The Bible Project: Michael McDonald - Setting The Table

08/15/23 • 31 min

"Whenever we're trying a new thing, if we're going into a new product, if we're going into a new marketplace, –whatever it is, we are running it through that grid; How are we being generous in this space? How are we being humble in this space? How are we being unifying?" - Michael McDonald

Truly satisfying work requires self-fulfillment. During a successful career in the hospitality industry, Michael McDonald was confronted with a welcomed opportunity to extend and challenge his work, but after a series of unplanned hurdles in his personal life, he stepped back to reevaluate what he wanted to gain from the future of his career.

Reconnecting with his past, Michael ventured into the nonprofit space to create something relatable and helpful for those with similar experiences. This endeavor would turn into The Bible Project, a digital platform that produces educational animations of Bible stories.

In this episode, Michael tells his story, and shares the ways in which the core values he established in the hospitality industry carry over into the nonprofit space, and how they continue to influence the culture, growth, and success at The Bible Project.

Contents

1 - International Restaurateur (1:21)

2 - Crowdsourcing at The Bible Project (4:49)

3 - Building partnerships (14:37)

4 - Building a strong internal culture (18:57)

5 - Cultivating innovation (21:26)

Links

Mentioned in this episode:

Presented by Classy

Are you a nonprofit feeling the pressure of constant change and evolving supporter expectations? Are you searching for new ways to engage your community in this new era of fundraising? At Future Nonprofit we seek out the top technology helping propel our sector forward, which is why Classy by GoFundMe is a trusted partner of ours. Classy's online fundraising platform empowers organizations to connect, engage, and grow. With Classy's latest innovation, Classy Studio, you can create personalized fundraising experiences that truly resonate. Build connections, unleash creativity, and raise more... faster! And now, with new features like Intelligent Ask Amounts, which provide personalized donation amounts for each supporter who lands on your page, and improved embedded donation forms, which lead a donor through an optimized checkout flow without leaving your website, Classy's full suite of tools is further engineered for conversion while also allowing you to create lasting relationships. The only question left is... what will YOU build? The future of fundraising is now with Classy. For more information, visit classy.org.

Contents

1 - International Restaurateur (1:21)

2 - Crowdsourcing at The Bible Project (4:49)

3 - Building partnerships (14:37)

4 - Building a strong internal culture (18:57)

5 - Cultivating innovation (21:26)

Links

Mentioned in this episode:

Presented by Classy

Previous Episode

Brave New Work: Rodney Evans - A Culture for Innovation

"Where things fall apart is in the system design. It's in the how. It's not that the people are lazy. It's not that they're stupid, it's not that they're not trained well. It's not that the plan is flawed, –it's that we are working in complexity and there is no attention paid to how we are actually going to work differently." - Rodney Evans

Innovation comes from boldness. Too often, companies and organizations seek out innovative solutions without building the groundwork to make those ideas possible. Building that groundwork starts with workplace structure and culture.

Rodney Evans, co-host of Brave New Work, grew frustrated with corporate culture stifling success in the workplace, so she quit and started coaching businesses on how to do better.

In this episode, she shares her story, and gives us her best tips on how to create a thriving and sustainable culture of innovation in any workplace.

Contents

Chapter 1 - Quitting (1:57)

Chapter 2 - Symptoms and Solutions (10:38)

Chapter 3 - Innovation and Adaptation (13:29)

Chapter 4 - Overcoming Hesitancy to Experiment (21:01)

Chapter 5 - Budgeting Innovation (22:26)

Chapter 6 - Maintaining the Innovation Mindset (24:47)

Links

Mentioned in this episode:

Presented by Classy

Next Episode

Liquid Death: Lance Blair - Authentic Culture and Brand

Liquid Death is more than just a beverage company. As CEO Mike Cessario puts it, their product is entertainment just as much as it is drinks. And while they are a for-profit company, their passionate commitment to the cause of “killing” plastic pollution has been vital to their success. Building a likable brand with an authentic charitable message isn't easy, but Liquid Death has mastered the art of being genuinely impactful while maintaining its cool factor. It's not just about flashy graphics and catchy ads; it starts from within and their work with others. That’s where Lance Blair comes in.

Lance is Liquid Death’s Head of Nonprofit Partnerships. In this episode, we'll discover how this incredibly successful and trendy water brand achieves their philanthropic goals, their strategy for captivating and inspiring communications, and how nonprofits can leverage the growing trend of companies giving back to make a positive impact on our world.

Contents

1 - Lance meets Liquid Death (3:16)

2 - More than just drink products (5:59)

3 - Sincerity in the cause (10:12)

4 - Maintaining a culture of passion (17:12)

5 - The future of for-profit charitable goals (22:43)

Links

Mentioned in this episode:

Presented by Classy