Oracle League Podcasts

Sheryle Gillihan, Technology for Positive Impact

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.

Shawn Olds, Creating Relationships through Digital Engagement

My conversation this month is with Shawn, Olds. Shawn is a technology and communications thought leader currently serving as the CEO for boodleAI, an AI-powered Enriched Analytics and Advertising solution that has been used to significantly lift conversion, engagement, and retention rates among current and prospective donors. Shawn is a military veteran who served on active duty in the 82nd Airborne Division. After September 11th, 2001, he elected to work with the U. S. Department of States’ Office for Counter-Terrorism and in 2020, was appointed and currently serves as a Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army.

Larry’s conversation with Shawn explores the weft and weave of technology and ideas.

Becky Endicott, Using the Power of Authenticity to Connect

My conversation this month is with Becky Endicott, co-founder of We Are For Good.  Becky, in her words, is a “storyteller, kindness champion, philanthropy celebrator, justice seeker, humanity endorser, envelope pusher, people lover and just a general awkwardness embracer.”

She believes so firmly in authenticity to drive a narrative, she often shares the most self-deprecating things about herself in the process, because she understands connection isn’t simply derived from the joy-filled moments – they’re found in the messiest ones too.

Her life and work is truly Principle 2 of The Eight Principles®:  Begin at the Beginning™ in action.

Becky values the power of words and the personal connections among each of us. She believes both are critical to stitching together the fabric of every powerful experience leading to giving. When combining the right tenor, pacing, and word choice by a courageous storyteller, she believes a story can unfold to move the hearts and minds of a large population who want to do good. This is transformational philanthropy at its finest, and it’s her passion to set it in motion.

Larry’s conversation with Becky is truly a delight.

Tricia and Scott Roseveare, Creating Relationships Through Digital Engagement

Truly a “dynamic duo”, Tricia and Scott are a husband wife team that combined their skills and experience to create a digital fundraising platform that makes it primary benefit authentic donor engagement.  Tricia is a nationally known brand marketing and strategy expert who complements Scott’s 25 years of experience in the technology sector.

Their company, Z Give, is a one-of-a-kind digital auction platform that creates authentic donor engagement, thereby becoming a gateway for new donor-investors into an organization.

Z Give builds on innovative online platform and methodology that redefined the way organization utilizes donor insights for design and engagement development.

Larry’s conversation with Tricia and Scott explores the weft and weave of a ground breaking product created by two immensely talented individuals.

Cami Cotton,  When the Job Comes Calling, Cami Gets Working

Cami was serving at the Tucson Museum of Art when the pandemic upended—practically—everything.  Cami, never one to be outdone, rose to the occasion.  Not only did the museum weather the storm, it prospered.  Thanks, in large part, to Cami’s dedication and entrepreneurial spirit.

A native of Idaho Falls, Idaho, Cami had a solid record of effective fundraising in nonprofit management and fundraising when she arrived in Tucson.  She’s always at the ready with additional experience in electrical contracting and administering a big-rig training school.

Larry’s conversation with Cami is a true delight.  Larry will tell you that we need many more Cami’s in the philanthropic world.  Her refreshing can-do and pragmatic candor are a clear cool morning breeze

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.