The Beacon

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Joan Bahner speaks with Matthew Winston, former senior associate vice president for alumni relations at Virginia Tech, about diversity and inclusion in university advancement. Through their discussion, Matt explains why diversity and inclusion is a critical aspect of university advancement and answers:

• What areas in advancement typically fall short when thinking of diversity and inclusion.

• How advancement professionals can keep diversity and inclusion in mind when communicating on behalf of the university.

• What advice he has for an advancement professional looking to improve diversity and inclusion at their institutions.

“The better, the deeper, the more connected the relationship, the easier, the faster the resources, infrastructure, and so on will come.” – Derek Young

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff Jowdy speaks with Derek Young, owner of YMG Enterprises, about strategically building relationships for your nonprofit. Believing that relationships are an organization’s most valuable asset, Derek shares:

–How nonprofits should prioritize their relationships with various constituents.

–How relationships can increase donor engagement.

–What steps organizations can take to increase their boards’ participation in relationship-building.

About Our Guest

Over the past 50 years, Derek Young has played nearly every position on the nonprofit team. In the mid-90s, Derek became Dollar General Corporation’s first head of corporate social responsibility. In that role, he reviewed more than 10,000 charitable contribution requests from nonprofits across the country and oversaw Dollar General’s Literacy Foundation. He also served as a CEO for 100 Black Men of Middle Tennessee and a career development manager for INROADS of Nashville.

He has held numerous nonprofit roles which reflect his love for serving others. He was the first statewide board chairman for March of Dimes—Tennessee, and the first 4-time WalkAmerica chairman for March of Dimes—Nashville. He was the first Business Coordinator of the Year for INROADS who also worked for the organization, and the first Member of the Year for 100 Black Men of Middle Tennessee who also served as their executive director. He was the first community engagement chairman for the Nashville Symphony Board of Directors and their Community Leader of the Year.

He has been a board member for Nashville State Community College, the Young Leaders Council, and the Edgehill Center. He has been a member of the Middle Tennessee Donors Forum, the People Services Committee, and the Youth Development Task Force.

He has been recognized as an AKA Community Legend; a Big Brother of the Year; a Delta Sigma Theta Man of Achievement; a 1999 graduate of, and facilitator for, Leadership Nashville; a Board Member and Diversity Volunteer of the Year for the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce; and a Young Leader of the Year.

Over the past 30 years, Derek has served as an advisor, trainer, or keynote speaker for more than 100 nonprofits such as Gigi’s Playhouse, Martha O’Bryan, Oasis Center, and STARS.

Currently, he serves as the president and CEO of YMG Enterprises, LLC, a Nashville-based corporate culture consulting firm that helps organizations create a winning corporate culture. His culture strategies have helped hundreds of thousands of leaders across America move from good to legendary performance. Since 1987, he has conducted more than 5,000 consulting, training, speaking, and coaching programs in leadership development, performance management, diversity & inclusion, executive presence, sales & service, and strategic planning.

Derek and his wife Allyson live in Nashville with their four children. His motto is God first, others second and dreams third.

Follow Derek on Twitter: @DYSpeaker

Visit: https://derekyoungspeaks.com/

Visit: https://www.youngleaderscouncil.org/

“You need to be sensitive; you need to be a professional about how you approach people. But it is important to recognize that these are some of your best donors.” – Joe Chickey

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff Jowdy speaks with Sharpe Group Vice President Joe Chickey about estate giving, and why it is especially important for nonprofits to focus on planned giving now. Joe addresses:

Why people are being advised to look at their estate plans.

How nonprofits can take advantage of this.

What advice he would give to any listeners developing or refining estate plans.

About Our Guest

Joe Chickey has more than 30 years of experience in the charitable arena, with a focus on gift planning. Based in Nashville, TN, he is a senior vice president and consulting director for Sharpe Group. He has spoken locally, regionally, and nationally on planned giving to estate planning councils, AFP, CASE and local CGP groups. His recent speaking engagements include the Chicago Council on Planned Giving, Colorado Summer Symposium, Middle Tennessee Planned Giving Council, and the Carolinas Planned Giving Conference. Joe recently completed a three-year term as a board member of the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners (CGP).

Joe served as lead fundraiser for a $1.5 billion capital campaign at the University of Illinois and a $500 million capital campaign for a major hospital in Chicago. He has administered charitable remainder trusts, lead trusts, gift annuities, life estates, and IRA gifts.

He has experience as a gift planner on the nonprofit side and a bank trust officer on the for-profit side. For 14 years, he worked with nonprofit endowments, family foundations, and high-net-worth clients. His expertise includes estate and financial planning, asset management, and charitable planning.

As a vice president and trust officer for Regions Bank, he was a leader in the Endowments and Foundations Group and worked with more than 125 charities throughout the Southeastern United States. Prior to Regions, Joe was a vice president and business development officer for SunTrust Bank.

In the fundraising arena, he served as director of gift planning for the University of Illinois Foundation. He was also a major gift officer for Rush University Medical Center in Chicago and a planned giving officer for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Joe is active in the community. He is a past president of the Fifty Forward Endowment Board. He is also past president of the Planned Giving Council of Middle Tennessee and a past board member of the Chicago Planned Giving Council. He has served on the boards of the Boys & Girls Club, Family & Children’s Services, and Middle Tennessee Boy Scouts. Additionally, he has served on advisory boards for University School of Nashville, Abintra Montessori, and the Nashville Symphony.

Joe earned a bachelor of arts degree in finance from Rhodes College and a master’s degree in business administration from University of Illinois.

Follow the Sharpe Group on Twitter: @SharpeGroup

Learn more about the Sharpe Group.

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Bloomerang’s Chief Engagement Officer, Steven Shattuck, joins Jeff Jowdy for a conversation about fundraising automation. Steven explains what fundraising automation is and:

• How nonprofits can use automation to their advantage

• The biggest dangers

• Tips for implementing automation in your fundraising strategy

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff Jowdy and Jay Lemons, president of Academic Search, discuss fundraising in higher education and the importance of maintaining relationships when fundraising. Jay shares:

• What university fundraising professionals can do every day to nurture relationships with the university.

• How to keep alumni connected to their alma mater.

• Trends in higher education advancement searches.

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff Jowdy and Bill McMorran, founder, senior partner and planned giving consultant with Green Oak Consulting, discuss the tools donors can use when making a planned gift. Bill shares:

• The different mechanisms donors can use to make a planned gift

• The differences between those mechanisms

• How these tools benefit both the donor and the nonprofit

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff Jowdy talks with president of CZ Strategies, Dave Goetz, about nonprofit positioning strategies. Dave explains what a positioning strategy is and shares:

• How nonprofits can craft a positioning strategy

• Who should be involved

• When nonprofits should consider revising their strategy

“It’s in everybody’s best interest – ultimately the students’ – that the board chair and head of school are figuratively on the same page when it comes to governance and administrative responsibilities.” – Bill Mott

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff Jowdy speaks with Bill Mott, an adjunct instructor for the master’s in education, independent school leadership program at Vanderbilt University and author of “Healthy Boards, Successful Schools.” Bill speaks about his book and describes the importance of the head of school and board relationship, especially as it pertains to the board chair. He also shares:

–How to build a strong board culture.

–The benefits of advisory boards.

–How independent schools can use advisory boards.

About Our Guest

Throughout his thirty-year career, Dr. Mott has had the privilege of working with many independent and faith-based schools. While focusing on closely consulting with heads of school and the board of trustees, he has also assisted with fundraising, strategic planning and leadership searches. His knowledge, wisdom, expertise and experience place him among the most sought-after consultants in the country.

In his third book on governance, Dr. Mott concentrates on the importance of building a thriving culture for the head of school and the board of trustees. The impact of governance and leadership on independent and faith-based schools cannot be overstated and Dr. Mott brings years of experience as both a head of school and trustee to this discussion.

“Healthy Boards – Successful Schools: The Impact of Governance and Leadership on Independent and Faith-Based Schools” is a book that will resonate with those who strive to be a best practices governing board. This is a comprehensive resource that heads and boards will seek out for years to come.

Dr. Mott has been the head of school at three different independent schools and a member of the board of trustees of several independent schools as well as other nonprofit organizations. Additionally, he has served as a consultant for over a decade and assisted numerous schools with governance, fundraising, planning and search issues.

Currently, Dr. Mott is an adjunct instructor at Vanderbilt University teaching governance for the masters’ program in independent school leadership. He is also on the faculty for the Peabody Leadership Institute for Independent Schools – a week-long comprehensive institute that features practitioners working with independent school leaders from around the world.

Dr. Mott received his Ph.D. in educational leadership from Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College. He also holds a B.A. from the University of Mississippi. He and his wife Courtney have been married for over thirty-eight years, and they have two grown children.

Follow Bill: @WilliamRMottPhD

Williamrmottphd.com

“If you have met one foundation, you have met one foundation. Don’t treat all foundations the same.” – Steve Rasmussen

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff Jowdy speaks with Steve Rasmussen, executive director of the Andrea Wiatt Carlton Family Foundation. Through their discussion, Jeff asks Steve for advice for fundraising professionals. Steve shares:

What he wishes he knew as a fundraising professional after having a funder’s perspective

The most important attributes of a successful fundraising professional

About Our Guest

Steve has served the Andrea Waitt Carlton Family Foundation as executive director for the last 20 years.

He previously served as the Assistant to the President at his alma mater, Doane College in Crete, Nebraska, where he was responsible for three capital campaigns totaling $80 million. He has served on three associations of grant makers, a Governor’s community volunteerism commission and several music performance boards.

Steve has received the Humanitarian Award for volunteer work at Men of Valor, an award from Governor Bill Richardson for several years of chairing the New Mexico Community Volunteerism Commission, Youth Conservation Corps and the Alumni Builder’s Award for Lifetime Achievement from Doane College.

Steve and his wife, Minna, a retired elementary school teacher, are involved with prison ministry. And in his spare time, you might find Steve playing the tuba in his local community band.

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff Jowdy speaks with fundraising consultant Clay Buck about donor data, how to use it and how to keep it secure. Clay emphasizes the importance of maintaining donor databases in order to increase the effectiveness of your fundraising and addresses:

How to develop data-informed strategy

How often data and strategy should be revised

How nonprofits can keep their donor data secure