Let’s Hear It

letshearitcast
Let’s Hear It

Welcome to Let’s Hear It, a podcast about foundation and nonprofit communications (among other things), hosted by non-relatives Eric Brown and Kirk Brown. Let’s Hear It is sponsored through the generous support of the College Futures Foundation, the Lumina Foundation, the Prebys Foundation, and the Stupski Foundation. On Let’s Hear It, Kirk and Eric speak with leaders in the field about who they are, what makes them tick, and how they think about their work. These conversations are freewheeling and (we hope) fun. We’re serious – it’s not all serious. Together, Eric and Kirk have worked in and around hundreds of foundations, nonprofits and campaigns. For over a decade, Eric was Communications Director at the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and now runs Brownbridge Strategies, a consulting firm that works with foundations and nonprofits on grantmaking, communications, and fundraising strategies. Kirk is the former President of Resource Media, a nonprofit organization that provides communications support to environmental groups, and now runs Reach Strategies, a consulting firm that works with nonprofits, foundations and campaigns to sharpen their communications, strategic planning and evaluation strategies. We hope that Let’s Hear It will provide insight into the people who run and work in foundations and nonprofits so that we can all find ways to do our jobs better and – oy, cliché alert – make the world a better place.

  1. 4 NOV

    The Clean Energy Economy is Coming! – with Rachel Korberg of the Families and Workers Fund and David Etzwiler of the Siemens Foundation

    Okay, folks, we know there’s an election happening and that you might be a bit, um, distracted. But one thing is sure, whatever happens this week, a clean energy economy is coming, and we need to do everything we can to make this transition work for everybody. So when you’re finished blowing into your paper bag, you might want to take a moment to think about the future. In this episode of Let’s Hear It, hosts Eric sits down with Rachel Korberg , the Executive Director and co-founder of the Families and Workers Fund and David Etzwiler, the CEO of the Siemens Foundation to explore how philanthropy and business can team up to create an economy that works for everyone. Rachel and David share their insights into making the clean energy transition fair and accessible, with a focus on good jobs, workforce training, and equity. The discussion centers on how their organizations are working together to push for an economy that includes all workers—especially women, people of color, and rural communities—in emerging fields like green energy. Then, Kirk blows a gasket with excitement, Eric tries to talk him off the ledge, and they try to make sense of it all. If you’re interested in how real change is happening at the intersection of philanthropy and business, this episode is a must-listen. And if you enjoy it, don’t forget to rate and review on Apple Podcasts to help others find the show!

    55 min
  2. 24 SEPT

    Grace Nicolette of the Center for Effective Philanthropy Unpacks the $17 Billion Bombshell - MacKenzie Scott's Philanthropy Revolution

    In this dandy episode of Let's Hear It, Eric Brown sits down with Grace Nicolette from the Center for Effective Philanthropy to make sense of the phenomenon that is MacKenzie Scott's revolutionary approach to giving. Grace is the Vice President for Programming and External Relations at the Center for Effective Philanthropy and the co-host with Phil Buchanan of the really terrific (and we're not just saying that!), Giving Done Right Podcast, which kicked off its fourth season on September 19. Grace shares fascinating insights from CEP's multi-year study of Scott's "surprise philanthropy" - those headline-grabbing, unsolicited gifts that have sent shockwaves through the nonprofit world. We're talking transformative levels of funding that have left many organizations asking, "Is this for real?" But it's not just about the numbers. Grace dives into the meaty questions this approach raises: How are nonprofits handling this sudden influx of cash? Is this the end of strategic philanthropy as we know it? And what can other funders learn from Scott's bold experiment? As a recipient of Scott's generosity themselves, CEP offers a unique insider-outsider perspective. Grace candidly discusses how their own $10 million gift has shaped their work and thinking. Whether you're a nonprofit leader, a funder, or simply curious about how big money can create big change, this episode delivers. It's a thoughtful exploration of a philanthropic shake-up that's rewriting the rules of giving, delivered with CEP's signature blend of data-driven insights and real-world experience. Tune in for a conversation that's sure to challenge your assumptions and maybe, just maybe, make you rethink everything you thought you knew about effective philanthropy.

    1h 4m

About

Welcome to Let’s Hear It, a podcast about foundation and nonprofit communications (among other things), hosted by non-relatives Eric Brown and Kirk Brown. Let’s Hear It is sponsored through the generous support of the College Futures Foundation, the Lumina Foundation, the Prebys Foundation, and the Stupski Foundation. On Let’s Hear It, Kirk and Eric speak with leaders in the field about who they are, what makes them tick, and how they think about their work. These conversations are freewheeling and (we hope) fun. We’re serious – it’s not all serious. Together, Eric and Kirk have worked in and around hundreds of foundations, nonprofits and campaigns. For over a decade, Eric was Communications Director at the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and now runs Brownbridge Strategies, a consulting firm that works with foundations and nonprofits on grantmaking, communications, and fundraising strategies. Kirk is the former President of Resource Media, a nonprofit organization that provides communications support to environmental groups, and now runs Reach Strategies, a consulting firm that works with nonprofits, foundations and campaigns to sharpen their communications, strategic planning and evaluation strategies. We hope that Let’s Hear It will provide insight into the people who run and work in foundations and nonprofits so that we can all find ways to do our jobs better and – oy, cliché alert – make the world a better place.

You Might Also Like

To listen to explicit episodes, sign in.

Stay up to date with this show

Sign in or sign up to follow shows, save episodes and get the latest updates.

Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada