Episode 30: Leadership Lessons
About The Episode
This week on The Fundraising Elevator, we welcome Steve Johns, CEO of OneCause and author of “Fearless.” Steve offers valuable strategies for nonprofit leaders to navigate the sector’s evolving landscape, emphasizing the power of personalized relationships with donors, adaptability, resilience and the necessity to embrace fearlessness as a catalyst for innovation and growth.
Show Notes
A Dive into Leadership Flux: The nonprofit sector today faces considerable turmoil, especially in its leadership landscape. Steve emphasizes a long-term vision, advising leaders to remain committed to their core missions while being flexible in their strategies. Drawing parallels with the stock market’s ups and downs, he underscores the industry’s resilience and the importance of keeping an eye on the horizon.
The Essence of Donor Relationships: In light of donor fatigue and retention challenges, Steve champions the “TIME” acronym: Trust, Impact, Mission, Easy. This framework serves as a guiding principle for nonprofits to deepen donor engagement, ensuring that these relationships evolve beyond mere transactions.
Navigating Through Adversity: Reflecting on the transformative period of 2020, Steve shares insights on transforming adversity into opportunity. Looking ahead to 2024, amidst recovering from the pandemic’s shadow and economic upheavals, there’s a bullish outlook for the sector, buoyed by positive wealth indicators and a steadfast commitment to fearless action.
Lessons from the Pandemic Era: Steve recounts the pivot OneCause and its nonprofit partners had to make during the pandemic’s peak. From reimagining fundraising events virtually to raising over $500 million for various causes, these narratives underscore the power of adaptability and collaboration in overcoming unprecedented challenges.
The Power of Fearless Leadership: Going beyond the business model, Steve shares personal leadership philosophies drawn from his book “Fearless.” The compilation of letters and reflections during the pandemic offers a vivid blueprint on leading with vulnerability, empathy, and transparency.
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About the Guests
Steve Johns is the CEO of OneCause, a fundraising software company helping nonprofits build better tomorrows. He brings over 30 years of experience in technology, corporate development, venture capital, event production, and entrepreneurship to his role.
When he’s not leading fearlessly, you can find him jamming to classic rock tunes, walking the sands of Cocoa Beach with his family, or cheering on his beloved Chicago White Sox.
Resources
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