Stephen Garten sits down with Dan Chu, Executive Director of the Sierra Club Foundation, to unpack how one of America’s most established environmental institutions operates and funds its mission. Dan explains the Sierra Club’s roots going back to 1892, why the Sierra Club Foundation was created in 1960, and how the Sierra Club’s (c)(4) and Foundation’s (c)(3) roles work together.
They cover the Sierra Club’s focus on three “existential crises”: biodiversity loss and extinction, climate instability, and the growing disconnect between people and nature. Dan shares how outings and community-based outdoor programming build long-term public support for conservation, why public lands can be common ground across politics, and how the organization thinks about large-scale systems change through policy and impact investing.
The conversation closes with practical leadership insights on building high-functioning boards, setting clear goals, and sustaining personal resilience in hard seasons.
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About Charity Charge
Charity Charge is a financial technology company serving the nonprofit sector. From the Charity Charge Nonprofit Credit Card to bookkeeping, gift card disbursements, and state compliance, we help mission-driven organizations streamline operations and stay financially strong. Learn more at charitycharge.com.
Stephen Garten sits down with Cyndi Court to mark the TGR Foundation’s 30th anniversary and unpack how the foundation evolved from golf clinics into a scaled education model centered on “Learning Labs.” Cyndi explains how TGR built a repeatable program framework, standardized curriculum, and modern measurement systems before expanding to new cities. The conversation also covers durable skills, partnerships that actually work, earned revenue through events, and what makes a strong nonprofit board.
Key topics covered
TGR Foundation timeline and growth
What makes the Learning Lab model different
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About Charity Charge
Charity Charge is a financial technology company serving the nonprofit sector. From the Charity Charge Nonprofit Credit Card to bookkeeping, gift card disbursements, and state compliance, we help mission-driven organizations streamline operations and stay financially strong. Learn more at charitycharge.com.
Vu Le, founder of Nonprofit AF, joins Stephen Garten to talk about a problem many nonprofit leaders quietly live with: we are trained to tell funders half-truths because we fear losing funding. Vu breaks down how risk-averse philanthropy, obsession with overhead, and competitive grantmaking push nonprofits into scarcity and performance instead of honesty and impact.
The conversation makes the case for better communication, collective organizing, and specific reforms like multi-year, general operating support and funder pledges. It also tackles boards, donor dynamics, and why the sector needs bigger imagination and bigger asks.
What you will learn
Key takeaways
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About Charity Charge
Charity Charge is a financial technology company serving the nonprofit sector. From the Charity Charge Nonprofit Credit Card to bookkeeping, gift card disbursements, and state compliance, we help mission-driven organizations streamline operations and stay financially strong. Learn more at charitycharge.com.
In this episode of the Charity Charge show, host Stephen Garten interviews Melissa Lagowski, founder and CEO of Big Buzz Idea Group. They discuss Melissa's journey from being an executive director of a nonprofit to starting her own company that supports nonprofits. The conversation covers the challenges faced by nonprofit leaders, the importance of self-care, and the need for collaboration over competition. Melissa shares tactical advice for nonprofit leaders, the role of technology and AI in fundraising, and the significance of strategic planning as the year comes to a close.
Takeaways
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About Charity Charge
Charity Charge is a financial technology company serving the nonprofit sector. From the Charity Charge Nonprofit Credit Card to bookkeeping, gift card disbursements, and state compliance, we help mission-driven organizations streamline operations and stay financially strong. Learn more at charitycharge.com.
In this episode of the Nonprofit Spotlight Series, Grayson Harris interviews Andrea Croom, the Executive Director of InAlliance, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Andrea discusses the organization's mission, the misconceptions surrounding disability services, and the importance of community engagement.
She shares insights into the challenges faced by nonprofits, particularly in staffing and funding, and highlights the strategies InAlliance employs to empower individuals towards independence.
The conversation also touches on Andrea's personal journey within the organization and the significance of aligning mission and values in decision-making.
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About Charity Charge
Charity Charge is a financial technology company serving the nonprofit sector. From the Charity Charge Nonprofit Credit Card to bookkeeping, gift card disbursements, and state compliance, we help mission-driven organizations streamline operations and stay financially strong. Learn more at charitycharge.com.
In this episode of the Charity Charge Show, host Stephen Garten speaks with Marnie Webb, CEO of TechSoup, about one of the most influential infrastructure organizations in the nonprofit world. TechSoup has supported more than 1.4 million nonprofits, charities, and libraries across 234 countries and territories. It has delivered nearly 22 billion dollars in technology and financial resources to help mission driven organizations operate with confidence in an increasingly digital world.
Most nonprofits do not have the budget, staff, or technical expertise to keep up with the rapid pace of technology. Yet they are expected to operate with the same level of digital strength that well funded companies enjoy. Marnie explains how TechSoup steps into this reality and why nonprofit technology support is far more than software discounts. It is about stability, trust, community strength, and clear pathways for organizations to adopt technology that actually fits their mission.
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About Charity Charge
Charity Charge is a financial technology company serving the nonprofit sector. From the Charity Charge Nonprofit Credit Card to bookkeeping, gift card disbursements, and state compliance, we help mission-driven organizations streamline operations and stay financially strong. Learn more at charitycharge.com.
In this episode of the Nonprofit Spotlight Series, we interview Renee Brown, CEO of DePaul Community Resources. We discuss the organization's mission to provide support for foster care, adoption, and individuals with disabilities. Renee shares insights on the challenges faced by nonprofits, the importance of community collaboration, and her leadership principles.
The conversation emphasizes the need for trust with donors, the significance of self-care, and the value of recognizing and nurturing talent within the organization. Renee also highlights the successes of DePaul and encourages listeners to get involved in their local communities.
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About Charity Charge
Charity Charge is a financial technology company serving the nonprofit sector. From the Charity Charge Nonprofit Credit Card to bookkeeping, gift card disbursements, and state compliance, we help mission-driven organizations streamline operations and stay financially strong. Learn more at charitycharge.com.
When people think about spinal cord injury rehabilitation, they usually picture learning to walk again, transferring safely from bed to chair, or figuring out how to dress and bathe independently. Those are critical pieces of recovery.
But there is another part of life that rarely makes it into care plans or team meetings: intimacy and sexual health.
In this episode of The Charity Charge Show, we sit down with three leaders who are changing that reality:
Together, they walk through the story of how a simple but honest patient question, a brave idea, and a strong funding partnership led to one of the most unique quality of life projects in the country.
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About Charity Charge
Charity Charge is a financial technology company serving the nonprofit sector. From the Charity Charge Nonprofit Credit Card to bookkeeping, gift card disbursements, and state compliance, we help mission-driven organizations streamline operations and stay financially strong. Learn more at charitycharge.com.
In this nonprofit spotlight conversation, we interview Dr. John Boal, the Executive Director of Hume Christian Camps, about the camp's mission, community engagement, challenges faced in the nonprofit sector, and future plans for growth. John shares insights into the camp's impact on youth, the importance of collaboration with local churches, and the balance between mission-driven work and business operations.
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About Charity Charge
Charity Charge is a financial technology company serving the nonprofit sector. From the Charity Charge Nonprofit Credit Card to bookkeeping, gift card disbursements, and state compliance, we help mission-driven organizations streamline operations and stay financially strong. Learn more at charitycharge.com.
In this Nonprofit Spotlight episode of the Charity Charge Show, host Grayson Harris sits down with Matt Tanner, Executive Director of United Against Poverty, to walk through a very practical approach to fighting poverty. Matt explains how United Against Poverty runs a 46,000 square foot grocery and services center that feels like a normal store, yet delivers about a 70 percent discount on essentials for households up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level.
Matt breaks down how the organization responded to the recent SNAP shutdown, what it really costs families to survive in Indian River County, and why dignity, data, and partnerships sit at the core of their model. He also shares how their Success Training Employment Program (STEP) moves adults with serious barriers into steady jobs and keeps them employed through year long success coaching.
About United Against Poverty, Indian River County
United Against Poverty (UP) was founded 23 years ago in Florida by a husband and wife team who wanted to move beyond traditional food bank models. Their goal was simple and hard edged. Give people real agency, not dependency.
Today, the Indian River County campus in Vero Beach serves roughly 750 adults per day through:
Membership is free for anyone at or below 300 percent of the federal poverty level, recognizing that the true cost of living in the area is far above older 200 percent thresholds.
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About Charity Charge
Charity Charge is a financial technology company serving the nonprofit sector. From the Charity Charge Nonprofit Credit Card to bookkeeping, gift card disbursements, and state compliance, we help mission-driven organizations streamline operations and stay financially strong. Learn more at charitycharge.com.
In this episode of the Charity Charge Show, Grayson Harris sits down with Herman Bulls, International Director and Vice Chairman at JLL, board leader across several public companies, and long time nonprofit board member. Herman shares how West Point, Army Ranger School, and decades in corporate real estate shaped his approach to leadership, relationship building, and governance.
He explains how JLL supports nonprofits and public institutions with real estate strategy, why culture and preparation matter, and what effective nonprofit boards should actually be doing.
About Herman Bulls
Herman Bulls is an International Director and Vice Chairman at JLL, where he has spent more than 35 years helping senior executives and institutions solve complex real estate challenges. He serves as Vice Chairman of the Board at USAA, Chairman of the Board at Fluence Energy, and sits on the boards of Host Hotels and Comfort Systems USA. Herman is also Vice Chair of the Board of the American Red Cross and Vice Chair of the West Point Association of Graduates, after a distinguished career as an Army officer and finance professor at West Point.
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About Charity Charge
Charity Charge is a financial technology company serving the nonprofit sector. From the Charity Charge Nonprofit Credit Card to bookkeeping, gift card disbursements, and state compliance, we help mission-driven organizations streamline operations and stay financially strong. Learn more at charitycharge.com.
In this Nonprofit Spotlight episode of the Charity Charge Show, host Grayson Harris speaks with Bethany Cartledge, Executive Director of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Lane County.
Bethany breaks down how the organization serves people across five counties in Oregon and two cities in California through three core pillars: affordable housing, retail and manufacturing, and homeless and emergency services. She explains what success looks like for her team, how they maintain an "all hands on deck" culture across 600+ employees, and why servant leadership and internal promotion are central to their model.
The conversation covers collaboration with local government and agencies, the launch of the Schlis Resource Center, the Cascade Alliance program for helping other nonprofits build earned revenue, and how Bethany evaluates new opportunities and donor proposals against mission, capacity, and long term impact.
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About Charity Charge
Charity Charge is a financial technology company serving the nonprofit sector. From the Charity Charge Nonprofit Credit Card to bookkeeping, gift card disbursements, and state compliance, we help mission-driven organizations streamline operations and stay financially strong. Learn more at charitycharge.com.
In this episode of the Charity Charge Show, we talk with Tina Hsing, Director of the Panda Cares Foundation, about a model that many donors wish more organizations followed. Panda Cares is the philanthropic arm of Panda Restaurant Group, and it operates in a simple way. The parent company covers every administrative cost. That choice allows the foundation to send one hundred percent of store donations and event contributions straight into community initiatives.
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About Charity Charge
Charity Charge is a financial technology company serving the nonprofit sector. From the Charity Charge Nonprofit Credit Card to bookkeeping, gift card disbursements, and state compliance, we help mission-driven organizations streamline operations and stay financially strong. Learn more at charitycharge.com.
In this conversation, Grayson Harris interviews Jamie Merrill, the president and CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of Central Florida. They discuss the organization's mission, the importance of engaging youth through programs like the Teen Advisory Council, and the challenges and successes of nonprofit leadership.
Jamie shares her transition from the business world to the nonprofit sector, emphasizing the significance of building strong relationships with board members and navigating mission creep. The conversation also highlights the importance of collaboration among nonprofits and the exciting future plans for the Boys and Girls Club.
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About Charity Charge
Charity Charge is a financial technology company serving the nonprofit sector. From the Charity Charge Nonprofit Credit Card to bookkeeping, gift card disbursements, and state compliance, we help mission-driven organizations streamline operations and stay financially strong. Learn more at charitycharge.com.
In this episode of the Charity Charge Show, host Grayson Harris speaks with Renee Yandel, Executive Director of HIV Alliance, a community based organization serving 15 counties across Oregon. HIV Alliance provides holistic services for people living with HIV and those at highest risk, from nursing and pharmacy care to housing, behavioral health, and harm reduction services.
Renee shares her personal journey from intern and volunteer to executive director, and explains how the organization uses harm reduction, collaboration, and community voice to guide its mission and expansion, including the launch of the new Lavender Network LGBTQ Health and Wellness Center.
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About Charity Charge
Charity Charge is a financial technology company serving the nonprofit sector. From the Charity Charge Nonprofit Credit Card to bookkeeping, gift card disbursements, and state compliance, we help mission-driven organizations streamline operations and stay financially strong. Learn more at charitycharge.com.
In Episode 134 of the Charity Charge Show, host Stephen Garten sits down with David Gottfried, founder of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the World Green Building Council, and the architect behind the LEED green building rating system. What begins as a conversation about sustainable buildings quickly expands into something much deeper. It becomes a straight talking roadmap for nonprofit leaders who are trying to build something that feels larger than their budget, their team, or the confidence they have at this moment.
Gottfried takes listeners into the early days of USGBC, the doubt that nearly stopped the movement, and the stubborn persistence required to turn a simple idea into a global force. The episode is part biography, part masterclass, and part call to action for founders who know their work matters but feel the weight of the climb.
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About Charity Charge
Charity Charge is a financial technology company serving the nonprofit sector. From the Charity Charge Nonprofit Credit Card to bookkeeping, gift card disbursements, and state compliance, we help mission-driven organizations streamline operations and stay financially strong. Learn more at charitycharge.com.
In this episode of the Nonprofit Spotlight Series, Grayson Harris interviews Emily Acevedo, Executive Director of Butte Humane Society. They discuss the organization's mission, the concept of limited admission shelters, and the importance of veterinary services in reducing euthanasia rates. Emily shares her journey from veterinary clinic manager to executive director, highlighting the challenges and successes in fundraising and community engagement. The conversation also touches on upcoming events and the impact of donations on the lives of animals in need.
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About Charity Charge
Charity Charge is a financial technology company serving the nonprofit sector. From the Charity Charge Nonprofit Credit Card to bookkeeping, gift card disbursements, and state compliance, we help mission-driven organizations streamline operations and stay financially strong. Learn more at charitycharge.com.
In this episode of the Nonprofit Spotlight Series, Grayson Harris interviews Amy Spranger, the area director of Upstate New York for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. They discuss the foundation's mission to find a cure for cystic fibrosis, the impact of recent advancements in treatment, and the challenges of fundraising in a changing landscape.
Amy shares insights on how the foundation supports the community, adapts to change, and plans for the future, emphasizing the importance of individual giving and local involvement.
About Charity Charge
Charity Charge is a financial technology company serving the nonprofit sector. From the Charity Charge Nonprofit Credit Card to bookkeeping, gift card disbursements, and state compliance, we help mission-driven organizations streamline operations and stay financially strong. Learn more at charitycharge.com.
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About Charity Charge
Charity Charge is a financial technology company serving the nonprofit sector. From the Charity Charge Nonprofit Credit Card to bookkeeping, gift card disbursements, and state compliance, we help mission-driven organizations streamline operations and stay financially strong. Learn more at charitycharge.com.
In this episode, Grayson Harris welcomes Laura Hines, CEO of Stanford Sierra Youth and Families, for a thoughtful conversation on the organization’s 125 year journey and its mission to strengthen youth, families, and communities across Northern California.
Laura reflects on how the organization has transformed from its origins as an orphanage into a comprehensive provider of mental health care, family stabilization supports, and community based services. She gives an honest look at the pressures facing nonprofits today, the rising need for mental health services, and the realities of leading through uncertainty. She also outlines how her team is preparing for the future with a focus on empowerment, collaboration, and long term sustainability.
About Charity Charge
Charity Charge is a financial technology company serving the nonprofit sector. From the Charity Charge Nonprofit Credit Card to bookkeeping, gift card disbursements, and state compliance, we help mission-driven organizations streamline operations and stay financially strong. Learn more at charitycharge.com.
In this Nonprofit Spotlight episode, we sit down with Tina Ayala, President and CEO of Chicago Youth Centers (CYC), to explore how a 70 year old organization is still deeply rooted in community while adapting to today’s realities for children, teens, and families across Chicago.
With 21 sites across the south and west sides of the city, CYC provides early learning, out of school time, teen programs, and mentoring that follow young people from 15 months through college and into adulthood. Tina shares her personal 30 year journey at CYC, how the organization has responded to shifting funding landscapes, and why collaboration, mental health, and workforce development are central to their work today.
About Charity Charge
Charity Charge is a financial technology company serving the nonprofit sector. From the Charity Charge Nonprofit Credit Card to bookkeeping, gift card disbursements, and state compliance, we help mission-driven organizations streamline operations and stay financially strong. Learn more at charitycharge.com.