The Biggest Challenges Facing Nonprofits

Tom McGrath speaks with Lynette Sutton, managing partner of Girl Concrete, a union contractor specializing in structural and site concrete. Sutton shares how she moved from reproductive biology into construction, built a company rooted in local hiring, and developed a construction-inspired financial literacy book for young adults.Girl Concrete is a self-performing contractor whose workforce is approximately 98 percent from the greater Philadelphia region.Sutton describes her path from a master’s degree in reproductive biology and work on HIV and STD efforts in sub-Saharan Africa to home renovation, real estate, and construction.She founded Girl Concrete in 2022 after seeing the infrastructure investment ahead and recognizing an opportunity in concrete contracting.In a male-dominated industry, the company built credibility by putting its own crews on projects and letting completed jobs serve as references.Sutton sees community impact as part of the work itself: local people should have the chance to work on and benefit from the region’s growth.Girl Concrete partners with Hopeworks in Camden and Kensington to support young people’s training in street mapping and construction.Sutton’s forthcoming book, Concrete Wealth: The Next Generation’s Guide to Financial Strength, uses construction metaphors to explain money foundations, saving, investing, budgeting, credit, cash flow, and entrepreneurship.Sutton says Girl Concrete grew from $6,900 in initial gross revenue to nearly $20 million, and hopes the book helps young people see that building wealth is possible for them, too.She describes the Satell Institute’s approach as finding nonprofits whose missions align with a business and making a lasting commitment, rather than waiting to be asked or simply writing a check.

Special Olympics, community impact, and building lasting partnershipsTom McGrath sits down with Matt Aaron, Chief Operating Officer of Special Olympics International and longtime Special Olympics Pennsylvania CEO, for a conversation about how Special Olympics has grown from a single event in Chicago into a global movement serving more than 5 million athletes. They discuss the organization’s mission, the power of unified sports, and why its work with corporate partners is designed to create long-term community impact rather than transactional sponsorships. Matt shares how Special Olympics uses sports, education, health, and leadership to build inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities, and why volunteers, athletes, and business partners all play a role in that mission.Key topicsMatt Aaron outlines Special Olympics’ evolution from the 1968 World Games in Chicago to a global nonprofit operating in about 200 countries.The organization now serves more than 5 million athletes, with only about 10% based in the United States.Special Olympics’ mission has stayed remarkably consistent over the decades, even as the language and delivery methods have evolved.The movement goes beyond sports, with work in education, health, and leadership aimed at helping people with intellectual disabilities become respected community members.Matt explains how global awareness varies widely, noting that Special Olympics is widely recognized in the U.S. but still emerging in many other regions.The 2027 World Games in Santiago, Chile, will be the first World Games held in Latin America and will support a broader regional legacy plan.Unified sports bring athletes with and without intellectual disabilities onto the same teams, changing how people view one another through shared competition.Matt describes his own path from Navy aviator to nonprofit leader, shaped by volunteer work, community connection, and an MBA focused on nonprofit management.The conversation highlights the role of grassroots volunteers and coaches, who often say they get more back from Special Olympics than they give.Matt makes the case that people with intellectual disabilities should not only be seen as peers, but also as leaders and role models.Loretta Claiborne is featured as a powerful example of that leadership, with a life story that includes 26 marathons, board service, and decades of advocacy.The partnership model between Special Olympics and corporate supporters is framed as relationship-based, long-term, and mutually beneficial, closely aligning with the Satell Institute’s philosophy.

In this episode, Tom McGrath sits down with Tom Grech, CEO and President of the Queens Chamber of Commerce, to explore how the Chamber boosts economic development, promotes diversity, and fosters community resilience in Queens—New York City's most diverse borough. Discover how their work supports small businesses, attracts major investments, and drives innovative initiatives in technology and sustainability.Key Topics:The historical role and evolution of the Queens Chamber of Commerce since 1911How Queens’ diversity—190 languages and 300 countries—shapes Chamber strategiesThe impact of recent development projects: LaGuardia airport, JFK overhaul, mega casino entertainment projects, and US OpenSupport for small and large businesses, including mom-and-pop shops and corporationsThe Chamber’s core functions: education, advocacy, and networkingInitiatives in workforce development, including a cybersecurity academy and tech incubatorsExamples of companies giving back through philanthropy, internships, and community engagementThe importance of supporting not-for-profit organizations as part of economic and community growthCollaboration with elected officials and community organizations to streamline regulations and promote growthFuture plans: tech innovation, minority women-owned startups, and leadership in AI and cyber securityTimestamps:00:00 - Introduction to Queens Chamber of Commerce’s role in community growth02:00 - Overview of Queens' diversity and economic landscape05:00 - Historical background and evolution of the Chamber since 191108:30 - Major development projects transforming Queens (airports, casinos, stadiums)12:00 - How local businesses—from mom-and-pops to multinationals—benefit from Chamber programs15:00 - Core mission: education, advocacy, and networking features and success stories18:00 - Chamber’s work supporting workforce development and tech innovation22:00 - Philanthropy and corporate social responsibility initiatives in Queens25:00 - Collaboration with community organizations and overcoming regulation barriers28:00 - Future initiatives: cybersecurity, minority-owned startups, and global competitiveness30:00 - Closing remarks and the Chamber’s vision for the future

In this episode, Jennifer Alleva, CEO of Your Part-Time Controller (which works with 2300 nonprofits across the country), shares her insights on the biggest issues facing the nonprofit sector — from competition for donors to talent retention. Alleva says those headwinds make having strong operational and financial management more necessary than ever.

In this episode of the Satell Institute's Executive Session Podcast, Tom McGrath speaks with Leslie Walker, the executive director of the Sixers Youth Foundation, a longtime Satell Institute member. They discuss the intersection of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and professional sports, particularly focusing on the Philadelphia 76ers. Leslie shares her journey into philanthropy, the foundation's focus areas, current projects, and the importance of community engagement. The conversation highlights the role of corporate partnerships, the impact of the Sixers brand, and the future goals of the foundation.

How important is collaboration between for-profit and nonprofit organizations when it comes to improving communities? It's essential. In this episode, Michael Costello (CEO of GNC), and Chelsea Musial (from the American Diabetes Association) visit the podcast to talk about their powerful partnership.The guests discuss the alignment of their missions, the robust relationship between their organizations, the benefits of long-term commitment, and the future initiatives aimed at scaling impact. The episode showcases the integration of CSR into business operations, the importance of personal relationships, and the collaborative efforts to drive positive change in the community.TakeawaysStrong partnership between a for-profit corporation and a non-profit organizationCorporate social responsibility and community impactChapters00:00 Introduction to the Podcast06:21 Partnership and Collaboration11:56 Leadership and Communication17:55 Long-Term Commitment and Planning26:01 Membership and Future Initiatives

Marc Brownstein, CEO of award-winning branding firm the Brownstein Group, visits the podcast and talks about why Corporate Social Responsibility is no longer just a "nice" thing to do — it's essential for your company's long-term growth.Marc talks about why companies need to develop a targeted CSR strategy and why authenticity is crucial. He also discusses brands that are doing CSR right — and seeing a big impact because of it.Timestamps00:00 - Introduction to the episode and guest Marc Brownstein's background02:45 - Brownstein Group’s evolution and expansion of services04:40 - The cultural shift towards increased CSR focus06:55 - The relationship between CSR and corporate branding07:53 - Cause-related marketing examples (Subaru, Alex’s Lemonade Stand)09:17 - Consumer expectations, especially among Gen Z10:36 - Effective storytelling and authentic communication strategies12:20 - Leadership’s role in embedding CSR into corporate culture13:49 - Risks of inauthentic CSR efforts and reputation management14:27 - Case study of NJM Insurance’s community involvement17:00 - Virtuous cycle: employee engagement, brand loyalty, and community impact19:23 - The strategic focus on select causes for greater impact22:39 - Future trends: nonprofit consolidation and increased CSR pressure25:06 - Moving from token gestures to strategic CSR initiatives26:54 - The role of industry peer exchange through the Satell Institute28:01 - The value of CEO conferences and peer learning in CSR strategy29:24 - The importance of storytelling platforms and transparency32:00 - Closing thoughts on long-term CSR strategy and authenticityResources & LinksSatell InstituteBrownstein GroupSubaru’s Cause Marketing CampaignsAlex’s Lemonade Stand FoundationNJM Insurance Community InitiativesConnect with Marc BrownsteinLinkedInTwitter