Turning Support Into Strength: The Power of Emergency Aid

Why Out-of-School Time Deserves Donor Attention with Lorna Smith

About this episodeAcross the U.S., opportunity gaps widen when school doors close for the summer. Horizons National partners with communities to provide joyful, year-round learning experiences that keep students curious, confident, and engaged. In this episode, Brandolon Barnett, Head of Innovation at Giving Compass, and Lorna Smith, CEO of Horizons National, explore how out-of-school-time programs are reshaping education, and how donors can fuel this change.Key Takeaways• Out-of-school time (OST) offers critical opportunities for learning, enrichment, social connectedness, and growth, but not all students have the same access to OST.• Investing in OST helps narrow opportunity gaps and supports equitable access to enrichment for children and teens.• High-quality OST requires more than passion; it takes thoughtful design, resources, stable funding, and community partnerships.• Donor support can help OST programs sustain and scale — but funding must be long-term and responsive to community needs.• OST isn’t a “nice add-on” — it complements education and can bolster social, academic, and emotional development in powerful ways.• Effective OST programs often involve cross-sector collaboration (schools, nonprofits, community orgs, donors) to maximize reach and impact.

Moving Wealth, Building Power with Sade Dozan

In this conversation, Brandolon Barnett, Head of Innovation and Philanthropy at Giving Compass, and Sade Dozan, founder of Melanate. and VP of Advancement at Borealis Philanthropy, explore the transformative potential of philanthropy when approached as a responsibility rather than a transaction. They discuss the importance of building trust and solidarity within the philanthropic ecosystem, emphasizing the need for long-term investments in communities and the significance of personal journeys in shaping perspectives on wealth. The dialogue highlights the dynamics of wealth and power, the role of storytelling, and the contrast between traditional and participatory philanthropy. Sade shares practical steps for donors to engage meaningfully and the importance of fostering belonging through philanthropic practices.Key Takeaways- Philanthropy should be viewed as a responsibility, not just generosity.- Building trust and solidarity is essential in philanthropy.- Personal experiences shape perspectives on wealth and giving.- The philanthropic ecosystem includes communities, nonprofits, and donors.- Long-term investments are crucial for sustainable community change.- Storytelling should honor the truth of the work, not just serve metrics.- Donors need to engage in internal audits to understand their impact.- Philanthropy must move at the speed of people's livelihoods.- Practicing philanthropy can strengthen belonging and connection.- Donors should focus on transformative giving rather than transactional.

Turning Support Into Strength: The Power of Emergency Aid

Emergency aid can mean the difference between staying in school or dropping out for today’s college students. In this episode, Brandolon Barnett and Mike Nyland, CEO of Scholarship America, explore how small, timely financial interventions can help students—especially those balancing work, caregiving, and studies—stay on track to graduate. Listeners will learn how their giving can directly support student success and systemic change in higher education.

Every Donor is a Disaster Donor with Patricia McIlreavy

How can disaster philanthropy create recovery for all and build community resilience? In this episode of Guide to Good, Brandolon Barnett sits down with Patty McIlreavy, CEO and President of the Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP). Together, they explore a more expansive view of disaster philanthropy that goes beyond immediate relief to focus on long-term recovery and community-led solutions. Patty shares insights on the interconnectedness of disasters with other social issues, the importance of preparedness, and how donors can support more equitable approaches to recovery. Learn about the changing landscape of disaster funding and how every person can play a meaningful role in helping communities not just survive but thrive after disaster. [00:00 - 05:05] Rethinking Disaster Response * CDP guides donors toward equitable recovery after disasters * Disasters are an "experiential equalizer" but impact communities differently * Communities should lead their own recovery processes [05:06 - 12:14] Every Donor is a Disaster Donor * Disasters = events meeting vulnerabilities * Philanthropy addressing root vulnerabilities helps prevent disaster impacts * Pre-disaster planning enables more effective response [12:15 - 21:22] Community-Led Recovery Solutions * Philanthropy alone cannot solve all problems * Centering communities rather than donor priorities is essential * Federal funding gaps create challenges but also opportunities for innovation [21:23 - 27:41] Models for Effective Disaster Philanthropy   * Truist Foundation's $21M North Carolina hurricane recovery commitment * Focus on long-term needs: housing, business loans, disaster case management * Communities need sustained support to thrive, not just survive [27:42 - 34:34] The Future of Disaster Support * Shift toward locally-led response and recovery * Direct cash assistance gives survivors dignity and choice * Need to change narratives that view survivors as "passive recipients" [34:35 - 39:00] Practical Steps for Donors * Practice self-reflection about giving motivations and assumptions * Listen to communities rather than prescribing solutions * Recognize systemic factors behind vulnerabilities Connect with Patty! Website: https://disasterphilanthropy.org/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/center-for-disaster-philanthropy/ Give with Greater Impact. Connect with visionary nonprofits that are working on society's toughest challenges but are historically underfunded. Giving Compass guides donors toward the latest insights, strategies, and volunteering opportunities to create lasting social change. Connect with us at www.givingcompass.org   Did You Find This Conversation Impactful? LIKE, COMMENT, LEAVE A REVIEW, and SHARE WITH A FRIEND! Quotes: *"No one will fix all that ails this world. This is much too big an ask to put on philanthropy, much less government. It takes all of us together." - Patty McIlreavy* *"Listening to the needs of the people you hope to serve is always going to lead to a better solution." - Brandolon Barnett*

Shifts in Human Rights Philanthropy with Rona Peligal

How does empowering local activists lead to global change in the fight for human rights and social justice? In this episode of Guide to Good, Brandolon sits down with Rona Peligal, Vice President of Development and Communications at the Fund for Global Human Rights. Together, they explore the Fund’s mission to empower grassroots activists worldwide, tackling issues such as authoritarianism, climate justice, and social inequality. Rona shares compelling stories of resilience, innovation, and the transformative power of trust-based philanthropy. Learn how global movements are shaping a hopeful future and how you can support these efforts. [00:01 - 06:05] The Foundation of Change * The Fund has distributed $165M to grassroots organizations since 2002 * Trust-based philanthropy empowers sustainable impact * Local movements are key to global human rights advancements [06:06 - 12:08] Climate and Human Rights: Intersections * Climate change impacts marginalized communities most * Indigenous groups fight harmful industrial practices * Community-led solutions are vital for environmental justice [12:09 - 18:22] Stories of Impact: Courage and Creativity * Congolese activist Philippe Rugut Nangiza’s work combats mining abuses * Guatemalan women achieved justice for wartime sexual violence * "Artivism" uses creative platforms to inspire change [18:23 - 24:33] Strength in Solidarity * Authoritarianism demands increased civic space and action * The Fund ensures grantee safety through security protocols * Cross-border collaboration fosters resilience and innovation [24:34 - 30:20] How You Can Make a Difference * Stay informed on global issues and advocate locally * Donate to intermediaries like the Fund to support vetted causes * Activism and solidarity create meaningful change Connect with Rona! Websites: https://www.virtual-philanthropy.com/Team/rona-peligal [https://www.virtual-philanthropy.com/Team/rona-peligal]                   https://www.openglobalrights.org/rona-peligal/ [https://www.openglobalrights.org/rona-peligal/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rona-peligal-2b8a0822/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rona-peligal-2b8a0822/] Give with Greater Impact. Connect with visionary nonprofits that are working on society’s toughest challenges but are historically underfunded. Giving Compass guides donors toward the latest insights, strategies, and volunteering opportunities to create lasting social change. Connect with us at www.givingcompass.org [http://www.givingcompass.org]   Did You Find This Conversation Impactful?  LIKE, COMMENT, LEAVE A REVIEW, and SHARE WITH A FRIEND! Quotes: “The climate crisis is absolutely a human rights issue and forces us to grapple with how we got here and alternatives to the way we currently function.” - Rona Peligal “The antidote to fascism is organizing, and that’s what we do.” - Rona Peligal