The Beacon

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel Senior Consultant Dr. Lilya Wagner speaks with Dr. Dwight Burlingame, a major contributor to the field of philanthropy in the United States for more than 30 years, about nonprofit education and professional development for fundraisers.

In their discussion, Dwight explores:

• The growing interest in fundraising coursework and degrees in higher education

• What sets nonprofit management and fundraising courses apart from more general business programs

• How nonprofit- and fundraising-specific education can help practitioners navigate the increasingly common intersection of nonprofit and for-profit missions

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel Senior Consultant Dr. Lilya Wagner talks with Harry Dorcus about the role of the chief financial officer in a nonprofit organization’s fundraising.

Harry has 39 years of international financial management experience, with special emphasis on establishing new missions for the United States Agency for International Development, an independent agency of the United States government that is primarily responsible for administering civilian foreign aid and development assistance.

Harry addresses topics including:

• Helping CFOs understand and commit to fundraising and the idea that it costs money to raise money.

• Outlining a reasonable role for a CFO to play in an organization’s overall fundraising plan

• How the CFO can practically and ethically share information from the finance office that will make the fundraiser’s job easier and better

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, special guest host Parker Middleton talks with Tom Johnson, former president of CNN, chairman and CEO of CNN News Group and former president and publisher of The Los Angeles Times about philanthropy and the heart of giving.

In their discussion, Tom shares his thoughts on an array of topics around philanthropy and giving, including:

• What compels him to get behind a cause with his time, heart, ideas and financial support.

• How he decides what organizations to lend his name, networks and skill to.

• What nonprofit leaders should know or do in order to work with volunteers like him.

• How he handles it when met with a no from a prospective donor.

And so much more.

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel President Jeff Jowdy speaks with Jodi Weiss, senior client partner at global organizational consulting firm Korn Ferry, about leadership succession planning for nonprofits.

In their discussion, Jodi and Jeff talk about issues including:

• The importance of having a succession plan – and the consequences of not having one.

• What organizations should be striving for in terms of a healthy culture of development that ensures the retention of key talent and encourages longevity.

• What a successful succession strategy looks like.

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel President Jeff Jowdy talks with Vern Snyder, former vice president for institutional advancement at the University of Toledo.

In their discussion, Vern addresses topics including:

• Major changes in institutional advancement, both positive and negative, over the course of his career.

• The process of outlining goals to keep an institution moving forward.

• Managing expectations and measuring success.

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel Senior Consultant Karen Baldwin talks with Mike Richey, who retired recently as vice president of philanthropy and alumni engagement at the University of Kentucky after a five-decade career at the school.

In their discussion, Mike addresses:

• The motivation to stay committed to one university for 50 years.

• Changes he’s seen in higher education philanthropy over the course of five decades.

• What he considers important qualities to look for in hiring an advancement professional.

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel Senior Consultant Harry Chapman talks with Dr. Russell James, professor in the School of Financial Planning at Texas Tech University, about making the ask.

In their discussion, Russell addresses:

• What Obi-Wan, Gandalf and Morpheus can teach us about major gifts.


• The specific process to epic storytelling that puts the donor front and center as the hero. 


• The three-sentence roadmap that lets you know when you’re ready to make the right ask at the right time for the right thing.

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel Director of Business Development Ryan Woroniecki speaks with John Taylor, principal at John Taylor Consulting, a leading firm in the field of advancement, campaign management and board development, about preparing for a capital campaign.

In their discussion, John addresses:

• The Association of Advancement Services Professionals, which he founded in 2007.

• How organizations should consider fundraising opportunities as they eye a capital campaign.

• Recommendations for assessment tools organizations can use to determine their readiness for a capital campaign.

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel Senior Consultant Martha Ross talks with Ken Cheeseman, head of school at The Webb School, a boarding and day school in Bell Buckle, Tennessee.

In their discussion, Martha and Ken talk about:

• The challenges of leadership and fund development at a boarding and day school.

• Helping students who are attending from other countries deal with isolation and loneliness.

• Fostering camaraderie and a feeling of family among students of different backgrounds, as well as between day students and those who live on campus.

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel Senior Consultant Martha Ross speaks with Patricia Glaser Shea, founder and CEO of Being Giveful, about giving as a wellness practice and how individuals and nonprofits can foster a more giveful life.

In their discussion, Pat addresses:

• The benefits of developing a philanthropic mindset to our physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing

• How to put that mindset into action

• How nonprofit leaders can help to develop a giveful mindset within their organizations