What happens when a charity you believe in collapses almost overnight? Not just financially — but in trust.

In this episode of You Are What You Give, Avi sits down with Yael Simon to explore what happens when philanthropy goes wrong — and what responsible giving actually requires from both donors and nonprofit leaders.

Within weeks of stepping into a nonprofit leadership role, Yael found herself at the center of a global fraud crisis involving investigations, broken trust, and enormous institutional fallout. That experience reshaped how she thinks about stewardship, donor responsibility, fundraising, and what it takes to rebuild credibility after failure.

This conversation goes far beyond one organization’s collapse. It’s about:

• how trust is built in philanthropy
• why good intentions are not enough
• what sophisticated donors look for
• and why thoughtful giving requires ongoing responsibility — not just generosity

We also explore:

• fundraising misconceptions nonprofits still struggle with
• the role of young professionals in philanthropy
• philanthropy as a catalyst rather than a solution
• and how organizations can maintain trust over the long term

This is not a cynical conversation about giving. It’s a practical and deeply human conversation about how to give more responsibly — especially when trust is at stake.

To contact Yael Simon, reach out to her at her webiste: https://arakura.co.

And as always, thank you to Victoria Hearst, whose generosity helps make these conversations possible.

Most nonprofits are focused on finding new supporters.

But what if some of the most important people you need to reach…
are already part of your story?

In this episode of You Are What You Give, Avi sits down with Jennifer Cunningham, an expert in alumni engagement, to explore a missed opportunity across the nonprofit world.

Because “alumni” isn’t just a university concept.

It includes former volunteers.
Past board members.
Program participants whose lives were shaped by your work.

People who already know your mission —
and may be your most natural advocates moving forward.

So why do so many organizations lose touch with them?

And what would it look like to re-engage them — not as a one-time outreach,
but as a long-term strategy for growth, leadership, and connection?

This conversation breaks it down in practical terms:

• What “alumni” really means in a nonprofit context
• Why organizations overlook these relationships
• How to re-engage people without turning it into a fundraising ask
• And how alumni can become champions, not just contacts

This isn’t about nostalgia.

It’s about recognizing the people who already walked part of the journey with you —
and inviting them to walk the next mile.

To contact Jennifer Cunningham, visit her website: https://engagejc.com/

And as always, thank you to Victoria Hearst, whose giving helps make these conversations possible.

You see a need.

Someone who could use help.
A situation where something isn’t right.

And then comes the moment that defines everything:

Do you step forward… or do you move on?

In this episode of You Are What You Give, I sit down with Victoria Hearst to explore a different kind of giving — one that doesn’t wait for a campaign, a request, or a clear path forward.

Victoria’s approach is simple, but not easy: She steps in.

She identifies real needs, builds relationships with trusted partners, and commits to supporting what matters most — often focusing on life-and-death issues where action can’t be delayed.

This conversation isn’t about generosity as a concept.

It’s about what it actually takes to move from intention to action, and how giving becomes meaningful when it’s driven by initiative, not circumstance.

Along the way, we explore:

• How many people hesitate when they could help
• How to recognize your role in a given situation
• The importance of trusted partnerships in philanthropy
• Why consistency matters more than scale
• How giving evolves when it becomes part of who you are

And as always, thank you to Victoria Hearst for her partnership and support in making this podcast possible.

If you’ve ever felt the pull to give but didn’t know how to take that first step, this conversation is for you.