Columbia’s M.S. in Nonprofit Management (NOPM) program recently welcomed Dr. Kim McCall, executive director of Children in Conflict, NOPM lecturer, and founder and CEO of McCall Nonprofit Consulting, as a speaker in its Program Director Lunch and Learn webinar series.
This series, hosted by Dr. Basil Smikle Jr., professor of practice and NOPM program director, features prominent nonprofit leaders who share career insights with students, faculty, and alumni about navigating the nonprofit landscape. Previous Lunch and Learn discussions have featured Phil Lussier, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish Metro New York and Western New York; Rich Baum, current president and CEO of Educational Alliance; and Gary P. Jenkins, former New York City social services commissioner.
This installment in the webinar series focused on McCall’s diverse career experiences and interests, inspiring others to pursue their passions in a similar manner.
McCall is a seasoned nonprofit leader with over 25 years of experience in the philanthropic space. She works on scaling impact, creates innovative programs that focus on philanthropy and revenue, and supports organizations that reflect her values. As the leader of Children in Conflict, an organization within the War Child Alliance that aims to protect children affected by war worldwide, she is committed to promoting social equity, justice, and education.
“Through all of my roles, I think I have learned that money—how it's raised, how it’s spent by organizations, who controls it—can really determine how and whether good ideas actually happen,” McCall said. “I realized that if I wanted to make an impact, I had to get good at fundraising, strategy, and leadership.”
During her time as the head of U.S. operations at Yamba Malawi, an organization that empowers communities to break the cycle of poverty for many children, McCall fostered skills ranging from spearheading initiatives to doubling the program’s funds. These same skills have followed her into her role as the founder and CEO of McCall Nonprofit Consulting and the Juice Box Project. These organizations support underrepresented and underserved individuals, with a focus on equity and funding.
McCall brings her passion and experience to the classroom at Columbia, where she has taught several classes, including Nonprofit Leadership and Management. She has extensive experience with pedagogy. Her Ph.D. dissertation focused on student engagement and graduation rates in New York City. She looked at structural inequities and barriers many students have faced and how the intersections of gender, race, and socioeconomic status have shaped their lives.
“It can be encouraging when you know the programming is working. And being able to bring those stories into board meetings, policy meetings, and fundraising pitches is wonderful,” McCall said. “Because the work isn’t about me, it’s not about you—it’s about them. I think being able to share their stories is really important.”
For more discussions with leaders in the nonprofit space, explore the NOPM program’s upcoming events.
About the Program
Columbia University’s M.S. in Nonprofit Management program prepares graduates for leadership roles within mission-driven organizations in a wide variety of contexts, including global and community nonprofits, foundations, education, health care, and the arts, or as fundraising and development experts.
The program is available part-time, full-time, on campus, and online. Learn more here.
