Lead for Good: A Conversation with Billy Henry - Episode 33

Lead for Good: A Conversation with Billy Henry - Episode 33

From borrowing $50 and selling Rice Krispie bars at quarterly bake sales to leading a nonprofit organization that now generates more than $1 million annually through a single auction event, Billy Henry shares one of the most inspiring grassroots nonprofit growth stories you will hear. In this episode of Lead for Good, Billy reflects on founding the Northwest Association for Blind Athletes at just 15 years old while navigating life as someone who is legally blind himself. What began as a desire to participate in powerlifting alongside friends evolved into a nationally respected organization serving children, youth, adults, and veterans who are blind or visually impaired across the United States. This conversation goes far beyond fundraising tactics. Billy shares practical leadership lessons on scaling with intention, building authentic community relationships, engaging volunteers, developing a culture of philanthropy, stewarding donors well, and staying relentlessly focused on mission while growing organizational complexity. Key themes explored in this episode include: • Scaling a grassroots organization from bake sales to a $1.1M auction • Building momentum through community engagement and relationship development • Why major gifts and donor relationships transformed fundraising growth • The importance of humility, resilience, and adaptability in nonprofit leadership • How storytelling strengthens donor engagement and organizational growth • Creating a healthy organizational culture while avoiding burnout • Why mission alignment must always outweigh growth for growth’s sake • Practical advice for nonprofit leaders intimidated by fundraising or scaling efforts Billy also shares candid reflections about setbacks, leadership evolution, the realities of sustaining nonprofit growth, and the importance of continually becoming the leader the organization needs next. This episode is a powerful reminder that transformational organizations are often built slowly, intentionally, and relationally through trust, consistency, vision, and leaders willing to keep showing up for the people they serve. #LeadForGood #NonprofitLeadership #Fundraising #Philanthropy #Leadership #Nonprofit #MajorGifts #CommunityLeadership #VolunteerLeadership #MissionDriven #FundraisingEvents #BoardLeadership #NonprofitGrowth #Podcast

The Nonprofit Edge: A Conversation with Jeff Steadman - Episode 20

Cybersecurity is no longer a side conversation for nonprofit organizations. It is a core leadership and governance responsibility. In this episode of The Nonprofit Edge Podcast, Chris Looney sits down with Jeff Steadman of RSM for a practical and timely discussion on fiduciary duty in the digital age. Together, they explore why nonprofit leaders and boards must now think differently about cybersecurity, operational resilience, digital stewardship, and organizational risk. The conversation examines the growing threats nonprofit organizations face today, including ransomware, business email compromise, third-party vendor vulnerabilities, and the emerging risks associated with AI. Jeff also shares actionable guidance nonprofit leaders can implement immediately, including the importance of multi-factor authentication, incident response planning, employee training, and properly managing access controls. Key topics include: • Why cybersecurity is now directly tied to financial stewardship • The evolving responsibilities of nonprofit boards and executives • Common cyber threats impacting nonprofit organizations • How auditors are increasingly evaluating digital environments and IT controls • Why inventorying systems, access, and vendors matters • The importance of employee awareness and training • AI, deepfakes, and the future of organizational risk • Practical first steps nonprofit leaders can take today One of the most important reminders from the conversation: Protecting systems is ultimately about protecting mission, trust, donors, and the communities organizations serve. This episode is essential listening for nonprofit executives, board members, advancement leaders, finance professionals, and mission-driven organizations navigating today’s increasingly digital landscape. Check out the full episode on YouTube with this link: https://youtu.be/s1PGwPFGOrM

Lead for Good: A Conversation with Edward Amey - Episode 32

Leadership is not something you take. It’s something you give. In this powerful episode of Lead for Good, we sit down with Edward Amey for a deeply practical and inspiring conversation about how nonprofit leaders can build genuine loyalty within their organizations in ways that develop future leaders, reduce turnover, and dramatically strengthen mission outcomes. Edward shares his remarkable personal leadership journey, including the teacher who once told him he would “never amount to anything” and the transformational educator who changed the trajectory of his life by believing in his potential. That experience shaped a leadership philosophy centered on listening, investing in people, humility, accountability, and creating environments where individuals feel seen, heard, and valued. Throughout the conversation, Edward offers tangible strategies leaders can implement immediately, including: • Why loyalty must be built around mission and values, not personalities • How listening creates trust, retention, and leadership growth • The connection between employee loyalty and stronger client outcomes • Practical ways to reduce turnover and create a healthier organizational culture • How feedback, recognition, and leadership development transform teams • Why leaders must create safe environments where people can speak honestly • The importance of humility, self-reflection, and succession planning • How investing in people ultimately strengthens the mission itself Edward also shares extraordinary real-world examples from his leadership at Jay Nolan Community Services, including how frontline employee feedback led to changes in benefits design, how internal leadership development created future organizational leaders, and why organizations that truly listen to their people create lasting impact. This episode is a masterclass in servant leadership, culture building, and the idea that people thrive when leaders genuinely invest in them.

Lead for Good: A Conversation with Ronnetta Johnson - Episode 31

In this episode of Lead for Good, Chris Looney sits down with Ronnetta Johnson for a thoughtful and deeply relevant conversation about leading teams through emotionally heavy work while sustaining personal resilience as a leader. Drawing from more than three decades of nonprofit leadership and her experience leading Waymakers, Ronnetta shares practical wisdom on how leaders can support their teams with empathy without sacrificing accountability, clarity, or their own well-being. Throughout the conversation, Ronnetta explores the realities of leading people who work in crisis-centered environments and explains why nonprofit leadership requires far more than task management. She discusses the importance of psychological safety, healthy boundaries, intentional debriefing, and recognizing the warning signs of emotional overload before burnout takes hold. She also offers powerful insights into servant leadership, resilience, gratitude, emotional regulation, and the responsibility leaders have to model healthy behavior for their teams. Key themes from this episode include: • Leading teams when the work carries emotional weight • Balancing compassion with accountability • Recognizing signs of burnout in yourself and others • Building resilient and emotionally healthy organizational cultures • Creating sustainable leadership practices and boundaries • Supporting people without carrying their burdens for them • Why self-care is essential, not selfish, for nonprofit leaders One of the most impactful moments of the episode comes when Ronnetta shares this perspective: “We shift from believing people need us to carry their burden to understanding they need us to support them while they carry it.” This conversation is an essential listen for nonprofit leaders, executives, managers, and anyone seeking to lead people with wisdom, empathy, and sustainability in demanding environments.

Lead for Good: A Conversation with John Kobara - Episode 30

Lead for Good Podcast | John Kobara: Getting Unstuck, Rediscovering Purpose, and Leading with Proximity What does it really mean to feel stuck as a leader and more importantly, how do you move forward with clarity, energy, and purpose? In this powerful episode of Lead for Good, host Chris Looney sits down with longtime nonprofit leader and thought partner John Kobara for a deeply reflective and practical conversation on what it takes to get unstuck in leadership and life. Drawing on decades of experience in philanthropy, coaching, and organizational leadership, John challenges conventional thinking and offers a refreshing perspective on purpose, resilience, and impact. At the heart of the conversation is a simple but transformative idea: proximity matters. John shares why the most effective leaders stay close to the people, communities, and realities they serve and how distance from that truth is often what leads to disconnection and stuckness. Together, Chris and John explore: * Why feeling stuck is not a failure, but a natural and necessary part of leadership * The hidden dangers of certainty and outdated assumptions * How misalignment between expectations and reality creates frustration and stagnation * The role of purpose as a source of energy, not just inspiration * Practical ways to reconnect with what truly matters, including reflection, writing, and stillness * A simple but powerful framework to reset in moments of stress: Stop. Breathe. Notice. Reflect. Respond. John also introduces a mindset shift that can change everything: the obstacle is the way. Instead of avoiding challenges, great leaders move toward them with curiosity and openness, using them as a path to growth and clarity. Whether you are leading an organization, building a fundraising program, or navigating your own career journey, this episode offers both grounding wisdom and actionable insights to help you move forward with intention. If you’ve been feeling stuck, this conversation is a reminder that you are not alone and that what you’re experiencing may be the very signal that something meaningful is ready to change. Listen now and rediscover what it means to lead with purpose, energy, and impact.