 Welcome everybody to another episode of the non-profit show and today things are looking a little different because it's a fryer, as Jared Ransomoy says. Hands, thank you Julia. You know, I can't say one without the other. It kind of goes hand in hand. But we're still at the fabulous Cultivate event with our friends at National University's Fundraising Academy in Southern California. We're talking San Diego and we're really, really excited that they allowed us to stay on their campus for a second day. Jared Ransom, good job girl. You didn't get kicked off. No, not yet. Not yet. The day is young. But no, it's really fun. Jared, before we got started, took her computer and ran through the halls of the university really quickly so I could see kind of some of their classrooms and facilities. Julia, that's called asynchronous learning and that's what we just experienced in real life. There you go. Perfect example, perfect example. Well, you know, today we're going to go forward with our ask and answer but we're going to do something a little differently and that is we're going to ask and answer the two of the brain trusts that we have with Fundraising Academy and we're going to really talk about their journey and what they've experienced along their successful career. So you won't want to miss this because it's just an opportunity for us that we just rarely have in this in this type of work that we do. Again, I'm Julia Patrick, CEO of the American Nonprofit Academy. I'm with Jared Ransom who's actually in San Diego and has been for this conference where she presented and so we're delighted that she would show up and represent the non-profit show. The non-profit show we're now in our fourth year. We've done more than 800 episodes and this is due to the fact that we have amazing support and that support comes from Blumerang American Nonprofit Academy, your part-time controller, non-profit thought leader, of course Fundraising at National University, Staffing Boutique, non-profit nerd and non-profit tech talk. Again, it's really important and Jared I like to remind our viewers and our listeners and ourselves that our sponsors put no editorial or content management guidelines upon us. So we can talk to whomever we want. We talk to their competitors. We do things as we see fit that serves our community and that's pretty bold because a lot of sponsorships don't work like that and so I always think it's important to bring that forward. Hey, if you have missed anything, any of our broadcasts or you want to join in, you can find us on our streaming platforms, our podcasts and now our new sexy app that Kevin Pace and his team developed for us. It's really a cool tool. You can scan this barcode and then you'll get a push notification each and every time a new show is uploaded and you can also search the archives. It's a really wonderful tool. Okay, I have done my housekeeping as we like to say. Jared, I've got to ask you a quick question before we go too much further. Talk to us about what you saw at Cultivate and what went on before you introduce our guests in person and move on with your questions. Yeah, thanks Julia and thanks to everyone who's joining us for today's conversation. So the conference was fantastic. I feel like we're still basking in the energy of it. High vibration, I would say, yesterday the atrium was filled with so much energy. So many people hugging, high-fiving, just so glad to be back IRL in real life and we had phenomenal panel of speakers, a really great keynote speaker. Yes, we were part of them. But there was just so much going on, a lot of learning, a lot of curiosity, right? And so really good. So we are still here on campus at National University here in San Diego and of course I have LaShonda and Muhee joining us today for the ask and answer. We also had breakfast together. We shared a lift together. So, you know, we really walked. Yeah, he wanted to. He was offered. But yeah, that's, you know, Muhee's been traveling the world and in other parts of the world, besides America, they walk. That's what happens. I know it's mind blowing. So yeah, it's really exciting. Over 150 people I think were here yesterday. We're already talking about next year's conference and a potential for a two-day. Don't know if that will happen, but that was one of the suggestions. Well, you know, there's so much information and I really give credit to Fundraising Academy for putting this in an ecosystem of two tracks. One for fundraisers and then one for maybe more executive leadership, board talent, things of that nature. You've got two outstanding fundraisers with you today. So I'm going to really let you go into some of those questions that we really want to know. I think a lot of times we're afraid to ask them, but to get their sense of how their journey is played out. Yeah, absolutely. So in the spirit of embracing AI and technology, I did have chat GPT come up and form five questions that you might want to ask a professional fundraiser. And so Muhee is here joining me as well as LaShonda. And so they know the questions. As Muhee said, actually, I'm going to let you say it, knowing that I had these formed by chat GPT, you said. I wish I had chat GPT write my answers. But this will be fun. So I do have these five questions would love to just kind of go back and forth, you know, in a in a free spirit. So we'll start off with what motivated you to pursue a career in the nonprofit sector and to become a professional fundraiser. Gosh. So I will say that the reason why I decided to enter the philanthropic space as a professional is a result of teachers. My teachers in high school were very instrumental in ensuring that I secured scholarship funding to go on to college. I am a first generation college student on my mother's side. And so having that funding available has always been very important and it provided a steady foundation and it provided a sense of security. And in that vein, I've always wanted to work in a space where I would be able to pay it forward and do the types of things that my teachers in high school did for me. And so it just came very natural. And my first job was actually a teacher. And when I got hired at my old high school, initially they had me be the cheerleader sponsor. So I had to do fundraising for uniforms. Then I became a senior class sponsor. So then I was fundraising for the class. And then before you know it, I was acclimated with my national alumni association and on the board and boom, full time fundraiser. And it's been history ever since. I saw the cheerleading side of her come out yesterday actually. That was fun. A little secret. I was a cheerleader as well. So it was it was a good company. Thank you, LaShonda. And Muhy, what what ignited your passion? Yeah, you know, for me it was really internship that I had in my last semester of undergrad. For the first three and a half years of my undergrad, I was a mechanical engineering major. Very surprising, I know. Did you know that? He told me yesterday. It was Tuesday when we were doing things together. And I was like, I can tell. He has some really great skills, you all. So it was just like an internship that fell in my lap and really guided me through the university of it was called the development summer internship program at the University of Michigan. And you got to see how the university fundraised from their alumni, the hospital system, the sports team, engagement, stewardship and seeing a university development staff of 500 working on fundraising for the university raising billions of dollars. Yeah. And I'm like grass roots. Please buy this plate of barbecue. So my first role was in the alumni relations office and been at it since 2009. So that's been a long journey. Yeah, I love hearing that. I actually have commonalities with both mine started as an intern as well for a chamber of commerce. So I love hearing the origin stories of the career, right? Like what really ignited us into the sector? Because I also say like I went through school when nonprofit management was not a degree. Right, exactly. So I love that it is now. And then there's so many great opportunities. Okay, the next question that chat GPT formed for me. Could you describe some of the key milestones or turning points in your professional journey as a fundraiser? I'll let you take this one. Sure. You know, I think young in my career, being let go from a job was a pivotal moment. And I'll claim it as a milestone because it really changed my perspective on how I need to show up professionally, right? Right. And, you know, I think it went to the entire opposite spectrum of becoming a workaholic. So, you know, feel that too. Yeah, I can swing on both sides of the pendulum there. But I think for me, you know, just different career points has been like working for five years at the American Red Cross raising hundreds of millions of dollars for people in need after disasters. And that's been really inspiring for me seeing how a large billion dollar organization operates. And then also bringing some skills back to the American Muslim philanthropic landscape and nonprofits that are serving so many people even outside of our community and faith, but just trying to be a fundraising philanthropic development professional extraordinaire through it all. I appreciate the realness, right? Of being let go from a position, let go from an organization, a company. So thank you. You know, I've been there too. And I would say that it's definitely a milestone moment. It's how you bounce back, right? From that. So what about you, LaShonda? Gosh, Moe, excellent. You know, I'm getting really chocked up about that. There were a couple of pivotal points and I would say because of my background and everything has really kind of happened organically throughout my career. My career path literally is aligned with everything that I've experienced in my secondary education. So with that, I will say that, you know, after leaving my high school as a teacher, I had an opportunity to work with Project Red Atlanta, which is a nonprofit organization that raises money specifically for scholarships that includes multiple parts of that, which includes some academic areas. But that philanthropic piece was very important to me because I had a chance to work very closely with the executive director at the time and to see how he was able to forge relationships with Spelman College, with Morehouse College, as well as the business community in the Greater Atlanta Metropolitan Area to secure funding for those set scholarships for the students in the area. And then I would say a second milestone for me was when I transitioned back into the Houston area and I joined my alumni association. I was on the executive board. I was membership committee. I was doing lots of volunteer work and I had an opportunity to return to my alma mater and working in in the development division, which was a phenomenal opportunity because it was things that I was doing already as a volunteer and I was able to apply it on a larger scale and be able to impact even more students. And again, with my initial intent is to help students, you know, secure economic empowerment through education and what better way is through your organ, your alma mater. So, you know, during that time, I've been able, I was able to do quite a few things and create some, some, some new levels of expectation when it comes to the philanthropic space. And then I pivoted again, roughly four months ago and now I'm at South Texas College of Law, which I'm definitely loving. And again, going back to high school, initially I wanted to be an attorney. Is it not amazing how everything comes full circle? So being able to help students go on to law school, we know law school is very expensive and to help minimize some of that debt has been yet very fulfilling in itself. So throughout my career, everything has been meaningful and it all goes back to those early childhood formative years. Wow, that just touches me like so wholeheartedly. There's, there's so much resignation with that as well. So great, great questions. So good job chat, GPT. Okay. This is, this is another one that I really appreciate, but it's what are the most significant challenges you have faced in your career as a professional fundraiser and how did you overcome them? They're so, I err on the side of positivity. So, yes, she does. I err on the side of positivity. So I will say that probably the greatest challenge that I experienced was probably working with my alma mater. And I told everyone all the time that it was an honor and a privilege, but also it can be a great challenge. And it can be a great challenge because you know, many of those prospects on a personal level and the organization owns those relationships. And so when making the ask for leadership level gifts, and then also with annual fund, you know, you expect individuals within your circle to ought to respond in a certain way because you have privy to qualify them from a physical perspective because you've been into their homes, because you know, you know, the lifestyle that they have. And so with that, I had to really shift my mindset. And rather than having that personal relationship at the forefront, making sure that I maintained my professionalism with them as individuals and be very cognitive to treat them as a donor that I'm trying to transition through the donor cycle and transitioning them from that annual gift into those leadership in those major gifts that I knew they had capacity to support. And that's a fine line. It is a very fine line. Learning to navigate that is always interesting. Yeah. But I'm sure you did it with Grace. I did, you know, and then, you know, there were a couple of moments when I did make phone calls and I was like, hey, thank you so much for that wonderful gift. We're looking forward to that additional gift in the immediate future, right? I love it. Yeah. And so, yeah, I, you know, I was the point of follow up because, you know, stewardship is a major part of that. And just, you know, setting the expectations and again, making sure that I maintain that level of professionalism and not crossing the line too much with those personal relationships. Yeah. Not to be, hey, girl, can we get some money? Yeah. Like, I saw your check and it just was not what we just did. Not you can do better. I love this. Well, Mooghi, same question. So what is the most significant challenges that you faced in your career and then also how did you ever come them? Yeah, I think, you know, my first two jobs out of college were being a one person development team, right? So I think in those organizations, sometimes it was challenging to just having to do everything, right? From event planning to grant writing to entering things into the CRM to cultivating relationships and meeting a $1 million fund raising goal, right? Do you feel it on your shoulders? Like all of what you're saying is just Yeah. And here's what it is. I didn't realize it at the time, right? It's now that I've slowed down my life, been able to just really work part-time and enjoy life more than work where before again, that whole path of being a workaholic, you don't realize it. It's the norm for you. You're maybe in a work environment that isn't as pleasant where you're just getting more dumped on you and you don't say no, right? So or you just feel like this, you know, belief in the mission that drives you, right? But at your own expense. So that was challenging was navigating that and not being able to stick up for myself because I didn't know how to advocate, right? I appreciate that. And I hope again that all of our viewers and listeners, you know, hear this because I'm curious, and this was not on the chat, GPT questions, but how long have you been in your careers? Gosh, almost two decades. Okay. I mean, I'm not that old, but he doesn't have as many years of experience. 14, 14. Yeah, close. You're close. And I'm right along there with you in that age. Watch it buddy. I'm careful. I'll be careful. Yeah. But I ask that because it really shows to like the maturity to advocate for maturity. And you're right. Because, you know, as professional fundraisers, we're always advocating for our causes. And, you know, like Lucie, I show that same challenge and that is at being an advocate for myself. You know, I, you know, someone else, I'm all day, every day, I can say the case. But then when it comes to myself, I got the bagel for Jared, you advocated for her as a business, you know, I, you know, and that was just you have it. And you did. And that's just you don't want to cause problems. Jared, you should have owned it out. You should have owned it because I was like, no, that's not right. There was a mishap at breakfast where Jared also wanted everything bagel, but they gave one everything bagel and one plain bagel. So Jared just took the plain bagel and there was LaShonda, our savior in the moment, our shining knight in armor came through. And she then ate the everything bagel. Straight to the punt. So the part in the middle, as soon as I found out she didn't get her everything bagel, I was like, well, wait a minute, where's your bagel? You asked for it. I was like, well, so did we not pay for it? And he was like, yeah, I paid for it. And I was like, but you wanted it. And she's like, no, I just don't want to cause any trouble. And I was like, cool. So I go up to the counter and I'm like, hey there, we're gonna be claiming the donation of the everything bagel if you don't mind. Yep. So the fundraiser and her, the advocate, exactly. The belief is so deep, right? Absolutely. Yeah, it's, you know, it's interwoven within my my ecosystem, so to speak. Yeah. But I love the, you know, to advocate for your cause, advocate for yourself, advocate for your bagel. Yeah. Hashtag advocate for your bagel. Hashtag it's everything. Except for when it's plain. That's right. Okay, I'm gonna move us along. And I think we have time for one more. So this one is, how do you stay up to date with the latest trends and the best practices in fundraising? And how have these insights influenced your approach to fundraising over the years? So we're talking a couple of decades, not quite a couple of decades, but you're pretty darn close. So how do you stay up to date with the trends and the best practices? I mean, we were talking about, you know, you're a CFRE and then you got trained and cause selling education, which is a little bit of a different model. So I'm gonna let you start. So I read, I literally, I read a lot and I try to set time in each day around lunchtime, where I'm looking, I'm Googling, I'm searching to find out what's happening on current trends. Obviously watching your podcast helped me keep up to date because there's some really great questions being answered. And reading has been everything for me. You know, I'm always on the AFP website. I'm always looking to see what's going on in the business world because you never know what type of donor that you'll encounter. And you want to have the most current information about how to adapt to those particular demographic groups. Gen Z, you know, high wealth donors, you just never know. And then also being abreast of what's happening in the economy holistically, because depending on the timing, when you're preparing for various types of campaigns, it may impact your, your projections. And you need to be able to pivot and to be able to do that, you want to stay knowledgeable. So reading for me has been the greatest source of information in helping me stay acclimated. I'm always seeking professional development opportunities. I'm at conferences cultivating. So I go to AFP icon. I'm a local member of my AFP chapter. So I really try to stay in tune. And then there's case because I work for higher higher education institutions. So those are just a couple of areas where I'm just always involved. Do you sleep? I am trying to get a little sleep this afternoon. So yeah, this is great. I can get a little sleep. But yeah, but I stay busy. I don't let grass grow under my feet because there's lots of work to do and lots of advocacy. And law school is not cheap. So, so yeah, the law students, they're looking for some funds. Muhy, what about you? Same question. Yeah, you know, in addition to everything that LaShonda mentioned, I would say that Chronicle of Philanthropy is a great resource. And also giving USA, you know, it's coming out this week. So just being able to see what the trends are. There's also, you know, even the sessions that we had at Cultivate were very helpful looking at data and giving and how we can implement best strategies. So just, you know, being a lifelong learner is the key. Yeah, I'm curious, what do you think we love this question, Julia? But it's the crystal ball question, right? So pull out your crystal balls. It might be in your back pocket or somewhere. I know. Shine them up. What are you seeing for the future of philanthropy in today's economy? Like what are you seeing and forecasting as we move forward with all of this knowledge, all of the excitement here that we've just experienced at Cultivate? What are you forecasting as we move forward? I would say that we're dealing with more sophisticated donors now more than ever, and that will definitely have to be in tune with Gen Z because many of the traditional things that we were taught in the philanthropic space are no longer applicable as is. We have to be able to apply and modify in accordance to that demographic and meet them where they are to ensure that we're able to provide the information that they'd like in the manner that they would like and communicate with them most effectively based on their particular demographic group, because otherwise they'll be a huge disconnect and just making sure that we're keen to understand the economy in real time because with house mortgage rates and potential shutdowns of the government, they tend to be less benevolent because they want to make sure that they have those extra funds in their accounts. And so just being very mindful of what's happening in the economy holistically. Yeah, great response. What about your crystal ball, Muhy? Yeah, I think with the intergenerational transfer of wealth that's going to happen in the next two decades, there's a big opportunity to learn the habits of millennials and others that majority of their wealth may be in cryptocurrency and are equipped and handled to receive those types of assets in the future. So preparing for now, working on estate planning will be essential and offering those opportunities and making sure that nonprofit organizations, if they're a small staff, can still be equipped to handle gifts of those types. Absolutely. Great responses. Really great. And I love that we had this opportunity because we have really enjoyed our time with LaShonda Williams and Muhy Kuwaja on the nonprofit show, but we always have a wide assortment of questions that come. And then we don't really get to hear about them and their journey as professionals. So this was really valuable and I learned a lot and I know a lot of our viewers and listeners will benefit from this conversation as well. So thank you both for coming on and sharing your time. I know you worked really hard this week to navigate, you know, cultivates first, you know, I should say debut conference. And so to come back and do this with us on Friday has really been a delight. And again, I've learned a lot and I will say that when I hear you speak and I hear how intelligent you are and committed, it gives me hope for the philanthropic landscape. I mean, wouldn't you say that, Jared? It's like it's inspiring. It's inspiring and I love because I think you both, you know, really touched on this is the way donors are giving is changing. And so the previous question is how are you staying on top of current friends? Yeah. How are you moving forward? Like the way that maybe we were raised to do it and the, you know, the staff at that time trained us to do it. I think I'm in good company here of disruption, right? It's like, okay, we're not doing it that way. That's not the way that's working anymore. Exactly. And we need to be innovative. And we need to go with the current trends and also hear what our donors are saying. Exactly. We have to adhere to what they're saying and what they want. Otherwise, our campaigns will not be successful. Yeah, we have to be able to adapt. Yeah. Yeah. I've really enjoyed this. I've enjoyed being here, you know, at the conference at Cultivate. I'm looking forward to next year's conference already and also spending some quality, friendly time with my colleagues. It's been wonderful. It's just been a treat. And I again, Muhi and LaShonda, thank you for taking that time. Thank you anytime. Thanks for that. It's always a great time to be with you. It's been really fun. And I'm like, even like I said, I'm even more impressed with what's going on, how Fundraising Academy navigates these discussions and how they pull their talent in. It's a wonderful, wonderful thing for us to be a part of. Again, I'm Julia Patrick. I've been joined by the nonprofit nerd herself, Jared R. Ransom, CEO of the Raven Group. We've had Muhi Kawaja with us, who's like IRL in Zaker. Like, it's not a hologram, not the hologram. I love it. I think it's really fun. Guys, we're glitching yesterday with some hologram. In the back? Yeah, that's right. That's what that was. Oh my gosh. And of course, LaShonda Williams, who joins us as well. The two of you have been amazing and we have been thrilled to have you be a part of our team and our discussions. Again, just to remind everybody, we've been live at the Cultivate Conference sponsored by Fundraising Academy at National University. A very successful event. We'll be letting you know when the next one's coming about because I know that already they're working on it. And so something I think you're going to want to put on your calendar because it's really been successful. Again, we have amazing presenting sponsors who join us on this journey. And they include our friends at Blumerang, American Nonprofit Academy, your part-time controller, nonprofit thought leader, Fundraising Academy at National University, Staffing Boutique, Nonprofit Nerd, and Nonprofit Tech Talk. These are the folks that allow us to travel to San Diego and be a part of this journey. Hey, Jared, you're on a plane in a couple of hours, I'm assuming. I think so. These days, I can't remember if I'm going, if I'm coming, where I'm going, where I'm coming from. So it's a little bit of a toss-up. But I do think that I will be in any airport somewhere within the next couple of hours. All right. Well, we will see you again on the flip side. As we like to end every episode, we want to remind ourselves, our viewers, our trusted fundraisers that joined us today, and our intrepid co-host, Jared R. Ransom, to stay well so you can do well. We'll see you back here. Enjoy your weekend, everyone. Rest up. Thank you. Bye.