654. Five Years of We Are For Good: Behind the Scenes of the Journey So Far - Jon, Becky + Julie
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Overview
Special Episode: PART ONE
Something big is coming. Today's episode is the conversation before the conversation. Join Jon, Becky + Julie - live in studio together - as we're celebrating five years of the We Are For Good journey and stepping behind the scenes of launching the Impact Uprising.
Join us for a deeply heartfelt conversation as we reflect on the journey: how this movement began, what's kept it growing, and why the We Are For Good community has always been the undeniable heartbeat behind every episode, story, and gathering.
This special anniversary episode is a love letter to the people who show up every day to do good. To the nonprofit pros, the storytellers, the fundraisers, the dreamers, and the believers who transformed a podcast into a movement.
If you’ve been with us since Episode 1 or are a brand-new listener: This one is for you. Thank you for being here 🫶
Learn:
How small acts of generosity can have a significant impact
The role of community in driving change and supporting initiatives
The importance of storytelling in nonprofit work and philanthropy
Strategies for flipping the donor pyramid to engage more supporters
Insights into building resilience through challenges and setbacks
The value of democratizing access to learning and resources
How belief and support from others can unlock personal and collective potential
The significance of showing up with kindness and integrity in all endeavors
“What starts here ripples.”
Episode Transcript
Download Full Episode Transcript Here
Episode Highlights
The Power of Community (03:00)
The Growth of We Are For Good (09:00)
Challenges, Growth, and Creating the Team (13:37)
Resilience and Growth (15:00)
Launching the Podcast (19:39)
From Podcast to Community - Innovation and Impact Up (25:20)
Global Community Building and Impact (29:47)
The Power of Belief & Core Values (32:31)
Becky, Jon and Julie’s One Good Thing (40:15)
Powerful Quotes
“All it needed was for us to leap.” - Becky Endicott
"It's about whoever wants to do good in the world.” - Julie Confer
"It starts with you, like everyone's kind of just waiting for someone else to be the generous one. And it starts with you, and it starts with how you show up to work." - Julie Confer
"Belief is so much more powerful than the institution, than the brand, and when you can unlock that we are for good, is literally living proof of tens of thousands of people who believed in something bigger and didn't want to do it alone..." - Becky Endicott
"Generosity doesn't look like what we think it is. We just think philanthropy is this big, unattainable thing...It is seeing someone struggling and choosing to speak up. It is putting your hand out when somebody needs to be lifted." - Becky Endicott
“Sometimes stepping away is how you come home.” - Julie Confer
"Joy comes in the morning and a bad day is not a bad life. You have another go at it to do something good. So if you're listening to this keep going, we need you." - Julie Confer
"If you're willing to play the long game, the payoff is worth it by doing it slow and building it with community." - Jon McCoy
"I think what we weren't ready for was how, not only like that, it would change a community, but how it would change us, you know, in the process too." - Jon McCoy
"We can't think that the way to change the world is unlocking another major gift, we have to recognize that it's actually how we can show up in this moment. We have agency as individuals." - Jon McCoy
“Do not be dismayed by the brokenness of the world. All things break. And all things can be mended. Not with time, as they say, but with intention. So go. Love intentionally, extravagantly, unconditionally. The broken world waits in darkness for the light that is you.” - L R Knost
Becky’s One Good Thing: “If you speak with one collective voice, you’ll make more noise than you could ever imagine.”
Julie’s One Good Thing: “Joy comes in the morning, so if you’re listening - keep going. We need you.”
Jon’s One Good Thing: “What’s lifting is belief. If you don't feel like you know where to start. We were there. If you don't feel like you belong where you're at, we have been there. Look around you, there's somebody that believes in you.”
Special Quotes from Our Friends:
When you talk about imposter syndrome, know I'm agreeing with you—it's a weird feeling to be in the industry you were made for. While I'd rather push others into the spotlight, I step up because there are truths that need to be shared, and our sector must not become an echo chamber. I believe we can't talk enough about what our sector could be, from mental health to investing in employees. You've created the platform for these crucial, open conversations. Continue to succeed and reach more people than you can imagine; when you win, we all win.- Nelvin
Thank you for taking a look at what I do I run a website design and development studio together with my husband. We serve non-profits and meaningful businesses. Every single business mentor tells me to choose either non-profit or mission-driven for-profit as a niche, but I just cannot say no to a great vegan restaurant or a non-profit serving female refugees, so they co-exist in our portfolio. Since Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine (and we’re both Ukrainians), we have also built a small charity called Petners - helping animals of Ukraine by sending humanitarian aid to the shelters. That brought me to working for non-profits and in non-profit, which is kinda crazy, but amazing. I should also say - I couldn’t have built Petners without your podcast. We are a team of 6 immigrant women living in Berlin, Germany - and your podcast became our main guiding light in terms of building a charity, growing a community and creating engagement around our cause. - Maia Iva
Connect with Julie
Connect with Jon
Connect with Becky
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