Harley Jones
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If you’re driven to make a difference, to have an impact, and to grow your nonprofit to new heights, then the most important asset you need is a well-executed and scalable strategy. Hi, I’m Tom Kelly, your nonprofit catalyst. You may know me as the CEO of CharityAuctionsToday and DonorBooks, or as the author of The Million-Dollar Nonprofit.
What I help nonprofits achieve is a significant edge and a clear path to substantial growth through strategic fundraising and effective community engagement. And that’s what I’m going to share with you right here on the Million-Dollar Nonprofit Podcast. In each episode, I’ll take you behind the scenes to reveal the strategies, techniques, and tactics of successful nonprofits, helping you avoid common pitfalls and drive your organization forward.
Introduction
Welcome to the Million Dollar Nonprofit, your ultimate destination for discovering the strategies and stories behind successful and impactful organizations. I’m your host, Tom Kelly, and I’m thrilled to have you join us for today’s episode featuring a passionate guest, Harley Jones. Harley is not just an ordinary nonprofit executive; he’s the Senior Manager for Domestic Emergency Response at Project Hope, a dynamic force with over 16 years of experience in organizational leadership, education, and fundraising.
About Project Hope
Project Hope is a 65-year-old global health organization, founded in the late 1950s by Dr. William Walsh, a World War II doctor inspired to provide healthcare from the United States to the world. Project Hope’s mission is to empower local healthcare workers to save lives and build resilient communities, operating in 25 countries globally.
Since its inception, Project Hope has made significant strides:
Harley Jones brings a wealth of experience from his 20-year career in the nonprofit and emergency management space, including significant roles at the American Red Cross. Joining Project Hope during the pandemic, he led efforts to respond to the healthcare needs in the United States, highlighting the disparities in healthcare access and the importance of empowering local healthcare workers.
Harley shares key leadership lessons:
Emphasizing the importance of trust and collaboration with other leaders and nonprofits.
Ensuring that the mission is always centered on the people they serve, engaging local populations, and making them active participants in their own healthcare solutions.
Encouraging nonprofit leaders to keep learning and taking risks, even if it means making mistakes.
One of Project Hope’s notable collaborations is with the network of free and charitable clinics in the United States, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. They worked with 47 clinics to provide access to vaccinations and support hesitant communities, showing the power of partnerships in achieving health outcomes.
Project Hope is exploring the impact of AI on healthcare, sustainable funding mechanisms, and leveraging technology to track progress and communicate impact effectively. The focus remains on empowering local healthcare workers and ensuring sustainable, long-term impacts on healthcare systems globally.
Harley emphasizes the importance of regular communication with donors, sharing both successes and challenges, and building a relationship based on trust and transparency. This approach helps maintain donor engagement and support for the organization’s mission.
Harley’s advice for aspiring nonprofit leaders includes:
To learn more about Project Hope and how you can support their mission, visit projecthope.org. You can also follow them on social media to stay updated on their work and impact worldwide.
Thank you for joining us for this inspiring episode with Harley Jones. His insights into leadership, nonprofit success, and the mission of Project Hope offer valuable lessons for anyone looking to make a difference in the world. Stay tuned for more episodes of the Million Dollar Nonprofit, where we continue to explore the strategies and stories behind impactful organizations.
Harley Jones is the Director of Domestic Programs at Project HOPE, with eighteen years of experience in the nonprofit and emergency response sectors. Specializing in leadership, mission growth, and data-driven impact communication, Jones manages domestic projects and forges strategic partnerships to enhance health equity. His career began in 2004 as an AmeriCorps volunteer, later becoming COO of the Red Cross of Greater Chicago. There, he implemented data-driven community outreach and led responses to major disasters. Passionate about cross-sector collaboration, Jones works with diverse health and government agencies. He is an Emerging Leaders alumnus at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and a member of the BMW Foundation’s Responsible Leaders network.