What does a community foundation actually do, and what makes its board effective? In this episode of I501(c)You, Michael sits down with Phillip Lanham, President & CEO of Gulf Coast Community Foundation, to break down the role community foundations play in inspiring philanthropy and creating measurable regional impact. Phillip shares his path from higher education fundraising to community foundation leadership, explains how boards are governed, and offers practical insight on working with donor-board members, building strong board chair relationships, and using a foundation’s convening power to strengthen nonprofits through grants, capacity building, and rapid-response funding when the community needs it most.

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introducing Phillip Lanham, President & CEO, Gulf Coast Community Foundation

(03:10) What compelled you to join a community foundation?

(04:30) The role of community foundations

(07:15) How is a community foundation governed?

(08:25) What makes for a good board member?

(09:45) Any opportunities when board members are also donors?

(10:40) Role of the board chair

(11:45) How do you structure your relationship with your board chair?

(13:25) How do other board members interact?

(15:45) How do community foundations work with nonprofits?

(20:10) The power to convene

(21:30) Structure of Gulf Coast Community Foundation

(23:15) Learning curves of being CEO

(24:55) Most rewarding aspect of being CEO

(26:40) Biggest surprises

(28:25) Advice to a future CEO

(30:00) Recapping with Read

Join us every other week as we release a new podcast with information about how you can be the best board member and provide great service to your organization.

Listen to the podcast on any of the following platforms:

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Visit us at: www.thecorleycompany.com/podcast

What does it really take to move from trusted insider to CEO while keeping your board focused on strategy instead of “sausage-making”? In this episode of the I 501(c)You podcast for nonprofit board members, Michael sits down with Charlie Imbergamo, CEO of the Nonprofit Leadership Center, to unpack his journey from faith-based education leader to head of a regional hub for nonprofit talent development. Charlie shares how he navigated a rigorous internal succession process, leads with a “people first, mission always” mindset, and keeps both his board and small staff aligned around the what of strategy instead of getting lost in the how. You’ll hear practical rhythms for board communication, how pre-reads transformed their meetings, why they only meet when decisions are needed, and how tools like Asana and virtual training help them serve 700+ nonprofits a year.

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introducing Charlie Imbergamo, CEO of Nonprofit Leadership Center

(05:45) Living what we teach

(08:40) Approaching transitioning from staff to CEO

(12:15) Charlie’s approach to strategy

(15:15) Keeping your organization focused on the ‘what’

(18:50) Creating an engaged board

(23:00) Approach to board meetings

(26:30) Communicating with staff

(30:00) What is the Nonprofit Leadership Center?

Join us every other week as we release a new podcast with information about how you can be the best board member and provide great service to your organization.

Listen to the podcast on any of the following platforms:

YouTube

Apple Podcasts

Spotify Podcasts

Amazon

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Visit us at: www.thecorleycompany.com/podcast

Small nonprofits often feel outmatched in brand and communication work. This week’s conversation with Sam Stern shows why that gap is closing fast. Sam is the CEO of Magnify Good and the creator of Connection Works. He explains how AI can give small organizations the clarity, confidence, and steady output that used to require a full communications staff. We look at why brand is more than colors and logos, how AI can match your voice, and how stronger storytelling leads to stronger fundraising. For nonprofit leaders working with limited time and capacity, this episode offers a realistic view of what is possible and why now is the right moment to move forward.

Check Out Connection Works Here:

https://www.magnifygood.com/aifornonprofits/

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introducing Sam Stern, Chief Executive Officer, MagnifyGood

(03:00) Opportunities for technology in nonprofits

(06:15) Getting introduced to AI

(09:00) Training the AI on your information

(11:05) What is a brand?

(12:30) How does the product work?

(16:00) Should board members be concerned about AI?

Join us every other week as we release a new podcast with information about how you can be the best board member and provide great service to your organization.

Listen to the podcast on any of the following platforms:

YouTube

Apple Podcasts

Spotify Podcasts

Amazon

iHeartRadio

Visit us at: www.thecorleycompany.com/podcast