Claim OwnershipYour Path to Nonprofit Leadership
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© 2026 Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership
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Looking for your next nonprofit job? Want to lead a nonprofit organization? Dr. Patton McDowell (www.pmanonprofit.com) brings the best in nonprofit career development to each episode, helping you find the perfect nonprofit opportunity and guiding you along the path to senior leadership in the philanthropic sector. Patton brings 30 years of nonprofit leadership, coaching and consulting experience, and shares best practices for individual and organizational success based on his work with over 250 nonprofit organizations and their staff and board leaders. Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership features more than 120 interviews with nonprofit leaders and philanthropy experts, as well as deep-dive solo episodes and other special editions. Hit subscribe, and accelerate your journey on a nonprofit career path that can change your life. Learn more at: https://www.podpage.com/your-path-to-nonprofit-leadership/
361 Episodes
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361: 5 Reasons Your Professional Development Isn't Working (Megan Joseph) Episode Summary Most nonprofit leaders are spending on professional development - and still not seeing results. The workshops get attended, the boxes get checked, and the notebook sits on the shelf. In this episode, Megan Joseph, Founder of Impact Launch, makes the case that the problem isn’t effort or intention, it’s strategy. Drawing on eight years of working hands-on with organizations across the country, she ident...
360: The ABCs of Grassroots to Grasstops Community Impact (Tchernavia Montgomery) Episode Summary Most nonprofit leaders understand that community impact requires both frontline relationships and institutional influence — but building a strategy that connects those two worlds takes a very different kind of leadership. In this episode, Tchernavia Montgomery, CEO of Care Ring in Charlotte, NC, shares her ABCs of grassroots to grasstops community impact: Authentic Leadership, Board Engagement,...
359: Why Your Board Is Checked Out (and What Actually Re-Engages Them) (Katie Spencer) SUMMARY When nonprofit leaders say their board is disengaged, Katie Spencer argues the real issue is usually clarity, not commitment. Executives want board members to show up, follow through, and be proactive. But many board members are thinking, “I don’t know what my job is,” where the lines are, or how to be helpful, so disengagement becomes the predictable outcome. Katie explains why more emails and mo...
358: What Nonprofit Leaders Need Now: Guidance from Four Sector Experts SUMMARY For this special multi-state panel, we convened four statewide nonprofit leaders: Ivan Canada, Mariane Asad Doyle, Karen Riordan, and Kevin Dean, to explore what organizations need most as they prepare for an uncertain 2026. From financial volatility and policy change to workforce burnout and collaboration, these experts share frontline insights drawn from the thousands of nonprofit leaders they support. Their g...
357: Rethinking How Organizations Are Built to Change Lives (Logan Herring) Episode Summary Five years after his first appearance on Episode #128, Logan Herring returns with a dramatically expanded vision and impact. What began as an ambitious community revitalization effort has evolved into a nationally recognized model for integrated, place-based change. As CEO of The WRK Group, Logan leads a vertically integrated set of tax-exempt businesses focused on housing, cradle-to-career education...
356: AI Without Overwhelm: 4 Insights Nonprofit Leaders Can Use Now (Mary Gallivan) Episode Summary AI is already reshaping how nonprofit teams work, and leaders who avoid it risk falling behind. In this episode, Mary Gallivan, Founder of Joyline Consulting, shares a practical, nonprofit-centered approach to adopting generative AI without fear or overwhelm. Drawing on more than 25 years of experience across fundraising, operations, grant management, and partnership development, Mary explain...
355: Thinking Differently to Solve Nonprofit Problems (Sarah Tucker) EPISODE SUMMARY: Nonprofit leaders are often expected to solve complex problems with limited resources, increasing pressure, and entrenched ways of working. In this episode, Sarah Tucker introduces the work of Edward de Bono and explains why better outcomes require not just harder work, but different thinking. Sarah unpacks the concept of lateral thinking and how it differs from traditional linear or vertical problem solvi...
354: A Lifelong Learning Framework for Nonprofit Leaders (Kelsey Picken) SUMMARY Nonprofit leaders are surrounded by professional development options - degrees, certifications, conferences, and credentials - but many still struggle to build a learning plan that feels intentional rather than reactive. In this episode, Kelsey Picken offers a practical framework to help leaders step back, clarify their why, and make smarter decisions about how they invest in their own growth. Kelsey breaks lif...
Episode 353: Resilience Isn’t Optional: Tools Every Nonprofit Leader Needs Now (Russell Harvey) SUMMARY Nonprofit leaders are operating in a world where change is constant - and the pressure to react quickly can undermine clarity, trust, and team stability. In this episode, Russell Harvey explains why resilience is a leadership capability (not a personality trait) and how leaders can strengthen it without adding more overwhelm. Russell introduces the VUCA framework (Volatility, Uncertainty,...
352: Fundraising That Works: Measure What Matters (Greg Warner) SUMMARY Fundraisers often focus on the bottom line—how much money came in—but Greg Warner argues that many nonprofit teams are still flying blind because they don’t track the few metrics that actually explain performance. In this episode, Greg (founder of MarketSmart) explains what leaders and boards miss when they focus only on transactions, and how a small set of operational metrics can dramatically improve fundraising strate...
351: Five Finance Skills Every Nonprofit Leader Needs (Stephen Newland) SUMMARY Many nonprofit leaders step into their roles with deep passion for mission, but far less confidence when it comes to finance. In this episode, Stephen Newland, founder of MoneyPath FP&A, breaks down five essential finance skills every nonprofit leader must develop to lead with confidence, reduce risk, and sustain impact. Stephen explains why financial uncertainty is so common in the sector, how organizationa...
350: What Every Nonprofit Leader Needs to Know About Mergers (André Anthony) SUMMARY This milestone episode is brought to you by the newly merged Armstrong McGuire + PMA Nonprofit Leadership, joining forces to strengthen nonprofit leadership across the sector. Together, we are expanding our support for organizations through consulting, executive search, leadership development, and thought leadership. Learn more at ArmstrongMcGuire.com. As we announce our own merger, it felt like the perfect...
349: What Funders Want Nonprofit Leaders to Know (Sarah Mann Willcox) SUMMARY This episode is brought to you by TowneBank, whose ongoing support can be a powerful partner for your organization. Learn more at TowneBank.com/NonprofitBanking. As you ponder your New Year’s resolutions as a nonprofit leader, funding for your organization is almost certainly on the list. That’s why Sarah Mann Willcox’s insight is such a timely way to begin the year. As Executive Director of the NC Network o...
348: Holiday Rewind: 4 Ways to Advance Your Nonprofit Leadership What are you doing - intentionally - to move closer to your nonprofit leadership goals? In this Holiday Rewind of solo episode #159, Patton revisits four practical, evergreen ways nonprofit leaders can reflect, refocus, and move forward in their leadership journey. Whether you’re early in your career, preparing for your next step, or refining your impact as a senior leader, these four elements provide a simple framework for ye...
347: Protecting Your Nonprofit from Fraud (Amy Seintourens) SUMMARY This episode is brought to you by TowneBank, whose ongoing support can be a powerful partner for your organization, offering financial expertise, expanded community relationships, and practical advice no matter your budget size. Learn more at TowneBank.com/NonprofitBanking. Fraud is one of the most underestimated risks in the nonprofit sector - and one of the most disruptive when it strikes. In Episode #347 of Y...
346: Understanding the Science of Generosity (Cherian Koshy) SUMMARY This episode is brought to you by TowneBank, whose ongoing support can be a powerful partner for your organization, offering financial expertise, expanded community relationships, and practical advice no matter your budget size. Learn more at TowneBank.com/NonprofitBanking. Why do some fundraising efforts inspire generosity while others fall flat, and what can nonprofit leaders do to fix it? In Episode #346 of Your Path to...
345: The Trust Factor: How to Strengthen Your Strategic Leadership SUMMARY This episode is brought to you by TowneBank, whose ongoing support helps bring meaningful leadership conversations to nonprofit professionals across the sector. Learn more at townebank.com/nonprofitbanking. Nonprofit leaders often feel pulled in a dozen directions - responding to urgent needs, carrying the emotional weight of their missions, and struggling to find time for strategic thinking. In Episode #345 of Your ...
Thanksgiving 2025: 7 Reasons to Be Thankful Special Edition Show Notes #344 This Thanksgiving episode highlights seven standout guests from 2025 - along with their books - plus three bonus titles from Patton’s Picks. Thanks to our partners: TowneBank: https://TowneBank.com/NonprofitBankingArmstrong McGuire: https://armstrongmcguire.comMastermind Leadership Program: https://PMAnonprofit.com/mastermind Featured Guests & Books Mary Kelly — Ep. 317: Crisis-Proof Your Leadership Episode: h...
343: Reclaim Your Capacity and Escape the Burnout Trap (Trasetta Washington) SUMMARY Special thanks to TowneBank for bringing these conversations to life and for their ongoing commitment to strengthening nonprofit organizations. Learn more about how they can help you at TowneBank.com/NonprofitBanking. Why do so many passionate nonprofit leaders find themselves constantly running on empty and teetering on the edge of burnout? In episode #343 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, leadership w...
342: Lessons That Shape Great Nonprofit Leaders (Garrett Cathcart) SUMMARY Special thanks to TowneBank for bringing these conversations to life and for their ongoing support of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership. Learn more about how they can help you at TowneBank.com/NonprofitBanking. What does it take to build something from the ground up - and lead it with purpose, humility, and vision? In episode 342 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Garrett Cathcart shares the lessons he’s lea...
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This podcast is a must for all development professionals. Dr. McDowell brings knowledge and credibility -- extremely valuable to non-profit leaders!