The Painful Things: A Conversation with Eileen Heisman

Tom Ahern is one of the most influential voices in donor communications. The New York Times has called him “one of the country’s most sought-after creators of fundraising messages.” A self-described writer before he could write, he has authored multiple acclaimed books, trained thousands of fundraisers around the world, and most recently published Sim One—a powerful reflection on love and loss after the death of his wife and partner, Simone Joyaux. We begin the conversation exploring his earliest memories of writing.

Sabrina Walker Hernandez is a consultant, coach, and facilitator who helps small nonprofits grow leadership, strengthen boards, and raise more money. She began her career in 1996 and spent 20 years with the Boys & Girls Clubs, including 11 as CEO in Edinburg, Texas, where she led a $12 million capital campaign, built a $500,000 endowment, and tripled revenue in one of the nation’s poorest counties. Now, as President and CEO of Building Better Boards, Sabrina trains and advises nonprofits nationwide, drawing on her academic training, deep community roots, and belief that strong relationships drive lasting impact. Our conversation begins by asking about her early years growing up in a home rooted in faith and service, and how that prepared her for one of the biggest challenges any of us can face.

Rebecca van Bergen and Chris Van Bergen are the visionary leaders behind Nest, a nonprofit advancing gender equity and economic inclusion in the global artisan and maker economy. As Founder and Executive Director, Rebecca launched Nest in 2006 at just 24, building partnerships with brands like Etsy and Patagonia to support over 250,000 artisans across 120+ countries and pioneering global standards for home-based work. Chris, Nest’s Chief Financial and Operating Officer since 2011, has helped guide the organization through rapid growth, leading ethical compliance efforts and expanding programs that serve thousands of small businesses worldwide. Together, they’ve redefined the role of handmade craft in the global economy—empowering communities, promoting transparency, and shaping a more equitable future for workers everywhere. In this conversation, we talk about their journey together as partners in life and work, their challenges and joys, and what they imagine for the future.

Karyn Grossman Gershon is CEO of Project Kesher and the architect of its international network of feminist Jewish leaders. She has helped raise over $40 million to support Jewish women and girls across Eastern Europe and Israel, advancing gender equality, public health, and Jewish life. Most recently, she’s helped shape a gendered response to the war in Ukraine. We begin the conversation with her earliest memories of social activism.

Eileen Heisman is one of philanthropy’s most influential leaders. As the founding President and CEO of National Philanthropic Trust, she grew it into a global powerhouse, facilitating over $63 billion in charitable giving. A ten-time honoree on the NonProfit Times Power & Influence Top 50, she’s advised world leaders, taught at Penn, and shaped the future of donor-advised funds. In this conversation, we trace her journey—from childhood lessons in inclusion and innovation to her early years in politics, and through more than three decades at the helm of one of the nation’s leading engines of giving.

A former attorney who walked away from law to find his true calling in philanthropy, Tony Martignetti has spent over 27 years helping organizations grow and thrive. He’s the founder of Martignetti Planned Giving Advisors and the host of Tony Martignetti Nonprofit Radio, where he’s been sharing expert insights and candid conversations with nonprofit leaders since 2010. In this conversation, we hear his journey from the AV club to a nuclear missile silo and from the comedy stage to podcasting and activism today.

Maya Kupperman has spent her career building organizations that drive innovation in philanthropy. As co-founder and CEO of Temelio, she’s using AI to make grantmaking faster and more efficient. Before that, she helped grow MainStreet from a seed-stage startup to Series B and advised The Farmlink Project, which connects surplus farm produce to food banks. With a background in tech, nonprofits, and software development—and a degree in Human Biology and Education from Stanford—she brings a unique perspective to the space. But her passion for impact started much earlier. We begin our conversation with the story of A Chance to Dance, the organization she founded at 12 to bring free dance classes to children in migrant farmworker communities where she was born.

James Misner is committed to building systems that create lasting impact. Growing up near Philadelphia in the 1990s, he was struck by his community’s negative attitudes toward refugees from the Balkans and Rwanda. This led him to study political science, work in resettlement, and dedicate his career to helping nonprofits secure the resources they need to drive change. After roles in refugee resettlement at Wheaton Bible Church and McLean Bible Church, he spent a decade at World Relief as Senior Vice President of Strategic Engagement, leading partnerships and revenue strategy. Now, as Founder and CEO of The Kipos Group, he helps small and mid-sized nonprofits overcome fundraising barriers and grow sustainably. In this conversation, we explore his journey—from hands-on refugee work to rethinking nonprofit fundraising—beginning in the neighborhood where it all started.

Jim Langley is a leading voice in philanthropy. As President of Langley Innovations, he’s helped hundreds of institutions rethink fundraising through research-driven strategies. A former advancement leader at Georgetown, UC San Diego, and Georgia Tech, he’s led groundbreaking campaigns and shaped best practices in donor engagement. Through his books, articles, and seminars, he continues to guide organizations in navigating the evolving world of philanthropy. In this conversation, we traced the arc of his life and work, starting with a visit to his hometown. 

Sara Lomelin is a philanthropy disruptor and the founding CEO of Philanthropy Together, a global movement advancing collective giving. She’s the creator of the Latino Giving Circle Network, the largest network of Latinx philanthropists in the U.S., and a TED speaker recognized on Forbes’ 50 Over 50: Impact List. Sara is passionate about shifting power in philanthropy and proving that everyone can be a philanthropist.