Meet Eliza Blank, the new CEO of The Farmlink Project 👋 We’re exploring what happens when a founder-CEO mindset collides with one of the most urgent food systems problems of our time.

Eliza bootstrapped and scaled The Sill from a single idea to 12 stores across seven markets and $25M raised. Now she's applying that same startup lens to Farmlink, which rescues and redistributes over a million pounds of food every week.

In this episode, you'll hear:

• Why Eliza's team talks about their own obsolescence every day, and what that mindset unlocks for mission-driven orgs
• Why growth for growth's sake is a red flag, and how Farmlink thinks about scale vs. depth instead
• How to build a community of fanatics around a cause most people don't even know exists yet

Episode Highlights:

• From The Sill to Farmlink: Eliza's origin story (3:22)
• What the startup model has to teach the nonprofit sector (6:14)
• Brand building and community as a growth strategy (9:16)
• Scale vs. depth: why Farmlink talks about its own obsolescence (13:19)
• The Field Fellowship: investing in the next generation of food systems leaders (16:41)
• One Good Thing: pick a lane and compound it over a lifetime (26:01)

Resources Mentioned:

• The Farmlink Project
• Abundance
• God's Love We Deliver

Full Episode Landing Page: https://www.weareforgood.com/episode/694

//

Join the We Are For Good Community—completely free.
Join fellow changemakers, share takeaways from this working session, and keep collaborating in a space built for connection, inspiration, and real impact: www.weareforgoodcommunity.com

Say hi 👋
LinkedIn / Instagram / Facebook / YouTube / Twitter

In today's episode, Jon and Becky sit down with Afdhel Aziz, founder of Good is the New Cool, to unpack why the way most nonprofits tell their story is quietly killing their impact, and what the new playbook looks like.

Afdhel has spent 30+ years advising brands like Disney, Coca-Cola, Gap, and Adidas on purpose-driven storytelling. But his most urgent work right now is closing the hope gap - a measurable 27% chasm between hope and despair in society, tracked by Yale. He believes nonprofits sit at the center of the solution. And he's here to show you exactly how to get there. 🩵

In this episode, you'll hear:

• The Yale data behind the 27% hope gap and a reframe for your whole team
• A three-step storytelling playbook that any org can put to work immediately
• How to reach the 90% of people who want to help but don't know where to start (hint: it's not another heavy documentary)

Episode Highlights:

• Afdhel's origin story: From Sri Lanka to 30 years of brand storytelling (3:08)
• Why "Good is the New Cool" - and why that message is more urgent than ever (5:01)
• The 27% Hope Gap: What Yale's data tells us about where society is right now (6:53)
• The 90/10 problem in nonprofit storytelling - and the shift that changes everything (12:57)
• The Solutionaries: What impact storytelling can learn from Hollywood (19:09)
• Activists vs. advocates + the three-step playbook: Hope → Wonder → Courageous Action (24:33)
• Afdhel's One Good Thing: The top regret of the dying — and why authenticity is Afdhel's answer (32:41)

Resources Mentioned:

• Explore Afdhel's work and connect
• Choose Love
• The Solutionaries
• "Hope at Work" by Barbara Perry + Harry Hudson
• "The Book of Hope" by Jane Goodall
• "The Top Five Regrets of the Dying" by Bronnie Ware

Full Episode Landing Page: www.weareforgood.com/episode/693

//

Join the We Are For Good Community—completely free.
Join fellow changemakers, share takeaways from this working session, and keep collaborating in a space built for connection, inspiration, and real impact: www.weareforgoodcommunity.com

Say hi 👋
LinkedIn / Instagram / Facebook / YouTube / Twitter

In this Working Session, Jon and Becky are joined by digital strategist Josh Burns to rethink how nonprofits approach online giving — moving beyond quick wins and into strategies that actually build momentum. Together, they explore why so many organizations feel stuck growing digital revenue and how a shift toward relationship-first thinking can unlock more sustainable, long-term results.

From understanding the “digital donor gap” to building a simple growth framework rooted in human behavior, you’ll learn how to align your digital presence with real-world connection — and turn passive audiences into engaged, giving communities.

Top 3 Takeaways:

• Online Giving Starts With Human Connection — Not Conversion: Digital channels may be the medium, but people are the mission. Learn how to ground your strategy in empathy, proximity, and real relationships so your messaging resonates beyond the screen and inspires meaningful action.
• Use a Simple Growth Framework to Guide Strategy: Break down your digital ecosystem into three key stages — awareness, consideration, and action — and understand how each channel (social, website, email) plays a role in moving supporters toward deeper engagement and giving.
• Play the Long Game With Story + Community: From email nurture to community-building spaces, discover how consistent storytelling and intentional engagement create the trust that leads to higher conversion over time — not just one-off gifts.

This episode is packed with practical, low-lift ways to strengthen your digital presence — whether you’re just getting started with email, refining your storytelling, or rethinking how you engage donors online.

Welcome back to Working Sessions: hands-on, clarity-filled conversations designed to help you move real work forward inside your organization.

Let’s get to work.

Episode Highlights:

• Understanding the “Digital Donor Gap” (04:47)
• Why Data + Humanity Must Work Together (06:52)
• Digital Should Drive Real-World Action (07:27)
• Breaking Silos: Learning From Programs + Donors (10:30)
• The Feel–Know–Do Storytelling Framework (13:19)
• The Digital Growth Framework: Awareness → Action (14:47)
• First-Party Data + Building Direct Relationships (18:10)
• Community-Building as a Growth Strategy (20:14)
• Playing the Long Game With Email + Story (23:11)
• Tracking Metrics + Setting Realistic Goals (25:05)
• One Good Thing: Get Out of Your Comfort Zone (30:02)

Episode Shownotes: www.weareforgood.com/episode/692

//

Join the We Are For Good Community—completely free.
Join fellow changemakers, share takeaways from this working session, and keep collaborating in a space built for connection, inspiration, and real impact: www.weareforgoodcommunity.com

Say hi 👋
LinkedIn / Instagram / Facebook / YouTube / Twitter

In today's episode, Jon and Becky sit down with Nicole R. Smith, CVA, Executive Director of AL!VE (Association of Leaders in Volunteer Engagement), to talk about what it really looks like to treat volunteers as a strategic powerhouse, not an afterthought.

Nicole has spent her career championing the people who champion volunteers, and she's here to close the gap between organizations that say volunteers are vital and the ones that actually build systems to prove it. 💪

In this episode, you'll hear:

• Why volunteer engagement is a leadership issue, not just a logistics one
• What structural elements every org needs to make volunteers a core capacity
• The metrics most organizations are leaving on the table
• How investing in your volunteer engagement professional changes everything

If volunteers have ever felt like an untapped superpower in your org, Nicole will help you see exactly what's possible—and where to start today. 🩵

Episode Highlights:

• Faith, Dance & Falling into Volunteer Engagement (02:29)
• The Volunteer Strategy Gap: Vital but Under-Resourced (07:14)
• Top-Down Support for Volunteer Managers (11:32)
• Key Infrastructure: Training, Tech & Culture (15:59)
• Hidden ROI: Capacity, Community & 3-6x Returns (24:35)
• Nicole’s One Good Thing: Random Act of Kindness (Even for the "Undeserving") (36:45)

Episode Shownotes: www.weareforgood.com/episode/691

//

Join the We Are For Good Community—completely free.
Join fellow changemakers, share takeaways from this working session, and keep collaborating in a space built for connection, inspiration, and real impact: www.weareforgoodcommunity.com

Say hi 👋
LinkedIn / Instagram / Facebook / YouTube / Twitter

In today's episode, Jon and Becky sit down with jacob adams, founder of Inner Spark Learning Lab, to talk about what it looks like to challenge the nonprofit status quo. Instead of chasing scale and perfect metrics, Jacob is focused on something different: authentic partnerships, radical transparency, and building trust.

Together, they explore why nonprofits can’t always control outcomes—but we can own the learning, tell the truth about what’s working (and what isn’t), and how to build stronger relationships with funders and partners along the way.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Why going deep instead of wide can lead to more meaningful impact
• How jacob builds trust with funders
• What authentic partnerships really look like in practice at Inner Spark
• And why focusing on learning, not just outcomes, can transform the way we lead

If you’re a nonprofit leader navigating pressure to scale, prove impact, and get everything “right,” this conversation will feel both grounding and energizing. 🩵

Episode Highlights:

• jacob’s Origin Story + Questioning the System (02:49)
• Why Kids Don’t Want to Be in School (04:35)
• Why Depth Beats Scale in Nonprofit Impact (06:24)
• How Inner Spark’s Learning Labs Center Student Voice (07:08)
• Why Radical Transparency Builds Trust in Fundraising (12:08)
• How Feedback Loops Replace Rigid Outcomes (17:33)
• jacob’s One Good Thing: Own the Learnings (26:45)

Resources:

Tune into Inner Sparks Podcast: innersparklab.org/podcast

jacob adams LI Post: We Didn't Hit Our EOY Campaign Goal

Episode Shownotes: www.weareforgood.com/episode/690

//

Join the We Are For Good Community—completely free.
Join fellow changemakers, share takeaways from this working session, and keep collaborating in a space built for connection, inspiration, and real impact: www.weareforgoodcommunity.com

Say hi 👋
LinkedIn / Instagram / Facebook / YouTube / Twitter

In today's episode, Jon and Becky sit down with Carmen Patlan, Executive Director of the Center for Immigrant Progress (CIP), to highlight how her organization is supporting immigrant families through a comprehensive, community-centered model.

CIP is advancing immigrant rights by connecting legal protection, health equity, civic engagement, and advocacy to help families live with dignity, safety, and opportunity.

In this episode, Carmen shares her own story of immigrating to the United States at seven years old—and how that lived experience now shapes the way CIP serves immigrant communities.

You’ll hear how the organization is:

• Providing pro bono immigration assessments and legal guidance
• Helping families create emergency preparedness plans
• Offering mental health and wellness support for families experiencing trauma
• Empowering immigrant leaders through civic engagement and leadership development

For nonprofit leaders, this conversation highlights what it truly looks like to build with community—not just for it—and reminds us that meaningful change often starts with something simple: listening, learning, and getting to know our neighbors.

Episode Highlights:

• Carmen’s Immigration Story: Crossing the Border at Age Seven (02:51)
• Why the U.S. Immigration System Is So Complex (07:23)
• Building the Center for Immigrant Progress (13:27)
• Living While Prepared, Not Living in Fear (16:05)
• Why Immigrants Must Tell Their Own Stories (22:22)
• What Real Allyship Looks Like in Immigrant Communities (25:03)
• Carmen’s One Good Thing: Standing Shoulder to Shoulder (31:07)

Episode Shownotes: www.weareforgood.com/episode/689

//

Join the We Are For Good Community—completely free.
Join fellow changemakers, share takeaways from this working session, and keep collaborating in a space built for connection, inspiration, and real impact: www.weareforgoodcommunity.com

Say hi 👋
LinkedIn / Instagram / Facebook / YouTube / Twitter

Today we're sitting down with Chidi Asoluka — founder and CEO of NewComm — to ask a question every nonprofit leader should be wrestling with: who actually gets to design change?

At NewComm, high school students manage real budgets, design real projects, and build networks most people don't access until much later in life. The lessons Chidi has learned building it are for every leader in this space.

He got out of his own head and into the heads of the people he was trying to impact. What he found there reshaped everything — his program, his systems, and his understanding of what it means to lead.

We dig into:

• Why proximity beats expertise in designing real change
• What funders get wrong when success has to look neat and linear
• Why real authority — not just a seat at the table — changes everything
• Plus the remarkable true story that drives everything Chidi does, and his simple mantra for leading with clarity in a noisy world.

Some conversations change how you see the work. This is one of them. 🩵

Episode Highlights:

• Chidi’s origin story: from Newark to Georgetown (2:35)
• The $10,000 idea that sparked Newcom’s model (7:18)
• The Net Gala: building social capital differently (12:57)
• From consumers to builders: shifting student identity (14:45)
• Killing your darlings: founder humility in action (17:36)
• Proximity over white papers: rethinking philanthropy (20:15)
• The hidden entrepreneurship of Gen Z (22:15)
• Designing frictionless systems for access and growth (24:57)
• A life-changing act of generosity (31:59)
• One Good Thing: Do the next best thing (41:45)

Episode Shownotes: www.weareforgood.com/episode/688

//

Join the We Are For Good Community—completely free.
Join fellow changemakers, share takeaways from this working session, and keep collaborating in a space built for connection, inspiration, and real impact: www.weareforgoodcommunity.com

Say hi 👋
LinkedIn / Instagram / Facebook / YouTube / Twitter

This one is a grounding exhale.

Today, we’re bringing you a powerful conversation from the We Are For Good Summit with our friend Seth Godin — it's for anyone carrying the weight of leadership in uncertain times.

Because here’s the truth: uncertainty isn’t a season anymore. It’s the environment. And if you’re feeling the pressure, the risk, the emotional toll of caring deeply about work that matters… you are not alone.

Seth challenges us to rethink what risk really is (hint: it’s the feeling of risk that trips us up), why attachment fuels burnout, and how trust is built — and burned — through small, consistent actions. We talk about belonging and leadership, and about the courage it takes to stay in the arena when the outcomes aren’t guaranteed.

We also dig into:

• How to innovate when nothing feels stable
• Rebuilding trust through behavior, not branding
• Using AI as a tool (without losing our humanity)
• Communicating experimentation and risk to donors
• Letting go of entanglements that keep us stuck
• And why agency — not compliance — is the future

Seth reminds us that we didn’t sign up for perfect — we signed up to keep moving toward better. To feel the fear and move forward anyway, tell the truth, bring people together, and stay responsible to the work we care about. If you’re tired but still called, questioning but still committed, this conversation is for you. 🩵

Episode Highlights:

• Tribes & belonging: organizing the table you wish existed (4:42)
• Burnout, attachment & the cost of caring (7:25)
• Risk vs. the feeling of risk in nonprofit leadership (14:43)
• AI, automation & why decisions—not tasks—are the real work (23:42)
• Telling the truth inside your organization (32:30)
• Communicating experimentation & risk to donors (33:50)
• Agency in the age of AI: undoing indoctrination (37:21)
• The lifeguard story: courage isn’t about credentials (27:59)
• Seth’s One Good Thing: “Find the others. This is the point.” (39:30)

Episode Shownotes: www.weareforgood.com/episode/687

//

Join the We Are For Good Community—completely free.
Join fellow changemakers, share takeaways from this working session, and keep collaborating in a space built for connection, inspiration, and real impact: www.weareforgoodcommunity.com

Say hi 👋
LinkedIn / Instagram / Facebook / YouTube / Twitter