The Charity Charge Show - Nonprofit Podcast

Global health systems are under pressure. Funding models are shifting. NGOs are closing. Communities are feeling the consequences.

On this episode of The Charity Charge Show, host Grayson Harris sits down with Peter Navario, CEO of HealthRight International and professor of health economics at New York University, to discuss what it takes to deliver sustainable healthcare solutions for marginalized communities, both globally and here in the United States.

From community-based mental health programs to new funding platforms designed to rethink global health financing, this episode explores what it means to build systems that last.

Guest: Peter Navario
Title: CEO, HealthRight International | Professor of Health Economics, NYU
Topics Covered:

• The mission and history of HealthRight International
• The “triangle” model: community, community health workers, and primary care systems
• Addressing mental health through peer-led, evidence-based interventions
• Why traditional one-on-one therapy is not scalable
• The impact of foreign aid cuts on global health organizations
• How HealthRight is diversifying revenue and launching a direct investment platform
• The need for a better dialogue between funders and implementers

About Peter Navario

Peter Navario serves as CEO of HealthRight International and is a professor of health economics at NYU.

With decades of experience in global health and development, he brings both academic insight and field-based leadership to his role. Under his leadership, HealthRight has focused on strengthening community-based care models and building more sustainable funding mechanisms for long-term health system resilience.

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About Charity Charge

Charity Charge is a financial technology company serving the nonprofit sector. From the Charity Charge Nonprofit Credit Card to bookkeeping, gift card disbursements, and state compliance, we help mission-driven organizations streamline operations and stay financially strong. Learn more at charitycharge.com.

On this episode of the Charity Charged Show, we sit down with Hilary Axtmayer, Chief Program Officer of the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, to talk about one of the most meaningful nonprofit expansions happening this year.

Founded in 1988 by Paul Newman, the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp was created to give children with serious illnesses something they are too often denied: the chance to simply be kids. More than three decades later, the organization is serving thousands of children and families across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, and in 2025 it is opening a second residential camp location in Maryland.

This conversation goes beyond the headline of expansion. It digs into the origin of the camp’s name, the magic of its programs, Hilary’s 25-year journey from counselor to executive leader, and the careful work required to scale without losing the soul of the mission.

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About Charity Charge

Charity Charge is a financial technology company serving the nonprofit sector. From the Charity Charge Nonprofit Credit Card to bookkeeping, gift card disbursements, and state compliance, we help mission-driven organizations streamline operations and stay financially strong. Learn more at charitycharge.com.

On this episode of the Charity Charge Show, host Grayson Harris sits down with John McDonald, newly appointed Board President of the IEEE Foundation. The conversation is a masterclass in how long-term professional communities evolve into powerful philanthropic engines, and what nonprofit leaders can learn from a global organization built on trust, consistency, and service.

John brings more than five decades of experience as a member of IEEE, the world’s largest professional technical organization with more than 500,000 members across 190 countries. His journey from student member to foundation president offers rare insight into leadership, donor engagement, and the discipline required to sustain impact at scale.

What the IEEE Foundation Actually Does

While IEEE is widely known for advancing technology, standards, and professional development, the IEEE Foundation operates as its philanthropic partner. The Foundation supports nearly 300 funds that power scholarships, awards, education programs, and initiatives designed to use technology for the benefit of humanity.

At its core, the Foundation exists to strengthen and extend IEEE’s mission by mobilizing philanthropy. It funds programs that create real social impact, from education access to humanitarian technology projects around the world.

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About Charity Charge

Charity Charge is a financial technology company serving the nonprofit sector. From the Charity Charge Nonprofit Credit Card to bookkeeping, gift card disbursements, and state compliance, we help mission-driven organizations streamline operations and stay financially strong. Learn more at charitycharge.com.

In this episode of the Charity Charge Show, Grayson Harris sits down with Dan Lusk, Executive Director of Momentum Refresh, to discuss one of the most overlooked barriers to inclusion at public events: truly accessible restrooms. Dan shares how the organization was built to solve a basic but critical problem, why ADA compliance alone is not enough, and how their mission driven model is scaling nationwide.

The conversation covers rapid growth, community partnerships, disaster response, and what is ahead in 2026.

Key Topics Covered

• Why accessible restrooms remain a major barrier to participation
• The difference between ADA compliant and universally designed facilities
• How Momentum Refresh units exceed ADA standards
• Growth from local pilots to national mega events
• Data, testimonials, and community trust as drivers of scale
• Partnerships with cities, counties, and major event organizers
• Expansion plans including manufacturing, franchising, and emergency response

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About Charity Charge

Charity Charge is a financial technology company serving the nonprofit sector. From the Charity Charge Nonprofit Credit Card to bookkeeping, gift card disbursements, and state compliance, we help mission-driven organizations streamline operations and stay financially strong. Learn more at charitycharge.com.

In this episode of The Charity Charge Show, we sit down with Rob Scheer, founder of Comfort Cases, a nonprofit that has delivered more than 300,000 backpacks filled with essentials to children entering foster care across all 50 states, Washington DC, Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom, and soon Canada.

Growing Up in the System

Rob did not come to foster care as an advocate. He came as a child who lived it.

He entered foster care because of abuse, not neglect. Cigarette burns on his body are reminders he still carries at 59 years old. Like many children in the system, he became a number, a file, a case. When he aged out at 18, he joined the tens of thousands of young people who are pushed out with no safety net. Within 24 hours, most become homeless. Rob was one of them.

He survived addiction, multiple suicide attempts, and repeated psychiatric hospitalizations. At 24, after nearly dying from an overdose, he made a decision that changed everything. He chose forgiveness. Not to excuse what happened, but to take his life back.

That decision did not make him a hero. It made him accountable.

The Numbers We Do Not Like to Talk About

During the episode, Rob challenges some of the most commonly repeated foster care statistics and explains why many of them understate the reality.

Here is what stands out:

• More than 400,000 children are in foster care in the United States.
• Roughly 23,000 youth age out every year.
• New homelessness counts show over 80 percent of people experiencing homelessness were touched by foster care at some point.
• Former foster youth are far more likely to experience PTSD than combat veterans.
• Only about 8 percent earn a four year college degree. That number improved recently, but it is still unacceptable.

Rob makes one point very clear. If a child enters foster care, society has already failed.

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About Charity Charge

Charity Charge is a financial technology company serving the nonprofit sector. From the Charity Charge Nonprofit Credit Card to bookkeeping, gift card disbursements, and state compliance, we help mission-driven organizations streamline operations and stay financially strong. Learn more at charitycharge.com.

In this episode of the Nonprofit Spotlight Series, hosted by Charity Charge, Grayson Harris sits down with Carol Klocek, CEO of the Center for Transforming Lives, to explore what it really takes to disrupt generational poverty and build long term economic stability for single mothers and their children.

Founded in 1907 and rebranded in 2015, the Center for Transforming Lives has evolved into a comprehensive, two generational organization serving families across the Fort Worth and Tarrant County region. Carol shares how the organization pairs housing stability, early childhood education, clinical counseling, and economic mobility services to address the root causes of poverty rather than its symptoms.

Key themes from the conversation

A two generational approach to breaking poverty
Carol explains why working with mothers and children at the same time is critical for lasting impact and how trauma informed care shapes every program they offer.

Affordability and housing instability
With single mothers earning a median income of $33,000 per year and spending more than half of their income on rent, Carol outlines why rising housing, childcare, and food costs create a pipeline to homelessness and how early intervention changes outcomes.

Prevention over crisis response
The episode dives deep into why preventing homelessness is far more effective and less costly than responding after families are displaced. Carol shares real data showing how keeping families housed reduces long term costs related to healthcare, education, and social services.

Building efficient public nonprofit partnerships
Carol details how the Center for Transforming Lives partners with healthcare providers, local government, and community organizations to deliver services more efficiently. From mobile health clinics to rent and utility assistance programs, these collaborations lower costs while expanding access.

The power of a nonprofit hub model
The organization’s new campus serves as a community anchor, offering healthcare access, drop in childcare, coworking space, and meeting facilities that foster collaboration among nonprofits, small businesses, and workforce partners.

Listening directly to the people served
Carol shares why monthly “Coffee with Carol” sessions have become one of her most valuable leadership practices and how participant feedback drives program design and trust.

Looking ahead to workforce development
Looking toward 2026, Carol discusses plans to pilot vocational training partnerships paired with free childcare to help parents transition into high wage, in demand jobs in fields like healthcare, welding, and electrical work.

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About Charity Charge

Charity Charge is a financial technology company serving the nonprofit sector. From the Charity Charge Nonprofit Credit Card to bookkeeping, gift card disbursements, and state compliance, we help mission-driven organizations streamline operations and stay financially strong. Learn more at charitycharge.com.

In this insightful episode, Grayson Harris sits down with Bennett Weiner, the newly appointed CEO of the BBB Wise Giving Alliance (Give.org).

As we move through 2025 and look toward 2026, the landscape of philanthropy is shifting rapidly. Bennett shares his expertise on the critical importance of nonprofit transparency, the "evolving" nature of accountability standards, and how organizations can navigate a world where AI bots may soon outnumber humans.

Key Takeaways

• The Power of Accreditation: Give.org focuses on a 20-standard evaluation process covering governance, finances, and privacy.
• The Information Gap: A startling 2025 survey revealed that only 32% of Americans were aware of federal grant reductions. Nonprofits must proactively educate their donors rather than assuming they know the challenges.
• The "Founder Syndrome" Risk: Bennett discusses the importance of objective governance and why the transition from a founder-led "passion project" to an adult, governed organization is vital for long-term survival.
• AI Policy is Non-Negotiable: With the rise of generative AI, nonprofits need clear policies on oversight and accuracy verification to maintain trust.

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About Charity Charge

Charity Charge is a financial technology company serving the nonprofit sector. From the Charity Charge Nonprofit Credit Card to bookkeeping, gift card disbursements, and state compliance, we help mission-driven organizations streamline operations and stay financially strong. Learn more at charitycharge.com.

In this episode of the Charity Charge Show, host Grayson Harris sits down with Joe Kendrick (Executive Director of Christian Mission) and Lacey Kendrick (VP of Financial Development) from the YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City. The duo discusses the 180-year history of the YMCA movement, the strategic importance of its Christian heritage, and the complex balance between earned revenue and philanthropic impact.

Key Discussion Points

• The Roots of a Global Movement: Joe Kendrick recounts the 1844 founding of the YMCA by George Williams in London and how that original vision of "hope and grace" translates to modern-day Oklahoma.
• The Business of Mission: Lacey Kendrick breaks down the unique nonprofit model of the YMCA: balancing membership dues (earned revenue) with philanthropy to ensure no one is turned away due to an inability to pay.
• Cause-Driven Leadership: How the organization incentivizes mission-alignment among 1,500+ employees, ensuring the "C" (Christian principles) remains the foundation of their service.
• Tackling Community Deserts: A look at the YMCA’s bold expansion plans for 2026, focusing on providing childcare and food security in underserved Oklahoma metros.
• The Power of Storytelling: Moving beyond "gym and swim" to share transformative stories of social mobility and family stability.

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About Charity Charge

Charity Charge is a financial technology company serving the nonprofit sector. From the Charity Charge Nonprofit Credit Card to bookkeeping, gift card disbursements, and state compliance, we help mission-driven organizations streamline operations and stay financially strong. Learn more at charitycharge.com.

In Episode 144 of the Charity Charge Show, we sit down with a man who is quite literally building a better night's sleep for children across the globe. Luke Mickelson, the founder of Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP) Beds, joins us to share a story that started in a cold Idaho garage and has since ignited a national movement to end "child bedlessness."

From a "Two-by-Four" Realization to a National Movement

Luke’s journey didn't start in a boardroom; it started with a simple observation in Kimberly, Idaho. While looking for ways to get local youth away from their screens and into service, Luke discovered a family in his own backyard whose children were sleeping on the floor.

What began as a one-time project to build a few beds has scaled into a massive operation. Today, SHP has over 400 chapters across 47 states and four countries. In 2026 alone, they are on track to build nearly 100,000 beds.

Innovation in the Nonprofit Model: Your Mission is Your Fundraiser

One of the most profound takeaways from Luke’s strategy is how SHP flipped the traditional nonprofit funding model on its head. Instead of diverting energy into "spaghetti feeds" or gala dinners, SHP makes the mission itself the revenue driver through Corporate Team Building.

• The Problem: Corporations want to give back but struggle to find scalable, organized, and impactful volunteer opportunities.
• The Solution: SHP provides "turnkey" build events. Companies like Lowe’s, Ford, and Google sponsor the materials and bring their employees to build the beds.
• The Result: The company gets a high-impact team-building experience, and the nonprofit gets 100% mission-aligned funding.

Avoiding "Mission Creep"

As a senior strategist, I find Luke’s discipline regarding Mission Creep to be a masterclass for any social impact leader. When you enter a home and see a family in need, the temptation to provide clothes, food, or toys is immense. However, Luke insists on a singular focus: Beds.

By staying "mile-deep and inch-wide," SHP ensures their operations remain efficient, their branding stays clear, and their impact is measurable. This discipline is what allows them to maintain a 96% efficiency rate, ensuring nearly every dollar donated stays in the local community to build beds.

How You Can Get Involved

The need is staggering—roughly 3% of children in any given community are sleeping without a bed. Here is how you can join the SHP family:

1. Raise Awareness: Child bedlessness is an "unknown" crisis. Share this episode to help shine a light on the issue.
2. Volunteer or Donate: Visit SHPBeds.org to find a local chapter. You can donate specifically to your city, ensuring your impact is felt at home.
3. Start a Chapter: If your community lacks an SHP presence, the organization provides full training, tools, and initial funding to help you lead the charge.

"No kid sleeps on the floor in our town." It’s a bold mission, but with leaders like Luke Mickelson and the power of community-driven data, it’s a goal that is within our reach.

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About Charity Charge

Charity Charge is a financial technology company serving the nonprofit sector. From the Charity Charge Nonprofit Credit Card to bookkeeping, gift card disbursements, and state compliance, we help mission-driven organizations streamline operations and stay financially strong. Learn more at charitycharge.com.

In this episode of the Nonprofit Spotlight Series, we interview Ginny Hill, CEO of Girl Scouts of Central and Southern New Jersey. They discuss the mission of the Girl Scouts, the significance of the cookie program, community partnerships, challenges in nonprofit talent management, and future plans for the organization. Jenny highlights how the Girl Scouts empower girls through various programs and the importance of community support in achieving their goals.

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About Charity Charge

Charity Charge is a financial technology company serving the nonprofit sector. From the Charity Charge Nonprofit Credit Card to bookkeeping, gift card disbursements, and state compliance, we help mission-driven organizations streamline operations and stay financially strong. Learn more at charitycharge.com.