Season 1 is over! We learned a lot since we started our venture into live shows and podcasting.

We made some mistakes. We did some things right but we had great fun on the way.

This episode will be dedicated to all of our learnings, experiences, relationships built and mistakes made during the process of starting the Future Of Impact Show!

In the meantime, why don't you share with us on social media YOUR highlights of our podcast? We'd love to know!

Connect with me:

On my LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jess-merrell/
On my  company:   https://onedegreeimpact.com/category/uncategorized/

Fundraising feels like the biggest priority when running your non-profit, but the most important thing is the impact you create.

That's why we all need to hear from someone who has been able to consistently do both for 15 years- Chad Bernstein.

Ever since its inception, Chad's organization, Guitars Over Guns, has revolutionized the way non-profits are run across the country while also raising over $3.5 million to expand their operations over the years.

With over 7,000 students positively impacted by their initiative, Chad is still at the very beginning of his journey to help many young people as possible.

For Chad, balancing expectations from funders, while making sure impact is actually being made, has been difficult. But it IS possible.

If you want to learn:

- What strategies to use to better manage your organization
- Ways balance your lifestyle as a non-profit founder
- How to maximize your impact through effective team building and mission

Then this episode of the Future of Impact is for you!

Chad Bernstein is a husband and father of four amazing kids, the co-founder of Guitars Over Guns, and a professional musician who has been instrumental in the evolution of the "Latin Funk" sound of Miami. Through the universal language of music, Chad galvanized the artist community to use music as a bridge to reach and empower Miami and Chicago’s most disenfranchised youth.

Chad received a Doctorate of Musical Arts degree from the University of Miami in 2012, turning the focus of his academic studies to Guitars Over Guns in his dissertation, "The Effectiveness of Music Mentoring for At-Risk Youth Through the GOGO Program" (published in 2012). This paved the way for Guitars Over Guns' research-based methodology and set the stage for Chad and his father, Bob, a Chicago investment professional, to collaborate on the organization’s creation in 2008.

Chad took on Guitars Over Guns as a full-time career upon graduating (while continuing a rigorous performance schedule) and was named CEO in 2012. Today, Guitars Over Guns has a $3,000,000+ budget with 80 musicians serving more than 1,000 students a year in 30 sites across Miami, Chicago, and Los Angeles. In April of 2015, Chad was honored as a CNN Hero for his work and has since been featured on the Steve Harvey Show and in People Magazine. More recently, Chad received the globally recognized Elevate Prize and the Ruth Shack Leadership Award, an honor held in Miami’s highest regard.

Chad remains as one of South Florida’s premier Latin, jazz, and funk artists. He performs most prominently with the Latin Grammy-nominated Spam Allstars, with whom he has toured throughout Europe and the US, and the highly popular Miami-based Latin-funk band, ¡Suénalo!, the inspiration for Guitars Over Guns. He has also worked with Pitbull, Shakira, will.i.am, Natalie Cole, Frank Sinatra, Jr., Chaka Kahn, John Legend, Phil Ramone, and many more. Chad is currently serving his third term as a Governor on the board of the Recording Academy (GRAMMYs).

Connect with Chad!

On his LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chad-bernstein-79200043/

Connect with me:

On my LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jess-merrell/
On my  company:   https://onedegreeimpact.com/category/uncategorized/

🚨 Register for the show here: https://tinyurl.com/FutureofImpact

Steve Lantham is the Co-Founder and CEO of DonateStock. A company focused on revolutionizing charity through stock giving.

You might be wondering how stocks, (you know the ones that are a symbol of profit and capitalism) can contribute to a NON-profit cause but you'd be surprised!

Here's what we'll cover in the episode:

- Why it took so long for a solution like DonateStock to exist?

- The future of Impact according to Steve.

- The complexities and contradictions in the non-profit sector.

- Why the non-profit sector is lacking innovation.

Ready to get your minds blown and refilled with knowledge? Tune in for the interview! Steve CRUSHED it.

Connect with Steve!

On his LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevelatham/
On his Company: DonatestockCharitable.org

Connect with me:

On my LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jess-merrell/
On my  company:   https://onedegreeimpact.com/category/uncategorized/

🚨 Register for the show here: https://tinyurl.com/FutureofImpact