Nonprofit Nation with Julia Campbell

Trust at Scale: Lessons from Project C.U.R.E. with Douglas Jackson

Julia Campbell Season 2 Episode 233

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0:00 | 39:06

Healthcare access remains one of the greatest challenges facing communities around the world. But what does it take to build an organization capable of delivering life-saving medical supplies to hospitals and clinics in more than 135 countries while earning the trust of donors, volunteers, and partners along the way?

In this episode, I sit down with Douglas Jackson, President and CEO of Project C.U.R.E., one of the world's largest distributors of donated medical supplies and equipment. Since 1987, Project C.U.R.E. has delivered critical healthcare resources across the globe, mobilizing thousands of volunteers and shipping hundreds of cargo containers annually to communities in need.

We discuss what it takes to build donor confidence at scale, communicate complex global work in a way that inspires support, and lead an organization that balances heart, impact, and operational excellence. Douglas shares valuable insights on humanitarian logistics, volunteer engagement, measuring impact through technology, and the leadership lessons he's learned while guiding a globally recognized nonprofit.

🎙️ In this episode, we discuss:

• How Project C.U.R.E. grew into a global leader in humanitarian healthcare delivery
• What it takes to build and maintain donor trust at scale
• The logistical challenges of delivering medical supplies around the world
• Strategies for communicating complex nonprofit work in a compelling way
• The role volunteers play in powering large-scale impact
• How technology and data help measure and demonstrate outcomes
• Leadership lessons from managing a high-impact global organization
• What nonprofit leaders can learn about scaling mission-driven work sustainably

This episode is a must-listen for nonprofit executives, fundraisers, board members, and anyone interested in building organizations that create meaningful impact through trust, operational excellence, and mission-focused leadership.


💼 About Douglas Jackson

Douglas Jackson is the President and CEO of Project C.U.R.E., one of the world's largest distributors of donated medical supplies and equipment. Since joining the organization in 1997, he has helped expand its global reach, overseeing the delivery of life-saving healthcare resources to hospitals and clinics in more than 135 countries.

Under Douglas's leadership, Project C.U.R.E. ships approximately 200 cargo containers of medical supplies annually and mobilizes tens of thousands of volunteers to support its mission of improving healthcare access worldwide. The organization has earned national recognition for its impact, transparency, and operational excellence, including being named one of America's top charities.


🔗 Connect with Douglas Jackson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-douglas-jackson 

🌎 Learn More About Project C.U.R.E. https://projectcure.org/ 

📚 Resources & Links

How Doug Jackson Turns Audacity Into Impact: A Changemaker's Story
TEDx Talk: What Are You Willing to Trade Your Life For?

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