Network Exchange: The National Gathering comes to Atlanta with Polly Riddims, Khadija El Karfi Joss, and Melissa Erickson
In this conversation, host Lee Stabert is joined by Polly Riddims, Khadija El Karfi Joss, and Melissa Erickson, members of the organizing committee for the upcoming National Gathering, taking place October 16-18 in Atlanta Georgia.
To get you excited — and convince any stragglers to register — they're discussing this year’s theme, the welcoming energy that infuses the annual event, and the changes they’ve made to the 2024 iteration of the National Gathering.
A quick reminder to register for the 2024 National Gathering!
This podcast was produced by the National Network of Fiscal Sponsors. If you enjoyed this episode and would like to hear more, please reach out to NNFS and let us know.
Polly Riddims
Polly brings her expertise in consulting services and event planning for various nonprofits, fiscal sponsors, and participatory grant-making organizations on local and national scales to the National Network of Fiscal Sponsors community.
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Hello all, Polly Riddims here and so excited to now be serving the National Network of Fiscal Sponsors as the new Network Coordinator. I’m excited about being able to support collaboration and sharing of resources and expertise around the work of Fiscal Sponsorship as well as helping to build the impact of NNFS. I currently provide consulting services and event planning for various nonprofits, fiscal sponsors, and participatory grantmaking organizations both locally and nationally. In 2003, I co-founded Fusion Partnerships, Inc.’s fiscal sponsorship program, which focuses on social justice in Baltimore, then served 20 years as Co-Managing Partner at Fusion. I look forward to sharing my expertise, as well as to help plan the National Gathering, and find tools and resources that will build ongoing voice, learning, and collaboration among all members of NNFS.
Khadija El Karfi Joss
Khadija exemplifies her commitment to empowering the next generation of change-makers to the Future Incubator program at Future Coalition.
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Khadija El Karfi Joss (she/her) is a human rights advocate currently serving as the Program Coordinator for Future Incubator, a program of Future Coalition.
A native of Rabat, Morocco, Khadija brings a wealth of international experience and academic expertise to her role. Khadija holds a Master’s degree from Boston University and is in the final stages of completing her doctoral research, focusing on the trans-Saharan slave trade in the MENA region. Her academic journey began at Mount Holyoke College, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and French.
At Future Incubator, Khadija plays a pivotal role in supporting over 20 fiscally sponsored projects that drive powerful social movements. These initiatives span a wide range of critical areas, including responsible technology, youth civic engagement, and climate and racial justice. Future Incubator’s innovative structure offers both 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) fiscal sponsorship, providing youth-led and youth-serving organizations with essential tools, skills, and networks to transform their aspirations into tangible action.
Khadija’s work at Future Incubator exemplifies her commitment to empowering the next generation of change-makers. By leveraging her academic background and international experience, she supports youth-led and youth-serving projects that address some of the most pressing social issues of our time.
Melissa Watson Erickson
Melissa brings her certifications in Grant Writing, HR, and Professional Coaching, and a deep-rooted passion for philanthropy to her role as Executive Director of The Funding Studio.
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Melissa Watson Erickson is the Executive Director of The Funding Studio, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing fiscal sponsorship and fundraising strategies for creative projects and social enterprises. She holds a BA in Communications from Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design and an MS in Organizational Leadership from Quinnipiac University. Melissa is certified in Grant Writing, HR, and Professional Coaching, with a deep-rooted passion for philanthropy that began when she endowed a scholarship at UC Denver. This experience ignited her commitment to crowdfunding, enabling her to support students, artists, and nonprofits. As a Certified Fund Raising Executive, she has successfully launched numerous initiatives and collaborated with organizations to boost revenue and expand their donor base. Additionally, Melissa has served on the board of the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network and as President of the UAL Alumni Chapter in the U.S.
About the Network Exchange
Demystify the world of fiscal sponsorship with ‘Network Exchange: Insights from the National Network of Fiscal Sponsors’. Whether you’re a seasoned professional, new to the field, or just curious about the work, ‘Network Exchange” is your go-to source for illuminating insights, best practices, and the latest trends in the dynamic realm of fiscal sponsorship. This thought-provoking podcast series serves as your portal to a wealth of knowledge and expertise that unravel the complexities of fiscal sponsorship through insightful conversations with leaders in the fiscal sponsorship field.
