Part 1: The Hidden Power of Saying "Yes" More in Nonprofit Leadership

In this episode of Built for Good, host Kian Alavi sits down with Oliver Hack, Director of Fiscal Sponsorship at Social Good Fund, for a powerful conversation about nonprofit leadership, financial sustainability, innovation, and the courage required to lead through challenging times. Drawing from decades of experience across philanthropy, nonprofit leadership, and fiscal sponsorship, Oliver shares practical insights on building strong teams, understanding your organization’s financial position, and creating systems that allow organizations to grow beyond any one individual. Kian and Oliver also explore the unique challenges of the nonprofit business model, the responsibility of nonprofit boards, the importance of investing in people, and why organizations need more flexibility and financial reserves to navigate difficult moments. The conversation closes with a powerful discussion about creativity, experimentation, and pushing beyond what already exists to create meaningful innovation in the nonprofit sector. **Get the book "The Jewish Gospels":** https://www.amazon.com/Miles-Davis-Autobiography-Orange-Press/dp/1595584684 **Explore Social Impact Commons:** https://www.socialimpactcommons.org/ **Explore Schulman Consulting:** https://schulmanconsulting.com/ **Explore Social Good Fund:** https://www.socialgoodfund.org/ **Explore Mazlo:** https://www.mazlo.com/ **Soundbites:** Soundbite 1: Nonprofit Leadership Insight: Highlight a moment where the speaker discusses the importance of mentorship and leadership qualities. Soundbite 2: Challenges in Nonprofit Sector: Focus on a segment discussing financial challenges and the need for sustainable business models. Soundbite 3: Innovation and Creativity: Capture a part where the speaker talks about fostering creativity within constraints. Soundbite 4: Role of Boards: Select a portion discussing the responsibilities and impact of effective board members. **Timestamps:** 00:00 - Hook 00:22 - Introduction to Built For Good 00:53 - Introduction to Oliver Hack and the episode's theme 02:30 - History between Oliver and Kian 04:10 - The importance of organizational legacy and culture 7:15 - Financial literacy as a cornerstone of nonprofit leadership 9:16 - Challenges faced by nonprofits in a turbulent economy 12:16 - Rethinking revenue models and the irrational nonprofit business 15:16 - The critical role of business background in social sector success 18:15 - The capacity of boards and how to improve their impact 21:16 - Using endowments and reserves to weather financial crises 24:20 - The power of giving nonprofits more room to innovate 27:16 - Courage and confidence for nonprofit leaders 30:15 - Managing the human side: relational work and dealing with friction 33:00 - The importance of intentional onboarding and continuous learning 37:16 - The value of creative experimentation and learning from constraints 41:16 - Supporting staff well-being through rest and intentional time off 46:15 - Ending