In this powerful new episode of Jim Eskin's Nonprofit North Stars, Jim sits down with Graeme Watt, a visionary leader bridging the for-profit and nonprofit worlds. Together, they unpack how nonprofits can embrace bold storytelling, digital innovation, and human-centered connection to rise above the noise.

From learning risk-taking from the business world to rediscovering empathy in the age of AI, this conversation explores the future of fundraising, marketing, and mission-driven leadership.

👉 Tune in to learn how your organization can stand out, tell its best story, and flourish in our fast-changing digital landscape.

🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts!

A college education has never been so essential as it is in today's complex, fast-changing and technology driven workplace. You must have the capacity to be a lifelong learner. The Student Expedition Program (STEP College-Prep) launched in 2004, an innovative college access and leadership program for low-income Arizona high-school students is opening huge doors of opportunity.

While only 14% of low-income students earn a college degree, an awesome 96% of STEP scholars are attending or have graduated college. Dr. Tracy Baynes is the Founder and CEO. Building on her 25 years of teaching and expedition leadership experience reinforced by a firm belief that learning in an unfamiliar and challenging environment is a transformative experience, she has evolved a mission to help high school students broaden their horizons and consider college options well beyond what they had heard was possible.

Let's learn how Dr. Baynes has empowered thousands of young men and women to defy the odds and achieve brighter futures.

www.jimeskinpodcast.com

In this episode of Non-Profit North Stars, host Jim Eskin sits down with Christa Stelzmuller, Chief Technology Officer at Charity Water, to explore how technology and data are transforming the fight for global access to clean drinking water. With nearly one in ten people worldwide lacking safe water, the consequences ripple through health, education, and economic opportunities—especially for women and children.

Key Takeaways:
✅ Tech for Good – How Charity Water uses data and innovation to expand clean water access.
✅ Leadership with Purpose – Krista's approach to leading with empathy and impact.
✅ Scaling Solutions – The role of technology in improving efficiency and transparency in nonprofit work.
✅ Empowering Communities – How access to clean water transforms lives, especially for women and children.

Tune in to hear Krista's inspiring journey and the groundbreaking work Charity Water is doing to end the global water crisis—one innovative solution at a time.

In this inspiring episode of Non-Profit North Stars with Jim Eskin, we spotlight Cody Knowlton, President and CEO of the Baptist Health Foundation of San Antonio. Since 2012, Cody has led the foundation in awarding grants to nearly 100 nonprofits annually, impacting healthcare, food security, and faith-based initiatives. With a background in higher education fundraising, Cody brings a unique perspective on both sides of philanthropy—soliciting and granting funds. He shares insights into the challenges of fundraising, the foundation's most impactful grants, and how faith and strategy drive their mission.

Key Takeaways:
Fundraising vs. Grantmaking: Cody reflects on his years in fundraising and grantmaking, explaining why soliciting gifts is often more challenging than deciding who receives funding.
✅ The Power of Strategic Giving: The foundation has awarded over $100 million in grants while growing its endowment from $150M to $270M, showing the impact of responsible financial stewardship.
✅ Transformative Grants: Learn about the foundation's first $1M grant to UT Health's Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer's, setting a precedent for high-impact giving.
✅ Faith as a Guiding Principle: The foundation's mission is deeply rooted in faith, ensuring their work supports not just health initiatives but also the greater good of the community.

Tune in to hear how Cody and the Baptist Health Foundation of San Antonio are making a lasting difference, one grant at a time.

In this episode of Non-Profit North Stars with Jim Eskin, we spotlight Larry Kosow, Principal and Treasurer of Venture Tape, whose lifelong passion for philanthropy and Boston University has shaped his extraordinary journey. A dedicated BU alumnus with a deep family legacy at the university, Larry has played a pivotal role in supporting BU's storied hockey program, including funding the university's TV broadcast booth in memory of his father.

Larry shares the story of his family's immigration, perseverance, and entrepreneurial success—how his grandfather's journey through Ellis Island and his father's service in World War II led to a deep-rooted commitment to education and philanthropy. He also dives into his love for BU hockey, his involvement with the Friends of BU Hockey, and how sports became a bridge between his family's values and his philanthropic efforts.

✅ Family Legacy & Philanthropy – How generational values shaped Larry's commitment to giving back.
✅ The Power of Education – The impact of BU on Larry's life and why he continues to support its programs.
✅ Building Community Through Sports – How Larry's involvement in BU hockey helped forge a lasting legacy.
✅ Lessons in Business & Nonprofits – Insights from Larry's entrepreneurial journey and how they translate to nonprofit success.
✅ Giving Back With Purpose – The importance of philanthropy in creating lasting change.

Tune in for an inspiring conversation about leadership, legacy, and the power of community.

In this episode of Non-Profit North Stars, host Jim Eskin sits down with Dr. Susan Korbel, founder of Core Research, to discuss the crucial role market research plays in the nonprofit sector. With over three decades of experience, Dr. Korbel has helped countless organizations—both public and private—make informed decisions that maximize their impact. From strategic planning to feasibility studies, she shares how nonprofits can apply research to stretch their resources and better fulfill their missions.

This insightful conversation sheds light on how nonprofits can leverage data to navigate today's challenges, optimize fundraising efforts, and drive meaningful change.

• Research Fuels Impact – Nonprofits benefit from data-driven decisions just as much as for-profit businesses, particularly in strategic planning and fundraising.
• Measuring Success Can Be Complex – Unlike for-profit organizations that focus on financial ROI, nonprofits must evaluate mission-driven outcomes, which can be harder to quantify.
• Stretching Resources is Essential – With limited funding, nonprofits must maximize every dollar, making market research an invaluable tool for effective decision-making.
• Women in Leadership – Dr. Korbel shares her journey as a female entrepreneur and the importance of mentoring other women in business.
• The Power of Collaboration – Research and fundraising go hand in hand, and strong partnerships between researchers and nonprofit leaders can enhance long-term sustainability.

Tune in to hear how nonprofits can make smarter, more strategic choices in a world where every decision matters.

In this special 17th episode of Non-Profit North Stars with Jim Eskin, we are joined by Caroline Schumacher, CEO of the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (ASF), to explore how ASF is nurturing the next generation of STEM leaders and innovators. With a mission rooted in the legacy of America's pioneering astronauts, ASF is propelling the United States toward sustained global leadership in technology and innovation. Carolyn shares the foundation's inspiring history, the rigorous selection process for scholars, and her vision for reigniting public enthusiasm for space exploration.

Key Takeaways:

1. Mission-Driven Leadership: Discover how ASF identifies and supports the brightest STEM talent to ensure continued U.S. leadership in technology and innovation.
2. The Legacy of Risk-Taking: Learn how the courage and vision of America's astronauts continue to inspire generations of scientists, engineers, and innovators.
3. Building Confidence Through Recognition: Hear how ASF scholarships not only provide financial support but also instill life-changing confidence in young scholars.
4. Education and Perseverance: Explore the role of educators and mentors in overcoming challenges and encouraging students to pursue STEM careers.
5. The Future of Space Exploration: Gain insights into the importance of public enthusiasm and investment in space exploration, from the Moon to Mars.
6. The Power of Storytelling: Understand how personal stories of scholars and astronauts inspire others to aim higher and persevere in their journeys.

Tune in for an uplifting episode celebrating bold leadership, innovation, and the pursuit of excellence in STEM and beyond.

In this inspiring 16th episode of Non-Profit North Stars with Jim Eskin, we spotlight Kevin L. Brown, Founding Partner and CEO of Mighty Ally, a global force in nonprofit strategy and branding. Speaking from Malaysia, Kevin shares the story behind his new book,

Fundable & Findable The Brand-New Way to Fix Your Nonprofit Fundraising, a labor of love born from years of consulting, training, and community-driven research with 340+ nonprofits in 51 countries.

Kevin unpacks his bold Fundable/Findable Framework, explaining how nonprofit leaders can finally escape the starvation cycle and stop the endless donor chase.

Whether you're leading a grassroots initiative or scaling a global nonprofit, this episode offers real, actionable insights for leaders ready to rethink the way they grow their missions.

• The Nonprofit Starvation Cycle is Real: Most nonprofits operate in survival mode, stuck in an endless loop of fundraising just to stay afloat.

• Fundraising Alone Can't Fix Fundraising: Kevin argues that the traditional donor chase model is broken, and a deeper strategy is needed.

• The Fundable/Findable Framework:

  • Fundable: Showing donors why you exist, what you do, who will do it, where you're going, how to get there, and when it will be done.

  • Findable: Occupying a distinct space in the minds of your ideal funders, and routinely communicating your promises to them.

• Your Brand Is More Than a Logo: Brand clarity means aligning your theory of change, strategic plan, positioning strategy, and marketing communications in a sequential, thoughtful way.

• Democratizing Access to Expertise: Kevin's mission is to make these tools available to nonprofits of all sizes — not just the big ones with budgets for consultants.

• If 'Brand' Sounds Too Corporate… Call it identity, clarity, unity, or direction — what matters is that you do the work to define and share your mission in a compelling way.

🌐 Learn more about Kevin's work and explore the Fundable/Findable Framework at: fundablefindable.org