On The Ground

About On The Ground

As CEO of The Kipos Group, James Misner has spent years in the trenches with nonprofit leaders. "On the Ground" brings those conversations to you—unfiltered insights by nonprofit leaders, for nonprofit leaders. Real Leaders. Real Challenges. Real Solutions.

Publisher

James Misner

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

4 Feb 2026

Latest episode

20 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

29 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   20 Oct 2026

   The Money Is There: What MissionWell Sees Across 60+ Nonprofits

   Why fractional support can help nonprofits do more with less Nicole Kirkorian Elmes, CEO of MissionWell, joins James Misner to talk about her path from Disney and DoorDash into nonprofit support work, and why fractional services can be a smart fit for organizations that need senior-level help without adding full-time headcount. They also dig into what nonprofits actually need to run well, from finance and HR to board support, and why the sector is often more resilient and resourceful than people assume. In this episode: How her career at Disney and DoorDash shaped a people-first leadership style focused on making life easier for others Why she moved into nonprofit and faith-based work after finding herself drawn to boards, church service, and community leadership What “fractional” means in practice: flexible support that can scale up or down based on organizational need How MissionWell can function as a finance department, HR partner, or board support resource Why a fractional model can cost less than hiring a full in-house team, while also reducing management burden The kinds of work MissionWell handles, from bookkeeping and controller-level finance to CHRO work and organizational design How board services help clarify oversight, recruiting, and the division between staff and board responsibilities What Nicole is seeing across the nonprofit sector, including growth in niche organizations and strong appetite from donors and supporters Why strong systems, clear roles, and good HR practices matter if a nonprofit wants to “run like a business” in the right ways How volunteer leadership is different from employee management, and why finding the “low lift” is key to avoiding burnout Timestamps 00:00 – Meet Nicole Elmes and her journey to MissionWell 01:16 – From Disney and DoorDash to nonprofit leadership 03:06 – How church and board service led her to MissionWell 04:50 – Disney’s Tangled and a successful movie launch 06:45 – Understanding fractional support for nonprofits 09:39 – MissionWell’s finance, HR, and board services 11:27 – The growth of specialized nonprofit organizations 14:45 – Cost benefits of fractional vs. in-house support 16:36 – Technology, digitization, and strategic efficiency 18:05 – The challenges of wearing multiple hats 20:25 – Why nonprofit leaders hesitate to outsource 21:59 – Nicole’s biggest surprises in the nonprofit sector 25:11 – Running nonprofits with a business mindset 27:49 – Rethinking volunteer leadership and preventing burnout 30:46 – Challenges and lessons from scaling MissionWell 32:15 – Connecting with Nicole and MissionWell Resources & Links: The Kipos Group Website (https://thekiposgroup.com/) Schedule a Discovery Call with James (https://thekiposgroup.com/schedule-your-call-with-james/) Connect with James Misner on Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesmisner/) Connect with Nicole: Missionwell Official Website (https://www.missionwell.com/) Connect with Nicole on Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-kirkorian-elmes/?isSelfProfile=false)

2. 

   13 Oct 2026

   Beyond the Founder: How ILI Keeps a $3.5M Fundraising Program Running

   Daniel Drewski on Character, Collaboration, and Fundraising That Lasts James Misner talks with Daniel Drewski, president and CEO of International Leadership Institute, about developing leaders across more than 100 nations and 70 languages. They explore why character is foundational to effective leadership, how to collaborate across cultures, and what sustainable fundraising looks like for nonprofits and ministries.Daniel shares lessons from his career in politics, hospitality, education, and global ministry including how to build systems that can outlast any one leader. Key topics Daniel’s journey to leading International Leadership Institute as its first successor The importance of local leaders and character development The “tyranny of the urgent” and the apartment-fire analogy Four keys to collaboration: shared goals, success measures, support, and communication Navigating cultural differences with grace How scarcity thinking affects partnerships Building sustainable fundraising systems and prioritizing relationships Lessons from an event with competing goals Daniel’s vision for developing leaders and closing leadership gaps Timestamps 00:00 – Introducing Daniel Drewski and global leadership 00:31 – Daniel’s journey at International Leadership Institute 01:49 – Local leadership and community transformation 03:24 – Character development in leadership 04:14 – The apartment-fire analogy and leadership urgency 06:36 – The tyranny of the urgent and succession 08:28 – Cultural differences and good character 11:52 – Shared goals, success measures, and communication 13:20 – Scarcity thinking and its impact on partnerships 14:14 – Turning concerns into action 18:28 – Fundraising lessons and sustainable systems 20:36 – Major gifts, grassroots support, and relationships 24:45 – Fundraising failures and lessons learned 28:06 – The importance of clear fundraising goals 29:48 – Stewardship and scarcity 31:17 – Daniel’s five-year vision for leadership 33:45 – Preparing leaders for growth 34:56 – Connecting with Daniel and International Leadership Institute Resources & Links: The Kipos Group Website (https://thekiposgroup.com/) Schedule a Discovery Call with James (https://thekiposgroup.com/schedule-your-call-with-james/) Connect with James Misner on Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesmisner/) Connect with Daniel: International Leadership Institute Official Website (https://iliteam.org/) Connect with Daniel on Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/danieldrewski/?isSelfProfile=false)

3. 

   6 Oct 2026

   The $500K Ask That Came Too Soon: How American Rivers Plays the Long Game

   Fundraising for the Long Game: Trust, Strategy, and River Conservation James Misner talks with Karyn Bryant, Director of Philanthropy at American Rivers, about building donor relationships that last. They explore how fundraisers can pair strategy with genuine care, shape conservation stories around what matters to donors, and make the ask at the right time. In this episode How Karyn’s career in fundraising began in river conservation Why effective fundraising needs both relationship-building and strategy How American Rivers connects healthy rivers to people, wildlife, and communities How to tailor a conservation story to a donor’s interests What makes an appeal letter compelling—and why the postscript matters How to recognize when a donor may be ready for a larger ask Lessons from asks that were too high or came too soon Why Karyn’s advice to struggling fundraisers is simple: pick up the phone Timestamps 00:00 — Meet Karyn Bryant, Director of Philanthropy at American Rivers 01:24 — How Karyn became a fundraiser 02:51 — Why fundraising needs both relationships and strategy 04:39 — What can go wrong when strategy is missing 05:31 — Why strategy alone isn’t enough 06:30 — What American Rivers does and why rivers matter 07:52 — Connecting environmental work to people and belonging 08:57 — How to tell a dam-removal story in a way that resonates 11:30 — Why it helps to introduce a story before making an appeal 13:24 — Elements of an effective appeal letter 15:15 — The importance of the postscript 16:17 — What it means to play the long game with donors 18:49 — Building donor relationships through intentional touchpoints 20:29 — Signs a donor may be ready for a larger ask 22:04 — What Karyn learned from a too-high ask 24:05 — When a major ask comes before the relationship is ready 25:56 — New tools and opportunities in river restoration 28:16 — Advice for fundraisers: pick up the phone 29:44 — Where to find Karyn and American Rivers Resources & Links: The Kipos Group Website (https://thekiposgroup.com/) Schedule a Discovery Call with James (https://thekiposgroup.com/schedule-your-call-with-james/) Connect with James Misner on Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesmisner/) Connect with Karyn: American Rivers Official Website (https://www.americanrivers.org/) Connect with Karyn on Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/karyn-elizabeth-bryant-98321624/)

Reach and audience

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

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Contact On The Ground

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.