, one international organization is challenging outdated models and disrupting traditional power structures.

In this bonus episode from the Camp Redwood Sessions, meet Matt Hangen, the visionary CEO of Water4, a trailblazing nonprofit revolutionizing the fight against water scarcity through innovative, business-driven solutions. How? By treating access to water as a consumer service rather than a handout. As a result, Water4 is boosting health—and economic opportunities—throughout rural African communities.

Discover Matt’s journey and the bold strategies making waves across rural Africa. Get an insider look at the pivotal moments that shaped Matt’s in-the-trenches, consumer-focused mindset. Matt also shares how his early work revealed the limitations of traditional charity models and inspired Water4’s business-based approach. He explores why empathy is at the heart of his strategy and how a deep understanding of the end users' needs can drive real change. Tune in to this must-listen episode to explore new ways to drive social impact, think bigger, and make a lasting difference where it’s needed most.

Contents

1 - Early mentorship and nonprofit influences

2 - Traveling to Africa and work in water

3 - Understanding water scarcity and consumer audience 

4 - Building an innovative consumer-focused model

5 - Scaling and growth opportunities

6 - Advice for nonprofit leaders

• Historic Agency
• Matt Hangen on LinkedIn
• NUMA Water
• Water4
• Culture Built My Brand

Mentioned in this episode:

Presented by Classy

Are you a nonprofit feeling the pressure of constant change and evolving supporter expectations? Are you searching for new ways to engage your community in this new era of fundraising?

“At that time, I really thought that money was the biggest issue. What I soon realized was that actually, not having money was not the biggest issue. The biggest issue was that the adults in my life were struggling so deeply, and there were severe mental health issues taking place. And so it was this shift from trying to eliminate adversity, to trying to pull a lever that actually could be pulled, which is just to get mental health resources into these high-need environments." - Rachel Miller

Have you ever set out to tackle one problem, only to realize there’s a much deeper, underlying problem that needs to get untangled first?

Meet Rachel Miller. She’s the founder and CEO of Closegap, a nonprofit dedicated to improving students’ mental health by addressing untreated trauma before it turns into a long-term, debilitating issue. 

Believing money to be the big problem for students, Rachel set out to close the gap between immediate needs and resources. But as she reflected on her own devastating childhood trauma, she realized that the real demand was for life-saving mental health support that navigates students through the trauma that far too many kids have to face. With a strategic pivot, she turned CloseGap toward addressing the growing mental health crisis unfolding in our schools. 

In this episode, Rachel shares how her own childhood struggles led her to the nonprofit she’s leading today with incredible courage, compassion, and commitment. We unpack Closegap's innovative, transformative approach to improving student mental health. We also explore unconventional nonprofit funding strategies and what it takes to foster a team dedicated to championing your cause. Tune in for an episode packed with inspiration and insights on building trust and persevering to make a greater social impact.

Contents

1 - Rachel’s upbringing and teenage struggles

2 - Closegap’s origins, and how its mission evolved

3 - History of mental health resources in schools

4 - Closegap’s model and revenue streams 

5 - Power dynamics and donor relationships in nonprofit work

6 - The importance of strong teams and culture

• Historic Agency
• 988 Mental Health Crisis Line
• Rachel Miller on LinkedIn
• Closegap
• Culture Built My Brand

Mentioned in this episode:

Presented by Classy

Are you a nonprofit feeling the pressure of constant change and evolving supporter expectations? Are you searching for new ways to engage your community in this new era of fundraising?

• "Imagine a hospital environment and having a million different pieces of equipment from a million different manufacturers and trying to maintain that or to repair it would be really difficult. And so we standardized our equipment, we're standardizing our services and we're standardizing our practices and our policies and even the way that we manage people. I think now we've gone to a place where actually if we do standardize a lot of the practices, it allows us to deliver our mission better. And we can all get pretty excited about that." - Justin Narducci

Imagine for a moment that your mission is to provide vital surgery to children in some of the world’s most underserved communities. How do you deliver high-quality, life-changing care, especially through a global pandemic? What systems and procedures do you need to build for an international workforce, many of whom live and work in places crippled by a cost-of-living crisis?

Those are the challenges faced by Justin Narducci, president and CEO of Cure International, an organization dedicated to providing the highest standard of surgical care to vulnerable children living with disabilities in Africa and Asia. With a passion for serving and a love for data, Justin is not only leading the charge to bring world-class care to children who need it most, but also innovating ways to make his team’s work more simple and reproducible. 

In this episode, Justin shares how a pivotal teenage experience inspired him to serve. You’ll learn about his background in international business, which led him to serve alongside the world’s top engineers at Boeing. Justin unpacks how his for-profit career informs his day-to-day leadership at Cure International—and how mastering the management of good systems and data can fuel wide-reaching global impact. Tune in for Justin’s top insights on purpose-driven leadership and his collaborative efforts to make a world-changing impact in global healthcare.

Contents

(2:30) Justin's background and the catalyst for conviction.

(4:52) For-profit principles that serve the nonprofit mission. 

(9:36) Joining Cure International and facing the challenge of Covid.

(13:31) How metrics matter for nonprofits.

(17:02) Innovating with impact.

(26:05) Cultivating culture in an international operation.

(28:43) Tackling threats that face nonprofit missions

(32:56) Justin's advice for nonprofit leaders.

• Historic Agency
• Cure International
• Justin Narducci Linkedin
• Culture Built My Brand

Mentioned in this episode:

Presented by Classy

Are you a nonprofit feeling the pressure of constant change and evolving supporter expectations? Are you searching for new ways to engage your community in this new era of fundraising?

• "We have every intention of being as additive as possible to this space. I think change in general is uncomfortable, and I think in nonprofit work there can be an aversion to change and aversion to risk. And as much as possible, it's our job to show why we are not something to be afraid of." – Ben Collier

Many nonprofits are launched in response to a pressing problem. Yet so many struggle to address those problems effectively. The key to nonprofit success lies in their ability to offer viable solutions rather than simply managing the problem. 

That’s the mindset that drives Ben Collier's work at FarmLink, an innovative organization bridging the gap between the food waste and hunger in the US.

Each year, 40% of food grown in the US goes to waste. At the same time, 34 million Americans face food insecurity. Food banks play a crucial role in addressing hunger. But their capacity is limited. That's where FarmLink is stepping in, connecting surplus produce with those in need. By adding a simple step to the process chain, FarmLink is helping end both food waste and insecurity.

In this bonus Camp Redwood Sessions episode, Ben Collier shares how FarmLink was founded out of a pandemic-era passion project—and the transformations it has experienced to turn it into a thriving nonprofit. Ben also reflects on his personal growth as a young CEO and the organization’s steep learning curves over the past few years. We’ll learn how FarmLink fits into the food conservation cycle and how they’re working to put a stop to the social stigma around food accessibility and solve hunger in America.

Contents

1 - FarmLink’s origin and pandemic-era roots

2 - Transitioning from a college project to a nonprofit foundation

3 - Ben’s leadership experience and evolution

4 - How FarmLink fits into the food donation ecosystem

5 - Ben’s outlook on change and innovation in the industry

6 - FarmLink’s philosophy on social stigma around food assistance

• Historic Agency
• The Farmlink Project
• Ben Collier on LinkedIn
• Abundance: The Farmlink Story
• Culture Built My Brand

Mentioned in this episode:

Presented by Classy

Are you a nonprofit feeling the pressure of constant change and evolving supporter expectations? Are you searching for new ways to engage your community in this new era of fundraising?

In nonprofit work, raising awareness around your cause is essential. But awareness is only the first step. The ultimate goal is to inspire action that leads to lasting change.

That’s precisely what Nash Sheard aims to achieve at the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), a nonprofit advocating for civil liberties in the digital security and privacy sectors. For over 30 years, EFF has held ground as frontrunners in the field. Yet as technology continues to play an increasingly significant role in our lives, it makes security and regulation more vulnerable than ever… and making their cause even more pressing.

In this episode, Nash shares compelling stories from his early days as an activist that led him to the nonprofit world. You’ll hear him describe how his firsthand experiences taught him the power of collaboration, what it means to be a true advocate, and the importance of empowering others to take action. We’ll delve into the history of EFF, exploring its founding and the ongoing fight for digital security in a rapidly evolving world. Tune in for Nash’s take on building trust and perseverance to develop a lasting connection with your audience that inspires lasting results. 

Contents

1 - Nash’s introduction to advocacy and protesting

2 - First activist groups and introduction to digital security

3 - History of EFF and current activism

4 - Nash and EFF’s definition of advocacy

5 - Audience empowerment and cultivating trust

6 - Nash’s advice on diversity and inclusion 

• Historic Agency
• The Electronic Frontier Foundation
• Nash Sheard on LinkedIn
• John Perry Barlow's EFF Blog Post
• Culture Built My Brand

Mentioned in this episode:

Presented by Classy

Are you a nonprofit feeling the pressure of constant change and evolving supporter expectations? Are you searching for new ways to engage your community in this new era of fundraising?

• "As nonprofits, we are often our own worst enemies because we live in these echo chambers. I think so often where we just talk the way we talk to the people that already talk the same way as us. And we miss making the biggest difference and tackling the biggest problems because we only want to talk to the people that want to talk just like us." - Thaddaeus Nichols

When it comes to tackling the biggest global problems, there's a celebrated proverb that's strikingly noteworthy: "If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together."

That mindset guides Thaddaeus Nichols' work at International Justice Mission (IJM), an organization that combats trafficking and slavery, violence against women and children, and abuse of power. To help accomplish this, Thaddaeus is reaching millions of potential donors and activists. How? By harnessing partnerships. And, with the help of the NFL and passionate and committed football players, he’s even taken IJM’s message to the Super Bowl.

In this episode, you’ll hear Thaddaeus’ origin story. He shares how lessons he learned in childhood instilled in him an unwavering commitment to care for the poor and powerless—a legacy he continues to build on as Vice President of Partner Programs at IJM. You’ll also hear how solving global issues is a communal effort that takes more than one organization—and how harnessing partnerships helps build empathy, leverage scale, and create impact.

Contents

1 - A unique and formative upbringing

2 - Joining International Justice Mission

3 - Partnerships: Pathway to scale

4 - NFL Super Bowl partnership

5 - Harnessing engagement in the workplace

6 - How to get started and scale partnerships

• Historic Agency
• International Justice Mission
• Thaddaeus Nichols LinkedIn
• Super Bowl Ad
• Culture Built My Brand

Mentioned in this episode:

Presented by Classy

Are you a nonprofit feeling the pressure of constant change and evolving supporter expectations? Are you searching for new ways to engage your community in this new era of fundraising?

Future Nonprofit is back for Season 2, featuring a new lineup of visionary nonprofit leaders plus nonprofit-adjacent experts navigating the rapidly changing world and scaling social impact with innovation, boldness, and empathy. Check out the trailer for the upcoming season.

Producer and Historic co-founder Mark Miller is back with host Ted Vaughn to offer their top 10 books every nonprofit leader should read.

Pulling titles written by leaders in nonprofit, business, and brain science, Mark and Ted share stories, anecdotes, and top tips from books on psychology, behavior design, human-centered design thinking, and more. 

Discover how to design experiences that turn one-time donors into repeat givers, use storytelling to improve staff operations, and help your nonprofit leverage technology and constant change to create the change that the world needs.

Mentioned in this episode:

Presented by Classy

Are you a nonprofit feeling the pressure of constant change and evolving supporter expectations? Are you searching for new ways to engage your community in this new era of fundraising?

Nonprofit leaders share a collective sigh of relief when the clock hits midnight on December 31. The year-end push is over, and you’re ready for a fresh start.

But how can you make sure this year is different—even better—than the last? How do you prepare for a pace of change that is guaranteed to speed up, faster than ever? You can set your team up for your best year yet by studying up on emerging nonprofit trends and making a plan to stay ahead of the curve. 

In this special Trends episode, Future Nonprofit producer and Historic cofounder and partner Mark Miller offers a primer on 9 emerging trends to keep watch for in 2024. From changes in donor giving patterns to making your message stand out in a noisy election year, discover how you can gear up for the year ahead.

Trend 1: Focus on Service Design

Trend 2: Nonprofits Investing in Brand Marketing

Trend 3: Disruptive Messaging

Trend 4: Trained AI Models

Trend 5: Investment in Employee Experiences

Trend 6: Donor Personalization and Customization

Trend 7: Casual and Social Giving

Trend 8: Speed of Decision-Making

Trend 9: Going Beyond Impact Stories

Mentioned in this episode:

Presented by Classy

Are you a nonprofit feeling the pressure of constant change and evolving supporter expectations? Are you searching for new ways to engage your community in this new era of fundraising?

Thank you for an amazing Season 1 of Future Nonprofit!

We will be taking a break for the holidays and returning in 2024 with Season 2.