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On The Ground

On The Ground

Written by: James Misner
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As CEO of The Kipos Group, James Misner has spent years in the trenches with nonprofit leaders. "On the Ground" brings those conversations to you—unfiltered insights by nonprofit leaders, for nonprofit leaders.

Real Leaders. Real Challenges. Real Solutions.

2026 James Misner
Economics Management Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • Lead With Optimism or Get Out of the Way: Kendra Davenport on Running a National Nonprofit
    Apr 28 2026

    Adaptive Show Notes for "Leading with Innovation and Humanity at Easterseals" Podcast Episode

    Join us as Kendra Ennis Davenport, President and CEO of Easterseals, shares how the organization serves over 1 million people annually by blending tradition with innovation, storytelling with impact, and optimism with realism. Discover how Easterseals navigates funding gaps, scales care, and advocates for disability awareness with heart and ingenuity.

    Main Topics:

    • The evolution and ongoing innovation at Easterseals over 107 years
    • Creative models for adult disability services, including the open-air PIAT center
    • Fundraising strategies that humanize and elevate adult programs
    • The power of storytelling and participant agency in advocacy
    • Leaders' resilience in challenging nonprofit environments
    • Building a national brand movement similar to breast cancer awareness
    • Strategies for smaller nonprofits to scale impact and grow support

    In this episode:

    • Kendra shares how Easterseals combines its rich heritage with innovative service delivery
    • An inside look at the open-air adult day program in Southern California
    • The importance of storytelling and participant consent in advocacy campaigns
    • Lessons learned from a failed gaming program and pivoting with transparency
    • How to foster positivity and resilience in nonprofit leadership
    • Strategies to grow awareness and support for disability issues through example organizations like Susan G. Komen
    • Practical advice for small nonprofits to step out of comfort zones and expand their impact

    Timestamps:

    00:00 - Introduction to Easterseals and its impact on over a million individuals annually

    00:31 - Kendra's background and vision for sustaining innovation over 107 years

    01:56 - The juxtaposition of tradition and innovation at Easterseals

    03:19 - Innovative adult day services — open-air centers and personalized care models

    05:00 - The story of the PIAT open-air adult day center in Southern California

    07:05 - Fundraising challenges and human storytelling for adult programs

    09:15 - Engaging veteran stories to highlight resilience and purpose

    11:56 - Maintaining positivity despite national funding challenges

    14:49 - How Easterseals continues to evolve and celebrate long-term impact

    16:58 - The importance of storytelling, authenticity, and participant agency

    22:51 - Lessons learned from a failed gaming program and pivoting with transparency

    22:58 - Crafting stories that balance honesty with emotional connection

    28:40 - The role of personal stories in advocacy and fundraising success

    33:31 - Building a national awareness movement for disability akin to breast cancer campaigns

    34:00 - Advice for small nonprofits aspiring to grow impact

    38:02 - Connecting with Easterseals and future leadership initiatives

    Resources & Links:

    • Kipos Group
    • Schedule a call

    Connect with Kendra:

    • Kendra Ennis Davenport - LinkedIn
    • Easterseals
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    40 mins
  • From $7,000 to $800,000: How North Bay Transformed Its Fundraising Strategy
    Apr 23 2026

    From $7,000 to $800,000: How North Bay Transformed Its Fundraising Strategy

    Discover how North Bay, a 17-year-old outdoor education organization, shifted from negligible fundraising to confidently raising nearly $800,000 annually. Jen Foy shares her journey, strategies, and lessons learned to inspire nonprofit leaders to rethink their funding models and systems.

    In this episode:

    • The storytelling power of cohesive messaging in fundraising
    • How North Bay identified and invested in foundational partnerships
    • The importance of starting small with systems and processes
    • Strategies for building a community presence and recognition
    • Lessons learned from failed outreach efforts
    • The role of team culture and leadership in risk-taking and learning
    • Practical steps to grow a donor list from scratch
    • The concept of 'learning labs' for continuous improvement
    • The significance of 'day in the life' visits for engagement
    • Future fundraising plans and expanding donor pipelines

    Timestamps:

    00:00 - Introduction: The mission to change nonprofit funding perceptions
    01:51 - Jen Foy’s background and North Bay's vision
    02:58 - Challenges faced: organizational burnout and funding crises
    04:09 - The fundraising vacuum: initial small donations and reliance on grants
    05:32 - Entering a new era: from $7,000 to $800,000 in annual revenue
    10:00 - Building foundation and corporation partnerships: starting points
    11:11 - The decision to invest in fundraisers: making a strategic leap
    12:46 - Overcoming fear: why investment was a necessity
    13:46 - Navigating community perception and awareness gaps
    15:11 - Why North Bay focused on corporate and foundation funding
    16:51 - Setting up effective systems: KPIs, tracking, and iteration
    18:13 - Embracing imperfect systems: starting small and scaling
    19:10 - The 'day in the life' visits approach and its impact on engagement
    21:37 - Lessons from failures: email campaigns and event turnout
    23:13 - Reflecting and learning: debriefs and team culture
    26:17 - Leadership principles fostering a collaborative, risk-tolerant team
    27:14 - Next steps: expanding the donor base and future growth
    28:24 - Final advice: start small, take risks, and learn fast

    Resources & Links:

    • The Kipos Group Website
    • Book a discovery Call with James M.

    Connect with Jen Foy:

    • LinkedIn

    Connect with James Misner:

    • LinkedIn
    Show More Show Less
    32 mins
  • $10 Million in 90 Days: How World Relief Housed 3,998 Refugee Families When the Government Cut Funds
    Apr 7 2026

    In this episode of On the Ground with James Misner, James sits down with Calla Parker and Matt Soerens to unpack how World Relief mobilized a rapid, faith-driven response—raising $10 million in just 90 days and housing 3,998 refugee families.

    This conversation goes beyond the numbers. Calla and Matt share what it looked like to navigate sudden policy shifts, respond to urgent human need, and lead through uncertainty while staying grounded in mission. They also reveal the behind-the-scenes strategy—how advocacy, storytelling, and donor engagement came together to fuel one of the most critical fundraising efforts in recent history.

    Show More Show Less
    44 mins
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