On The Ground

Raissa Allaire on Growing a Nonprofit from Cat Rescue to Feline Welfare, Board Trust, and Agentic AI in FundraisingRaissa Allaire, CEO of Treehouse Humane Society, joins host James Misner to share how the Chicago nonprofit grew from a cat-adoption organization into a broader feline-welfare provider. That growth includes a low-cost veterinary wellness center and community-focused programs. She offers practical lessons on nonprofit leadership, board trust, and fundraising growth. She also explains how Treehouse uses agentic AI to extend donor outreach without replacing human relationships.This conversation is especially relevant for nonprofit executives, board members, fundraisers, and anyone curious about using AI responsibly in donor engagement. Raissa reflects on her path from museums and social services into animal welfare. She closes with a candid look at learning to pause and celebrate progress, and with the question that drives Treehouse’s vision: where do we get to a world where cats don’t need rescuing?In this episodeHow Treehouse Humane Society, founded in 1971, expanded from fostering and adopting cats to prevention, community programs, advocacy, and a veterinary wellness centerRaissa’s path from museums and social services into animal welfare, and the transferable skills in programming, operations, fundraising, finance, and board leadershipWhy comfort with ambiguity and quick learning from mistakes are core leadership skillsThe “no surprises” approach to building trust between a CEO and the boardWhy Raissa made no changes in her first three months in 2018 and spent that time on a listening tour that honored the organization’s historyHow the low-cost veterinary wellness center, opened in 2021, can serve up to 6,000 pets a year and provides about $100,000 in free or discounted servicesThe lesson in listening to concerns about AIHow Treehouse’s two AI fundraising agents, Carmen and Herb, reach donor portfolios the team lacks capacity to serve personally, with human escalation, guardrails, and opt-outs of about 0.7%How revenue grew from roughly $1.8 million to an average of about $7 million, supported by reserves and investments in major gifts, legacy giving, direct response, and fractional expertiseWhy events are an important strategy “within reason,” and why financial resilience and discipline matterUsing an executive coach and learning to pause and celebrate progressTreehouse’s future priorities: expanding access to veterinary care, targeted advocacy, and connecting pet welfare with housing, food, and social servicesTimestamps00:00 – Treehouse’s evolution from rescue to prevention 02:03 – From museums and social services to animal welfare 04:11 – Leading through ambiguity and building board trust 07:46 – Why Raissa began with a listening tour 10:42 – Opening a low-cost veterinary wellness center 12:36 – The lesson in listening to AI concerns 15:16 – How Carmen and Herb extend donor outreach 18:39 – Growing revenue from $1.8 million to $7 million 21:24 – Celebrating progress and using an executive coach 24:32 – Treehouse’s vision: access, advocacy, and connected services 27:19 – How to find Treehouse and visit its cat cafeResources & Links:The Kipos Group WebsiteSchedule a Discovery Call with JamesConnect with James Misner on LinkedInConnect with Raissa and Treehouse:Treehouse Humane Society Official WebsiteConnect with Raissa on LinkedIn

Karen Houghton on Building Nonprofit Financial Resilience, Smarter Reserves, and Stock Gift ReadinessKaren Houghton, founder of Infinite Giving, joins host James Misner to explain how nonprofits can build financial resilience and better steward their funds. Drawing on her experience in the nonprofit, technology, and venture-capital worlds, she breaks down reserve targets, safer cash management, endowments, and why nonprofits need the infrastructure to accept stock gifts and other assets.This conversation is especially relevant for nonprofit leaders, finance staff, board members, and fundraisers. Karen reflects on her path from founding a nonprofit in Rwanda and East Africa to building a company that serves more than 500 nonprofits across 43 states, and she closes with a lesson on failure: learn from setbacks without attaching shame to them.In this episodeKaren’s path from founding a nonprofit working in Rwanda and East Africa to technology, venture capital, and Infinite GivingHow Infinite Giving supports more than 500 nonprofits across 43 states with financial infrastructure and stewardshipWhy six to twelve months of reserves is a common healthy target, and why the right level depends on each organizationThe difference between liquid, lower-risk cash management and longer-term investingWhy endowments need an investment strategy instead of sitting in checking or savings accountsAlternatives to low-yield bank accounts, including FDIC sweep coverage, money markets, and Treasury securitiesHow brokerage accounts and stock-gift capability connect to donor access, tax efficiency, and less friction in givingWhy accepting stock and legacy gifts helps small and midsized nonprofits reach assets beyond credit- and debit-card donationsKaren’s perspective on failure: learn, keep trying, and avoid shameTimestamps 00:00 – From nonprofit founder to building Infinite Giving 04:12 – Serving 500-plus nonprofits across 43 states 06:09 – Why reserves create continuity for mission-driven work 08:27 – Spotting reserve gaps and idle cash 11:33 – Cash management, FDIC coverage, and lower-risk options 15:39 – Why endowments need a long-term investment plan 18:12 – How much should a nonprofit keep in reserve? 20:04 – Brokerage accounts, stock gifts, and donor opportunity 28:59 – Making brokerage accounts and stock donations easier 31:36 – Learning from failure without shame 33:38 – Karen’s books and how to connectResources & Links:The Kipos Group WebsiteSchedule a Discovery Call with JamesConnect with James Misner on LinkedInConnect with Karen:Infinite Giving Official WebsiteConnect with Karen on LinkedIn

Rae Martin on Building St. John Center’s Homeless Services Continuum and Doubling the BudgetRae Martin of St. John Center in Louisville shares how the organization serves people experiencing homelessness through a continuum of care from day shelter and outreach to permanent supportive housing. She also explains how careful preparation and a mix of public, philanthropic, and housing-finance support helped make Sheehan Landing possible.This conversation is especially relevant for people working in homelessness services, nonprofit leadership, and fundraising. Rae reflects on her path from educator to organizational leader, the funding strategy behind St. John Center’s growth, and lessons learned from efforts that didn’t go as planned.In this episodeSt. John Center’s day shelter, outreach program, and permanent supportive housingSheehan Landing and housing options for people with complex support needsThe scale of homelessness and demand for services in LouisvilleRae’s leadership journey, from Youth Build to St. John CenterHow advance planning helped the organization act when funding opportunities aroseHow public funding, housing tax credits, and a development partnership helped finance Sheehan LandingThe role of HUD grants, rental assistance, and housing vouchers in supporting operationsGrowing operating support through public funding, foundations, and other partnershipsThe challenges of Medicaid billing and generating revenue as an affordable housing providerHow volunteers, donors, and community partners support St. John Center’s workTimestamps00:00 – Rae Martin and St. John Center’s mission00:27 – The organization’s programs and services01:30 – Outreach and permanent supportive housing03:48 – The scale of homelessness in Louisville05:52 – Rae’s leadership journey07:59 – Why housing stability matters09:52 – Finding her way to St. John Center13:13 – The organization’s growth and new housing facility14:58 – Preparing for funding opportunities16:43 – Bringing funding sources together for Sheehan Landing18:09 – Funding supportive services and housing operations21:00 – Growing the operating budget24:03 – Medicaid billing and long-term sustainability25:16 – Lessons from strategies that didn’t work29:29 – How to connect with St. John Center30:19 – Volunteers, community support, and upcoming eventsResources & Links:The Kipos Group WebsiteSchedule a Discovery Call with JamesConnect with James Misner on LinkedinConnect with Rae:St. Jhonn Center Official WebsiteConnect with Rae on Linkedin

Why fractional support can help nonprofits do more with lessNicole Kirkorian Elmes, CEO of MissionWell, joins James Misner to talk about her path from Disney and DoorDash into nonprofit support work, and why fractional services can be a smart fit for organizations that need senior-level help without adding full-time headcount. They also dig into what nonprofits actually need to run well, from finance and HR to board support, and why the sector is often more resilient and resourceful than people assume.In this episode:How her career at Disney and DoorDash shaped a people-first leadership style focused on making life easier for othersWhy she moved into nonprofit and faith-based work after finding herself drawn to boards, church service, and community leadershipWhat “fractional” means in practice: flexible support that can scale up or down based on organizational needHow MissionWell can function as a finance department, HR partner, or board support resourceWhy a fractional model can cost less than hiring a full in-house team, while also reducing management burdenThe kinds of work MissionWell handles, from bookkeeping and controller-level finance to CHRO work and organizational designHow board services help clarify oversight, recruiting, and the division between staff and board responsibilitiesWhat Nicole is seeing across the nonprofit sector, including growth in niche organizations and strong appetite from donors and supportersWhy strong systems, clear roles, and good HR practices matter if a nonprofit wants to “run like a business” in the right waysHow volunteer leadership is different from employee management, and why finding the “low lift” is key to avoiding burnoutTimestamps00:00 – Meet Nicole Elmes and her journey to MissionWell01:16 – From Disney and DoorDash to nonprofit leadership03:06 – How church and board service led her to MissionWell04:50 – Disney’s Tangled and a successful movie launch06:45 – Understanding fractional support for nonprofits09:39 – MissionWell’s finance, HR, and board services11:27 – The growth of specialized nonprofit organizations14:45 – Cost benefits of fractional vs. in-house support16:36 – Technology, digitization, and strategic efficiency18:05 – The challenges of wearing multiple hats20:25 – Why nonprofit leaders hesitate to outsource21:59 – Nicole’s biggest surprises in the nonprofit sector25:11 – Running nonprofits with a business mindset27:49 – Rethinking volunteer leadership and preventing burnout30:46 – Challenges and lessons from scaling MissionWell32:15 – Connecting with Nicole and MissionWellResources & Links:The Kipos Group WebsiteSchedule a Discovery Call with JamesConnect with James Misner on LinkedinConnect with Nicole:Missionwell Official WebsiteConnect with Nicole on Linkedin

Daniel Drewski on Character, Collaboration, and Fundraising That LastsJames Misner talks with Daniel Drewski, president and CEO of International Leadership Institute, about developing leaders across more than 100 nations and 70 languages. They explore why character is foundational to effective leadership, how to collaborate across cultures, and what sustainable fundraising looks like for nonprofits and ministries.Daniel shares lessons from his career in politics, hospitality, education, and global ministry including how to build systems that can outlast any one leader.Key topicsDaniel’s journey to leading International Leadership Institute as its first successorThe importance of local leaders and character developmentThe “tyranny of the urgent” and the apartment-fire analogyFour keys to collaboration: shared goals, success measures, support, and communicationNavigating cultural differences with graceHow scarcity thinking affects partnershipsBuilding sustainable fundraising systems and prioritizing relationshipsLessons from an event with competing goalsDaniel’s vision for developing leaders and closing leadership gapsTimestamps00:00 – Introducing Daniel Drewski and global leadership00:31 – Daniel’s journey at International Leadership Institute01:49 – Local leadership and community transformation03:24 – Character development in leadership04:14 – The apartment-fire analogy and leadership urgency06:36 – The tyranny of the urgent and succession08:28 – Cultural differences and good character11:52 – Shared goals, success measures, and communication13:20 – Scarcity thinking and its impact on partnerships14:14 – Turning concerns into action18:28 – Fundraising lessons and sustainable systems20:36 – Major gifts, grassroots support, and relationships24:45 – Fundraising failures and lessons learned28:06 – The importance of clear fundraising goals29:48 – Stewardship and scarcity31:17 – Daniel’s five-year vision for leadership33:45 – Preparing leaders for growth34:56 – Connecting with Daniel and International Leadership InstituteResources & Links:The Kipos Group WebsiteSchedule a Discovery Call with JamesConnect with James Misner on LinkedinConnect with Daniel:International Leadership Institute Official WebsiteConnect with Daniel on Linkedin

Fundraising for the Long Game: Trust, Strategy, and River ConservationJames Misner talks with Karyn Bryant, Director of Philanthropy at American Rivers, about building donor relationships that last. They explore how fundraisers can pair strategy with genuine care, shape conservation stories around what matters to donors, and make the ask at the right time.In this episodeHow Karyn’s career in fundraising began in river conservationWhy effective fundraising needs both relationship-building and strategyHow American Rivers connects healthy rivers to people, wildlife, and communitiesHow to tailor a conservation story to a donor’s interestsWhat makes an appeal letter compelling—and why the postscript mattersHow to recognize when a donor may be ready for a larger askLessons from asks that were too high or came too soonWhy Karyn’s advice to struggling fundraisers is simple: pick up the phoneTimestamps00:00 — Meet Karyn Bryant, Director of Philanthropy at American Rivers 01:24 — How Karyn became a fundraiser02:51 — Why fundraising needs both relationships and strategy04:39 — What can go wrong when strategy is missing05:31 — Why strategy alone isn’t enough06:30 — What American Rivers does and why rivers matter07:52 — Connecting environmental work to people and belonging08:57 — How to tell a dam-removal story in a way that resonates11:30 — Why it helps to introduce a story before making an appeal13:24 — Elements of an effective appeal letter15:15 — The importance of the postscript16:17 — What it means to play the long game with donors18:49 — Building donor relationships through intentional touchpoints20:29 — Signs a donor may be ready for a larger ask22:04 — What Karyn learned from a too-high ask24:05 — When a major ask comes before the relationship is ready25:56 — New tools and opportunities in river restoration28:16 — Advice for fundraisers: pick up the phone29:44 — Where to find Karyn and American RiversResources & Links:The Kipos Group WebsiteSchedule a Discovery Call with JamesConnect with James Misner on LinkedinConnect with Karyn:American Rivers Official WebsiteConnect with Karyn on Linkedin

Emily Nichols on building institutional fundraising that actually scalesEmily Nichols, Chief Development Officer at Accion Opportunity Fund, joins James Misner to talk about how she grew an institutional fundraising function from roughly $1 million to $10 million, why relationship-based fundraising still wins, and what it takes to fund a mission-driven organization in a more donor-directed environment. They also unpack what a CDFI is, how Accion Opportunity Fund lends to underserved small businesses, and the lessons learned from a grant that looked promising on paper but ultimately failed.Key topicsHow Emily built and led World Relief's institutional fundraising team.Why foundation and corporate fundraising still works, if you go beyond cold RFPs and build relationships.Emily's path to mission-driven work, from family and faith to International Justice Mission.What Accion Opportunity Fund does as a digital-first nonprofit lender and CDFI.How CDFIs differ from banks and serve borrowers often considered unbankable.Accion's coaching and accelerator programs, including Brewing the American Dream with Sam Adams.Accion's impact: $1B+ lent, ~100,000 jobs, and 90%+ repayment rates.Today's fundraising challenges, including the rise of donor-directed funding.How to build partnerships by making the internal champion look good.A failed $250,000 grant at World Relief and the lesson it taught.Tactical advice for smaller organizations starting institutional fundraising.Timestamps00:00 - Welcome and recap of Emily's World Relief success00:50 - Building the institutional fundraising team02:23 - Is institutional fundraising worth it?03:18 - Relationships plus strong proposals04:31 - Why Emily chose mission-driven work05:42 - What Accion Opportunity Fund does06:50 - What a CDFI is08:31 - Why many clients are unbankable elsewhere10:13 - Coaching and accelerator programs11:05 - Brewing the American Dream12:42 - Accion's impact: $1B+ lent, 100,000 jobs14:19 - Fundraising in a new era16:09 - Mega gifts and donor-directed funding20:35 - Building relationships from the first conversation22:09 - Why the internal champion matters23:46 - A failed $250,000 grant27:00 - Turning failure into strategy28:24 - Advice for smaller organizations30:32 - How to connect with Emily and AccionResources & Links:The Kipos Group WebsiteSchedule a Discovery Call with JamesConnect with James Misner on LinkedinConnect with Emily:Accion Opportunity Fund Official WebsiteConnect with Emily on Linkedin

Mary Pat King on Leading Girl Scouts of West Central Florida Through COVID, Hurricanes, and GrowthJames Misner talks with Mary Pat King, CEO of Girl Scouts of West Central Florida, about her journey from PR and youth programs to leading a major nonprofit through a pandemic. They discuss the organization's structure, the challenges girls face today, and the tough financial and staffing calls needed to keep the mission going.Mary Pat shares how she stepped into the CEO role in March 2020, the influence of her father's legacy on her career path, and why she believes Girl Scouts builds purpose, skills, and lasting friendships over a 10-year journey. They also cover membership trends, hurricane recovery, funding, and shared leadership.Key topicsHer path from PR to youth program leadership (Safe Kids Worldwide, American Diabetes Association, National PTA)Earning her CAE credential before applying for the CEO roleBecoming CEO just as the pandemic hitHow the organization is structured (troop leaders, service units, volunteers, staff, Girl Advisory Board)Why Girl Scouts is more than "cookies, crafts, and camps"Today's girls: screen use, social comparison, mental health, risky behaviorMembership growth, then setbacks from hurricanesFunding sources: cookies, grants, corporate support, donationsStaffing cuts (85 to 77) for financial sustainabilityUsing Lencioni's The Advantage and the Working Genius framework to build a stronger teamImproved staff satisfaction through shared leadershipLong-term goals: membership growth, camp redevelopmentTimestamps00:00 – Introduction00:31 – Career path: PR to nonprofit leadership, father's influence, earning CAE, landing the CEO role02:49 – Becoming CEO in March 2020, leading through the pandemic shutdown03:09 – Girl Scouts beyond "cookies, crafts, and camps"; org structure (troop leaders, service units, staff, camp)10:58 – State of girls today: screens, mental health, social comparison, gender differences online, AI17:23 – Membership trends, hurricane disruption, and recovery20:23 – Funding model and the role of cookies21:38 – Staffing cuts and sustainability challenges23:14 – Leadership decisions: executive team, Working Genius framework, shared leadership, and avoiding the trap of doing it all yourself30:30 – Long-term goals and how to connect with Mary PatResources & Links:The Kipos Group WebsiteSchedule a Discovery Call with JamesConnect with James Misner on LinkedinConnect with Mary:Girl Scouts Official WebsiteConnect with Mary on Linkedin

How Trees Helps Smallholder Farmers Build Prosperity and Restore LandJames Misner speaks with Cate from Trees about how a nature-based organization uses regenerative agriculture, trees, and local leadership to help smallholder farmers in East Africa improve soil health, diversify crops, and strengthen livelihoods. They also discuss why climate work is inseparable from people, how carbon markets fit into nonprofit revenue, and what happens when partnerships are not the right scaling strategy.Key TopicsCate shares her career path from advertising to public health, consulting, and Trees, where her work combines curiosity, persuasion, community, and mission.Trees uses trees as a starting point to support regenerative agriculture with smallholder farmers in Africa.Its mission is twofold: restore land and unlock prosperity for farmers.Cate explains farmer-led, locally rooted delivery, including informed consent and community-based support.Farmers move from monocropping and degraded soils to diversified farms with 4–5 crops in year one and 12–15 by year three.The model improves food security, dietary diversity, composting, pest management, savings, and market access.Village savings and loans help farmers save, lend, and reinvest in their farms and communities.Cate and James discuss why framing climate work through people makes funding more compelling.Trees adapts its approach to local soil, education, markets, and gender norms across Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania.Cate explains why Trees moved away from broad partnerships when they began affecting quality and capacity.The conversation closes with how carbon credits can generate additional revenue for farmers and Trees while requiring verification and long-term permanence.Timestamps00:00 — Opening the conversation and Cate’s career path 03:10 — What Trees is and why trees are only the starting point 06:07 — How smallholder farmers experience the program 08:22 — Farm redesign, composting, and integrated pest management 09:45 — From diversified farms to savings groups and small businesses 12:47 — Why climate work must be framed through people 15:09 — Scaling across countries without losing local fit 19:23 — The partnership model that did not work 22:28 — Translating the story for donors and outside audiences 26:12 — Revenue diversification and why carbon markets matter 32:52 — How to connect with Trees and CateResources & Links:The Kipos Group WebsiteSchedule a Discovery Call with JamesConnect with James Misner on LinkedinConnect with Cate:Trees for the Future Official WebsiteConnect with Cate on Linkedin

How NeighborWorks Capital Uses Nonprofit Lending to Expand Affordable HousingJames Misner talks with Jim Peffley of NeighborWorks Capital about the affordable housing crisis, how community development financial institutions work, and the power of collaboration across the nonprofit housing sector. Jim shares his path from growing up in affordable housing to leading an institution that helps nonprofit developers access capital. They discuss the scale of the housing shortfall, how NeighborWorks Capital is structured, and why the network's collective strength gives smaller developers more leverage with investors.Key topicsJim shares how Brookview Apartments shaped his views on housing.His path went from banking to housing finance to affordable housing investing.They discuss the affordable housing continuum, from public housing to homeownership.Jim describes the scale of the housing shortage and its pressure on families.More housing alone isn't enough if it's unaffordable or blocked by zoning.NeighborWorks Capital is a nonprofit CDFI lending to housing developers.It finances land acquisition, infrastructure, and construction.The organization borrows close to $100 million a year, with $400 million in tax credits.The NeighborWorks network collectively rivals major for-profit developers.Jim explains organizing developers to negotiate better terms with investors.A failed Fannie Mae effort taught him to listen closely to customers first.Intelligent risk-taking is essential in mission-driven leadership.He closes by encouraging orgs to connect with local NeighborWorks members.Timestamps00:39 - Jim's path into affordable housing01:33 - From banking into housing finance03:41 - Today's affordable housing landscape04:55 - Scale of the housing shortfall06:30 - Housing insecurity's effect on opportunity07:58 - Why more homes isn't the whole solution09:13 - Who NeighborWorks Capital serves10:56 - Types of financing it provides11:51 - Why banks invest in it12:56 - How the nonprofit model sustains itself14:48 - Annual borrowing and lending scale15:23 - Tax credit investments and capital stack16:40 - Affordable units the network produces17:10 - Why collective bargaining power matters18:18 - NeighborWorks nonprofits as innovators19:26 - How scale advantages leave smaller groups behind22:19 - Listening as a superpower with funders23:44 - Why new partnerships require flexibility25:44 - Advice for frontline organizations27:01 - Why NeighborWorks members are the right partners28:43 - The collaborative culture of the CDFI space29:28 - What NeighborWorks Capital hopes to change next31:02 - Headwinds facing affordable housing33:40 - Where to find Jim and NeighborWorks CapitalResources & Links:The Kipos Group WebsiteSchedule a Discovery Call with JamesConnect with James Misner on LinkedinConnect with Jim:Neighborworks Capital Official WebsiteConnect with Jim on Linkedin