Lead for Good

About Lead for Good

Welcome to the ”Lead for Good” podcast, designed for nonprofit leaders at every level. Join us as we connect with top nonprofit professionals, diving deep into the traits, strategies, and actions that drive successful leadership in the sector. Our mission is to empower you with the knowledge and insights needed to elevate your leadership skills and maximize your impact. In each episode, our host, Chris Looney, interviews an inspiring leader committed to making a difference. Get ready for an enlightening conversation that will inspire you to lead for good! Don’t forget to like and share this video with fellow nonprofit leaders! #nonprofitleadership #leadershipdevelopment #nonprofitpodcast #inspiration #leadforgood

Publisher

LeadforGood

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

7 Mar 2025

Latest episode

30 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

37 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   30 Sept 2026

   Lead for Good: A Conversation with Julie Hudash and Team - Episode 36

   What happens when a nonprofit founder, a school superintendent, a police lieutenant, and a retired Army colonel walk into a podcast? It sounds like the beginning of a joke. Instead, it became a powerful conversation about what can happen when leaders from very different worlds come together around a shared purpose. In this episode of Lead for Good, Chris Looney sits down with Julie Hudash, Founder and CEO of Team Kids, along with three leaders who have become important partners in advancing its mission: • Lt. Steve Peña, Anaheim Police Department• Dr. Sue Johnson, Superintendent, Savanna School District• Ret. Col. John Chu, Team Kids Board Member For 25 years, Team Kids has operated from a simple but powerful belief: children should not merely be the recipients of adult solutions. They should have meaningful opportunities to lead, serve, make decisions, and help shape their communities. Julie puts it another way: children often know they are cared for. But do they know they are needed? That question has helped shape a model that brings schools, law enforcement, firefighters, veterans, universities, businesses, nonprofits, and families together, not simply to serve kids, but to serve with them. The conversation explores: • Why giving children genuine responsibility can transform how they see themselves and their futures• What happens when police officers and young people work together as teammates• Why schools need community partners to help children develop belonging, confidence, purpose, and connection• How veterans can rediscover purpose through mentoring and serving the next generation• Why Team Kids invested in rigorous research to determine whether its model actually works• What it takes to move an idea from “cute to critical” and build something capable of scaling nationally• Why human relationships may become even more important as technology occupies a larger part of children's lives Perhaps most importantly, the conversation challenges a common assumption about leadership. Adults have plenty to teach young people. But young people have plenty to teach us, too. As Julie reflects after 25 years of working with children, they have not yet given up on their dreams. They still see possibility. They still believe they can make a difference. Sometimes adults need to stop trying to shape that out of them and simply give them the opportunity to lead. This is a conversation about kids, but it is also a conversation about collaboration, purpose, evidence, relationships, and a different way of thinking about leadership. Because the biggest challenges facing our communities will not be solved by one organization, one institution, or one leader. Leadership is a team sport. And if you're breathing, as Julie says, you're on the team.

2. 

   18 Sept 2026

   Lead for Good: A Conversation with David Nungaray - Episode 35

   What really happens when you become a nonprofit CEO for the first time? In this episode of Lead for Good, Chris Looney sits down with David Nungaray, President and CEO of the California Council on Economic Education, for a candid conversation about David’s first 100 days in the CEO seat. David stepped into the role ready to hit the ground running. He launched a 100-day fundraising initiative, conducted listening tours with staff and every board member, got closer to the organization’s programs, met with donors and partners, and began navigating the difficult balance between listening and leading. Along the way, he discovered that being CEO also means being what he calls the Chief Relationship Officer. Chris and David explore: • What changes when you become the person ultimately responsible for the organization• Why the first 100 days offer a unique window to listen and learn• How to determine the right rate of change when entering a new organization• Why relationships are foundational to fundraising, leadership, and impact• The importance of developing a trusted “personal board of directors” around you• Why aspiring CEOs should understand finance, strategy, fundraising, and nonprofit governance• The three areas every new CEO needs to understand quickly: people, finances, and the board• Why new leaders need to listen broadly while still learning to trust their instincts• The importance of protecting your own health and well-being if you want to lead for the long term David also offers practical advice for aspiring CEOs and anyone preparing to enter the role for the first time. Perhaps the biggest lesson from his first 100 days is this: You may be the person at the top of the organizational chart, but you were never meant to lead alone. Watch or listen to this episode of Lead for Good for an honest look at the transition from aspiring CEO to actually sitting in the seat. Lead for Good is a production of Fulcrum Nonprofit Leadership, dedicated to helping nonprofit leaders grow their knowledge and capabilities and reach their full potential as leaders.

3. 

   1 Jul 2026

   Lead for Good: A Conversation with Lisa Wood - Episode 34

   Lead for Good with Lisa Wood | Why the Best Nonprofit CEOs Lead Through Relationships What if one of the greatest competitive advantages a nonprofit CEO can have isn't strategy, operations, or even fundraising? What if it's relationships? In this episode of Lead for Good, Chris Looney sits down with Lisa Wood, CEO of Casa Teresa, to explore why relationship-centered leadership creates stronger organizations, healthier cultures, more engaged boards, and more inspired donors. Drawing on more than a decade of executive leadership and a career rooted in philanthropy, Lisa shares why authentic relationships, not transactions, are the foundation of lasting nonprofit success. Throughout the conversation, Lisa explains why CEOs who embrace fundraising as a core leadership responsibility are uniquely positioned to build trust with donors, foster a culture of philanthropy throughout the organization, and inspire greater investment in the mission. She also shares practical leadership lessons on vulnerability, servant leadership, emotional intelligence, board engagement, and creating workplaces where people genuinely feel seen, valued, and connected. Whether you're an executive director, CEO, fundraiser, board member, or aspiring nonprofit leader, this episode is a powerful reminder that leadership begins and ends with people. In this episode you'll learn: • Why relational leadership outperforms transactional leadership • The unique advantages of a fundraising-oriented CEO • How vulnerability builds trust with donors, staff, and boards • Practical ways to strengthen organizational culture through relationships • Why authentic curiosity is one of a leader's greatest fundraising tools • How to cultivate a culture of philanthropy across your organization • Why listening may be the most underappreciated leadership skill If you believe nonprofit leadership is ultimately about people, this conversation is one you won't want to miss. If you enjoy this episode, please like, subscribe, and share it with another nonprofit leader who is committed to leading with authenticity, purpose, and impact. #LeadForGood #NonprofitLeadership #Leadership #NonprofitCEO #Fundraising #Philanthropy #ExecutiveLeadership #BoardLeadership #ServantLeadership #CultureOfPhilanthropy #RelationalLeadership #CasaTeresa

Who has been a guest on Lead for Good

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Bill Bracken
• Casey Castillo
• Autumn Strier
• Matt vandenBerg
• Chris Simonsen

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 5 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

10

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

0