On this episode of the Charity Charge Show, host Grayson Harris sits down with John McDonald, newly appointed Board President of the
IEEE Foundation. The conversation is a masterclass in how long-term professional communities evolve into powerful philanthropic engines, and what nonprofit leaders can learn from a global organization built on trust, consistency, and service.
John brings more than five decades of experience as a member of IEEE, the world’s largest professional technical organization with more than 500,000 members across 190 countries. His journey from student member to foundation president offers rare insight into leadership, donor engagement, and the discipline required to sustain impact at scale.
What the IEEE Foundation Actually Does
While IEEE is widely known for advancing technology, standards, and professional development, the IEEE Foundation operates as its philanthropic partner. The Foundation supports nearly 300 funds that power scholarships, awards, education programs, and initiatives designed to use technology for the benefit of humanity.
At its core, the Foundation exists to strengthen and extend IEEE’s mission by mobilizing philanthropy. It funds programs that create real social impact, from education access to humanitarian technology projects around the world.
---------------------------
About Charity Charge
Charity Charge
is a financial technology company serving the nonprofit sector. From the
Charity Charge Nonprofit Credit Card to
bookkeeping,
gift card disbursements, and
state compliance, we help mission-driven organizations streamline operations and stay financially strong. Learn more at
charitycharge.com.
What is The Charity Charge Show - Nonprofit Podcast?
The Charity Charge Show features candid conversations with nonprofit executives, founders, and social impact leaders about what it actually takes to run a mission-driven organization: funding, operations, leadership, and the lessons nobody puts in the annual report.
The show is hosted by Stephen Garten, founder and CEO of Charity Charge, a Public Benefit Corporation founded in 2015 in Austin, Texas. Charity Charge provides financial tools built exclusively for nonprofits, including a credit card underwritten to the organization's EIN with no personal guarantee and no annual fee.
More than 3,000 nonprofits have used Charity Charge to manage their spending.
Learn more at www.charitycharge.com