Ep 11. In this episode, we sit down with Kema Charles, Founder and Executive Director of Lights, Camera, Discover, a nonprofit that is transforming the lives of youth through filmmaking, creativity, and life skills. What began as a passion rooted in Kema’s own journey through the entertainment industry has grown into a powerful, tuition-free STEAM program serving youth ages 8–18 (and now up to 24). Through after-school, weekend, and summer programs, students are introduced to every aspect of the film and entertainment world, from acting and directing to lighting, budgeting, makeup, and production, while also gaining workforce readiness, confidence, and real-world skills.

But this conversation goes far beyond filmmaking. Kema shares how Lights, Camera, Discover has become a safe space for young people navigating bullying, mental health challenges, and life circumstances that often leave them feeling unseen or unsupported. By removing financial barriers and fostering a sense of belonging, the program allows students to discover not just creative talents, but their own worth and potential. From students finding career paths in broadcasting and comics to parents witnessing remarkable growth in maturity and confidence, the impact is deeply personal and far-reaching.

As the organization approaches 15 years of service, Kema reflects on her vision for the future, expanding into communities across the country so more youth can have a place to learn, create, and feel safe. This episode is a powerful reminder that when creativity meets compassion, lives are changed, and that investing in youth is one of the most meaningful ways to shape the future.

Ep 10. As part of our newest series, Start-Up Nonprofits, we hear from Andy Gibson, who shares the heart behind Certain Hope Community, a nonprofit founded to bring connection, hope, and belonging to families raising children with disabilities.

Andy and his wife Laura’s youngest daughter was born with a rare chromosome disorder that introduced countless hospital stays, difficult conversations, and moments of deep uncertainty. Alongside the medical and emotional challenges came something quieter but just as heavy: isolation. The kind that settles in when others don’t fully understand the loss of expectations, the constant advocacy, or the strain placed on the entire family alongside navigating everyday life.

Through their own journey, Andy and Laura recognized a powerful truth that no family should have to walk this road alone. Certain Hope Community was born out of that need for in-person community, shared meals, accessible adventures, and spaces where families are seen, supported, and celebrated.

This conversation is about choosing to focus not on limitations, but on what is possible, and how faith, joy, and community can transform even the hardest stories.

Ep 9. In this episode of our Nonprofit Changemakers series of Passion Inspires, we sit down with Nonprofit Consultant and Author, Kevin Eastway, as he completely reframes how we should think about fundraising and donor relationships. Kevin shares honestly how fundraising didn’t feel like a two-way street at first; it felt like he had to convince people to give, treating them like ATMs. To him, this transactional approach felt inauthentic, and that discomfort is what motivated him to change the way he thinks about raising funds.

Kevin introduces the idea of “mutual plenty,” the belief that fundraisers have something to give donors, too. Instead of making constant withdrawals, we can make deposits into their lives through genuine care, curiosity, and meaningful connection. He talks about the common fear of fundraising and how to help donors figure out their unique role in the organization’s mission.

In this episode, you’ll hear practical, heart-level guidance:

• Hold your donors loosely and care for them deeply. Even if that means sometimes saying, “If this vision doesn’t align for you anymore, can I help steer you toward something that does?”
• Treat every ask as an invitation to participate. Trusting that their life will be different because they said yes, and empowering them to feel they have a role in the organization.
• Clarity is key. A reminder that you shouldn’t take it too seriously, and how giving time for a response can change everything.
• Alumni groups and community-based models are powerful. Essential for building a deeper, more sustainable donor ecosystem.

If you’re in nonprofit leadership, development, or donor stewardship, we hope this conversation inspires your great, essential work. We also hope this encourages you to see fundraising as relationship-building and shared missions that serve both sides equally, not just meeting a number.