What happens when a nonprofit receives not one, but two transformational, unrestricted gifts worth millions of dollars? In this episode, Rob Harter speaks with Dr. Xanthe Scharff, President and CEO of the Women’s Refugee Commission (WRC), and Havovi Waddia, Managing Director of Programs for The Freedom Fund. Both organizations have received two major gifts from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott—WRC receiving a total of $24 million and The Freedom Fund receiving a total of $95 million.

Xanthe and Havovi discuss how these unexpected gifts have transformed their organizations’ ability to think strategically, invest in frontline organizations, strengthen internal systems, and make long-term commitments to the communities they serve. They also explore the power of trust-based philanthropy, why unrestricted funding can create significantly more impact than traditional restricted grants, and what MacKenzie Scott’s approach to giving could mean for the future of nonprofit fundraising and philanthropy.

Key Topics Include:

• How the Women’s Refugee Commission and The Freedom Fund received transformational gifts from MacKenzie Scott without applying or making a traditional funding request
• Why receiving a second major gift represents an extraordinary vote of confidence in an organization’s leadership, mission, transparency, and impact
• How unrestricted funding gives nonprofit leaders the flexibility and “head space” to make strategic, long-term decisions instead of simply reacting to immediate funding pressures
• How The Freedom Fund is using its funding to make long-term investments in frontline and survivor-led organizations working to end modern slavery
• How the Women’s Refugee Commission is adapting its funding model amid major cuts to government and international humanitarian aid
• Why trust-based philanthropy can strengthen nonprofit organizations, frontline partners, civil society, and ultimately democracy and human rights
• What MacKenzie Scott’s giving philosophy may signal about the future of philanthropy—and why private philanthropy cannot replace the responsibility of governments

Mentioned in This Episode:

• Women’s Refugee Commission
• The Freedom Fund
• Yield Giving

This Episode is Sponsored By:

• DonorBox

Links to Resources:

• Interested in Leadership and Life Coaching? Visit Rob’s website: RobHarter.com
• Find us on YouTube: Nonprofit Leadership Podcast YouTube Channel
• Suggestions for the show? Email us at nonprofitleadershippodcast@gmail.com
• Request a sample coaching session: Email Rob at rob@robharter.com

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Listen and subscribe to the Nonprofit Leadership Podcast on iTunes, Spotify, or Amazon. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with other nonprofit leaders!

A healthy nonprofit culture is not a “soft” issue—it directly affects employee retention, trust, innovation, performance, and ultimately an organization’s ability to create lasting impact. In this episode, Rob Harter sits down with Marcia Beckner, founder and CEO of Culture CARES Global, to discuss how nonprofit leaders can intentionally build workplace cultures where employees feel valued, respected, engaged, and psychologically safe.

Marcia shares her CARES framework—Commitment, Appreciation, Respect, Engagement, and Safety—and explains why psychological safety serves as the foundation for a thriving nonprofit team. Rob and Marcia also explore nonprofit leadership burnout, employee retention, trust and accountability, transparent communication during times of change, and the importance of narrowing strategic priorities so leaders and teams can pursue excellence without spreading themselves too thin.

Key Topics Include:

• The five elements of the CARES framework: Commitment, Appreciation, Respect, Engagement, and Safety
• Why psychological safety is foundational to nonprofit culture, innovation, inclusion, and high performance
• How nonprofit leaders can improve employee retention by helping staff feel valued, respected, and appreciated
• Leading authentically and confidently without pretending to have all the answers
• How transparent communication helps organizations maintain trust during uncertainty and organizational change
• Preventing nonprofit leadership burnout through energy management, healthy boundaries, delegation, and sustainable pacing
• Why nonprofit leaders must strategically say “no,” prune unnecessary priorities, and focus resources on the few initiatives that can create the greatest mission impact

Mentioned in This Episode:

• Culture CARES Global
• Connect with Marcia Beckner on LinkedIn
• Nonprofit CEO SPARK Podcast
• You Are Meant for Great Things by Marcia Beckner

This Episode is Sponsored By:

• Donorbox

Links to Resources:

• Interested in Leadership and Life Coaching? Visit Rob’s website: RobHarter.com
• Find us on YouTube: Nonprofit Leadership Podcast YouTube Channel
• Suggestions for the show? Email us at nonprofitleadershippodcast@gmail.com
• Request a sample coaching session: Email Rob at rob@robharter.com

Subscribe and Share
Listen and subscribe to the Nonprofit Leadership Podcast on iTunes, Spotify, or Amazon. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with other nonprofit leaders!

This is repost of a previously published episode. In this episode, Dr. Rob Harter sits down with Dan Pallotta—renowned author, TED Talk speaker, and social impact provocateur—to discuss what it really takes to solve the world’s biggest problems. Known for challenging the status quo in the nonprofit sector, Dan pushes listeners to think beyond conventional limitations, urging nonprofit leaders and donors alike to reimagine what’s possible when we truly embrace bold, audacious goals.

Dan unpacks his groundbreaking fundraising innovations, including the AIDS Rides and Breast Cancer 3-Day Walks, and dives into key themes from his recent documentary Uncharitable. He emphasizes that nonprofits need to stop playing it safe and start empowering people to explore their own heroism—whether it’s through higher-risk initiatives or rethinking how we define overhead and impact. This episode will inspire you to challenge outdated assumptions and push your organization to dream—and do—bigger.

Key Topics Include:

• The origin and impact of Dan’s fundraising innovations, including the AIDS Rides and Breast Cancer 3-Day events
• Why nonprofits must reframe how they view overhead, salaries, and investments
• The danger of playing it safe: how fear of failure stifles nonprofit innovation
• Exploring the concept of fundraising as a path to individual heroism
• Why bold, time-bound goals are essential for real social impact
• The importance of capital investment and risk-taking in the nonprofit sector
• Insights from the Uncharitable documentary and how it’s shifting donor mindsets

Mentioned in This Episode:

• Dan Pallotta’s Website: DanPallotta.com
• Watch Uncharitable: UncharitableMovie.com
• The Audacious Project: audaciousproject.org
• No Kid Hungry: nokidhungry.org
• Social Current: social-current.org

This Episode is Sponsored By:

• DonorBox

Links to Resources:

• Interested in Leadership and Life Coaching? Visit Rob’s website: RobHarter.com
• Find us on YouTube: Nonprofit Leadership Podcast YouTube Channel
• Suggestions for the show? Email us at nonprofitleadershippodcast@gmail.com
• Request a sample coaching session: Email Rob at rob@robharter.com

Subscribe and Share
Listen and subscribe to the N