Unified Purpose
Unified Purpose is the perfect place to look for advice on how to grow your non-profit or if you’re just looking for a wholesome story to brighten up your day. Brought to you by Penji, every episode follows non-profit leaders through their struggles, hopes, and vision for a better future for the population they serve. Tune in to explore the ins-and-outs of running a non-profit organization and helpful tips on how to manage things to make sure that those that need care the most aren’t being forgotten.
Healing Cities with Human Compassion with Dr. Lena Miller
Here are three things you’ll learn in this episode:
Why Formerly Incarcerated Individuals Are Uniquely Equipped to Lead Community Transformation
Dr. Lena Miller highlights the unique skill set of formerly incarcerated individuals, especially those who have served life sentences. Through their time in high-stress environments like level four yards, they develop an acute sense of emotional intelligence and the ability to assess danger, manage conflict, and maintain peace. This makes them uniquely equipped to lead efforts like the "pit stops" initiative, where they work to reduce violence and build safer spaces in the most challenging ne...
Wheels Up with Amy Winner
Three Things You’ll Learn From This Episode:
Why B2B startups need to test fast and market smarter
Discover how Wheels Up Collective helps early-stage tech companies find product-market fit and scale with intention—before the funding runs dry.
How to build an agency with values (and say no to toxic clients)
Learn Amy’s philosophy on protecting your team, setting boundaries, and creating a business that’s driven by kindness, not just contracts.
How AI is changing the B2B marketing landscape
Get Amy’s take on ho...
The Shades of Latino Founders with Gabriel Flores
Three Things You’ll Learn From This Episode:
Why Latino entrepreneurship is the key to generational wealth
Learn how Gabriel’s work with Latino Founders is empowering overlooked communities through capital, connection, and cultural pride.
How getting out of your comfort zone sparks innovation
From traveling internationally to trying new food, Gabriel shares how stepping into the unfamiliar can inspire life-changing business ideas.
What healthcare teaches you about business and leadership
Discover how 25+ years in the healthcare industry taught Gabriel empathy, relationship-building, and operational readiness — skills every founde...
The Power Of Stories with Doug Jessop
Three Things You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Why Every Story Matters
Doug explains how helping someone share their personal story—no matter how ordinary it may seem—can create powerful emotional connections that ripple across generations.
The Power of Preserving Heritage
Discover how Doug’s nonprofit uses video interviews to memorialize veterans, reconnect families, and keep legacies alive through digital storytelling.
How Stories Can Build Community and Heal
Hear examples of how one story—when shared with the right person at the right time—can reunite families, in...
Brain 3.0: Rewiring Ourselves for Change with Due Quach
Episode Notes Three Things You’ll Learn: The 3 Brain States—and How to Shift into the Best One Discover the difference between Brain 1.0 (survival mode), Brain 2.0 (dopamine-driven pursuit), and Brain 3.0 (inner sage)—and why most of us live in the first two without realizing it. Why Burnout and Scarcity Are Contagious Learn how nonprofit workers, community leaders, and even well-meaning systems unintentionally pass on stress, and how healing at the individual level can transform collective outcomes. How Meditation, Science, and Community Can Rewire the Brain From silent retreats in Dharamsala to applying contemplative neuroscience in Philadelphia schools, Due explains how we...
Rewriting the Code with Sue Harnett
Three Things You’ll Learn:
Why women leave tech—and how to keep them in
A lack of belonging, not capability, is the primary reason women drop out of computer science programs. Sue shares how Rewriting the Code addresses this through connection, visibility, and peer support.
Why ‘every company is a tech company’
Whether it’s Netflix or the WNBA, tech powers every industry. Hear how Rewriting the Code helps women align their passions with tech careers in industries they truly love.
The power of near-peer mentorship
It’s not a...
From Survival to Belonging: How Idaho Welcomes Refugees with Dignity and Purpose
Three Things You’ll Learn:
What refugee resettlement really looks like—from fleeing danger to rebuilding a life
Holly explains the full journey of a refugee, from escaping persecution to navigating housing, language, and employment in a brand-new culture.
How community plays a pivotal role in healing and belonging
Learn how sports, sewing circles, and culturally sensitive mental health support help refugees regain joy, dignity, and connection.
Why partnerships between government, schools, and citizens are key to long-term success
Discover how Idaho’s network of volunteers, nonprofits, school...
A Mindful Mission: Fighting Alzheimer’s with Compassion, Policy, and Hope
Three Things You’ll Learn:
Why rural and underserved communities face higher risks and fewer resources when it comes to Alzheimer’s care
Sharon explains how geographic isolation, medical access, and cultural stigma make early diagnosis and support more difficult—but not impossible.
How caregivers are the hidden backbone of dementia care—and how you can support them
From simple meals to acts of kindness, Sharon shares the most overlooked needs of caregivers and the small actions that can make a big difference.
Why the future of Alzheimer’s treatment...
Be Humanitarian: From One Family’s Road Trip to a Lifeline for Guatemala
Three Things You’ll Learn:
How one road trip turned into a long-term mission to fight hunger and provide education
Discover how Toby’s family trip to Guatemala became the foundation for Be Humanitarian’s life-changing work.
Why community collaboration—not foreign intervention—is the heart of sustainable impact
Learn how Be Humanitarian partners with local moms, governments, and NGOs to drive change from within.
How to get involved—whether through child sponsorships or volunteer trips to Guatemala
Toby shares how donors and volunteers can see the impact first...
Rooted in Love: How One Family Built a Lifeline for the Disability Community
Three Things You’ll Learn:
How one family’s story sparked a national nonprofit movement
Discover how Joe and Jen’s journey with their son Micah became the foundation for Ability Tree, now with community branches across the country.
What it takes to build trust with families navigating disability
Learn how Ability Tree prioritizes relationships over processes and why that human-first approach fosters long-term support and connection.
How faith and inclusion go hand in hand
Explore how the Butlers are reshaping faith communities to be more accessible, inclus...
Purpose in Practice: Healing with Heart in a Region Divided
Three Things You’ll Learn:
Why Rambam Medical Center operates one of the most advanced underground hospitals in the world
Built to withstand wartime conditions, this facility allows life-saving care to continue—even during missile strikes.
How medical care can bridge divides in times of conflict
Learn how Rambam provides healing for all, regardless of religion, nationality, or background—including Syrian refugees and Palestinian children.
What it really takes to lead a nonprofit with both heart and business sense
Naomi shares her journey from law to leadership, and wh...
Lacing Up for Impact
Three Things You’ll Learn:
Why access—not talent—is often the biggest barrier to youth sports participation
From sneakers to basketballs, the resources needed to play aren’t always available. Lace Up helps close that gap.
How building trust with coaches, parents, and schools turns donations into community growth
Learn how Tim and Kate adapt their outreach and communication styles to better connect with the communities they serve.
What it really takes to run a nonprofit: fundraising, logistics, and a lot of grit
Discover the surprising reality...
Rewiring Education: How We Love Philly Is Building a New Path for Urban Youth
Three Things You’ll Learn:
Why traditional classrooms are failing underserved youth—and what a holistic education model can do instead
Learn how programs rooted in mindfulness, trauma recovery, and real-world skills create lasting transformation.
How partnerships with businesses can open career paths in digital marketing, AI, and cybersecurity
Discover how We Love Philly connects students to employers through apprenticeships and agency-style work.
Why changing the narrative about Philly starts with changing how youth see themselves
Chris breaks down the impact of media, trauma, and city pride—and wh...
Rebuilding Trust: How The Animal Retreat Gives Behavioral Dogs a Second Chance
Three Things You’ll Learn:
Why behavioral issues—not aggression—are often misunderstood and mismanaged in dogs.
How The Animal Retreat transforms crisis cases into adoptable pets through training, compassion, and patience.
What it really takes to create long-term change in animal welfare through community education and support.
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The Heart of Small Business: Grit, Growth & the Power of Local Economies
Three Things You’ll Learn
Why small businesses are the emotional and economic backbone of local communities
From employing neighbors to filling gaps in underserved areas, Holly explains how small businesses do more than make money—they shape neighborhoods and create opportunity.
The hidden challenges faced by entrepreneurs with limited education or resources
Many businesses start out of necessity, not strategy. Holly shares how mentoring, time, and access to information can make or break a budding entrepreneur’s ability to scale.
Why adapting to modern tech is one of the bi...
Fighting Childhood Cancer: Hope, Research, and Support
Three things you’ll learn in this episode:
1. Personal Motivation and Professional Advocacy for Children with Cancer: Kristin Connor, CEO of CURE Childhood Cancer, was driven to this work after her own son was diagnosed with cancer as a newborn. She leverages her background as a business litigator to effectively advocate for children affected by cancer, leading an organization focused on advancing research for more effective and less toxic treatments, and providing comprehensive support to families throughout their challenging journey.
2. The Critical Underfunding of Childhood Cancer Research: Despite childhood cancer being the...
United Angels Foundation: Compassionate Support for Families
Three things you’ll learn in this episode:
1. Comprehensive Lifespan Support for Special Needs Families: The United Angels Foundation provides crucial support for families of individuals with special needs, spanning from early diagnosis through adulthood. Their services include connecting new parents with experienced ones for shared understanding, organizing playgroups and social skills programs for children and teens, and offering educational resources for parents navigating the complexities of healthcare, education, and government programs.
2. Fostering Community and Breaking Down Stigma: Sylvia emphasizes that the Foundation aims to break down the fear and apprehension ofte...
New Jersey Theatre: Community, Accessibility, and Artistic Growth
Three things you’ll learn in this episode:
Supporting New Jersey's Thriving Professional Theater Community: John McEwen, Executive Director of the New Jersey Theatre Alliance, leads an organization that promotes, strengthens, and supports 42 professional producing theaters in New Jersey. They aim to raise awareness of the high-quality theater available locally, distinguishing themselves from nearby major cities like New York and Philadelphia, and providing essential services and resources to their member theaters, which operate as small businesses.
Overcoming Post-Pandemic Challenges and Fostering Community: The podcast highlights the significant impact of the pandemic on live theater, noting th...
First Responder Therapy Dogs: Paws-itive Support for Our Heroes
Three things you’ll learn in this episode:
1. Providing Crucial Mental Health Support to First Responders: First Responder Therapy Dogs is a national non-profit that deploys trained and certified therapy dog teams to provide mental health assistance and stress relief for first responders, including firefighters, police officers, dispatchers, and EMS personnel. These visits offer a much-needed "break in the day" and leverage the proven psychological and physiological benefits of human-animal interaction to improve well-being in high-stress environments.
2. From One Dog to a National Movement: The Rapid Growth of the Organization: The orga...
The Institute for Civility: Bridging Divides Through Respectful Dialogue & Understanding
Three things you’ll learn in this episode:
Defining and Practicing Civility as a Baseline of Respect: The Institute for Civility defines civility as "claiming and caring for one's identity, needs, and beliefs without degrading someone else's in the process." It's not about avoiding disagreement but learning to engage respectfully and constructively, even in highly charged situations, making it applicable from personal interactions to international diplomacy.
Addressing Divisions Through Self-Awareness and Understanding: The Institute's training emphasizes the importance of understanding one's own belief system ("know yourself") as the first step towards appreciating differing viewpoints. They hi...
Inspiring Environmental Action & Community Building
Three things you’ll learn in this episode:
Shifting from Environmental Apathy to Action: Ideas for Us was founded to counter the "doom and gloom" environmental narrative that can lead to apathy, especially among young people. The organization focuses on direct environmental action in five key areas: energy, water, food, waste, and ecology, empowering communities to implement solutions rather than just focusing on problems.Community-Driven Solutions for Global Problems: The podcast highlights the importance of local action, such as trash cleanups, community gardens, and building essential infrastructure like latrines, as effective ways to foster a sense of ownership an...Inside the Unique Model of Steadfast Veterans for Homeless Vets
Three things you’ll learn in this episode:
1. Addressing Veteran Homelessness with a Holistic Approach: Anthony Roberts founded Steadfast Veterans after encountering a homeless Marine living in his childhood home, highlighting the deep-seated issues veterans face upon returning to civilian life. Steadfast Veterans focuses on providing stable housing—525 sq. ft., one-bedroom, one-bath homes—as the foundational step for veterans to then access critical "wraparound services" for emotional, physical, financial, and addiction support from partner agencies.
2. Unique Nonprofit Model for Maximum Impact: Steadfast Veterans operates with a distinct financial model where 100% of direct donations go spec...
Saving Lives Through Water Safety with No More Under
Three things you’ll learn in this episode:
Addressing the Hidden Danger of Drowning: Drowning is a leading cause of death for young children and a continuous risk throughout life, often impacting Black and Brown communities due to a historical lack of access to swimming education.Community-Driven Water Safety Solutions: No More Under acts as a "matchmaker," partnering with local pools and community organizations to provide free, culturally appropriate swim lessons and educational resources, emphasizing self-rescue skills and fostering a love for aquatics.Beyond the Statistics: The Broader Impact of Drowning: The discussion extends beyond reported deaths to in...Whole Person Care: Empowering Homeless Individuals & Sustainable Change
Three things you’ll learn in this episode:
1. Whole Person Care" Through Relationship Building: Tracy Community Connection Center focuses on building long-term, trusting relationships with clients to address the root causes of homelessness, rather than just immediate needs. This relationship-first model ensures individuals are ready for services when opportunities arise.
2. Innovative Mobile Services & Dignity Restoration: The organization provides essential and unique mobile services like showers and laundry, alongside food and case management, which not only address immediate physical needs but also play a crucial role in restoring dignity and improving mental well-being for hom...
Prevention Links: Holistic Approach to Substance Use & Stigma
Three things you’ll learn in this episode:
1. Holistic Approach to Substance Use Disorder: Prevention Links focuses on both prevention (building resiliency and mental well-being, especially in at-risk youth) and recovery support, meeting individuals where they are without forcing abstinence, and addressing underlying factors like trauma and socioeconomic challenges.
2. Addressing "Functioning Addiction" and Stigma: The discussion delves into the often-overlooked challenge of "functioning addicts" and the societal stigma surrounding addiction, highlighting the importance of early intervention through primary care and family support, as well as de-stigmatizing recovery by openly sharing success stories.
3...
The One Small Gift That Changed Everything for a Cancer Patient
Here are three things you’ll learn in this episode:
1. The power of small acts—how simple gestures like sending a meme or a care package can make a big difference for someone going through treatment.
2. How Rachel turned her pain and passion into purpose by founding Beyond Basic Needs, a nonprofit that has now delivered over 1,200 chemo care kits across the U.S.
3. Why waiting for the “perfect time” to start something meaningful is a myth—and how starting small, asking for help, and showing up can create re...
The Solar Revolution You Haven’t Heard About
Here are three things you’ll learn in this episode:
1. Solar energy can help nonprofits, schools, and places of worship drastically cut costs—freeing up more resources for their mission. Jackie shares how her nonprofit helps fund solar projects for underfunded organizations with massive energy needs.
2. Incorporating solar into school buildings also builds awareness and career opportunities in the clean energy sector. Jackie emphasizes that solar installation jobs can’t be outsourced and are well-paying and growing in demand—making them ideal for future generations.
3. There are accessible...
Healing Hearts & Hooves: Faith & Friends' Unique Community Impact
Three things you’ll learn in this episode:
1. Healing Through Equine-Assisted Programs: Faith and Friends offers unique programs like "Reading with the Rescues," combining certified speech and occupational therapy with hippotherapy for children with disabilities. They also showcase rehabilitated rescue horses to inspire individuals, demonstrating that even those who have faced abuse can become contributing members of society.
2. Building Inclusive Community & Challenging Societal Norms The organization cultivates a diverse and positive "found family" environment, emphasizing connection and empathy in a world increasingly disconnected by technology. Faith highlights the importance of diversity and challenges the...
She Survived the Headlines. Now She’s Leading a National Movement
Three things you’ll learn in this episode:
1.Youth-Led Impact: SafeBAE is led primarily by young people—two-thirds of the board are youth—ensuring authentic, peer-to-peer education and solutions that reflect the voices and experiences of the generation they serve.
2. Creative Advocacy & Access: From launching a consent-themed clothing line called “Ask First” to making all educational materials free, SafeBAE ensures prevention education is accessible, relevant, and empowering for all students.
3. Overcoming Systemic Barriers: Ayla discusses how SafeBAE navigates the challenges of integrating sensitive education into schools, including lack of fundi...
Empowering Women Entrepreneurs: Network for Success
Three things you’ll learn in this episode:
1. Empowering Women in Business Through Holistic Support: Felicia Shanken founded Philadelphia Women's Network Connection (PWNC) to provide comprehensive support for women entrepreneurs, addressing areas like marketing, leadership, and financial literacy, and fostering a collaborative environment for growth.
2. The Importance of Authentic Connection and Collaboration: PWNC prioritizes building genuine relationships and fostering a strong sense of community among women in business, emphasizing that these connections are crucial for individual and collective success.
3. Giving Back to the Community and Investing in the F...
Philly Culture: Empowering Nonprofits & Community Connection
Three things you’ll learn in this episode:
1. How Fiscal Sponsorship Helps Nonprofits Thrive
In this episode, you'll learn about the concept of fiscal sponsorship, how it supports nonprofit organizations, and the process behind choosing and partnering with the right ones. The discussion reveals how this system helps smaller organizations scale and achieve their goals.
2. The Importance of In-Person Connection Post-COVID
Discover the value of in-person interactions, especially in the post-COVID era. From coworking spaces to community events, you'll hear why human connection is so...
The Mission of Callisto: Connecting Survivors
Here are three key points from the interview:
Callisto's innovative technology anonymously connects survivors of the same perpetrator. By securely matching identifying information provided by survivors, the platform can reveal patterns of abuse and connect individuals who may have experienced similar harm.The platform prioritizes survivor agency and confidentiality at every step: Survivors maintain complete control over their information and the process, deciding if and when they want to connect with other survivors or access legal options or counseling.Callisto aims to address the root of the problem by focusing on repeat offenders: Recognizing that serial perpetrators commit...Empowering Young Advocates: The Mission of Flawless Foundation
Three things you’ll learn in this episode:
🔹 The importance of honest conversations about mental health
🔹 How Flawless Foundation is empowering young mental health advocates
🔹 The role of social media in raising awareness and creating impact
About Janine Francolini and Flawless:
- Website: https://flawlessfoundation.org/mission-and-vision/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janine-francolini-57999926/
✨Sponsors✨
Penji, the human first creative subscription service for agencies and teams.
Enter code for 15...
K-3 Literacy Intervention: Joyful Readers' Innovative Approach
Three things you’ll learn in this episode:
📚 The literacy challenges facing young students today
👩🏫 How AmeriCorps tutors provide personalized reading support
🌟 The long-term impact of early literacy on education and life success
About Sarah DeLucas and Joyful Readers:
- Website: https://joyfulreaders.org/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/joyful-readers/
✨Sponsors✨
Penji, the human first creative subscription service for agencies and teams.
Enter code for 15% off your first...
Teacher to Advocate: Patience, Community & Empowering the Vulnerable
Three things you’ll learn in this episode:
1. Journey from Teaching to Advocacy: Tyrell Brown initially aspired to be a teacher, inspired by figures like Robin Williams in Dead Poets Society. Their career began in retail before they transitioned into education, teaching young children and working on kindergarten readiness programs. Tyrell’s passion for supporting vulnerable children led them to political advocacy and grassroots organizing, ultimately guiding them to their current role at Galilee QTBIPOC.
2. Creating Spaces for Community and Growth: Through their work, Tyrell has focused on building inclusive and affirming spaces, espec...
How Art & Storytelling Shape Communities
Three things you’ll learn in this episode:
1. The Power of Art in Community Transformation: Mural Arts Philadelphia uses public art as a tool for social change, aiming to inspire people, improve places, and influence practices to create a more just and equitable city.
2. The Intersection of Communications, Psychology, and Storytelling: Chad Eric Smith’s background in psychology and performing arts helps him approach communications with a deep understanding of human behavior, emotional intelligence, and storytelling, making messaging more impactful.
3. Creativity as a Universal Human Expression: Creativity exists...
How Maternity Care Coalition Is Changing Birth and Parenting for the Better
Three things you’ll learn in this episode:
1. Mission of Dignity, Autonomy, and Equity: The organization’s core mission is to support parents and children by addressing racial and social inequities. They aim for parents to "birth with dignity," "parent with autonomy," and raise healthy, thriving children, recognizing that historical injustices have limited access to choice and autonomy, thus affecting people's dignity.
2. Challenges of Racial and Social Inequities: Maternity Care Coalition’s work focuses on eliminating barriers related to the social determinants of health, such as access to transportation, healthcare, and childcar...
How Can Simple Conversations Change Lives?
Three things you’ll learn in this episode:
1. Miracle Friends' Mission and Impact: The organization provides a simple but crucial service of connecting people, especially those who are isolated or lonely, through phone-based friendships. It helps people navigate loneliness, offering emotional support through regular, meaningful conversations.
2. Accessibility and Remote Nature of the Program**: Miracle Friends operates entirely remotely, meaning participants and volunteers can be from anywhere in the world. This makes the program highly accessible, especially for individuals who may feel disconnected due to geographic or social barriers.
3...
Funding Flexible Education: How College Together is Changing the Game
Three things you’ll learn in this episode:
1. Fusion College Model: Oscar Wang's initiative, College Together, aims to create a new type of college, termed "Fusion College," which combines digital curriculum with in-person support. This model is designed to address inefficiencies in traditional college systems and specifically focuses on providing accessible and supportive pathways for disadvantaged, first-generation students in Philadelphia.
2. Focus on Underserved Students: Oscar emphasizes the need to support not only high-achieving students but also the majority of students who may not have access to elite institutions. The mission is to create an...
Student Clinic for Immigrant Justice: Making a Difference for Immigrants
About Jonathan Goldman & Anna Johnson and SCIJ:
- Website: https://www.scijimmigration.org/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jgoldmanma/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/passionjohnson/
✨Sponsors✨
Penji, the human first creative subscription service for agencies and teams.
Enter code for 15% off your first month: STUDENTCLINICPA15
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