Nonprofit Utopia Podcast

As the resources for social services become more competitive, grant makers are looking to invest in programs that provide the maximum impact at a reasonable cost.  This often means funding programs that have demonstrated success that can be replicated in other communities and scaled to reach more people. 

Join  Valerie F. Leonard on Nonprofit "U" to talk about how to develop promising program models. Topics will include community needs assessment, logic models, evidence-based programs, data collection and program evaluation.   

Valerie is an expert in community and organizational development with a mission of strengthening the capacity of organizations to make a positive impact on the communities they serve through technical assistance, specialized workshops, resource and organizational development and project management.

Join  Victor B. Dickson, the President and CEO of the Safer Foundation and me for a lively discussion. Victor will talk about the issues surrounding reentry, and the work the Safer Foundation is doing to help foster safer communities.

Safer Foundation is a national leader in the fields of community corrections, prisoner reentry and workforce development. Through a comprehensive suite of programs and services, Safer Foundation assists individuals pre- and post-release from jail or prison with a full spectrum of services designed to overcome the barriers to reentry. The core of Safer’s mission is job preparation and placement which enables Safer Foundation clients to experience a substantially lower rate of recidivism. Safer Foundation provides “a road back” for individuals to reenter as productive, contributing members of society.

Call in live at (347) 884-8121. You don't need an account to listen, but, if you want to participate in an online chat, open a listener-only account at https://secure.blogtalkradio.com/register.aspx?type=listener to participate in a live chat. Visit Valeriefleonard.com. Archived episodes may be found at http://Valeriefleonard.com/NonprofitU, iTunes, Podcast Chart, Blubrry and Stitcher.

Join David Pendleton, the Executive Director of The Door of Hope Rescue Mission and me for a lively discussion. David will talk about the Mission's work and share lessons learned in delivering faith-based services to homeless men in transition.

The Door of Hope Rescue Mission opened in 1954 on Chicago's South Side, providing  Christian discipleship for homeless men with a focus on empowerment, self-sufficiency and a community mind. This has increased the success ratio of one leaving the Mission for stable housing, and improved outlook on life and renewed and reconciled family and other estranged relationships. They have also distinguished themselves in our approach as well as providing a clean and safe environment. 

Call in live at (347) 884-8121. You don't need an account to listen, but, if you want to participate in an online chat, open a listener-only account at https://secure.blogtalkradio.com/register.aspx?type=listener to participate in a live chat. Visit Valeriefleonard.com. Archived episodes may be found at http://Valeriefleonard.com/NonprofitU, iTunes, Podcast Chart, Blubrry and Stitcher.

Being a member of the board of directors for a nonprofit organization is not to be taken lightly.  There are a number of responsibilities, including maintaining compliance with regulators and funders.  On top of that, the political climate warrants more nonprofit advocacy than ever. Church and nonprofit leaders would like to engage in civic affairs without jeopardizing their organizations’ tax-exempt status.

Tune in to Nonprofit “U” when  Jody Adler, the Director of the Law Project, discusses the board’s role in maintaining compliance with state and federal regulations; differences between political activities and lobbying; activities in which tax-exempt organizations and churches can and cannot engage; and an overview of the Law Project’s Compliance Institute. 

Call in live at (347) 884-8121. You don't need an account to listen, but, if you want to participate in an online chat, open a listener-only account at https://secure.blogtalkradio.com/register.aspx?type=listener to participate in a live chat. Visit Valeriefleonard.com. Archived episodes may be found at http://Valeriefleonard.com/NonprofitU, iTunes, Podcast Chart, Blubrry and Stitcher.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. came to North Lawndale in 1966 to launch a fight for fair housing.  Fast forward to 2017, what has changed? Join Valerie F. Leonard as she examines the issues that brought Dr. King to North Lawndale in 1966, and the overall state of the community today.

Valerie is an expert in community and organizational development with a mission of strengthening the capacity of organizations to make a positive impact on the communities they serve through technical assistance, specialized workshops, resource and organizational development and project management.

Call in live at (347) 884-8121. You don't need an account to listen, but, if you want to participate in an online chat, open a listener-only account at https://secure.blogtalkradio.com/register.aspx?type=listener to participate in a live chat. Visit Valeriefleonard.com. Archived episodes may be found at http://Valeriefleonard.com/NonprofitU, iTunes, Podcast Chart, Blubrry and Stitcher.

Trouble connecting?  Email [email protected].

What does 2017 hold for nonprofit organizations? 

Join Valerie F. Leonard as she shares forecasts from national organizations and experts based on emerging trends in the nonprofit sector.  She will also share results  of her own survey of local nonprofit listeners to get a sense for the mood here “at home”. 

Valerie is an expert in community and organizational development with a mission of strengthening the capacity of organizations to make a positive impact on the communities they serve through technical assistance, specialized workshops, resource and organizational development and project management. 

Call in live at (347) 884-8121. You don't need an account to listen, but, if you want to participate in an online chat, open a listener-only account at https://secure.blogtalkradio.com/register.aspx?type=listener to participate in a live chat. Visit Valeriefleonard.com. Archived episodes may be found at http://Valeriefleonard.com/NonprofitU, iTunes, Podcast Chart, Blubrry and Stitcher.

When we speak of nonprofit sustainability, we think of organizations’ ability to  raise money.  It’s more than that.  It’s a combination of things-fundraising, organizational infrastructure, adherence to mission and core values, credibility, leadership and management—that give organizations staying power.  Join Valerie F. Leonard for a lively discussion on nonprofit sustainability.

Valerie is an expert in community and organizational development with a mission of strengthening the capacity of organizations to make a positive impact on the communities they serve through technical assistance, specialized workshops, resource and organizational development and project management. 

Call in live at (347) 884-8121. You don't need an account to listen, but, if you want to participate in an online chat, open a listener-only account at https://secure.blogtalkradio.com/register.aspx?type=listener to participate in a live chat. Visit Valeriefleonard.com. Archived episodes may be found at http://Valeriefleonard.com/NonprofitU, iTunes, Podcast Chart, Blubrry and Stitcher.

The Cook County Commission on Social Innovation  was established by ordinance on April 12, 2016, with Commissioner Jesús "Chuy" García as the chief sponsor.  The Commission, comprised of thought leaders in the non-profit, government, and private sectors, uses data-driven strategies to drive social change through job creation and workforce development, entrepreneurship, community revitalization and industrial development. 

Marc J. Lane, Esq., Vice Chairman of the Cook County Commission on Social Innovation, will provide an update of the Commission’s work; compare and contrast social innovation and social entrepreneurship and share innovative strategies for social change.

Call in live at (347) 884-8121. You don't need an account to listen, but, if you want to participate in an online chat, open a listener-only account at https://secure.blogtalkradio.com/register.aspx?type=listener to participate in a live chat. Visit Valeriefleonard.com. Archived episodes may be found at http://Valeriefleonard.com/NonprofitU, iTunes, Podcast Chart, Blubrry and Stitcher.

Naomi Davis’ core beliefs can be summarized as follows: “Conserve or collapse; help is not on the way; nothing trumps self-help; only a whole-system solution can transform a whole-system problem.”  To that end, she founded Blacks In Green (BIG)  to create a 5-year green-village-building proof of concept in  a TIF in Chicago’s West Woodlawn community. She has also been instrumental in the negotiations surrounding a community benefits agreement between the Englewood community and Norfolk Southern Railroad. 

Join Naomi and me as she shares lessons learned from this work, as well as the 8 Principles of Green Village Building.Call in live at (347) 884-8121. You don't need an account to listen, but, if you want to participate in an online chat, open a listener-only account at https://secure.blogtalkradio.com/register.aspx?type=listener to participate in a live chat. Visit Valeriefleonard.com. Archived episodes may be found at http://Valeriefleonard.com/NonprofitU, iTunes, Podcast Chart, Blubrry and Stitcher.

Naomi Davis’ core beliefs can be summarized as follows: “Conserve or collapse; help is not on the way; nothing trumps self-help; only a whole-system solution can transform a whole-system problem.”  To that end, she founded Blacks In Green (BIG)  to create a 5-year green-village-building proof of concept in  a TIF in Chicago’s West Woodlawn community. She has also been instrumental in the negotiations surrounding a community benefits agreement between the Englewood community and Norfolk Southern Railroad. Join Naomi and me as she shares lessons learned from this work, as well as the 8 Principles of Green Village Building.

Call in live at (347) 884-8121. You don't need an account to listen, but, if you want to participate in an online chat, open a listener-only account at https://secure.blogtalkradio.com/register.aspx?type=listener to participate in a live chat. Visit Valeriefleonard.com. Archived episodes may be found at http://Valeriefleonard.com/NonprofitU, iTunes, Podcast Chart, Blubrry and Stitcher.