Shows
Good NonsenseSocial Impact Staff Retention — with Michelle Flores VrynOn this special summer episode, we're showcasing a LinkedIn Live event we hosted with our friend, Michelle Flores Vryn. During the conversation, we spoke with Michelle about the annual Social Impact Staff Retention (SISR) data project, which she co-pilots with Evan.
Along the way we dived into —
SISR's history since starting in 2023
What the data tell us about staff retention
The possible different futures for nonprofit work
... and much more
It’s practical, it’s honest, and (as always) there’s good nonsense along the way. If you know a nonprofiteer we should invite on the show...2025-07-2935 min
What the FundraisingPeople First: Rethinking Growth And Retention In Nonprofits With Michelle Flores Vryn and Evan WildsteinOn this episode on What The Fundraising, Mallory is joined by Michelle Flores Vryn and Evan Wildstein, the two leaders of the Social Impact Staff Retention Project. Together they explore how nonprofits can build a culture where the prioritization of both mission and people is rooted in its core. They discuss why taking care of your people is not just the right thing to do, but also a clever business decision. With increasing burnout and turnover, Mallory, Michelle and Evan dive into how organizations can foster growth beyond outdated promotions by prioritizing flexibility, purpose-driven work, and empowered leadership. We a...2025-04-2936 min
Good NonsenseA fabulous first season — with Tasha and EvanOn this episode, Tasha and Evan give a happy, little recap of the soulful, practical, and often hilarious conversations they had during Season One. The trip down memory lane went a bit further, with a long-overdue introduction to their own nonprofit journeys.
Along the way we dive into the big themes from Season One —
The big notion that nonprofiteers are humans first
Progress takes time—not everything is a radical overhaul
Practical, low-cost ideas for making nonprofit workplaces healthier
Change is hard and uncomfortable, and tension is necessary for growth
Great orgs and great bosses do exis...2025-04-2526 min
Good NonsenseGood grief — with Samira MoosaviOn this episode we’re joined by Samira Moosavi, a nonprofiteer who makes it her task to support people navigating life’s great challenges. Her work is no small feat—being on a reparative journey with children, teens, and families experiencing grief.
Along the way we dive into —
How stories build personal strength
The types of loss (primary & secondary)
The different ways grief shows up in our bodies
How peer connections can make grief less isolating
One wish Samira would make to improve the social sector
It’s practical, it’s honest, and (as always) there’s good...2025-04-1533 min
Good NonsenseBeing seen, heard, and valued — with Maryann KerrOn this episode we’re joined by Maryann Kerr, a nonprofit rockstar who has graced the field with her awesomeness for more than 40 years. Part sage, part truthsayer, part rabblerouser, Maryann brings her decades of experience and wisdom to a warm conversation about little victories, self-leadership, and legacy.
Along the way we dive into —
Leadership, governance, and culture
The legacy we leave behind through our work
Self-development as the gift that keeps on giving
Why promotions can feed egos and rot organizations
One wish Maryann would make to improve the social sector
It’s practical, it’s h...2025-04-0928 min
Nonprofit Lowdown#332- The State of Nonprofit Staffing with Evan Wildstein and Michelle Flores VrynNonprofit Leaders, it's time to wake up and take action! In the latest episode of Nonprofit Lowdown, I sit down with two experts, Michelle Flores Vryn and Evan Wildstein, to dive deep into a critical issue facing our sector: nonprofit staffing struggles.They discuss trends from their groundbreaking Social Impact Staff Retention Report, revealing that 7 out of 10 nonprofit staff are actively looking for new jobs in 2025 — a number that's still alarmingly high, and indicative of widespread burnout, insufficient support, and unrealistic workload expectations. In this...2025-04-0732 min
Good NonsenseRace, age & boundaries — with Jonah NighOn this episode we’re joined by Jonah Nigh—part fundraiser, part stand up comic (yes, seriously), part TV star (yes, again, seriously), and more. Having been at the helm of many organizations’ philanthropy programs, Jonah gets real about things that make most nonprofiteers uncomfortable.
Along the way we dive into —
The life of a fundraiser of color
Real boundaries… and setting them
Fundraising as a profession, not a function
What to do when a donor wants to touch your hair
One wish Jonah would make to improve the social sector
It’s practical, it’s honest, and...2025-03-2833 min
Good NonsenseNonprofit systems... and how we change them — with Michelle Flores VrynIn this episode, we’re joined by the one and only Michelle Flores Vryn. With serious chops as a practitioner and partner in marketing, communications, fundraising, and strategy, Michelle makes the social sector more equitable, more collaborative, and more spirited.
Along the way, we dive into —
What’s necessary to be truly creative
How 9/11 inspired her nonprofit journey
How to set realistic expectations for our teams
The 10 principles of Community-Centric Fundraising
One wish Michelle would make to boost the nonprofit sector
It’s practical, it’s honest, and (as always) there’s good nonsense along the way. If...2025-03-2030 min
Good NonsenseThe nonprofit job hunt — with Brieanna QuinnIn this episode, we’re joined by Brieanna Quinn, a 25-year fundraising veteran who’s been refreshingly open and honest with the world about her nonprofit job search.
Along the way, we dive into —
Everything currently keeping nonprofiteers unfocused and burnt out
Why we need empathy and unity over modern day divisiveness
How being open about your struggles can be remarkably powerful
Why you need to listen to your gut on the job search (even if only a little bit)
Evan’s rendition of a classic 1990's Christina Aguilera tune
It’s practical, it’s honest, and...2025-03-1433 min
Good NonsenseThe nonprofit retention revolution — with Erica KeswinIn this episode, we’re joined by Erica Keswin, the three-time (!) Wall Street Journal bestselling author on all-things-great human leadership. While not a nonprofiteer, herself, Erica brings the realness on what the social sector can be doing better for its people. (Spoiler alert: much of it doesn’t cost one penny.)
Along the way, we dive into —
The need for human leadership in a tech-driven world
How great human leaders connect people to purpose, connect people to each other, and connect people to themselves
Why soft skills (really) are the new hard skills
How "the absence of int...2025-03-0633 min
Good NonsenseThe "run nonprofits like a business" fallacy — with Ariel GlassmanIn this episode, we’re joined by fellow rabble-rouser Ariel Glassman. Ariel’s helped organizations (on four continents!) raise tens of millions of dollars through a collective approach, which she leads with her firm, Common Great.
Along the way, we dive into —
Uncovering the real problems of toxic leadership
How “run it like a business” is nearly impossible in the current nonprofit reality
Why diversifying revenue is a vertical—not horizontal—strategy
The need for strong strategy and operations, and not just passion
One wish Ariel would make to magically improve the social sector
It’s practical, it’...2025-02-2733 min
Good NonsenseGetting out of the house — with Melinda EnglishIn this very first episode of Good Nonsense, we’re starting strong with a conversation that hits at the heart of what’s wrong (and what’s possible) in the nonprofit world.
We’re joined by Melinda English—a nonprofit HR/talent pro turned for-profit leader—to talk about what’s missing in nonprofit leadership, why the sector struggles with professional development, and that all-too-common excuse, “we just don’t have the resources.” (Spoiler: the call is coming from inside the house.)
Along the way, we dive into —
Why the nonprofit sector needs to look beyond itself for...2025-02-2331 min
Nonprofit Nation with Julia CampbellHow to Boost Philanthropy Through Servant-Leadership with Evan WildsteinWe know that nonprofits do amazing work. Every single day, they deliver life-changing programs, research, and more to impact communities, regions, and the world. Philanthropy supercharges nonprofits to go forward — but it’s often about more than money. It’s about trust. It’s about storytelling. It’s about big relationships. It’s about doing the right thing. It’s about meaningful conversations. The concept of servant-leadership inspires all this and more - and that is the focus of a new book on philanthropy, The Nonprofiteer’s Field Guide: 30 Practical Ways to Boost Philanthropy Through Servant-leadership. My gue...2024-03-0641 min
We Are For Good Podcast - The Podcast for Nonprofits506. 9 Nonprofit Trends That Matter in 2024: Retention is an inside job. - Jon McCoy, Becky Endicott, Evan Wildstein, and Michelle Flores VrynWelcome back to week three of our 9️⃣ Nonprofit Trends that Matter in 2024 Series! It’s time to name the elephant in the room: Retention. But we aren’t just talking about retaining our donors - the greatest retention issue that isn’t talked about enough is the retention of our nonprofit staff. For a sector built on relationships, we have to build a culture that creates retention from the inside out. After all, if our staff isn’t compelled to stay, why should our donors? 🤔Joining us to delve into this critical trend are two seasoned in-house nonprofit leaders, Evan Wilstein and...2024-01-3146 min
Nonprofit Leadership PodcastIs Servant Leadership Making A Comeback?What is the first thing that you think about when you hear the term, “servant leadership?” While this term isn’t very popular anymore, the essence of being a servant leader is precisely what most nonprofit leaders aspire to be. Today’s guest, Evan Wildstein breaks down what this term means and what it practically looks like to apply servant leadership to everyday situations. Rob’s guest is…
Source2023-12-1734 minNonprofit Lowdown#261 - Servant Leadership + Fundraising with Evan Wildstein🎤 Why be a hero when you can be a guide? 🧭
On this episode of Nonprofit Lowdown, we’re chatting with author/fundraiser Evan Wildstein as he dishes on servant leadership - how embracing empathy, community, and self-growth can transform nonprofit fundraising. 🙌
Servant leadership isn't about being a martyr (hard pass). It's about mindset shifts from "me" to "we."
Evan shares out-of-the-box tips like recording yourself to improve listening skills. 🎧 He explores healthy boundaries and psychological safety so teams can have real talks on topics like equitable hiring.
Tune in to find out why mindse...2023-11-0640 min
What the FundraisingTransforming Nonprofits through Servant Leadership with Evan WildsteinMeet Evan Wildstein, a dynamic figure in the nonprofit sector with two decades of experience under his belt. A rock musician at heart, Evan transitioned from captivating audiences on stage to creating meaningful relationships in the philanthropic world. His well-rounded background in business management coupled with a strong passion for arts and public programs gives him a unique perspective in servant leadership. What sets Evan apart is his ongoing quest to redefine servant leadership – moving away from the old paradigm of selflessness and sacrifice, towards a focus on community building and self-growth. In this episode, Evan and I talk ab...2023-09-2646 min
Go Beyond Fundraising: The Podcast for NonprofitsHow Servant-Leadership Can Boost PhilanthropyMore than 50 years ago, Robert Greenleaf broke ground with his concept of servant leadership. And while this idea is still relevant today, we believe it’s more than putting others first. In fact, author and self-proclaimed nonprofiteer Evan Wildstein says that by hyphenating the term, you become both — a servant and a leader. And that’s where the magic happens.
In this episode of the Go Beyond Fundraising podcast, we talk with Wildstein about his new book, “The Nonprofiteer’s Fundraising Field Guide.” He outlines the 10 traits of a servant-leader that Greenleaf introduced and proposes a new way of looking at them that...2023-09-0648 min
Nonprofit Hub RadioEvan Wildstein - The Power of Servant Leadership in FundraisingSend us a textIn this Nonprofit Hub Radio episode, host Delaney Mullennix interviews Evan Wildstein, author of The Nonprofiteer's Fundraising Field Guide.Nonprofit Servant Leadership principles hold the key to supercharging your nonprofit's fundraising and impact.Support the showGet free nonprofit professional development resources, connections to cause work peers, and more at https://nonprofithub.org2023-08-2541 min
The Build Good Fundraising Podcast#82: These core principles of servant leadership can make your fundraising more effective, with Evan WildsteinSend us a textCan the way you lead internally make your fundraising more effective? On today’s podcast, we chat with Evan Wildstein about 10 core behaviours of servant leaders—and how they might just improve the way you fundraise.Behaviours like listening, empathy, healing, building community, and much more. We’ll also get into some super practical ways to activate servant-leadership in your own shop to boost philanthropy.For 20 years, Evan has been a nonprofiteer, raising funds and developing inspiring programs for organizations like The Juilliard School, Rice University, and Asia So...2023-07-2652 min
The Influential NonprofitEvan Wildstein: Servant Leadership In NonprofitsEvan Wildstein is a nonprofiteer with over 20 years of experience in fundraising and strategy. Throughout his career, Evan has worked with organizations like The Juilliard School, Asia Society, Rice University, and Houston Grand Opera to raise funds and develop innovative programs. He is passionate about the intersection of philanthropy, creativity, and learning, and has dedicated his career to supporting initiatives that build stronger communities.In addition to his work in social impact, Evan has coached organizations on board development and talent growth, commissioned operas, and produced educational programs. He is a native of New York and currently...2023-06-0838 min
We Are For Good Podcast - The Podcast for Nonprofits433. Your Fundraising Field Guide: 10 Core Behaviors of Servant-Leaders - Evan WildsteinMeet Evan. He’s a nonprofiteer, musician, seasoned fundraising professional, new dad, We Are For Good rabid fan, and oh yeah, he just published a new book called “The Nonprofiteer’s Fundraising Field Guide”🎉 If you’re curious about evolved servant leadership and how it plays into building vibrant cultures, communities and (bonus!) yourself - this is your episode. He’s passionate about the intersection of philanthropy, creativity, and learning, and has dedicated his career to supporting initiatives that build stronger communities. He’s giving us a sneak peek into the book by breaking down the 10 core behaviors of servant-leaders...2023-06-0742 min
Agents of NonprofitUnleash Your Fundraising Superpowers: The Nonprofiteer's Field Guide to Philanthropic SuccessIn the dynamic realm of fundraising, are you ready to unlock your potential as an agent of change? Join us on Episode 64 of Agents of Nonprofit as we delve into the captivating world of Evan Wildstein's groundbreaking book, "The Nonprofiteer's Fundraising Field Guide." Prepare to be empowered with a modern approach to philanthropic success that will elevate your impact to new heights.In this riveting episode, Evan Wildstein, a seasoned expert in the non-profit sector, unveils the secrets to becoming a better servant-leader. Discover how to forge deep connections with donors, foster a culture of impactful philanthropy...2023-05-2946 min
The Development Download PodcastVirtual Events with Evan Wildstein from The Kinder Institute for Urban ResearchOn this episode of the Development Download Podcast, we have a conversation with Evan Wildstein on how his organization has refashioned their larger gatherings into virtual events. Evan shares advice and insight on planning for the months ahead and how to utilize your resources to maximize results. Special appreciation to Josh Plumley for spearheading this interview. For more information about our guest and for more resources, please visit https://www.afphouston.org/page/podcast. Connect with us: afpghcpodcast@gmail.com2020-08-0732 min
The Development Download PodcastVirtual Events with Evan Wildstein from The Kinder Institute for Urban ResearchOn this episode of the Development Download Podcast, we have a conversation with Evan Wildstein on how his organization has refashioned their larger gatherings into virtual events. Evan shares advice and insight on planning for the months ahead and how to utilize your resources to maximize results. Special appreciation to Josh Plumley for spearheading this interview. For more information about our guest and for more resources, please visit https://www.afphouston.org/page/podcast. Connect with us: afpghcpodcast@gmail.com2020-08-0700 min