ASU Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation

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ASU Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation Educating, empowering and connecting nonprofit leaders to accelerate social impact.

10/29/2026

After 15 years in the corporate sector, Chandra Stewart found herself asking what she would want her professional legacy to be, and the answer ultimately changed the course of her career.

She made the leap into nonprofit work and never looked back.

Years later, as executive director of The Rosendin Foundation, Chandra continues to ask how she can grow as a leader and create an impact that lasts. That pursuit led her to the ASU Lodestar Center's Nonprofit Executive Leadership Certificate, where she found new perspectives on trust, governance, leadership and building organizations that can thrive beyond any one leader.

Read Chandra’s story and how a moment of reflection became a career rooted in service and purpose: https://lodestar.asu.edu/news/reflecting-legacy-chandra-stewart-left-corporate-career-nonprofit-sector-and-never-looked-back

10/28/2026

Government grants and contracts can provide critical funding for nonprofit organizations, but what happens when your organization becomes too dependent on a single source?

Reimbursement delays, funding restrictions, reporting requirements and changing conditions can all create challenges for organizations that rely heavily on government funding.

Building greater financial resilience starts with understanding those risks and developing a funding strategy that supports both your mission and your long-term stability.

Read the full blog post: https://lodestar.asu.edu/blog/2026/10/nonprofit-reliance-government-grants-and-contracts-and-how-mitigate-it

ASU Watts College of Public Service & Community Solutions ASU School of Community Resources and Development

10/27/2026

As a new Public Allies Arizona cohort begins their journey, we’re looking back at the Allies who came before them.

Allesandra Flores served with the State Preservation Office, where she was able to learn more about herself while growing professionally and serving her community.

Public Allies

10/23/2026

Why do nonprofit employees leave?

Pay and resources matter, but they’re not the whole story.

Heavy workloads, burnout, poor communication and a lack of support can make even deeply meaningful work unsustainable.

The good news? Leaders have the power to change many of those things.

Creating a workplace where people feel supported, heard and connected to their organization isn’t separate from advancing the mission. It’s part of what makes that mission sustainable.

Read the full blog post: https://lodestar.asu.edu/blog/2026/10/why-nonprofits-dont-have-retention-problem-they-have-leadership-problem

ASU Watts College of Public Service & Community Solutions ASU School of Community Resources and Development

The ASU Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation was back in Globe, Arizona, for a workshop this week, ...
10/22/2026

The ASU Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation was back in Globe, Arizona, for a workshop this week, continuing our commitment to supporting nonprofit leaders and strengthening organizational capacity in rural Arizona.

On October 19, nonprofit leaders from the Globe-Miami community gathered for “Building and Leading Your Team,” an interactive training facilitated by Jeri Royce, knowledge specialist at the ASU Lodestar Center.

Our partners in the second year of this training series are United Fund of Globe-Miami, Inc., City of Globe and Freeport-McMoRan.

Building on the leadership, governance, fundraising and strategic planning foundations established during earlier workshops, this year’s training series shifts its focus toward organizational capacity building, providing nonprofit leaders with practical strategies to strengthen their organizations and sustain their impact.

Throughout the session, participants explored essential aspects of nonprofit leadership, including creating healthy organizational cultures, supervising and coaching employees, navigating difficult conversations, engaging and retaining volunteers, preventing burnout and planning for leadership transitions.

As Susan Guerrero, community outreach manager at United Fund of Globe-Miami, Inc., shared: “Our first ‘Year 2’ ASU Lodestar Center training was informative, engaging and incredibly valuable. The content was timely, relevant and provided practical insights that our nonprofit leaders can apply in their organizations. We’re grateful for this partnership and the opportunity to invest in and strengthen the nonprofits serving our local community.”

Upcoming trainings will focus on measuring organizational impact and communicating nonprofit stories, helping participating organizations build on their progress and deepen their community impact.

Learn more about this ongoing partnership: https://lodestar.asu.edu/news/new-capacity-building-initiative-strengthens-rural-nonprofits-globe-miami

10/16/2026

Your program may be accessible on paper, but is it accessible in practice?

Cost is often the most visible barrier to participation, but it’s rarely the only one. Transportation, scheduling, materials, communication and even the process of asking for financial assistance can all determine who is actually able to participate.

For nonprofit leaders, creating access means looking at the full picture and designing programs around the realities of the communities they hope to serve.

▶️ Read the full blog post: https://lodestar.asu.edu/blog/2026/10/access-paper-barriers-practice-why-accessible-arts-programs-often-fail-reach

ASU Watts College of Public Service & Community Solutions ASU School of Community Resources and Development

On Tuesday, a group of students from ASU and across the country gathered to kick off Independent Sector's National Summi...
10/15/2026

On Tuesday, a group of students from ASU and across the country gathered to kick off Independent Sector's National Summit with the Student Leadership Academy, which gave the undergraduates and graduates the opportunity to explore careers in the nonprofit sector while developing practical leadership skills and expanding their professional networks.

The ASU Lodestar Center's Dr. Robert Ashcraft served on the host committee for the summit, which unites nonprofit, philanthropic and corporate giving professionals from across the country.

ASU students and staff (left to right, first photo): Dr. Robert Ashcraft, Shanda Hepburn, Myah Selland, Kassidy Smith, Chaelee Chavez, Lachi Islam, Miguel Vargas, Conor Spaulding, Kaylee Woods, Fauster Johnson, Anne Kotleba

ASU Watts College of Public Service & Community Solutions ASU School of Community Resources and Development

10/14/2026

At Deer Valley Petroglyph Preserve, rebuilding a volunteer program was a priority—but turning that vision into reality required additional support.

Through Public Allies Arizona, the preserve welcomed part-time Ally Kelly Smith, who helped develop a sustainable volunteer program and bring community engagement opportunities back to the preserve.

For supervisor Dr. John Bello, the experience demonstrated just how much an Ally could accomplish while also developing valuable leadership skills.

Read the full story: https://lodestar.asu.edu/news/how-part-time-public-ally-helped-deer-valley-petroglyph-preserve-rebuild-its-volunteer-program

ASU Watts College of Public Service & Community Solutions ASU School of Community Resources and Development

10/09/2026

How much are your volunteers really worth?

Volunteer hours are often measured in dollars, but the true value of volunteer contributions goes far beyond financial savings.

Our latest blog post explores how nonprofits can better recognize volunteer contributions by connecting their work to organizational goals, measuring impact and sharing their stories.

Read the full blog on our website: https://lodestar.asu.edu/blog/2026/10/value-volunteer-contributions

ASU Watts College of Public Service & Community Solutions ASU School of Community Resources and Development

10/03/2026

The most valuable asset a nonprofit has? Trust.

And in a world filled with digital noise, skepticism and AI-generated content, authentic human connection matters more than ever.

In our latest blog post, we explores how nonprofits can use storytelling to build stronger, more trusting relationships with the communities they serve.

The framework starts with three principles: Be human. Share knowledge. Plan for tomorrow.

Read the full blog post: https://lodestar.asu.edu/blog/2026/09/building-trust-through-storytelling-nonprofit-sector

ASU Watts College of Public Service & Community Solutions ASU School of Community Resources and Development

Address

455 N. 3rd Street Suite 245
Phoenix, AZ
85004

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+16024960500

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