The Charity Charge Show - Nonprofit Podcast

On this episode of the Charity Charge Show, we speak with Brandon Williams, CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis. Williams explains how the Club is supporting youth after a tornado, why mental health and education remain core priorities, and how the organization is strengthening career pathways, internships, and sports programs.

He also shares lessons from his first year as CEO, including how to manage a leadership transition at a legacy nonprofit and why running with a business mindset is essential for mission success.

About Brandon

Brandon Williams is the Chief Executive Officer of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis, where he leads a network of programs serving more than 18,000 youth across the region. A former NFL player turned business and community leader, Brandon brings a unique blend of athletic discipline, corporate experience, and leadership coaching to the nonprofit sector.

Before joining the Boys & Girls Clubs, Brandon played in the NFL after graduating from the University of Wisconsin, then spent nearly a decade as a sports broadcaster with Big Ten Network, ESPN, and FOX. His professional journey also includes roles at Anheuser-Busch in innovation marketing and as Vice President of Team Business for the St. Louis Battlehawks. He has also served as a leadership and life coach, helping organizations build culture and accountability through practical team development frameworks.

Since taking on the CEO role, Brandon has focused on expanding the Club’s impact through career readiness, mental health support, and economic mobility initiatives for youth. Under his leadership, the organization has strengthened community partnerships, elevated brand awareness, and invested in modernizing its programs and facilities.

Brandon holds an MBA from Lindenwood University and is passionate about helping young people discover their “it factor” — intelligence, intangibles, and toughness — to achieve success in any path they choose.

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.

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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, host Grayson Harris speaks with Beth Hassett, CEO of WEAVE, an organization committed to ending domestic and sexual violence in the Sacramento region. With over 40 years of impact, WEAVE provides critical intervention services, prevention education, and community engagement programs aimed at creating safer, more supportive communities for survivors.

Beth shares how WEAVE’s vision — When Everyone Acts, Violence Ends — calls on individuals and organizations alike to take tangible action, from education to advocacy. She also reflects on her nearly three decades of leadership at WEAVE, the organization’s growth from a $1.8 million to an $11 million nonprofit, and how their values-driven approach sustains both trust and transformation.

Key Topics Covered

• WEAVE’s New Vision: Why “When Everyone Acts, Violence Ends” emphasizes community action over passive awareness.
• Intervention & Prevention: From housing and legal aid to youth education and bystander training in bars, salons, and workplaces.
• Leadership & Growth: Beth’s 20+ year journey from development director to CEO and WEAVE’s expansion into new programs and advocacy.
• Funding with Integrity: Navigating uncertain funding landscapes through transparency, community trust, and values-based communication.
• Community Engagement: How partnerships with schools, businesses, and civic organizations drive prevention efforts.
• Living the Values: Keeping survivor-centered care and empathy at the core of daily operations and long-term strategy.

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.

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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 nonprofit spotlight, we speak with Crystal Hagans-Hall, DrPH, the regional director of East Operations at the Epilepsy Foundation. We discuss the organization's mission to support individuals living with epilepsy through community engagement, education, and advocacy.

Crystal shares insights into the needs of the epilepsy community, the importance of seizure recognition training in schools, and her personal journey within the organization. The conversation highlights upcoming events for Epilepsy Awareness Month and emphasizes the significance of adaptability in nonprofit leadership.

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.

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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, Greg Arend, CEO of the Gatesway Foundation, shares how his team is advancing safe housing, meaningful employment, and true community integration for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. He explains why integrated neighborhoods reduce stigma, how donor trust is earned through consistent transparency, and what sustainable revenue looks like for a modern nonprofit.

Key takeaways

• Gatesway is developing The Villages of Rose Hill, a fully integrated community that will include 300+ affordable housing units for neurodiverse and neurotypical residents living side by side.
• Employment is framed as life fulfillment, pairing community jobs with individualized supports and new enrichment programs for those not yet in the workforce.
• Trust comes from transparency. Regular progress updates and clear impact reporting have strengthened donor engagement and accelerated capital projects.
• Sustainability requires diverse revenue streams, not reliance on a single funder or government line item.
• Centering people with I/DD in public processes can shift outcomes. Self-advocacy at a city council meeting helped secure approval for an affordable housing development.

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.

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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 nonprofit spotlight, we interview Jordan Johnson, COO of the Christian Cultural Center of Atlanta. We discuss the importance of alignment and transparency in nonprofit organizations, the challenges of growth, and the role of a COO in fostering interdepartmental connectivity.

Jordan shares insights from his experience with the Veritas Schools and his consulting firm, Alfred Nguyen, emphasizing the need for clear messaging and brand strategy in the nonprofit sector. The conversation highlights the significance of hospitality in creating a welcoming environment for community members and donors.

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.

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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 speak with Vanessa Lockel, the executive director of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County. They discuss Vanessa's unique journey into the nonprofit sector, her leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the various community needs in Suffolk County.

Vanessa shares insights on the challenges faced by the agricultural community, the importance of health and nutrition education, and the role of technology, particularly AI, in the future of nonprofits. The conversation emphasizes the significance of collaboration, resilience, and innovative thinking in addressing community issues.

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.

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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 nonprofit spotlight conversation, Carla Moore, CEO of United Methodist Community House, discusses the organization's mission to strengthen the community across generations through various programs. She highlights the significant need for early childhood education and food security in Grand Rapids, as well as the importance of data in shaping their strategies. Carla also emphasizes the organization's efforts to build financial sustainability and future plans for expansion, including affordable housing and community engagement.

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.

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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 conversation, we interview Toni Cunningham, the president and CEO of the Godman Guild, a nonprofit organization focused on workforce development and economic mobility. Toni discusses the organization's mission to empower individuals through durable skills training, personalized career pathways, and community partnerships.

She shares insights from her journey into nonprofit leadership and emphasizes the importance of team management and collaboration. The conversation also highlights upcoming events and the exciting future plans for the Godman Guild.

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.

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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 interview Karen Houghton, CEO of Infinite Giving, about the unique financial challenges faced by nonprofits and how her organization aims to address these issues. Karen shares her journey from being an executive director of a nonprofit to leading a financial advisory firm that specializes in helping nonprofits manage non-cash donations, navigate financial complexities, and achieve sustainability. The conversation highlights the importance of understanding the nonprofit financial landscape, the rise of asset gifts, and the need for strategic financial planning to ensure long-term success.

Karen previously served as an executive director, spent a decade in tech and venture capital, and serves on boards ranging from small nonprofits to institutions with multi-billion-dollar endowments. She holds a Series 65 and leads Infinite Giving’s work across 41 states.

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.

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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 nonprofit spotlight conversation, Lee Bynum, the executive director of Maestra Music, discusses the organization's mission to empower diverse individuals in the music and theater industry. Lee discusses the challenges of underrepresentation, the importance of mentorship, and the need for systemic change.

Lee shares insights from their background in philanthropy and the significance of measuring impact through both quantitative and qualitative data. The conversation also highlights the importance of building relationships with corporate sponsors and the organization's future aspirations for inclusivity and community involvement.

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.

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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.