Featured Interview: Jerold Panas

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Jerold Panas is has been in the fund development field for over 40 years. He came to my attention in 2003 when a CharityChannel colleague, James V. Toscano, reviewed Asking one of his books for CharityChannel's WE REVIEW. After reading the review, I picked up my own copy of the book, published by Emerson & Church. I enjoyed the book and have been recommending it ever since.

Panas has authored a number of other books, as well (discussed in the interview).

Recently another CharityChannel colleague, Hillel Korin, favorably reviewed Fundraising Habits of Supremely Successful Boards in WE REVIEW, prompting me to invite Jerold to pour a cup of Java and have a recorded chat with me.

— Stephen Nill, CEO, CharityChannel

Ted Hart - Aired 7/1/2008

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Nearly a decade ago I first spoke with Ted Hart about his vision for creating a nonprofit organization dedicated to E-Philanthropy, which at the time was just getting off the ground. His vision for what became the ePhilanthropy Foundation was to make the new organization the global leader training charities on the ethical and efficient use of the Internet for philanthropic purposes. I was impressed with this kind of big thinking.

So, when I recently learned that Mr. Hart was preparing to launch a new initiative to help nonprofits/NGOs around the world focus on becoming more green, I was intrigued enough to invite this visionary leader to sit down with me, pour a cup of coffee, and talk about his new organization, GreenNonprofits.

I invite you to listen in as Mr. Hart explains his vision, and what it might mean to your organization and the nonprofit/ngo sector.

— Stephen Nill, CEO, CharityChannel

Bill Smith - Aired 4/25/2008

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After reading last week's Grants and Foundations Review article Grant Professional Certification is Here! by Michael Wells, I was motivated to follow up on an earlier idea to do a recorded interview with one of the leaders who helped to make the new Grant Professional Certification (GPC) a reality. In my view, the new GPC designation is a critical milestone in the advancement of the grants profession, and I wanted CharityChannel to do its part in marking the occasion. So, I contacted a number of leaders who worked on the project, and was pleased that Bill Smith was available on short notice.

Bill was an excellent choice for the interview. He received the 2007 President's Award at the 9th Annual Conference of the American Association of Grant Professionals (AAGP). This award, the highest recognition awarded by AAGP, recognizes one individual for outstanding and continued support of the profession and the Association.  Of arguably more relevance to the interview, which focused on the GPC designation, Bill also received the 2007 GPCI President's Award for playing an integral part in the unveiling of the new GPC.The award, presented by GPCI President Marcia Ford, recognized Mr. Smith for exemplary service and outstanding abilities in helping to launch the first GPC examination.

The interview is brief, just 10 minutes. Yet it was enough time for Bill to explain the need for the GPC as well as the requirements to receive the certification. He even takes a moment at the end to offer encouragement to those who are a little daunted by requirements.

— Stephen Nill, CEO, CharityChannel

Don Griesmann, Esq. - Aired 4/10/2008

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A few years ago I first "discovered" Don Griesmann, Esq. (yes, he's an attorney, but did you know he was also an Episcopal priest?) the same way many of my CharityChannel colleagues did, when he began posting to our forums. Over time I began to see that he was a colleague who spent a great deal of time researching funding opportunities and then making us aware of them not just in his forum postings, but in a home-grown electronic newsletter that he sent around to colleagues who requested it. As a retired attorney, his contributions to the forums weren't limited just to funding opportunities. He would often discuss legal and other non-funding-related topics, too.

One day it dawned on me that CharityChannel could move the microphone a bit closer his way, metaphorically speaking. What if we were to build an eNewsletter around Don's ongoing search for funding sources? We could help him reach a considerably larger audience, and perhaps give him a little snazzier way of presenting the very useful information he was gathering. I presented the idea and the rest was history. CharityChannel began publishing Don Griesmann's Grant Opportunities, which has a loyal and dedicated following of several thousand colleagues.

Because I have been impressed with Don's insights into funding sources, he is someone I have wanted to interview, not for my benefit since I get to chat with him often, but for the benefit of his fans. I hope you enjoy this interview as much as I did.

— Stephen Nill, CEO, CharityChannel