Ep. 3 - Nonprofit Leadership

NonProfit Counsel Podcast

May is joined by Dr. Laura Dietrick, an expert from the Nonprofit Institute at the University of San Diego, to delve into leadership within the nonprofit sector. Together, they explore two impactful initiatives offered by the university that equip students with comprehensive knowledge about managing a nonprofit organization. By shedding light on common misconceptions associated with nonprofits, students receive valuable training opportunities at the Nonprofit Institute and the Nonprofit Leadership and Management graduate program.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [00:00] Dr. Laura shares an overview of her responsibilities at the University of San Diego and discusses the Nonprofit Institute
• [04:43] Explanation of how nonprofits operate
• [07:02] The misnomer that nonprofits exist only to be altruistic and why it’s important to talk about the impact of the organization
• [16:00] Dr. Laura shares details of the Nonprofit Leadership and Management graduate program
• [22:16] Students are learning many aspects of nonprofits and are working on real-time projects
• [28:26] Dr. Laura explains what type of personality would thrive working for a nonprofit and also why it can be a difficult space

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Those who criticize the compensation of a nonprofit should recognize the importance of adequately paying nonprofit leaders, just as you would a manager in a for-profit business.
• Nonprofits should promote the impact their programs have. That would be more effective than talking about how the donations are spent.
• Individuals who are problem solvers and can mediate between groups and boards would enjoy and do well working at a nonprofit.

RESOURCES:

For Profit Law Group - Website

Nonprofit Counsel - Website

Nonprofit Counsel - Instagram

Nonprofit Counsel - Linkedin

The Nonprofit Institute - Website

Nonprofit Leadership and Management - Website

GUEST BIOGRAPHY:

Dr. Laura Deitrick serves as the Director of the Nonprofit Leadership and Management graduate program and as the Associate Director of The Nonprofit Institute at the University of San Diego. She has been a nonprofit executive director, board member, management consultant, and researcher on major nonprofit trends. Her research has led to critical reports on nonprofit ethics, nonprofits and public education, nonprofit human resource practices, executive transition, the economics of San Diego and California’s nonprofit sector, nonprofit public confidence, and regional grantmaking. She served as the principal investigator for Nonprofit Academy, an award-winning capacity-building project co-created by the Nonprofit Institute and The City of San Diego. Dr. Deitrick is a faculty member in the Department of Leadership Studies, where she teaches nonprofit management, organizational theory, program design, and evaluation. In 2021, she was recognized as the department’s outstanding faculty member. Since 2019, Dr. Deitrick has served on the board of directors for Barrio Logan College Institute (BLCI). She is also the co-author of Cases in Nonprofit Management: AHands-onn Approach to Problem Solving, published by Sage Publications.

ABOUT THE HOST:

May Harris has been a pioneer of nonprofit law practice for over a decade, having founded For Purpose Law Group in April 2012. She serves the nation's nonprofit sector with unparalleled expertise, prioritizing her client's missions, visions, and values. She specializes in nonprofit & tax-exempt organizations, social enterprise & business law, and estate planning & charitable giving.

May received her undergraduate degree from the University of Utah before pursuing and obtaining her Juris Doctor from the University of San Diego in 2000. She practiced intellectual property law for a large biotech company for several years before a fateful flyer came home in her son's lunchbox. His school was looking for parents who were licensed attorneys and could form a nonprofit on their behalf. May agreed to form the organization and then found herself serving as director of its board. With her legal expertise and newfound knowledge of nonprofit law, she realized the nonprofit sector was severely underserved in legal representation. She decided to fix this.

She returned to school, earning her Master of Nonprofit Leadership and Management from the University of San Diego in. With this education, she, along with some of her fellow graduates, founded For Purpose Law Group (FPLG). In the subsequent decade, May has molded FPLG into the “go-to” law firm for nonprofits in Southern California. The firm is constantly expanding its locations and service areas, with the ability to assist organizations across the United States.