The NonProfit Podcast Network

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The 2026 Philanthropy Summit is officially sold out, with more than 600 people expected at Cal Expo on September 15.

I’m joined again by Kelly Siefkin, Chief Philanthropy Officer at the Sacramento Region Community Foundation, for one final update before the big day. We talk about what attendees can expect, from the keynote and breakout sessions to networking, celebration, parking, food and some practical advice for making the most of the experience.

And if you missed registration, there may still be one way in: volunteers are still needed.

Most importantly, come ready to connect. Bring the business cards, know which sessions you want to attend and be prepared to meet someone you didn’t know before.

To learn more about volunteering, visit the site HERE.

Thank you so much for listening to this nonprofit story!  We appreciate you. Please visit the website to sign up for our email updates and newsletter. https://www.nonprofpod.com/  And if you like, leave me a voicemail to comment on the program, leave a question for us to ask in the future or a message for me, Jeff Holden. I may even use your voice mail message in a future episode of one of our incredible local nonprofit organizations. https://www.nonprofpod.com/voicemail. Thanks again for your support in listening, commenting and sharing the great work our local nonprofits are accomplishing. 

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text...

I thought I knew Fairytale Town. I didn’t.

Like a lot of people who have spent years in Sacramento, I knew the familiar storybook park in William Land Park. The slides, the play structures, the animals and generations of families who have grown up visiting it.

What I didn’t fully appreciate was everything happening behind those gates.

My guest is Fairytale Town Executive Director Kevin Smith-Fagan, and we explore why an organization founded in 1959 may actually be more relevant to children today than it was decades ago.

In a world filled with screens and increasingly structured childhoods, Fairytale Town gives kids room to imagine, explore, problem-solve, interact with other children and develop some independence.

We also get into the parts of Fairytale Town you may not know about: summer camps, classroom programs, live animals, theater, homeschool programming, workforce development and the Sacramento Adventure Playground—a free South Sacramento program where kids can build, create and figure things out for themselves.

Kevin also explains how Fairytale Town became an independent nonprofit, how its roughly $3 million annual operation is funded, and why awareness, not simply fundraising, is one of the organization’s greatest needs.

One of my favorite moments is the story of Camille, a young girl whose summer camp experience helped transform her confidence just before entering kindergarten.

Fairytale Town may look like a place built for play.

Spend some time looking beneath the surface and you realize there’s some serious child development happening there too.

Learn more: https://www.fairytaletown.org/

Chapters

00:00 The Wishing Well Story & Meeting Kevin Smith-Fagan
02:00 67 Years of Fairytale Town
09:00 Camps, Animals, Theater & Classroom Programs
14:00 The Sacramento Adventure Playground & Community Partners
20:00 Fairytale Town’s Surprising Workforce Development Pipeline
25:00 How a $3 Million Nonprofit Sustains Fairytale Town
33:00 The Blank Check Question: What Could Fairytale Town Become?
38:00 New Cultures, Older Kids & Reaching More Families
43:00 Camille’s Story: The Human Impact of Play
50:00 Beyond the Mission: Music, Baseball & Kevin Smith-Fagan

Thank you so much for listening to this nonprofit story!  We appreciate you. Please visit the website to sign up for our email updates and newsletter. https://www.nonprofpod.com/  And if you like, leave me a voicemail to comment on the program, leave a question for us to ask in the future or a message for me, Jeff Holden. I may even use your voice mail message in a future episode of one of our incredible local nonprofit organizations. https://www.nonprofpod.com/voicemail. Thanks again for your support in listening, commenting and sharing the great work our local nonprofits are accomplishing. 

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text...

Sacramento Venture Philanthropy’s Fast Pitch is back for its 11th year—and it’s going to be bigger than ever.

I’m joined by SVP Chief Operating Officer Drew Hayes to reveal the 16 nonprofits selected for the 2026 Fast Pitch cohort and take a closer look at what happens before anyone ever steps onto the stage. From nearly 100 applicants to intensive coaching, workshops and pitch development, Fast Pitch is designed to help nonprofit leaders sharpen their stories, communicate their impact and build skills they can use long after the event is over.

We also talk about the move to the Crest Theatre, the funding opportunities available to the entire cohort, and why November 9th promises to be another remarkable night for Sacramento’s nonprofit community.

To learn more or for tickets to this year's event: https://www.svpsacramento.org/events/svp-fast-pitch-2026

Thank you so much for listening to this nonprofit story!  We appreciate you. Please visit the website to sign up for our email updates and newsletter. https://www.nonprofpod.com/  And if you like, leave me a voicemail to comment on the program, leave a question for us to ask in the future or a message for me, Jeff Holden. I may even use your voice mail message in a future episode of one of our incredible local nonprofit organizations. https://www.nonprofpod.com/voicemail. Thanks again for your support in listening, commenting and sharing the great work our local nonprofits are accomplishing. 

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text...

Sacramento Splash has spent 27 years connecting children with nature through hands-on, science-based environmental education—and their upcoming Backyard Bash for Sacramento Splash is helping ensure that work continues.

In this NewsPod, I’m joined by Gina Fleming, Director of Development at Sacramento Splash, to talk about the organization’s impact, the importance of getting kids outdoors, and what’s planned for this year’s Backyard Bash.

Sacramento Splash has now reached approximately 240,000 children through programs focused on vernal pools, sustainable farming, recycling, stormwater pollution and environmental leadership. During the 2025–2026 school year alone, the organization served nearly 20,000 students, with a strong focus on reaching Title I schools and children who may not otherwise have access to outdoor learning experiences.

Gina also shares why this year’s Backyard Bash is especially meaningful. Sacramento Splash founder Eva Butler is returning to Sacramento to celebrate the organization she helped launch nearly three decades ago, while longtime team member Luanne will also be recognized as she prepares for retirement.

I’m honored to be serving as emcee for the evening, with David Sobon of Wide Open Walls joining as auctioneer. Guests can expect live music, food, drinks, auction items and a relaxed evening along the river—all in support of Sacramento Splash and its mission to get more kids outside and connected to the natural world.

Backyard Bash for Sacramento Splash
September 11
6:00–10:00 PM

Learn more about Sacramento Splash and get event information at:
https://www.sacsplash.org

Thank you so much for listening to this nonprofit story!  We appreciate you. Please visit the website to sign up for our email updates and newsletter. https://www.nonprofpod.com/  And if you like, leave me a voicemail to comment on the program, leave a question for us to ask in the future or a message for me, Jeff Holden. I may even use your voice mail message in a future episode of one of our incredible local nonprofit organizations. https://www.nonprofpod.com/voicemail. Thanks again for your support in listening, commenting and sharing the great work our local nonprofits are accomplishing. 

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text...

In this episode, I'm speaking with Jenny Davidson, founder and CEO of Academy Stay, to talk about one of the most difficult transitions a young person can face: aging out of foster care without a stable place to live or a dependable family safety net.

Jenny’s journey to Academy Stay is deeply personal. After losing her youngest son, Jordan, in 2005, she returned to college in her late 30s, earned both an undergraduate degree and an MBA, and continued a career devoted to helping people impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking and the child welfare system.

Years later, a friend asked her a simple question: If you could do anything in the world, what would you do?

Her answer brought her back to foster youth.

Jenny says 93% of foster youth want to attend college or trade school someday, yet fewer than 4% graduate. As she researched why, three barriers kept emerging: housing instability, financial insecurity and the absence of a consistent community or family.

Academy Stay was created to address all three.

Its Sacramento property provides fully furnished housing for former foster youth ages 18 to 24 who are pursuing college or trade school. Residents also receive Wi-Fi, utilities, life-skills education, financial literacy, transportation assistance, mentoring and the everyday support many of us simply learned from family.

Jenny calls what these young adults need a “gentle pause”, enough stability to stop concentrating on survival and begin focusing on education, independence and what comes next.

We also talk about Academy Stay’s first 14 graduates, its impressive network of community partners, the importance of teaching life skills from “square one,” the value of CASA relationships, and a simple story involving rosemary from the community garden that showed Jenny something much bigger was beginning to happen: community.

Academy Stay is not simply providing housing. It is creating dignity, belonging and an opportunity for young adults to build a future.

Learn more, donate, volunteer or apply at AcademySTAY.org.

Chapter Timestamps:

00:00 — Meet Jenny Davidson & the Story Behind Academy Stay
 03:42 — Why Foster Youth Struggle to Finish College
 06:42 — Inside Academy Stay’s Housing Model
 09:42 — Building Community: The Rosemary Story
 12:00 — Partnerships, Education & Support Services
 15:42 — From Homelessness to Higher Education
 19:42 — Advocating for Foster Youth & Housing Resources
 23:42 — Teaching Life Skills From “Square One”
 26:42 — 14 Graduates & the Vision for Expansion
 33:42 — Academy Stay’s Greatest Needs & How to Help

Thank you so much for listening to this nonprofit story!  We appreciate you. Please visit the website to sign up for our email updates and newsletter. https://www.nonprofpod.com/  And if you like, leave me a voicemail to comment on the program, leave a question for us to ask in the future or a message for me, Jeff Holden. I may even use your voice mail message in a future episode of one of our incredible local nonprofit organizations. https://www.nonprofpod.com/voicemail. Thanks again for your support in listening, commenting and sharing the great work our local nonprofits are accomplishing. 

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text...

The Sacramento Region Community Foundation’s third annual Philanthropy Summit is coming to Cal Expo on September 15, and if the first two years are any indication, you’ll want to make plans early.

I’m joined by Kelly Siefkin, Chief Philanthropy Officer at the Sacramento Region Community Foundation, for a NewsPod update on what attendees can expect from this year’s gathering.

The Summit brings together nonprofit professionals, donors, board members, community leaders and people who simply want to make a greater impact in our region. This year’s program includes nine breakout sessions, extensive networking opportunities and a keynote from Cherian Koshy, author of NeuroGiving, exploring the psychology and science behind why people give.

Kelly also highlights sessions focused on strengthening nonprofit boards, understanding more sophisticated charitable giving opportunities, and building the kinds of collaborative relationships that can help organizations create greater community impact.

The day concludes with the Celebration of Generosity, recognizing the extraordinary giving, volunteering and community involvement taking place throughout the Sacramento region.

Perhaps the biggest takeaway from our conversation is the importance of connection. The Summit has grown each year because people throughout the nonprofit and philanthropic community are looking for opportunities to meet one another, learn from one another and find new ways to work together.

If you’re planning to attend, don’t wait too long. Previous Summits have sold out and generated waiting lists, and this year’s larger venue reflects just how much interest continues to grow.

September 15 | 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. | Cal Expo

Get your Tickets HERE

Thank you so much for listening to this nonprofit story!  We appreciate you. Please visit the website to sign up for our email updates and newsletter. https://www.nonprofpod.com/  And if you like, leave me a voicemail to comment on the program, leave a question for us to ask in the future or a message for me, Jeff Holden. I may even use your voice mail message in a future episode of one of our incredible local nonprofit organizations. https://www.nonprofpod.com/voicemail. Thanks again for your support in listening, commenting and sharing the great work our local nonprofits are accomplishing. 

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text...

What happens when students who may have never seen a river, a deer or the Sierra's are given the chance to learn outside the four walls of a classroom?

In this episode, I sit down with Sean Hill, CEO of Sierra Nevada Journeys, and Advancement Officer Corrie Calderon to talk about the life-changing power of outdoor education.

Sierra Nevada Journeys is approaching 20 years of service and now reaches more than 30,000 youth annually through programs in Sacramento, Reno and at its Sierra Nevada outdoor education camp. Their mission is rooted in helping young people connect with nature, strengthen science literacy and build confidence through direct experience in the outdoors.

Sean and Corrie share the memorable origin story behind the organization, sparked by a student at Lake Tahoe who asked, “Are there sharks in that ocean?” That moment revealed a larger truth: many children living close to extraordinary natural resources have never had the chance to experience them.

We talk about their Classrooms Unleashed program, how they partner with schools and community organizations, and why they see outdoor learning as both an educational and equity issue. We also discuss Sierra Nevada Journeys’ funding model and the significance of protecting approximately 1,500 acres of Sierra Nevada land for future generations.

Corrie shares a powerful story of a student who arrived on a field trip disengaged and resistant, only to leave transformed after encountering wildlife and discovering joy in the experience. Sean also shares the story of a former fifth-grade camper whose experience with Sierra Nevada Journeys may have helped shape her future academic path.

This is a conversation about access, curiosity, stewardship and the very real impact that one experience in nature can have on a child’s life.

Learn more at https://www.sierranevadajourneys.org/

Episode Chapters

00:00 Welcome to Sierra Nevada Journeys
01:20 The origin story and the Lake Tahoe “ocean” moment
05:45 Making science accessible through outdoor learning
08:15 Programs, Classrooms Unleashed and camp experiences
11:35 School and community partnerships
16:20 Funding model and annual budget
18:40 Acquiring and protecting 1,500 acres
24:05 The blank check question: scholarships, staffing and future vision
27:20 Greatest need: access, transportation and affordability
30:00 Student success stories and long-term impact
39:35 Beyond the Mission with Sean Hill
44:15 How to support Sierra Nevada Journeys

Thank you so much for listening to this nonprofit story!  We appreciate you. Please visit the website to sign up for our email updates and newsletter. https://www.nonprofpod.com/  And if you like, leave me a voicemail to comment on the program, leave a question for us to ask in the future or a message for me, Jeff Holden. I may even use your voice mail message in a future episode of one of our incredible local nonprofit organizations. https://www.nonprofpod.com/voicemail. Thanks again for your support in listening, commenting and sharing the great work our local nonprofits are accomplishing. 

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text...

Violence prevention doesn’t begin when someone enters a shelter, calls law enforcement or asks for a restraining order. It begins much earlier, with awareness, education, relationships and people recognizing when something isn’t right.

In this special continuation of a conversation I began at My Sister’s House’s Preventing Violence event late June, I bring together four extraordinary Sacramento-area leaders working every day with survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking and other forms of abuse.

I’m joined by Beth Hassett of WEAVE, Ashlie Bryant of 3 Strands Global Foundation, Christine Nguyen of My Sister’s House, and Joyce Bilyeu of the Sacramento Regional Family Justice Center.

We explore what violence can actually look like—including emotional, financial, technological, psychological, cultural and sexual abuse—and why coercion and control can sometimes be much harder to recognize than physical violence.

We also talk about what prevention looks like in practice: education in schools, working with employers and nightlife businesses, danger and lethality assessments, culturally responsive services, survivor-informed programs, workforce opportunities, housing, legal services and removing barriers like transportation, childcare and language.

But what struck me most during this conversation was just how interconnected these organizations really are.

A survivor may begin with one organization and ultimately receive housing, legal assistance, translation, clothing, employment support, counseling or advocacy through several others, all without having to navigate that complicated system alone.

That is collaboration at its best.

And it reinforces one of the most important messages of this episode: preventing violence isn’t the responsibility of one organization. It requires an entire community willing to recognize the signs, believe survivors and act. 

You can learn more about each of the organizations by visiting their respective websites.

My Sisters House : https://www.my-sisters-house.org/

WEAVE : https://www.weaveinc.org/

3Strands Global Foundation : https://3sgf.org/

Sacramento Regional Family Justice Center : https://www.sacramentofjc.org/

Episode Chapters

00:00 – Continuing the Conversation on Preventing Violence
00:52 – WEAVE: Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault & Trafficking Services
01:46 – 3 Strands Global: Prevention, Survivors & Human Trafficking
03:35 – My Sister’s House: Culture, Language & Independence
05:53 – Sacramento Regional Family Justice Center: Help Under One Roof
08:55 – Identifying Risk Before Violence Escalates
16:04 – Prevention in Schools, Workplaces, Bars & the Community
18:13 – Violence Isn't Always Physical: Recognizing Abuse and Control
25:55 – Why Collaboration Changes Outcomes for Survivors
35:27 – Real Examples of Sacramento Nonprofits Working Together
43:42 – What Every Organization and Community Member Can Do

Thank you so much for listening to this nonprofit story!  We appreciate you. Please visit the website to sign up for our email updates and newsletter. https://www.nonprofpod.com/  And if you like, leave me a voicemail to comment on the program, leave a question for us to ask in the future or a message for me, Jeff Holden. I may even use your voice mail message in a future episode of one of our incredible local nonprofit organizations. https://www.nonprofpod.com/voicemail. Thanks again for your support in listening, commenting and sharing the great work our local nonprofits are accomplishing. 

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text...

For decades, local musician Clemon Charles has shared his talent throughout Sacramento, frequently performing at nonprofit fundraisers, community celebrations and events, often simply because he wanted to help.

Now, Clemon needs some help of his own.

I’m joined by my longtime friend and KFBK personality Kitty O’Neal, who shares what happened after Clemon suffered a serious stroke earlier this year and the difficult road to recovery he and his family have faced since.

Clemon has made meaningful progress, from being unable to eat, walk or communicate to now eating on his own and walking with assistance but continued rehabilitation is critical. His daughter relocated from Texas to help care for him, and his 84-year-old mother traveled from Barbados to be by his side. 

Kitty and a remarkable group of friends, musicians and community leaders are now bringing Sacramento together for a benefit in his honor.

Wednesday, August 20
Wildwood Kitchen & Bar (Pavilions Shopping Center, Sacramento)

Admission is free, with live music from four performers, including Kitty and her band Skyler's Pool and numerous opportunities to contribute through merchandise, auction items and other donations. A GoFundMe and charitable giving option have also been established for those who cannot attend. 

This is more than a fundraiser. It’s an opportunity for a community, particularly the nonprofit community Clemon has supported for so many years, to return some of the generosity he has given so freely.

I hope you’ll listen, share the episode and, if you’re able, join us in supporting Clemone and his family.

GO FUND ME

Middle Way Health Foundation Nonprofit

Listen to more of Clemon's music on Soundclound here.

Thank you so much for listening to this nonprofit story!  We appreciate you. Please visit the website to sign up for our email updates and newsletter. https://www.nonprofpod.com/  And if you like, leave me a voicemail to comment on the program, leave a question for us to ask in the future or a message for me, Jeff Holden. I may even use your voice mail message in a future episode of one of our incredible local nonprofit organizations. https://www.nonprofpod.com/voicemail. Thanks again for your support in listening, commenting and sharing the great work our local nonprofits are accomplishing. 

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text...

What happens to a child when a parent goes to prison?

For Dawn Adams, that question isn’t theoretical. Her father was incarcerated when she was just 12 years old, and she remembers the shame, isolation, uncertainty, and adult responsibilities that came with growing up without him.

Years later, Dawn began recognizing those same experiences in friends of her own daughters—and eventually decided something needed to exist specifically for girls navigating parental incarceration.

That became Zion Girls.

In this episode, I talk with Dawn about how Zion Girls is creating a safe and supportive community for girls ages 10 to 17 who have been impacted by the current or past incarceration of a parent. Through mentoring, education, academic support, trusted relationships, and its “Pillars of Progress,” the organization is helping girls imagine possibilities that can be difficult to see when incarceration has become part of the family experience.

Some of the most powerful moments in our conversation come directly from the girls themselves: an eighth grader who went from Ds and Fs to As and Bs; a 13-year-old who wants to become a judge because she understands firsthand the power of a gavel; and a 12-year-old surrounded by family incarceration who asked Dawn a heartbreaking question:

“Am I next?”

Dawn’s response says just about everything you need to know about Zion Girls: “Absolutely not on my watch.”

We also talk about Zion Girls’ growing partnerships, the need for mentors and community awareness, Dawn’s vision for a permanent home and college scholarships, and why simply giving these young women a place where they feel seen and heard can change the direction of a life.

Learn more, volunteer, or support Zion Girls at ZionGirls.org

00:00 — Meet Zion Girls Founder Dawn Adams
02:30 — Dawn’s Story: Growing Up With an Incarcerated Father
08:30 — The Pillars of Progress
11:30 — Finding and Supporting Girls Impacted by Incarceration
15:30 — Building a Mentoring Community
21:00 — Funding, Partnerships and Growing Awareness
28:00 — Measuring Impact and Academic Progress
32:00 — The 13-Year-Old Who Wants to Become a Judge
34:30 — Success Stories and Breaking Generational Cycles
42:30 — Beyond the Mission and How to Support Zion Girls

Thank you so much for listening to this nonprofit story!  We appreciate you. Please visit the website to sign up for our email updates and newsletter. https://www.nonprofpod.com/  And if you like, leave me a voicemail to comment on the program, leave a question for us to ask in the future or a message for me, Jeff Holden. I may even use your voice mail message in a future episode of one of our incredible local nonprofit organizations. https://www.nonprofpod.com/voicemail. Thanks again for your support in listening, commenting and sharing the great work our local nonprofits are accomplishing.