515. The Cost of Code-Switching for Fundraisers of Color + Health Effects of Racism in the Sector- Jonah Nigh

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Overview

Meet Jonah. This Renaissance man has a resume that is just as unique as it is impressive. He’s a classically trained singer🎶, a baker who was a semi-finalist on Season 1 of NBC’s Baking It 🍰 and an accomplished fundraising leader who is the senior vice president of Development and Alumni Engagement at The New School. On top of all that, he co-founded The Forum for BIPOC Fundraising Professionals. On today's podcast, Jonah shares insights on the toll of code-switching for fundraisers of color and the health impacts of racism in our sector, emphasizing how equity is a choice, inclusion is an action, and belonging is the result. This episode is essential listening for leaders at any career stage.

💡Learn

Health effects of racism in the sector
The cost of code-switching for fundraisers of color
How to create cultures of whole leaders

Today’s Guest

Jonah Nigh, Senior Vice President for Development and Alumni Engagement, The New School

“Diversity is a fact. Equity is a choice. Inclusion is an action. Belonging is a result.”

— Jonah Nigh, Senior Vice President for Development and Alumni Engagement, The New School

Episode Transcript

Download Full Episode Transcript Here

Episode Highlights

Jonah’s story and journey to where he is today (3:30)
Overview of The New School (9:30)
What code-switching means in the context of the nonprofit sector, particularly for fundraisers of color (15:30)
How this affects the mental health and wellbeing of fundraisers in the sector (20:00)
Mentorship vs. sponsorship (24:00)
How to build cultures within our organizations that allow leaders to show up as their whole selves (29:00)
A powerful moment of philanthropy in Jonah’s life (33:00)
Jonah’s One Five Good Things (36:00)
- Do you really want to diversify your staff? If you actually do, you have to have BIPOC leaders and you can’t ask leaders to live where they don’t feel safe.
- Cynicism only supports the status quo.
- We need to unlearn the culture of helplessness in our field when it comes to these topics.
- Exercise the agency you already have, stop asking for it. Everyone has power. Do the things that only you can do.
- It ain’t that deep. Whatever it is for you, it ain’t that deep. Take a step back and get back to the work.
How to connect with Jonah and The New School (40:00)

Impactful Quotes

“It's a lot more fun to show your values than talk about them.” -Jonah

“We run towards our values, we don't run away from them.” -Jonah

"Racism is literally bad for your health, research shows this." -Jonah

"Managing how people see you versus how you really are is exhausting." -Jonah

“If you truly want to diversify your staff, you only have to do two things. You need to have leaders of color because staff and prospective candidates need to see it’s actually a thing, and you need to not require them to live in communities where they are not safe.” -Jonah

“When do fundraisers of color code switch? All the time.” -Jonah

“Diversity is a fact. Equity is a choice. Inclusion is an action. Belonging is a result.” -Jonah

“I actually don’t see critical decisions being made from the top down that would lead to an environment of belonging.” -Jonah

"Cynicism only supports the status quo. So as leaders we are called upon to be unsettled by the status quo." -Jonah

"We need to unlearn the culture of helplessness that is pervasive in our field when it comes to these kinds of topics." -Jonah