Nonprofits Now: Leading Today

As leaders at every nonprofit — no matter the size or cause — grapple with challenges to their missions and finances, it’s especially important to tap into the wisdom of executives who have helped their organizations weather previous threats.

Barron Segar is one of those leaders. He took over as head of World Food Program USA just a few months before Covid ripped across the globe.

Before that, he worked as executive vice president and chief development officer at Unicef USA, and he is a founding executive board member of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, serving more than 30 years on the National Board of Directors. 

Segar walked host Stacy Palmer through the ways he is persevering through current leadership challenges. He discussed how he is talking to his staff and leaders about preparing contingency plans in case funding gets tight; how he decided to call staff back to the office a few days a week and explained his rationale; and why he put into the budget money for each staff member to take advantage of professional development.

Among his advice for leaders:

• Candor with staff is essential, especially in anxious times. 
• Always ask about the staff’s capacity to handle a new project. 
• Changing course is okay. 
• Ask donors what the organization is doing right and where it needs to improve. 

Connect with Segar on LinkedIn.

Watch a video of this interview on YouTube:  https://youtu.be/StKzFQR4ob4

For more advice on leadership, check out these articles from the Chronicle:

• “A Really Tough Job: Nonprofit CEOs Work to Make Their Roles More Manageable” by Ben Gose
• “Me and My Shadow: A Peer Learning Model Helps Leaders Grow” by Ben Berger and Shuki Taylor
• “How to Retain Skittish Donors Amid the Economic Turbulence” by Rasheeda Childress
• “Tips to Maintain Your Well-Being Amid Tariffs, Layoffs, and Recession Talk” by Rasheeda Childress
• “How to Find Fundraising Mentors — and Best Learn From Them” by Rasheeda Childress
• “Show How Your Nonprofit Is Making a Difference: 10 Dos and Don’ts” by Lisa Schohl
• “(Video) Two CEOs Share Insights on Leading in Challenging Times” by Chronicle Staff
• “Leadership at the Crossroads” by George Anders

Nonprofits Now: Leading Todayis hosted by Stacy Palmer. It’s produced by Emily Haynes at theChronicle of Philanthropyand from Reasonable Volume, Mary Dooe is the producer, Mark Bush is our engineer, and Rachel Swaby and Elise Hu are executive producers. Additional support comes from Margie Fleming Glennon, Andrew Simon, Nick Adams, Krista Niles, Amaya Beltran, and Kyle Johnson. 

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Valerie Jarrett is no stranger to the tough challenges nonprofit leaders face today. She is now head of the Obama Foundation, which is working to build an extensive library and community center in Chicago. From that perch she collaborates closely with leaders who pursue a wide range of social-change and economic development efforts. 

Jarrett built many of her leadership muscles decades ago, when she served as a key senior adviser to President Barack Obama through all eight years of his presidency. In the years since, she also served on many corporate and nonprofit boards.

What she learned in the White House — responding to crises like the Great Recession — and now emphasizes as a nonprofit CEO, is the importance of assembling and building a great executive team. Host and Chronicle CEO Stacy Palmer talked with Jarrett about her team-building strategies and advice to fellow leaders. Jarrett says not only does a strong executive team get more done, but it also enables the CEO to spend as much time as possible working on big-picture issues that are essential to the organization's future.

Among her recommendations to nonprofit CEOs:

• Start thinking about the whole team from the very first interview with a candidate for an executive role. 
• Make sure everyone at the leadership table feels welcome. 
• Encourage the leadership team to change course when needed. 
• Delegate everything you can to others. 
• Ask people how you can make their jobs easier. 

Follow Jarrett on LinkedIn.

For more advice on recruiting, see these article from the Chronicle:

• “A Really Tough Job: Nonprofit CEOs Work to Make Their Roles More Manageable” by Ben Gose
• “Leaders’ Advice for Other Leaders” by Ben Gose
• “Humanize Your Hiring Process — Here’s Why and How” by Mordy Walfish
• “(Video) How to Hire and Retain Top-Quality Workers” by Chronicle Staff
• “Leadership at the Crossroads” by George Anders

Nonprofits Now: Leading Today is hosted by Stacy Palmer. It’s produced by Emily Haynes at the Chronicle of Philanthropy and from Reasonable Volume, Mary Dooe is the producer, Mark Bush is our engineer, and Rachel Swaby and Elise Hu are executive producers. Additional support comes from Margie Fleming Glennon, Andrew Simon, Nick Adams, Krista Niles, Amaya Beltran, and Kyle Johnson.

For the latest philanthropy news and analysis, subscribe to the Chronicle at philanthropy.com/subscribe.

Like all workplaces, nonprofits are now filled with up to four generations of workers as boomers work along with millennials and people in Generations X and Z.

Each generation approaches work and careers differently, which leads to struggles at some organizations. But at the best-run nonprofits, leaders are ensuring that differences in work styles and life experience enhance an organization’s ability to meet its mission.

In this episode of Nonprofits Now: Leading Today, host Stacy Palmer talks with two leaders who excel in working with people in different life stages.

Alexandra Bernadotte is founder and CEO of Beyond 12, an organization that works to ensure students from marginalized backgrounds graduate from college, and Elsa Morales-Roth, executive director of the Emilio Nares Foundation, which helps the families of children with cancer.

Among the suggestions from Bernadotte, who is a Gen Xer, and Morales-Roth, who is a millennial:

• Embrace what people of every age bring to the organization. Bernadotte makes a point of reminding people that intergenerational teams are “powerful because they’re not homogeneous.” What’s more, she says, intergenerational teams “don’t just get the work done, they build something that lasts.”
• Highlight achievements of staff members from each generation. Morales-Roth starts every team meeting by deliberately making sure that an employee from each generation gets a shout-out for their accomplishments and contributions. 
• Put the mission and values first. One way Bernadotte puts this into action: Each year, Bernadotte creates case studies based on difficult or divisive issues the nonprofit had to confront. Staff members from across the organization form teams to discuss what they would have done with the same set of facts. Doing so helps people of different ages and backgrounds learn how others think — and figure out how to make decisions that best reflect the organization’s values.
• Give fresh thought to performance measures. Morales-Roth is instituting 360-degree reviews.

Connect with Bernadotte and Morales-Roth on LinkedIn.

Watch a video version of this interview on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSmFf8L5bOc&t=1s

Further resources:

• “Gen Z Is Open to Nonprofit Careers — But on Their Own Terms” by Ben Gose
• “(Opinion) Boomer Leaders Should Learn to Share Their Power — Like I Did” by Raymond A. Jetson
• "What Young Nonprofit Workers Want" by Jim Rendon
• “How Millennials Lead” by Heather Joslyn
• “(Tool Kit) How to Manage Several Generations at a Nonprofit” by Chronicle staff
• “Leadership at the Crossroads” by George Anders

Nonprofits Now: Leading Today is hosted by Stacy Palmer. It’s produced by Emily Haynes at the Chronicle of Philanthropy and from Reasonable Volume, Mary Dooe is the producer, Mark Bush is our engineer, and Rachel Swaby and Elise Hu are executive producers. Additional support comes from Margie Fleming Glennon, Andrew Simon, Nick Adams, Krista Niles, Amaya Beltran, and Kyle Johnson.

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Nonprofits are facing a series of financial hits — or bracing for them. Federal spending cuts have already forced many organizations to trim programs and lay off workers — and with policymakers considering more far-reaching reductions, additional austerity is likely. Meanwhile, the growing possibility of a recession could spell trouble for nonprofits that depend on foundations, corporations, and individuals for support.

To help organizations navigate this period, Chronicle CEO Stacy Palmer turned to two leaders.

Aisha Benson, head of the Nonprofit Finance Fund, offers advice based on nearly three decades working with organizations on a broad range of fiscal matters. Myal Greene leads World Relief, which provides humanitarian aid around the world — and runs refugee resettlement programs in the United States. It relies on support from the federal government as well as private donors, and faced nearly immediate cuts when President Trump took office in January.

Among Benson and Greene’s recommendations:

• Do a cash flow analysis and prepare for different scenarios. 
• Reach out to grant makers and other donors. 
• Advocacy matters. 
• Get legal advice and watch for misinformation.
• The past is not a perfect guided for today’s challenges. 

Connect with Benson and Greene on LinkedIn.

Further resources:

• "Facing Federal Defunding, Nonprofits Draft Best and Worst Case Budgets" by Eden Stiffman
• "How to Lead Well in Uncertain Times" By Lisa Schohl
• "6 Ways Nonprofit Leaders Can Boost Morale in Chaotic Times" by Rasheeda Childress
• "7 Ways to Earn Foundations’ Trust and Win General Operating Support" by M.J. Prest
• "Know Your Rights: How Much Can Tax-Exempt Groups Speak Out?" by Roger Colinvoux
• "How to Retain Skittish Donors Amid the Economic Turbulence" by Rasheeda Childress
• "Fundamentals for Nonprofits" by the Nonprofit Finance Fund
• "Leadership at the Crossroads" by George Anders

Nonprofits Now: Leading Today is hosted by Stacy Palmer. It’s produced by Emily Haynes at the Chronicle of Philanthropy and from Reasonable Volume, Mary Dooe is the producer, Mark Bush is our engineer, and Rachel Swaby and Elise Hu are executive producers. Additional support comes from Margie Fleming Glennon, Andrew Simon, Nick Adams, Krista Niles, Amaya Beltran, and Kyle Johnson.

For the latest philanthropy news and analysis, subscribe to the Chronicle at philanthropy.com/subscribe

With the prospect of an economic downturn looming ― and the number of nonprofit layoffs on the rise ― many leaders are coping with a jittery workforce and new pressures to keep staff members motivated.

These new developments come on top of one of the most challenging staff recruitment landscapes in recent memory, after the Covid pandemic changed how and where work gets done.

In search of solutions, Chronicle CEO Stacy Palmer talked to two leaders who have found ways to attract and retain outstanding employees.

Jordan Shenker is CEO of the Peninsula Jewish Community Center, in Foster City, California, and Keena Friday is COO of the Association of Infant Mental Health in Tennessee. 

Among their suggestions:

• Don’t rush to fill open positions.
• Salary isn’t the only lure.
• Remote work options matter.
• As the economy and federal policy shift, communicate what you know as often as possible. 

Connect with Friday and Shenker on LinkedIn.

 Further Reading:

• “6 Ways Nonprofit Leaders Can Boost Morale in Chaotic Time” by Rasheeda Childress
• “How to Lead Well in Uncertain Times” by Lisa Schohl
• “For Nonprofits, Remote Work Offers a Competitive Edge” by Eden Stiffman
• “How to Attract Employees — Simple Strategies Work Better Than New Benefits” by Ben Gose
• “Leaders’ Advice for Other Leaders” by Ben Gose
• “Smart Ways to Show You’re Ready for a Promotion — and a Few Things to Avoid” by Lisa Schohl
• “How to Manage Up — and Reach Your Career Goals” by Lisa Schohl
• “Q&A: Bad Bosses, Big Dreams, and Broken Philanthropy” by Nandita Raghuram
• “A Really Tough Job: Nonprofit CEOs Work to Make Their Roles More Manageable” by Ben Gose
• “Leadership at the Crossroads” by George Anders

We welcome your thoughts on how the Chronicle can help you build your leadership superpowers. Write us at [email protected].

You can find a video version of this episode at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDndlWcRXEM

Nonprofits Now: Leading Today is hosted by Stacy Palmer. It’s produced by Emily Haynes at the Chronicle of Philanthropy and from Reasonable Volume, Mary Dooe is the producer, Mark Bush is our engineer, and Rachel Swaby and Elise Hu are executive producers. Additional support comes from Margie Fleming Glennon, Andrew Simon, Nick Adams, Krista Niles, Amaya Beltran, and Kyle Johnson.

For the latest philanthropy news and analysis, subscribe to the Chronicle at philanthropy.com/subscribe

As nonprofit leaders grapple with increasingly dire threats to their funding and missions, it’s more important than ever to understand what it takes to lead resilient organizations.

For a look at what skills are most important, we hear from Vanessa Priya Daniel, who interviewed 45 social-justice leaders for her new book, Unrig the Game: What Women of Color Can Teach Everyone About Winning.

Daniel combines her extensive research for the book with her own experiences as an organizer and founder of Groundswell Fund and Groundswell Action Fund — which together have distributed more than $100 million to over 200 organizations led by women of color and transgender people.

In a conversation with Chronicle CEO Stacy Palmer, Daniel says her interviews led her to identify three all successful change agents possessed:

• Bold ideas. Incremental solutions don’t add up to enough to solve the tremendous challenges of today and tomorrow. 
• Generosity. Daniel says an “ethos of rising by lifting others” is what makes the women she interviewed successful.
• 360-degree vision. There’s never just one cause of a problem that’s complex and worth solving.

Connect with Daniel on LinkedIn.

Further Reading:

• "Open Your Tent for Supporters Wide, Says Leader of Progressive Group" by Nicole Wallace
• "Opinion: White Philanthropy, Here's How to Guarantee Real Change Happens" by Edgar Villanueva and Vanessa Daniel
• "Opinion: A Post-Affirmative Action World Demands More — Not Less — Funding for Black Leaders" by Cora Daniels
• "Opinion: Women Leaders of Color Are Exhausted. Philanthropy Needs to Step Up." by Sayu Bhojwani
• "The Challenges of Being a Woman Leader of Color at a Nonprofit" by Jim Rendon
• "Funders Should Support Nonprofit Leadership Transitions — Now" by Nick Grono
• "Leadership at the Crossroads" by George Anders
• "A Really Tough Job: Nonprofit CEOs Work to Make Their Roles More Manageable" by Ben Gose

We welcome your thoughts on how the Chronicle can help you build your leadership superpowers. Write us at [email protected].

You can find a video version of this episode at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugOjpCJ3ChE&t=81s

Nonprofits Now: Leading Today is hosted by Stacy Palmer. It’s produced by Emily Haynes at the Chronicle of Philanthropy and from Reasonable Volume, Mary Dooe is the producer, Mark Bush is our engineer, and Rachel Swaby and Elise Hu are executive producers. Additional support comes from Margie Fleming Glennon, Andrew Simon, Nick Adams, Krista Niles, Amaya Beltran, and Kyle Johnson.

Two leaders, Kathleen St. Louis Caliento and Nick Grono, join Chronicle CEO Stacy Palmer to explain how they have engaged their board in financial efforts.

St. Louis Caliento runs Cara Collective, a Chicago nonprofit that helps low-income people find jobs. 

Grono heads the Freedom Fund, an organization that pools funds from donors who want to fight modern-day slavery. He’s the author of How to Lead Nonprofits: Turning Purpose into Impact to Change the World, published in 2024.

As nonprofits face economy headwinds — including losses in federal funding, rising costs, and the possibility of a global recession — nonprofit boards play an increasingly essential role. Trustees help with strategy and can also be powerful donors and fundraisers. Yet fewer than a quarter of respondents to a Chronicle survey described their board members as enthusiastic fundraisers.

Grono and St. Louis Caliento share their advice on how to inspire boards to champion your mission and share insights from their shared experience of working with trustees to manage unrestricted, multimillion-dollar grants from MacKenzie Scott.

 Among their key points:

• Ask board members for access to their networks.
• Help the board understand the nonprofit’s work and impact.
• Do an annual check-in.

You can connect with Grono and St. Louis Caliento on LinkedIn.

Further Reading:

“A Really Tough Job: Nonprofit CEOs Work to Make Their Roles More Manageable” by Ben Gose

“How to Create a Culture of Fundraising on Your Board” by Lisa Schohl

“How to Retain Skittish Donors Amid Economic Turbulence” by Rasheeda Childress 

“Show How Your Nonprofit Is Making a Difference: 10 Do’s and Don’ts” by Lisa Schohl

“Funders Should Support Nonprofit Leadership Transitions — Now” by Nick Grono

“Leadership at the Crossroads” by George Anders

We welcome your thoughts on how the Chronicle can better help you engage your board. Write us at [email protected]. 

Watch a video version of this episode at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58WhjVvKzbA. And catch up past episodes at https://www.philanthropy.com/podcast/nonprofits-now. 

Nonprofits Now: Leading Today is hosted by Stacy Palmer. It’s produced by Emily Haynes at the Chronicle of Philanthropy and from Reasonable Volume, Mary Dooe is the producer, Mark Bush is our engineer, and Rachel Swaby and Elise Hu are executive producers. Additional support comes from Margie Fleming Glennon, Andrew Simon, Nick Adams, Krista Niles, Amaya Beltran, and Kyle Johnson.

For the latest philanthropy news and analysis, subscribe to the Chronicle at philanthropy.com/subscribe.

Tim Dixon, co-founder of More in Common, joins Chronicle CEO Stacy Palmer to offer research-based strategies leaders can use to bridge divides in the workplace and in their communities. More in Common helps political leaders and social-change movements strengthen their coalitions by including unlikely allies.

Bridging divides is top-of-mind for nonprofit leaders today. Nearly two-thirds of nonprofit executives say the nation’s divisions are making their jobs tougher, according to an exclusive Chronicle of Philanthropy survey.

Dixon shared solutions to overcome entrenched division. Among his key points:

• Coalitions of unlikely partners are a key to success. 
• Leaders must manage divides within their organization — not ignore them.
• Focus on shared values to build consensus. 

You can connect with Dixon on LinkedIn and follow him @dixontim on X. And dig into More in Common’s research here.

Further Reading:

“Born of Political Violence, This Group Helps Nonprofit Causes Find ‘Surprising’ Allies” by Drew Lindsay 

“A Really Tough Job: Nonprofit CEOs Work to Make Their Roles More Manageable” by Ben Gose

“To Hell and Back: Polarization and the Nonprofit” by Ben Gose

“A Polarization Expert on What Nonprofits Need to Do — And Stop Doing” by Chronicle Staff

“‘It’s Hard to Hate Up Close’: Philanthropy, Polarization, and the Art of Conversation” by Eden Stiffman

“Leadership at the Crossroads” by George Anders

We welcome your thoughts on how the Chronicle can better help you bridge divides at your nonprofits. Write us at [email protected]. 

You can find a video version of this episode at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QW4KcDyDC5E.

Nonprofits Now: Leading Today is hosted by Stacy Palmer. It’s produced by Emily Haynes at the Chronicle of Philanthropy and from Reasonable Volume, Mary Dooe is the producer, Mark Bush is our engineer, and Rachel Swaby and Elise Hu are executive producers. Additional support comes from Margie Fleming Glennon, Andrew Simon, Nick Adams, Krista Niles, Amaya Beltrán, and Kyle Johnson.

Explore more of our reporting and interviews on navigating society’s divides at philanthropy.com/commons. For the latest philanthropy news and analysis, subscribe to the Chronicle at philanthropy.com/subscribe.

Nonprofit leaders are overworked, struggling to retain top talent, and facing budgetary shortfalls. In Nonprofits Now: Leading Today, host Stacy Palmer interviews innovative leaders who have developed smart solutions to common, tough challenges. The podcast series springs from an exclusive Chronicle of Philanthropy survey that uncovered troubling pain points in nonprofit leadership and a looming threat of leadership turnover. Nonprofits Now: Leading Today offers actionable strategies to address the most urgent challenges leaders face. Palmer and her guests explore proven ways to prevent burnout, manage intergenerational workplaces, hire strong senior teams, and much more. Starting April 15, tune in and turn the tide at your nonprofit.