Jul 22, 2026
What if the biggest threat to your funding isn’t the economy or your donor file, but your organization’s resistance to change? Nonprofits are navigating shrinking capacity, shifting donor behavior, and a massive generational wealth transfer, yet many are still clinging to outdated structures and strategies that make it nearly impossible to adapt. In today’s episode, Melissa Cowley Wolf interviews Brian Loevner to discuss why change is so hard for some nonprofits, and how to maximize impact instead of minimizing pain. Tune in to learn practical ways to rethink board and governance power, embed transformation into your nonprofit’s DNA, and prioritize serving your community over preserving your organization.
Want to suggest a topic, guest, or nonprofit organization for an upcoming episode? Send an email with the subject "NPFX suggestion" to contact@ipmadvancement.com.
Additional Resources
Sustained Collaboration Network
[models for sustained transformation]
https://sustainedcollab.org/collaboration-stories/
[NPFX] Why Consistency Is Your
Strategic Advantage
https://www.ipmadvancement.com/npfx/grounded-leadership-why-consistency-is-your-strategic-advantage
[NPFX] Rethinking How We Do Good:
What We Can Learn from This Funding Crisis
https://www.ipmadvancement.com/npfx/rethinking-how-we-do-good-what-we-can-learn-from-this-funding-crisis
[NPFX] The Intersection of
Organizational Wellness and Impact
https://www.ipmadvancement.com/npfx/the-intersection-of-organizational-wellness-and-impact
[NPFX] The Future of Museums: A
Crisis of Relevance
https://www.ipmadvancement.com/npfx/the-future-of-museums-a-crisis-of-relevance
Guest
Brian Loevner is an
executive leader, consultant, and producer with thirty years of
experience. In 2018, he founded BLVE
Consults and has since worked with numerous arts non-profits
both in the US and Canada to reimagine their operations and expand
their impact. As a fundraiser, Brian has raised over $7 million for
organizations and productions in the last 10 years. His work as a
consultant has been in assisting nonprofits, such as One Aim
Illinois, Calgary Arts Development, Media Burn Archive, Calpulli
Mexican Dance, and many others in building strong teams of
professionals, creating systems for success, and planning for the
future. Brian has also produced over 150 theatrical productions.
His most current producing project is the podcast, My Brother
David, an iHeart Original podcast, which was recently named an
Official Selection of the Tribeca Festival.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianloevner/
https://www.blveconsults.com/
Host
Melissa Cowley Wolf is a
strategic advisor, executive coach, author, and speaker working at
the intersection of leadership, organizational impact, and
philanthropic strategy. She is the founder of MCW
Projects LLC, an advisory firm focused on next-era executive
development and mission-driven strategy for leaders seeking
meaningful impact. With more than 20 years of experience in
philanthropy, leadership coaching, and campaign strategy —
including work on campaigns up to $4 billion — Melissa has
partnered with leading cultural, corporate, and academic
institutions, philanthropists, and changemakers. Her coaching
approach integrates wellness and somatic practices to help
executives build clarity, groundedness, and strategic insight in a
volatile environment. Named a Global Innovator Transforming
the Art Industry, Melissa also directs the Arts Funders Forum, a
platform advancing private support and new financial models for the
cultural sector.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-cowley-wolf-6440a79/
https://www.mcw-projects.com/
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