Failures from the Field

Boris Bulayev confronts the toughest challenges he has faced as Co-Founder and Executive Director of Educate!; from imperfect nonprofit hiring practices to risk monitoring and evaluation methods. He sheds light on the disconnect between how funders see organizational culture in nonprofit and for-profit ventures. Boris also dives into a double standard in the sector— the more evidence-based an organization is, the more likely they will be scrutinized for their impact.

Alex Torpey, who served as one of the youngest mayors in New Jersey, speaks about the topical issue of good governance. He confronts an underlying disconnect between the government and its citizens and demonstrates how to build a bridge between the two. Alex also sheds light on how a few outspoken individuals can have a profound influence over a majority of people and stresses the need to create safe spaces for positive dialogue to affect policy around the country.

Dennis Walto, Executive Director of Children’s Health Fund, challenges the notion of focusing on failures from the field as an advocate for asset-based community development. He stresses the need to build upon what is already working in impoverished communities, and explains an important truth: development is not delivered, it is enabled

Shin Fujiyama, Founder and Executive Director of Students Helping Honduras, offers a refreshingly candid take on his experiences building a nonprofit from the ground up. Through sharing his toughest challenges, Shin elucidates crucial lessons about the importance of doing your research, and how investing in local talent is the best decision he has ever made.

Jimmie Briggs is a freelance journalist and the co-founder and Executive Director Emeritus of Man Up Campaign. As a founder of a successful global nonprofit, Jimmie reflects on the importance of transitional leadership and how ego can interfere with long-term impact. He speaks to the importance of self-care, one of the most overlooked aspects of the development sector. He also lends his insight into the current state of gender-based violence, describing it one headline: The Struggle Continues.

The legendary Reverend Jesse Jackson shares stories of sacrifice and triumph in the face of insurmountable odds while lending invaluable insight into the current political landscape. He explains how those who make the biggest contributions in the world must also be the most prepared to do, and how active, long-term resistance can lead to social change.

Zainab Salbi is an author, activist and Founder and former CEO of Women for Women International. She reveals how there is the lack of space in the sector to talk about failure, which has fostered a reliance on glorified success stories. Zainab discusses unhealthy power dynamics as well as the co-dependence inherent in creating real change in the world. Find out why we are missing honest, unapologetic conversations and how we can open up the dialogue.

John Hope Bryant delves into his formidable experiences as member of the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability and Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Operation HOPE. He speaks to the difference between gaining influence and actually conducting unethical behavior in light of current events, how there needs to be a shift in thinking around nonprofit salaries, and why the development sector should be constantly evaluating our impact.

Chelsea Clinton, Vice Chair of the Clinton Foundation, lends invaluable insight to the subject of Failures from the Field. At the final Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting, she discussed the legacy of one of the most important global players in international development-- the Clinton Foundation. Chelsea illuminates how the organization overcame some of the toughest obstacles they faced, how they contributed to a global conversation about social change between diverse constituents, and how risk has played a crucial role in the impact that the Clinton Foundation has had around the world.

Maya Winkelstein, Executive Director of Open Road Alliance, lends insight into a complex paradox: non-profit organizations are often most vulnerable to unpredictable circumstances, yet they are allowed little room to pivot when faced with major roadblocks. She unveils how the lack of communication and understanding between non-profits and funders can lead to devastating consequences.

Pierre Ferrari, President and CEO of Heifer International, speaks to the complex intricacies around social change, explains the simple solution to the problems smallholder farmers face around the world, and explains why very few organizations successfully do development work.

Deogratias Niyizonkiza, Founder and CEO of Village Health Works, provides valuable insight into what it takes to build a grassroots organization in a war-torn country while bringing to light the thing that makes doing this tough work possible: inspiring stories of strength and resilience in the face of extreme poverty.

Erinn McGurn, Co-Founder and Executive Director of SCALEAfrica, discusses the difference between the architecture of want and the architecture of need, the difficulties small foundations face in fundraising for high-quality infrastructure in developing economies, and the importance of gaining trust and buy-in from local communities.

Christoph Gorder, Chief Global Water Officer at charity: water, speaks to the failure and success of some of the largest humanitarian crises in the world and discusses some of the most pervasive misconceptions about what it takes to provide clean water to millions.

Camille van Gestel, Co-Founder and CEO of WakaWaka, sheds light on the human right to renewable, sustainable solar power and how his team created a high-end solar product that every social class can afford, with the help of a few failures along the way.

Abby Falik, Founder and CEO of Global Citizen Year, takes on the difference between “real good” and “feel good” in creating social change, the blurring line between non-profit and for-profit sectors, and the myth of overhead.

Shawn Askinosie, Founder of Askinosie Chocolate, opens up about how tragedy can lead to healing, how collaboration is one of the hardest yet most lasting endeavors, and why profit-sharing is something all major chocolate companies should be doing now.