The Nonprofit Insider Podcast

Hosted by Swim Karim

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Nov 2026

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Welcome to The Nonprofit Insider Podcast with your host Swim Karim.

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60 recent

November 3, 202627 min

Top 5 Most Overrated Parts of Working at a Nonprofit

We talk a lot about the challenges of nonprofit work—but there are some parts of the sector that are simply overrated. In this episode of The Nonprofit Insider Podcast , I break down my Top 5 Most Overrated Parts of Working at a Nonprofit , including: 5. The Flat Hierarchy Structure — Your organization can practice a flat hierarchy, but don't be surprised when your success is limited in today's modern times. 4. Conflict Avoidance in the Sector — Does conflict happen in the nonprofit sector? Absolutely. But let's be honest, we tend to avoid conflict a lot more in the nonprofit than in the for-profit world. 3. Being a Jack-of-all-Trades — You can learn many skills in the nonprofit sector, but so often you may not end up being a true master of one 2. Family-Run Nonprofits — Power trips are a real thing in the nonprofit space; family-run nonprofits can be even worse than you realize. That's before you add in nepotism and the glass ceiling that may exist. 1. The Mission — The thing that brought many of us into the nonprofit sector in the first place—and why it can still be one of the most overrated parts of the job. Five things that don't always get the attention they deserve—but absolutely should. Listen to the episode wherever you get your podcasts. Listen to this episode on Apple here: https://bit.ly/Ep85TheNonprofitInsiderPodcastApple Listen to this episode on Spotify here: https://bit.ly/Ep85TheNonprofitInsiderPodcastSpotify Be sure to visit episode sponsor Bay Business Group here: https://bay-biz.com/ Bay Business Group for nonprofits here: https://bay-biz.com/non-profits/#

October 14, 202647 min

Karen Houghton on Nonprofit Money Management, Wealth, Power, and if the Uber Rich Control the Nonprofit Sector

If there is anyone that knows the in's and out's of nonprofit money, it Karen Houghton. In the first five minutes of the interview I asked Karen if the super rich behind the wheel of the nonprofit sector and her answers did not disappoint. Karen Houghton is not new to the nonprofit world. Her background as a volunteer, ministry member and community leader lead her to starting a 501(c)3 organization before burn out had her course correcting. Karen would later dive into the world of venture capital and that's where the embers of Infinite Giving, a financial technology and Registered Investment Advisory firm serving nonprofits nationwide, began to take shape. As a fiduciary investment advisor, she partners with executive leaders, CFOs, and boards to design disciplined financial strategies that strengthen reserves, guide endowment growth, and align investment policy with mission objectives. Under her leadership, Infinite Giving has been recognized by Fast Company for World Changing Software and by the State of Georgia as one of its Top 40 Most Innovative Companies. Karen has received the Women in Technology Woman of the Year Award, the Atlanta Technology Professionals Impact Award, and Berry College’s Distinguished Alumni Entrepreneurial Spirit Award, and was named one of Salesforce’s 10 Business Women Who Inspire. But, what are the actual conversation Karen is having with nonprofit leaders from coast-to-coast. Listen to episode 85 of The Nonprofit Insider Podcast to found out. Learn more about Karen here: https://www.infinitegiving.com/blog/meet-our-founder-and-ceo-karen-houghton Learn more about Infinite Giving and how your nonprofit can work with them here: https://www.infinitegiving.com/ Listen to the episode wherever you get your podcasts. Listen to this episode on Apple here: https://bit.ly/Ep85TheNonprofitInsiderPodcastApple Listen to this episode on Spotify here: https://bit.ly/Ep85TheNonprofitInsiderPodcastSpotify Be sure to visit episode sponsor Bay Business Group here: https://bay-biz.com/ Bay Business Group for nonprofits here: https://bay-biz.com/non-profits/#

September 23, 202621 min

Top 5 Most Underrated Parts of Working at a Nonprofit

We talk a lot about the challenges of nonprofit work—but there are some parts of the sector that don't get nearly enough attention. In this episode of The Nonprofit Insider Podcast , I break down my Top 5 Most Underrated Parts of Working at a Nonprofit , including: 5. Leadership Is Even More Important Than You Think — Why leadership can shape virtually every part of your nonprofit experience. 4. HR Is Everywhere — Why Human Resources affects far more than hiring, firing, and employee handbooks. 3. Nonprofit Health Is Big Business — Health care is big business. And many of those businesses are nonprofits with big bank accounts 2. The Amount of Uber-Rich Organizations — There are some seriously wealthy nonprofits out there. And yes, we're talking about just how much money some organizations actually have. 1. The Mission — The thing that brought many of us into the nonprofit sector in the first place—and why it can still be one of the most underrated parts of the job. Five things that don't always get the attention they deserve—but absolutely should. Listen to the episode wherever you get your podcasts. Listen to this episode on Apple here: https://bit.ly/Ep84TheNonprofitInsiderPodcastApple Listen to this episode on Spotify here: https://bit.ly/Ep84TheNonprofitInsiderPodcastSpotify Be sure to visit episode sponsor Bay Business Group here: https://bay-biz.com/ Bay Business Group for nonprofits here: https://bay-biz.com/non-profits/#

September 1, 202628 min

9/11 Day: 25 Years in the Making

What does it mean to turn a day of unimaginable tragedy into a day of service? In my latest episode, I chat with David Paine, co-founder and president of 9/11 Day, as the organization prepares for the 25th anniversary of September 11. I asked David about the massive national service effort planned for this year's anniversary, why hunger relief has become such an important part of the organization's work, and how we can continue to make 9/11 meaningful for generations who weren't alive when the attacks happened. We also talk about the incredible partnerships behind 9/11 Day, what happens when the anniversary passes, and how the organization navigates the conspiracy theories that continue to surround the attacks. This was one of those conversations that left me thinking about the role nonprofits can play in turning remembrance into action. Listen to the episode wherever you get your podcasts. Listen to this episode on Apple here: https://bit.ly/Ep83TheNonprofitInsiderPodcastApple Listen to this episode on Spotify here: https://bit.ly/Ep83TheNonprofitInsiderPodcastSpotify Be sure to visit episode sponsor Bay Business Group here: https://bay-biz.com/ Bay Business Group for nonprofits here: https://bay-biz.com/non-profits/#

August 14, 202624 min

Executive Director Pay: A look at the L.A. nonprofit CEO paid $1.6 million over two years

Carol Adelkoff was paid $1.6 million over a two-year stretch serving as the CEO of Los Angles based nonprofit "1736 Family Crisis Center". But when you dive deeper into the numbers, you might start to focus more on the board of directors than the CEO herself. Plus, this brings up the age-old question of how much should nonprofit executive directors be paid. L.A. Times article by Audrey McGlinchy here: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-08-06/la-homeless-provider-has-paid-ceo-who-lives-in-hawaii-1-6-million-in-salary-vacation-over-two-years Listen to this episode on Apple here: https://bit.ly/Ep82TheNonprofitInsiderPodcastApple Listen to this episode on Spotify here: https://bit.ly/Ep82TheNonprofitInsiderPodcastSpotify

August 5, 202632 min

Jessica Cloud, CFRE: Fundraising, Consulting & Finding Clients on TikTok

She's been called the Tasmanian Devil of fundraising. In my latest episode of The Nonprofit Insider Podcast Summer Fundraising Series, I sit down with Jessica Cloud, CFRE, founder of Real Deal Fundraising, to talk about what it really takes to build a career as a fundraising consultant. I asked Jessica how she made the leap into consulting, what nonprofit leaders are actually looking for when they hire a consultant, and whether posting on TikTok every day can really turn into new clients. Plus, Jessica shares advice for nonprofit professionals thinking about becoming consultants themselves—and a #NonprofitHorrorStory that proves fundraising plans can go sideways. You can find Jessica on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcloudcfre/ Learn more about Jessica Cloud on her official website here: https://www.realdealfundraising.com/about.html And don't forget to check out Jessica on TikTok here: https://www.tiktok.com/@realdealfundraising?_r=1&_t=ZP-98Zf4tLGifG Listen to this episode on Apple here: https://bit.ly/Ep81TheNonprofitInsiderPodcastApple Listen to this episode on Spotify here: https://bit.ly/Ep81TheNonprofitInsiderPodcastSpotify

July 8, 202645 min

Amy Lavender: What 15 Years of Nonprofit Fundraising Leadership Teaches You

Imagine spending 15 years working for one nonprofit organization. Fifteen years of your time. Your energy. Your dedication. Now imagine having the chance to sit down with the version of yourself from Day One. What would you say? In my latest episode of The Nonprofit Insider Podcast Summer Fundraising Series , I sit down with Amy Lavender, Vice President of Development at Adelante Development Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. We discuss the advice she'd give her younger self, why building nonprofit partnerships is much harder than it looks, how the rising cost of groceries has changed donor conversations, and what it's like leading development efforts across multiple organizations. Listen to the episode on Apple here: https://bit.ly/Ep80TheNonprofitInsiderPodcastApple Listen to the episode on Spotify here: https://bit.ly/Ep80TheNonprofitInsiderPodcastSpotify And be sure to subscribe to us however you take in media: YouTube- https://bit.ly/TheNonprofitInsiderPodcast YouTube ShortsInstagram-bit.ly/TheNonprofitInsiderPodcast TikTok-https://bit.ly/TheNonprofitInsiderPodcastTikTok "Nonprofit Conversations Worth Having"

June 29, 202630 min

I Spent 55 Hours in D.C. for the Points of Light Conference. Was It Worth the Time and Money?

I spent 56 hours in Washington, D.C., attending the 2026 Points of Light Conference. Was it worth the investment? In this episode of The Nonprofit Insider Podcast , I take you inside my experience attending one of the nation's largest gatherings of nonprofit and volunteer leaders. I pull back the curtain on my experience, including the atmosphere inside the conference and the people I met along the way. I also break down exactly what it cost me to attend, as well as the three biggest lessons I discovered during my time in the nation's capital. Plus, I wrap up the episode by recognizing some of the incredible people who made the conference such a memorable experience.

June 18, 202638 min

Nicki Fiocco and Jerome Tennile: Volunteerism, National Service & America at 250

In this episode of The Nonprofit Insider Podcast, Swim sits down with volunteer engagement leaders Nicki Fiocco and Jerome Tennille for a conversation about service, volunteerism, and the future of civic engagement in America. As members of the 2026 Points of Light Conference Welcome Committee, Nicki and Jerome take listeners behind the scenes of the nation's largest volunteer-focused gathering and discuss what attendees can expect when the conference arrives in Washington, D.C. The conversation also explores the meaning of National Service, the role programs like AmeriCorps play in strengthening communities, and how volunteerism can look different depending on the people, places, and histories involved. Swim, Nicki, and Jerome also discuss the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States, the opportunities and challenges of using major cultural moments to inspire service, and why volunteer engagement cannot always be viewed through a purely corporate lens. And rather than ending with a traditional final question, Nicki and Jerome each take the floor to share what's currently on their minds—from the future of volunteerism to the challenges and opportunities facing the nonprofit sector today. Whether you're attending the 2026 Points of Light Conference or simply care about strengthening communities through service, this conversation offers thoughtful perspectives on where volunteer engagement is headed next. You can found The AmeriCorps Connections Podcast here: https://americorpsconnect.transistor.fm/ You can found The AmeriCorps Connections Podcast YouTube Channel Here: https://www.youtube.com/@americorpsconnections You can find Nicki on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicki-fiocco/ You can find Jerome on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdtennille/ Listen to the episode on Apple here: https://bit.ly/Ep78TheNonprofitinsiderpodcastApple Listen to the episode on Spotify here: https://bit.ly/Ep78TheNonprofitinsiderpodcastSpotify And be sure to subscribe to us however you take in media: YouTube- https://bit.ly/TheNonprofitInsiderPodcastYouTubeShorts Instagram- bit.ly/TheNonprofitInsiderPodcastInstagram TikTok- https://bit.ly/TheNonprofitInsiderPodcastTikTok

June 11, 202637 min

Megan Laks of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles

In our first "Summer Fundraiser Series", Swim sits down with Megan Laks of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angles. Megan is without a doubt one of my favorite people in the nonprofit space. In the episode she breaks down what fundraising actually looks like behind the scenes and why so many people misunderstand development work. Megan shares her journey into fundraising, from working with some of the nation’s largest nonprofit organizations to leading development efforts for one of the biggest cities in the world. Hear Megan break down the realities of modern fundraising, why development work is far more than galas and handshakes, and what nonprofit professionals need to understand about building meaningful donor relationships. Swim and Megan also explore fundraising careers, what new fundraisers should be doing early in their careers, and whether fundraising really is all about the famous “three R’s”: relationships, relationships, relationships. Plus, Megan shares a #NonprofitHorrorStory that reminds us nonprofit work rarely goes exactly according to plan, but how you can still land on your feet. You can find Megan on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meganmlaks/ You can learn more about Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles here: https://bbbsla.org/ Listen to the episode on Apple here: https://bit.ly/Ep77TheNonprofitinsiderpodcastApple Listen to the episode on Spotify here: https://bit.ly/Ep77TheNonprofitinsiderpodcastSpotify And be sure to subscribe to us however you take on media: YouTube- https://bit.ly/TheNonprofitInsiderPodcastYouTubeShorts Instagram- bit.ly/TheNonprofitInsiderPodcastInstagram TikTok- https://bit.ly/TheNonprofitInsiderPodcastTikTok