RKD Group: Thinkers

RKD Group

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RKD Group: Thinkers, the nonprofit marketer's podcast, is a must-listen experience of thought-provoking content that inspires strategic decisions and insight on the industry. Group: Thinkers brings together innovators and curators in nonprofit marketing, branding and direct response to tackle the major issues facing nonprofits today.

15 HRS AGO

How a weekly volunteer became a community builder at a growing food bank

Becky Ruska’s path into the nonprofit world didn’t follow a traditional trajectory. After spending more than two decades in retail leadership as a district manager for Express, she made a bold decision to step away in her early 40s. What began as a period of rest and reflection quickly evolved into something more meaningful when she started volunteering weekly at the newly formed St. Croix Valley Food Bank in Wisconsin. That volunteer role turned into an opportunity and ultimately a second career rooted in service, community and purpose. Today, Becky plays a central part in connecting volunteers, donors, businesses and community members to the food bank’s mission. From managing volunteer programs and community events to growing brand awareness through social media and partnerships, she brings people together around a shared goal: making sure food gets to those who need it most. Since its launch just over four years ago, the St. Croix Valley Food Bank has grown rapidly and now distributes nearly five million pounds of food annually across four counties through more than 55 partner programs. With a new permanent facility on the horizon, the organization is preparing to scale its impact even further, aiming to distribute up to eight million pounds of food in the coming years. Becky believes that fundraising and community building aren’t about asking for money—they’re about relationships. Whether she’s giving a tour to a first-time volunteer, standing at a local festival booth or calling a donor who scribbled “call me if you need a volunteer” on a donation slip, Becky shows how meaningful impact often starts with simply showing up. In this episode of the RKD Group: Chat podcast, Becky reflects on career change, building trust from the ground up and what it takes to create lasting community connections around a growing nonprofit.

31 min
5 FEB

What it means to lead with humanity in a data-driven world

In this episode of “RKD Group: Thinkers,” we sit down with Hilary Noon, global head of strategy, engagement and growth at AWS Nonprofits, to explore what it means to lead at the intersection of humanity and technology. With more than 25 years of experience spanning nonprofits, agencies and Big Tech, Hilary has navigated three very different “planets”—each with its own culture, constraints and opportunities. Yet throughout her career, one thread has remained constant: a deep belief that data, technology and analytics can, and should, be leveraged to amplify good. Hilary’s path into the sector wasn’t a straight line. Raised in a family grounded in service and community, she gravitated toward work that carried meaning and impact. Early roles at institutions like the Smithsonian and the American Cancer Society allowed her to explore the business side of nonprofit work, applying commercially oriented skills to mission-driven organizations. From there, her journey expanded into agency leadership and, ultimately into AWS, where she now helps thousands of nonprofits navigate rapid technological change. Today, Hilary leads strategy and growth for AWS Nonprofits, partnering with organizations around the world as they adopt cloud technology, build data maturity and innovate responsibly, even amid resource constraints and uncertainty. Her leadership stands out not just for its technical depth, but for its people-first approach. She speaks candidly about building strong teams, learning how to manage before she was ready and why coaching and trust matter more than control.

34 min
15 JAN

Chief fundraising officer calls on nonprofit leaders to embrace curiosity over fear

In this episode of RKD Group: Thinkers, we sit down with Kimberly O’Donnell, chief fundraising officer at Bonterra and former executive director. Kimberly shares how growing up in a family of seven, early exposure to service and a career defined by curiosity shaped her leadership philosophy, and how that mindset is more critical than ever as nonprofits navigate uncertainty, AI and rapid change. As the sixth of seven children, Kimberly learned early how to listen, collaborate, negotiate and find her voice. That upbringing, paired with parents who modeled philanthropy and volunteerism, created a foundation rooted in compassion and service. From candy striping in middle school to working on a bipartisan federal commission early in her career, Kimberly’s path into the sector wasn’t linear, but it was intentional. Throughout her career, she discovered that curiosity, not fear, was the throughline that helped her take risks, grow as a leader and step confidently into new challenges. Today, Kimberly works at the intersection of nonprofit strategy, fundraising and technology, where she helps organizations adapt, innovate and build confidence in a rapidly evolving landscape. From AI readiness to innovation funds, leadership development to intentional living, her perspective offers both reassurance and a call to action for nonprofit professionals heading into 2026.

41 min
8 JAN

Destigmatizing homelessness and rebuilding support systems in 20 years of mission work

In this episode of the RKD Group: Chat podcast, host Nipa Eason sits down with Jaime Buxton of The City Mission in Cleveland, Ohio. She’s an advocate, community builder and longtime nonprofit leader whose heart for people experiencing homelessness has shaped more than two decades of service. Jaime's path into nonprofit work wasn’t mapped out with a rigid plan. What began as a calling to help people—sparked by youth ministry and mission work in Belize—evolved into a lifelong vocation centered on dignity, compassion and community. Over the past 20 years, Jaime has grown alongside The City Mission, serving in multiple roles while helping shape programs that empower men, women and children navigating homelessness. Today, Jaime serves in a community engagement and development role, acting as a bridge between The City Mission and churches, corporations, volunteers and donors. She advocates for the people the Mission serves by educating the community, challenging misconceptions about homelessness and helping others see the humanity behind the statistics. Her work spans partnership development, volunteer engagement, fundraising events and donor programs, including a women’s giving circle that has grown into a powerful force for connection and impact. What stands out most about Jaime is her commitment to dignity—both in how services are delivered and in how stories are told. Whether it’s reshaping the Mission’s Christmas program to give mothers the ability to choose gifts for their children, leading Bridges Out of Poverty trainings to foster empathy and understanding or creating spaces where volunteers and residents can form healthy, respectful relationships, Jamie consistently centers the voices and experiences of those she serves. In this conversation, Jaime reflects on her journey, the moments that affirmed her calling and what continues to motivate her through the hardest parts of nonprofit work.

31 min
2 JAN

What nonprofit leaders learned in 2025

In this special edition of the RKD Group: Thinkers podcast, Justin McCord and Ronnie Richard take a step back to reflect on another year of conversations, insights and moments that shaped the podcast, and the nonprofit sector, throughout 2025. Inspired by high-impact conversations, Justin and Ronnie examine what those conversations revealed about the evolving landscape of nonprofit marketing, fundraising, leadership and purpose. Over the course of the episode, four defining themes emerge: the maturation of AI in the sector, the enduring importance of human-centered fundraising, the power of purpose-driven career shifts and the resilience required to navigate constant change. In this conversation, Justin and Ronnie reflect on the year behind them, the lessons surfaced through their guests and even a spilled Topo Chico.

35 min
18/12/2025

Why the nonprofit sector’s future depends on leaders learning together

Abby Graf, vice president of programs at the Nonprofit Alliance (TNPA), is one of the most thoughtful leadership facilitators in the sector. On this episode of the RKD Group: Thinkers podcast, Abby shares how a lifelong pattern of bringing people together, from organizing Earth Day as a teenager to guiding leadership labs for nonprofit executives, has shaped her approach to helping leaders navigate change with clarity, courage and community. Abby’s path to “dream job” status didn’t come from chasing a job title. It came from noticing what makes groups work, asking better questions and creating the conditions where leaders can learn from one another. In her world, leadership isn’t a solo act. It’s a shared practice that happens at the me, we and community level. Today, Abby leads TNPA’s program work focused on developing nonprofit leaders across the sector, supporting individuals, teams and organizations as they build practical skills, strengthen decision-making and respond to the realities of a shifting landscape. Whether the topic is budgets, AI, risk aversion or big-picture threats to the sector, Abby’s goal is consistent: help leaders step back from the urgent and make space for what matters most. What stands out about Abby is her ability to pair strategic thinking with real humanity, encouraging leaders to experiment responsibly, stay grounded in mission and keep moving even when the path forward feels uncertain. In this conversation, Abby reflects on the experiences that shaped her leadership lens, how creativity strengthens leaders, why nonprofits struggle with risk and what she’s hearing from leaders as 2025 wraps up.

35 min
04/12/2025

The college challenge that created a nonprofit changemaker

In this episode of “RKD Group: Thinkers,” we sit down with Mike Esposito—fundraiser, consultant, coach, CFRE and deeply engaged advocate for nonprofit professionals. Mike shares how a mix of chance encounters, community involvement, thoughtful mentors and one pivotal leap of faith shaped both his career and his philosophy of service. Mike’s journey into the sector didn’t begin with a master plan. It began with a spontaneous fundraising challenge in college that sparked something deeper: a curiosity for the science behind human generosity and the systems that drive people to give. Over the next decade, that curiosity evolved into a career rooted in relationships, leadership and empowerment. Today, he's the founder and lead fundraising strategist of Mike Esposito Fundraising, a consultancy that helps social service and community-focused nonprofits grow individual giving and build sustainable donor revenue. A CFRE-certified strategist and coach, Mike partners with executive directors and fundraising leads to strengthen stewardship, clarify donor strategy, and create systems that make donor engagement consistent and manageable. His work includes individual giving strategy, donor communications, stewardship, portfolio development, and board coaching, helping nonprofits build practical fundraising programs that last. He also gives back to the sector through AFP New York, Nonprofit Hive and his mentorship of emerging leaders. What stands out most about Mike is his willingness to map his course, surround himself with community, trust his instincts and push others to grow. In this conversation, Mike reflects on how early experiences shaped him, why he took the leap into consulting and how he thinks fundraisers can navigate the uncertainty of the philanthropic landscape ahead.

35 min
13/11/2025

Feeling wheels and growth mindset: Lessons from 17 years at Wisconsin Humane Society

We’re excited to relaunch our podcast "RKD Group: Chat" now hosted by Nipa Eason, Creative Director at RKD Group. "RKD Group: Chat" brings you behind the scenes of nonprofit life, shedding light on the compassion and purpose that drive the individuals solving the world’s most challenging problems. In this episode, we chatted with Sarah Trudeau from the Wisconsin Humane Society. She started as an adoption counselor, and 17 years later, she’s now the Director of Data & Annual Fund.

37 min

RKD Group: Thinkers, the nonprofit marketer's podcast, is a must-listen experience of thought-provoking content that inspires strategic decisions and insight on the industry. Group: Thinkers brings together innovators and curators in nonprofit marketing, branding and direct response to tackle the major issues facing nonprofits today.

Creator

RKD Group
Years Active

2018 - 2026
Episodes

144
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© All rights reserved
Show Website

RKD Group: Thinkers