The NonProfit Podcast Network

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Big Day of Giving returns on May 7, 2026, and once again the Sacramento region will come together around generosity, philanthropy, purpose, and community impact.

In this NewsPod, I’m joined by Vasey Coman, Senior Director of Communications at the Sacramento Region Community Foundation, to talk about what’s new for 2026 and why this day matters so deeply to our local nonprofit ecosystem.

We discuss how Big Day of Giving has evolved far beyond a single day of fundraising into a year-round opportunity for nonprofits to build capacity, strengthen relationships, and collaborate across the region. We also explore the lowered minimum donation, how families and young people are being introduced to philanthropy, and why unrestricted dollars remain so critical for nonprofit sustainability.

Whether you’re a nonprofit considering participation or a donor looking to make a meaningful impact, this conversation highlights how one day of collective generosity can fuel year-long change.

To learn more or to register, visit bigdayofgiving.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. 

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Imagine a 13-year-old student—overweight for her age, already pre-diabetic—who has grown up surrounded by food but never truly learned how to use it. Vegetables feel unfamiliar. Cooking feels out of reach. Then she joins a food literacy program at school. She discovers there are fruits and vegetables she actually enjoys. She learns how to prepare them. Over time, her eating habits change, her health improves, and eventually, medication is no longer part of her daily life. Her family follows her lead—because food literacy doesn’t stop in the classroom.

With food literacy, stories like this aren’t hypothetical. They’re happening.

In this episode, I speak with Amber Stott, Founder and CEO—and proudly titled Chief Food Genius—of the Food Literacy Center. We talk about childhood obesity, food insecurity, and why teaching kids how to cook may be one of the most effective long-term health interventions we have.

Why This Matters

• Nearly 40% of children in the Sacramento region are considered obese, many while also experiencing food insecurity
• Cheap, calorie-dense food and a lack of basic food education are driving diet-related diseases at younger and younger ages
• Once unhealthy habits are formed, they’re hard to undo—but kids don’t have habits yet, we can make a difference with the right programs

Food Literacy Center focuses on prevention, not correction—building healthy behaviors early, when they’re most likely to stick.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode

• Why hunger and obesity often exist side by side
• How hands-on cooking changes kids’ attitudes toward food
• Why 94% of students in the program try new fruits and vegetables
• How behavior change happens at school—and carries home
• What it takes to scale impact without losing quality
• Why adults consistently underestimate what kids are willing to try

By the Numbers

• 40% – Childhood obesity rate in the Sacramento region
• 94% – Students who try new fruits or vegetables in the program
• 75% – Students who ask for those foods at home
• 23 schools – Current reach, with plans to double by 2027
• $160 per child – Cost of prevention versus far higher long-term health costs

Who This Episode Is For

• Nonprofit leaders focused on prevention and early intervention
• Educators and school administrators
• Funders interested in scalable, evidence-based programs
• Anyone concerned about childhood health, food access, and equity

Find out more about the Food Literacy Center by visiting their website: FoodLiteracyCenter.org

Episode Chapters

00:00 Why Food Literacy Started
05:20 Childhood Obesity & Food Insecurity
10:45 Why Schools Change Habits
17:30 Kids Try New Foods (94%)
25:15 Getting Food Home to Families
34:40 Scaling to More Schools
44:10 What’s Next for Food Literacy Center

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. 

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In this NewsPod I speak with Trent Simmons, Chief Program Officer of Sacramento Steps Forward to unpack the latest Point-in-Time (PIT) Count and what the data actually tells us about homelessness in Sacramento.

The PIT Count is more than a snapshot—it’s a federally required tool that shapes funding decisions, policy direction, and how resources are deployed across our region. In this conversation, we talk about what has changed since the last count, where progress is being made, and where challenges persist.

We also explore why the numbers matter beyond headlines—how they reflect real people, real systems, and the long-term work required to move individuals from crisis to stability. This NewsPod is about context, clarity, and accountability—understanding not just what the data says, but why it matters.

If you care about housing stability, public investment, or the effectiveness of our local response to homelessness, this is an essential listen. It's also a call to action to volunteer for the count. The goal is 1000 volunteers to get the most accurate count possible as numbers matter. The details on registration are below.

What You’ll Hear in This NewsPod

• What the PIT Count measures—and what it doesn’t
• Key takeaways from Sacramento’s latest data
• How PIT Count results influence funding and strategy
• Why year-to-year comparisons require nuance
• The importance of viewing data through a human lens

2026 Point in Time Count

When:

January 26 & 27, 2026.  5:00–11:00 p.m.

Volunteers are highly encouraged to participate in both nights of the count if possible.

Where:  Volunteers will meet at the Scottish Rite Masonic Center (6151 H Street, Sacramento, CA 95819) before going out to pre-determined routes across the County.

How:  Volunteers are required to register by January 16, 2026.

https://www.sacramentostepsforward.org/data-and-analytics/2026-sacramento-point-in-time-count/

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. 

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January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month, and this conversation lands right where awareness must lead: action, support, and long-term pathways to stability.

In this episode, I speak with Emily Sanders, founder of Connect2Change—and a survivor herself—whose work is redefining what happens after someone escapes exploitation. Emily’s organization began with crisis support, but it has evolved into something rare and powerful: an empowerment-through-entrepreneurship model designed to help survivor-leaders build sustainable independence.

Emily recently won Sacramento Venture Philanthropy’s Fast Pitch 2025—a major community vote of confidence in a young organization with an innovative approach. We talk about what that moment meant, why mentorship and ecosystem partnerships matter, and how entrepreneurship can interrupt cycles of dependency by rebuilding confidence, capability, and financial stability—one micro-enterprise at a time.

This is a conversation about courage, reinvention, and what it really takes to build “what comes next.”

In this episode, we cover:

• Why Human Trafficking Awareness Month must include survivor-led solutions
• How Connect2Change evolved from crisis intervention to entrepreneurship
• The difference between “services” and sustainable empowerment
• Why strengths-based coaching and mindset work are central—not optional
• The 5-week cohort structure (AI training, assessments, business basics, money, ecosystem tours)
• The role of mentorship and community partnerships in long-term success
• What Emily would build if funding weren’t a limitation—and what she needs most right now

Learn more / Get involved

• Connect2Change: https://www.connect2change.org/
• Contact Emily: [email protected] 

CHAPTER SUMMARIES

00:00 – Human Trafficking Awareness Month & Why “After” Matters
Why awareness must extend beyond rescue—and why long-term pathways to independence matter for survivors.

04:30 – Fast Pitch Victory & Community Validation
Emily reflects on winning SVP Fast Pitch, what it meant for a young organization, and how belief from others fuels momentum.

11:45 – From Survivor to Founder
Emily shares her personal story of survival and the moment she realized her own journey could become a roadmap for others.

17:30 – Rethinking Support: From Crisis Care to Empowerment
How Connect2Change evolved from emergency services into an entrepreneurship-based empowerment model.

26:00 – Inside the Program: Building Confidence, Skills, and Stability
A practical look at the cohort structure—mindset work, strengths assessments, financial healing, business basics, mentorship, and ecosystem connection.

41:30 – What Comes Next: Funding, Partnerships, and the Call to Action
Emily outlines what the organization needs most right now—mentors, volunteers, connectors—and why empowered people empower people.

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. 

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In this episode, I welcome back an organization that continues to shape the way our children—and our communities—understand disability, respect, and inclusion. A Touch of Understanding (ATOU) is celebrating 30 years of hands-on empathy-building, reaching more than 157,000 students across 10 counties with wheelchairs, white canes, prosthetics, lived experience, and powerful conversations that students remember for life.

I sit down with Executive Director Meghan Adamski and longtime volunteer and speaker Karen Parsegian, whose personal journey and unforgettable humor bring the mission of ATOU to life. Together, we explore:

What You’ll Hear in This Episode

• The origin story — how a five-year-old’s moment of clarity became a decades-long movement for understanding and respect.
• The speakers — volunteers with and without disabilities who help kids ask brave questions, break down assumptions, and discover what they have in common.
• The hands-on experience — wheelchairs, canes, prosthetic limbs, braille, learning-difference simulations, and the “dark meal” that helps students feel, not just hear, someone else’s experience.
• Impact across generations — students who experienced ATOU as children now bringing the program to their own classrooms.
• Community partnerships — from Boys Team Charity and National Charity League to speakers referred through Society for the Blind and Progressive Employment Concepts.
• What it takes to grow the movement — and how ATOU is preparing for the next 30 years of expansion both locally and nationwide.

Karen’s stories alone remind you why this organization works: joyful curiosity, unexpected connection, and the brave honesty only children can deliver. And Meghan shares the vision of an ever-expanding “family” where people with disabilities are not just welcome—they are wanted as teachers, leaders, and role models.

If you’ve ever wondered what it really looks like when understanding becomes action, this conversation paints the picture.

Learn More

➡️ A Touch of Understanding: https://touchofunderstanding.org
➡️ Volunteer opportunities, virtual programs, and their upcoming 30th Anniversary “Evening of Insight” celebration.

CHAPTER SUMMARY:

(00:00) '30 Years of Nonprofit Service
(11:00) Engaging Educational Program for Students
(21:22) Impact of Touch of Understanding Program
(27:46) Community Engagement and Funding Strategies
(32:24) Impactful Program Enhancing Empathy and Inclusion
(46:53) Building Strong ATOU Family Bonds

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 if one of the most effective ways to protect California’s quality of life—for generations to come—starts with something as simple as native plants?

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Jun Bando, Executive Director of the California Native Plant Society to explore why native plants may be one of the most practical—and overlooked—investments in California’s future.

CNPS operates at the intersection of science, community engagement, and advocacy. Their work touches climate resilience, biodiversity, water systems, and education—often quietly, always with a long view in mind.

We talk about why conservation requires patience, how local action connects to statewide impact, and what it means to steward something today that may not fully show its return for decades.

This conversation is for anyone curious about thoughtful and responsible philanthropy, and the power of caring for what endures.

To learn more about the California Native Plant Society, you can visit their website https://www.cnps.org/

⏱️ Chapter Timestamps

00:00 – Why Ask the Plant Question Now?
Why native plants have become a quality-of-life issue—not just an environmental one.

03:10 – What CNPS Really Does (Beyond the Name)
The scope of CNPS work across science, education, policy, and grassroots action.

07:05 – Native Plants as Infrastructure
How ecosystems quietly support water, climate resilience, and community health.

11:40 – The Long Game of Conservation
Why this work resists shortcuts—and why that matters for lasting impact.

16:20 – Community, Volunteers, and Local Action
How everyday Californians connect to conservation through CNPS.

20:45 – Climate Reality Without Alarmism
Addressing environmental urgency while staying grounded in data and hope.

25:30 – Stewardship, Philanthropy, and Legacy
Why donors play a critical role in protecting what won’t trend—but will last.

29:10 – Looking Ahead: What Gives CNPS Hope
The future of native plant conservation and why optimism still belongs 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. 

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As the year comes to a close, I’m pressing pause on our regular programming to reflect — and to say thank you.

In this brief holiday message, I share what this past year has revealed about the power of storytelling, the strength of our nonprofit community, and the quiet, human work that truly builds impact. The stories we’ve had the privilege to hear — and help be heard — remind me that community isn’t built by headlines, hashtags, or algorithms. It’s built by people. By commitment. By heart.

I also extend deep gratitude to our founding and sustaining partners — CAPTRUST, Western Health Advantage, CxORE Fractional Leadership, and our newest partner heading into 2026, Five Star Bank — whose support allows hundreds of nonprofits each year to share their mission with clarity and dignity.

You’ll also hear a little holiday fun —  because even meaningful work should leave room for play.

From all of us at the Nonprofit Podcast Network, thank you for listening, supporting, sharing, and believing in the power of community storytelling.

Wishing you peace, warmth, rest, and renewed purpose this holiday season — and a hopeful year ahead.

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...

This episode, I sit down with Cherian Koshy, author of Neurogiving: The Science of Donor Decision-Making — a book that achieved something almost unheard of in the nonprofit sector by landing on the USA Today Bestseller List just one day after release.

But this conversation isn’t about accolades. It’s about understanding what’s really happening in a donor’s brain — and why so many “best practices” in fundraising work sometimes… and fail other times.

Cherian draws on nearly three decades of fundraising experience and more than 220 peer-reviewed research studies to explain how generosity actually works at a neurological level. We explore why storytelling creates real biological responses, how trust is formed and sustained over time, and why attention — not money — may be the most valuable currency nonprofits are competing for today.

We also tackle some of the hardest realities nonprofit leaders are facing right now: crisis fundraising, donor fatigue, digital overload, and the ethical responsibility fundraisers carry when applying behavioral science. Throughout the conversation, Cherian is clear — this isn’t about manipulating donors. It’s about becoming more human-centered, more intentional, and more effective in how we invite people into generosity.

If you lead a nonprofit, sit on a board, work in development or marketing, or care deeply about the future of giving, this episode will challenge how you think about fundraising — and equip you with language, insight, and research to do it better. For me, the book is fast becoming a tutorial in contemporary ways to address fundraising and donors with great intentionality and understanding. 

You can find the book on Amazon with this link: Neurogiving.

Episode Chapters

00:00 – Welcome & a rare nonprofit milestone
Why Neurogiving hitting the USA Today Bestseller List matters for the sector.

06:00 – What “Neuro Giving” really means
Why this book isn’t about manipulation — and what it actually reveals about donor behavior.

14:00 – Storytelling, brains, and emotional connection
What neuroscience shows us about why stories move people more than data.

26:00 – Trust, identity, and long-term giving
How generosity becomes part of who a donor is, not just something they do.

38:00 – Crisis fundraising and donor overload
Why constant urgency backfires — and how to pair urgency with hope.

50:00 – Digital giving, ethics, and the future of fundraising
Attention, technology, AI, and why humans still matter most.

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 does it really take to move a region forward—without picking a side, without chasing headlines, and without sacrificing equity or the environment for “growth”?

I had the privilege of sitting down with Evan Schmidt, CEO of Valley Vision, to unpack the organization’s unique role in the Sacramento region: a values-driven convener that brings people together, turns research into action, and helps align partners around the issues that shape quality of life.

Evan walks me through Valley Vision’s origin story (born out of the region’s response to base closures), their triple bottom line framework—environmental sustainability, social equity, and economic prosperity—and why collaboration is both essential…and often unglamorous. We also talk about how they measure impact across long time horizons, their Livability Summit and Livability Poll, and what the data is telling us right now about the biggest pressures facing our communities.

What we cover

• Why Valley Vision exists—and how it’s different from other regional civic organizations
• The “triple bottom line” lens and what it means in real-world decision-making
• Collaboration as a discipline: networks, coalitions, alignment, and shared accountability
• The tension between urgency and trust-building in regional problem solving
• Livability Poll takeaways: what residents say are the biggest issues right now
• Funding, capacity, and what it would take to scale collective impact

Chapters & Time Stamps

00:00 – Welcome + “alphabet soup” of regional orgs
01:00 – Valley Vision’s origin story and purpose: leadership roundtable + regional stewardship
03:10 – Triple bottom line values: sustainability, equity, and prosperity—without tradeoffs
04:05 – Facilitator and values-driven: why Valley Vision isn’t a neutral “yes to everything” org
07:20 – Where projects come from: contract work, mission alignment, and long-running initiatives
08:45 – What collaboration really looks like (and why it’s not flashy)
12:20 – Impact example: Cleaner Air Partnership and long-term systems change
16:20 – Livability Summit: building a regional collaboration conference + shared data
17:40 – Livability Poll: top issues residents name (housing, wages, healthcare access)
19:35 – Housing questions that split the region 50/50—and what that tells us
22:05 – Funding model: grants, contracts, and the challenge of funding “systems-level” work
24:40 – The coming nonprofit shakeout: why deeper collaboration will matter even more
25:10 – Scale + pass-through dollars: bringing investment in and distributing it for regional impact
31:30 – The biggest need: capacity and investment to stay proactive (not only contract-driven)
34:00 – Evan unplugged: family, outdoors, community—and why this work still energizes her
39:10 – Closing: why Valley Vision matters for the Sacramento region’s future

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 bring together four community foundation leaders from across our region for a candid, timely conversation about what nonprofits are facing right now — and what’s coming next.

As needs rise and resources feel tighter, community foundations are sitting at a critical intersection: listening to nonprofits, working with donors, and helping communities adapt in real time. We talk openly about uncertainty, sustainability, collaboration, and why this moment requires new ways of thinking — not just more funding.

This conversation isn’t about one county or one solution. It’s about shared challenges, similarities, unique differences and emerging opportunities, and how philanthropy is evolving to meet the realities nonprofit leaders are navigating every day.

Joining me are Kerry Wood, CEO of the Sacramento Region Community Foundation,  Veronica Blake, CEO of the Placer Community Foundation, Amy Pooley, Executive Director of the ElDorado Community Foundation and Jessica Hubbard, Executive Director of the Yolo Community Foundation — four leaders offering perspective, honesty, and insight into how communities can move forward together.

Whether you lead a nonprofit, serve on a board, advise donors, have a fund at your community foundation or simply care about the health of your community, this episode offers both clarity and encouragement at a time when both are needed.

⏱️ Chapter Timestamps

00:00 — Why This Conversation Matters Right Now
Setting the stage: rising needs, limited resources, and why bringing community foundation leaders together matters.

02:10 — What Foundations Are Seeing Across Their Communities
A high-level look at the pressures nonprofits and families are facing.

06:45 — Who Is Being Impacted Most
Discussion on how different populations are experiencing today’s challenges — the impact isn’t one-size-fits-all.

10:40 — How Philanthropy Is Responding in Real Time
How grantmaking, donor priorities, and emergency responses are shifting to meet immediate needs.

15:30 — Short-Term Relief vs. Long-Term Solutions
Balancing crisis response with sustainability, systems change, and prevention.

20:10 — Collaboration, Shared Services, and New Models
Why nonprofits are exploring deeper collaboration — and what’s making it both necessary and difficult.

25:30 — Creating Space for Nonprofits to Connect and Exhale
The often-overlooked value of convening, peer support, and shared learning.

30:20 — Ensuring Smaller Nonprofits Have Access and Voice
How community foundations work to support organizations of all sizes and stages.

35:15 — What Nonprofit Leaders Should Be Watching for in 2026
Emerging trends, uncertainty, and what leaders should be paying attention to now.

41:10 — Looking Ahead: What Foundations Are Doing Differently
Trust-based philanthropy, donor engagement, and preparing for the future.

47:30 — Closing Reflections and Why This Moment Matters
Why leadership, collaboration, and community connection are more important than ever.

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.