The Heart of Giving Podcast

Beyond Passion: Building Effective Nonprofit Leadership with David Rhode

This Week on The Heart of Giving Podcast David Rhode, author of "Passion Isn't Enough," shares practical insights from his journey founding Pitchin' for Baseball and Softball to consulting with nonprofit leaders. Three key moments:
 
"Running a nonprofit organization is running a business. And so in order for your business to succeed long term, you need a business model. You need to be able to track resources, people and money, and you need to be able to make a meaningful difference."
 
"There are three things which are present in the nonprofit sector that aren't in the for-profit sector. The first is people - they tell the story in the nonprofit sector. We're not spending money on marketing communications, so people carry the story forward."
 
"We as leaders need to be optimistic. We need to set a culture and a tone for the organization. If we're always complaining or worrying, then the organization's going to be down. I think resilience is one of the fundamental things that people need to be successful in life, let alone in the nonprofit sector."
 
Last week in Part 2 of our conversation with Dan Porterfield, Robert Diggs, and Markera Jones, we explored how Franklin & Marshall College's approach to talent development transformed lives. Markera shared her journey from feeling unwelcome in advanced classes to achieving perfect grades at F&M and eventually becoming a clinical psychologist focused on underserved communities. Don't miss this powerful testimony to how educational institutions can identify and nurture potential across all backgrounds.
 
New episodes every Tuesday on YouTube and your favorite podcast platforms. Support the show at give.org.
 
#HeartOfGiving #NonprofitLeadership

Mindset Matters Part 2: Dan Porterfield - Growth in Action: Markera Jones and the Transformative Power of Educational Opportunity

Mindset Matters Part 2: Dan Porterfield - Growth in Action: Markera Jones and the Transformative Power of Educational Opportunity
 
This Week on The Heart of Giving Podcast - in Part 2: We continue our conversation with Dan Porterfield and Robert Diggs, then hear directly from Markera Jones, whose remarkable journey from a segregated school environment to academic excellence at Franklin & Marshall College demonstrates how institutional commitment to talent can change lives.
 
Four powerful insights:
 
"Each educational environment needs to tend to what kind of student with what kind of values might end up there. Our research found that there was a triangle of values students would be attracted to - they wouldn't be a number but a person, they valued being in community, and they wanted academic seriousness." - Dan Porterfield
 
"I went on a visit with my Upward Bound counselor... When we went on the visit, I remember just feeling a sense of welcome on the campus. It seemed like spaces that were well funded and well resourced for me to really learn things in a way that I didn't get in high school." - Markera Jones
 
"F&M's financial aid package was the best one that I got. That grant, which came from donors who want to fund talent, really helped me to see these people believe in me, they value me, they want to invest in me in that kind of way." - Markera
 
"At F&M, I got to have my first research experience where not only did I work in a psychology lab, it felt very special because this is the stuff that I was seeing on TV. It felt like I was doing this really important work in research, giving back to creating knowledge." - Markera on how F&M prepared her for her career path
 
Check out part 1 published last week, where we began our conversation with Dan Porterfield and Robert Diggs about the transformative power of growth mindset in higher education. Dan shared how Franklin & Marshall redefined talent identification beyond traditional metrics to focus on curiosity, resilience, and saying yes to opportunity. 
 
Robert Diggs revealed how the "third spaces" outside the classroom shaped his development as a student and leader. They discussed how this approach to education not only benefits individual students but creates a vibrant ecosystem where everyone can thrive.
 
New episodes every Tuesday on YouTube and your favorite podcast platforms. Support the show at give.org.
 
#HeartOfGiving #HigherEducation #GrowthMindset #Philanthropy

Mindset Matters: Redefining Talent in Higher Education

This Week on The Heart of Giving - Part 1: Aspen Institute President and Former Franklin & Marshall College President Dan Porterfield joins Art Taylor to discuss his book "Mindset Matters," exploring how colleges can nurture talent and growth mindsets in students from all backgrounds. Joined by F&M alum Robert Diggs, they dive into the transformative power of higher education.
Three illuminating moments:
"I view the best form of education as the one that helps the one and the many, that unlocks talent and sees talent in every corner and community. And that by investing in young people, whether financial aid or just as important in their learning and their formation, we make a better world." - Dan Porterfield
"We were willing to shake it up a bit and try out some even more particular qualities of talent - curiosity, resilience, saying yes to opportunity, and having a vision of the value of education. These qualities are equally represented across America." - Dan on redefining talent identification
"Not that the actual education part wasn't important, but it was the learning that happened around the education piece... It was really the third space or fifth space, being asked to step into co-leading the development of the college house ethos. All of that tracks back to how F&M goes about enriching the mind of young people." - Robert Diggs
Don't miss next week's conclusion where we meet Markera Jones, whose journey from Coatesville, Pennsylvania to clinical psychologist exemplifies the power of opportunity and growth mindset in action.
Last week, Ben Erwin of Charity Buzz shared how his organization has created a marketplace for unique experiences that benefits nonprofits of all sizes. By connecting celebrities, business leaders, and exclusive opportunities with affluent donors, they've generated over half a billion dollars for charitable causes. If you missed it, it's a fascinating look at innovative fundraising approaches that expand "the giving pie."

Beyond Traditional Fundraising: The Charity Buzz Model

 
 
This Week on The Heart of Giving Podcast, Ben Erwin, CEO of Charity Buzz, reveals how his organization has transformed fundraising by creating a marketplace for unique experiences that benefits nonprofits of all sizes. Three compelling moments:
 
"Our mission at Charity Buzz is to deliver the most unique and exciting inventory opportunities on the Internet for good... a curated marketplace for people to live out their wildest dreams while also getting a chance to support terrific charitable organizations."
 
"We found out in a really exciting way that the chance to spend time with a CEO, with a fund manager, with a titan of industry actually has the potential to raise more money than a celebrity experience. The beauty is most charities have relationships with business leaders."
 
"Giving as a percentage of GDP has not changed in the last 50 to 60 years in this country... Yet the number of charities during that time has increased by 40x. So I don't know how we expect charities to maintain their programs, scale their impact if the relative size of the pie has not changed."
 
Last week, Christa Stelzmuller of Charity Water shared how innovative technology is transforming both global water access and donor engagement. From VR experiences that simulate water walks to hologram boxes that connect donors with communities, her team is using cutting-edge tech to build empathy and support for the 700 million people worldwide who lack basic access to clean water. Don't miss this fascinating look at how technology can create emotional connections across continents.
 
New episodes every Tuesday on YouTube and your favorite podcast platforms. Support the show at give.org.
 
#HeartOfGiving #CharityBuzz #Fundraising #SocialImpact
 

Digital Bridges: How Technology Connects Donors to Water Projects

 
🎙️ This Week on The Heart of Giving: Christa Stelzmuller, Chief Technology Officer at Charity Water, reveals how innovative technology is transforming both global water access and donor engagement. Three illuminating moments:
"10% of the world today lives without access, basic access to clean water. And that translates to over 700 million people... Basic access means water that is less than 30 minutes away that is clean and available for communities."
"When you bring clean water to a community, you're impacting the health of that community. You're impacting the economic opportunity... You're impacting education... When women and girls are having to walk for water hours and hours a day, they miss out on school and they miss out on economic opportunity."
"We use technology via in-person experiences... We have hologram boxes that introduce you to folks that we have met in various communities. And we also have a VR experience... Using VR has been super powerful to allow people to connect in a way that we wish we could put everyone on a plane."
Last week, Kate Schecter of World Neighbors shared her organization's 73-year commitment to sustainable self-help across 14 countries. Her stories of community-led savings groups in East Timor and women breaking caste barriers in India illustrated how genuine development means empowering people to solve their own challenges. Don't miss this fascinating look at a proven model where dignity and local leadership drive lasting change.
New episodes every Tuesday on YouTube and your favorite podcast platforms. Support the show at give.org.
#HeartOfGiving #CleanWater #TechForGood #GlobalDevelopment
 
 
 

The Power of Local: World Neighbors' Sustainable Development Model

This Week on The Heart of Giving Podcast, Kate Schecter shares World Neighbors' remarkable 73-year journey helping rural communities across 14 countries achieve lasting self-sufficiency. Three standout moments:
 
"Our founder understood in 1951 how important it is not to give things to people, but to help them to help themselves. He understood the importance of the dignity of every human being, even the poorest of the poor."
 
"We help the communities to form small groups... and they each pitch in a little bit of money either every week or every month and they save their money together and then they loan to each other at very low interest. They're skipping around the whole banking system."
 
"I've been up in the mountains in East Timor, where it's all rocks, and you can't imagine how these people survive... and they say to me, 'Yeah, this year we saved $36,000.' And I'm like, 'My gosh, $36,000!'"
 
Last week, Mark Falzone of Scenic America discussed how his organization works to preserve America's visual character - from reducing billboard clutter to promoting context-sensitive development. His insights on making communities more beautiful and livable reveal how thoughtful design impacts our wellbeing and quality of life. If you missed it, tune in to hear about their bipartisan approach to creating spaces where everyone can "live, work and play in a beautiful place."
 
New episodes every Tuesday on YouTube and your favorite podcast platforms. Support the show at give.org.
 
#HeartOfGiving #GlobalDevelopment #Sustainability #SelfHelp

Creating Beautiful Communities: The Work of Scenic America

This Week on The Heart of Giving Podcast: Mark Falzone, President and CEO of Scenic America, discusses how his organization is working to preserve and enhance the visual character of our nation. Three illuminating moments:
 
"Our mission is to preserve and enhance the visual character and scenic beauty of our country... We're advocating that every American should have the opportunity to live, work and play in a beautiful place."
 
"When everybody has this opportunity, we can get this done. And we do tend to have a very bipartisan organization because honestly, at the end of the day, who wouldn't be in favor of a beautiful America to live, work and play?" - On finding common ground across political divides.
 
"We want to make sure that every solution we come up with is context sensitive... It makes sense to have billboards in Times Square, just like it makes sense to have none of those things in a national park." - On their nuanced approach to development.
 
Last week's conversation featured Teresa Tyson of The Health Wagon, who shared how her organization brings vital healthcare to Central Appalachia through mobile medical units. From starting with a single Volkswagen Beetle to now offering comprehensive medical, dental, and pharmacy services, The Health Wagon demonstrates how innovative solutions can transform healthcare access in rural America. Don't miss this inspiring story of dedication to serving those most in need.
 
New episodes every Tuesday on YouTube and your favorite podcast platforms. Support the show at give.org.
 
#HeartOfGiving #ScenicAmerica #CommunityDevelopment #Nonprofits
 

The Health Wagon: Healthcare on Wheels in Appalachia

🎙️ This Week on The Heart of Giving:Teresa Tyson shares the remarkable story of The Health Wagon, America's oldest mobile free clinic serving Central Appalachia. Three powerful moments:
"We were founded by Sister Bernie Kenny... She actually started the clinic first of all in the back of a Volkswagen Beetle, just going up and down these mountain roads. That was over 40 some years ago."
"Virginia is an incredibly wealthy state... but there's no other state in the nation that has such extremes in healthcare or disparities between the have and have nots in the state of Virginia."
"You can't do this work and really not be changed... My dad was a coal miner... I remember when I was a little girl he would tie a belt around his leg so that he did not feel that pain... I just do it from that aspect of helping another."
Last week, Rick Lofgren of COTA shared how his organization helps families manage the overwhelming costs of organ transplants - from $2 million surgeries to lifetime medication expenses. His discussion revealed how community support can make life-saving care possible for families in crisis. If you missed it, it's a must-listen conversation about making healthcare accessible to those who need it most.
New episodes every Tuesday on YouTube and your favorite podcast platforms. Support the show at give.org.
#HeartOfGiving #Healthcare #RuralHealth #Nonprofits

The Gift of Life: How COTA Helps Transplant Families

This Week on The Heart of Giving Podcast, Rick Lofgren, CEO of COTA (Children's Organ Transplant Association), reveals how his organization helps families navigate the overwhelming financial challenges of organ transplants. Three compelling moments:
"Every day in the United States, about 18 people pass away waiting for that life-saving transplant that never comes. And so our goal is to make sure that money is not the issue that keeps that from happening."
"This past year we helped 244 new families and our goal is to reach 300 new families in every year within the next five years. When I started 26 years ago, we helped 31 families that first year."
"Their daughter had a liver transplant in Pittsburgh eight years ago... that first year they had billions of over $2 million for her liver transplant." - On the staggering costs families face.
Last week's episode featured Lindsay Torrico of the American Bankers Association Foundation, who shared her vision for transforming how banks can drive community development and economic mobility. She discussed innovative approaches to housing affordability and wealth building in underserved communities. If you haven't listened yet, it's an insightful look at making finance work for everyone.
New episodes every Tuesday on YouTube and your favorite podcast platforms. Support the show at give.org.
#HeartOfGiving #OrganDonation #Healthcare #Nonprofits

Banking on Community: A Conversation with Lindsay Torrico

This Week on The Heart of Giving: Join Art Taylor in conversation with Lindsay Torrico, Senior VP of Bank Community Engagement at the American Bankers Association and Executive Director of the ABA Foundation. Lindsay shares her vision for transforming how banks engage with communities and drive economic mobility. Three standout moments:
"If you're not at the table, you're on the menu" - Lindsay on why nonprofits must engage in policy discussions to create large-scale impact.
"When our communities are strong, our banks are strong... it's reframing how we think about this work that's not just about giving to a few, but how are we investing in our communities in a way that we all can be effective businesses as well."
"We want to make sure that they're sustainable in home ownership... it's going to take a multifaceted approach" - On addressing the housing crisis through innovative solutions and partnerships.
Did you catch last week's inspiring conversation with Ana Federica Convit? She shared her remarkable journey from banking to leading cancer research initiatives in Venezuela, continuing her grandfather's century-long legacy of providing accessible healthcare to vulnerable populations. If you haven't listened yet, it's a must-hear story of purpose and impact.
New episodes every Tuesday on YouTube and your favorite podcast platforms. Support the show at give.org.