Nonprofit Leadership Podcast

Dr. Kurt Ver Beek In this episode of the Nonprofit Leadership podcast, host Dr. Rob Harter sits down with Dr. Kurt Ver Beek — longtime sociologist, adjunct professor at Calvin University, and co‑founder of the Honduran‑based nonprofit Association for a More Just Society (ASJ). Kurt has lived in Honduras for 30 + years and helps lead ASJ’s mission of advancing justice through structural reform rather than simply charity. Their discussion explores how nonprofits can transition from short‑term relief approaches to tackling systemic issues, particularly in contexts of high violence, corruption, and migration. Key Topics Include: The motivation behind founding ASJ in Honduras and shifting focus from relief to justice‑oriented work. The four‑part strategy ASJ employs: investigation, alliance building, communications, and lobbying/incidence. Real‑world examples from Honduras: tackling police corruption, reducing homicide rates, auditing government institutions. Navigating donor expectations when w