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Nonprofit Leadership Podcast

Nonprofit Leadership Podcast

By: Dr. Rob Harter
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Summary
 The Nonprofit Leadership Podcast discusses important issues facing nonprofit leaders in our community and features real stories from real leaders about what strategies and practices have made them successful. Enjoy the show!© 2025 Nonprofit Leadership Podcast. All rights reserved. Economics Management Management & Leadership Political Science Politics & Government
Episodes
  • How Our Stories Shape the Leaders We Become

    How Our Stories Shape the Leaders We Become
    8 Nov 2026
    Roy Hall Jr. How do the challenges we face in life shape the leaders we become? And how can we turn painful experiences, personal setbacks, and unexpected obstacles into opportunities to serve others? In this inspiring episode of the Nonprofit Leadership Podcast, host Rob Harter sits down with Roy Hall Jr., former NFL player, motivational speaker, author of Fight Through It, and founder of the Driven Foundation. Roy shares his powerful journey from a childhood marked by poverty, domestic violence, and family struggles to becoming a standout football player at Ohio State and eventually reaching the NFL. Through his story, Roy demonstrates how resilience, faith, and the support of others can transform adversity into purpose. Roy also discusses how career-ending injuries forced him to navigate questions of identity and ultimately strengthened his commitment to serving others. Through the Driven Foundation, Roy and his team have provided more than 2.8 million meals and supported thousands of families in need. He shares valuable lessons for nonprofit leaders about building sustainable organizations, prioritizing relationships over fundraising transactions, and leading with a service-first mindset. Rob and Roy also explore the importance of mental health, authentic leadership, and recognizing that our greatest impact often comes not from what we achieve, but from how we use our experiences to help others. Key Topics Include: Turning adversity into leadership: How Roy’s childhood experiences with domestic violence, financial hardship, and family challenges shaped his resilience, courage, and desire to serve others.The power of taking action: Lessons from Roy’s book Fight Through It about overcoming hesitation, facing difficult circumstances, and understanding why meaningful change requires movement.Finding identity beyond professional success: How Roy navigated injuries and the end of his NFL career while discovering that true identity and purpose extend beyond titles, accomplishments, and material success.Building a sustainable, mission-driven nonprofit: How the Driven Foundation has provided more than 2.8 million meals and why Roy believes nonprofit leaders should focus on meeting needs before pursuing funding.Relationship-centered fundraising: Why authentic relationships, personal investment, and a genuine heart for service are more important than treating potential donors as financial opportunities.Mental health and authentic leadership: Why nonprofit leaders must normalize conversations about emotional well-being, personal struggles, and seeking support, and how vulnerability can strengthen individuals and organizations.Using your story to create lasting impact: How leaders can transform personal experiences into opportunities for mentorship, encouragement, community service, and helping others overcome life’s challenges. Mentioned in This Episode: Roy Hall Jr. – Official Website: royhalljr.com – Learn more about Roy’s motivational speaking, leadership development, professional development opportunities, and personal journey.Fight Through It – Roy Hall Jr.’s Book: fightthroughit.com – Explore Roy’s book about resilience, perseverance, faith, and overcoming life’s toughest challenges.The Driven Foundation: Learn more about Roy’s nonprofit organization and its work providing meals, mentorship, and essential resources to children and families through Roy Hall Jr.’s website.Connect with Roy Hall Jr. on LinkedIn: Search for Roy Hall Jr. – Follow Roy’s leadership insights, speaking engagements, and community impact. This Episode is Sponsored By: Donorbox: donorbox.org Links to Resources: Interested in Leadership and Life Coaching? Visit Rob’s website: RobHarter.comFind us on YouTube: Nonprofit Leadership Podcast YouTube ChannelSuggestions for the show? Email us at nonprofitleadershippodcast@gmail.comRequest 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!
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    42 min
  • What This Nonprofit Leader-Turned-Podcast Host Has Learned About Leadership

    What This Nonprofit Leader-Turned-Podcast Host Has Learned About Leadership
    25 Oct 2026
    What does it take to become a better nonprofit leader, and what can we learn from our biggest leadership mistakes? In this episode of the Nonprofit Leadership Podcast, host Rob Harter sits down with Dolph Goldenburg, nonprofit consultant, former executive director, and host of the Successful Nonprofits Podcast. Drawing on more than 30 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, leadership, and organizational management, Dolph shares powerful lessons from both sides of the microphone. He opens up about his personal journey from becoming what he describes as a toxic leader to helping nonprofit organizations thrive without sacrificing their people or their values. Rob and Dolph explore the importance of building healthy nonprofit cultures, developing stronger teams, navigating fundraising challenges, and rebuilding trust with donors. Dolph shares the remarkable story of how he restored a damaged donor relationship that eventually resulted in a nearly $400,000 gift. They also discuss why nonprofits need to think bigger, advocate for fair compensation, set bold organizational goals, and make difficult decisions to prevent leadership burnout. This conversation offers practical nonprofit leadership strategies for executive directors, development professionals, and anyone seeking to create lasting social impact while building healthier, more sustainable organizations. Key Topics Include: Learning from leadership mistakes: How Dolph’s experience as a nonprofit executive director taught him the dangers of toxic leadership and the importance of personal growth, self-awareness, and organizational culture.Building stronger nonprofit teams: Why thoughtful recruitment, onboarding, employee development, and a people-first leadership approach are essential for long-term organizational success.Rethinking nonprofit fundraising: How nonprofit leaders can confidently approach donors and foundations, negotiate realistic grant expectations, and recognize when funding opportunities are not worth pursuing.Rebuilding donor trust: The power of patience, authentic relationships, and donor-centered fundraising, including Dolph’s remarkable story of securing a nearly $400,000 donation after repairing a broken relationship.Setting bold goals for greater social impact: Why nonprofits should challenge conventional assumptions, pursue ambitious goals, and invest in competitive salaries, employee benefits, and operational efficiency.Preventing nonprofit leadership burnout: How prioritization, intentional decision-making, and accepting that not everything can get done can help nonprofit leaders manage compassion fatigue and protect their well-being.Creating a more sustainable nonprofit sector: What Dolph has learned from interviewing other leaders and why the future of nonprofit leadership must emphasize equity, fair compensation, organizational effectiveness, and helping both employees and communities thrive. Mentioned in This Episode: Dolph Goldenburg – Successful Nonprofits – Learn more about Dolph’s nonprofit consulting work, leadership expertise, and resources for nonprofit organizations.Successful Nonprofits Podcast – Explore Dolph’s podcast featuring conversations with nonprofit leaders and experts on fundraising, management, and organizational success. This Episode is Sponsored By: Donorbox Links to Resources: Interested in Leadership and Life Coaching? Visit Rob’s website: RobHarter.comFind us on YouTube: Nonprofit Leadership Podcast YouTube ChannelSuggestions for the show? Email us at nonprofitleadershippodcast@gmail.comRequest 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!
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    39 min
  • What Real Support for Parental Leave Looks Like

    What Real Support for Parental Leave Looks Like
    18 Oct 2026
    Beth Wanner Offering parental leave is one thing, but creating a workplace where employees can confidently take that leave without worrying about their careers, their coworkers, or the organization’s mission is another. For nonprofit leaders managing tight budgets and lean teams, supporting parental leave can feel complicated and costly. Yet without a thoughtful plan, organizations risk employee burnout, decreased productivity, and losing valuable staff. So how can nonprofits build parental leave policies and practices that truly support employees while maintaining organizational effectiveness? In this episode, Rob Harter sits down with Beth Wanner, Founder and CEO of Mother Cover, an agency that provides interim and fractional staffing solutions for organizations navigating parental and caregiver leave. Drawing from her personal experience with pregnancy discrimination and her years as a marketing executive, Beth shares why traditional parental leave policies often fall short and what nonprofit leaders can do differently. Together, they explore practical strategies for planning employee absences, maintaining organizational continuity, preventing burnout, and creating a smoother return-to-work experience. Beth also explains how nonprofits can provide meaningful parental leave support without breaking their budgets, ultimately strengthening employee retention, workplace culture, and long-term mission impact. Key Topics Include: Why parental leave policies aren’t enough: The difference between offering parental leave benefits and creating an organizational culture that genuinely supports employees before, during, and after their leave.Planning for employee absences: How nonprofit leaders can develop effective parental leave coverage plans, document responsibilities, establish decision-making authority, and ensure critical work continues.Preventing employee burnout and improving retention: Why distributing an absent employee’s workload across an already stretched team can lead to burnout, resentment, and costly staff turnover.Using fractional leadership and interim staffing: How nonprofits can leverage experienced fractional professionals to maintain operations, protect donor relationships, and support organizational leadership during parental leave.The financial ROI of supporting parental leave: Understanding the hidden costs of inadequate leave coverage, including disrupted programs, lost productivity, damaged donor relationships, and employee turnover.Creating a successful return-to-work transition: Why re-onboarding, documented updates, gradual workload transitions, and regular check-ins are essential for supporting employees returning from parental leave.Practical parental leave solutions for nonprofits on tight budgets: How leaders can create a simple, one-page coverage plan, prioritize essential responsibilities, identify internal growth opportunities, and provide meaningful support without requiring full-time replacement staffing. Mentioned in This Episode: Mother Cover – Founded by Beth Wanner, Mother Cover helps nonprofits and other organizations maintain operational continuity through interim and fractional staffing solutions during parental and caregiver leave.Nonprofit Leadership Podcast – Explore additional episodes, nonprofit leadership resources, and interviews with experts helping nonprofit organizations strengthen their leadership and impact. This Episode is Sponsored By: Donorbox – An online fundraising platform that helps nonprofits streamline fundraising, maximize donations, and simplify giving with customizable donation forms, digital wallet payments, donation tracking, and automated receipts. Links to Resources: Interested in Leadership and Life Coaching? Visit Rob’s website: RobHarter.comFind us on YouTube: Nonprofit Leadership Podcast YouTube ChannelSuggestions for the show? Email us at nonprofitleadershippodcast@gmail.comRequest 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!
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    31 min
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