Julie Yurko is President & CEO of Northern Illinois Food Bank, where she leads a neighbor-centric transformation of the charitable food system to deliver dignified, equitable access across 13 counties. A respected nonprofit leader and past president of Apra International, she serves on the boards of the Global FoodBanking Network, Better Business Bureau of Chicago, Feeding Illinois, and the Thrivent Member Network. In this episode, we trace Julie’s path from cello student and Chicago Symphony Orchestra fundraiser to crisis-tested food bank chief—exploring how faith, lived experience, and innovative community partnerships shape her vision to end hunger.

In this special episode, we bring together some of the most influential voices in healthcare philanthropy—Nancy Bussani, Executive Vice President and Chief Philanthropy Officer for CommonSpirit Health and President of the CommonSpirit Health Foundation; Julie Cox, Vice President of Development at LifeBridge Health; John Drake, President of the BSW Irving Foundation at Baylor Scott & White Health; David Flood, Enterprise Chief Development Officer and President of the Intermountain Foundation; Bill Littlejohn, CEO and Senior Vice President of the Sharp HealthCare Foundation; and Birgit Stumpf, Acting Managing Director of Deutsche Stiftung Frauengesundheit and Leader of the Healthcare Section of the Deutscher Fundraising Verband. In a collaboration between Accordant and DonorSearch, I met with each of these leaders individually at the AHP International Conference to ask one simple but revealing question: In today’s environment, what is your biggest challenge—and what is your greatest opportunity? Here are their answers.

Lindsey Nadeau is Vice President of Philanthropy Insight at UNICEF USA, where she leads data-driven strategy and enterprise systems that deepen donor engagement and accelerate revenue growth. A nationally recognized voice in prospect development, she also serves as President-Elect of Apra International. In this episode, we follow Lindsey’s journey from her early days in development operations to steering insight-driven strategy for one of the world’s leading humanitarian organizations—all while exploring how her equestrian mindset informs her leadership and life with balance, patience, focus, and the discipline to keep improving, stride after stride.

Christy Coleman is the Executive Director of the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, where she leads institutional efforts to reinterpret early American history and engage the public in complex national narratives.  A nationally recognized museum leader, she was raised within the historically significant community of Williamsburg and played a significant role at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation before taking on the role of President and CEO of the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit. There she led a five-year, $43 million Legacy Campaign and oversaw development of the core exhibition And Still We Rise: Our Journey Through African American History and Culture. She later became CEO of the American Civil War Museum in Richmond, where she directed the merger of the Museum of the Confederacy and the American Civil War Center and co-led the Monument Avenue Commission examining Confederate memorials. Named by Time magazine as one of “31 People Changing the South,” she has become a leading voice in transforming how history is interpreted and discussed in public life. In this episode, we explore her personal and professional journey to leadership across pivotal cultural institutions, how she has navigated controversy with purpose, and her belief in history as a catalyst for understanding and change.

Bill TeDesco is the founder of DonorSearch, the leading provider of fundraising intelligence solutions in the nonprofit world. Raised in Pennsylvania, he studied Landscape Architecture and then earned a Master of Public Administration from Penn State before beginning his career in technology and then moving into a key development role at the Fund for Educational Excellence and later at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. He went on to serve as Executive Vice President at Target America and CEO of WealthEngine before launching DonorSearch in 2007 to bring data, analytics, and AI into fundraising in ways that put relationships first. In this episode, we explore his journey from school days to frontline fundraising to technology leadership, the lessons he’s learned along the way, and his vision for the future of the field.

Brent Grinna is the founder and President of EverTrue, a platform reimagining how nonprofits connect with their supporters. Raised on a farm in Iowa, he went on to Brown University, where he captained the varsity football team and chaired the senior class gift campaign, before moving into the private equity and then earning his MBA at Harvard Business School. His early experiences in alumni fundraising led him to see how outdated systems held back meaningful relationships between institutions and donors. In response, he built EverTrue to bring data and digital tools into advancement work in ways that put people first. In this episode, we explore his journey from Iowa to the world of philanthropy and technology, the lessons he’s learned along the way, and his vision for the future.

David Callahan is the founder and editor of Inside Philanthropy, the leading site tracking “who’s funding what, and why,” and founder of Blue Tent, which guides progressive donors. Raised in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, he earned a B.A. from Hampshire College and a Ph.D. in Politics from Princeton. The author of nine books, including The Cheating Culture and The Givers: Wealth, Power, and Philanthropy in a New Gilded Age, Callahan has become one of the most prominent voices examining how wealth and philanthropy shape American democracy. A former think tank co-founder, he now leads journalism and media ventures that hold donors accountable and reframe the conversation on giving. In this episode, we explore his journey from politics and ethics to journalism, his critiques of philanthropy’s growing power, and what it all means for the future of democracy.

Dr. Abraham George is the founder of Shanti Bhavan and The George Foundation, dedicated to transforming the lives of India’s most disadvantaged children. A former captain in the Indian Army, he moved to the United States, earned an MBA and Ph.D. at NYU, and built a successful career in international finance before turning to philanthropy. His work at Shanti Bhavan—featured in the Netflix series Daughters of Destiny—continues to break barriers of poverty and caste, offering a new future to generations of children. In this conversation, we explore his journey from his earliest days to global leadership in social change.

In this episode, we speak with two leaders in philanthropy. Lee Ernst is Chief Executive Officer and Senior Consultant at Johnson, Grossnickle and Associates, where she leads strategic partnerships and new product development while advising nonprofit clients across education, the arts, and social services. Her career spans major institutions, including a leadership role at the University of Chicago during the institution’s $2 billion campaign, and the Salvation Army’s Chicago Division. She is a past chair of The Giving Institute’s Summer Symposium and a member of the Communications Task Force for The Generosity Commission. Ted Grossnickle serves as chair of the JGA board of directors, as managing counsel to several clients, and as a mentor to staff. He has received numerous honors and awards for his achievements, including the Henry A. Rosso Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Ethical Fundraising. He currently serves as a member and is a former chair of the Giving Institute, is counselor to The Generosity Commission, and is past board chair and current member of the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy Board of Visitors. In this conversation, we explore their careers, their shared values, and their vision for the future of philanthropy—and along the way, discover a personal connection that makes this story even more meaningful.

H. Art Taylor is the President and CEO of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, representing fundraisers who generate over $100 billion in charitable support each year. He previously led the BBB Wise Giving Alliance for 23 years, advancing nonprofit transparency and donor trust, launching the Accredited Charity Seal and GiveSafely.io, and hosting The Heart of Giving Podcast. In this conversation, we explore his life and career, beginning with his earliest days growing up in South Philadelphia.

Kay Sprinkel Grace is one of the most respected voices in global fundraising and board leadership. As the founder of Transforming Philanthropy, she has worked with over 1,000 organizations worldwide and authored seven influential books, including "Beyond Fundraising" and "The AAA Way to Fundraising Success." Her impact has been recognized with some of the sector’s highest honors, including the Henry A. Rosso Medal for lifetime achievement in ethical fundraising, the AFP Distinguished Fellow designation, and AFP’s Global Fundraising Professional of the Year award. We spoke with her about the arc of her life and work, from her earliest memories as a fifth-generation Californian to her international travels and her most personal books to date. 

Sydney Moss is a junior at Dunwoody High School in Georgia and one of two recipients of the 2025 William R. Simms Award for Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy, presented by the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Born with a rare liver disease, Sydney turned her health journey into a mission—launching Concert for a Cause while awaiting a transplant. Since then, she’s raised over $75,000 for biliary atresia research at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and recently established the Sydney Moss Fund. We spoke with her live at AFP ICON in Seattle.

Xavier “Javi” Swinarski is a junior at Gilmour Academy and one of two recipients of the 2025 William R. Simms Award for Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy, presented by the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Javi launched his annual “SOCKtober” sock drive in the fourth grade after learning that socks are the most requested item in homeless shelters. Since then, he has mobilized classmates, local organizations, and national partners to collect and distribute tens of thousands of pairs of socks, including more than 22,000 in 2024 alone. We spoke with him live at ICON, AFP’s international conference in Seattle, Washington.

Brian Marquez-Hall is a Development Officer at the Southern Scholarship Foundation and one of two recipients of the 2025 Outstanding Young Professional award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals. From launching inclusive initiatives and tripling donor gifts at Elder Care Services to raising $100,000 in just ten weeks at SSF, Brian has consistently delivered results rooted in equity, innovation, and authentic engagement. We spoke with him live at ICON, the association’s international conference in Seattle, Washington.

Dwayne Ashley is the Founder and CEO of Bridge Philanthropic Consulting, the nation’s only full-service Black-owned fundraising firm. A passionate champion for social justice, he has raised over $2 billion to support communities of color. With more than 30 years of experience, he’s a respected leader, author, and advocate for equity in philanthropy. We spoke with Dwayne about his personal and professional journey—beginning with the family influence that first sparked his commitment to service.

Roger Ali is Chair of the AFP Global Board and one of the most respected voices in nonprofit leadership. With more than two decades in the field, he has led teams that have raised over $150 million through transformative capital campaigns and major gift strategies, holding senior roles at Niagara Health Foundation, Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation, and The Bishop Strachan School Foundation. Today, Roger is an independent consultant specializing in governance, major gifts, campaign strategy, and staff development. He also serves as a Senior Associate with S. Sutton & Associates, advising nonprofits across sectors. A lifelong champion of ethical and inclusive philanthropy, Roger sits on the board of Imagine Canada and has held numerous leadership roles with AFP, including Past Chair of the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy Canada and President of the AFP Golden Horseshoe Chapter. We spoke with him about his personal and professional journey and how it led to his role in chairing the world’s largest fundraising association today.  

Abby Trahan is the Associate Director of Philanthropy at MD Anderson Cancer Center and one of two recipients of the 2025 Outstanding Young Professional award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals. In just five years, Abby has delivered transformational fundraising results—from growing monthly giving at the Houston Food Bank to securing major gifts and endowed support at the University of Houston Law Center. Now at MD Anderson, she brings her passion for equity, mentorship, and community-driven impact to one of the nation’s leading cancer centers. We spoke with her live at ICON, the association’s international conference in Seattle, Washington.

Martha Schumacher is a global philanthropy strategist, leadership coach, and past chair of AFP International. As President of Hazen Consulting and founder of the Hazen Institute for Leadership Training, she’s spent over 25 years helping mission-driven organizations grow their impact—and their people. In this conversation, we explore the trails she has taken, both literally and figuratively, beginning with one near where she lives today. 

Professor Jen Shang is Co-Founder and Director of the Institute for Sustainable Philanthropy, and the world’s only philanthropic psychologist. She was the first person to earn a PhD in Philanthropy, and her research on donor identity and meaning has been featured in the New York Times, BBC, and Chronicle of Philanthropy. In 2025, she received AFP’s prestigious Skystone Prize for Meaningful Philanthropy, co-authored with Dr. Adrian Sargeant—a book exploring how giving shapes the lives of high-net-worth donors. We spoke with her live at AFP ICON, the association’s international conference in Seattle.

Jeff Schreifels is Principal at Veritus Group and co-author of It’s Not JUST About the Donor. With over 35 years in nonprofit fundraising, he’s helped thousands of professionals create meaningful donor relationships and raise more money with integrity and heart. In this episode, we begin not in the office—but on the road—with Jeff’s 1,000-mile bike journey at the age of fourteen.