On The Ground

How Trees Helps Smallholder Farmers Build Prosperity and Restore LandJames Misner speaks with Cate from Trees about how a nature-based organization uses regenerative agriculture, trees, and local leadership to help smallholder farmers in East Africa improve soil health, diversify crops, and strengthen livelihoods. They also discuss why climate work is inseparable from people, how carbon markets fit into nonprofit revenue, and what happens when partnerships are not the right scaling strategy.Key TopicsCate shares her career path from advertising to public health, consulting, and Trees, where her work combines curiosity, persuasion, community, and mission.Trees uses trees as a starting point to support regenerative agriculture with smallholder farmers in Africa.Its mission is twofold: restore land and unlock prosperity for farmers.Cate explains farmer-led, locally rooted delivery, including informed consent and community-based support.Farmers move from monocropping and degraded soils to diversified farms with 4–5 crops in year one and 12–15 by year three.The model improves food security, dietary diversity, composting, pest management, savings, and market access.Village savings and loans help farmers save, lend, and reinvest in their farms and communities.Cate and James discuss why framing climate work through people makes funding more compelling.Trees adapts its approach to local soil, education, markets, and gender norms across Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania.Cate explains why Trees moved away from broad partnerships when they began affecting quality and capacity.The conversation closes with how carbon credits can generate additional revenue for farmers and Trees while requiring verification and long-term permanence.Timestamps00:00 — Opening the conversation and Cate’s career path 03:10 — What Trees is and why trees are only the starting point 06:07 — How smallholder farmers experience the program 08:22 — Farm redesign, composting, and integrated pest management 09:45 — From diversified farms to savings groups and small businesses 12:47 — Why climate work must be framed through people 15:09 — Scaling across countries without losing local fit 19:23 — The partnership model that did not work 22:28 — Translating the story for donors and outside audiences 26:12 — Revenue diversification and why carbon markets matter 32:52 — How to connect with Trees and CateResources & Links:The Kipos Group WebsiteSchedule a Discovery Call with JamesConnect with James Misner on LinkedinConnect with Cate:Trees for the Future Official WebsiteConnect with Cate on Linkedin

How NeighborWorks Capital Uses Nonprofit Lending to Expand Affordable HousingJames Misner talks with Jim Peffley of NeighborWorks Capital about the affordable housing crisis, how community development financial institutions work, and the power of collaboration across the nonprofit housing sector. Jim shares his path from growing up in affordable housing to leading an institution that helps nonprofit developers access capital. They discuss the scale of the housing shortfall, how NeighborWorks Capital is structured, and why the network's collective strength gives smaller developers more leverage with investors.Key topicsJim shares how Brookview Apartments shaped his views on housing.His path went from banking to housing finance to affordable housing investing.They discuss the affordable housing continuum, from public housing to homeownership.Jim describes the scale of the housing shortage and its pressure on families.More housing alone isn't enough if it's unaffordable or blocked by zoning.NeighborWorks Capital is a nonprofit CDFI lending to housing developers.It finances land acquisition, infrastructure, and construction.The organization borrows close to $100 million a year, with $400 million in tax credits.The NeighborWorks network collectively rivals major for-profit developers.Jim explains organizing developers to negotiate better terms with investors.A failed Fannie Mae effort taught him to listen closely to customers first.Intelligent risk-taking is essential in mission-driven leadership.He closes by encouraging orgs to connect with local NeighborWorks members.Timestamps00:39 - Jim's path into affordable housing01:33 - From banking into housing finance03:41 - Today's affordable housing landscape04:55 - Scale of the housing shortfall06:30 - Housing insecurity's effect on opportunity07:58 - Why more homes isn't the whole solution09:13 - Who NeighborWorks Capital serves10:56 - Types of financing it provides11:51 - Why banks invest in it12:56 - How the nonprofit model sustains itself14:48 - Annual borrowing and lending scale15:23 - Tax credit investments and capital stack16:40 - Affordable units the network produces17:10 - Why collective bargaining power matters18:18 - NeighborWorks nonprofits as innovators19:26 - How scale advantages leave smaller groups behind22:19 - Listening as a superpower with funders23:44 - Why new partnerships require flexibility25:44 - Advice for frontline organizations27:01 - Why NeighborWorks members are the right partners28:43 - The collaborative culture of the CDFI space29:28 - What NeighborWorks Capital hopes to change next31:02 - Headwinds facing affordable housing33:40 - Where to find Jim and NeighborWorks CapitalResources & Links:The Kipos Group WebsiteSchedule a Discovery Call with JamesConnect with James Misner on LinkedinConnect with Jim:Neighborworks Capital Official WebsiteConnect with Jim on Linkedin

Therese Tetzel on Building Empower Girls Camp to Change Girls’ TrajectoriesJames Misner talks with Therese Tetzel, founder of Empower Girls Camp, about leaving a 30-year corporate career to build a research-informed program that helps shy or at-risk girls develop confidence and resilience. They also discuss why short, consistent donor updates beat broad, generic appeals.Key topicsEmpower Girls Camp aims to deeply impact a small group of girls rather than many superficially.Therese left a 30-year corporate career after questioning its purpose, sparked by tutoring Sifa, a young refugee who couldn't read — Sifa's first camp became the turning point.Serves girls 9–11 who are shy, withdrawn, or facing hardship at home — a "precision intervention disguised as a STEM camp."Selection uses a 12-point counselor questionnaire and a scoring system built with a child psychologist.Therese designed the program using her corporate product-development background, planning it out on butcher paper.Lessons learned: not every parent says yes, so a response plan was needed; in fundraising, local relationships and short, frequent donor updates beat long newsletters.Donors want to see impact, not a sales pitch — regular updates build trust.Vision: keep adding schools and girls yearly, aiming for 20 schools.Timestamps00:00 - Why nonprofit missions differ from corporate ones00:28 - Meet Therese Tetzel and Empower Girls Camp00:59 - Leaving corporate America after asking "What am I doing here?"02:28 - Meeting Sifa and discovering the power of tutoring03:10 - Teaching a six-year-old refugee to read in a month04:07 - The first camp experience that changed everything05:47 - From one camper to a broader model06:17 - Launching a nonprofit with no prior experience07:59 - Building the model from the American Camp Association study09:26 - "Precision intervention masquerading as a STEM camp"10:13 - Identifying the girls most likely to benefit11:12 - The 12-point questionnaire and selection process12:21 - Building the process on butcher paper13:17 - Using school data to predict enrollment14:14 - Parent permission, photo releases, vaccination records15:27 - What didn't work: assuming every parent would say yes17:10 - Fundraising lessons: local giving matters most18:26 - Why sales skills don't translate to fundraising19:27 - Donor communication needs to happen often20:24 - Short, frequent updates over long newsletters21:34 - Keeping the cause front and center for donors23:14 - Donors want impact, not merchandise24:46 - Showing outcomes multiplies donor joy25:10 - Milestones can also lead to grants26:16 - Growth plans: more schools, girls, funding27:37 - How to connect with Therese28:17 - Why the organization is uniquely focusedResources & Links:The Kipos Group WebsiteSchedule a Discovery Call with JamesConnect with James Misner on LinkedinConnect with Therese:MPower Girls Camp Official WebsiteConnect with Therese on Linkedin

Helping Up Mission, Baltimore, and a life shaped by serving people in crisisJames Misner talks with Daniel Stoltzfus, CEO of Helping Up Mission in Baltimore, about the personal calling that led him into addiction recovery and homelessness work, the mission’s 140-year history, and how it navigates changing policies while staying focused on trust, relationships, and transformation. Daniel also shares how a life-changing experience at age 19 shaped his path, along with insights on Baltimore’s recovery, nonprofit leadership, succession, and sustainable funding.Key TopicsDaniel’s calling began at 19 on the Relief Bus in NYC.Isaiah 58 shaped his view of service and vocation.Helping Up Mission was founded in Baltimore in 1885.Its original mission included women and children.The mission expanded to women and children in 2020.Daniel sees this growth as returning to its roots.Baltimore shows both deep need and real renewal.Overdoses, crime, prayer, and partnerships shape the city.Daniel supports housing, harm reduction, and recovery together.Recovery depends on trust, relationships, and readiness.Timestamps00:00 - Daniel’s introduction and why this matters00:52 - Mission service and street addiction in NYC03:12 - The moment in Maria Hernandez Park that changed his life04:20 - Isaiah 58 and his call to service05:42 - 30 years in addiction, homelessness, and poverty work07:16 - Helping Up Mission’s founding in 188508:42 - Historic board minutes and early mission language10:05 - Expanding from men’s shelter to recovery and women’s services11:33 - Discovering the founder lived near today’s campus13:15 - Why rescue missions emerged during economic crises15:12 - What early records reveal about resilience16:36 - Emergency funds, near closures, and faith18:20 - Why Baltimore is often misunderstood19:19 - Street outreach and active addiction20:15 - Overdose deaths and the people behind the numbers22:14 - A vision for Baltimore’s recovery24:09 - Prayer, churches, leaders, and the city26:32 - Succeeding a long-tenured CEO32:41 - Housing first, harm reduction, and recovery34:36 - 12-step and Christ-centered recovery37:21 - Narcan and going beyond harm reduction39:39 - Why strong nonprofits embrace paradox40:27 - What failed: oversimplifying with a hotline41:26 - Telling client stories with dignity and consent42:55 - Building diversified nonprofit revenue45:03 - Helping Up Mission’s next 5–10 years47:39 - Connecting with Daniel and Helping Up MissionResources & Links:The Kipos Group WebsiteSchedule a Discovery Call with JamesConnect with James Misner on LinkedinConnect with Daniel:Helping Up Mission Official WebsiteConnect with Daniel on Linkedin

Building Bridges and Moving Hearts with Josh Yerkes: Stories, Funding, and Mission ImpactIn this conversation, Josh Yerkes Vice President of Development at Global Outreach International—shares how storytelling, unscalable donor engagement, and documentary filmmaking fuel the organization's mission to send missionaries worldwide. Discover the power of personal touches in fundraising, the challenges of donor retention, and innovative ways to inspire support for global missions.Key Topics:The role of faith-based organizations in international missionsThe importance of storytelling in donor engagement and fundraisingUnscalable yet impactful donor stewardship tacticsHow documentary films can energize mission-focused givingLessons learned from fundraising failures and setbacksStrategies for building long-term donor loyaltyThe significance of personal, experiential touches in supporter relationshipsEffective use of social media and video content to tell compelling storiesTimestamps:00:00 - Introduction to Josh Yerkes and Global Outreach International00:39 - What Global Outreach does annually—mission, support, training01:10 - Josh’s background as a missionary kid and career transition into nonprofit leadership03:15 - The path from YMCA leadership to global missions and fundraising06:44 - The storytelling approach and its impact on fundraising success07:14 - The influence of personal stories and experiences in donor relationships09:12 - Using sensory memories like chlorine smell to craft compelling stories10:20 - How Global Outreach funds its mission: impact, partnership, and broad-spectrum investing13:24 - Strategies for increasing revenue and donor retention14:23 - The importance of personalized thank-yous and stewardship16:33 - The power of experiential gifts and unscalable acts of generosity18:53 - The value of personal gestures in donor loyalty and supporter engagement20:45 - Overcoming scarcity mindset in fundraising and supporting loyal supporters22:36 - The importance of focusing on supporter loyalty over immediate metrics23:14 - Lessons from fundraising failures and experimenting in the space26:46 - A personal story of a failed year-end campaign and lessons learned27:24 - Announcing the upcoming documentary project "Beyond River's Edge"29:18 - How storytelling through film can galvanize support for missions31:09 - Practical ways to connect with Josh and collaborate in global missionsResources & Links:The Kipos Group WebsiteSchedule a Discovery Call with JamesConnect with James Misner on LinkedinConnect with Josh:Global Outrech International Official WebsiteConnect with Josh Yerkes on Linkedin