WHAT THE FUNDRAISING
148: Transforming Nonprofits through Servant Leadership with Evan Wildstein
This episode is sponsored by:
watch on youtube
.
“Empathy is not just about personal experience, but also about being able to understand and connect with others on a deeper level. It is a crucial element of servant leadership that helps build meaningful relationships with donors, colleagues, and the community.”
– Evan Wildstein
Episode #148
Overview
In this episode of What the Fundraising Podcast…
Meet Evan Wildstein, a dynamic figure in the nonprofit sector with two decades of experience under his belt. A rock musician at heart, Evan transitioned from captivating audiences on stage to creating meaningful relationships in the philanthropic world. His well-rounded background in business management coupled with a strong passion for arts and public programs gives him a unique perspective in servant leadership. What sets Evan apart is his ongoing quest to redefine servant leadership – moving away from the old paradigm of selflessness and sacrifice, towards a focus on community building and self-growth. In this episode, Evan and I talk about the positive impact of servant leadership in nonprofit operations and how empathy can turn a fundraising relationship from simple to sublime.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- Introducing Evan Wildstein
- Evan's Background in Nonprofit
- Definition of Servant Leadership
- Discovering Servant Leadership
- Ten Pillars of Servant Leadership
- The Importance of Conceptualization in Servant Leadership
- Challenges with Servant Leadership
- The Resistance to Building Empathy
- Misconceptions about Empathy and Donors
- The Importance of the Current Moment
- The Disparity Between Generations
- The Importance of Communication in Organizations
- Servant Leadership and Call to Action
- Challenges in the Nonprofit Sector
- Overcoming Constraints and Shifting Perspectives
- Where to Find the Book
- Connecting with Evan
RAISE MORE FROM THE RIGHT FUNDERS
Follow
Evan Wildstein
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
- Many thanks to our sponsor, Constant Contact for making this episode possible. Our friends at Constant Contact provide nonprofit leaders like you with cutting-edge email and social media management tools. Want to craft emails that shine on every device or manage your social media effortlessly? And for those moments you’re at a loss for words, their AI Content Generator, powered by ChatGPT, delivers engaging messages in mere seconds. For a platform that amplifies your marketing, saves time, and drives growth, look no further than Constant Contact. Get started with your risk-free trial using the promo code ‘MALLORY’ for 30% off your first three months. Discover more at www.constantcontact.com/mallory.
- If you haven’t already, please visit our new What the Fundraising community forum. Check it out and join the conversation at this link.
- If you’re looking to raise more from the right funders, then you’ll want to check out my Power Partners Formula, a step-by-step approach to identifying the optimal partners for your organization. This free masterclass offers a great starting point
Brought To
you By:
TIPS AND TOOLS TO IMPLEMENT TODAY
- Servant leadership can drive transformative change in the nonprofit sector by shifting focus to service and empathy.
- Empathy plays a significant role in nonprofit fundraising, guiding the formation of meaningful connections with donors and beneficiaries.
- Understanding and sharing the feelings of others allows for compassionate, efficient communication, encouraging generous donations and long-term relationships.
- Conceptualization acts as a cornerstone in effective leadership, allowing leaders to identify opportunities for improvement and formulate innovative solutions.
- By cultivating conceptualization skills, leaders in the non-profit sector can navigate challenges proactively, and implement robust strategies that align with their organization's mission.
FAVORITE QUOTES
- Empathy is not just about personal experience, but also about being able to understand and connect with others on a deeper level. It is a crucial element of servant leadership that helps build meaningful relationships with donors, colleagues, and the community. - Evan Wildstein
- But the way that I think about it, which is the opposite of what a lot of people codify servant leadership as like this outward-facing everyone else is more important than you. You serve. And that is your leadership momentum. But Servant leadership, one of the core traits which we can talk about is this commitment to the growth of other people. And another one is building community. - Evan Wildstein
- So it's different, in my view, than all those other leadership philosophies that are about your authority or your position or the boastfulness of your great man or great woman personality. Servant leadership looks at everything with that. - Evan Wildstein
- There is one side of empathy that's: I can understand how everyone is feeling because I'm empathetic, but the disparity between empathy and sympathy comes up there. But not all empathy needs to be experiential. - Evan Wildstein
- But there's a great leader on this, Pat Flottico, who in the book I do a great quote from her that talks about the connotation between service and leadership, and the hyphen creates a boost between those two words. One can't exist without the other, and they feed into one another. - Evan Wildstein
RELATED CONTENT
Get to know Evan Wildstein:
A nonprofiteer for nearly 20 years, Evan Wildstein has led fundraising and strategy for The Juilliard School, Asia Society, Rice University, Houston Grand Opera, and others. Inspired by the intersection of philanthropy, creativity, and learning, Evan has galvanized funding for innovative projects that inspire stronger communities, consulted nonprofits on board development and talent growth, commissioned operas, and produced community-centered educational programs. He writes regularly on social impact and organizational leadership for Philanthropy News Digest, The International Journal of Servant-Leadership, and other journals and publications. A native of New York, Evan and his family live in Houston, Texas.
Other episodes you would enjoy
.
I teach nonprofit fundraisers to bring in more gifts from the RIGHT donors… so they can stop hounding people for money. Fundraising doesn’t have to be uncomfortable.
- CEO & Creator of the Power Partners Formula™
- Disruptor in the funding sector, changing lives everyday
- Relentlessly committed to the movement of money into the nonprofit sector
- Focused on win-win partnerships that allow fundraisers to be authentic and empowered in their work
- Over 15 years working in nonprofits (managing director and ED of multiple fast-growth organizations)
MALLORY ERICKSON
