In this vibrant and energizing episode, Charity Jen chats with Julie Naranjo Upham, Vice President of Individual Giving at Conservation International and co-chair of the Bridge Conference. A long-time AFP ICON speaker and CFRE, Julie shares what keeps her coming back year after year: the chance to connect with emerging fundraisers, learn from peers, and gather real-time ideas to strengthen her team’s fundraising strategies.

 

From major gift portfolio tactics to pink “Development Diva” ribbons, Julie brings equal parts insight and joy to this conversation. Whether you’re looking for fresh content to bring back to your own team or just need a reminder of how powerful community can be, this episode offers both practical tips and a healthy dose of sparkle.

Don’t forget to follow and subscribe at olasmedia.com

Some notable moments from this episode:

00:00 – Welcome and intro to Julie Naranjo Upham

01:22 – Why ICON energizes Julie every year

03:18 – Favorite takeaways: donor behavior and team growth

04:24 – Bringing major gift strategies straight home

06:01 – Ribbon stories and conference joy

In this vibrant and energizing episode, Charity Jen chats with <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-naranjo-upham-cfre">Julie Naranjo Upham</a>, Vice President of Individual Giving at <a href="https://www.conservation.org/">Conservation International</a> and co-chair of the Bridge Conference. A long-time AFP ICON speaker and CFRE, Julie shares what keeps her coming back year after year: the chance to connect with emerging fundraisers, learn from peers, and gather real-time ideas to strengthen her team&rsquo;s fundraising strategies.
&nbsp;
From major gift portfolio tactics to pink &ldquo;Development Diva&rdquo; ribbons, Julie brings equal parts insight and joy to this conversation. Whether you&rsquo;re looking for fresh content to bring back to your own team or just need a reminder of how powerful community can be, this episode offers both practical tips and a healthy dose of sparkle.
Don&rsquo;t forget to follow and subscribe at <a href="https://olasmedia.com/shows/from-the-nest-with-charity-jen">olasmedia.com</a>
Some notable moments from this episode:
00:00 &ndash; Welcome and intro to Julie Naranjo Upham
01:22 &ndash; Why ICON energizes Julie every year
03:18 &ndash; Favorite takeaways: donor behavior and team growth
04:24 &ndash; Bringing major gift strategies straight home
06:01 &ndash; Ribbon stories and conference joy

Join Jen Newmeyer as she explores the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of nonprofit fundraising. Each episode contains valuable guidance from CharityJen and industry leaders who’ve given flight to groundbreaking ideas and landed with success. In From the Nest, you’ll learn that fundraising is more than just annual plans, goals and budgets. Behind every great fundraiser is a great story.

Join <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennewmeyer/">Jen Newmeyer</a> as she explores the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of nonprofit fundraising. Each episode contains valuable guidance from <a href="https://www.charityjen.com/">CharityJen</a> and industry leaders who’ve given flight to groundbreaking ideas and landed with success. In From the Nest, you’ll learn that fundraising is more than just annual plans, goals and budgets. Behind every great fundraiser is a great story.

From the Nest with Charity Jen

AFP ICON Series: Julie Naranjo-Upham - From Major Gifts to Glitter Ribbons 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/d57f2f8a-7bab-4064-9571-ae7c0139f8ec/clips/f4f33d5e-e576-45d9-88c0-b33a012e1f8c/transcript

In this AFP ICON edition of From the Nest, Charity Jen sits down with Doug Trout, Managing Director at DRiWaterstone Human Capital, to talk about what it takes to build and sustain exceptional nonprofit leadership. With a career dedicated to advancing mission-driven organizations, Doug brings a recruiter’s eye and a fundraiser’s heart to conversations around hiring, team culture, and what makes a candidate stand out in today’s evolving landscape.

Doug shares what trends he’s seeing in nonprofit hiring, how organizations can better invest in their people, and why leadership pipelines matter now more than ever. If you’ve ever wondered how to find the right people—or be the right person—for transformational nonprofit work, this episode is packed with insights.

Don’t forget to follow and subscribe at olasmedia.com

Some notable moments from this episode:

00:00 – Meet Doug Trout of DRiWaterstone Human Capital

01:18 – Trends in nonprofit hiring and leadership

02:35 – What makes a strong candidate stand out

04:05 – Creating organizational culture that retains talent

05:40 – Advice for leaders navigating career transitions

In this AFP ICON edition of From the Nest, Charity Jen sits down with <a href="https://driwaterstonehc.com/team/doug-trout/">Doug Trout</a>, Managing Director at <a href="https://driwaterstonehc.com/">DRiWaterstone Human Capital</a>, to talk about what it takes to build and sustain exceptional nonprofit leadership. With a career dedicated to advancing mission-driven organizations, Doug brings a recruiter&rsquo;s eye and a fundraiser&rsquo;s heart to conversations around hiring, team culture, and what makes a candidate stand out in today&rsquo;s evolving landscape.
Doug shares what trends he&rsquo;s seeing in nonprofit hiring, how organizations can better invest in their people, and why leadership pipelines matter now more than ever. If you&rsquo;ve ever wondered how to find the right people&mdash;or be the right person&mdash;for transformational nonprofit work, this episode is packed with insights.
Don&rsquo;t forget to follow and subscribe at <a href="https://olasmedia.com/shows/from-the-nest-with-charity-jen">olasmedia.com</a>
Some notable moments from this episode:
00:00 &ndash; Meet Doug Trout of DRiWaterstone Human Capital
01:18 &ndash; Trends in nonprofit hiring and leadership
02:35 &ndash; What makes a strong candidate stand out
04:05 &ndash; Creating organizational culture that retains talent
05:40 &ndash; Advice for leaders navigating career transitions

AFP ICON Series: Doug Trout - Mission Driven Hiring and Fundraising Leadership

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/d57f2f8a-7bab-4064-9571-ae7c0139f8ec/clips/b76ff683-e52b-4b28-a8cd-b33a012dfe31/transcript

In this episode recorded live at AFP ICON, Charity Jen welcomes fundraising veteran Jay Frost—award-winning speaker, consultant, and senior partner at DonorSearch—to reflect on what’s changing, what’s working, and what still inspires him about the world of philanthropy. With decades of experience in prospect research, capital campaigns, and international fundraising, Jay brings both sharp insight and contagious optimism to the conversation.

He shares why curiosity is his secret weapon, how AFP ICON continues to spark new thinking, and why generosity—in all its forms—is the throughline that drives real change. Whether you’re just getting started or decades into your fundraising journey, Jay’s reflections will leave you energized and ready to reimagine what’s possible.

Don’t forget to follow and subscribe at olasmedia.com

Some notable moments from this episode:

00:00 – Welcoming fundraising legend Jay Frost

01:15 – Jay’s take on the AFP ICON experience

02:30 – Curiosity and generosity as lifelong themes

04:10 – What’s shifting in donor behavior and engagement

05:45 – Words of wisdom for the next generation of fundraisers

In this episode recorded live at AFP ICON, Charity Jen welcomes fundraising veteran <a href="https://www.donorsearch.net/team/jay-frost/">Jay Frost</a>&mdash;award-winning speaker, consultant, and senior partner at <a href="https://www.donorsearch.net/">DonorSearch</a>&mdash;to reflect on what&rsquo;s changing, what&rsquo;s working, and what still inspires him about the world of philanthropy. With decades of experience in prospect research, capital campaigns, and international fundraising, Jay brings both sharp insight and contagious optimism to the conversation.
He shares why curiosity is his secret weapon, how AFP ICON continues to spark new thinking, and why generosity&mdash;in all its forms&mdash;is the throughline that drives real change. Whether you&rsquo;re just getting started or decades into your fundraising journey, Jay&rsquo;s reflections will leave you energized and ready to reimagine what&rsquo;s possible.
Don&rsquo;t forget to follow and subscribe at <a href="https://olasmedia.com/shows/from-the-nest-with-charity-jen">olasmedia.com</a>
Some notable moments from this episode:
00:00 &ndash; Welcoming fundraising legend Jay Frost
01:15 &ndash; Jay&rsquo;s take on the AFP ICON experience
02:30 &ndash; Curiosity and generosity as lifelong themes
04:10 &ndash; What&rsquo;s shifting in donor behavior and engagement
05:45 &ndash; Words of wisdom for the next generation of fundraisers

AFP ICON Series: Jay Frost - Curiosity, Generosity, and the Future of Fundraising

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/d57f2f8a-7bab-4064-9571-ae7c0139f8ec/clips/3ecc5db8-1242-4d08-8e23-b33a012e0b41/transcript

In this heartfelt and thought-provoking episode recorded at AFP ICON, Charity Jen speaks with Sharon Papo, founder of Indigo Skies Consulting, about what it means to lead nonprofits with equity, compassion, and resilience. Drawing from her rich experience as an executive director, leadership coach, and DEI strategist, Sharon reflects on the importance of intentional space-making—for both personal healing and organizational growth.

Together, they explore the need for nonprofits to not only do good work externally but to cultivate internal cultures that are brave, inclusive, and sustaining. If you’re a leader or changemaker navigating complexity, burnout, or transformation, Sharon’s insights offer both validation and a path forward.

Don’t forget to follow and subscribe at olasmedia.com

Some notable moments from this episode:

00:00 – Introducing Sharon Papo and Indigo Skies Consulting

01:10 – The need for healing space in nonprofit leadership

02:32 – Shifting from burnout to sustainability

03:45 – How identity and equity shape organizational dynamics

05:05 – Sharon’s vision for compassionate, inclusive leadership

In this heartfelt and thought-provoking episode recorded at AFP ICON, Charity Jen speaks with <a href="https://sharonpapo.com/">Sharon Papo</a>, founder of <a href="https://sharonpapo.com/about">Indigo Skies Consulting</a>, about what it means to lead nonprofits with equity, compassion, and resilience. Drawing from her rich experience as an executive director, leadership coach, and DEI strategist, Sharon reflects on the importance of intentional space-making&mdash;for both personal healing and organizational growth.
Together, they explore the need for nonprofits to not only do good work externally but to cultivate internal cultures that are brave, inclusive, and sustaining. If you&rsquo;re a leader or changemaker navigating complexity, burnout, or transformation, Sharon&rsquo;s insights offer both validation and a path forward.
Don&rsquo;t forget to follow and subscribe at <a href="https://olasmedia.com/shows/from-the-nest-with-charity-jen">olasmedia.com</a>
Some notable moments from this episode:
00:00 &ndash; Introducing Sharon Papo and Indigo Skies Consulting
01:10 &ndash; The need for healing space in nonprofit leadership
02:32 &ndash; Shifting from burnout to sustainability
03:45 &ndash; How identity and equity shape organizational dynamics
05:05 &ndash; Sharon&rsquo;s vision for compassionate, inclusive leadership

AFP ICON Series: Sharon Papo - Healing in Nonprofit Leadership

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/d57f2f8a-7bab-4064-9571-ae7c0139f8ec/clips/2f460c3b-5a9c-42c7-a956-b33a012e2ff0/transcript

AFP ICON Series: Julie Naranjo-Upham - From Major Gifts to Glitter Ribbons

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