"What Gives"- The Philanthropy Podcast

Erin Satzger
  • 5.0 (8)
  • Non-Profit
  • Updated Monthly

"What Gives" Podcast is hosted by Erin Satzger and focuses on philanthropy, community, business and family. Erin is the current CEO of the Northern Cincinnati Foundation. With insightful interviews and thoughtful commentary, "What Gives" is the perfect podcast for anyone who wants to learn more about how business and philanthropy can work together to create a better future for all. Listen now to discover how you can make a difference in your own community.

  1. 10h ago

    Diapers, Dentists, Groceries: The Campus Serving 200,000

    What happens when you build a nonprofit like a business? Erin Satzger, President & CEO of the Northern Cincinnati Foundation, sits down with Ken Tracy, co-founder of Impacting Tomorrow. It’s the nation’s first holistic community campus, with food, medical, dental, diapers, clothing and family support all under one roof. Ken and his wife wrote the business plan for a healthcare staffing company that grew from 4 employees to more than 4,000. Inside that company, “Impacting Tomorrow” started as a program that gave every employee 40 paid hours of community service. After the sale, they made it their next chapter. The blueprint came from a 2½-hour napkin sketch on a back porch in Seattle with a hospital CEO, who described what he saw in the ER every day: hunger, homelessness and the same patients coming back again and again. Six years later, Impacting Tomorrow serves more than 200,000 people from 173 zip codes. In this episode, Ken explains: Why every guest gets a membership card, Costco-style, and is treated as a member instead of a case numberHow massive cold storage turns surplus food and distressed truckloads into a full, dignified marketHow they measure whether families are actually getting more stable, using research from Stanford, Penn and othersTheir goal of 1.5 million diapers this year, the program in 27 Cincinnati Public Schools, and a possible second campusThe business questions he thinks every nonprofit should be able to answerPlus: why Ken and his wife still work without a salary, and what goes in his bug-out bag (his dog Callie and a basketball). What Gives travels across our region to sit down with CEOs and community leaders about business and philanthropic impact.

    Diapers, Dentists, Groceries: The Campus Serving 200,000

  2. Jul 22

    Efficiency & Effectiveness: Rick Flynn on Building a Firm People Don't Leave

    Rick Flynn spent three decades building Flynn & Company into one of Cincinnati's most respected CPA firms — then sold it. On this episode of What Gives, Erin Satzger sits down with Rick Flynn, now a partner at UHY, the 26th-largest accounting firm in the country, to unpack the whole arc: caddying at Kenwood Country Club, ten years cutting his teeth at EY, the itch to go out on his own in 1994, and the leadership pivot that turned Flynn & Company from a revolving door into a place people built careers. Rick also gets into his other big bet: Warsaw Federal, the Price Hill savings bank he helped pull out of regulatory trouble and turn into Cincinnati's first Minority Depository Institution — funding the Warsaw Federal Incline Theater along the way. And because Rick was a founding business behind what's now the Northern Cincinnati Foundation, the conversation turns to community, philanthropy, AI's role in accounting and giving, and why more choices — in banking, in CPA firms, in everything — make communities stronger. Topics covered: Growing up in the region and learning the ropes under mentor Bob Foppe at Kenwood Country ClubTen years at EY and the decision to go out on his ownBuilding a firm that keeps people instead of burning them outThe Warsaw Federal turnaround and becoming a Minority Depository InstitutionSelling Flynn & Company to UHY — and why "choice" mattered more than the paycheckAI's impact on accounting, philanthropy, and small businessWhat's in Rick's bug-out bag (it's not what you'd guess)What Gives is a production of the Northern Cincinnati Foundation, telling the stories of the business and civic leaders driving economic development across the region. Hashtags #WhatGivesPodcast #NorthernCincinnatiFoundation #CincinnatiBusiness #Philanthropy #Accounting #CPAFirm #Leadership #SmallBusiness #Cincinnati #CommunityFoundation #MergersAndAcquisitions #PriceHill #WarsawFederal #EconomicDevelopment #WestChesterOH

    Efficiency & Effectiveness: Rick Flynn on Building a Firm People Don't Leave

  3. Jun 11

    From Vacant to Vibrant: How Jason Woodard is Reshaping the Region

    What does it actually take to transform a vacant building into a thriving neighborhood? Erin Satzger, President & CEO of the Northern Cincinnati Foundation, sits down with Jason Woodard, Founder and Principal of Woodard Development, to talk about what drives intentional, community-centered real estate development across the Ohio region. With over 20 years of experience and more than a half-billion dollars in real estate transactions, Jason has helped reshape downtown Dayton through projects like the Water Street District — turning underutilized spaces into mixed-use destinations that attract jobs, residents, and investment. In this conversation, Erin and Jason dig into the intersection of real estate, philanthropy, and economic development — and why the built environment matters more than most people think. #RealEstateDevelopment #CommercialRealEstate #UrbanDevelopment #AdaptiveReuse #MixedUseDevelopment #RealEstateInvesting #CREIndustry #UrbanInfill #PropertyDevelopment #RealEstateDeveloper #Philanthropy #EconomicDevelopment #PhilanthropyDrivenDevelopment #NorthernCincinnatIFoundation #CommunityInvestment #ImpactInvesting #CharitableGiving #PurposeDrivenBusiness #Entrepreneurship #FounderStory #BusinessLeadership #SmallBusiness #VisionaryLeader #BuildingBusiness #GrowthMindset #Innovation #JasonWoodard #WoodardDevelopment #ErinSatzger

    From Vacant to Vibrant: How Jason Woodard is Reshaping the Region

  4. May 27

    You Can't Build a Great City Without This! ArtsWave & Cincinnati with Guest Alecia Kintner

    When most people think about economic development, the arts aren't usually the first thing that comes to mind. They should be. On this episode of the What Gives Podcast, Erin Satzger, President and CEO of the Northern Cincinnati Foundation, sits down with Alecia Kintner, President & CEO of ArtsWave — the nation's first and largest community campaign for the arts. Alecia has spent her career making the case that creativity isn't a nice-to-have, it's a must-have for any region that wants to attract talent, build community, and actually be a place people want to live. They get into the real numbers behind arts funding, what it takes to rally an entire region around a shared vision, and why Cincinnati is quietly becoming a model for how cities show up for their artists and neighborhoods. If you've ever wondered whether the arts really matter — this conversation will change how you think about it. Key Takeaways: How ArtsWave supports hundreds of arts organizations across Greater Cincinnati.Why the arts are a serious driver of economic growth and talent retention.What it looks like when a whole community invests in creativity together.Stay tuned for the full episode! #ArtsWave #CincinnatiArts #WhatGivesPodcast #ArtsMatter #CommunityImpact #CreativeEconomy #NonprofitLeadership #GreaterCincinnati

    You Can't Build a Great City Without This! ArtsWave & Cincinnati with Guest Alecia Kintner

  5. Feb 25

    The Future of Flight: Inside the New Butler Tech Aviation Center ✈️

    The aviation industry is facing a critical workforce gap, and right here in Middletown, Ohio, we are building the solution. On this episode of the What Gives Podcast, we’re filming on-location at the brand-new Butler Tech Aviation Center. Joining me is Dr. William Sprankles, CEO of Butler Tech and a powerhouse in educational innovation. William is the architect of the Fifth Day Experience and is now overseeing one of the most advanced career tech facilities in the country. We’re diving deep into how this $15M investment at the Middletown Regional Airport is transforming lives and fueling the regional economy. Key Takeaways: How Butler Tech is tackling the Aviation Workforce Shortage. The impact of the Aviation Education Hangar on Southwest Ohio students. Why "Student Agency" is the secret sauce to modern education. Stay tuned for the full episode! #ButlerTech #AviationCareers #EducationInnovation #MiddletownOhio #CareerTech #PilotShortage #WhatGivesPodcast #WorkforceDevelopment

    The Future of Flight: Inside the New Butler Tech Aviation Center ✈️

  6. 12/08/2025

    ROI of a Lifetime: Real Estate, Space, and the Future of Kids with Billionaire Larry Connor

    What is the ultimate Return on Investment? For Larry Connor, it isn’t just found in luxury real estate portfolios or expeditions to outer space—it’s found in the future of the next generation. On this episode of the What Gives Podcast, host Erin Satzger sits down with billionaire Larry Connor (Founder of The Connor Group) to discuss how high-stakes business acumen translates to high-impact philanthropy. Larry is known for his extreme adventures—piloting to the International Space Station and diving to the deepest parts of the ocean—but his most ambitious mission is right here on Earth: revolutionizing education for under-resourced students. We discuss: The Business of Giving: How Larry applies private equity standards and "Connor Group discipline" to non-profit work. Calculated Risk: Why the mindset required for space travel is essential for solving systemic education issues. The Greater Dayton School: A look inside the philosophy and model of Ohio’s first private, non-religious school for under-resourced students. Whether you are an entrepreneur, an investor, or a community leader, this conversation challenges the traditional definition of ROI. Hosted by: Erin Satzger (Northern Cincinnati Foundation) Guest: Larry Connor (The Connor Group) #LarryConnor #RealEstateInvesting #SpaceTravel #Philanthropy #EducationReform #TheConnorGroup #WhatGivesPodcast #BusinessLeadership #ROI #NorthernCincinnatiFoundation #ErinSatzger #NorthernCincinnatiFoundation #Dayton #PhilanthropyPodcast #spacex #elonmusk

    ROI of a Lifetime: Real Estate, Space, and the Future of Kids with Billionaire Larry Connor

  7. 11/11/2025

    Carrying the Legacy: Logan Hines and the Heart of Mitchell’s Salon & Day Spa

    In this deeply personal and inspiring episode of What Gives, host Erin Satzger sits down with Logan Hines, Owner and President of Mitchell’s Salon & Day Spa, to talk about legacy, leadership, and love — both for people and for a family business that’s been serving Greater Cincinnati since 1983. Logan shares the moving story of how her mother founded Mitchell’s over 35 years ago, building it into a trusted, family-like community that celebrates beauty in every form. Following her mother’s recent passing, Logan reflects on stepping into leadership and carrying forward her mother’s mission — giving clients time to lighten their spirits and empowering employees to embrace their creativity. Now leading five locations and two brands, Logan is guiding Mitchell’s into a new era while preserving its heart and heritage. Her story is one of resilience, gratitude, and the beauty of honoring the past while shaping the future.

    Carrying the Legacy: Logan Hines and the Heart of Mitchell’s Salon & Day Spa

  8. 06/03/2025

    AI for Good: Future-Proofing Philanthropy with Matt King

    🎧 Episode Description: In this forward-thinking episode of What Gives, Erin Satzger sits down with the Northern Cincinnati Foundation’s own Chief Marketing Officer, Matt King, for a deep dive into the transformative power of AI in philanthropy. From building AI tools that recommend charitable funds based on a donor's passions, to exploring crypto giving, and even creating a knowledge base powered by veterans’ voices for the USS Cincinnati Submarine Memorial Park — Matt shares how the world of community foundations is being reimagined through the lens of emerging technology. 🚀 Topics include: How AI can personalize donor engagementUsing crypto and digital tools to modernize givingPreserving local history through AI-driven storytellingWhy community foundations should think more like tech startupsThis episode will challenge your thinking and inspire you to see how mission and innovation can work hand-in-hand. The future of giving is here — and it’s smarter than ever.

    AI for Good: Future-Proofing Philanthropy with Matt King
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

"What Gives" Podcast is hosted by Erin Satzger and focuses on philanthropy, community, business and family. Erin is the current CEO of the Northern Cincinnati Foundation. With insightful interviews and thoughtful commentary, "What Gives" is the perfect podcast for anyone who wants to learn more about how business and philanthropy can work together to create a better future for all. Listen now to discover how you can make a difference in your own community.

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