Ruth has over a decade of experience in the nonprofit sector, working with and raising millions for, C3, C4, and PAC organizations in areas from international water access, sanitation, and hygiene, to progressive policy, specifically focused on finding ways to advance organizational missions through philanthropy. Ruth is a passionate relationship-builder and brings that philosophy to her fundraising work to create transformational, insightful, and customized fundraising strategies. Her experience as a first-generation Kenyan-American woman and fundraising executive has crucially informed the lens through which she approaches her work. As such, diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice are at the forefront of everything she does. Ruth holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Master's in Nonprofit Management. She lives in Houston, Texas with her husband, their amazing 20-month-old daughter, and 10-year-old fur-son.

Michael Ryer, President and CEO of Amigos Internacionales, is a seasoned veteran in the realm of ministry, carrying a rich tapestry of 43 years’ experience into his leadership. His ministerial journey began in the pews of Boyd Baptist Church in Bonham, Texas, where he cut his teeth as a Music/Youth Minister. Ryer’s portfolio of service across North and East Texas is diverse, having assumed roles in youth, music, education, and administration. His academic forays are equally notable, having imparted his knowledge at Navarro College and taught virtually for Grand Canyon University, covering topics from the Old Testament to the History of Christianity.On the global stage, Ryer’s footprint as a missionary is indelible, with impactful tenures in Israel and Guam. He has also been the driving force behind mission trips to destinations as varied as the Ukraine and Belize. At the heart of his ethos is a focus on 'feeding the Hungries,' which has led to initiatives like the pursuit of a mobile kitchen project in Belize. His commitment is mirrored in his stewardship at Missionpoint Initiatives, highlighted on https://www.amigosii.org/missionpoint , where he champions educational and healthcare projects, underscoring community development and sustainability.Ryer's tenure on various non-profit boards showcases his commitment to addressing critical social issues from teen pregnancy to housing for the impoverished. His leadership acumen was especially evident during his organization of disaster relief for hurricanes Katrina and Rita victims, reflecting a hands-on approach in crisis management. Looking forward, Ryer is poised to lead Amigos Internacionales with a clear vision, aiming to scale new heights and broaden the organization's reach and influence. His journey, laden with experience and marked by a passion for service, continues to evolve, inviting others to partake in a collective mission of impactful change and humanitarian progress.

Each week my guest is a person of distinction from the humanitarian world.  Covering a wide range of interests and topics, each guest will be noteworthy by virtue of their accomplishments, insights or point of view.You hear the person as they are.  Candid.  Unfiltered.  Impactful.The bottom line?  They're doing stuff and making a difference.I hope this interview will be an inspiration to in your own life and work.This week's guest is Joe Mazzu.

Jack Salmon is the director of Policy Research at Philanthropy Roundtable. In Jack’s current role, he supports the Policy and Government Affairs team with research, commentary and analysis on issues facing the charitable sector and philanthropic freedom. His research and commentary have been featured in a variety of outlets, including The Hill, Business Insider, RealClearPolicy and National Review. Prior to joining the Roundtable, Jack served as program manager and researcher at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, where he oversaw policy relating to budgets, taxation, institutions and economic growth. Originally from the U.K., Jack graduated from King’s College London in 2015 with a Master of Arts in political economy.

Born in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Shannon White is a theologian, ministerial consultant, and ordained minister who currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee. Shannon currently holds a Master of Divinity from Vanderbilt University with a certification in Religion in the Arts and Contemporary Culture and certification from the Kelly Miller Smith Institute in Black Church Studies. As a homiletician, liturgist, organizational developer, and fundraiser, Shannon’s ministry is built on Proverbs 27:17: where Iron sharpens Iron—therefore, let’s make each other better and brighter for a blessed world.

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My interview is with Linda Hansen.  I call it Master the Pivot.  It's all about how the future can--and should-build on the past.Linda Hansen, PhD., is the CEO and Co-founder of Fund Duel Inc. The innovation of Fund Duel, a gamified online fundraising platform derived from her PhD studies on the neurochemical and psychological motivational system of humans in both positive and negative directions. She also found that there was a lack of innovation in the online fundraising sector and developed Fund Duel to address this need and also to capitalize on the motivational reward system in humans to get involved in raising money and awareness for good causes. The platform motivates engagement through fun competition, winning prizes, challenges, social media, sharing selfies and videos, etc...Dr. Hansen has owned and operated a Colorado-based guest ranch and corporate event facility, Piney River Ranch, for 8 years with 20-25 employees and several leasing departments, which was the recipient of “business of the year in Vail Valley.”  She has founded two non-profit organizations, Family Time Foundation and Pure Light Foundation and is on the executive board of the Southern California Committee for the Parliament of the World’s Religions. Dr. Hansen has a PhD from Iliff School of Theology and The University of Denver in anthropological studies that included the bio-neurological composition of humans. She has been heavily engaged in community building and networking in Denver, CO, Chicago, IL, and more recently in Los Angeles, CA.

My interview in this episode is with Dion McInnis.Dion McInnis has been involved in fundraising activities of various types for more than four decades, including 27 years in the university advancement field (development, alumni/community relations, publications, media relations) with four universities, as well as a decade with other nonprofit organizations. He has long held that fundraising is ministerial. His most recent book is Fundraiser’s Prayer Book: Insights and Inspiration for Faith-driven Fundraisers. Each fundraising story from his career is accompanied by a scriptural reference and an original prayer.He is also a lifelong photographer and writer; he has conducted classes and workshops in both fields for 40 years.  His public speaking work is inspired by his desire to help people see differently so that they can change perspectives and grow authentically. He is the author of several books, all of which ultimately involve listening to life and gaining wisdom along the way; he is most proud of Daddin’:  The Verb of Being a Dad. Many of his programs are based on a process he created that is explained in his book, LIFElines: Empowering All Aspects of Your Life.He is the father of three sons, and grandpa to six.  He and his wife live in Huntsville, Texas.

My interview in this episode is with Scott Hutchings. Scott is a father of 4, partner to 1, and a business owner working to make a difference in the world, once cent at a time. Global Coin Solutions is focused on helping charities with their fundraising initiatives by enabling them to be able to collect left over foreign currency: Any Currency, Any Amount.Further, it Scott’s goal to employ people; the more charities they help, the more funds are raised, and the more people it takes to do the work and they do this while paying a “living wage” to their staff, ensuring they don’t need the services of the charities they are supporting.

Kevin is a 25+ year veteran of non profit organizations with diverse missions and constituencies, including international education, foreign policy, aging, housing, alternative energy and more. His background includes fundraising, operations, finance, strategy, advocacy campaigns, and membership development. He has worked in the US and Europe and in addition to his professional pursuits is active as an artist and musician exhibiting and performing in the Mid-Atlantic region.

My interview in this episode is with Russell James. Russell is a professor in  the School of Financial Planning at Texas Tech University where he directs the on-campus and online graduate program in Charitable Financial Planning (planned giving).He graduated, cum laude, from the University of Missouri School of Law where he was a member of the Missouri Law Review and received the United Missouri Bank Award for Most Outstanding Work in Gift and Estate Taxation and Planning. He also holds a Ph.D. in consumer economics from the University of Missouri, where his dissertation was on charitable giving.Prior to his career as an academic researcher, Dr. James worked as the Director of Planned Giving for Central Christian College in Moberly, Missouri for 6 years and later served as president of the college for more than 5 years, where he had direct and supervisory responsibility for all fundraising. During his presidency the college successfully completed two major capital campaigns, built several new debt-free buildings, and more than tripled enrollment.Dr. James has published research in over 75 peer-reviewed scientific journal and law review articles and has been quoted on charitable and financial issues in a variety of news sources.

My interview in this episode is with Maryanne Dersch. Maryanne is the CEO and Chief Excitement Officer of Courageous Communication, LLC.Maryanne Dersch specializes in helping nonprofit organizations easily increase their influence and connect with new donors so they can raise more money without feeling rejected, ineffective or pushy.  She has spent almost thirty years working in the nonprofit world helping organizations communicate more effectively internally and externally.From her years in the biz, Maryanne understands that you can’t change how your organization communicates without changing the culture that supports the communication. And it takes good leaders to mold that culture. Courageous Communication helps you understand your gifts and value, and help others around you do the same. From board to staff to volunteers to clients, you will have a culture that embodies authentic communication. You will operate with confidence about what will happen instead of fear of what might happen.

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My interview is with Ben Stroup.Ben Stroup is Chief Growth Architect and President at Velocity Strategy Solutions, a next-generation business strategy, and management consulting firm focused on helping ambitious leaders align teams, reduce complexity, eliminate friction, and drive revenue. He is a futurist, disruptor, and data champion having served organizations from $5MM to more than $500MM in revenue for more than 18 years.Ben’s written and edited dozens of books on leadership and growth and is a frequent speaker, podcaster, and guest for business and industry groups. His most recent book, Master the Pivot, was published in 2020. Ben and his wife and two boys live in the Nashville, Tennessee area.

My interview is with Dan Mansoor.Daniel Mansoor is president of his nonprofit consulting and philanthropy advisory firm, GoodWorks, based in Cleveland, OH. From senior development positions at Cornell and Brandeis Universities to his 25-year career in private consulting, Mansoor has improved the fundraising and development efforts of diverse nonprofit institutions and advanced the development resources and professional skills of his employers and clients.GoodWorks focuses on fundraising consulting, capital campaign advisory services, and solicitation and development training. The mission of GoodWorks is to build internal development and fundraising capacity enabling clients to enrich meaningful relationships among prospects and donors and demonstrate sustained philanthropic growth.He chaired the Council on Foundation’s Family Foundation Conference (2004). In 2000 he helped found the Community Foundation of Tompkins County (Ithaca, NY), now with assets of $25 million.My conversation with Dan is like going to see Dr. Freud for fundraising advice.

My interview is with Brad Parnell.Brad is the Founder of Genie Rocket, an all-in-one CRM that will allow you to easily maintain and grow every area of your organization from one screen.This CRM allows you to reach more clients, stay organized, and generate reviews for your practice. Now you can manage your client follow-up, build funnels that convert browsers into buyers, and autopilot your client nurturing.

My interview is with Sandy Rees.Sandy is a self-described “do-gooder” but not the intrusive, goody-goody we often associate with that term. As founder of Get Fully Funded she has helped hundreds of small nonprofits go from “spaghetti-on-the-wall, nickel-and-dime” fundraising, to achieving 6 or 7-figure bottom-line results.Her mantra is making fundraising, fast, fun, and productive.  We welcome her into the Eight Principles community!When she’s not working, Sandy lives on a small farm in rural East Tennessee with 2 dogs, 6 cats, 2 horses and the occasional miniature donkey fosters. She also volunteers for Project Linus, making quilts for kids in need.My conversation with Sandy is like delving into an adventure novel with giving back as the theme.

My interview this month is with Sherry Quam Taylor.Sherry Quam Taylor, CEO of Quam Taylor, LLC, works with Nonprofit CEOs.  But not just any CEO.  First they have to prove themselves to her that they are ready for a change.  Really ready for a change.  The change? Going from never enough to more than enough.Once a nonprofit executive have proved themselves to her, Sherry breaks then and their teams free from the black hole of transactional fundraising and helps them reimagine their entire approach to revenue generationOnce done, nonprofits who emerge from this reimagination, go on to achieve dramatic organizational and fundraising success.Sherry attributes the success of her business to her passion for modeling radical confidence to the future CEOs in her house – her two teenage daughters.Sherry is the no-nonsense and can-do gal.  I found her articulate, driven and an honest delight.  Once you listen to our conversation, I think you’ll agree.

My interview this month is with Travis Johnson–no relation but I’d be delighted to claim him!Despite numerous obstacles he’s had to surmount, Travis is a successful giver in every sense of that term.His humble beginnings include 36 moves before graduating high school at 17, 6 states, 5 foster homes, and surviving 2 murder attempts. Although this was very rough, there was always a person, group, or church willing to help him and his family. Now that he’s in a position to give back, he’s made it his mission to “Help the Helpers”.Travis shares his perspective as the former vice president of Books by Vets; a board member at the S.H.I.N.E. foundation; he’s donated over $30,000; volunteered over 1,500 hours; raised more than $500,000; helped start 6 nonprofits; event coordinator; and published author.My conversation with Travis is like delving into an adventure novel with giving back as the theme.

My interview this month is with Sheryle Gillihan.Sheryle joined CauseLabs in 2010 and has grown with the company as a leader, strategist, and cultural ambassador. Growing up with her own poverty story, she has found her purpose in creating social impact for others. She fuses her hope for a better, brighter future with over 15 years of leadership, operations and technical management experience.My conversation with Sheryle explores the weft and weave of technology and ideas.