Many leaders build for today. Strategic leaders build for tomorrow.

Steve Woodworth is one of those rare leaders who’s spent his life focused on legacy—measuring success not just by what happens during his time, but by what’s made possible for those who come after.

Steve is a longtime leader in faith-based nonprofit marketing and organizational development. From early innovation at World Vision to building Masterworks, he has spent his career helping nonprofits create deep, meaningful, and sustainable impact.

Most recently, he is also the author of Lost in Transition: Lessons from the Most Disastrous and Successful Ministry Successions.

Today, Steve is navigating a pivotal succession at Masterworks, gradually moving from his position as CEO to an advisory role.

In this conversation, he shares:

• Timeless principles for nonprofit marketing (many of which he learned while running cable TV programs for World Vision in the ‘80s!)
• How he’s navigated a years-long succession process in Masterworks
• Why a “toe in the water” testing method is strategic for nonprofits
• How he schedules time for mentorship of his team

Steve is a leader with decades of wisdom to share around leadership and innovation. I (Ted) was honored to hear a portion of that wisdom in this episode.

Find links to resources mentioned and key takeaways in the show notes for this episode: www.futurenonprofit.com/steve-woodworth

How do you fight global sex trafficking? With a global solution.

Jeremy Vallerand (Atlas Free) shows how networked partnerships, not duplication, drive faster, measurable impact against exploitation.

Jeremy founded Atlas Free to strengthen what already works: resourcing effective local partners instead of reinventing programs. Today, Atlas Free supports a global network focused on ending sexual exploitation and meeting urgent needs.

In this episode, Jeremy shares:

• His unexpected road to founding Atlas Free
• How to utilize a network approach to leadership
• And his challenging take on doing justice with mercy

Jeremy offers a new nonprofit model built on collaboration, showing us how building strong partnerships and treating others with dignity can lead to sustainable, collective change. Jeremy’s contagious conviction will challenge your thinking about mercy, fuel your own passion for justice, and give you a new perspective on how we bring change to the world.

Find links to resources mentioned and key takeaways in the show notes for this episode: www.futurenonprofit.com/jeremy-vallerand

“What we're trying to do is build a forged family for people that have been despised, outcast, lost and forgotten, and pushed to the furthest fringes of society.”—Alan Graham

Before you truly see an issue, you only know part of the story. But once you develop empathy for the people it affects, you can’t unsee its importance.

That’s what happened for Alan Graham, who has now dedicated nearly three decades of his life to supporting his houseless neighbors in Austin, TX.

Alan is the Founder & CEO of Mobile Loaves and Fishes, a Christian nonprofit that has been empowering their community into a lifestyle of service since 1998. In that time, they’ve served over 6.5 million meals and helped more than 470 neighbors move from the streets into permanent homes.

In this episode, Alan shares:

• His personal journey of faith that led him to start Mobile Loaves and Fishes
• Why we should have compassion for those who find themselves without support
• The value in heart-to-heart solutions
• And why nonprofits should stick with new initiatives longer than we often do

For Alan, the purpose of his life and the work he’s dedicated to is quite simple: To love God and love his neighbor. This conversation will bring you right back to the roots of your own work, reminding you of the simple truths that truly fuel your vision. Listen in!

Find links to resources mentioned and key takeaways in the show notes for this episode: www.futurenonprofit.com/alan-graham