Oracle League Podcasts

Afam Onyema, When Philanthropy and Service is a Family Affair.

Larry’s interview with Afam speaks to his personal story as well as the heart of philanthropy.

Born in the United States, Afam has always felt the pull of his family’s ancestral homeland, Nigeria.

Taking his undergraduate degree at Harvard, Afam had a brief tenure in corporate public relations then began studying law at Stanford.

Family influence was strong, however, as his father, a physician, had devoted his life to a medical mission in his homeland.  During his studies at Stanford, he co-founded the GEANCO Foundation.  The Foundation’s name is taken from the initials of his siblings, mother and father.

Afam had found his calling.

GEANCO’s mission is to save and transform lives in Nigeria. GEANCO leads complex surgical missions to Nigeria. It runs an innovative program to fight anemia and builds modern maternity clinics to help poor, vulnerable pregnant women deliver healthy babies.

In its short history, the Foundation has been tremendously successful in both it’s mission and in its building of support

Afam’s fundraising for the Foundation subscribes to the true definition of philanthropy.  It’s two persons coming together to accomplish what neither can do alone.

Marc Stein,  It’s About Trust

Larry’s interview with successful Marc demonstrates that whatever endeavours you undertake sustained success always comes down to trust.

Marc is the chief development officer of Jews for Jesus.

As co-founder of The Global Center for Nonprofit Excellence® and co-Inventor of OpX360®, Marc is an avid entrepreneur.

His previous roles include Vice President and Executive Team Member of Joni and Friends International Disability Ministry, President of Gospel Light Worldwide, and National Director of the International Bible League.

Marc’s work in advancement and business is characterized by the desire to create trust between stakeholders.

Louis Diez, Getting to the Heart of Annual Giving

Louis Diez could be considered a polymath.  A thought leader in annual giving, he is the host of the. Donor Participation Project.

Louis is also an accomplished musician, and recognized authority on investing in the tangible assets of musical instruments.

Louis took his Ph.D. in business from the Universidad Rey Juan Carlos and his master’s in musical performance from the University of Tennessee.

He currently serves as the Executive Director of Annual Giving at Muhlenberg College.  He writes about philanthropy in his blog.

In his conversation with Larry, Louis shares his innovative and groundbreaking ideas on the parameters and dimensions of annual giving.  With Louis, it’s fundamentally about renewed relationships with donor investors.

Guillaume McMartin and Finding Your Way Through Giving

Guillaume was a firefighter and fire investigator for eight years in his hometown in Quebec, Canada.  After letting others push him around and walking on his feet since he was a child, he got a point where he lost all his self-confidence and passion for living.  He had to choose, to give up, or to find his purpose.

Since choosing to find his purpose, Guillaume has been on a journey of protecting those who cannot defend themselves including people, communities and all living things.

Through his journey through spirituality, social entrepreneurship and by listening to his heart, Guillaume founded Planet Karma with friends to inspire people around the world to do good around them by creating inspirational videos.  Generating good karma by doing good deeds for others and our planet.

Planet Karma is quickly becoming a video/TV production company to create shows to both entertain, inspire and educate humanity so that we can all live in harmony with ourselves, each other, our planet and all living things.

In his conversation with Larry, Guillaume shares who he is and where he’s going.

Sally Bryant and the Recruiting Dance

Sally Bryant serves as the president and CEO for one of the nation’s leading search firms specializing in recruiting and training advancement professionals, BRYANT GROUP.

Sally brings something often promised but rarely delivered in the recruiting world.  True relational integrity and respect for both client and candidate.  This quality has brought Sally to the pinnacle of the profession.

In this wide-ranging interview, Sally shares how she navigates between the perceived needs of her clients while delivering to them a match they might have never considered.  With her one-year guarantee, her ability to beat the odds and place candidates who often stay for a decade not months, shines bright.

What makes a top fundraiser?  What are the qualities which are in high demand but short supply?  Sally offers her candid assessments in this thoughtful session.

In her conversation with Larry, Sally describes what she sees in the future and how fundraisers and organizations alike can prepare.

Pete McCown and Community Foundation Impact

Pete McCown is a man on a mission.  With a successful portfolio of experiences in fundraising and higher education administration, destiny came calling ten years ago when he was asked to lead the Community Foundation of Elkhart County, Indiana.

His mission?  To demonstrate the primal force a community foundation can be in the lives of others.  He’s succeeding admirably.

In ten years, Pete has grown the foundation’s assets five-fold.  The Elkhart County Foundation is now one of the nation’s top 100 community foundations.  No mean feat.

For Pete, it’s about much more than money.  The Foundation isn’t the collector of donor advised funds with “nowhere to go.”  Rather, it’s a vibrant organization that is actively improving and enriching the lives of those it touches.  He’s taken leadership positions in the area that bridge philanthropy with business development.

In his conversation with Larry, Pete describes that he sees in the future and how the Foundation can become the model for community foundations everywhere.

Lisa Greer and the Philanthropy Revolution

My interview this month is with Lisa Greer.  Lisa is the author of Philanthropy Revolution: How to inspire donors, build relationships, and make a difference.

She also writes the blog, Philanthropy 451.

Lisa is what I call the “accidental philanthropist.”  Someone who has always supported her charitable passions but, through a combination of unexpected events, was thrust into a whole new level.  Lisa and her husband, Josh, live in Los Angeles, California.

We talk about her experiences, passions, struggles, and frustrations to effectively engage with nonprofit organizations.

She also shares what donors, like her, REALLY want from the nonprofits they support.  And it isn’t slavish praise or chotskies.