What does it really take to lead a nonprofit successfully and raise millions of dollars for a mission?

In this episode of The Route To Success, host Sara Orellana sits down with veteran nonprofit leader Jake White to talk about leadership, fundraising strategy, and the realities of running mission-driven organizations.

With more than 35 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, Jake White has helped organizations raise over $150 million, including a single $5.3 million fundraising ask. In this conversation, he shares practical lessons on building donor relationships, creating strong systems, working with boards, and guiding teams through financial and organizational challenges.

Sara and Jake also discuss the leadership mindset needed to grow nonprofit organizations, how transparency strengthens teams, and why focusing on outcomes rather than activities can transform an organization’s impact.

If you are a nonprofit leader, executive director, board member, fundraiser, or someone interested in mission-driven leadership, this episode offers valuable insights you can apply immediately.

In this episode you’ll learn

• How successful nonprofits build strong fundraising systems
• What it takes to raise major gifts and build donor trust
• The role of board leadership and governance in nonprofit success
• Why transparency and communication matter for strong teams
• How leaders can stabilize organizations during difficult times
• Practical lessons from raising more than $150 million for nonprofits
• Leadership habits that improve culture and team performance

Guest
Jake White
Nonprofit leader with over 35 years of experience in fundraising, leadership, and organizational strategy. Throughout his career, he has helped mission-driven organizations raise more than $150 million and build sustainable development systems.

Connect via https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakewhitemba/

Books mentioned in this episode

• Turn the Ship Around
• Leaders Eat Last
• Extreme Ownership
• It’s Your Ship
• The Fundraiser’s Guidebook by Jake White

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to like, subscribe, and share it with leaders and professionals working in nonprofit organizations.

About the podcast

The Route To Success is a leadership podcast hosted by Sara Orellana, featuring real conversations with leaders about resilience, growth, leadership, and building organizations that make a meaningful impact.

#NonprofitLeadership #FundraisingStrategy #LeadershipPodcast #JakeWhite #SaraOrellana #NonprofitManagement #LeadershipDevelopment #TheRouteToSuccess

Welcome to The Route to Success! 🎙️

In this powerful episode, Sara Orellana sits down in person with Joseph Zolobczuk, Executive Director of the YES Institute, for a thoughtful conversation about resilience, identity, connection, and hope in uncertain times.

For more than three decades, Joseph and the YES Institute have helped transform conversations around gender, orientation, and mental health—creating spaces where youth, families, and communities can build understanding and thrive together.

In this episode, Sara and Joseph explore:

• How small sparks of hope can help us through our darkest moments
• Why community and connection are essential for mental health
• Rethinking resilience as growth and evolution, not just “bouncing back”
• The power of listening in difficult conversations
• How families and communities can rebuild trust and understanding
• Practical ways to navigate burnout, uncertainty, and loneliness

Joseph also shares insights from his own journey at age 18, how one conversation changed his life, and why no one has to face their struggles alone.

This conversation is an honest, compassionate reminder that every person has value, purpose, and the potential to create meaningful connection—even in challenging times.

✨ If you’ve ever struggled with uncertainty, identity, burnout, or feeling disconnected, this episode is for you.

🔗 Connect with Joseph via https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-zolobczuk/

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👍 If you enjoyed this episode:
• Like the video
• Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, resilience, and personal growth
• Share it with someone who might need a little hope today

#TheRouteToSuccess #SaraOrellana #JosephZolobczuk #YESInstitute #MentalHealth #Resilience #Community #Leadership #Hope

Welcome to The Route to Success with Sarah Orellana.

In this episode, Sarah sits down with David Bakelman, a seasoned nonprofit executive with more than 25 years of experience leading regional, national, and global organizations. Known for stepping into complex environments and driving transformational growth, David shares practical leadership lessons that apply whether you are early in your career or running a multi million dollar organization.

This conversation dives into what it really takes to scale impact without losing culture, burn out, or clarity.

Inside this episode, you will learn:

• Why infrastructure determines whether growth will succeed or collapse
• What strong nonprofit foundations actually look like behind the scenes
• How to hire high performing teams that align with mission and values
• Why hiring is the most important responsibility of any leader
• How to balance aggressive growth goals with long term stability
• The truth about career transitions and why moving every few years is not failure
• How to avoid complacency and stay challenge driven
• Practical habits that build resilience during layoffs, setbacks, and pressure
• How AI and technology are transforming nonprofit fundraising
• Why data analysis and predictive donor research are game changers
• The role of mentorship in building a sustainable leadership career
• Why leadership can feel lonely and how to protect your mental clarity

David also shares candid reflections on being let go, leaving roles during family caregiving seasons, and how resilience is built through adaptation rather than avoidance. His perspective reframes setbacks as strategic pivots instead of personal defeat.

If you work in nonprofit leadership, fundraising, executive management, or are building your career in mission driven organizations, this episode offers actionable insights you can apply immediately.

Topics covered include nonprofit growth strategy, board development, hiring best practices, fundraising innovation, AI in nonprofits, executive leadership, resilience mindset, work life balance, mentorship, and career development.

Connect with David Bakelman on LinkedIn - [https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-bakelman-94648610a/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-bakelman-94648610a/)

Subscribe to The Route to Success for real conversations on hope, resilience, leadership, and building impact that lasts.