Author spotlight: Ken Saxon

Ken Saxon’s second act – following his business career – has been building a leadership network to empower, elevate, and connect Santa Barbara County’s nonprofit leaders. He enjoys the opportunity to engage in civic life and leadership locally, especially through the nonprofit leadership organization he founded, Leading From Within.

The Career Path of a Nonprofit Leader
By Ken Saxon   |   March 4, 2021

Through my work at Leading From Within over the years, I’ve had the good fortune to know many nonprofit leaders. They’re a special group of people that are uniquely called to make the world better than they found it. Many of them sacrifice a great deal in their commitment to help others. Where do these […]

Can We Be More Generous?
By Ken Saxon   |   December 24, 2020

In recent years, I’ve heard a growing amount of criticism of philanthropy. I sense that much of this flak comes from the explosion of wealth inequality in our country, which has actually accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s certainly not a pretty picture to see American billionaires gaining $1 trillion (one trillion dollars!) in wealth […]

The New World of Virtual Convening
By Ken Saxon   |   October 21, 2020

Humans are communal by nature. Even for an introvert like me, this pandemic has made me miss “face-time” with friends and colleagues. I, for one, will be very happy when we can be together again without fear of infecting one another. There is no substitute for in-person bonding and collaboration. Yet in talking with a […]

Grassroots Philanthropy Fills a Gap
By Ken Saxon   |   June 11, 2020

How does a grassroots initiative go from start-up to raising more than $5 million in just two years? This is the heartening local story of the 805 Undocufund. It’s worth knowing about, because it is inspiring to anyone who cares about a cause and who wonders what’s possible. The 805 Undocufund began in the shadow […]

How Nonprofits Can Outlast the Coming Downturn
By Ken Saxon   |   May 14, 2020

The financial fuel that makes nonprofits go – from earned income, government funding, private donors, and foundations – will be suppressed for months and maybe several years. Meanwhile front-line organizations are facing more need than ever, with so many people out of work. If you’re someone who cares deeply for one or more nonprofit organizations […]

Thank You for Your Service
By Ken Saxon   |   April 2, 2020

When I committed to write a regular column for the Montecito Journal about our local community and the people who care for it, I could never have imagined COVID-19 and how it has overtaken our collective world. But here we are in this moment of fear and “social distancing” and the crushing of livelihoods, and […]