How Can We Best Alleviate Poverty?

How Can We Best Alleviate Poverty?

From Nonprofit Leadership Podcast by Dr. Rob Harter

March 29, 2026 · 32 min

About this episode

David Beckmann joins Dr. Rob Harter to discuss poverty alleviation and the role of nonprofit leaders in reducing hunger and hardship.

David Beckmann joins Dr. Rob Harter for a conversation on poverty alleviation, public policy, and the practical steps nonprofit leaders can take to reduce hunger and hardship in the United States and around the world. A pastor, economist, activist, and former president of Bread for the World, David shares insights from decades of advocacy work and discusses the central ideas in his book, Poverty Abolitionists. In this episode, David reflects on the significant progress that has been made in reducing poverty over recent decades, while also warning that recent policy shifts are reversing some of those gains. Rob and David explore the role of nonprofit advocacy, the intersection of faith and public policy, and why leaders in the social impact sector need a vision that extends beyond their own organizations. Key Topics Include: Why David Beckmann believes poverty is a solvable problem in the U.S. and globally What decades of data reveal about the dramatic decline in global and U.S. poverty rates How advocacy can help nonprofit leaders influence policies that affect hunger and poverty The impact of government funding cuts, tariffs, and immigration policies on vulnerable communities…

People in this episode

Host: Rob Harter

Guest: David Beckmann

Topics covered

  • poverty alleviation
  • public policy
  • nonprofit leadership
  • hunger
  • advocacy

Keywords

  • Poverty Abolitionists
  • social impact
  • faith and public policy

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: the Nonprofit Leadership Podcast

Places: the United States, U.S.

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