Future Nonprofit

Hosted by Historic Agency

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Jun 2026

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About the show

Join Ted Vaughn, co-founding Partner of Historic, award-winning author, and social entrepreneur, as he uncovers bold strategies and best practices from top nonprofits and social-impact businesses. Hear personal stories and hot takes from inspiring guests navigating the path to a more innovative and impactful future for nonprofit organizations. Future Nonprofit has been featured in Forbes and is a Webby Awards honoree. In each episode, we explore all things innovation to amplify the future of nonprofit impact, discover best practices from top nonprofits and social-impact businesses, and explore daring ways to think about and solve your organization's big problems. Watch the full interviews at futurenonprofit.com or on YouTube --

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50 recent

June 3, 202634 min

Melissa Russell on Scaling Innovation, Culture, & Team Alignment (charity: water)

“When you make the transition from operator to leader, you have to be intentional about how you’re defining success.”—Melissa RussellWhat does it actually take to scale a nonprofit without losing culture or clarity along the way?There’s no one better to show us the way than Melissa Russell. Melissa carries a wealth of nonprofit leadership experience as the current President of charity: water and former President of International Justice Mission (IJM), where she’s strengthened clarity and culture through seasons of growth and created environments where both results and people matter.Charity: water is an incredible organization. Not only have they funded over 186,000 water projects in 29 countries, but their innovation to engage donors in seeing exactly where their donation goes is second to none.In this conversation, you’ll hear how Melissa found her way into nonprofit leadership (or rather, how it found her), along with what she’s learned in such high-level roles about leadership, vision-casting, culture, and innovation.Listen in!Find links to resources mentioned and key takeaways in the show notes for this episode: https://www.futurenonprofit.com/melissa-russell

May 7, 202625 min

PART 2 | Ben Webb on the Most Effective Approach to Nonprofit Marketing (International Justice Mission)

“Much of what I've encountered throughout my career is people building a campaign to keep the organization happy versus meeting a clear, objective goal.” –Ben Webb(Did you miss Part 1? You can find it here.)Which department is accountable for a nonprofit’s revenue?If you said fundraising, you’d be with the majority. But according to Ben Webb, CMO of International Justice Mission (IJM), you’d only be partly right.Ben believes that when we view marketing as a revenue partner, marketing becomes a powerful culture builder—capable of amassing valuable insights, building trust between teams, upholding organizational excellence, and transforming the hearts of donors.And in this conversation, he shares the exact process they use to accomplish that at IJM.After this special marketing-focused episode, you’ll walk away with a reframe on storytelling in nonprofit marketing, an understanding of how to combat the “nothing’s working” challenge of nonprofit marketing today, and why accountability to results is such an opportunity on nonprofit teams today.Find links to resources mentioned and key takeaways in the show notes for this episode: https://www.futurenonprofit.com/ben-webb-part-2/

April 1, 202632 min

PART 1 | Ben Webb on Leading Without Losing the Mission (International Justice Mission)

As a leader, facing distractions is part of the job.Ben Webb, CMO of International Justice Mission (IJM), is committed to finding what he calls “sandcastles” in leadership—the areas we put our energy that just wash away without moving us closer to the ultimate outcome. Through his approach to marketing, he’s helping build an entire culture at IJM of stronger cross-department collaboration, communication, and innovation.If you’re not familiar, IJM works globally to build a future where children and families are safe from violence and slavery, including human trafficking.In this episode, Ben shares why compassion (not just for others, but also for yourself!) makes all the difference as a people leader, how inheriting a computer business started his unlikely journey towards nonprofit work, and how organizations let their focus drift from the ultimate mission as they grow.Ben is a mission-minded leader with a ton of heart, and I can’t wait to hear what you take away from his story.Find links to resources mentioned and key takeaways in the show notes for this episode: https://www.futurenonprofit.com/ben-webb-part-1/

March 18, 202638 min

Battling Burnout Through Life-Affirming Systems (Rachel Currie Triska, VolunteerNow)

“If you have one person in burnout, you can't address it by dealing directly with the symptoms of that person. It's the system that's making people burnout, not individuals.”Rachel Currie Triska learned the hard way that driving at full speed eventually burns out the engine.As a CEO, founder, and social change leader, Rachel’s default is high performance. But when burnout brought collapse, she was forced to build a new system: one where restoration is a prerequisite to performance.At VolunteerNow, she’s uncovering how to make restoration a foundational part of their culture, so community members, volunteers, and nonprofit operators thrive and transform all at once.In this episode, Rachel shares:What severe burnout actually looked like at the height of her leadership roleHow she maintains a life-affirming culture at VolunteerNow™Why leaders need to be honest about nationwide economic constraints for nonprofitsFind links to resources mentioned and key takeaways in the show notes for this episode: https://www.futurenonprofit.com/rachel-currie-triska/

February 27, 202635 min

What Nonprofits Risk When Focusing Only on Short-Term ROI (with Jaclyn Jones)

“I don't think there’s a generosity crisis. What I think we're seeing is less about the heart of people and more about the struggles people are going through right now.” –Jaclyn JonesOngoing retention decline has nonprofits chasing quick wins and short-term ROI. But when you believe without question that humans are generous like Jaclyn Jones, you play the long game.As the Chief Philanthropic Economist at Masterworks, Jaclyn is exposed daily to the economic trends behind giving. But in the face of downward trends, she doesn’t panic. She pivots. Jaclyn believes that sustainable giving is hidden behind short-term ROI numbers. And as nonprofits, it's our job to create the conditions, and build the relationships, that reveal it. In this episode, Jaclyn shares:How to look beyond immediate ROI numbers when analyzing retention and other success metricsWhy she thinks today’s economic trends actually disprove a “generosity crisis” in nonprofit givingHow to innovate your channel strategy to connect with donors in ways that are actually meaningful to themFind links to resources mentioned and key takeaways in the show notes for this episode: https://www.futurenonprofit.com/jaclyn-jones/

February 13, 202633 min

Feeding Community: Dan Zauderer on Multiplying Meals, Connection, & Impact in New York City

“We're tackling the crisis of food insecurity, but we're also tackling this epidemic of disconnection. And we're building bridges and building connections that people are just craving right now.” –Dan ZaudererWhat if joy fed more than just the soul? What if it could fill a parking lot with a hundred volunteers, rescue pallets of unpurchased food, and drive it city-wide to families in need?It’s no fantasy. In the Bronx and Greater New York City, it’s happening.For Grassroots Grocery founder Dan Zauderer, what started as a single community refrigerator has exploded into a celebration of neighbors helping neighbors, full of genuine fun, memories shared, and countless families fed.What he’s found? The joy just keeps on growing.In this episode, Dan shares:The serendipitous makings of Grassroots Grocery and its growth from a single community refrigerator to a thriving nonprofitWhy he thinks joy and connection are the reason for his volunteer waitlistHow he uses technology to create a more human experienceWhat he’s learning about boundaries and growth in mutual aid leadershipFind links to resources mentioned and key takeaways in the show notes for this episode: https://www.futurenonprofit.com/dan-zauderer/*This episode includes a clip from an interview originally aired on the TODAY Show. That content is the property of NBCUniversal Media, LLC and is used here for informational purposes only. For the full segment, click here.

February 5, 202638 min

Building a Memorable Brand: Jim Moriarty on Why Attention, Trust, & Competency Matter More Than Ever

“I do not believe that nonprofits live in a separate world. I believe that they live in the same world [as every other brand].” –Jim MoriartyNonprofits aren’t operating in a separate marketplace than for-profits. They’re competing for the same attention, trust, and loyalty as every other brand.Jim Moriarty, brand strategist and former CEO of the Surfrider Foundation, believes this is the case—positing that both sectors are after the same consumer attention, and that both are doing real good in the world.With vast experience in both sectors, Jim thinks nonprofits can learn a thing or two from for-profit brands about evaluating performance, building trust, and clarifying your mission.In this episode, Jim shares:Why the lines are blurry between for-profits and nonprofits for consumersWhy Nike’s mission to make sports accessible to all is actually a core part of their modelWhat nonprofits can learn from brands about building consumer trust and competency in delivering on their promiseHow a clear narrative, real-world activation, and constant feedback can accelerate momentumFind links to resources mentioned and key takeaways in the show notes for this episode: https://www.futurenonprofit.com/jim-moriarty/

December 10, 202530 min

Succession, Legacy, & the Next Generation: A Conversation with Steve Woodworth

Many leaders build for today. Strategic leaders build for tomorrow.Steve Woodworth is one of those rare leaders who’s spent his life focused on legacy—measuring success not just by what happens during his time, but by what’s made possible for those who come after.“Did I set the organization up for the next generation to do even more than what we've done in my generation of leadership?”—Steve WoodworthSteve is a longtime leader in faith-based nonprofit marketing and organizational development. From early innovation at World Vision to building Masterworks, he has spent his career helping nonprofits create deep, meaningful, and sustainable impact. Most recently, he is also the author of Lost in Transition: Lessons from the Most Disastrous and Successful Ministry Successions.Today, Steve is navigating a pivotal succession at Masterworks, gradually moving from his position as CEO to an advisory role.In this conversation, he shares:Timeless principles for nonprofit marketing (many of which he learned while running cable TV programs for World Vision in the ‘80s!)How he’s navigated a years-long succession process in MasterworksWhy a “toe in the water” testing method is strategic for nonprofitsHow he schedules time for mentorship of his teamSteve is a leader with decades of wisdom to share around leadership and innovation. I (Ted) was honored to hear a portion of that wisdom in this episode.Find links to resources mentioned and key takeaways in the show notes for this episode: www.futurenonprofit.com/steve-woodworth

October 29, 202531 min

Putting Trafficking Out of Business: Jeremy Vallerand on Building a Global Anti-Trafficking Network

How do you fight global sex trafficking? With a global solution. Jeremy Vallerand (Atlas Free) shows how networked partnerships, not duplication, drive faster, measurable impact against exploitation.Jeremy founded Atlas Free to strengthen what already works: resourcing effective local partners instead of reinventing programs. Today, Atlas Free supports a global network focused on ending sexual exploitation and meeting urgent needs.In this episode, Jeremy shares:His unexpected road to founding Atlas FreeHow to utilize a network approach to leadershipAnd his challenging take on doing justice with mercyJeremy offers a new nonprofit model built on collaboration, showing us how building strong partnerships and treating others with dignity can lead to sustainable, collective change. Jeremy’s contagious conviction will challenge your thinking about mercy, fuel your own passion for justice, and give you a new perspective on how we bring change to the world.Find links to resources mentioned and key takeaways in the show notes for this episode: www.futurenonprofit.com/jeremy-vallerand

October 16, 202533 min

Building a Relational Nonprofit Model: How Alan Graham is Mobilizing Austin, TX to Support Their Houseless Neighbors

“What we're trying to do is build a forged family for people that have been despised, outcast, lost and forgotten, and pushed to the furthest fringes of society.”—Alan GrahamBefore you truly see an issue, you only know part of the story. But once you develop empathy for the people it affects, you can’t unsee its importance.That’s what happened for Alan Graham, who has now dedicated nearly three decades of his life to supporting his houseless neighbors in Austin, TX.Alan is the Founder & CEO of Mobile Loaves and Fishes, a Christian nonprofit that has been empowering their community into a lifestyle of service since 1998. In that time, they’ve served over 6.5 million meals and helped more than 470 neighbors move from the streets into permanent homes.In this episode, Alan shares:His personal journey of faith that led him to start Mobile Loaves and FishesWhy we should have compassion for those who find themselves without supportThe value in heart-to-heart solutionsAnd why nonprofits should stick with new initiatives longer than we often doFor Alan, the purpose of his life and the work he’s dedicated to is quite simple: To love God and love his neighbor. This conversation will bring you right back to the roots of your own work, reminding you of the simple truths that truly fuel your vision. Listen in!Find links to resources mentioned and key takeaways in the show notes for this episode: www.futurenonprofit.com/alan-graham