Why does board engagement feel harder than ever for nonprofits? In this episode of I 501(c) You, Michael sits down with governance consultant Katie Spencer, founder of Zipline Consulting, to explore what is really driving disengaged boards. Drawing on insights from hundreds of nonprofit organizations, Katie explains why executives feel like they are chasing board members and why board members often feel unclear about their role. She outlines four foundational pillars that strengthen board governance, improve accountability, and increase participation. The conversation also covers practical ways to run more strategic board meetings and simplify the board’s role in fundraising. Executive directors, board chairs, and nonprofit leaders will walk away with clear, actionable ideas they can apply immediately.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-kimple-spencer-68480111b/

Website: https://www.ziplineconsulting.com/

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introducing Katie Spencer, Founder of Zipline Consulting

(04:30) Improving Board Engagement

(09:30) 4 Pillars of Board Engagement

(16:10) Quick hitting tips - Better board meetings

(22:20) Board’s role in fundraising

(26:20) Executive & Board Chair partnership

(28:55) Recapping with Read

Join us every other week as we release a new podcast with information about how you can be the best board member and provide great service to your organization.

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Visit us at: www.thecorleycompany.com/podcast

Nonprofit fraud is an issue that leaders cannot afford to ignore, even though it is often uncomfortable to discuss. In this episode, Michael speaks with Jeff Limbocker, a longtime healthcare CFO and current COO of Sarasota Memorial Health Care System, about how fraud actually occurs in nonprofit organizations and what can be done to reduce the risk. Drawing on decades of experience, Jeff explains why fraud often begins small, why expense reporting is a common vulnerability, and why auditors do not typically uncover these issues. This conversation offers practical insights for nonprofit board members, executives, and finance leaders who want to strengthen oversight, protect donor trust, and build more effective internal controls.

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introducing Jeff Limbocker, COO of Sarasota Memorial Health Care System

(02:00) Observations of fraud as a COO

(03:15) How does fraud start and happen?

(08:20) Lack of controls or subverting controls?

(09:30) Why don’t auditors find fraud?

(12:05) How does the board provide oversight of the CEO/Executive Director?

(15:10) Role of the board in smaller organizations

(17:20) Preventing fraud in cash-strong organizations

(19:00) Shouldn’t fraud be caught sooner?

(23:30) Advice for board members

(25:15) Red flags to look out for

(27:44) Recapping with Read

Join us every other week as we release a new podcast with information about how you can be the best board member and provide great service to your organization.

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Fraud does not just happen in big corporations. It happens in nonprofits too, often quietly and over time. In this episode, CPA and nonprofit practice leader Brian Carter joins the show to explain how fraud and abuse actually occur inside nonprofit organizations. Using real examples from a major health foundation and a local Little League, Brian breaks down why audits do not always catch fraud, how weak internal controls create opportunity, and what board members should realistically be doing to protect the mission and the money. If you serve on a nonprofit board or work closely with one, this conversation offers practical guidance on governance, fiduciary responsibility, and how to spot problems before they spiral.

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introducing Brian Carter, CPA, Nonprofit Practice Leader & Partner, Mauldin & Jenkins

(02:00) How can a board mitigate fraud? Jackson Health Foundation Fraud case

(03:00) What financial controls should be in place?

(06:35) Controls with electronic signatures

(11:05) Should this have been caught?

(13:15) Why would an audit not find this?

(16:00) Sarasota Little League scenario

(22:00) How do you ensure continuity of controls for a high turnover organization?

(25:40) Final advice

(26:55) Recapping with Read

Join us every other week as we release a new podcast with information about how you can be the best board member and provide great service to your organization.

Listen to the podcast on any of the following platforms:

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Visit us at: www.thecorleycompany.com/podcast

What does a community foundation actually do, and what makes its board effective? In this episode of I501(c)You, Michael sits down with Phillip Lanham, President & CEO of Gulf Coast Community Foundation, to break down the role community foundations play in inspiring philanthropy and creating measurable regional impact. Phillip shares his path from higher education fundraising to community foundation leadership, explains how boards are governed, and offers practical insight on working with donor-board members, building strong board chair relationships, and using a foundation’s convening power to strengthen nonprofits through grants, capacity building, and rapid-response funding when the community needs it most.

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introducing Phillip Lanham, President & CEO, Gulf Coast Community Foundation

(03:10) What compelled you to join a community foundation?

(04:30) The role of community foundations

(07:15) How is a community foundation governed?

(08:25) What makes for a good board member?

(09:45) Any opportunities when board members are also donors?

(10:40) Role of the board chair

(11:45) How do you structure your relationship with your board chair?

(13:25) How do other board members interact?

(15:45) How do community foundations work with nonprofits?

(20:10) The power to convene

(21:30) Structure of Gulf Coast Community Foundation

(23:15) Learning curves of being CEO

(24:55) Most rewarding aspect of being CEO

(26:40) Biggest surprises

(28:25) Advice to a future CEO

(30:00) Recapping with Read

Join us every other week as we release a new podcast with information about how you can be the best board member and provide great service to your organization.

Listen to the podcast on any of the following platforms:

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Visit us at: www.thecorleycompany.com/podcast

What does it really take to move from trusted insider to CEO while keeping your board focused on strategy instead of “sausage-making”? In this episode of the I 501(c)You podcast for nonprofit board members, Michael sits down with Charlie Imbergamo, CEO of the Nonprofit Leadership Center, to unpack his journey from faith-based education leader to head of a regional hub for nonprofit talent development. Charlie shares how he navigated a rigorous internal succession process, leads with a “people first, mission always” mindset, and keeps both his board and small staff aligned around the what of strategy instead of getting lost in the how. You’ll hear practical rhythms for board communication, how pre-reads transformed their meetings, why they only meet when decisions are needed, and how tools like Asana and virtual training help them serve 700+ nonprofits a year.

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introducing Charlie Imbergamo, CEO of Nonprofit Leadership Center

(05:45) Living what we teach

(08:40) Approaching transitioning from staff to CEO

(12:15) Charlie’s approach to strategy

(15:15) Keeping your organization focused on the ‘what’

(18:50) Creating an engaged board

(23:00) Approach to board meetings

(26:30) Communicating with staff

(30:00) What is the Nonprofit Leadership Center?

Join us every other week as we release a new podcast with information about how you can be the best board member and provide great service to your organization.

Listen to the podcast on any of the following platforms:

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Visit us at: www.thecorleycompany.com/podcast

Small nonprofits often feel outmatched in brand and communication work. This week’s conversation with Sam Stern shows why that gap is closing fast. Sam is the CEO of Magnify Good and the creator of Connection Works. He explains how AI can give small organizations the clarity, confidence, and steady output that used to require a full communications staff. We look at why brand is more than colors and logos, how AI can match your voice, and how stronger storytelling leads to stronger fundraising. For nonprofit leaders working with limited time and capacity, this episode offers a realistic view of what is possible and why now is the right moment to move forward.

Check Out Connection Works Here:

https://www.magnifygood.com/aifornonprofits/

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introducing Sam Stern, Chief Executive Officer, MagnifyGood

(03:00) Opportunities for technology in nonprofits

(06:15) Getting introduced to AI

(09:00) Training the AI on your information

(11:05) What is a brand?

(12:30) How does the product work?

(16:00) Should board members be concerned about AI?

Join us every other week as we release a new podcast with information about how you can be the best board member and provide great service to your organization.

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Visit us at: www.thecorleycompany.com/podcast

This week on I 501(c) You, Michael sits down with Sandra Bograd, Of Counsel at Genova Burns, to unpack the often-misunderstood world of nonprofit and corporate board governance. Drawing from decades of experience in law, compliance, and ethics, Sandra breaks down what makes boards effective, how governance in nonprofits and for-profits overlap, and why board members must lean into their fiduciary roles, paid or not. If you've ever wondered what separates a high-impact board from a passive one, this episode is essential listening for nonprofit leaders, board members, and governance professionals.

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introducing Sandra Bograd, Esq., Of Counsel, Genova Burns, LLC

(08:00) How did you navigate stakeholder relationships?

(10:30) What is good governance?

(12:45) Ensuring good governance

(15:00) Getting the board on board

(18:40) Is governance different on for-profit and nonprofit boards?

(20:45) Role of the board chair

(23:05) Prepping for board meetings

(24:30) Benefits of strong board governance

(29:15) Risks of joining a board

(35:25) Thoughts when nonprofits are victims of fraud

(39:35) Board speaking with senior staff

Join us every other week as we release a new podcast with information about how you can be the best board member and provide great service to your organization.

Listen to the podcast on any of the following platforms:

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Visit us at: www.thecorleycompany.com/podcast

In this episode of I 501(c) You, host Michael Corley interviews Wendy Deming, CEO of the Bishop Parker Foundation and a widely respected governance expert. Wendy shares her 25+ year journey through the nonprofit world, the strategic importance of board governance, and why strong leadership and effective board dynamics are key to nonprofit success. She explains how governance directly influences donor trust, organizational sustainability, and even board recruitment. If you're a board member, nonprofit executive, or funder, Wendy’s insights are a masterclass in turning governance into a powerful asset.

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introducing Wendy Deming, CEO of The Bishop Parker Foundation

(06:55) Governance is the bedrock for a solid foundation

(08:15) How can Governance be a strategic asset?

(10:45) Indications that boards need to improve governance

(13:20) What traits make a good nonprofit leader?

(17:30) As a funder, what do you look at before you fund an organization

(23:45) Biggest surprise as the CEO

(26:20) Recapping with Read

Join us every other week as we release a new podcast with information about how you can be the best board member and provide great service to your organization.

Listen to the podcast on any of the following platforms:

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Amazon

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Visit us at: www.thecorleycompany.com/podcast