The Nonprofit Insider Podcast

Hosted by Swim Karim

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Jun 2026

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

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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/Ep77TheNonprofitinsiderpodcastAppleListen to the episode on Spotify here: https://bit.ly/Ep77TheNonprofitinsiderpodcastSpotifyAnd be sure to subscribe to us however you take on media:YouTube-https://bit.ly/TheNonprofitInsiderPodcastYouTubeShortsInstagram-bit.ly/TheNonprofitInsiderPodcastInstagramTikTok-https://bit.ly/TheNonprofitInsiderPodcastTikTok

June 3, 202623 min

EP 76-Anyone else burnt out & Why I'm changing my opinion on AI in the Nonprofit World

Burn Out in the nonprofit space is real...but the nonprofit space is not exclusively to blame.Plus, why the higher standards of the nonprofit space are causing the A.I. conversations to be so clunky.Listen to the episode on Apple here: https://bit.ly/Ep76TheNonprofitinsiderpodcastAppleListen to the episode on Spotify here: https://bit.ly/Ep76TheNonprofitinsiderpodcastSpotifyAnd be sure to subscribe to us however you take on media:YouTube-https://bit.ly/TheNonprofitInsiderPodcastYouTubeShortsInstagram-bit.ly/TheNonprofitInsiderPodcastInstagramTikTok-https://bit.ly/TheNonprofitInsiderPodcastTikTok

April 8, 202659 min

Knowing Your Worth (and Adding Tax), A Conversation with Severina Ware, CVA

In this episode of The Nonprofit Insider Podcast, Swim sits down with Severina Ware, a leader in people engagement and nonprofit strategy, for a conversation about ambition, intentionality, and career growth in the nonprofit space.Severina shares her perspective on what she’s seeing across the country when it comes to nonprofit professionals, and why volunteer leaders in particular may not be thinking big enough about their careers.Get Severina's insights into her journey navigating imposter syndrome and how being intentional in your professional is simply too big to ignore.Swim and Severina also discuss executive coaching, what to look for (and what to avoid), and how nonprofit professionals can position themselves for growth—even in markets where opportunities feel limited.And of course, we talk what it means to "Know your worth and add tax” in a sector that can have lots of fun spots and lots of struggle points.You can find Severina Ware here on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/severinaware/Listen to the episode on Apple here: https://bit.ly/Ep75TheNonprofitInsiderPodcastAppleListen to the episode on Spotify here: https://bit.ly/Ep75TheNonprofitInsiderPodcastSpotifyAnd be sure to subscribe to us however you take on media:YouTube-https://bit.ly/TheNonprofitInsiderPodcastYouTubeShortsInstagram-bit.ly/TheNonprofitInsiderPodcastInstagramTikTok-https://bit.ly/TheNonprofitInsiderPodcastTikTok

March 31, 202618 min

Cesar Chavez Ramifications, The Cost to Attend Points of Light Conference in D.C.

How the recent news regarding César Chavez shows us the risks (and rewards) of naming a nonprofit after a person.Plus, the annual Points of Light conference is happening in DC this year. I discuss the cost it will take for me to attend and why some people outside the United States are skipping the conference altogether.Listen to the episode on Apple here: https://bit.ly/Ep74TheNonprofitInsiderPodcastAppleListen to the episode on Spotify here: https://bit.ly/Ep74TheNonprofitInsiderPodcastSpotifyAnd be sure to subscribe to us however you take on media:YouTube-https://bit.ly/TheNonprofitInsiderPodcastYouTubeShortsInstagram-bit.ly/TheNonprofitInsiderPodcastInstagramTikTok-https://bit.ly/TheNonprofitInsiderPodcastTikTok

March 11, 202621 min

A Rant: Why I Hate State Lotteries (and the DC-Based Nonprofit on My Naughty List)

I hate the lottery. Let’s start there.The average American household spends $665 per year playing state-run lottery games. In fact, Americans spent $105.26 billion on lottery tickets last year alone, making the lottery the most popular form of gambling in the United States.In today’s episode, I talk about why I despise state-run lotteries, why states should stop running them altogether, and why governments should spend more time regulating—and taxing—private gambling enterprises instead of operating their own.Plus, I take aim at the broader reality of legalized gambling in America and explain why the National Council on Problem Gambling continues to deserve the criticism it receives. My reasonings are simple: When you are in bed, directly receiving money from the entities profiting from the gambling industry (i.e. the NFL, DraftKings, BetMGM, ESPN BET, Barstool Sportsbook), you are operating in a less-than-ideal fashion.Listen to the episode on Apple here: https://bit.ly/Ep73TheNonprofitInsiderPodcastAppleListen to the episode on Spotify here: https://bit.ly/Ep73TheNonprofitInsiderPodcastSpotifyAnd be sure to subscribe to us however you take on media:YouTube-https://bit.ly/TheNonprofitInsiderPodcastYouTubeShortsInstagram-bit.ly/TheNonprofitInsiderPodcastInstagramTikTok-https://bit.ly/TheNonprofitInsiderPodcastTikTok

February 4, 202645 min

Why Being “Nice” Isn’t Working Anymore for Nonprofits: A conversation with Amira Barger

AMIRA, AMIRA, AMIRA. The name is making waves in the nonprofit space. And her book is on fire.In this episode of The Nonprofit Insider Podcast, Swim sits down with Amira Barger, author of The Price of Nice: Why Comfort Keeps Us Stuck and 4 Actions for Real Change.Amira shares what she’s hearing from nonprofit professionals across the country, the emotional weight many people are carrying right now, and the moment she knew this book needed to be written. Together, Swim and Amira explore how niceness often shows up as compliance, avoidance, and fear—especially in times of political uncertainty and sector-wide change.The conversation also tackles nonprofit burnout, communication breakdowns, and why “being nice” can erode dignity, humanity, and organizational effectiveness.This episode is thoughtful, challenging, and necessary listening for nonprofit leaders, HR professionals, fundraisers, and anyone feeling stuck between comfort and courage.Listen on Apple Podcast here: https://bit.ly/Ep72TheNonprofitInsiderPodcastAppleListen on Spotify here: https://bit.ly/Ep72TheNonprofitInsiderPodcastSpotifyLearn more about Amira Barger here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amirabarger/Pick up the book here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/800343/the-price-of-nice-by-amira-barger/

January 14, 202649 min

Episode 70 — Kicking Off 2026 with Sara Keller (Nusenda Credit Union Foundation)

Episode 71: Kicking Off 2026 with Sara Keller (Nusenda Credit Union Foundation)We’re kicking off 2026 with a powerful conversation about philanthropy, leadership, and community impact.In this episode of The Nonprofit Insider Podcast, Swim sits down with Sara Keller, Executive Director of the Nusenda Credit Union Foundation, to explore how New Mexico’s largest credit union has spent the past decade investing deeply in communities across the region.Sara shares her personal journey from nonprofit work in Eastern New Mexico to leading one of the most influential credit union foundations in the Southwest. Along the way, she offers three pieces of advice every nonprofit leader should hear, rooted in humility, service, and a genuine love of community.The conversation also goes behind the scenes of grantmaking at scale. Sara walks listeners through how the Nusenda Foundation distributed $1 million in grants in 2025, what it really takes to review more than 400 grant applications, and how her team approaches relationships with nonprofit partners—even when funding decisions are difficult.Swim and Sara also discuss the Foundation’s Community Rewards® program, a unique way Nusenda members can support local nonprofits simply by using their debit card.Learn how everyday transactions can translate into real dollars for organizations doing critical work in New Mexico and beyond.🔗 Learn more about the Community Rewards® program: https://www.nusenda.org/foundation/community-rewardsListen on Apple Podcast here: https://bit.ly/Ep71TheNonprofitInsiderPodcastAppleListen on Spotify here: https://bit.ly/Ep71TheNonprofitInsiderPodcastSpotify

November 5, 202559 min

Faiza Venzant on the State of Nonprofits, DEI, Managing Volunteers and Why Everyone Can Win

Faiza Venzant, CVA, Executive Director of the Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration (CCVA) and Principal Investigator with the Assessing Diversity and Equity in Volunteer Inclusion project.With over 25 years of leadership experience in volunteer engagement, Faiza brings both a global and deeply personal perspective to the nonprofit sector.In one of the final interviews of the year, Faiza sits down with Swim to get her perspective of the state of nonprofits in Canada and the U.S., the wave of layoffs across the sector, and the question that never seems to go away: Are volunteer administrators truly being valued?Faiza even gets candid about what she doesn’t like seeing in the nonprofit space right now, why DEI is not dead, what keeps her up at night as an Executive Director, and why she wants to see everyone win.Whether you lead volunteers, fund programs, or are just passionate about community impact, this is an episode you’ll want to hear.Key Topics:The current state of nonprofits in North AmericaWhy layoffs are hitting the sector so hardThe respect (and reality) of volunteer management rolesBalancing identity between the personal and professionalIs DEI dead?What keeps nonprofit leaders awake at nightReal-world advice for emerging nonprofit leadersMore about Faiza Venzant, CVA. Faiza Venzant is the Executive Director of the Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration.With 25 years of leadership in volunteer engagement, Faiza has been recognized for excellence with numerous awards, including the 2022 June Callwood Outstanding Achievement Award for Voluntarism. She’s also a published author and passionate advocate for improving equity, access, and representation across volunteer leadership.Learn more at www.cvacert.orgLearn about Faiza and her team here: https://cvacert.org/our-team/

October 22, 20251 hr 4 min

Nonprofit Consulting in the Year 2025: A Conversation with Dana Litwin, CVA

In this episode, Swim sits down with Dana Litwin, CVA, an internationally recognized consultant and speaker, to talk candidly about the current state of nonprofits in America. Dana brings her trademark honesty and humor to a conversation that touches on layoffs, financial pressures, and what she’s hearing from nonprofit leaders across the country.Dana also dives into the growing “second job” phenomenon among nonprofit professionals, the realities of running a consulting business in 2025, and how organizations are rethinking volunteer engagement. Whether you’re inside the sector or eyeing a leap into consulting yourself, this episode offers both perspective and practical advice.And of course — Dana wraps things up with a #NonprofitHorrorStory you won’t want to miss.Topics Include:Dana's 2025 nonprofit State of the Union reflectionWhat layoffs and “#OpenToWork” trends say about the sector’s healthWhy side hustles are becoming survival toolsThe art (and grind) of consulting for impactDana’s advice for aspiring consultants and future leadersReady to connect with Dana?Visit her website right here: https://www.danalitwinconsulting.com/Learn more about Dana's background here: https://www.danalitwinconsulting.com/aboutListen to the interview I did with Dana here on her YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/-YZtS0FJsxY?si=e5MlArSAJIy4_hESLearn more about GLAZA, the nonprofit Dana discussed in the episode here: https://www.yahoo.com/news/inside-l-zoos-messy-50-100000216.htmlListen now:🎧 Apple--https://bit.ly/TheNonprofitInsiderPodcastApple🎧 Spotify--https://bit.ly/TheNonprofitInsiderPodcastSpotifyYouTube-https://bit.ly/TheNonprofitInsiderPodcastYouTubeShortsInstagram-bit.ly/TheNonprofitInsiderPodcastInstagramTikTok-https://bit.ly/TheNonprofitInsiderPodcastTikTok#NonprofitInsiderPodcast #AdaptiveSports #InclusiveRecreation #NonprofitLeadership #OutdoorAccess #CommunityImpact**************************************Be sure to visit today's sponsor, JPP Consulting at www.LearnwithJPP.com/Coaching.My friend Jessica Pang-Parks is giving 10% off to all nonprofits and nonprofit leaders who sign up using the code "InsiderPod". Is your nonprofit ready to take the next leap? Not if you don't have Jessica!

September 11, 202515 min

Second Jobs and Side Hustles in the Nonprofit Space

Episode 68: Nonprofit Wage Penalty, Side Hustles & Second JobsHave you ever had a second job while working at a nonprofit? You and me both. In 2017, 19% of Americans had two or more jobs during the year. That number has more than doubled in the eight years since. And a growing number of workers are taking on side hustles to bring in extra cash or separate themselves in an ever-competitive market.In my latest episode of The Nonprofit Insider Podcast, I break down the phenomenon of nonprofit workers having second jobs & side hustles, and why organizations should reconsider their stance on a little-known secret within our sector.Listen to the episode on Apple here: https://bit.ly/Ep68theNonprofitInsiderPodcastAppleListen to the episode on Spotify here: https://bit.ly/Ep68theNonprofitInsiderPodcastSpotifyAnd be sure to subscribe to us however you take on media:YouTube-https://bit.ly/TheNonprofitInsiderPodcastYouTubeShortsInstagram-bit.ly/TheNonprofitInsiderPodcastInstagramTikTok-https://bit.ly/TheNonprofitInsiderPodcastTikTok