Mergers & Acquisitions in the Nonprofit Sector: A Conversation with Tim Davis of Glick Davis & Associates In this episode of The Nonprofit Edge, host Chris Looney sits down with Tim Davis, President of Glick Davis & Associates, to explore one of the most misunderstood and transformative topics in nonprofit leadership: mergers and acquisitions. Tim draws on more than two decades of experience helping organizations navigate complex transitions with both strategy and humanity. Together, Chris and Tim unpack: Why mergers and alliances are becoming more common across the nonprofit landscape How leaders can tell the difference between a short-term financial fix and a true long-term strategy The human side of mergers—trust, culture, and communication What a well-run merger process really looks like, from early conversations to board approval and implementation How partnerships can preserve mission, protect staff, and expand community impact Whether you’re leading a nonprofit that’s thriving, struggling, or simply evolving, this episode will help you think differently about collaboration, sustainability, and the future of impact. 🎧 Subscribe to The Nonprofit Edge wherever you get your podcasts. 💡 If conversations like this help you lead better, connect with the community shaping the future of the sector at Fulcrum Nonprofit Leadership.

In this episode of The Nonprofit Edge, host Chris Looney sits down with Chad Paris, CEO and Creative Director of Parisleaf, to unpack one of the most misunderstood elements of major fundraising efforts: campaign communications.

Whether your organization is planning a billion-dollar university campaign, a hospital expansion, or a large-scale nonprofit initiative, how you tell your story matters. Chad shares how powerful communications can unify people around a common vision, inspire donor confidence, and transform campaigns from transactional to transformational.

Together, Chris and Chad explore:

Why campaign communications are the heartbeat of a successful fundraising effort

How to integrate communications early in campaign planning—ideally during readiness and feasibility studies

The value of co-creation and collaboration between fundraising counsel and creative partners

How to balance institutional and campaign branding for consistency and inspiration

The power of authentic storytelling that connects the head and the heart

Strategies to maintain momentum and keep communications fresh through long campaigns

How AI and new tools are shaping the future of nonprofit storytelling

This is a must-listen for nonprofit leaders, fundraisers, and communicators preparing to launch or strengthen a major campaign.

🎧 Listen now to learn how to build alignment, spark emotion, and tell the story that will move your donors to act.

The Nonprofit Edge: Growth Mindset, Culture, and Team Alignment with Stuart Wachs

In this episode of The Nonprofit Edge, host Chris Looney sits down with Stuart Wachs, Founder and CEO of Impact Group, to explore what it truly takes to lead and grow a thriving nonprofit in today’s complex environment.

Stuart shares insights on cultivating a growth mindset, building a strong organizational culture, and aligning teams around a shared vision of impact. Drawing from his experience leading large nonprofit organizations and advising executive teams across the country, Stuart offers practical strategies for balancing mission with operational excellence — treating a nonprofit like a business without losing sight of purpose.

Tune in to learn how mindset, culture, and alignment can transform not just your organization’s results, but the experience of everyone who’s part of it.

🎧 Listen now to gain actionable leadership lessons and inspiration for your own journey in nonprofit leadership.

Most nonprofit organizations are leaving transformational gifts on the table… and they don’t even realize it.

In this episode of The Nonprofit Edge, Chris sits down with Dave Smith, one of the leading voices in philanthropic strategy and gift planning, to challenge how we think about fundraising at its core.

This is not a conversation about planned giving as you know it.

Dave introduces a powerful distinction between planned giving and true gift planning and shows why this shift is the key to unlocking significantly larger, more meaningful gifts. Instead of waiting for donors to raise their hand, he outlines how organizations can proactively engage donors of all ages in conversations that align their values, assets, and aspirations.

The result?

You’ll hear:

• Why most fundraising strategies unintentionally limit donor potential

Perhaps most importantly, this episode reframes the role of the fundraiser.

Not as someone asking for money, but as someone helping donors answer deeper questions:

How much is enough?

If you want to elevate your fundraising strategy, deepen donor relationships, and unlock the full potential of your organization’s impact, this is an episode you cannot afford to miss.

What if the future of nonprofit finance isn’t about doing more with less… but doing less of what slows you down?

In this episode of The Nonprofit Edge, I sit down with Neil Shah, Founder of Altruva.ai and a seasoned nonprofit CFO who has worked alongside more than 100 organizations, to unpack one of the most important shifts happening in our sector right now.

This is not a conversation about hype.

Neil brings a rare combination of deep financial expertise and forward-thinking innovation to help answer questions every nonprofit leader should be asking:

• How can AI reduce the manual burden on already stretched finance teams?

Perhaps most importantly, this episode reframes AI not as a replacement for people, but as a tool to elevate human capacity. When used well, it allows leaders to spend less time reconciling spreadsheets and more time making strategic decisions that drive impact.

If you care about efficiency, sustainability, and the long-term strength of your organization, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.

Watch or listen to the full episode on YouTube, Podbean, or Substack.

#NonprofitLeadership #NonprofitEdge #AIforGood #NonprofitFinance #Leadership #Innovation

Leadership transitions are some of the most vulnerable moments for nonprofit organizations. When an executive leader departs, organizations are often tempted to rush into a replacement hire.

But what if the better answer is to pause?

In this episode of The Nonprofit Edge Podcast, I sit down with Jeffrey Wilcox, CEO of Third Sector Company and founder of the Interim Executives Academy, to explore the powerful role of interim executive leadership.

Jeffrey has helped more than 900 nonprofit organizations across 40 states navigate leadership transitions. His work focuses on helping organizations stabilize during moments of uncertainty while also preparing them for stronger leadership in the future.

One of the most compelling insights from our conversation is that interim leaders are not substitutes or placeholders. Instead, they serve as bridge builders who help organizations move thoughtfully from their past into their future.

In our conversation, Jeffrey explains:

• Why interim leadership is often misunderstood in the nonprofit sector

Jeffrey also offers a powerful reflection on leadership itself. Some leaders thrive in long-term roles, while others are uniquely suited for short-term “emergency room” leadership environments where organizations need rapid stabilization and clarity.

For nonprofit leaders and board members navigating leadership transitions, this conversation offers important perspective on how interim leadership can strengthen organizations during pivotal moments.

How can nonprofits create deeper, more meaningful relationships with donors in a world filled with communication noise and shrinking attention spans?

In this episode of The Nonprofit Edge Podcast, host Chris Looney sits down with Jeff Kliewer, founder of ViewSpark, to explore how fundraisers can move beyond transactional giving and create transformational donor relationships.

Jeff shares insights from his 30 years in fundraising and discusses how simple, authentic communication can dramatically improve donor engagement, retention, and giving. The conversation highlights why donors crave validation and authenticity, why short real-time updates can be more powerful than polished campaigns, and how nonprofits can leverage technology without losing the human connection.

One of Jeff’s most memorable insights is that donors are looking for “snacks,” short, authentic updates that show the impact of their giving and bring them closer to the mission.

In this conversation, you will learn:

• The difference between transactional and transformational donor relationships

Jeff also shares powerful stories about how simple videos, imperfect and unscripted, have helped organizations raise thousands of dollars and deepen donor relationships.

If you are a nonprofit leader, fundraiser, or development professional looking to strengthen donor engagement and build lasting relationships, this conversation is packed with practical insight.

Learn more about Fulcrum Nonprofit Leadership:

Subscribe for more conversations with nonprofit leaders and sector experts.

In this episode of The Nonprofit Edge, host Chris Looney welcomes Nathan Chappell for a wide ranging and deeply practical conversation about artificial intelligence, leadership, and the future of philanthropy.

Nathan, Chief AI Officer at Virtuous and co author of The Generosity Crisis and Nonprofit AI, has been exploring AI in the nonprofit sector since long before it was mainstream. In this conversation, he explains why leaders can no longer afford to sit on the sidelines.

Key highlights from this episode:

• Why the “generosity crisis” and the reality of fewer donors giving more demand a new approach

Nathan challenges leaders to stop viewing AI as a novelty or threat and instead see it as a strategic lever for mission advancement. He makes the case that the organizations thriving today are not necessarily spending more money on technology. They are changing the way they think.

Whether you are exploring AI for the first time or looking to scale your organization’s capabilities, this episode offers clarity, encouragement, and a roadmap for leading with insight in an age of exponential change.

Listen in and discover how to position your organization on the right side of the digital divide and at the forefront of nonprofit leadership.

Welcome to The Nonprofit Edge: A Podcast to Promote Purpose in Practice. Each week The Nonprofit Edge features an extraordinary individual that provides valuable and impactful services, helping to transform the capabilities of their nonprofit clients. Join us as we explore a variety of topics, all vital to the success of nonprofit organizations. Learn and grow from the experience and expertise of our featured guests. This week The Nonprofit Edge features Sarah Agee, President of Sterling Search, Inc. The discussion provides an overview of the top 10 best practices for Nonprofit Executive Search. Whether you choose to work with an executive search firm or plan to hire talent on your own, you won't want to miss this conversation. Fulcrum Nonprofit Leadership, the producer of this webinar series, exists to raise up the most effective nonprofit leaders and we invite you to learn more by visiting us on the web at www.fulcrumleader.com.