Vision and Action: Striking a Balance in Nonprofit Leadership

In this episode, host Josh Hirsch interviews Meredith Rae Feder, Deputy Director for the Museum of Discovery and Science, about vision and action in nonprofit leadership. They discuss starting and completing capital campaigns, building a high-performing team, balancing long-term goals and short-term needs, building a professional network, and hiring team members with complementary skills.

Takeaways

• Believing in the mission and having a passion for the work are critical for success in nonprofit management.
• Building a high-performing team is essential for completing successful campaigns and achieving organizational goals.
• Striking a balance between long-term goals and short-term needs requires setting aside time for strategic thinking and seeking input from trusted colleagues.
• Building a professional network and seeking out resources and mentorship opportunities are important for personal and professional growth in nonprofit leadership.

Chapters

05:06 Starting and Completing Capital Campaigns

07:16 Building a High-Performing Team

08:57 Hiring Team Members with Complementary Skills

20:00 Building a Professional Network

24:30 Coaches Corner: How can we engage corporate partners in a mutually beneficial way

Guest Bio

Meredith Ray Feder serves as the Deputy Director for the Museum of Discovery and Science. As a member of the executive team, Feder is responsible for setting departmental goals, generating $12M in earned revenue and philanthropic support annually. During her tenure at MODS, she has also overseen two capital campaigns. By connecting advancement and engagement elements to the mission of the institution, Feder and her team have been successful in enhancing the reputation, relationships and resources of the organization, emphasizing partnerships, outcomes and impact.

Feder is a leader in nonprofit management and brings over 20 years of strategic advancement, operational, marketing and communications experience to the Museum of Discovery and Science. Prior to joining the museum, she was senior director of advancement for Gulliver Schools, one of largest private schools in South Florida. In this role, Feder oversaw development, marketing, branding, publications, web content management, public and community relations, divisional operations, government and community relations, alumni relations, social media and strategic partnerships. 

She has also held positions with Pensacola Museum of Art, Northwest Florida Ballet, and Starlight Children’s Foundation. Feder graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in art history and studio arts from the University of West Florida, a certificate in fine and decorative art appraisal from New York University and a master’s in arts administration from Florida State University and is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) professional and a graduate of the Getty Leadership Institute program for museum professionals.

Her industry contributions have earned the Broward Chapter of Association of Fundraising Professionals the Ten Star designation for accomplishments toward the association’s strategic plan and have earned institutions various Hermes Creative Awards, Muse Awards, Audio Visual Arts Awards, Communicator Awards and National Medallion by the Institute for Museum and Library Services for excellence in the industry. In addition, Feder was recognized as the Outstanding Fundraising Professional of the Year by the Broward Chapter of AFP, as the Mother of the Year by Health Mothers Healthy Babies and a Distinguished Fellow by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Global.

She is a past president of the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ Broward Chapter as well as the Greater Florida Caucus, a professional mentor in the Mentorship Program and an instructor of the Fundamentals of Fundraising for the Broward Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

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