You Are What You Give

Knowing When to Say Yes - and When to Say No in Giving

What happens when you care so deeply that you want to help everyone? For Morgan DeNicola, that question isn't theoretical. It's personal. After a life-changing visit to an orphanage in Africa, Morgan returned home convinced she couldn't simply go back to business as usual. That experience led her family to establish the DeNicola Family Foundation, where she now works to inspire a new generation of philanthropists while confronting one of giving's greatest challenges: You can't say yes to everything. In this episode of You Are What You Give, Avi and Morgan explore what it means to build relationships instead of transactions, why transparency matters to younger donors, and how the best philanthropists balance compassion with discernment. Together they discuss: * How one encounter changed the course of Morgan's life * Why younger generations are asking different questions about giving * Moving beyond writing checks to building relationships * How to inspire others to become givers * Why every philanthropist eventually has to say "no" * How passion sustains long-term generosity without losing sight of purpose One of Morgan's most memorable observations is simple: "Be empathetic—not apathetic." If you'd like to connect with Morgan or learn more about the DeNicola Family Foundation, visit https://www.morgandenicola.com/ [https://www.morgandenicola.com/] or connect through their Instagram and Facebook pages, where Morgan personally responds to many of the messages she receives. And as always, thank you to Victoria Hearst, whose generosity helps make these conversations possible.

Mission Drift Explained: How Good Organizations Lose Their Way

Most organizations don't fail overnight. They drift. Not because they stop caring. Not because they lose passion. But because they slowly move away from the very mission they were created to serve. In this episode of You Are What You Give https://givewithus.com/ [https://givewithus.com/], Avi sits down with Becca Spradlin, founder of On Mission Advisors, to explore one of the most overlooked risks facing nonprofits, ministries, foundations, and purpose-driven organizations: mission drift. Together they discuss: * What mission drift actually is * Why good organizations are vulnerable to it * How funding can unintentionally pull organizations off course * The role boards play in protecting mission * Why hiring for alignment matters * How leaders can distinguish healthy change from unhealthy drift * Why defining failure may be just as important as defining success One of Becca's most practical insights is deceptively simple: Don't just define your mission. Define your drift. Because organizations rarely wake up one morning and decide to abandon their purpose. They simply make a series of small decisions that slowly move them away from it. If you're a nonprofit leader, donor, board member, founder, or anyone responsible for stewarding a mission, this conversation offers practical tools for staying aligned over the long term. To learn more about Becca's work, connect with her on LinkedIn or visit OnMissionAdvisors.com [http://OnMissionAdvisors.com], where you'll find resources, her book Lead on Mission, and a free Mission Drift assessment. And as always, thank you to Victoria Hearst, whose generosity helps make these conversations possible.

A Culminating Conversation With Dr. Bob Woodson: Poverty, Charity & What Actually Changes Lives

Dr. Bob Woodson spent decades challenging assumptions about poverty, charity, and what creates real change. In light of his recent passing, this conversation - recorded two months to the day before his passing - carries even greater weight — not simply as a discussion about giving, but as a reflection on the ideas and principles that shaped his life’s work. In this episode of You Are What You Give, Avi sits down with Dr. Bob Woodson — civil rights leader, founder of the Woodson Center https://woodsoncenter.org/ [https://woodsoncenter.org/], and longtime advocate for community-led solutions — for a conversation that asks a difficult question: Can helping people sometimes make things worse? Dr. Woodson challenges the assumption that money alone solves poverty and explains why understanding the nature of the problem matters just as much as the resources we bring to it. In this conversation we discuss: * the four types of poverty * why some forms of charity unintentionally create dependency * the difference between relief and transformation * what Dr. Woodson called “toxic support” * why local relationships matter more than distant solutions * and what lasting change actually requires This isn't a conversation about giving less. It's a conversation about helping better. And as always, thank you to Victoria Hearst, whose generosity helps make these conversations possible. For additional conversations and insights, visit us at https://givewithus.com/ [https://givewithus.com/]

When Charity Fails: What Happens When Trust Is Broken in Nonprofit Organization Giving

What happens when a charity you believe in collapses almost overnight? Not just financially — but in trust. In this episode of You Are What You Give, Avi sits down with Yael Simon to explore what happens when philanthropy goes wrong — and what responsible giving actually requires from both donors and nonprofit leaders. Within weeks of stepping into a nonprofit leadership role, Yael found herself at the center of a global fraud crisis involving investigations, broken trust, and enormous institutional fallout. That experience reshaped how she thinks about stewardship, donor responsibility, fundraising, and what it takes to rebuild credibility after failure. This conversation goes far beyond one organization’s collapse. It’s about: * how trust is built in philanthropy * why good intentions are not enough * what sophisticated donors look for * and why thoughtful giving requires ongoing responsibility — not just generosity We also explore: * fundraising misconceptions nonprofits still struggle with * the role of young professionals in philanthropy * philanthropy as a catalyst rather than a solution * and how organizations can maintain trust over the long term This is not a cynical conversation about giving. It’s a practical and deeply human conversation about how to give more responsibly — especially when trust is at stake. To contact Yael Simon, reach out to her at her webiste: https://arakura.co [https://arakura.co]. And as always, thank you to Victoria Hearst, whose generosity helps make these conversations possible.

You’re Overlooking Your Strongest Supporters: The Power of Nonprofit Alumni

Most nonprofits are focused on finding new supporters. But what if some of the most important people you need to reach… are already part of your story? In this episode of You Are What You Give, Avi sits down with Jennifer Cunningham, an expert in alumni engagement, to explore a missed opportunity across the nonprofit world. Because “alumni” isn’t just a university concept. It includes former volunteers. Past board members. Program participants whose lives were shaped by your work. People who already know your mission — and may be your most natural advocates moving forward. So why do so many organizations lose touch with them? And what would it look like to re-engage them — not as a one-time outreach, but as a long-term strategy for growth, leadership, and connection? This conversation breaks it down in practical terms: * What “alumni” really means in a nonprofit context * Why organizations overlook these relationships * How to re-engage people without turning it into a fundraising ask * And how alumni can become champions, not just contacts This isn’t about nostalgia. It’s about recognizing the people who already walked part of the journey with you — and inviting them to walk the next mile. To contact Jennifer Cunningham, visit her website: https://engagejc.com/ [https://engagejc.com/] And as always, thank you to Victoria Hearst, whose giving helps make these conversations possible.