Impact Audio

This episode of Impact Audio features Woodrow Rosenbaum, chief data officer at GivingTuesday. He shares how the organization has stepped up to help solve one of the most common issues facing nonprofits—how to access and derive insights from data.

He digs into:

• The story behind GivingTuesday’s data strategy

• Why standardization is not the endgame

• The data that reveals a big opportunity for attracting more donors

This episode of the Impact Audio podcast features Megan Strand, director of strategic consulting at Realized Worth. She lays out how an employee volunteer network can transform employees’ relationships with their company’s social impact work.

She shares:

• The structures that underpin genuine engagement

• How to balance your focus between current state and future state

• Why you should be aiming for the IKEA effect

This episode of the Impact Audio podcast features Erin Combs, founder of Artio Strategies. Erin has worked with brands such as Amazon, Starbucks, and Lyft to build CSR programs and to craft an authentic messaging strategy. She shares how companies can tell effective social impact stories.

She digs into:

• What’s at the center of a good CSR story

• The difference between marketing and social impact comms

• How to align your CSR strategy with your company identity

This episode of the Impact Audio podcast features Shannon Farley, co-founder and executive director of Fast Forward. She digs into the ways tech nonprofits are using AI to make a deeper impact and shares her takeaways from the Google.org Impact Summit.

She explores:

• Real-world examples of nonprofits building AI tools

• How to avoid “shiny object” funding

• What nonprofits can teach the for-profit world about AI adoption

Today on Impact Audio, Rich Maiore, founder and CEO of Rocket Social Impact lays out what you need to do to get your CSR comms on track.

He shares:

• The four main tools in his messaging toolbox

• Why you should lean into an imperfect story

• The best first step to take today

In this episode of Impact Audio, Melanie LeGrande, managing director at Panorama Strategy, talks through how she responded to that reality. When she didn’t get the budget she needed for an employee giving program, she pivoted to a new strategy.

She covers how to:

• Create a micro version of your ideal program

• Define success for your social impact programs

• Craft a clear story that resonates with your audience

This episode of Impact Audio features John Brothers, president of the T. Rowe Price Foundation, breaking down how nonprofit boards have gotten the notorious reputation of the place where strategy and creativity go to die.

He covers:

• Why nonprofits shouldn’t strive to run like businesses

• The effects of professionalization in philanthropy

• Advice for current and future board members

This episode of impact Audio features Chris Battles, impact engineer & CSR software architect at Elwern Associates, as he shares insights from his two and half decades developing and implementing technology for CSR programs.

He covers:

• Three things successful CSR programs all have in common

• The key to engaging employees in today’s distributed landscape

• How AI and technology unlock deeper employee engagement

We both got a peek at the future of CSR and the trends shaping conversations around topics like DEI, employee volunteering, and AI.

In our conversation, we touch on:

• The increasing politicization of DEI and CSR programs

• Areas where ideas like trust-based philanthropy are making progress

• Ways AI both did and didn’t fit in the conversation

Last month, I attended the NASCIO 2024 Midyear conference and I learned a lot about what state CIOs are prioritizing this year (hint: there were a lot of AI conversations).

In this quick dispatch episode, I reflect on my experience with my colleague Stacey Sveum.

We cover:

• What it was like “speed dating” state CIOs

• How state CIOs are thinking about simplifying their programs

• Why government organizations seem to be at the forefront of the AI conversation