The Small Nonprofit: Recent Episodes

The Good Partnership

You are going to change the world. We can help. Running a small nonprofit is not for the faint of heart. With limited resources and fueled by a combination of caffeine and passion, small charity leaders are unsung heroes. The Small Nonprofit podcast, by The Good Partnership, gives you down-to-earth, practical and actionable expert guidance on how to run a small nonprofit. From leadership and law to fundraising and finance, we’ve got you covered. Forget comparing your organization to the big shops, we’re creating a community of nonprofit leaders who are going to change the world, one small nonprofit at a time.

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Ever felt pressure to chase every funding opportunity that crosses your desk just because the deadline lines up and the dollar amount looks good? This episode is your permission to slow down. You'll learn why "does this person have money" is the wrong first question, and what to actually look for before you sink hours into an application or a pitch. You'll hear the real cost of chasing misaligned funders (hint: it's not just your time), and get a practical framework for spotting values alignment before you're locked into a partnership.

On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, host Maria Rio is joined by Caitlin McBride, a certified fundraising executive with close to 15 years of experience helping small nonprofit leaders make fundraising feel easy, ethical, and less chaotic. Together, they unpack how experienced fundraisers actually assess whether a funding opportunity is worth pursuing, and nonprofit leaders will walk away with a clear-eyed way to evaluate funders before committing time, energy, or their organization's reputation.

Connect with Caitlin on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/caitlinmcbride-ethical-fundraising/

The Unbearable Hypocrisy: Fundraising in a World of Compromised Integrity: Read here

CHAPTERS

00:00 Why Not Every Funder Is Worth Chasing
01:43 Meet Caitlin McBride: Making Fundraising Ethical and Less Chaotic
02:35 The "Looks Good on Paper" Trap — Money, Deadlines and Program Fit
03:41 Not All Money Is Good Money: Hidden Time and Reputational Costs
05:58 How to Check a Funder's Real Giving History (CRA Website Tip)
07:27 Values Alignment: Vision, Tactics, and How Donors Treat Your Staff
09:11 Closed-Door Funders: Why "They Won't Talk to You" Is the Answer
12:14 Scarcity Mindset vs. Being Strategically Picky About Funders
13:21 The "Ends Justify the Means" Debate in Nonprofit Fundraising
14:49 Funding Should Follow Mission, Not the Other Way Around
15:27 Assessing the Grant Application: Is It Worth Your Time?
16:23 Sneaky Recognition Requirements (Christmas Gifts, Logo Wars, and More)
18:41 Sponsorship vs. Donation: Know What You're Actually Signing
20:00 Why Being Picky Is the Strategic Move

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Most nonprofits pour everything into the people and causes they serve, and forget the staff doing that work every single day. This episode flips the script. We're talking about what it actually looks like to take care of the caretakers, especially when your team is dealing with trauma, grief, or emotional burnout as part of the job. You'll hear how one nonprofit built a staff wellness program from the ground up, fueled almost entirely through community donations, not big budget line items. We also get into what happens when a founder hits her own breaking point, and what she changed because of it.

On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria sits down with Laurie Hood, founder and CEO of Alaqua Animal Refuge, a 20-year-old organization that rescues and rehabilitates animals from cruelty and neglect cases. Nonprofit leaders will walk away with a real framework for supporting staff wellbeing without needing a bigger budget, and a reminder that modeling rest starts at the top.

Visit their website: https://alaqua.org/

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Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) are the fastest-growing way to give in Canada, the US, and the UK, and most nonprofits still don't have the words "donor-advised fund" anywhere on their website. This episode isn't a case for DAFs. It's a case for having a strategy for them anyway, so that money moves toward community instead of sitting in an advisor's spreadsheet.

In this episode, Mike Todd (Transform Philanthropy) breaks down what's actually happening when a DAF gift lands in your mailbox, why "anonymous" almost never means what you think it means, and how to stop losing gifts you didn't even know you were being considered for.

Connect with Mike: mike@transformphilanthropy.ca
Connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miketodd/
Visit their website: https://www.transformphilanthropy.ca

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Posting on social media and hoping donations follow? You might be setting yourself up for disappointment. In this episode, we get into why social media is often a top-of-funnel tool, not a direct-response one, and why that's not a bad thing once you understand how to use it right. We talk about the algorithm problem nobody wants to admit: that even your own followers might never see your posts. We also dig into what actually makes content land, from ditching jargon to using strength-based framing that invites people in instead of guilt-tripping them.

On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria sits down with Farra Trompeter, co-director and worker-owner at Big Duck, who has spent over 30 years helping nonprofits use communications to build brands, run campaigns, and grow sustainably. If you've ever wondered whether your org "should" be on every platform, or worried your content isn't landing the way you hoped, this conversation gives you a clearer way to think about both.

Connect with Farra: farra@bigduck.com
Connect with Farra on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/farra/
Visit their website: https://bigduck.com/

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If your fundraising calendar is back-to-back grant deadlines and event planning, you might be stuck on a treadmill that's working against you. Grants and events share something that doesn't get talked about enough: they're two of the highest time investment portfolios in the fundraising world. The good news? If you're good at grants, you're already sitting on a foundation of skills that translate directly into individual giving, corporate, and social enterprise.

On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria Rio is joined by Caitlin McBride, CFRE, a Certified Fundraising Executive with over a decade of experience who is on a mission to make fundraising feel less chaotic and more doable for small nonprofits.

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Your fundraiser just handed in their notice. Now what? Before you dust off that three-year-old job description and blast it out, there are a few things you need to know. Fundraiser turnover is one of the most disruptive events a small nonprofit can face. Donor relationships go quiet, grant deadlines get missed, and someone who already has a full plate suddenly inherits a whole new set of responsibilities. If the hiring process that follows is reactive rather than intentional, you risk losing good candidates, burning out your team further, and making an expensive hire that doesn't stick.

On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria sits down with Brittny Wilson, CEO and founder of Rooted Hire, an executive search firm built specifically for nonprofits. With over 20 years of in-house fundraising experience and six years running her own search and interim services firm, Brittny knows this terrain from every angle. In this episode, she walks Executive Directors through the real cost of skipping the assessment stage, why the "starry-eyed" hire from a big shop usually doesn't work out, and what you can do differently starting today.

Visit Brittny's website: https://www.rootedhire.com/
Connect with Brittny:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittnywilson/
- https://www.instagram.com/rootedhire
Hiring Process Audit: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Q7ax3DqErnzNmepydJEx5ncjuCJHoKh4/view
10 Pitfalls of Nonprofit Hiring: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dBnxhytGuSyAB55G7e21YYq4iVtRqIas/view

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A burnt-out Executive Director doesn't just affect themselves. The team feels it. The culture shifts. The bold, brave decisions that your community depends on? They stop happening. And yet, so many EDs stay well past their limit because the tools, staffing, or board support to do anything differently simply don't exist. If you're an ED who's been running on fumes, or a board member wondering why your leader seems like a different person than the one you hired, this conversation is for you.

On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria sits down with Jocelyn Helland, a nonprofit leadership consultant with over 20 years of Executive Director experience. Jocelyn now works with small and medium-sized organizations through coaching, fractional fundraising, and interim ED leadership helping them solve the sticky problems that keep great leaders stuck.

Visit Jocelyn's website: https://www.jocelynhelland.ca/
Connect with Jocelyn on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jocelynhelland/

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Most nonprofits are good at issuing apologies, but terrible at actually changing. There's a difference between saying "I'm sorry" and doing the work of repair, and that gap is exactly where trust goes to die. In this episode, we get into what accountability actually means, why so few organizations do it well, and what it looks like when it's done right.

On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria sits down with Chris Talbot (they/them), Communications Lead for Community-Centric Fundraising, and a queer, transmasc, non-binary, mixed race, autistic advocate who has spent years working to make spaces genuinely safe for marginalized people. Nonprofit leaders listening to this episode will walk away with a concrete framework for taking accountability, a clearer picture of why changed behavior, and not apologies, is the actual measure of accountability, and a harder look at the double standard of who gets held to account in our sector.

Shahem Mclaurin's page, which has links to their socials, podcast, and work: https://www.5hahem.com/
Christabel Mintah-Galloway's page, which has links to her relational toolkit, relational skills workbook, workshop, and socials: https://www.christabelmintahgalloway.com/
Book: Turn this world inside out: The emergence of nurturance culture: https://bookshop.org/p/books/turn-this-world-inside-out-the-emergence-of-nurturance-culture-nora-samaran/012f25ca4db67954
Chris's website: https://www.mxchristalbot.com/
Twitter: https://x.com/mxchristalbot
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mxchristalbot/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mxchristalbot/
Them's Wild podcast: https://dashboard.rss.com/podcasts/themswild/

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You've been told that keeping donors happy is how you protect your revenue. What if that's actually the thing bleeding your organization dry? In this episode, Maria Rio makes the case that donor-centric fundraising isn't just a values problem, but also financial one. She breaks down exactly how centering donor comfort drives away your most aligned supporters, tanks staff morale, and keeps your organization stuck addressing symptoms instead of causes. Maria introduces the ACT framework, a concrete three-step roadmap that any fundraiser can start using without board approval, a strategic planning retreat, or organizational consensus.

On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria Rio draws on over a decade of fundraising experience, her personal history as a service user, and real results from organizations like The Stop Community Food Centre and Out on Screen to show nonprofit leaders what Community-Centric Fundraising (CCF) actually looks like in practice, and how to start shifting toward it, starting tomorrow. This episode is a re-recording of the keynote Maria gave at ENCC 2026.

Learn more about CCF here: https://communitycentricfundraising.org/

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Hiring a fundraiser feels like the obvious solution when revenue is tight and the need is growing, but doing it before you're ready can set everyone up to fail, including the person you just hired. Before you draft that job description, there are real systems, mindsets, and infrastructure pieces that need to be in place. And if you don't have them yet, there's a smarter path forward that most small nonprofits haven't considered. This episode breaks down what "ready" actually looks like, what supports might be the bridge your organization needs, and how to stop the costly cycle of hiring, struggling, and starting over.

On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria Rio is joined by Caitlin McBride, a Certified Fundraising Executive with over a decade of experience helping organizations raise money with less chaos.

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The Changemaker Wellbeing Index reports that 31% of nonprofit workers experience food insecurity — and for frontline staff, that rises to 48%. The very sector working to end poverty is, in many cases, perpetuating it through its own payroll. The good news? There's a practical, achievable path forward, and it is easy to get started.

On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria sits down with Anne Coleman, newly-appointed Executive Director at the Ontario Living Wage Network. Anne has been doing this work since 2014, supporting employers across Ontario, including a significant number of nonprofits, to calculate, commit to, and get certified for paying living wages. This episode tackles one of the most uncomfortable truths in the nonprofit world: we can't claim to believe in economic justice if we're not paying our own people enough to live on. You'll hear what a living wage actually is, how it's calculated, why it's so different from minimum wage, and what it looks like to make the commitment as an organization. You'll also get the real business case for paying better so you can make the pitch to your board with confidence.

Connect with Anne at anne@ontariolivingwage.ca

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Your volunteers are giving something money can't buy, and most nonprofits are treating that gift like an afterthought. When you start seeing volunteers through the same lens as major donors, the way you recruit, steward, and engage them completely changes. And when you connect volunteerism to your broader fundraising and governance pipeline, you stop treating it as a nice-to-have and start building something that actually lasts.

On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria sits down with Karen Leies, President and CEO of The Seeing Eye, the world's oldest guide dog school, to talk about what it really means to run a volunteer program well. With 500+ puppy raisers a year, a robust volunteer program, and a board of directors that often wears multiple hats, Karen brings hard-won insight on how nonprofits can stop leaving volunteer potential on the table. If you've ever struggled to keep volunteers engaged, convert their involvement into deeper commitment, or get your board to actually show up — this one's for you.

Connect with Karen on LinkedIn
Visit their website: https://seeingeye.org/

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Most nonprofits don't have a succession plan for their Executive Director because the whole thing feels risky to bring up. What if the board thinks you're already halfway out the door? What if there's no time, no budget, or no one ready to take over? Learn what a real succession plan actually contains, how to start the conversation without putting yourself on the chopping block, and why waiting until someone retires (or worse, dies suddenly) is not a strategy.

On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, host Maria Rio sits down with Dr. Keena Mosley, CEO and Chief Transformation Officer of Momentum Leadership Group, with over 20 years of experience in leadership development across the nonprofit and education sectors. We dig into what happens after a role transition, what that person does before they walk in on day one, and how they navigate those first few weeks.

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Some funders are quietly draining your organization's capacity before they even decide whether to fund you. This episode breaks down the difference between funders who treat nonprofits as true partners and those who bury you in 140-page applications with a 3% chance of success. You'll learn how to identify where a funder falls on the spectrum, what equitable grantmaking actually looks like in practice, and why your time is worth protecting as a strategic resource. We also get into the nuts and bolts of building a smarter grant strategy so you can make better decisions about where to spend your energy.

On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria Rio is joined by Caitlin McBride, a Certified Fundraising Executive with over a decade of experience in the sector on a mission to make fundraising feel less chaotic for small nonprofits. Together, they dig into Vu Le's Equitable Grantmaking Continuum, share their own experiences with A+ and not-so-A+ funders, and give nonprofit leaders a practical lens for evaluating grant opportunities before spending hours on an application that was never really winnable.

The Equitable Grantmaking Continuum: https://legalfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Equitable-Grantmaking-Continuum-Full-Version-Updated-March-2021-2.pdf

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If your nonprofit is still pouring most of its energy into grants and social media, this episode is your wake-up call. Email marketing is one of the most underutilized and highest-return fundraising tools available to small nonprofits. When it's paired with a smooth, friction-free donation experience, it can transform how your organization generates unrestricted revenue.

On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, host Maria Rio sits down with Christina Edwards, founder of Splendid Consulting and host of the Purpose and Profit Club podcast. You'll learn why your email list is one of your most valuable owned assets, how to build a sustainable email strategy without burning out, and what it actually means to make giving easy for your donors. You'll also hear a story about a nonprofit that raised $1,000 in seven minutes using email alone — and why that's more possible than you think.

Connect with Christina: https://www.splendidatl.com/

Ten email subject lines that you can use: https://www.splendidcourses.com/10

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The word "merger" makes a lot of nonprofit leaders flinch — and honestly, that's understandable. When you've poured years of your life into building an organization, considering a structural change can feel like waving the white flag. But here's the reframe: a merger isn't the end of your mission, it might actually be the most powerful way to advance it. In this episode, we dig into what it really looks like when nonprofits explore collaboration, formal partnerships, and mergers — and why the leaders who avoid these conversations entirely may actually be putting their organizations at greater risk.

On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria sits down with Jon Hoffmann, Director of Elevate NP of Southwestern Pennsylvania, a capacity building initiative supporting small and midsize nonprofits. Jon brings a rich background spanning human services, executive leadership, fundraising, and consulting, and has guided many organizations through partnership and merger processes. Whether you're an ED who's quietly wondering if a merger might make sense, or a leader who just wants to understand the full spectrum of collaboration options, this episode will help you get clear, get strategic, and get moving.

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Planned giving is one of those things that lives permanently on the "we'll get to it someday" list, and that someday keeps getting pushed back. But the Great Wealth Transfer is already happening, and nonprofits that aren't at least laying the groundwork are going to miss out on one of the biggest funding opportunities of our generation.

On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria is joined by Tess Conrad, CFRE, a planned giving specialist. We're breaking down the four core components you need to get started, why "planned giving" is actually the wrong term to use with donors, and how to start having legacy conversations without it feeling awkward or morbid.

Free Planned Giving website guide with examples: www.fullpotentialfundraising.com/freeguide
Connect with Tess on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tess-conrad-cfre/
Learn more about done-for-you Planned Giving: https://www.fullpotentialfundraising.com/
Email Tess at tess@fullpotentialfundraising.com

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We found the cure for your organizations' "we've always done it this way", and we are sharing it with you today.

On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria sits down with Andrea Silverstone (CEO of Sagesse) and Carrie McManus (Director of Innovation and Programs at Sagesse). Sagesse is a nonprofit working to disrupt the structures of abuse and eradicate domestic violence. Together, they share what it looks like to lead strategically during lean times, how to build psychological safety, and why the path forward, even through a brutal year, is almost always innovation.

Visit their website: https://www.sagesse.org
Connect with Andrea: andrea@sagesse.org
Connect with Carrie: carries@sagesse.org

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If you've been hearing the word "fractional" thrown around and nodding along like you totally know what it means, this episode is for you. Fractional work is one of the fastest-growing models in the nonprofit sector, and it's not just for fundraising anymore. From HR to finance to communications, fractional executives are stepping in to give small organizations access to high-level expertise they could never afford full-time. But there are a LOT of myths floating around about what fractional is and isn't, and this episode sets the record straight.

On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, host Maria Rio is joined by co-host Caitlin McBride. Together, they break down the fractional model, dispel common misconceptions, and make the case for why embracing fractional leadership could be one of the smartest moves small nonprofits can make right now.

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Fundraising fear is real and it's holding a lot of nonprofit leaders back from doing their best work. Whether it's the dread of being seen as pushy, the worry that donors don't want to hear from you, or the nagging feeling that you're just not "polished" enough, these limiting beliefs are more common than you think. The good news? They're also completely workable. This episode unpacks where fundraising fear actually comes from, why it makes total sense that so many EDs feel this way, and — more importantly — what you can do about it. You'll walk away with concrete strategies for shifting your mindset, showing up more authentically, and building the kinds of donor relationships that actually generate generosity. Spoiler: it has a lot less to do with PowerPoint decks than you'd think.

On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria sits down with Vanessa Baker Rodriguez, a fundraising consultant and coach based in Northern California with a career-long dedication to the sector. Vanessa's work centers on helping nonprofit leaders fundraise with more ease, authenticity, and values alignment — and this conversation is packed with the kind of practical wisdom that executive directors and development staff at any stage can put to work right away.

Connect with Vanessa: vanessa@bravelyaligned.com
Free gift: bravelyaligned.com/gift

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What if the storytelling practices you're using are actually harming the people you're trying to serve? Many nonprofits believe that sharing clients' most traumatic moments is the only way to raise funds, but what's the real cost of this approach? The way we tell stories has consequences far beyond the donation page, like re-traumatizing vulnerable community members, or conditioning donors to expect exploitation, to name a few.

On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria sits down with Diana Farias Heinrich, CEO of Habrá Marketing and creator of the Equastory Framework. Diana shares how a storytelling mistake early in her career, one that put a domestic violence survivor at risk, set her on a mission to transform how nonprofits approach client stories. Together, they challenge the sector's donor-centric storytelling norms and explore what it means to truly center dignity, consent, and community in fundraising. If you've ever felt uncomfortable with how your organization tells stories, or if you're ready to build systems that honor all stakeholders, and not just donors, this conversation is for you.

Visit their website: www.habramarketing.com

Register for the Ethical Nonprofit Summit HERE.
PS: Here is a code to save $15: FURTHERTOGETHER

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Getting a first meeting with a prospective donor can feel like one of the biggest hurdles in major gifts fundraising, but it doesn't have to. This episode breaks it all down in a way that's refreshingly practical and zero percent intimidating. You'll learn why warm introductions are worth every awkward board conversation, how to follow up without spiraling into anxiety about being "annoying," and why the best thing you can do in the meeting itself is ask great questions and actually listen to the answers. Real stories, real strategies, and a lot of reassurance.

On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria is joined by Caitlin McBride, a Certified Fundraising Executive with over a decade of experience helping small nonprofits make fundraising feel less chaotic and more doable. Together, they walk nonprofit leaders through the full arc of the first donor meeting: from tracking down the right contact to leaving the call with a clear reason to follow up. If major gifts fundraising has ever felt out of reach for your organization, this one's for you.

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What if the program you've spent years perfecting could fund your nonprofit and serve exponentially more people... without you burning out trying to do it all yourself? Most executive directors don't realize that the SOPs, worksheets, and workflows living in their heads are actually valuable intellectual property that other nonprofits would pay to access.

On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria sits down with Rebecca Britt, founder of Stable Moments, a mentorship program for foster and adopted youth now operating in over 40 locations across the United States. We're breaking down exactly how you can package your proven program model, license it to other organizations, and create a new revenue stream that keeps giving, all while expanding your mission's reach far beyond your local community. Nonprofit leaders tuning in will walk away with a concrete roadmap for assessing whether their program is ready to scale, how to structure a licensing model, and how to start approaching other organizations about adopting it.

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In this raw and hopeful conversation, you'll hear about the physical and emotional toll of nonprofit leadership and the intentional steps one ED took to not just recover, but to build an entire community dedicated to sector wellness. Laura Istead opens up about recognizing her own burnout, advocating for time off, and discovering the ways that she had normalized her own symptoms of stress. But this isn't just a cautionary tale. It's a blueprint for how nonprofit leaders can break free from the martyr mentality, find their people, and create the joy and connection that makes this work sustainable.

On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria sits down with Laura Istead, Executive Director of Two Wheel View and founder of the Social Sector Club. Laura has spent 15 years in the nonprofit sector and 8 years in executive leadership, and she's learned some hard lessons about what it takes to survive and thrive in this work. Nonprofit leaders will walk away with practical strategies for building peer support networks, recognizing the signs of burnout before it's too late, and understanding why treating yourself with the same care you give your community is essential.

Connect with Laura on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauraistead/

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What if the biggest challenge facing nonprofits isn't moving donors from $100 to $1,000 gifts, but getting people to make their first charitable donation ever? In this episode, we explore a critical gap in the nonprofit sector: getting people to move from non-donors to donors. While fundraisers are experts at cultivating existing donors, very few organizations are focused on helping people become donors in the first place. We dig into why teaching generosity matters, how to lower barriers to entry in philanthropy, and what role nonprofits should play in building a culture of giving that extends far beyond their own fundraising goals.

On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria Rio sits down with John Bromley, founder and CEO of Charitable Impact, a donor-advised fund in Canada that's rethinking accessibility in philanthropy. John shares how he's teaching his own kids about charitable giving, how to build generosity muscles, and why the sector needs to ensure that there are always enough donors in the ecosystem. You'll will walk away with fresh perspectives on how to cultivate generosity as a learned behavior and practical ways to engage potential donors long before they make their first gift.

Connect with John:

Charitable Impact's website: https://charitableimpact.com
Social Media: @wearecharitable

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Nonprofit leaders are navigating an exceptionally difficult moment. Political uncertainty, financial uncertainty, the weight of leading through crisis, you name it. It's easy to feel isolated, numb, or like you're carrying it all alone. But the path ahead doesn't have to feel lonely. We're talking about finding your people and creating intentional spaces for joy, connection, and authentic dialogue.

On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria sits down with Frank Velasquez Jr., founder of 4 Da Hood and the Ascending Leaders in Color leadership program. Frank shares practical strategies for accessing joy during challenging times, building meaningful peer networks, and using restorative circle practices to foster healthy conflict and deeper connection. Frank argues that healthy conflict, grounded in agreements, is essential for building trust, understanding, and authentic collaboration. This conversation offers a roadmap for leading with authenticity, vulnerability, and community.

Resources and Links:

Connect with Frank: frank@4dahood.com
Visit 4 Da Hood: www.4dahood.com

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Not every nonprofit mission comes with neat, quantifiable results. If your organization works in mental health, activism, research, or addiction recovery, you know that impact isn't always a tidy before-and-after story. But donors still want to understand the difference you're making... So how do you prove your impact when the work is complex, deeply personal, or still unfolding?

On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, hosts Maria Rio and Caitlin McBride tackle one of the biggest challenges small nonprofits face: demonstrating impact without relying solely on statistics. Maria and Caitlin share practical, low-cost strategies to communicate your value to donors, funders, and your community. From candid smartphone videos to emotionally resonant storytelling, you'll learn how to make your impact visible, even when it feels invisible.

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What do you do when a government shutdown threatens to leave 70% of the families you serve without food? For Growing Up Green Charter Schools in Queens, New York, the answer was clear: respond immediately, mobilize resources fast, and support their community without losing sight of their educational mission.

In this episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Caitlin McBride sits down with Erin Acosta, Director of Family Engagement and Communications at Growing Up Green Charter Schools. Erin shares how her team packed over 1,000 bags of groceries in just one month, mobilized volunteers across four school buildings, and secured emergency funding, all while maintaining their core educational programs. This conversation offers a powerful blueprint for any nonprofit facing the question: "Is this mission drift, or is this what our community actually needs right now?"

Visit their website: www.gugcs.org

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Armando hears the same heartbreaking story over and over: talented Latinas been doing their white boss's job for years, training replacement after replacement, but they're never considered for the promotion because they "lack training." Meanwhile, mainstream fundraising conferences and training programs are designed for wealthy organizations, ignoring the small and medium-sized Latino nonprofits that desperately need support. The result? A sector where Latino leaders are systematically kept out of decision-making roles while being exploited for their labor, passion, and proximity to community.

Armando Zumaya, a 40-year fundraising veteran, is the founder of Somos El Poder, the first Latinx fundraising institute in the United States. He doesn't hold back as he exposes the tokenization, invisibility, and structural barriers that Latinx fundraisers face daily. Armando isn't just here to call out the problem. He's building the solution. In this episode, nonprofit leaders will understanding why creating their own infrastructure, being bold, demanding board diversification, and investing in fundraising are acts of resistance and survival.

Continue the discussion with Armando:

Visit their website or send an email to armando@somoselpoder.org

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Feeling overwhelmed by current challenges in the nonprofit sector? In this episode, host Maria Rio sits down with Robyn Schwartz, historian-turned-fundraiser and co-founder of Dumbo Octopus Consulting, to explore how understanding historical patterns can help nonprofit leaders navigate today's uncertainty.

Robyn draws striking parallels between our current moment and the 1920s, explaining how cyclical patterns of economic instability, political shifts, and resource scarcity repeat throughout history—and what we can learn from them. She shares the powerful story of Canada's 1970 Abortion Caravan and the 18-year grassroots movement that led to landmark reproductive rights, demonstrating why playing the long game matters.

Connect with Robyn here: https://dumbooctopusconsulting.com/

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Ever wondered why some donors stick around for decades while others disappear after one gift? Join Maria Rio and Caitlin McBride as they break down the eight psychological and social reasons people actually donate to nonprofits. They tackle everything from the power of peer-to-peer fundraising (hint: 80% are brand new donors) to why guilt-based appeals only work once, why your 50th anniversary isn't a fundraising strategy, and how to diagnose exactly where your donor retention is leaking. If you've ever wondered why people aren't giving to your organization despite doing great work, this episode gives you the framework to stop guessing.

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Nonprofits are constantly told to “tell powerful stories” to move donors, but what happens when those stories come at the expense of the people you serve? In this episode, we dive into the messy, important questions behind ethical storytelling: consent, power, and what it really means to honor people’s dignity in your fundraising and communications. Maria and Ceallaigh unpack how photos and personal narratives have historically been used in extractive, colonial ways, and why “we got a signed form” is not enough.

On this week’s episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria Rio sits down with Ceallaigh Smart, Executive Director of Print the Love and Haiti Outreach. Ceallaigh shares how Print the Love has given over 17,000 photos in 27 countries without keeping copies and what that kind of values-driven approach can teach any organization about consent, autonomy, and trust. Nonprofit leaders will walk away with practical ideas on how to audit their current storytelling, start real conversations with their communities, and build policies that center dignity.

Resources and Links

Guest: Ceallaigh Smart, Executive Director of Haiti Outreach & Founder of Print the Love. Connect with our guest, Ceallaigh Smart or send your inquiries to hello@printthelove.org

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Ever wondered how to critique the nonprofit sector while leading an organization within it?

Join Maria Rio for a conversation with Amber Hamilton, President and CEO of the Memphis Music Initiative, who went viral for saying what every nonprofit leader thinks but won't say out loud.

Amber shares why humor became her weapon of choice; creating satirical videos that called out philanthropy's racist funding practices, absurd application processes, and performative accountability measures. She is simultaneously running a grant-making organization that proves it can all be done differently. She tackles the real price Black women pay for speaking truth to power, why somebody has to be willing to say "the emperor is wearing no clothes," and how telling the truth (even when it's uncomfortable) ultimately works in your favor.

Because if one more data sheet or think piece was going to change philanthropy, it would've happened by now.

Resources:

Connect with Amber Hamilton on LinkedIn
Memphis Music Initiative YouTube Channel- where the viral satirical videos are hosted
Amber Says The Things - Amber's speaking and coaching website
Memphis Music Initiative Website

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Ever wondered why your nonprofit's email list is stuck at 400 contacts after decades of work? Join Maria Rio for a conversation with Jess Campbell, founder of Out in the Boons, who shares an uncomfortable truth: your email list is probably shrinking right now, and it's kneecapping your fundraising. Jess shares why email is 9-10 times more effective than social media, creative list-building tactics beyond event sign-ups, and how to shift from boring organizational updates to thought leadership content people actually want to read. She introduces the "loop method" for steady growth, tackles the "won't weekly emails be too much?" fear, and challenges nonprofits to stop staying silent on issues their communities care about.

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What's the one thing you wish the public understood better about the problem you're solving?

That gap between what people know and what you wish they knew? That's your narrative change work, and it should be driving every communication decision you make.

On this week's episode, we break down how small nonprofits can stop reacting to headlines and start shaping the conversation around the issues they care about most.

Maria sits down with Dimitrios Kalantzis, a nonprofit strategist, communications expert, and former journalist with 10 years of experience covering public affairs. From the "if only people knew" framework to treating your organization as essential reading, this conversation will help you change hearts and minds with confidence and clarity.

Changing Hearts and Minds- The Highlights:

Your nonprofit should function as its own media organization. With traditional journalism struggling and public affairs reporting declining, nonprofits have an opportunity to fill critical gaps. When supporters sign up for your newsletter, they should feel like you're essential reading on your issue.
The "if only people knew" test reveals your narrative strategy. Every nonprofit leader has thought "if only the public knew [blank]." That gap between what people understand and what you wish they understood? That's your narrative change work. Let it guide your communications strategy.
Lead by showing others how to think about the issue. Don't just react to how criminal justice, education, or homelessness is being discussed. Be the organization that demonstrates how we should be thinking about these problems in 2025 and beyond.

Actionable Tips for Nonprofits to Changing Hearts and Minds:

Lead with your strategic plan. Before commenting on any external event, ask: Does this align with our strategic plan? Is this serving our mission or confusing it? Your strategic plan should be your compass for every communications decision.
Identify your "if only people knew" moment. What's the one thing you wish the public understood better about your issue? Write it down. That's your narrative change work, now build your communications strategy around closing that gap.
Treat your newsletter like essential journalism. Position your organization as the go-to source on your issue. Share what you're learning, be transparent about challenges, and fill the gaps that traditional media is leaving behind.
Bridge back to your message. When a news event pops off, you don't have to address every question or debate. Stay on message even if it feels repetitive to you, your audience needs to hear it.
Don't engage with bad faith arguments. If someone is asking a question designed to distract or derail the conversation, don't take the bait. You only get pulled into the mud. Redirect to your core message or ignore it entirely.

About Dimitrios Kalantzis (he/him)

Dimitri is a nonprofit strategist and copywriter who helps small teams raise more money by getting clear on who they are, what they stand for, and how to say it out loud. He served as the first Director of Communications for Life After Hate, a national nonprofit dedicated to preventing violent extremism. Before that, he spent years as a journalist and editor.

You can find him at fivefifteenmedia.com.

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There's a reason some fundraising stories feel easier to tell than others. Stories about animals, "grateful" clients, and non-political solutions raise money quickly because they tap into what donors already believe about who deserves help. But what happens when those easy stories erase the complexity and humanity of the people you actually serve?

On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, host Maria Rio sits down with Esther Lee, a fundraising and equity strategist who's part of the inaugural Community-Centric Fundraising Global Council and a leader of the Asian Fundraisers in Canada Collective.

The Highlights:

The "Ideal Victim" Framework: Esther introduces sociologist Nils Christie's concept of who society deems "deserving" of compassion; those seen as weak, vulnerable, respectable, and harmed by a clearly bad offender. Sound familiar? Nonprofits unconsciously replicate these biases every time we sanitize stories to make donors comfortable.
The Dog Campaign That Never Was: When Esther and her team of survivors gave extensive input on an intersectional campaign, the contractor delivered a direct mail piece featuring a cartoon dog. The entire appeal hinged on the shelter's pet program, completely erasing the refugee, immigrant, harm-reduction clients they actually served. It would've raised money but she refused to send it.
What Gets Left Out When You Lead with Pets: Every time Esther talked about the shelter's pets, donations poured in. But when she talked about systemic poverty, substance use, or the reality of being a newcomer survivor in Toronto's housing crisis? Uneasiness. The pattern revealed who donors saw as "deserving" of help or not.
Audit Your Storytelling Practices: Esther challenges listeners to look at who gets featured in newsletters, grant applications, and appeals. Are you sharing the full scope of challenges? Or are you scared to talk about complexity because you're trying to cultivate a donor base that wants simple stories?
The Cost Beyond Revenue: If you only measure success by money raised and ignore the trust you're losing with your community, staff, and the people you serve—that's a cost you can never fix. Esther asks: What metrics are you using? And who are you leaving out of your stories?

Resources and Links:

Connect with Esther Lee on LinkedIn or visit Elevate Philanthropy Consulting. You can also read Esther's article here: "You're Not Feeling Imposter Syndrome, You Are an Imposter: Identity and Belonging in Nonprofit Work"

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What happens when the money your organization needs comes with a muzzle attached? In this bold and necessary conversation, Maria and Caitlin tackle one of the most uncomfortable truths in the nonprofit sector: funders using their financial power to silence organizational advocacy and control community narratives.

On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, co-hosts Maria Rio and Caitlin McBride don't hold back as they share real stories of organizations facing pressure to stay quiet, stay neutral, and stay safe in exchange for funding. From the Ontario Trillium Foundation's anti-advocacy clauses to prolific donors demanding ideological alignment, this episode exposes how censorship happens behind closed doors and what nonprofit leaders can do to protect their mission.

If you've ever felt pressured to soften your stance, avoid political issues, or accept funding that made you uncomfortable, this conversation will validate your concerns and give you practical strategies to stand your ground. Because serving your community means advocating for your community, even when it costs you.

The Highlights:

The OTF investigation: How political appointments led to anti-advocacy clauses in funding agreements, and how public pressure eventually got them removed
Real consequences of saying "yes": Caitlin shares the personal story of turning down a longtime funder whose new agreement would have muzzled not just the organization, but individual staff and board members from speaking out
The Band-Aid trap: Why organizations that don’t advocate for systemic change end up keeping communities in cycles of dependency
When politicians weaponize nonprofits: Examples of how elected officials use organizations for photo ops and political gain while simultaneously trying to control their messaging
The performativity problem: How organizations publicly claim values they privately compromise through the funding agreements they sign

Resources and Links:

Gabe Oatley's investigation into Ontario Trillium Foundation's anti-advocacy clauses
Connect with our cohost, Caitlin McBride

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Connect with the show: Watch the episode on YouTube; follow Maria Rio on LinkedIn for more conversations and resources. Or support our show. We are fully self-funded!
Book a Discovery Call with Further Together: Need help with your fundraising? See if our values-aligned fundraisers are a fit for your organization.

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What is it like to lead a nonprofit when you’re constantly being told you’re “too much” of one thing and “not enough” of another? On this week’s episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Sharonne Navas shares what it’s been like to navigate a predominantly white sector as a first-gen American Latina. With experience spanning organizations like Para Los Niños, Ayuda, NARAL Pro-Choice America, and national justice movements, Sharonne names what it means to do deeply political work in a sector that loves to pretend it’s “neutral”.

Maria sits down with Sharonne — co-founder and Executive Director of the Equity and Education Center in Seattle and a longtime advocate, organizer, and policy leader — to talk about identity, race, and power in nonprofit leadership. Nonprofit leaders will walk away with language to describe what they’re experiencing, validation that they’re not imagining it, and practical ideas to lead in ways that centre community, democracy, and their own humanity.

The Highlights

Living in the “in-between” as a Latina ED – Sharonne reflects on growing up as the first American-born child of Central American immigrants, never feeling quite “Latina enough” or “American enough,” and how that plays out in mostly white nonprofit spaces.
Racism and tokenism in fundraising – From being treated as a bilingual “two-for-one” hire to working with wealthy donors, Sharonne names the microaggressions and structural issues that racialized leaders face in development and leadership roles.
Why nonprofits are inherently political – Sharonne challenges the idea that nonprofits should be “non-political,” framing our work as resistance in systems where governments have stepped back from their responsibilities to marginalized communities.
Democracy, philanthropy, and power – Drawing on her policy and advocacy work, she unpacks the contradictions of billionaire philanthropy.

Resources and Links

Connect with our host, Maria Rio
Connect with our guest, Sharonne Navas

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Connect with the show: Watch the episode on YouTube; follow Maria Rio on LinkedIn for more conversations and resources. Or support our show. We are fully self-funded!
Book a Discovery Call with Further Together: Need help with your fundraising? See if our values-aligned fundraisers are a fit for your organization.

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The nonprofit sector is facing a “polycrisis”. In this candid conversation, we unpack how simultaneous shocks (policy shifts, funder chill, shrinking donor pools) are reshaping civil society and what small nonprofits can do to adapt. We talk about building durable strategies instead of episodic crisis responses, and how to make decisions that protect mission over ego. Just as importantly, we get real about leadership wellbeing: navigating fear, staying in productive tension, and knowing when to step back. You’ll hear concrete ways to hold both urgency and care without burning yourself out or your team.

On this week’s episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, host Maria Rio sits down with consultant and movement leader Rachel D'Souza, founder and principal of Gladiator Consulting and a member of the Community-Centric Fundraising Global Council. Together, they explore how nonprofit leaders can stay grounded, collaborative, and courageous in uncertain times, and what this moment asks of all of us.

The Highlights:

Polycrisis = this is a structural reset, not a blip. Multiple shocks are hitting at once, from government pullbacks to donor-consolidation trends; this reset requires long-term strategy, not perpetual crisis appeals.
Leadership in ambiguity: Discomfort isn’t the same as harm; staying in relationship through tension is a core leadership skill right now.
Mission over ego: When resources shift, leaders may need to right-size, share services, merge, or even sunset, to preserve gains made.
Wellbeing as capacity: The sector isn’t well; leaders need practices that keep them resourced enough to make hard, long-horizon decisions.
Values alignment matters: If we claim justice externally, our internal policies and culture must reflect it.

Actionable Tips for Nonprofits:

Create a “durability plan,” not just a crisis plan: Define 12–24 month funding scenarios, decision triggers (e.g., reserves level), and pre-agreed pivots (program pause, shared HR/finance).
Normalize productive tension: Add a “discomfort check” to meetings: name what feels hard, distinguish discomfort from harm, and agree on the next experiment.
Protect leadership capacity: Set non-negotiables (quiet hours, coverage plans, reflective time). Model boundaries so the team believes you mean it.
Align inside practices: Audit internal policies (pay equity, leave, flexibility) to match your external equity commitments. Then share that story with donors.

Resources and Links:

Guest: Rachel D'Souza— Founder & Principal, Gladiator Consulting
- Website: gladiatorrds.com
- Instagram: @ConsultingGladiator
- LinkedIn: Gladiator Consulting / Rachel D'Souza

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Connect with the show: Watch the episode on YouTube; follow Maria Rio on LinkedIn for more conversations and resources. Or support our show. We are fully self-funded!
Book a Discovery Call with Further Together: Need help with your fundraising? See if our values-aligned fundraisers are a fit for your organization.

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If you’re tired of chasing dead-end applications or hearing “we don’t accept unsolicited proposals,” this episode is for you. We dig into how to build a smarter pipeline by prioritizing funders that welcome new grantees. Then we tackle the myth of “hard-to-fund” programs (arts, advocacy, civic education, etc.) and show you how reframing your work to match donor priorities can unlock dollars without changing your programming.

On this week’s episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, grant expert DeaRonda Harrison shares practical ways small and mid-sized nonprofits can sharpen their prospecting and reposition “tough” programs, especially in shifting political climates. You’ll learn how to identify real opportunities, speak to funder focus areas, and package your outcomes in ways that resonate.

The Highlights

Prospect where the odds are real: Use research tools to identify funders who funded new grantees last year and build your pipeline around them instead of chasing closed doors.
Positioning beats “hard-to-fund”: No program is inherently unfundable; reframe outcomes to align with funder interests.
Mindset shift for momentum: Swap “our program is hard to fund” for “we haven’t matched the right funder-message fit, yet.”
Save time, increase wins: Stop spending time on “no unsolicited proposals” and redirect to open, new-grantee-friendly funders.

Actionable Tips for Nonprofits

Start your list with “new grantees” filters: Find 20–30 funders who added new organizations last year; prioritize by alignment and deadlines.
Write a 1-paragraph positioning brief: For each program, list the community problem, your outcome, and 1–2 crosswalks to current funder priorities (e.g., “street outreach → community building”).
Qualify fast: If a funder is closed to unsolicited proposals and has no pathway to connect, park them for later and move on.
Collect proof points: Gather quotes, stories, or early indicators (surveys, sign-ups, attendance) that validate your reframed outcomes.

Resources and Links

Connect with our host, Maria Rio
Connect with our guest, DeaRonda Harrison
DeaRonda’s website
Support our show. We are fully self-funded!
Watch this episode on YouTube
Need help with your fundraising?

Support the show

Connect with the show: Watch the episode on YouTube; follow Maria Rio on LinkedIn for more conversations and resources. Or support our show. We are fully self-funded!
Book a Discovery Call with Further Together: Need help with your fundraising? See if our values-aligned fundraisers are a fit for your organization.

Send us a text

From Donor-Centric to Community-Centric: Building Equity Into Fundraising

Most “best practices” put donors and boards at the top of the pyramid - and everyone else (staff, volunteers, service users) at the bottom.

In this episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria Rio breaks down the shift from donor-centric to community-centric fundraising and why this change is key to building a more equitable nonprofit sector.

Maria unpacks how covert white supremacy shows up in nonprofit culture, from “tone-policing” to donor hero narratives, and what it looks like to root those habits out in everyday fundraising. She also shares how fundraisers can start bringing donors into these conversations—challenging outdated ideas about overhead, pushing back on problematic donations, and transforming donors into real partners for justice.

Maria shares the mindset, tools, and examples every fundraiser needs to move from good intentions to meaningful action—without burning out or compromising their values.

Community-Centric Fundraising in Nonprofits - The Highlights:

Why community-centric fundraising is more than a trend; it’s a reimagining of how nonprofits build power and impact.
The hidden ways white supremacy culture shows up in fundraising practices (and how to spot them).
How to have respectful but firm conversations with donors about overhead, dignity, and equity.
Why “no” can be the most ethical and mission-aligned answer to a donation.
How to turn donors into true advocates and allies for systemic change.

🎧 Listen to more episodes for actionable fundraising tips and insights on nonprofit leadership, nonprofit governance, productivity & tools, and donor engagement strategies that work. We're here to eliminate nonprofit burnout and boost your donations!

Community-Centric Fundraising in Nonprofits – 5 Actionable Tips:

Audit your fundraising practices — Identify donor-centric habits that center wealth instead of community.
Educate your donors — Share resources like the Community-Centric Fundraising Hub and invite donors to learn alongside your team.
Challenge problematic donations — Ask: “Does this gift align with our mission and values?” before saying yes.
Talk openly about overhead — Frame it as the cost of doing meaningful, sustainable work—not a burden.
Reframe donor relationships — Position them as collaborators in social change, not saviors.

Resources and Links

Community-Centric Fundraising Hub
Vu Le’s Nonprofit AF Blog
Connect with Maria Rio on LinkedIn
Support The Small Nonprofit Podcast — we’re fully self-funded! Donate here
Watch this episode on YouTube
Need help with your fundraising?

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Grants look easy from the outside: download a form, fill it in, wait for the cheque. In reality? Cold applications rarely convert, and the magic happens off the application portal. On this week’s episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria Rio and co-host Caitlin McBride unpack why grants are not the quick win many organizations expect and how a single 15-minute call can completely change your pitch, and your odds. We break down what funders won’t put on their website, why most “perfect fit” applications still miss, and how to flip your process from “apply first” to “build trust first.” If you’ve been told to “just send more grants,” but aren’t seeing the results you want, this one’s for you.

Grant Writing for Nonprofits - The Highlights:

Cold grants rarely win funds
Caitlin shared a study by grant consultant Valerie Grant that analyzed 270 grants over 19 months. When organizations submitted cold applications with no prior connection, the approval rate was 7 percent. That means 93 percent were denied. High volume without strategy burns time.
Relationships exponentially increase your odds
When there was prior contact or a relationship, the approval rate rose to 17 percent - a 140 percent increase. Funders often clarify fit, timing, and budget in conversation. Sometimes the formal application follows an informal yes.
Expect a 12-to-18-month runway
Grants are a long game. Many wins come after a first rejection, a feedback loop, and a re-application in the next cycle. Most funders have fixed windows, internal review processes, and shifting priorities that you cannot rush. Plan your efforts and your expectations accordingly.
Do not build your budget on speculative grants
Caitlin is conservative: she only budgets grants that are multi-year or renewed reliably with active stewardship. If you base a program plan on a hoped-for grant and it does not land, the fallout can be severe.
Capacity and clarity come before hiring a grant writer
A grant writer cannot save a weak system. You need a clear project or program, measurable outcomes, data collection, stories, and a stewardship plan. Your website must make you findable and credible; you should post annual reports, impact stats, audited financials, and real stories. Funders do their homework.

🎧 Listen to more episodes for actionable fundraising tips and insights on nonprofit leadership, nonprofit governance, productivity & tools, and donor engagement strategies that work. We're here to eliminate nonprofit burnout and boost your donations!

Grant Writing for Nonprofits – 3 Actionable Tips:

Call before you apply
Use staff and board networks or mutual LinkedIn connections to secure a warm intro. Go in to validate: Are we a fit right now? What range makes sense? Which program aligns best? You will learn things not listed online and avoid misaligned applications.
Measure the right inputs
Track leading metrics, not just submissions; track the number of funder calls, touch points, impact stats gathered, stories captured, and stewardship initiatives delivered on time. These behaviors drive results. Counting applications alone rewards activity, not strategy.
Pair grants with unrestricted revenue
Grants are often project-restricted and many funders favor new projects. Build unrestricted revenue through individual giving or earned income so you can fund raises, rent, and tech. Trust-based funders are growing, but you still need a balanced revenue mix.

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A four-day work week is not a gimmick. Done right, it can reduce burnout, stabilize output, and help you keep great people. Our guest today shares that after two years of doing a 4-day work week model, they saw a 46% increase in staff morale and wellbeing. This is only one of the many amazing benefits Imagine Canada has seen!

In this episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria Rio sits down with Jodene Baker, Vice President of Research, Advocacy and External Relations at Imagine Canada. Jodene oversees national research and policy efforts supporting Canada’s nonprofit sector. Imagine Canada also builds tools like Grant Connect and advocates federally to strengthen the sector. Maria and Jodene discuss the challenges of starting, decent work practices, and how to measure the unmeasurable.

4-Day Work Week for Nonprofits - The Highlights:

Why try a four-day week in the first place
The sector is stretched: lower average pay, rising demand, and chronic burnout. Imagine Canada saw the same internal pressures and chose to test a four-day week to improve staff wellbeing and retention while holding impact.
Their model is 100 percent pay, 80 percent time, 100 percent outcomes
Imagine Canada works Monday to Thursday and closes Fridays. There is no pay cut and no compressed schedule. This pilot began in January 2023 and is now extended through 2026. It remains a pilot so they can keep measuring and adjust if needed.
Preparation made the shift workable
They joined the Four Day Week Global pilot, created a cross-functional staff group, set clear goals, and defined success metrics. They also cleaned up calendars:
- Audited and shortened meetings
- Made Monday afternoons meeting-free internally
- Blocked Fridays well in advance to build the habit
Measured results: wellbeing up, sick days down, impact stable
They track roughly 50 metrics across wellbeing, productivity, and outputs.
Recruitment and retention improved
Candidates now cite the four-day week as a reason to apply. Staff attrition has dropped exponentially.

🎧 Listen to more episodes for actionable fundraising tips and insights on nonprofit leadership, nonprofit governance, productivity & tools, and donor engagement strategies that work. We're here to eliminate nonprofit burnout and boost your donations!

✨ Key Quote

“The four day work week is a tactic - to help tackle wellbeing and equity challenges without needing to increase wages.” – Jodene Baker

4-Day Work Week for Nonprofits: 3 Actionable Tips:

Do a calendar cleanse before you change schedules
Remove or shorten recurring meetings. Pilot a no internal meetings block on Friday and a second block on Monday afternoon. This builds focus time, reduces context switching, and makes a four day schedule realistic.
Decide your goals and metrics first
Be clear about what you want to improve and what must be protected. Examples: morale, sick days, turnover, core outputs, donor response times. Build a simple dashboard, survey staff, and review quarterly.
Adapt the model to your operating reality
Frontline or high-access orgs can stagger schedules: Team A works Mon-Thu and Team B works Tue-Fri. You can also test summer Fridays, rotating days, or a 9-day fortnight. Pair any schedule with decent work practices like personal days, clear sick leave, and paid PD. The goal is capacity and wellbeing, not a rigid recipe.

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When a nonprofit faces a full board turnover, staff departures, and community outrage all at once, most Executive Directors want to run away. Nina Horvath stayed.

In this episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, I sit down with Nina Horvath, Executive Director of the Coastal Jazz and Blues Society, producers of the Vancouver International Jazz Festival. Years ago, Nina joined Coastal as their ED just two weeks before a contentious AGM that resulted in a complete board shake-up. What followed was months of turmoil, community mistrust, and staff uncertainty. Through transparency, communication, and stubborn resilience, Nina helped guide the organization back to stability. Her leadership built psychological safety, trust with the community, and provided much-needed calm through the storm.

Governance Crisis in Nonprofits - The Highlights:

Transparency is your anchor in chaos
Closed doors fuel suspicion. Nina used weekly all-staff meetings and open communication so people knew what was happening and why.
Community needs a seat at the table
Quarterly town halls gave members and musicians space to ask questions, share feedback, and hold leadership accountable.
A transition board can stabilize governance
A small, mixed transition board of former members and community reps helped build the path forward in a collaborative way.
Funders will stick with you if you are honest
One-on-one check-ins with major funders, plus a clear plan forward, kept support intact.
Leadership in crisis is about trust, not perfection
Nina second-guessed herself early. Her advise to her past self would be to ground decisions in values and move at the speed of trust.

🎧 Listen to more episodes for actionable fundraising tips and insights on nonprofit leadership, nonprofit governance, productivity & tools, and donor engagement strategies that work. We're here to eliminate nonprofit burnout and boost your donations!

Governance Crisis in Nonprofits: 3 Actionable Tips

Set steady communication rhythms:
Hold weekly all-staff check-ins and regular board updates. Silence invites rumors.
Create public accountability moments:
Run quarterly community updates or town halls. Share progress and the messy middle. Visibility builds credibility.
Ask for help sooner:
Bring in mentors, peers, or advisors. Outside perspective keeps you from carrying it alone.

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The 2025 Changemaker Wellbeing Index Report shows that 30% of nonprofit workers are experiencing food insecurity. This new study confirms what so many in our sector already feel every day: burnout, financial strain, and constant pressure.

In this episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria Rio is joined by Caitlin McBride, CFRE, a fundraising executive with over a decade of experience. Together, they unpack Future of Good’s 2025 Change Maker Wellbeing Index and what it reveals about food security, mental health, and overall wellbeing across Canadian nonprofits.

Burnout in Nonprofits - The Highlights:

We’re not in alignment with our values
The study found that about 30% of nonprofit staff are experiencing food insecurity. Many organizations try to fight poverty in the community while it is happening inside their own four walls.
Wellbeing is alarmingly low
In arts, culture, and recreation, nearly half of staff reported poor wellbeing. Government-linked organizations like schools and hospital foundations reported lower but still concerning rates.
Leadership and frontline experiences are different
About half of entry-level and frontline staff reported poor wellbeing, compared to about 30% in senior leadership. Power, pay, and job security shape stress in very different ways.
Turnover creates sector-wide brain drain
More than 70% of entry-level staff who quit nonprofit roles leave the sector entirely. That is loss of experience, momentum, and future leadership.
The future of the sector is at risk without change
If early-career staff burn out and leave, organizations lose continuity and capacity. Sustainable missions require sustainable workplaces.

🎧 Listen to more episodes for actionable fundraising tips and insights on nonprofit leadership, nonprofit governance, productivity & tools, and donor engagement strategies that work. We're here to eliminate nonprofit burnout and boost your donations!

✨ Key Quote

“Doing good does not put food on the table. Just because someone wants to make a difference does not mean it should come at the expense of their health or financial security.” – Caitlin McBride

Burnout in Nonprofits: 3 Actionable Tips

Compete on decent work
If salary increases are limited, pull other levers: four-day work weeks, flexible schedules, real time off, meeting caps, and workload boundaries. However, if you can raise pay do it.
Invest in systems for stability
Track attrition, build simple budgets, create documented processes, and plan beyond year-end. Stable systems reduce chaos and protect staff wellbeing.
Make wellbeing a core sustainability strategy
Treat staff health and security as mission-critical. Align internal practices with external values so your team experiences the dignity your programs promise.

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Small nonprofits deserve BIG support. However, many fundraisers stumble while trying one to one relationships with major donors without it feeling fake, forced, or transactional. Fundraising is not sales; it is matchmaking. At the heart of every major gift is a shared why: the values and experiences that connect you, your mission, and your donors.

In this episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria Rio breaks down how small nonprofits can shift their mindset about major gifts, move past common fears, and start building authentic, lasting relationships with donors.

Major Gifts for Small Nonprofits: The Highlights

Fundraising Begins With Your Why
Donors are not just buying into what your organization does - they are connecting with why you do it. Leading with your “why” helps you find alignment and build deeper trust.
Limiting Beliefs Hold Fundraisers Back
Common fears like "I don’t know how to ask," "I don’t know wealthy people," or "fundraising feels like begging" stop many from even trying. Naming and reframing these beliefs is the first step to moving past them.
Fundraising Is Not Begging - It Is Partnership
Begging means asking for something in exchange for nothing. Fundraising is offering donors a chance to live in alignment with their values and invest in the world they want to see. Lean into the psychology of fundraising.
Rejection Is Not the End
A no does not mean rejection of you or your cause - it simply means the timing or priority is not right for the donor. Every no gets you closer to a stronger yes.
Communication Goes Beyond Words
How you show up matters more than a perfect script. Your tone, presence, body language, and ability to listen all play a bigger role in building donor confidence and connection than memorized lines.

🎧 Listen to more episodes for actionable fundraising tips and insights on nonprofit leadership, nonprofit governance, productivity & tools, and donor engagement strategies that work. We're here to eliminate nonprofit burnout and boost your donations!

✨ Key Quote from Maria:
"Fundraising is not about convincing someone to give - it is about connecting them to a mission they already care about." - Maria Rio

Major Gifts for Small Nonprofits: 3 Actionable Tips

Reframe Fundraising as Matchmaking
Think of yourself as the bridge between a donor’s values and your cause. You are not selling - you are introducing two parties who already belong together.
Use the FORM Framework to Build Rapport
Ask about Family, Occupation, Recreation, and Material interests to find common ground. Share about yourself too so it feels like a genuine relationship, not an interview.
Anchor Every Ask in a Clear Story
Focus on one problem, one solution, one result, and one impact. This keeps the conversation simple and powerful while helping donors clearly see the role they can play.

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Growing your organization is about smarter, easier touchpoints. It’s about how small nonprofits can show up where people already are, build real connection, and grow a brand that attracts donors, partners, and advocates.

In this episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, host Maria Rio is joined by Christa Stelzmuller, Chief Technology Officer at Charity: Water. Christa brings a wealth of experience leading technology, product, and data innovation at one of the world’s most recognized nonprofits. Together, they dig into how nonprofits can use technology and partnerships to deepen empathy, engage new audiences, and grow sustainable revenue.

Audience Building for Nonprofits: The Highlights

Nonprofits don’t need to compete for scraps:
The real opportunity is to expand generosity overall. Whether through brand partnerships, tech, or social enterprise models, the sector wins when the giving pie gets bigger.
Trust is a built-in nonprofit advantage:
Strict reporting and transparency requirements give nonprofits credibility that influencers or corporations cannot always guarantee.
Technology can drive revenue, not just costs:
At Charity: Water, tech is seen as a way to build donor products, deepen engagement, and grow giving - not just an overhead line item.
Partnerships are powerful growth tools:
From influencers to retail experiences, nonprofits can use creative partnerships to show up in everyday spaces where people already spend their time and money.
Long-term sustainability matters:
Unlike corporate campaigns, nonprofits are designed to deliver solutions that last. We’re experts at building trust with communities and donors who want to see their dollars have real staying power.

🎧 Listen to more episodes for actionable fundraising tips and insights on nonprofit leadership, nonprofit governance, productivity & tools, and donor engagement strategies that work. We're here to eliminate nonprofit burnout and boost your donations!

Audience Building for Nonprofits: ️ 3 Actionable Tips

Know your audience
Get clear on who you are trying to reach and where they spend their time. Local nonprofits may focus on community events, while larger ones might lean on digital strategies.
Experiment with partnerships
You don’t need a global brand to start. Partner with a coffee shop, an influencer, or a local business to amplify your message and create new touchpoints.
Lead with transparency
Share stories, impact data, and even challenges openly. Donors want to see not just where their money went, but how it created change.

Resources and Links

Connect with our host, Maria Rio
Connect with our guest, Christa Stelzmuller
Check out Charity: Water website!
Watch this episode on YouTube
Support our show. We are fully self-funded!
Need help with your fundraising?
Liked this episode? Have an idea? Send us a text HERE :)

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Storytelling is the heartbeat of nonprofit fundraising - and now, AI is giving organizations new ways to capture and share those stories while still keeping a human touch at the center.

In this episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria Rio sits down with Gustavo Zylberberg, Co-founder and CEO of Vitalcy, an AI-powered alumni engagement platform helping nonprofits reconnect with their communities, strengthen relationships, and unlock new donor support.

AI Storytelling in Nonprofits - The Highlights:

Bandwidth is the biggest barrier
Most nonprofits are not resisting AI - they are just stretched too thin to explore it. Lack of time and staff capacity is the real challenge.
AI strengthens community ties
When used well, AI can capture and amplify personal stories that reconnect alumni or past participants with a mission, turning memories into renewed engagement and donor support.
Fear is normal, but not permanent
Nonprofits may hesitate because AI feels overwhelming or too big. Starting small and experimenting is the best way to push past fear and discover practical value.
Ethical storytelling still matters most
AI can make processes faster, but human review and dignity safeguards are critical. Technology should enhance authenticity, not replace it.
AI is an enabler, not a replacement
Just like the internet transformed nonprofit work, AI is becoming part of daily operations. But the human relationships at the heart of fundraising will always remain.

🎧 Listen to more episodes for actionable fundraising tips and insights on nonprofit leadership, nonprofit governance, productivity & tools, and donor engagement strategies that work. We're here to eliminate nonprofit burnout and boost your donations!

✨ Key Quote

“Fundraising is human work at its core. AI should never erase that – it should help nonprofits do it more authentically, more efficiently, and at greater scale.” – Gustavo Zylberberg

Actionable Tips for Nonprofit Leaders to Harness AI Effectively:

Start small with curiosity
Go into tools like ChatGPT and ask simple questions about how they might make your job easier. You don’t need to overhaul everything, just dip your toes.
Train AI on your organization’s own messaging
Whether it is appeals, alumni stories, or newsletters, the more you feed AI about your nonprofit, the more useful and accurate it becomes.
Pair efficiency with authenticity
Use AI for first drafts or systems support, but keep a human voice and review in your storytelling. The goal is not speed for its own sake, but deeper connection with your community.

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Your top donors don’t just write big cheques; they could be folding newsletters in your conference room every Tuesday or serving on your board for the third consecutive year.

In this episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, we're exploring on what it means to steward supporters through a Community-Centric Fundraising lens. We're sharing ways we’ve shown gratitude to people who show up for your mission with time, talent, advocacy, and yes, dollars too. We challenge the traditional approach of stewarding people based solely on gift amounts and explore who really deserves your high-touch attention (spoiler: it's not just your $1,000+ donors).

1. Volunteers Are Major Donors in Disguise

Your regular volunteers are often contributing the equivalent of $15,000-$60,000 in staff time, yet most organizations don't steward them like major donors. That volunteer who designed your website for free? That's a $15,000 gift that deserves the same recognition as a financial contribution of that size.

2. Monthly Donors Deserve VIP Treatment

Even a $5 monthly donor should be in your major giving category. These supporters show incredible commitment and loyalty, and research shows they're likely to increase their giving over time. Plus, they're your best candidates for additional campaign gifts and planned giving opportunities.

3. Your Staff Are Subsidizing Your Mission

Every nonprofit staff member is essentially making a $20,000-$30,000 gift by accepting below-market wages. During the current hiring and retention crisis, treating staff with the same stewardship approach you'd use for major donors isn't just nice. It's smart business.

4. Longevity Matters More Than Single-Year Giving

A donor who's given $100 for five consecutive years is more valuable than someone who gave $500 once. Length of relationship and consistency of support are stronger indicators of future giving potential than one-time gift amounts.

5. Meaningful Stewardship Is About Connection, Not Cost

The most impactful stewardship often costs very little. A quick, personal email sharing a story you just heard can be more meaningful than an expensive branded gift. Authenticity trumps fancy materials every time.

Resources and Links

o Connect with our host, Maria Rio

o Connect with our cohost, Caitlin McBride

o Support our show. We are fully self-funded!

o Watch this episode on YouTube

o Need help with your fundraising?

o Liked this episode? Have an idea? Send us a text HERE :)

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Is your nonprofit struggling to turn DEI intentions into meaningful action?

Fear, burnout, and performative allyship often hold us back from creating truly equitable organizations. But what if we could move beyond discomfort into sustainable change?

In this episode, Maria sits down with Jonathan Meagher-Zayas, an equity educator and nonprofit consultant, to explore the real reasons why DEI work stalls and how to finally make it stick. They discuss power dynamics, fear of being "canceled," the broken board structure, and how small nonprofits can lead with community and strategy at the center.

Justice Work in Nonprofits: – The Highlights:

Why traditional nonprofit boards are “a dysfunctional hot mess” (his words 😆)
How fear paralyzes well-meaning teams and leaders
The difference between being canceled and being held accountable
4 stages of meaningful equity work (Assessment → Acknowledgement → Learning → Action)
How to center equity across fundraising, governance, and communications

🎧 Listen to more episodes for actionable fundraising tips and insights on nonprofit leadership, nonprofit governance, productivity & tools, and donor engagement strategies that work. We're here to eliminate nonprofit burnout and boost your donations!

About Jonathan Meagher-Zayas:

Jonathan Meagher-Zayas is a global educator, equity strategist, and nonprofit consultant. With 14+ years in fundraising, DEI work, and community organizing, he now empowers nonprofits to assess their internal systems, build more inclusive strategies, and take meaningful action toward equity.

Actionable Tips for Nonprofit Leaders to Advance Equity:

➜ Start with an internal assessment: Before jumping into training or committees, assess your org's culture, systems, and staff perspectives to understand where change is most needed.

➜ Engage your community in the process: Talk to your staff, board, and the people you serve. Let their lived experiences guide your equity goals—not just checklists or trends.

➜ Invest in internal capacity: If you're asking people to lead DEI efforts, pay them, redistribute their workload, and give them authority—not just responsibility.

Resources and Links

Connect with our host, Maria Rio
Connect with our guest, Jonathan Meagher-Zayas
Support our show. We are fully self-funded!
Watch this episode on YouTube
Need help with your fundraising?
Liked this episode? Have an idea? Send us a text HERE :)

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Social enterprises aren't only about earning or diversifying revenue; they’re key to finding creative, sustainable ways to advance your mission while serving your community with dignity.

In this episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, host Maria Rio chats with Tom Armitage, who has been leading The SEED, a project of the Guelph Community Health Centre, for almost 10 years. The SEED is dedicated to ensuring that everyone in the community has access to good food, and along the way they have built innovative programming, including a social enterprise, that rethink how nonprofits can deliver impact.

Meet the Guest

Tom Armitage is the driving force behind The Seed. With a background in agriculture and local food systems, not business, he is proof that passion and persistence matter more than waiting to get an MBA. Over nearly a decade, Tom has helped grow The SEED from a central food distribution idea into a multi-program social enterprise reaching thousands of people.

5 Key Takeaways

Start with Real Community Needs
The SEED was born out of a lack of infrastructure in Guelph. Agencies were struggling with storage and distribution, while people facing poverty were subjected to invasive, stigmatizing processes. Centralizing food storage and access improved both dignity and efficiency.
Social Enterprise is Part of the Solution, Not the Whole Answer
From the beginning, The SEED designed a wholesale program that took a small margin on food sales, stretching limited grant further. But Tom is clear - no single program fully funds itself. Social enterprises can reduce reliance on grants, but it does not automatically eliminate the need for funders and donors.
Pilot First, Scale Later
The SEED did not dive into big projects overnight. They started small - like testing sliding-scale markets - then expanded when the model worked. This iterative approach minimized risk and made scaling more sustainable.
Speak the Language of Business
By talking about margins, efficiencies, and outcomes, Tom found that funders and business leaders connect more easily with The SEED‘s mission. It builds credibility and opens new doors for partnerships.
Don’t Lose Sight of the Big Picture
Even with impressive growth moving millions of dollars’ worth of food annually, Tom always brings conversations back to the root causes of food insecurity: poverty and income inequality. Programs help, but systemic change is what really solves the problem.

🎧 Listen to more episodes for actionable fundraising tips and insights on nonprofit leadership, nonprofit governance, productivity & tools, and donor engagement strategies that work. We're here to eliminate nonprofit burnout and boost your donations!

3 Actionable Tips for Small Nonprofits & Fundraisers

Ask Tough Questions Before Launching a Social Enterprise
Look at your fundraising strategy first and think carefully about your participants. Will charging for a service create barriers? If they aren’t your customers, who is? How will you reach them? Social enterprise should enhance your mission, not compete with it.
Start Small, Learn, and Grow
Instead of going all-in, test your idea at a small scale. Use real-world results to refine the model and build a stronger case for funders when you are ready to expand.
Frame Impact in Business Terms
When speaking to donors, funders, or local businesses, use language they understand - like ROI, efficiency, and value creation

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Relying on a fundraiser’s personal network isn’t a fundraising strategy; it’s a shortcut that can cost your nonprofit big in the long run.

In this episode, Maria Rio and Caitlin McBride unpack why this common hiring question is a major red flag, what it reveals about an organization’s approach to fundraising, and how small nonprofits can shift toward healthier, more sustainable donor relationships.

Meet the Hosts

Maria Rio: Expert fundraiser with 10+ years of experience helping Executive Directors secure the funding they need without the overwhelm.
Caitlin McBride: Certified Fundraising Executive with a decade of experience making fundraising less chaotic and more doable for small nonprofits.

5 Key Takeaways

Fundraising Is About Mission, Not Personal Rolodexes
A fundraiser’s job is to connect donors to the mission, not just to themselves. The strongest relationships are built between donors and the organization’s cause, not one staff member.
“Who Do You Know?” Reveals Short-Term Thinking
When nonprofits ask this, they’re often chasing quick wins instead of building long-term fundraising systems. It signals a lack of investment in donor stewardship.
It’s an Inequitable Expectation
Not everyone has a wealthy, well-connected network. Tying job eligibility to personal privilege shuts out talented, values-aligned fundraisers from diverse backgrounds.
Over-Reliance on One Person is Risky
If donor relationships live only with one fundraiser, they walk out the door when that person leaves. That’s a high-stakes gamble for any small nonprofit.
You Need Hunters AND Farmers
Hunters go after big gifts fast; farmers cultivate relationships for the long haul. The best fundraising teams balance both approaches for sustainable growth.

🎧 Listen to more episodes for actionable fundraising tips and insights on nonprofit leadership, nonprofit governance, productivity & tools, and donor engagement strategies that work. We're here to eliminate nonprofit burnout and boost your donations!

Key Quote:

“Focus on relationships between the mission and the donor, not just between the fundraiser and the donor.” – Caitlin McBride

3 Actionable Tips for EDs & Hiring Managers

Hire for Relationship-Building Skills
Ask candidates how they build, deepen, and sustain donor relationships. Skip the “who do you know” question; it doesn’t measure actual fundraising ability.
Build Systems That Keep Donors Connected to the Mission
Use stewardship processes, regular communication, and impact storytelling so donors feel invested in the cause regardless of staff changes.
Prioritize Values Alignment Over Access to Wealth
Fundraisers who share your mission’s values will build stronger, more authentic relationships that last – no matter who’s in their contact list.

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The nonprofit world is changing FAST - and the way we fundraise, build teams, and connect with communities is being rewritten in real time. If you’ve been feeling the tension between keeping your nonprofit afloat today and preparing for tomorrow, this episode is a must-listen.

In this solo episode, Maria Rio dives into five powerful forces shaping the future of the nonprofit sector and lays out what organizations might look like by 2035. From workforce shifts and AI adoption to government instability and DEI backlash, Maria doesn’t sugarcoat the challenges but she also shares smart ways small nonprofits can stay resilient, ethical, and effective through it all.

The Future of Nonprofit Organizations: The Highlights

The nonprofit workforce is already in crisis....and it’s getting worse.
Hiring and retention are major hurdles, with salary competition, burnout, and tight budgets making it hard to maintain strong teams. By 2035, nonprofits may rely more heavily on fractional staff and consultants, while in-house roles shrink to essential functions.
Fundraising will rely even more on the ultra-wealthy.
Donor concentration is increasing. Fewer donors are giving more, and donor-advised funds (DAFs) hold billions in untapped potential. While this creates big opportunities, it also makes funding riskier. A single major donor changing course could disrupt an entire budget.
AI is transforming how nonprofits work, but not always for the better.
From grant writing to stewardship emails, nonprofits are embracing AI. But too much automation risks alienating donors and devaluing relationships. Stewardship that feels “too perfect” may be seen as inauthentic, and relational fundraisers will become even more critical.
Government funding is becoming unreliable and politicized.
Nonprofits are facing freezes, layoffs, and rising scrutiny—especially if they advocate for equity. Some governments are threatening charitable status based on political alignment, putting advocacy-focused organizations at serious risk.
DEI and CCF efforts are facing backlash but they’re not going away.
While many staff support Community-Centric Fundraising (CCF) and DEI, boards are hesitant or outright opposed. The result? Tension, watered-down messaging, and even lawsuits. But Maria sees a continued rise in CCF adoption, especially among younger, justice-focused fundraisers.

🎧 Listen to more episodes for actionable fundraising tips and insights on nonprofit leadership, nonprofit governance, productivity & tools, and donor engagement strategies that work. We're here to eliminate nonprofit burnout and boost your donations!

3 Actionable Tips for Small Nonprofits:

Start building your future team now.
Think beyond full-time hires. Begin exploring how consultants, fractional leaders, and AI tools can support your mission while keeping burnout and payroll manageable.
Diversify your revenue and donor pool.
Relying on one major donor or a single grant is risky. Start developing earned revenue strategies, invest in planned giving, and engage donors who align with your values.
Revisit your policies before backlash hits.
Now’s the time to review your gift acceptance policy, create (or update) your AI usage policy, and plan for donor education around your values. This will prepare you for political shifts, funder scrutiny, and community questions.

🎧 Resources + Links

Connect with our host, Maria Rio
Support our show. We are fully self-funded!

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About The Episode

AI is here to stay, and many nonprofits are already embracing it. In this episode, we break down how you can set up your own custom GPT to save time, boost donor engagement, and make your team’s life a whole lot easier. Whether you're writing thank-you emails, managing volunteers, or brainstorming fundraising ideas, your nonprofit can benefit from an AI assistant that actually knows your mission.

Nonprofit AI Use: The Highlights

Get Clear on Your Goals
Before you dive into setup, know what you're solving for. Want to write better donor emails? Streamline volunteer comms? Automate FAQs? Clarity upfront makes everything smoother.
Feed It the Right Info
Your GPT learns from what you give it. Upload samples you love; anything that reflects your tone and programs. This is how it learns to sound like you.
Start with Prompt Templates
Give your GPT some direction! Write examples like: “Draft a warm thank-you to a new monthly donor that mentions their impact on our youth programs.” These templates are the building blocks.
Test Early, Adjust Often
Don’t expect perfection right away. Run some test prompts, tweak wording, and refine your data. It’s a loop: test, tweak, repeat.
Plan for Team Use
Set boundaries. Train your team on what AI can (and can’t) do.

🎧 Listen to more episodes for actionable fundraising tips and insights on nonprofit leadership, nonprofit governance, productivity & tools, and donor engagement strategies that work. We're here to eliminate nonprofit burnout and boost your donations!

✨ Key Quote: “It’s not about replacing people—it’s about making their work easier and faster.”

Nonprofit AI Use: 3 Actionable Tips

Pick One Use Case to Start
Don’t try to do everything at once. Focus on a high-impact area, like drafting a case for support, and build from there.
Use Existing Materials
No need to start from scratch. Upload your current docs—scripts, handbooks, past emails. The more relevant info you include, the better the GPT performs.
Involve Your Team Early
Let staff test it and share feedback. They’ll spot things you miss and feel more comfortable using it in real work.

This episode is made for small nonprofits, fundraisers, and busy teams looking to get more done with less. Give it a listen, and if you’re curious about setting up your own custom GPT, you’re in the right place.

Resources and Links

Connect with our host, Maria Rio
Watch this episode on YouTube
Support our show. We are fully self-funded!
Watch this episode on YouTube
Need help with your fundraising?
Liked this episode? Have an idea? Send us a text HERE :)

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Ever tried to juggle visionary ideas, tight budgets, and a team that spans every learning style under the sun? In this episode of The Small Nonprofit, Maria sits down with management coach and EDI powerhouse Marisa Tran (they/them) to unpack what “people-first, consent-based leadership” really looks like when you’re running a small shop.

Marisa is an autistic, gender-queer, Irish-Vietnamese settler with 15 years of experience helping organizations clean up their HR, embed equity, and grow managers into actual leaders. Their superpowers: workplace harm reduction, accessibility audits, and coaching folks who were promoted for being great at their job...but never shown how to lead.

Managing People – The Highlights

Performance talks should be boringly routine
Make goals and feedback part of every weekly or bi-weekly check-in so “the big scary review” never sneaks up on anyone.
Consent in management
LONG before performance reviews, work with the staffer to create a work plan and a check in cadence. Autonomy = trust.
Recognition isn’t one-size-fits-all
Annual raises matter, but some staff love public shout-outs while others want quiet affirmation or extra learning budgets. Ask, don’t assume.
Leaders own the misses; teams own the wins
When targets slip, step up and shield your crew. When they soar, hand them the mic and the credit.
Diversity of thought strengthens strategy
Pair big-idea generators with detail-oriented implementers and professional problem-spotters. Different brains, stronger outcomes.

3 Actionable Tips for Managing People:

Bake goals into your meeting agenda
Create a living doc or dashboard you revisit every check-in. Progress, blockers, next steps; nothing fancy, just visible.
Run a “How do you like to be celebrated?” survey
Five quick questions (think love-languages-at-work) will save you from that pizza-party flop and show staff you actually listen.
Track turnover like a KPI
Note tenure, role, and identities (where shared). Spikes in departures—especially among marginalized staff—are flashing red lights for culture repair.

Resources and Links

Connect with our host, Maria Rio
Connect with our guest, Marisa Tran
Marisa’s website
Support our show. We are fully self-funded!
Watch this episode on YouTube
Need help with your fundraising?
Liked this episode? Have an idea? Send us a text HERE :)

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Good Works estimates that a staggering $280 billion in estate wealth is expected to flow into Canadian charities. That’s not a number small nonprofits can afford to overlook. Planned giving doesn’t have to be exclusive, intimidating, or tax-code-heavy. In this episode, we dive into how small nonprofits can approach planned giving in a way that’s equitable, inclusive, and deeply aligned with community values.

We’re joined by Chantelle Ohrling, a thought leader in both the planned giving and Community-Centric Fundraising spaces. She is the Planned Giving Officer at Ecojustice, is the Communications Chair for the Greater Vancouver Chapter of the Canadian Association of Gift Planners and contributes her voice to the Black Canadian Fundraisers Collective and Hogan’s Alley Society. Chantelle also holds a certification in Legacy Giving Psychology from the Institute for Sustainable Philanthropy and received the 2023 Birgit Smith Burton R.I.S.E. Award. Chantelle brings not just technical expertise, but a fierce commitment to justice, equity, and community-led philanthropy.

Planned Giving and Community-Centric Fundraising – Episode Highlights

1. Planned giving is not just for the ultra-wealthy.
Many transformational legacy gifts come from long-time supporters who aren’t high-dollar donors. A $50-a-year donor who volunteers, reads the newsletter, and shows up for events? They might be your next million-dollar legacy gift.

2. Racialized communities are generous and underserved.
Research shows Black and racialized communities are among the most generous in Canada. The issue isn’t willingness: it’s access, representation, and trust. Planned giving strategies must meet these communities where they are.

3. Planned giving can close the racial wealth gap.
It’s not just a funding strategy, it’s also a justice strategy. Promoting estate planning in underserved communities supports financial literacy, generational wealth-building, and autonomy over where wealth flows after death.

4. Values-led storytelling beats tax talk.
Don’t lead with tax benefits. Lead with stories. Tell donors about people like them who’ve left a legacy that aligns with their values. Planned giving is emotional, not transactional.

5. Don’t silo legacy giving into major gifts.
Some of the largest bequests come from people who’ve never made a major gift in their lifetime. That’s why Chantelle doesn’t segment her messaging by giving levels—she hand-signs 700 newsletters if she has to.

Resources and Links

Read more from Chantelle on the CCF Hub
Read Chantelle’s piece on The Philanthropist
Connect with our host, Maria Rio
Support our show. We are fully self-funded!
Watch this episode on YouTube
Need help with your fundraising?

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Too many small nonprofits build their budgets on optimism alone, dreaming big without the strategy or infrastructure to back it up. This episode is all about why that’s a problem, and how to stop the cycle of setting fundraising goals that hurt more than they help.

In this episode of The Small Nonprofit, Maria Rio and co-host Caitlin McBride get real about what it means to set realistic, strategic fundraising goals, and what happens when you don’t. From pressure-filled board expectations to outlier-year budgeting mistakes, they unpack the ripple effects of extremely optimistic thinking and offer grounded ways to move forward.

Want to avoid budget burnout and build goals that actually serve your mission? This episode is your guide. Listen now and share it with your board.

Realistic Fundraising Goals – The Highlights

1. Unrealistic fundraising goals hurt everyone.
When goals are set without evidence or planning, it’s frustrating and it’s harmful. Fundraisers feel like they're being set up to fail, and the community loses access to reliable services.

2. Outlier years aren’t a the baseline.
Got a huge planned gift or a surge of support during a major global event? Great. But don’t build your next budget assuming that lightning will strike twice.

3. The board can’t just wish money into existence.
When leadership insists on big numbers without offering support or resources, they undermine the very people doing the work. Fundraising isn’t magical, it’s methodical.

4. Growth means more than dollars.
A 40% increase in revenue equals a 40% increase in workload. If you’re not adding capacity, you’re adding stress.

5. You need to track leading indicators.
Revenue is a lagging indicator. Things like donor meetings, emails sent, and stewardship actions are what create that revenue. Track what’s in your control.

3 Actionable Tips for Setting Realistic Fundraising Goals:

1. Use real data, not wishful thinking.
Look at historical trends, capacity, and the types of revenue you’ve secured. Don’t budget based on what you want to happen, budget based on what’s likely.

2. Break down your revenue streams.
Separate out grants, major gifts, recurring donors, etc. Goals should be specific to each stream, not one vague number slapped across the board.

3. Consider organizational context.
If your staff just turned over, your website crashed last Giving Tuesday, or inflation is affecting your donors, factor that in. Not every year is a growth year.

Resources and Links
Connect with our host, Maria Rio
Connect with our cohost, Caitlin McBride
Support our show. We are fully self-funded!
Watch this episode on YouTube
Need help with your fundraising?
Liked this episode? Have an idea? Send us a text HERE :)

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Street fundraising teaches you more than grit, it teaches you the psychology of yes. Maria shares how to use these powers for good.

In this episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria shares real-world insights from her time as a face-to-face fundraiser, where she learned the science and subtlety behind why people say yes. It’s about harnessing cognitive biases and psychology to ethically move people toward action.

Whether you're fundraising in person, online, or in campaigns, this episode gives you the tools to make your ask more effective, and more human.

🔑 5 Cognitive Biases Every Fundraiser Should Know

Body Language Speaks Louder Than Words: 93% of communication is non-verbal. That means posture, facial expressions, and tone matter far more than the words you choose. Maria breaks down tips like open posture, strategic eye contact, and the subtle power of mirroring to build trust instantly.
Harness the Halo Effect: First impressions matter—a lot. By dressing the part, speaking confidently, and using vocal inflection effectively, you set the stage for your ask before you even make it.
Six Cognitive Biases That Boost Fundraising: Maria explains how to ethically apply human impulses like the Jones Effect (social proof), Fear of Loss, Indifference, Urgency, Time Limits, and Self-Interest. Each bias comes with relatable nonprofit examples and campaign ideas you can use today.
Confidence is Contagious: Whether it’s a superhero power pose or detaching from a donor’s response, exuding quiet confidence helps potential supporters feel safe and inspired to give.
Use Donor Psychology in Design Too: Beyond the pitch, consider how cognitive biases show up in email design, campaign thermometers, peer-to-peer highlights, and donation forms. Every touchpoint is a chance to reinforce credibility and emotional urgency.

🎧 Listen to more episodes for actionable fundraising tips and insights on nonprofit leadership, nonprofit governance, productivity & tools, and donor engagement strategies that work. We're here to eliminate nonprofit burnout and boost your donations!

✅ 3 Ways to Ethically Persuade with Impact

Practice Your Pitch in the Mirror: Use mirroring, tone variation, and body language practice to get comfortable with your ask. Confidence on the outside signals confidence in your mission.
Build in Social Proof Everywhere: Add real-time donor counts, testimonials, or "Ashley’s team just raised $5,000" shout-outs to your emails and donation pages. The Jones Effect drives results.
Create Time-Limited Offers: Run a 72-hour match campaign, feature exclusive merch, or tie donations to specific, urgent needs. People are more likely to act when the opportunity feels fleeting.

Resources and Links

Connect with our host, Maria Rio
Decision Lab Cognitive Bias List
Support our show. We are fully self-funded!
Watch this episode on YouTube
Need help with your fundraising?
Liked this episode? Have an idea? Send us a text HERE :)

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Marketing doesn’t have to mean manipulation. But for many small nonprofits, common practices like donor recognition, emotional appeals, and urgency-driven fundraising can unintentionally cause harm. In this episode, Maria and anti-oppressive marketer Natalia Sanyal unpack how to shift your messaging and methods without compromising your values or your impact.

Natalia works with human-first brands, helping for-profit and nonprofit organizations market more ethically. Here she shares her seven ethical marketing filters, reflects on her own missteps, and gives nonprofit leaders practical ways to rethink recognition, storytelling, and inclusion — especially in a world where perfectionism is no longer the standard.

🎯 Ethical Marketing - 5 Key Takeaways:

1. Ethical Marketing Starts with Consent and Agency

Marketing practices often bypass true consent whether it’s adding someone to a mailing list via a Zoom link or disguising a sales pitch as a webinar. Nonprofits must ensure people know what they’re signing up for.

2. Language Matters—But So Does Context

Using terms like "stakeholder" or "homeless" without thought can alienate the very communities you serve. But changing language is complicated. It won't be perfect, and that’s okay. Keep trying, explain your choices transparently, and leave space for feedback.

3. Donor Recognition Can Reinforce Harmful Power Dynamics

Celebrating donors, especially white donors, funding work for racialized communities, can reinforce white savior narratives.

4. Filters Help but Capacity Still Matters

Natalia outlines seven filters to guide ethical marketing: agency, accessibility, appropriation, exploitation, saviorism, current climate, and inclusivity. But she also acknowledges the reality of limited capacity: do what you can, iterate, and give yourself grace.

5. Choosing Values Over Profit Can Still Work

Whether prioritizing a BIPOC-majority program cohort or experimenting with donor recognition, Natalia emphasizes that values-aligned decisions may feel risky, but they can be your differentiator. Integrity can attract the right people.

✅ 3 Actionable Tips for Ethical Marketing

1. Run Every Campaign Through the Seven Filters

Before and after you write a fundraising appeal or create a campaign, apply Natalia’s filters: agency, accessibility, appropriation, exploitation, current climate, saviorism, and inclusivity. You won’t catch everything, but you’ll catch more than if you didn’t.

2. Shift Away from Public Donor Recognition

Experiment with anonymous giving or shift recognition toward volunteers and community members. Educate donors on why this matters and invite them to participate in more ethical storytelling practices.

3. Choose Imperfect Progress Over Inaction

If you can’t do everything, do something. Don’t wait for the perfect DEI strategy or most inclusive language to get started. Opt for transparency, explain your evolving process, and build trust along the way.

🎧 Listen for more insights on ethical marketing, inclusive language, and how to navigate harm reduction in your nonprofit communications.

Resources and Links

Connect with our host, Maria Rio
Connect with our guest, Natalia Sanyal
Support our show. We are fully self-funded!
Watch this episode on YouTube

Support the show

Running a small nonprofit often means juggling strategy, people, programs, and inbox chaos, all while making what feels like a million decisions a day. If you’ve ever felt stuck between leading and just trying to keep up, this episode is for you.

In this candid and insightful conversation, Maria chats with returning guest Veronica LaFemina about one of the most overlooked pain points in nonprofit life: how decisions are made, delegated, and communicated. From messy inboxes to that nagging feeling of "did I already assign this?"- Veronica offers both clarity and real tools to help leaders make better decisions, faster.

🎯 Nonprofit Leadership - 5 Key Takeaways:

1. Decision-Making is an Invisible Problem Until It’s Not
Unlike line items like fundraising or program delivery, decision-making doesn’t get its own budget category. But when it’s broken, it shows up everywhere: delays, confusion, and burnout.

2. Know Your Decision-Making Style
Veronica explains that leaders need to be able to articulate how they make decisions: do you need data or gut instinct? Do you want solutions or options? Being clear on this helps your team help you.

3. Repeatable Decisions Need Repeatable Systems
Create simple processes for recurring decisions; who owns them, what criteria they use, and how often they happen. This takes unnecessary urgency off the table and empowers your staff.

4. Delegation Requires Letting Go (and Being Okay with Imperfection)
One of Veronica’s biggest shifts came when she stopped reviewing every piece of content and let her directors support each other. Things moved faster, and the team grew stronger.

5. Change Starts with You, Not Your Team
If you want your organization to shift how it works, you have to model it. From mindset to systems to communication, effective change management begins at the top.

🎧 Listen to more episodes for actionable fundraising tips and insights on nonprofit leadership, nonprofit governance, productivity & tools, and donor engagement strategies that work. We're here to eliminate nonprofit burnout and boost your donations!

✅ 3 Actionable Tips for Small Nonprofit Leaders:

1. Map Out Recurring Decisions
Spend 30 minutes listing common decisions you make weekly or monthly. Identify who should own each one and draft a quick process for how those decisions get made and communicated.

2. Pick One Project Management System and Stick to It
Whether it’s Asana, Trello, or a shared Google Sheet, choose a system to track delegated tasks. This reduces “Did I send this?” stress and makes work more transparent across your team.

3. Practice the “Three-Month Test” for New Systems
When rolling out a new decision-making or delegation process, give it 3 months before judging. Let your team practice. Check in. Adjust. Real change takes space to land.

Resources and Links

Connect with our host, Maria Rio
Connect with our guest, Veronica LaFemina: LinkedIn & Website
Support our show. We are fully self-funded!
Watch this episode on YouTube
Need help with your fundraising?
Liked this episode? Have an idea? Send us a

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Building a Fundraising Board

Fundraising isn’t about money; it’s about PEOPLE. And some of your most powerful people? Your board.

In this episode, we dive into the challenges small nonprofits face when trying to activate their boards around fundraising. From fear of asking to a total misunderstanding of what fundraising even is, we’re breaking down the myths, sharing real-world tactics, and giving you the mindset shifts that actually work.

📌 Don’t forget: We’ve included a Board Fundraising Menu in the show notes with a full list of task ideas you can assign based on your org’s real needs. Plus, we’re also sharing a companion script guide to help your board get even more confident and consistent in their outreach.

🔑 Getting Your Board to Fundraise - 5 Key Takeaways

Fundraising ≠ Begging
The fear that fundraising is "icky" or akin to begging is one of the biggest blockers. Reframing it as an invitation into community shifts everything.
Boards Don't Understand Fundraising—Because No One Taught ThemMost board members have never been trained. They’re not unmotivated—they’re just unclear on what fundraising actually involves.
Matchmaking, Not SalesGreat fundraising is about alignment, not persuasion. If the mission and the person don’t align, that’s okay—you’re just finding the right match.
Board Members' Personal Stories Are Their Superpower
A board member sharing why they care hits harder than any brochure. Storytelling > strategy.
Accountability = Clarity + RelationshipBoard engagement skyrockets when expectations are clear, roles are specific, and there's a personal connection—like pairing with a staff member.

🎧 Listen to more episodes for actionable fundraising tips and insights on nonprofit leadership, nonprofit governance, productivity & tools, and donor engagement strategies that work. We're here to eliminate nonprofit burnout and boost your donations!

✅ 3 Actionable Tips for Small Nonprofits

Assign by Name, Not Role
“The board” doesn’t do anything. Sam, Deirdre, and James do. Assign clear names to tasks and follow up. It makes a BIG difference.
Use the 1-30-10-7 Pitch Practice
Have board members practice describing the org in 1 minute, 30 seconds, 10 seconds, and finally 7 seconds. That short pitch becomes their go-to confidence builder.
Build In Buddy Accountability
Pair each board member with a development staffer. It keeps them engaged, informed, and supported and stops them from sending those “should we ask Oprah?” emails to your ED.

Resources and Links

Connect with our host, Maria Rio
Connect with our cohost, Caitlin McBride
Support our show. We are fully self-funded!
Board fundraising menu
Board fundraising scripts

Liked this episode? Have an idea? Send us a text HERE :)

Support the show

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

If you want to learn how my company helps nonprofits create a fundraising plan, this link will explain: https://www.gofurthertogether.ca/discoverycall

How to create a GREAT fundraising strategy for your small nonprofit

Every thriving nonprofit starts with a plan, not a guess. In this episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, we break down how a thoughtful, strategic fundraising plan can set your organization up for sustainable growth, smarter decisions, and way less chaos.

You’ll get a practical overview of what goes into a successful plan, how to make it work for your team (no matter the size), and why it’s the single best tool to help you stop reacting and start leading.

This episode is hosted by Maria Rio, a seasoned fundraising expert with over a decade of experience helping nonprofits grow their impact through clear strategy and effective implementation.

Creating a fundraising plan for your nonprofit: 5 key takeaways

A great plan is more than a calendar of events.
A strong fundraising plan isn’t a to-do list; it’s your mission’s compass. It links your big goals to everyday actions and keeps everyone pointed in the same direction.
Start with what you know.
Use your current data (donor history, revenue sources, and engagement patterns) as a foundation. You can’t look ahead if you don’t know where you’re starting from.
Short-term wins + long-term vision = sustainability.
A good plan should help you meet today’s goals and build the systems you need for future growth.
Your plan helps you say no.
When everything feels urgent, it’s easy to chase shiny objects. But a plan gives you permission to decline distractions and stay focused on what really matters.
Real growth comes from realistic goals.
Forget plucked-from-thin-air numbers. Use benchmarks and historical trends to set fundraising targets you can actually achieve, and build momentum from there.

🎧 Listen to more episodes for actionable fundraising tips and insights on nonprofit leadership, nonprofit governance, productivity & tools, and donor engagement strategies that work. We're here to eliminate nonprofit burnout and boost your donations!

✅ 3 Actionable Tips for fundraising strategy creation

Use a SWOT analysis to pick the right goals.
Interview 6–12 people inside and outside your team. Talk about what’s working, what’s not, and what’s next. It’s a great way to find gaps and inspire new direction.
Turn your plan into a monthly workback schedule.
Break goals into tasks, assign them, and set deadlines. A plan only works if it actually gets used (and revisited) by your team.
Make space for regular updates.
Revisit your plan quarterly or monthly. It should evolve as your organization grows, and the regular check-ins will keep it fresh and relevant.

Resources and Links

Connect with our host, Maria Rio
Support our show. We are fully self-funded!
Watch this episode on YouTube
Need help with your fundraising?

Liked this episode? Have an idea? Send us a text HERE :)

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Send us a text

In this episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria chats with Sarah Ali, a digital-first fundraiser and founder of SA Digital, about Muslim philanthropy, digital mobilization, and how nonprofits can engage diverse communities through culturally competent fundraising strategies. Sarah shares her expertise on leveraging digital tools like WhatsApp and her insights on the growing role of Muslim giving in the nonprofit space.

Key Topics Covered:

Muslim philanthropy & digital mobilization
WhatsApp for fundraising & community building
Cultural competency in nonprofit messaging
Digital tools for engagement

Actionable Tips:

Build culturally competent messaging: Engage with diverse leadership councils from within communities to create messaging that resonates and doesn’t feel tokenizing.
Focus on hope-based communications: In times of crisis, highlight positive stories of hope and concrete actions donors can take. This approach can help reduce collective trauma and increase engagement.
Innovate through cultural campaigns: If you’re considering engaging a community you don’t represent, start by listening, asking for feedback, and being transparent in your intentions. Seek advice from community leaders and organizations like the Muslim Philanthropy Network.

Resources Mentioned:

Muslim Philanthropy Network Website
SA Digital Website

Connect with Us:

Connect with Maria
Connect with Sarah

Tune in to this insightful episode to learn how nonprofits can embrace digital tools and cultural competency to strengthen their donor base and engage meaningfully with diverse communities.

Subscribe and Review:

Don’t forget to subscribe to The Small Nonprofit Podcast on your favorite platform. Please leave a review to help us reach more listeners and continue to provide valuable insights for nonprofit leaders.

Coming Next Week:

Join us next week as we talk about trauma-informed storytelling with Maria Bryan!

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Send us a text

In this episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria talks with Kamilah Martin, founder and CEO of Katalyst, about nonprofits adapting to the future of work. They discuss evolving work models, remote and hybrid setups, and innovative leadership strategies. Kamilah shares her journey from nonprofit executive to consultant and offers insights on piloting new initiatives, shared leadership, and overcoming resistance to change. Tune in for practical tips on how nonprofits can embrace the future of work.

Have you seen organizations successfully embracing innovation? Maria and Kamilah want to hear about them! Reach out and share your examples so we can highlight them on the podcast and learn from these organizations.

Key Topics:

COVID-19's impact on work
Shared leadership models and equity in remote work
Challenges of piloting new ideas
Fostering a culture of innovation

Quotable Moments:

"We existed a certain way because that's all we knew. But COVID forced us to rethink that — and that opened up so many opportunities for innovation." – Kamilah Martin
"Innovation for innovation's sake isn't enough. What are your goals? How do you evaluate if your pilot actually achieves what you want?" – Kamilah Martin
"Nonprofits that innovate now will thrive in the next 20 years. Those that don’t will get left behind." – Kamilah Martin

Actionable Tips:

➜ Embrace Flexible Work Models: Involve program and admin staff in discussions on remote work equity, and find ways to offer flexibility, even to those in roles requiring in-person work (e.g., alternating schedules).
➜ Pilot Innovations with Clear Goals: Establish a finite timeline for pilots with an evaluation period at the end to determine if adjustments are needed.
➜ Leverage External Expertise: Don’t try to solve complex problems alone—engage consultants or experts in areas like change management, technology, or HR for quicker solutions.

Connect with Us:

Connect with Maria
Connect with Kamilah
The Katalyst Website

Subscribe and Review:

Don’t forget to subscribe to The Small Nonprofit Podcast on your favorite platform. Please leave a review to help us reach more listeners and continue to provide valuable insights for nonprofit leaders.

Coming Next Week:

Join us next week with fundraising expert, Rhea Wong, as she shares how to build successful major gifts programs and boost your donations!

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Send us a text

In this episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria sits down with Nina Horvath, Executive Director of the Coastal Jazz and Blues Society. Nina shares her insights into the fractional fundraising model, the benefits it has brought to her organization, and the challenges faced in arts fundraising. Together, they explore how fractional fundraising offers smaller nonprofits access to high-level fundraising expertise without the challenges of hiring a full-time development director.

Key Topics:

Exploring Fractional Fundraising
What are the pros and cons of working with a Fractional Fundraiser?
The financial and intangible results of working with Fractional Fundraisers at Further Together

Quotable Moments:

"The beauty of fractional fundraising is that you get the expertise you need at a fraction of the cost, which is perfect for small to mid-sized nonprofits"
"As an ED, it can feel isolating. Having a fractional fundraiser who understands my challenges and offers valuable, outside perspective has been a personal and professional support"
"We didn’t expect to double our individual giving in a year, but with a strategic approach and fresh ideas, we made it happen"

Actionable Tips:

➜ Consider Outsourced Supports: If you’re a small to mid-sized nonprofit struggling to find a full-time development director, fractional fundraising could give you access to senior-level expertise without breaking the bank.
➜ Set Realistic Expectations: Don’t expect to raise a million dollars overnight. Success in fundraising is about building momentum and balancing both short-term wins and long-term goals.
➜ Leverage the Expertise of a Fractional Fundraiser: Fractional fundraisers work with multiple organizations, which allows them to offer fresh insights and best practices from across the nonprofit sector.

Connect with Us:

Connect with Maria
Connect with Nina
Coastal Jazz Website

Subscribe and Review:

Don’t forget to subscribe to The Small Nonprofit Podcast on your favorite platform. Please leave a review to help us reach more listeners and continue to provide valuable insights for nonprofit leaders.

Coming Next Week:

Join Maria as she discusses the future of work in the nonprofit sector with Kamilah Martin!

Support the show

Send us a text

In this episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria sits down with Quilen Blackwell, President and co-founder of Chicago Eco House and Southside Blooms. Quilen shares his remarkable journey of founding and growing a nonprofit with a thriving $2 million social enterprise. With a focus on sustainability, community development, and economic resilience, Quilen offers invaluable tips for nonprofits looking to scale effectively.

Key Topics:

Social enterprise success: from zero to $2 million
Challenges of scaling a nonprofit and a business
How Southside Blooms converts customers into donors
The pros and cons of business-to-business (B2B) versus business-to-consumer (B2C) social enterprise models

Quotable Moments:

“As a nonprofit, we didn’t want to be dependent on a few big donors telling us what to do. Running it like a serious business gave us the freedom to stay true to our mission.”
“Focus on the foundation of the business, not just the money. If you’re not ready to handle growth, it can quickly turn from a blessing into a burden.”
“Our flowers are our ambassadors. They go into spaces we can’t, and they open doors we never expected.”

Actionable Tips:

➜ Start Small: Focus on building a solid foundation before scaling. Test your ideas on a smaller scale to work out any kinks and ensure your model is sustainable.

➜ Invest in Technology: Use technology to streamline operations and customer service, especially when managing a social enterprise. Tools like Routific for route optimization can be game changers in last-mile delivery

➜ Leverage Customer Relationships: Turn customers into donors by integrating donation opportunities into your sales process and engaging them through events like farm tours.

➜ Do B2B and B2C: Diversify your income streams by engaging in both B2B and B2C models. This approach not only stabilizes revenue but also opens unexpected doors for media coverage and large grants.

➜ Prepare for Growth: As your organization scales, be ready to tackle complex challenges, including human resources, compliance, and maintaining quality across a growing operation.

Connect with Us:

Connect with Maria
Connect with Quilen: Personal Instagram, Southside Blooms, Chicago Eco House
Chicago Eco House: Website
Southside Blooms: Website

Support the Podcast:

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to The Small Nonprofit on YouTube, and leave us a review. Your feedback helps us create better content and reach more listeners like you. Watch this episode on YouTube.
Support these conversations by becoming a member here.

What’s next?

Don’t forget to tune into next week’s episode where we chat about the pros and cons of hiring a Fractional Fundraiser with Nina Horvath!

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Send us a text

In this episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria speaks with Kathryn LeBlanc, a communications consultant specializing in social impact. Kathryn shares valuable insights on the importance of clear, concise messaging for nonprofits, and how to effectively communicate your organization’s mission.

Key Topics:

The Importance of Clear Messaging
Operationalizing Communications
Developing Key Messages
Identifying and Targeting Audiences
Building Internal Capacity

Quotable Moment:

"A good message should be concise, rooted in emotion, and something people will actually repeat."

Actionable Tips:

➜ Create a Message Guide and Communication Strategy: These documents should be separate, clear, and shared consistently across your team.

➜ Focus on Building Internal Cohesion: A well-aligned team is better equipped to handle both day-to-day communications and unexpected crises.

➜ Develop a Crisis Communications Plan: Create a plan outlining how your organization will respond to incidents, emergencies, and crises. Assign roles, establish protocols, and train your team regularly to ensure a swift, unified response when needed.

Resources Mentioned:

Kathryn LeBlanc's Communications Consulting Firm
Downloadable Communication Strategy Template

Connect with Us:

Connect with Maria
Connect with Kathryn

Subscribe and Review:

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to The Small Nonprofit on YouTube, and leave us a review. Your feedback helps us create better content and reach more listeners like you. Watch this episode on YouTube.

Support the Podcast:

Support these conversations by becoming a member here.

Next Episode Teaser:

Stay tuned for next week as we crack the code on starting a social enterprise with Quilen Blackwell!

Support the Show.

Send us a Text Message.

In this episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria interviews Carmen Randolph, the CEO and President of the Women’s Foundation of the South (WFS). Carmen shares her insights into the unique challenges faced by nonprofits in the Southern United States, especially those led by and serving women and girls of color. The conversation covers the historical and systemic issues affecting philanthropy in the South, the growing legal challenges against organizations that prioritize marginalized communities, and the importance of trust-based philanthropy.

Carmen emphasizes the need for Southern nonprofits to diversify their funding sources, engage in proactive donor education, and prepare for potential legal challenges in the wake of recent shifts in U.S. policy and law.

Key Topics:

Legal Challenges and Affirmative Action: Carmen discusses recent lawsuits targeting organizations that focus on racial equity, particularly those led by people of color, and the importance of legal preparedness for nonprofits in this new landscape.
Philanthropy in the Southern U.S.: Learn about the unique challenges faced by Southern nonprofits, including underfunding, systemic racism, and the impact of the region's historical context on philanthropic efforts.
Donor Education and Engagement: Explore how nonprofits can engage donors proactively in the face of increasing legal and political challenges, ensuring continued support for marginalized communities.

Quotable Moments:

"Women and girls of color receive the smallest share of philanthropic investment in the U.S., and we are seeking to change that trend."

Actionable Tips:

➜ Engage in Legal Preparedness: Nonprofits should conduct legal reviews of their operations and documents to prepare for potential lawsuits, especially those focused on racial equity.

➜ Proactively Educate Donors: Engage donors about the importance of continued support for marginalized communities and the potential challenges your organization may face due to shifting legal landscapes.

➜ Diversify Funding Streams: Look at your nonprofit's work through various lenses to attract funding from different sources.

Resources Mentioned:

Women’s Foundation of the South Website
Shift the South Report

Connect with Us:

Connect with Maria
Connect with Carmen

Subscribe and Review:

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to The Small Nonprofit on YouTube, and leave us a review. Your feedback helps us create better content and reach more listeners like you. Watch this episode on YouTube.

Support the Podcast:

Support these conversations by donating here.

Next Episode Teaser:

Join us next week as we dive into a conversation on effective communications with Kathryn LeBlanc! Don’t miss it!

Support the Show.

Send us a Text Message.

Key Episode Highlights:

Trust-Based Philanthropy
Challenging Outdated Norms
Donor-Nonprofit Partnerships

Quotable Moments:

"I believe in the nonprofits we fund. They know better than I do where the money needs to go."
"We need to move away from this idea that nonprofit staff should be underpaid. It's time to invest in the people who make change happen."
"If nonprofits across the country could standardize a percentage of donations for admin costs, it would be a game changer for the sector."

Actionable Tips:

➜ Include Admin Costs in Funding Requests: Nonprofits should automatically include a percentage for administrative expenses in donor agreements.

➜ Trust Grantees' Expertise: Funders should trust that nonprofits know best how to allocate resources and should avoid imposing restrictions that hinder their effectiveness.

➜ Educate Donors on Real Needs: Nonprofits should feel empowered to educate donors about the importance of funding operational costs and negotiate for the support they truly need.

Resources Mentioned:

The Philanthropy Workshop
"Uncharitable" by Dan Pallotta (Book and Film)

Connect with Us:

Connect with Maria
Follow the The Sprott Foundation

Subscribe and Review:

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to The Small Nonprofit on YouTube, and leave us a review. Your feedback helps us create better content and reach more listeners like you.

Support the Podcast:

Consider supporting the podcast by subscribing here.

Don’t forget to become a supporter of our show!

Watch this episode on Youtube.

Next Episode Teaser:

Join us next week as we discuss systemic change and the effects of whitelash with Carmen Randolph. Don’t miss it!

Support the Show.

Send us a Text Message.

In this episode of The Small Nonprofit, Maria sits down with Roz Zavras, founder of the Center for Community Collaboration (C3) and CEO of Aropa Consulting. Roz shares her unique approach to supporting community-based nonprofits, particularly those led by people of colour or individuals with lived experience.

Through C3, Roz is finding innovative ways to foster collaboration, provide essential services, and break down the silos that often hinder nonprofits from achieving their full potential. She talks about collaborative fundraising events and sharing HR or bookkeeping services.

Key Topics:

The Vision Behind C3
Collaborative Fundraising Events
Building Trust Among Nonprofits
Shared Services Model

Quotable Moments:

“The feedback that I get from small nonprofits is often, how do I build a donor list? How do I find donors that are interested in my work? If we have six organizations together, pooling their lists and pooling their networks, you're going to naturally grow your donor list.”
"Let's work together, have fun together, and share our donors, share the revenue, and share the work."
"Trust-building starts with one step. It’s all about taking that first step towards collaboration and partnership."

Actionable Tips:

Leverage Collaboration for Greater Impact
- Consider partnering with other nonprofits on fundraising events or shared services to maximize resources and reduce costs. Start small with a joint project to build trust and rapport.
Focus on Donor Education
- Educate your donors about the benefits of supporting a collaborative, community-based approach. Highlight how their contributions can drive systemic change by supporting multiple organizations with aligned missions.
Embrace an Abundance Mindset
- Shift from a scarcity mindset to one of abundance. Trust that collaborating with others can lead to greater impact and stronger communities, rather than diminishing your own resources.

Resources Mentioned:

Center for Community Collaboration Website
Community-Centric Fundraising Principles

Connect with Us:

Connect with Maria
Connect with Roz
Center for Community Collaboration LinkTree

Subscribe and Review:

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to The Small Nonprofit on YouTube, and leave us a review. Your feedback helps us create better content and reach more listeners like you. Watch this episode on YouTube.

Support the Podcast:

Consider supporting the podcast by subscribing here.

Next Episode Teaser:

Join us next week as we dive into the world of trust-based philanthropy with Juliana Sprott, another member of The Sprott Foundation. Don’t miss it!

Support the Show.

Send us a Text Message.

In this episode of The Small Nonprofit, Maria welcomes Vu Le, a prominent voice in the nonprofit sector and the writer behind the influential blog Nonprofit AF. Known for his humor and sharp insights, Vu discusses his journey from “aspiring to be a doctor” to becoming a leader in community-centric fundraising and nonprofit advocacy.

He shares his thoughts on the systemic issues within traditional fundraising practices, the importance of ethical storytelling, and the need for nonprofits to engage in advocacy for systemic change. Vu's unique perspective and unwavering commitment to equity and justice provide invaluable lessons for anyone involved in the nonprofit sector.

Key Topics:

The Role of Humor in Nonprofit Work: Learn how Vu uses humor to address and analyze the challenges and absurdities in the nonprofit sector.
Community-Centric Fundraising (CCF): Understand the principles of CCF and why Vu believes it’s crucial for promoting equity and justice in fundraising.
Systemic Issues and Advocacy: Explore Vu’s views on the need for nonprofits to engage in advocacy and policy change to address root causes of social issues.
Future Vision for the Sector: Hear Vu’s vision for a future where CCF principles are widely adopted and lead to systemic change.

Quotable Moments:

"We should be working as a sector to support one another, but we often don't. It's challenging, but it's essential for better serving our communities."
"Humor and baby animals are my go-to for coping with the frustrations in the sector. They bring some light to the heavy work we do."
"The donor-centered model often infantilizes donors while putting them on pedestals. We need to treat donors as equal partners and have honest conversations with them."

Resources Mentioned:

Nonprofit AF Blog
Community-Centric Fundraising Principles
Crappy Funding Practices
The Slavery of our Times by Leo Tolstoy

For personalized fundraising advice and strategies tailored to your organization's needs, contact Maria Rio or Further Together Fundraising. Together, we can create impactful, equitable, and community-focused fundraising strategies.

Connect with Us:

Connect with Maria
Connect with Vu: Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram
Nonprofit AF Website

Subscribe and Review:

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to The Small Nonprofit on Youtube, and leave us a review. Your feedback helps us create better content and reach more listeners like you.

Support the Podcast:

Consider supporting the podcast by donating here.

Next Episode Teaser:

Join us next week as we talk with Roz Zavras about the Center for Community Collaboration. Don’t miss it!

Support the Show.

Send us a Text Message.

How can we shift power dynamics in philanthropy and create more equitable partnerships between funders and nonprofits?

In this episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, I chat with Megan Lorius, the Managing Director at the Sprott Foundation, a Toronto-based foundation that grants funds to organizations seeking to solve hunger and homelessness.

We dive into the principles of trust-based philanthropy and how the Sprott Foundation, as a funder, applies them to build strong, equitable relationships with grantees. Megan shares valuable insights and advice for both funders and fundraisers on how to create a more collaborative and impactful philanthropic landscape.

Key Episode Highlights:

Soliciting and Acting on Feedback: We explore the significance of open communication and feedback loops between funders and grantees, fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.
Transparency and Open Dialogue: Megan highlights the value of transparency in all interactions, ensuring that both funders and grantees have a clear understanding of expectations and goals.
Shifting Power Dynamics: We delve into the concept of shifting power dynamics in philanthropy, empowering grantees to have a stronger voice in decision-making processes.

Don’t forget to become a supporter of our show!

Watch this episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/3rfg-E_V464

Links and Resources:

Connect with Megan Lorius on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-lorius-a6894211/
Check out the Sprott Foundation website: https://www.sprottfoundation.com/
Connect with Maria on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mariario/
Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/208666/supporters/new

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How can we create a more equitable and just nonprofit sector?

In this episode of The Small Nonprofit, we chat with Chris Talbot-Heindl, a seasoned professional with over two decades of experience in the nonprofit world. Chris shares their personal experiences and insights on the challenges and opportunities facing nonprofits today, particularly in the areas of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (JEDI).

We explore the challenges faced by BIPOC individuals in predominantly white-led organizations and the importance of moving beyond performative allyship to achieve real, transformative change.

Chris provides actionable advice for fostering a more inclusive and equitable nonprofit sector. They emphasize the significance of community-based learning, emotional regulation, and collective responsibility in dismantling systemic inequities.

Chris's personal experiences and insights offer valuable lessons for nonprofit leaders, staff, and board members alike, reminding us that the path to collective liberation requires ongoing commitment, education, and a willingness to challenge the status quo.

Key Highlights:

The Importance of Community: Chris highlights the need for community-based learning and support in JEDI work. They provide actionable tips to the audience such as to form groups, share knowledge, and practice calling in and being called in to foster a safer and more accountable environment.
The Power of Emotional Regulation: Chris emphasizes the importance of emotional regulation in navigating difficult conversations and conflicts. They stress that everyone has a responsibility to manage their emotions and avoid reacting with violence or harm.
The Need for Transformational Change: Chris argues that incremental change is not enough to address the systemic inequities in the nonprofit sector. They call for transformational change that prioritizes JEDI principles and collective liberation.
The Role of Cultural Competency: Chris discusses the importance of cultural competency in DEI work and shares an example of a shocking lack of cultural awareness in a previous workplace. They emphasize the need for DEI specialists to have a deep understanding of the communities they serve.

Watch this episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/Kb4NSqOS1w0

Links and Resources:

Connect with Chris Talbot-Heindl on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christalbotheindl/
Check out the website: https://www.talbot-heindl.com/
Link to Chris's Tapas where my educomics live: https://tapas.io/episode/3152530
Twitter: https://x.com/talbot_heindl
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talbot_heindl/
Learn more about JEDI Committee: https://jedicollaborative.com/
Connect with Maria on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mariario/
Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/208666/supporters/new

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In a world where trust is paramount, how can small nonprofits ensure they're not just talking the talk, but walking the walk?

In this episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, I chat with Rickesh Lakhani, founder of Radiance Advisory, about the importance of aligning actions with values in the nonprofit sector. We delve into the challenges of upholding stated values, especially during leadership transitions, and the significance of creating a culture of trust and truth within organizations.

Rickesh shares insights on how to identify and bridge the gap between an organization's stated values and its actual practices, emphasizing the importance of feedback, vulnerability, and accountability.

Key Highlights:

Aligning Actions with Values: Rickesh emphasizes the need for organizations to go beyond just stating their values and ensure that these values are reflected in their day-to-day operations, from HR practices to financial decisions.
Identifying Organizational Values: He suggests that values should be identified through the behavior, rather than just being listed on a website. They can be discovered through surveys, group discussions, and one-on-one interviews.
Creating a Culture of Trust and Truth: Rickesh highlights the importance of creating a safe and supportive environment where employees feel comfortable sharing feedback, both positive and negative. This involves minimizing hierarchical impacts and ensuring that feedback is acted upon.
The Role of Leadership: Leaders play a crucial role in shaping organizational culture. They need to be open to feedback, vulnerable, and willing to acknowledge their own flaws. Their actions should align with the organization's stated values.
Measuring Cultural Change: Rickesh suggests that cultural change can be measured through quantitative measures like employee engagement scores and attrition rates. Regular assessments can help track progress and identify areas for improvement.

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Links and Resources:

Website: https://www.radianceadvisory.com/
Connect with Rickesh on LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/rickeshlakhani
Connect with Rickesh on X: https://x.com/ConstantChanges
Connect with Maria on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mariario/
Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/208666/supporters/new
Speak-Up Culture: When Leaders Truly Listen, People Step Up

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Do you find it challenging to connect with your donors on a deeper level and turn one-time gifts into lasting relationships? In this episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, we dive into the world of donor community building with Owen O'Doherty, the CEO of DonorSee. Owen shares his insights on how to leverage beneficiary-driven storytelling, technology, and authentic engagement to create a thriving community of donors who are passionate about your cause.

Key Episode Highlights:

Authenticity is Key: Donors connect with real, unpolished stories that showcase both the successes and challenges of your work. Embrace vulnerability and share the human side of your organization.
Storytelling is Powerful: Use video and other visual mediums to tell compelling stories that highlight the impact of your work. Let service users share their own experiences to create a deeper connection with donors.
Community Cultivation Matters: Move beyond transactional giving and focus on building a community of donors who are invested in your mission. Foster engagement through regular updates, personalized communication, and opportunities for interaction.
Technology Can Help: Leverage platforms to streamline your fundraising efforts, connect with a wider audience, and build a thriving community of supporters.
Embrace AI (Wisely): Explore the potential of AI in automating tasks, curating content, and enhancing donor experiences. However, prioritize authenticity and avoid using AI to generate fake or misleading content.

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Watch this episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/AOc-VDduIuE

Links and Resources:

Connect with Owen O'Doherty on Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/owenodoherty
Check out the website: https://www.donorsee.com/
Rise by DonorSee: https://www.actionrise.com/
Connect with Maria on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mariario/
Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/208666/supporters/new

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Have you ever thought about merging your nonprofit with another organization? Or maybe transferring a program to another nonprofit? If you're like me, you might be thinking, "That sounds complicated and risky!" But what if strategic collaboration could be the key to unlocking your nonprofit's full potential?

In this episode, I chat with Michelle Shumate, a professor at Northwestern University and a consultant at Social Impact Network Consulting, . Michelle shares her fascinating research on what sets successful collaborations apart. We dive into real-life examples of small nonprofits achieving incredible results through mergers, asset transfers, and innovative partnerships. Michelle also breaks down the steps you can take to explore collaboration opportunities for your own organization. If you're ready to discover how strategic collaboration can lead to growth, innovation, and greater impact, this episode is a must-listen!

Key Episode Highlights:

Strategic Mindset: Approach collaborations with a strategic mindset, carefully considering the value add, risks, and integration plans to ensure long-term success.
Culture Matters: Pay close attention to organizational culture, especially in mergers and asset transfers. Foster a culture of collaboration and inclusivity to ensure a smooth transition and lasting success.
Asset Transfers for Growth: Explore asset transfers as a strategic tool for growth and innovation. Acquiring programs or assets from other organizations can revitalize your nonprofit and expand your impact.
Seek Expert Guidance: Don't hesitate to seek expert guidance when navigating collaborations, mergers, or asset transfers. Consultants and legal professionals can provide valuable support and ensure a successful process.

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Visit https://www.gofurthertogether.ca/ to learn more.

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Are your nonprofit's efforts to build community feeling a bit... flat? Are you struggling to connect with your service users and donors in a meaningful way? On this episode of The Small Nonprofit, Ashley Alaniz-Moyer, Executive Director of the Hispanic Scholarship Consortium and co-founder of Refuerzo Collaborative, shares her insights on refreshing your approach to community engagement.

Discover how to move beyond transactional interactions, infuse fun and creativity into your events, and build lasting relationships with your board, volunteers, and supporters. We'll delve into practical strategies, like multi-step events and the power of stickers (yes, stickers!), to create a sense of belonging and excitement around your cause.

Ashley has over 15 years of experience working in nonprofits with roles focused in operations, fundraising, marketing, communications, and events. Ashley believes in combining communication and collaboration for maximum impact. She has successfully planned major events that have launched regional education movements. She has led organizations through rebranding efforts and strategic planning processes. Her passion for community building shines through as she shares stories and examples of successful engagement strategies. She'll inspire you to reimagine your events, deepen your connection with your community, and ultimately achieve greater impact for your mission.

Key Episode Highlights:

Rethink Your Events: Move beyond traditional fundraising galas and rubber chicken dinners. Get creative, incorporate social elements, and provide opportunities for genuine connection and interaction.
Make It Social: Create a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere. Encourage participants to bring friends and family, and foster a sense of belonging within your community.
Multi-Step Engagement: Consider a series of events that build on each other, deepening participants' knowledge and commitment to your cause.
Gamification Works: Incorporate fun elements like stickers or badges to recognize and reward program participation, especially for younger audiences.
Build Community with Your Board: Encourage open communication, humor, and social connection among board members. This fosters trust and deeper engagement with your organization's mission.

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Watch this episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/2Qqv_oDwSqA

Links and Resources:

Hispanic Scholarship Consortium Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hispanic-scholarship-consortium
Hispanic Scholarship Consortium Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram - @hispanicscholar
Hispanic Scholarship Consortium Website - hispanicscholar.org
Refuerzo Collaborative Instagram & Facebook - @refuerzocollaborative
Refuerzo Collaborative Website - refuerzocollaborative.com
Connect with Maria on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mariario/
Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/208666/supporters/new

Visit https://www.gofurthertogether.ca/ to learn more.

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Do you ever feel like your passion for nonprofit work has wilted? Are you constantly exhausted, overwhelmed, and struggling to find the motivation to keep going?

You're not alone. In this episode, Kishshana Palmer and I dive into the pervasive issue of burnout in the nonprofit sector. We explore its causes, its impact on our work and well-being, and most importantly, practical strategies to reclaim your energy, passion, and joy.

Kishshana, an expert in leadership and organizational development, shares her insights on self-care, setting boundaries, and finding your "sit in the sun" moments. We discuss the importance of prioritizing rest, nutrition, exercise, and reconnecting with activities that bring you joy. This episode is a must-listen for any nonprofit leader who wants to break free from the cycle of burnout and create a more sustainable, fulfilling career.

Key Episode Highlights:

Recognize and name your burnout: Acknowledging your exhaustion is the first step towards addressing it. Don't be afraid to say, "I'm tired," and seek support from your colleagues, friends, or a therapist.
Prioritize self-care: Make time for rest, nutritious food, exercise, and activities that bring you joy. Even small acts of self-care can make a big difference in your energy levels and well-being.
Learn to say no: Set boundaries with yourself and others. It's okay to decline requests that don't align with your priorities or that would overextend your capacity.
Reconnect with your passions: Rediscover activities that brought you joy in your youth. These can be a source of renewal and inspiration.
Find your "sit in the sun" moments: Identify activities that help you relax and recharge. This could be reading, spending time in nature, or simply sitting in the sun and enjoying the warmth.

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Watch this episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/UwHH4L2AIT8

Links and Resources:

Connect with Kishshana Palmer on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kishshanapalmer/
Check out the website: https://www.managemint.co/
The Sticky Teams on-demand training: https://kishshana-co-inc.ck.page/6f9565b1c6
Connect with Maria on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mariario/
Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/208666/supporters/new

Visit https://www.gofurthertogether.ca/ to learn more.

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Curious about balancing experience and fresh ideas on your nonprofit board? Seeking ways to keep fundraising events engaging in the digital age? Join a candid conversation with a mother-daughter duo as they share their diverse experiences and perspectives on board service, fundraising, and community engagement.

In this episode of The Small Nonprofit, Maria Rio sits down with Suzy Wilcox, Director of Development at Evergreen, and her mother, Martha Schwieters, an active donor and experienced board member. They delve into the generational divide in board service, the importance of community-centered fundraising, and the evolving landscape of philanthropic events. Suzy and Martha also share personal anecdotes and insights from their unique journeys in the nonprofit sector.

Key Episode Highlights:

Balancing Experience and Fresh Ideas: Board diversity is crucial for nonprofit success. Encourage a mix of experienced members and newcomers to foster innovation and avoid stagnation. Consider implementing term limits and actively recruiting new members with diverse skills and backgrounds.
Community-Centric Fundraising: Prioritize building relationships and community engagement over transactional fundraising tactics. Focus on creating warm, welcoming events that foster connection and showcase the impact of your organization's work.
Generational Perspectives: Acknowledge and bridge the generational divide in board service. Encourage open communication and respect for diverse perspectives, fostering a collaborative environment where both experience and fresh ideas are valued.
Adaptive Fundraising Strategies: Embrace the digital age while maintaining a human touch. Experiment with different fundraising approaches, such as hybrid events, personalized appeals, and donor-advised funds, to cater to diverse preferences and maximize your impact.
The Power of Shared Philanthropy: Explore the benefits of shared philanthropy through giving circles or collective impact initiatives. These models can pool resources, amplify impact, and foster a sense of community among donors and organizations alike.

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Watch this episode on Youtube:https://youtu.be/3jYFMOpeRdI

Links and Resources:

Connect with Suzy Wilcox on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suzanne-wilcox2019/?originalSubdomain=ca
Check out the Evergreen website: https://www.evergreen.ca/
Connect with Maria on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mariario/
Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/208666/supporters/new

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Don’t chase money - have it chase you! In this episode of The Small Nonprofit, fundraising expert Michelle Benson reveals the tool nonprofits are most overlooking: LinkedIn.

Transform your LinkedIn profile into a powerful fundraising tool with Michelle’s tips. She shares her proven strategies for optimizing your profile, creating engaging content, and building authentic relationships with potential funders. Learn how to attract high-value partnerships, secure grants, and even cultivate legacy donors.

Michelle also provides valuable insights on personal branding, using LinkedIn for stewardship, and differentiating your content across various platforms.

Key Episode Highlights:

Make LinkedIn's Algorithm Work for You: By engaging with content relevant to your interests, you signal the algorithm to show you more of the same, essentially prospecting for you.
The Power of Thoughtful Comments: Spark conversations by leaving comments that invite responses, potentially attracting attention from other users and leading to direct messages from funders.
Content is Key, But Quality Over Quantity: Focus on creating valuable content that resonates with your target audience, highlighting how your nonprofit can help them achieve their goals.
Optimize Your Profile: Ensure your profile includes a professional headshot, up-to-date information, and a clear value proposition to make a strong first impression.
LinkedIn for Stewardship: Connect with existing donors' colleagues to deepen relationships and create additional touchpoints, potentially leading to increased support.

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Watch this episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/krjZ871CUoo

Links and Resources:

Connect with Michelle Benson on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-benson-creates-digital-pipelines/
Check out the Website: https://www.cultureofphilanthropy.co/
Connect with Maria on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mariario/
Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/208666/supporters/new

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Does your org face the frustration of constantly losing your best fundraisers? Higher salaries, the pressure of unrealistic expectations, feeling undervalued, and being micromanaged are driving talented fundraisers out of the sector. In this episode of The Small Nonprofit, fundraising expert Laura Vitelli shares practical insights on how small nonprofits can break this cycle. We discuss the current challenges nonprofits face with attracting and retaining top fundraising talent, and how a focus on values alignment, flexibility, and collaborative leadership can make all the difference.

Laura Vitelli is a seasoned fundraiser with over 30 years of experience and co-founder of Staiger, VITELLI & Associates. Laura and her business partner Sarah Staiger specialize in helping nonprofits create sustainable fundraising systems through value-based strategies. Together, they provide coaching, training, and strategic planning support to small and mid-sized organizations.

Key Takeaways:

Values matter more than ever. Fundraisers are seeking organizations that align with their values and provide opportunities for meaningful conversations around complex issues.
Flexibility is key. Options like remote or hybrid work and even the potential for a four-day workweek are becoming major incentives for fundraising talent.
Lead with humility and transparency. Leaders who openly admit what they don't know and actively unlearn outdated practices create a supportive environment for growth.
Trust your fundraisers. Let them lead on strategy and goal setting. Unrealistic goals and lack of autonomy can lead to burnout and turnover.
Invest in your people. Offering competitive salaries, benefits, and ongoing professional development demonstrates that you value your fundraising team's well-being and contributions.

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Watch this episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/rv7hdVLFDy4

Links and Resources:

Connect with Laura Vitelli on Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/laura-vitelli
Check out the Website: https://www.staigervitelli.com/
Director of Development Questions Free Download: https://www.staigervitelli.com/dod
Connect with Maria on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mariario/
Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/208666/supporters/new

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Nonprofit workplaces often come with an expectation of self-sacrifice. Staff are expected to work long hours, accept below-market pay, and tolerate unfair conditions – all in service of the mission. But what if there was a way to uphold that passion for the cause while also ensuring fair treatment of workers?

That's where unions come in. This episode explores the world of unionization with Christina Rousseau. Having led a successful unionization effort in her former nonprofit role and now working as a union representative, Christina offers a unique 360-degree view of the possibilities and challenges unions bring to the nonprofit sector. You are going to love how Christina and I met.

Key Episode Highlights:

Unions prioritize workers' voices. They provide a platform to address workplace concerns, advocate for fair policies, and create a sense of agency for staff.
Collective agreements offer stability and transparency. They outline clear expectations, benefits, and procedures, minimizing ambiguity and potential conflicts.
The process can be challenging, but it's not insurmountable. Seeking guidance from an appropriate union streamlines the process and helps you navigate complexities.
Open communication is key for management. Transparency with staff about the process builds trust and smooths the transition to a unionized environment.

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Watch this episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/krjZ871CUoo

Links and Resources:

Connect with Christina Rousseau on Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/christina-rousseau
Check out the Website: https://psacunion.ca/
Connect with Maria on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mariario/
Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/208666/supporters/new

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Does your nonprofit seem to be just scraping by, even though everyone is working harder than ever? It's not just your organization. The nonprofit sector is in crisis, facing issues like shrinking revenue, chronic underfunding, staffing struggles, and increasing demands from the community. In this episode of The Small Nonprofit, strategic consultant Nicole Gagliardi examines the broken model and warns that the sector needs a major overhaul.

Nicole brings over 18 years of experience working in and alongside nonprofits. She offers a sober view of the sector's challenges and provides actionable insights on how organizations can start adapting. Whether you're a board member, executive director, or a dedicated staff member, you'll gain powerful knowledge to help you navigate the current nonprofit climate.

Key Episode Highlights:

Don't sleepwalk into crisis: It's easy to become complacent about the challenges, but the sector is facing serious threats. Acknowledge the problems and be proactive about finding solutions.
Understand the big picture: Don't just focus on your organization; study wider sector trends to inform your approach.
Your budget is your strategy: If your strategic plan doesn't align with major shifts in your budget, it's time to reassess.
Small steps are still progress: Embrace "radical incrementalism" – make meaningful changes over time to drive deeper transformation.
Collaboration and shared resources: Consider pooling resources with other nonprofits to cut costs and improve services.

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Watch this episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/ujVXfd7qfmM

Links and Resources:

Connect with Nicole Gagliardi on Linkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolegagliardi1/
Connect with Maria on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mariario/
Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/208666/supporters/new

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Does your nonprofit talk a good game about diversity and inclusion, but the action never seems to follow? Maybe you've been part of mandatory trainings that left you asking, "Okay, but now what……?"

I'm excited to have Jade Pichette from Pride at Work Canada on today's episode of The Small Nonprofit! Jade is breaking down why that "emergency response" mindset around issues like racism and homophobia just doesn't cut it – and spoiler alert, it might actually be doing more harm than good. But don't worry! Jade's got the insider scoop on how nonprofits can proactively build more inclusive, equitable workplaces where everyone can thrive.

Key Episode Highlights:

Don't be that company: The one scrambling to seem like a good ally after an incident. True inclusion is built into everything you do.
Culture first: Jade busted the myth that training = instant change. Real inclusivity is a culture shift, woven into recruitment, policies, and how you work.
Compassionate accountability: Give people space to learn, BUT hold them accountable when they're causing harm.
It's a team effort: Form an inclusion council. Don't dump this all on one person - share the work, get the buy-in.
Don't go it alone: Learn from other orgs, get help when you need it. Small nonprofits can be powerful forces for inclusivity!

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Watch this episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/Byz5mGyk0LY

Links and Resources:

Connect with Jade Pichette on Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/jadepichette and Website: jadepichette.com
Learn more about Pride at Work Canada: https://prideatwork.ca/
Connect with Maria on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mariario/
Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/208666/supporters/new

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Sometimes you feel like you're constantly chasing, juggling, and maybe even losing ground. It's difficult not to get extremely overwhelmed, but Maryanne says it is time to break those patterns! We dive deep into the art of influence with Maryanne Dersch. “It's not about mind control or manipulation. This is about stepping into your own power, crafting a vision, and inspiring your team, board, AND donors to get on board with excitement”

Maryanne Dersch has three decades of experience helping organizations connect authentically. She's a consultant, coach, teacher, podcaster, purple-enthusiast – she does it all! In this episode, learn how to shift from a scarcity mindset to a place of empowerment by managing fear, building confidence, and mastering that magnetic, influential leadership style.

Key Episode Highlights:

Doubt is normal, but don't let it rule you. Fear of criticism is part of leadership. Channel Maryanne's "undefended queen" mindset to stay focused on your mission, not external validation.
Invite, don't demand. Influence is all about offering choices. Give donors and your team the option to get to do things – it builds ownership rather than resistance.
Release the outcome. When you're overly attached to a specific result, you stifle energy and creativity. Focus on being a value, and the results will naturally follow.
Look inward to lead outward. Communicating effectively with your team creates a ripple effect. To be truly influential, start by practicing the skills within your organization.
This IS for you! Even if you're a small nonprofit, the power of influence can transform your operations. Learn to inspire enthusiasm in everyone around you for greater impact!

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Watch this episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/1-_aVugy33Y

The Small Nonprofit is being sponsored by Troi Mailing—that’s “T-R-O-I” Mailing. Friends, I have personally been using Troi's printing and mailing services for almost five years now. I choose them for my clients because they are great to work with, always get my brand colours right, are cost-effective, and get my mail outs to my donors on time - even during busy seasons! Call 1-866-876-4624 for a free $100 postage credit on your next campaign. Promo code: DonorDM1.

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Are you the only one in your nonprofit who understands fundraising? You spend hours crafting proposals, building donor relationships, and strategizing, while your colleagues think it's as simple as posting on Instagram. Well, today's episode is for YOU. We're diving into the power of creating a culture of philanthropy, where everyone in your organization understands and supports sharing your mission, leading to incredible fundraising success.

I'm thrilled to have Tammy Ebuen, a fundraising superstar with over 15 years of experience, join me on the show. As the Senior Director of Development at Visions of Science, she's coming on to chat about what it looks like when everyone understands fundraising. Tammy shares her insights, success stories, and tangible tips on how your nonprofit can cultivate that collective understanding, creating a more sustainable – and enjoyable! – fundraising environment.

Key Episode Highlights:

Shared Responsibility is Key: A culture of philanthropy means everyone from staff to leadership views fundraising as an integral part of achieving your mission, not just “something the fundraiser does”.
Psychological Safety = Fundraising Innovation: Staff feeling valued and safe to be themselves bring fresh ideas to the table, leading to more engaging and effective fundraising strategies.
Success Stories Fuel Motivation: When everyone celebrates fundraising wins, it creates a positive feedback loop, inspiring the team and attracting further support.
Culture of Philanthropy Means Staff Retention: Fundraisers thrive in environments where they feel connected to the mission and supported by the entire organization.

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Watch this episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/g0SOACjg-lQ

The Small Nonprofit is being sponsored by Troi Mailing—that’s “T-R-O-I” Mailing. Friends, I have personally been using Troi's printing and mailing services for almost five years now. I choose them for my clients because they are great to work with, always get my brand colours right, are cost-effective, and get my mail outs to my donors on time - even during busy seasons! Call 1-866-876-4624 for a free $100 postage credit on your next campaign. Promo code: DonorDM1.

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Think you know how donors behave? Think again! I had the best conversation with Tim Sarrantonio from Neon One about the realities of monthly giving and donor retention. We busted some common myths (even ones I believed!), talked about the psychology behind giving, and got a sneak peek at the groundbreaking report Neon One is just released.

Tim is a powerhouse in the nonprofit world, known for his insights on fundraising trends and tech. He's passionate about helping smaller nonprofits have access to the same powerful data as the big guys. This episode is full of actionable takeaways that will help you build stronger relationships with your donors and create a more sustainable fundraising program.

Key Episode Highlights:

Busting myths with data: Don't base your strategies on assumptions. Look for reliable data sources to ensure you're making informed decisions that will drive real results for your nonprofit.
It's not just about the numbers: While data is powerful, don't forget the human element. Donors want to feel like they're part of something bigger than themselves. Build community and foster a sense of belonging.
The astonishing value of monthly donors: The average lifetime value of a monthly donor may surprise you. Focus on cultivating those long-term, impactful relationships.
Think outside the (December) box: Don't put all your eggs in the end-of-year giving basket. Explore opportunities to inspire giving throughout the year and build a diverse revenue stream.
Data is your friend: Embrace the power of data analysis to understand your donors better, tailor your messaging, and create a fundraising strategy that delivers lasting results.

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Watch this episode on Youtube:https://youtu.be/RidjdI1A-NM

Links and Resources:

Email Report's digital reader: https://neonone.com/resources/nonprofit-email-report/report-reader/?section=1-1
Recurring Giving Report: https://neonone.com/resources/recurring-giving-report/?ref=mainNav
Connect with Tim on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timsarrantonio/
Website: https://neonone.com/
Connect with Maria on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mariario/
Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/208666/supporters/new

The Small Nonprofit is being sponsored by Troi Mailing—that’s “T-R-O-I” Mailing. Friends, I have personally been using Troi's printing and mailing services for almost five years now. I choose them for my clients because they are great to work with, always get my brand colours right, are cost-effective, and get my mail outs to my donors on time - even during busy seasons! Call 1-866-876-4624 for a free $100 postage credit on your next campaign. Promo code: DonorDM1.

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This one gets me to my core. I sat down with Marisa DeSalles, a Black fundraiser creating and moderating spaces for other Black fundraisers and leaders, to dive deep into trends she sees through her work.

Marisa leads a cohort of Black fundraisers. She is uniquely positioned to provide key insights on the state of the sector, its treatment of racialized leaders, and the exodus of fundraisers. Racialized leaders do not have the same access to wealth, connections, or power as white leaders. However, like all EDs, they feel the entire mission's weight resting solely on their shoulders. We'll unpack how this impacts the sector, and most importantly, what we can do about it.

Key Episode Highlights:

The "Black Excellence" trap: The constant pressure to outperform white counterparts as a means of survival isn't sustainable. It's harmful. We need to embrace "mastery" over unattainable perfection.
Harms of donor influence: Institutions are caving to donors driven by whitelash, eroding trust and harming their service users. Fundraisers of colour are often caught in the crossfire.
Self-care isn't optional: Unpacking trauma is vital – if we don't tend to ourselves, we can't adequately serve our communities. Self-care is a form of activism.
Community is power: It's hard fighting alone. Building a network of peers and allies is crucial, especially finding powerful champions within your organization who will advocate for you.
Setting sustainable goals: When fundraising is tough, the answer ISN'T just to push harder. We need realistic targets and expectations so fundraisers aren't set up to fail.

Don’t forget to become a supporter of our show!

Watch this episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/Nw4LPpPOtS4

Links and Resources:

“12 Years a Fly in the Milk”: https://communitycentricfundraising.org/2020/07/11/12-years-a-fly-in-the-milk/
Collecting Courage: https://www.collectingcourage.org/
Dean Article - https://archive.is/lYjUU
Giving Black Conference - https://www.givingblack.ca/copy-of-giving-black-conference-2023
Connect with Marissa DeSalles on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marisa-desalles/
Learn more about Good Tilth Consulting: https://www.goodtilthconsulting.com/
Connect with Maria on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mariario/
Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/208666/supporters/new

The Small Nonprofit is being sponsored by Troi Mailing—that’s “T-R-O-I” Mailing. Friends, I have personally been using Troi's printing and mailing services for almost five years now. I choose them for my clients because they are great to work with, always get my brand colours right, are cost-effective, and get my mail outs to my donors on time - even during busy seasons! Call 1-866-876-4624 for a free $100 postage credit on your next campaign. Promo code: DonorDM1.

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Tired of the same old fundraising that just doesn't reflect your community? Wish you could break free from the stuffy, traditional approaches and find ways to authentically connect with your donors?

In this episode, we ditch “best practices” and dove headfirst into fundraising in the queer community with Madeline Taylor, Development Manager at Out On Screen. Madeline, a passionate community builder and champion for equity, shares the strategic thinking behind their approach and how to channel the vibrant energy of your community into impactful fundraising. Out On Screen throws fundraising events true to them - drag shows, burlesque, 20-minute land acknowledgements, storytelling, and more.

Key Takeaways:

Representation Matters: Building a board and staff that genuinely reflect the community you serve is crucial. It's not just about understanding fundraising – it's about understanding the lived experiences of those you aim to support.
Authenticity is Everything: Out On Screen's bold fundraising approaches, from playful drag shows to introspective partnerships, showcase a deep connection to their queer community. Don't be afraid to let your organization's true values shine through in your fundraising efforts.
Relationship-First Fundraising: Madeline emphasizes the importance of building lasting relationships with donors and community members, moving beyond one-time transactions and into meaningful partnerships.
Room for Growth: Even with the best intentions, there's always space to improve communication and relationship management in fundraising. Acknowledging this allows for continuous learning and evolution.
Values Alignment: Out On Screen carefully considers the ethics of funding sources, ensuring partnerships align with their mission and don't allow donors to simply "queer-wash" their image.

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Does making your nonprofit feel inclusive seem impossible? Today, we're getting real about diversity, equity, and inclusion in our sector. I spoke with Michelle Okere, an inclusion specialist and nonprofit powerhouse, about how to build anti-racism into your organization's core.

Michelle shared her own experiences facing systemic barriers, strategies for meaningful communication, and why empowering your frontline staff is the key to success. An accomplished leader with a strong commitment to community, Michelle's insights will help you take actionable steps toward a more inclusive workplace.

Key Episode Highlights:

It starts with communication. One of the biggest obstacles to inclusion is staff, volunteers, and service users not feeling heard, understood, or involved at every level of decision-making.
Meaningful land acknowledgments can be a step toward action. Don't just rattle off a stock statement. Michelle shares how to make them a bridge for deeper conversation, relationship-building, and systemic change.
Fear stops progress. We talked a lot about the fear many well-intentioned folks have of "saying the wrong thing" when it comes to building inclusion. Michelle helps us break that barrier down and just start the conversation.
Inclusion isn't optional, it's foundational. We can't make those big promises of supporting marginalized communities, and then fail to build inclusive structures, policies, and practices into every aspect of the organization.

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Watch this episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/_8Av-EH2nY4

Links and Resources:

Michelle Okere (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-okere/
Michelle Okere (Twitter): @michelle0kere
Okere & Associates (Website): https://www.okereandassociates.com/
Compassion House Foundation: https://compassionhouse.org/
Sustainable Style Company: https://sustainablestylecompany.com/
Connect with Maria on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mariario/
Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/208666/supporters/new

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Scandals, harmful practices, and image-obsessed leaders plague our sector, but it doesn't have to be this way. My candid chat with Liz LeClair, a fearless fundraiser, feminist, and disruptor, is a breath of fresh air.

We discuss the lack of accountability in our sector, why real change is hard, and how we MUST do better. Liz calls out the sector (and herself!) for past failings. We discuss boardroom complacency, centering BIPOC voices, and why white moderates need a rethink.

This episode might leave you uncomfortable – and that's the point. Let's demand a truly accountable nonprofit world.

Key Episode Highlights:

Silence breeds more harm: Liz's courageous decision to speak out against sexual harassment by a high-profile donor sparked a much-needed conversation about the pervasive power imbalances and toxic culture in our sector.
White moderates hold us back: The desire to stay neutral or avoid difficult conversations is ultimately complicity. To move forward, we (especially white people) must actively dismantle oppressive systems and listen to those most impacted.
Accountability isn't about punishment: It's about building transparent, supportive, and safe environments where everyone is held to the same expectations. Leaders, board members, and donors are not exempt!
Community is key for support and learning: Liz's transformation came from connecting with BIPOC leaders who modeled true allyship and how to fight for justice while maintaining community care.
This IS your fight too: Even if you haven't faced the same issues directly, creating a more equitable sector where everyone can thrive benefits us all. This isn't about charity, it's about justice.

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Watch this episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/eVCH1_lgviQ

Links and Resources:

Website: https://www.sargassophilanthropic.ca/
Connect with Liz on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-leclair/
Connect with Maria on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mariario/
Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/208666/supporters/new

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What if you could tap into the enthusiasm of your biggest supporters and turn them into fundraising rockstars? That's where peer-to-peer fundraising comes in!

I had a blast chatting with Tess Conrad of Full Potential Fundraising, a fundraising pro who's passionate about helping small nonprofits do big things. Tess shared her wealth of experience on all things peer-to-peer – setting realistic goals, finding the perfect fundraisers, creative campaign ideas, and the importance of treating those new donors like the gems they are.

Key Episode Highlights:

P2P is about relationships, not transactions. Focus on those long-term donors, volunteers, and supporters who already love what you do. Their personal stories are your most powerful fundraising tools.
Make it easy (and fun!) for fundraisers. Provide templates, social media ideas, and a simple guide. The less they have to think about the logistics, the more they can focus on spreading the word about your amazing cause.
Stewardship is EVERYTHING. P2P donors aren't a one-and-done deal. Treat them like the new donors they are: welcome them, thank them, show them their impact, and keep them engaged with your mission.
Your board members can be fundraising powerhouses. With a clear ask and the right support, they can easily tap into their networks. Plus, P2P gives them an action-oriented way to truly make a difference.
Start small and celebrate wins! Don't be overwhelmed by the big P2P campaigns you see. Even a modest goal with a handful of fundraisers can be a huge success for a small nonprofit, building momentum for future growth.

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Watch this episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/GURy-BbU7ig

Links and Resources:

Connect with Tess on Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/tess-conrad-cfre
Learn more about Full Potential Fundraising: https://www.fullpotentialfundraising.com/
Connect with Maria on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mariario/
Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/208666/supporters/new

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Why do those "big nonprofits" use those emotional, tear-jerking stories? Well, it's complicated and has a long history. But today, we are sharing a much better (and more ethical) way to inspire donors. We're debunking harmful fundraising and storytelling myths to give you the tools to tell dignifies stories that get results.

My guest is the brilliant Diana Farias Heinrich, the CEO of Habrá Marketing. Diana is passionate about helping nonprofits share their work in ways that empower both clients and donors. With certifications in DEI and as an Advocate for Survivors of Domestic Violence, she brings essential expertise to our sector. We talk about the long-term harm of those guilt-driven appeals, how to build trust with clients, and the transformative power of letting people share their stories on their own terms.

Key Episode Highlights:

Stop using "poverty porn" narratives. Data shows people will give, but they won't stick around. Focus on the transformative power of your services – showcase the positive impact you're making!
Clients deserve agency over their own stories. Informed consent conversations lay out exactly how a story will be used and the client's right to change their mind, giving a sense of control and safety within the process.
Ask open-ended questions, not leading ones. Avoid retraumatization when interviewing. Instead of asking how terrible their situation was was, focus on what they did with your services and how things changed.
Humanizing builds bridges. Portraying clients as more than just service users. Discuss their dreams, families, even fun facts – it helps donors see themselves in those your work serves.
Ethical storytelling = better organizational culture. These practices foster communication between programs and fundraising, and ultimately benefit everyone, including your mission!

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Watch this episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/RKLqPgUfzgE

Links and Resources:

Connect with Diana on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianafariasheinrich/
Cultivating ethical narratives workshop: https://witty-musician-3516.ck.page/products/cultivating-ethical-narratives
Your Guide to Informed Consent Conversations: https://informedconsentconversation.habramarketing.com/
Learn more about Habra Marketing: https://habramarketing.com/
Connect with Maria on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mariario/
10 Dignified questions guide: https://www.gofurthertogether.ca/sign-up
Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/208666/supporters/new

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In this episode, we delve into the critical importance of aligning your nonprofit's actions with its core values. We're joined by Hoang Murphy, CEO of People Serving People, who brings a wealth of experience from his journey as a teacher, a Foster, and a leader in the nonprofit sector. Hoang shares his expertise on creating impactful solutions for those affected by inequality and emphasizes the role of lived experiences in decision-making processes.

Episode Highlights:

Identifying Core Values: Hoang guides us through the process of identifying the fundamental values that drive your nonprofit. He stresses the importance of narrowing down to essential values to establish a solid foundation for your organization's mission and actions.
Translating Values into Action: Discover how to move beyond merely talking about values to actively incorporating them into your organization's operations. Hoang shares strategies for engaging your team and the communities you serve, ensuring their voices are heard and valued.
Cultivating a Committed Team: Learn how to integrate your nonprofit's values into your hiring process. Hoang discusses the significance of real-life experience and cultural fit over traditional qualifications, highlighting the role of shared values in staff retention and satisfaction.
Fostering Genuine Funder Relationships: Hoang emphasizes the importance of building authentic relationships with funders who truly understand and support your mission. He shares his approach to fundraising that has consistently helped double their budget year after year.

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Watch this episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/aJ8-uNCxLvY

Links and Resources:

Hoang Murphy (LinkedIn): linkedin.com/in/hoangmurphy
Hoang Murphy (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/hrcapist/
Hoang Murphy (Email): hmurphy@peopleservingpeople.org
Connect with Maria on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mariario/

Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/208666/supporters/new

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The nonprofit-industrial complex - are we stuck?

In this episode, we delve into the intricate - and evolving - world of ethical fundraising within the nonprofit sector, featuring insights from Marie-France Roche, the Director of Community Engagement and Major Gifts at TNG Community Services. We discuss the challenges and opportunities in adopting Community-Centric Fundraising.

Key Takeaways:

Navigating Power Dynamics: Marie-France shares her perspective on the influence of power and privilege within nonprofit organizations and their potential to drive systemic change. We explore strategies for utilizing this power ethically to foster meaningful societal progress.
Challenges for White Fundraisers: Addressing the unique challenges faced by white fundraisers in predominantly white spaces, Marie-France reflects on her experiences and the importance of supporting diverse voices within the nonprofit sector.
Allyship in Action: Learn how to be an effective ally within your organization, advocating for equity and justice, even when you haven't personally faced the injustices being addressed.
Innovative Fundraising Strategies: Marie-France discusses her journey in implementing innovative, equitable fundraising practices aligned with Community-Centric Fundraising (CCF) principles, highlighting the practical aspects of such initiatives in dynamic nonprofit environments.
Community First Approach: The episode concludes with insights on the transformative impact of prioritizing community needs over organizational goals, emphasizing the value of building lasting relationships with donors committed to justice.

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Watch this episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/YsndeUvRwdI

Links and Resources:

Marie-France Roche (LinkedIn): linkedin.com/in/marie-france-roche
Connect with Maria on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mariario/
Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/208666/supporters/new

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Are you feeling torn between supporting your team's work-life balance and striving to hit those all-important organizational milestones? For those managing small nonprofits, where every hour and every dollar counts tenfold, balancing personal growth and professional success can be a challenge.

Today, we dive deep into creating a workforce that thrives on the “leading human-first” approach with Lacey Kempinski, CEO and Founder of Balanced Good. Balanced Good provides parental leave coverage – from the day-to-day hands-on work to big picture transition planning. Balanced Good believes that a supported transition to parenthood will benefit both our sector and the parents working in it. Lacey has a big vision, she wants parental leave to become a celebrated life milestone, not a feared employment gap.

Key Episode Highlights:

Leading Human First: Leading with a human-first approach is a strategic move. Lacey and I explore the long-term benefits,the pressing need for people-centered policies, and how they play a crucial role in employee retention in a sector that's primarily women-led.
Beyond Parental Leave: Targeting the nonprofit sector's approach to parental leave, Lacey addresses the broader spectrum of parental support necessary within our organizations. From the nuances of policy creation to fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace, these actionable discussions could very well set your organization on a path to become a pioneer in employee well-being.
Flexibility as a Retention Tool: We analyze how work culture—especially in the context of compensation and benefits—can be critically assessed and reshaped in innovative ways to prioritize the people behind the mission. By valuing flexibility and understanding, Lacey talks about creating a compelling argument for talent to stay, grow, and contribute meaningfully to the nonprofit world.
Support at Every Stage: Discussing the ebb and flow of employees' personal lives—like becoming a parent—Lacey reiterates the need for smoother transitions. Learn about the steps for recruitment, hiring, and promotions that take the whole individual into account, ensuring that your nonprofit doesn't just survive these transitions but thrives because of them.

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Watch this episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/tNxjzz1q6Fo

Links and Resources:

Connect with Lacey Kempinski on Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/laceykempinski
Learn more about Balanced Good: balancedgood.com
Balanced Good LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/balanced-good/
Mat Leave Workbook: https://icy-base-20781.myflodesk.com/1986644d-75ba-476f-a37f-788cd7e5d48d
VIP Day Waitlist: https://icy-base-20781.myflodesk.com/vipwaitlist
Connect with Maria on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mariario/
Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/208666/supporters/new

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Are you leaving the 'dirty work' to others? It's time for leader to embrace the saying, "no task is too small!" In this episode, we'll delve into the art of leading by example, fostering a culture of collaboration, and the transformative power of saying "yes and" to opportunities.

Today, I'm thrilled to welcome Lanrick Bennett to The Small Nonprofit. Lanrick is not only the executive director of Charlie’s Free Wheels, a nonprofit teaching young people leadership through bicycles, but also Toronto's first bicycle mayor, a comedian, and a champion of community engagement. Our conversation promises to be an insightful journey into what it means to be a hands-on leader who isn't afraid to get their hands dirty – quite literally!

Key Episode Highlights:

Leading by Example: Lanrick emphasizes the value of leadership that doesn't shy away from any task. He's a firm believer that to inspire your team and serve your community, you need to be willing to dive into every aspect of your organization's work, including the grunt work. It's about truly showing that no role is too small and that every task is crucial to your mission.
Saying "Yes And" to Opportunities: Drawing from his days in improvisational comedy, Lanrick stresses the power of being open to possibilities and building upon them rather than dismissing them. This mindset helps fuel creativity and innovation within an organization, leading to growth and new ways to tackle challenges.
Collaboration over Competition: In the nonprofit sector, it’s easy to slip into siloed efforts, but Lanrick's vision is one of interconnected collaboration. By embracing partnerships and sharing resources, small nonprofits can amplify their impact without stepping on each other's toes.
Vulnerability in Leadership: Authenticity and humility in leadership can resonate throughout an entire organization. Lanrick shares his personal journey, including both successes and setbacks, showing that it's not about being infallible, but about being relatable and transformative.

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Watch this episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/P9LqhfPMV6c

Links and Resources:

Connect with Lanrick Bennett on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LanrickBennett
Learn more about Charlie’s FreeWheels: https://www.charliesfreewheels.ca/
Email Lanrick: lanrickbennettjr@gmail.com | info@charliesfreewheels.ca
Connect with Maria on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mariario/

Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/208666/supporters/new

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Advocating for change seems daunting, especially when you're working with limited resources and a small team. What if you knew the insider strategies to make a significant impact in your community and get your voice heard at city council meetings? In today's episode, we'll pull back the curtain on the power of local engagement and show you how a small team can pedal their message to the top.

Join us as we chat with the super inspiring Alison Stewart from Cycle Toronto. Her passion for sharing the joy of biking paired with her desire to make Toronto a vibrant cycling city led her to take on several volunteer roles since 2013. Her background includes senior leadership roles in the post secondary sector which saw her develop strategic plans that focused on supporting the diverse needs of international and domestic students on the one hand, while also securing funding and developing government and community partnerships on the other.

Key Episode Highlights:

The Importance of Personal Stories: Alison spotlighted the strength of personal testimony in influencing policy. By encouraging community members to share their experiences during city council deputations, Cycle Toronto demonstrates the real-world impact of policies on individuals, adding a human element that stats alone can't convey.
Strategic Relationship Building: Developing collaborative relationships with city councillors and other stakeholders, as Alison outlines, is critical. Even if some aren't naturally aligned with your mission, finding mutual goals can lead to progress you might not achieve otherwise.
Leveraging Volunteer Passion: Alison's own journey from volunteer to advocacy leader exemplifies the multifaceted potential of volunteers in a small charity. They are not just a workforce; they're potential future leaders who bring energy and new insights to your core mission.
Effective Messaging Across Mediums: Whether it's supporting communications or getting involved with municipal staffers, clear and targeted messaging is pivotal. Alison's work on providing relevant and compelling content speaks to the importance of how you present your issues to the world, essential for any small nonprofit.
The Power of Collaboration: Alison and Cycle Toronto show us that partnerships extend your reach. By aligning with other organizations, community groups, and leveraging varied advocacy approaches, small nonprofits can amplify their influence and achieve common goals.

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Watch this episode on Youtube:

Links and Resources: https://youtu.be/NBZsYb21eUs

Alison Stewart (LinkedIn): linkedin.com/in/alisonvstewart
Alison Stewart (Twitter): https://twitter.com/AlisonVStewart
Alison Stewart (Email): Alison.Stewart@CycleTO.ca
Cycle Toronto (Website): https://www.cycleto.ca/
Connect with Maria on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mariario/
Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/208666/supporters/new

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What if walking away from the organization you've built is the bravest and most selfless choice you can make? Struggling to let go, battling founder’s syndrome, feeling like an organization will fall apart without you, and putting your life above your work—these are emotions many leaders in our sector face. Today's must-listen episode is a conversation with one such leader who tackled these issues head-on. Then, he turned that experience into expertise he now shares with others.

Mike Prosserman shares his story in this episode; from founder, to leaving the organization, to helping others transition gracefully from their roles. Mike ‘Piecez’ Prosserman is a bestselling author, professional B-Boy (breakdancer), university instructor, and certified coach who specializes in scaling non-profits, team culture, and succession. In Michael’s book Building Unity: Leading a Non-Profit From Spark to Succession, he shares practical tools to building resilient and responsive organizations. He founded and scaled Unity Charity, a grassroots movement using Hip-Hop to improve youth mental health. Through EPIC leadership, Michael is empowering non-profit leaders to build more resilient and responsible organizations.

Key Episode Highlights:

Recognizing Founder Syndrome: Mike shares his own struggle with letting go of an organization he started and how he overcame the 'founder's trap' to ensure the best for both his well-being and the nonprofit's future.
The Journey to Distance: Departing from his role was not a snap decision. Mike walks us through the reflective and brave process of distancing himself from his nonprofit, setting a precedent for leadership transitions that place personal health and organizational growth at the forefront.
Teaching Leaders to Prioritize Themselves: Now, Mike's mission is to educate and support other nonprofit leaders and founders. He discusses how he assists them in forging paths toward healthier work-life balances and prioritizing their needs along with their organization's objectives.

Don’t forget to become a supporter of our show!

Watch this episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/cgxK1coghmU

Links and Resources:

Mike Prosserman (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/bboypiecez/
Mike Prosserman (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelprosserman/
EPIC Leadership: https://www.epicleadership.ca/
Unity Charity: https://www.unitycharity.com/
Connect with Maria on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mariario/
Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/208666/supporters/new

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Feeling lost in the noise and chaos of social media? Let's shift our perspective and rediscover the power of emails. In today's episode of we'll explore why emails remain a timeless tool for building meaningful supporter connections. While social media can be attention-grabbing, it's through emails that genuine conversations and long-lasting bonds are nurtured.

Our guest, Sara Hoshooley is a fundraising consultant and coach with a passion for small nonprofit organizations. As a former small charity Executive Director, she understands the challenges and opportunities facing small but growing nonprofits. Her unique approach uses each organization's strengths to grow fundraising in an authentic and achievable way.

Key Episode Highlights:

Acquire Donors Through Email: Unlike the fast-paced world of social media, emails offer a cozy space for meaningful conversations with your supporters. Learn why having a strategy to grow your email list is essential.
Growing Your List: Provide valuable resources like checklists or guides in exchange for email sign-ups. Sara explains how this exchange can kickstart trusting relationships with supporters.
The Strength of Recurring Donations: Small, monthly gifts can have a big impact. Sara reveals how starting these campaigns can provide steady fuel for your nonprofit's growth.
Building a Community, Not Just Numbers: Email collection isn't just about quantity. It's about nurturing a community of supporters aligned with your mission. Each email is an opportunity to strengthen this connection. Use clear, simple communication.
Email Etiquette - Respect Boundaries and Laws: Sara discusses the importance of complying with local and national regulations. It's all about understanding what is consent and ensuring recipients are happy to hear from you.

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Watch this episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/W1PAtQ2x7dI

Links and Resources:

Connect with Sara on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/Sarahoshooley/
Sara’s Website: https://www.charityshift.ca/
Email: Sara@charityshift
Connect with Maria on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mariario/
Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/208666/supporters/new

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Are the challenges in your nonprofit growing pains or signs of deeper issues? With a New Year, we have the opportunity to reflect on what is working and what is not! If we don't address the roots of operational dysfunction, our mission is at risk.

In today’s episode, we’re exploring how the heart and soul of our work – our culture – plays a huge role in our success. We're discussing how nurturing the right environment can make your nonprofit more effective, scalable, and fundable.

On this episode of The Small Nonprofit, we're talking with Miriam Dicks, owner of 180 Management Group. Miriam has over two decades of operational management and consulting experience. She brings her insights to the operational challenges facing our sector. From the perils of toxic workplace cultures to the smart outsourcing of HR functions, Miriam opens up about what truly can move the needle for small nonprofits.

Key Episode Highlights:

Mutual Accountability: Leadership isn't about overseeing; it's about being a role model. Just like any team member, Miriam emphasizes the importance of holding leaders accountable. This isn't about control; it's about everyone striving for their best.
Embracing Change: Heard the phrase, "We've always done it this way"? It's a common barrier but often masks the real issue – change management. Miriam shares that recognizing the need for change is just the first step. The real game-changer is sustaining it.
Culture Eats Strategy for Lunch: Change is about shifting culture. We will explore why a healthy organizational culture is non-negotiable. We will also discuss how it can make or break your strategic efforts.
Smart Operations for Small Teams: Think your small team can't achieve big things? Think again! Miriam discusses how automation and strategic outsourcing can dramatically increase your capacity without expanding your team.
The Long Game in Decision Making: Miriam emphasizes that strategic decisions made today will have long-term implications. She encourages nonprofit leaders to think ahead, invest in the right resources, and dare to be trailblazers.

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Links and Resources:

Connect with Miriam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miriampdicks
Website: https://www.180managementgroup.com/
Connect with Maria on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mariario/
Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/208666/supporters/new

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Is your major gifts fundraising aligned with your organization’s core values? In today’s episode, we're tackling the sometimes intimidating (but rewarding!) world of major gifts through a values-aligned, community-centric lens.

We are joined by Sarah Staiger, a fundraiser with over two decades of experience. Sarah is passionate about building power through organized people and organized money. She is a partner at Staiger Vitelli Associates and has been exploring Community-Centric Fundraising methodologies since 2017. She also volunteers with the Minnesota Association of Fundraising Professionals.

Key Highlights:

Put Values at the Forefront: Join Sarah and I as we dive into how to rethink major donor engagament. It's about connecting on shared values and building something bigger together.
Educate and Empower Your Donors: We are done with one-way conversations. Sarah emphasizes the need for continuous donor education and engagement, creating true partnerships and avoiding transactional communications..
Values-Based Qualification for Major Gifts: Sarah introduces a transformative concept: using a values-based qualifier alongside financial capacity to identify major gift prospects. This transforms supporters into advocates for your cause.
Investing in a Community-Centric Approach: Sarah makes a compelling case for re-envisioning how we report impact.. She shares how reporting impact in a different manner can lead to crucial cultural shifts within our sector and drive the mission forward.

Don’t forget to become a supporter of our show!

Watch this episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/VhzvjcgPQcI

Links and Resources:

Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/staigervitelli/
Sarah’s Values-Based Donor Qualification: https://www.staigervitelli.com/vbdq
Connect with Maria on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mariario/
Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/208666/supporters/new

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Does face-to-face fundraising feel out of reach for your small nonprofit? Many you think you need a big amount saved just to start. What if I told you there's a way to step into large-scale face-to-face fundraising, just like the big, well-funded organizations, but without the financial barrier of hiring an agency? Today, we’ll discuss the pros and cons of pricey face-to-face campaigns and reveal accessible (and scalable!) paths for smaller nonprofits.

Joining me is Jerome Cheung, a seasoned fundraiser whose 18-year career has spanned across high-profile charities and agencies. His expertise in monthly giving, telefundraising, face-to-face engagement, and other fundraising avenues has made him a distinguished professional in our field. I met Jerome at Public Outreach, a face-to-face fundraising agejcy, where he honed strategies to manage donor attrition and has successfully spearheaded initiatives for organizations like the American Red Cross, Greenpeace Canada, and Ecojustice.

Key Episode Highlights:

Rethinking Big-Budget Campaigns: Why break the bank when you can make meaningful connections affordably? Small nonprofits might not have deep pockets, but what we do have is determination and a personal touch that's truly priceless.
Volunteers to the Rescue: Your mission's got supporters, right? Let's get them out there talking to folks. Jerome tells us our volunteers have something really special—a real love for the cause that makes potential supporters stop and listen.
Start with a Hello, Not an Ask: I joke that asking for monthly donations right away is like asking someone to marry you on the first date - there is little opportunity to build a relationship! Jerome and I talk about kicking things off with a friendly chat and a simple "Can we keep in touch?"
Take it to the People: Where's everyone hanging out? At the park, grabbing coffee, walking the dog? That's where we can make some real connections. Jerome shares some cool strategies for making the most of these everyday spots.

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Watch this episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/lDuNNHprP9I

Links and Resources:

Connect with Jerome on LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/jerome-cheung-a0819912
Email: jerome.cheung@stratcom.ca
Connect with Maria on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mariario/
Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/208666/supporters/new

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Is your nonprofit aligned with your values or is it perpetuating harm? How does the culture within our organizations shape our effectiveness and well-being?In today's episode, we're diving into the realities many of us face in the nonprofit sector. From acknowledging ethical dilemmas in our work practices to recognizing our alignment (or misalignment) with organizational values, we discuss the complexities of working for a cause.

Sheetal Puri, our guest today, has dedicated her career to non-profit fundraising, marketing and communications for organizations globally. Having raised hundreds of millions for multiple organizations over the past 15 years, Sheetal’s commitment to the sector has given her the insight to identify areas in present day fundraising models that perpetuate colonial modes of power and prevent the ability to practice and implement our core values and missions. She is a strong advocate for community-centric approaches to fundraising that prioritize the return of power and agency to those who have experienced disempowerment.

Key Highlights:

Finding Your Value Alignment: There are immense benefits of working in a vision-aligned environment. It's about empathy, understanding, and the shared commitment to our mission – but what happens when there’s a disconnect?
Overcoming Power Dynamics: Power dynamics often muddy the waters of transparency and authentic connection within a team. Maria discusses how she has transitioned from withholding information to embracing openness when team members raise complaints or concerns.
The Courage to Speak Up: The importance of voicing our concerns within the sector cannot be understated; that might mean finding allyship, or even considering something as bold as unionizing. It’s crucial that we create an atmosphere where open conversation is not just allowed, but encouraged.
Leadership's Responsibility: Those in leadership roles carry the responsibility of aligning an organization's actions with its stated values. This includes implementing policies and fostering environments that empower trust and autonomy among employees.
Advocacy and Allyship: A significant segment of our discussion revolves around the roles of fundraisers, the privilege they hold, and the impact they can make in advocating for organizational changes—especially regarding racial equity and diversity issues.

Don’t forget to become a supporter of our show!

Links and Resources:

Connect with Sheetal on LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/sheetalpersaud
Connect with Maria on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mariario/
Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/208666/supporters/new

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Are you wondering if your small nonprofit is getting the attention it deserves from key decision-makers? Today's episode of The Small Nonprofit is all about unlocking the potential of government relations to amplify the impact of small organizations.

We're chatting with Tristan Downe-Dewdney, a lobbyist who's an expert at turning influence into real action. Tristan is a seasoned government expert with over 15 years in policy and advocacy. His expertise spans both community-level and systemic advocacy strategies, making him the perfect guide for small nonprofits looking to make a significant impact through government engagement.

Key Highlights:
The Art of Legitimacy: Tristan talks about how crucial it is for small nonprofits to demonstrate their legitimacy and wield influence. He shares anecdotes from various campaigns, such as the contrasting approaches between the casino and elephant campaigns, showing how to make your voice heard by important people.

The Strategy of Relationships: Building personal relationships is at the heart of nonprofit’s success. We delve into the tactics for augmenting your advocacy, from press conferences to the more subtle art of engaging through social media. Tristan will show you how to make sure your nonprofit stands out and gets noticed.

First Steps to Making a Difference: So, where do you begin? Tristan advises to start small and focus on policy overlaps. It's all about identifying your goals, learning the ropes, and growing your campaign. And remember, the journey of government relations is not just a duty, but can also be a joy.

Navigating the Political Landscape: For many, the world of lobbying is uncharted territory. Tristan demystifies the process, discussing how to engage with government on multiple levels and how to approach the registration process if necessary. We tackle concerns about partisanship and how to keep your nonprofit’s mission front and center.

The Network Effect: If you're not already reaching out to key office holders and preparing your presentation for a political audience, it's time to start. As Tristan emphasizes, it's essential to maintain these relationships to ensure ongoing support for your nonprofit’s initiatives.

Don’t forget to become a supporter of our show!

Links and Resources:

Connect with Tristan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tristan-downe-dewdney-21523b28/
Tristan’s Website: www.downedewdney.com
Connect with Maria on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mariario/
Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/208666/supporters/new

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Today we're talking about how nonprofits share their stories - especially in the digital age - and the ethical issues that can arise from how we choose to share stories. We'll explore how lived experience influences how we portray community members and how we can can use social media to connect with supporters while staying true to our values.

For this conversation, I'm excited to have Fai Hassan with me, an expert in digital fundraising. She's the Associate Director of Digital Fundraising at Public Outreach. Fai's role is all about helping non-profit organizations create digital campaigns that engage supporters and convert them into donors. She's got a wealth of experience working with various non-profits, but what really sets her apart is her advocacy and her knack for crafting, executing, and managing compelling campaigns

Key Highlights:

Changing How We Tell Fundraising Stories: We'll explore the vital importance of sharing stories that respect and empower oppressed and marginalized communities. It's crucial to collect stories from diverse perspectives to give a complete picture of the work we do and of the people who benefit from it.
Using Social Media for Nonprofits: Social media platforms have their own cultures and demands, and it is not a one-size-fits-all for small nonprofits. We'll talk about how to use platforms like Meta for finding donors and if you should be investing time in places like Pinterest, TikTok, and Reddit.
Ethics and Consent: Delving into the ethical side of things, we'll discuss the responsible use of people's images and stories. . Fai will underscore the significance of obtaining consent regularly, avoiding the risks of perpetuating stereotypes, especially when dealing with AI-generated imagery. Upholding the dignity of the individuals we represent should always be our priority.
Embracing Lived Experiences: Diversity is our strength, and embracing our unique identities is key. We'll explore how personal experiences are the heart and soul of our stories, adding authenticity to our causes. Celebrating these lived experiences is essential in our journey towards a more inclusive nonprofit sector.
Nonprofit Community Realities: Fai's role in leading the Nonprofit Happy Hour Facebook group provides insight to the importance of peer support and accountability in the nonprofit realm. We'll delve into the value of this community and how it fosters a supportive environment.

Don’t forget to become a supporter of our show!

Links and Resources:

Connect with Fai on LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/fai-hassan-50561b271
Learn more about Public Outreach: https://www.publicoutreachgroup.com/
Connect with Maria on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mariario/
Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/208666/supporters/new

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Is your nonprofit facing challenges with staff leaving, keeping donors happy, or having competent leaders? This episode of The Small Nonprofit talks about these big issues in the charity world and how they affect your fundraising. We also look at possible ways to fix these problems.

Our guest is Frank Mumford, a seasoned fundraiser with 14 years in the charity sector. Frank started as a student fundraiser and now works at Gravyty, where he helps charities with new software solutions. He's been a CFRE since 2019 and is active in several nonprofit boards. Frank will share his views on the challenges that charities and fundraisers face today.

Don’t forget to become a supporter of our show!

Key Highlights:

Focus on Relationship Building Over Asking for Donations: Frank and I stress the importance of authentic relationships with donors, shifting from transactional interactions to genuine connections.
Addressing Staff Turnover: We discuss how staff changes affect donor relationships and explore the benefits of considering candidates from diverse backgrounds for fundraising roles.
Leveraging AI in Fundraising: While AI can enhance donor engagement and streamline tasks, it's not a complete solution. The human touch remains essential.
Promoting Diversity in Leadership: We observe the lack of diversity in philanthropic leadership and advocate for more inclusive representation to better serve diverse communities.
Balancing Work-Life for Fundraisers: Acknowledging the issue of burnout, we discuss the importance of creating a sustainable work environment in nonprofits.

This episode is a must-listen for insights on evolving fundraising strategies, maintaining meaningful donor relationships, and leveraging technology in the nonprofit sector.

Links and Resources:

Connect with Frank on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frank-mumford/
Email Frank: frank.mumford@gravyty.com
Connect with Maria on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mariario/
Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/208666/supporters/new

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In this brand new episode of 'The Small Nonprofit'—we have some exciting news! Our beloved host Cindy is handing over the microphone to Maria Rio, another leader in the non-profit world.

A dynamic and passionate personality, Maria started her career as a face-to-face fundraiser, climbed the nonprofit ladder with dedication and hard work, and eventually found her niche in community-centric fundraising. She's worked with many small nonprofits, and knows the struggles that come with low capacity and limited funds. She is the proud founder of Further Together, a fundraising consultancy dedicated to supporting organizations implement community-centric fundraising values.

So, gear up, get comfortable and join us as we embark on this new season with our new host!

Key Episode Highlights:

Cindy and Maria talk about their respective journeys in fundraising; from how they became fundraisers to owning their own businesses
Maria's Transition to Community-Centric Fundraising: Maria shares her journey of moving away from harmful practices to a more personal, inclusive fundraising model. This approach gave her a sense of belonging and proved to be a successful strategy.
Fractional Fundraising: We explore the concept of fractional executives, which offer stability and transformative support for organizations. This stress-free consulting approach allows work to be done without the need for managing or administrative tasks.
Cindy's Role Beyond Hosting: Apart from hosting the show, Cindy has made significant contributions as a consultant for nonprofits, championing fractional fundraising and innovation. She extends her expertise in the sector to her new podcast centred on supporting nonprofit consultants.
The Future of The Small Nonprofit Podcast: As Maria takes the baton, listeners can anticipate exciting conversations around fundraising and the unique opportunities and challenges facing small nonprofits.

Links and Resources:

Connect with Maria: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariario/

Connect with Cindy: https://cindywagman.com/

Confessions Podcast: confessionswithjessandcindy.com

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Often we take government funding for granted. Or, we treat it like an impenetrable black box that’s a mystery so we write our applications and cross our fingers. Today, we’re joined by Jesse Clarke, CEO of JN Clarke Consulting who shares insider tips on how to form successful relationships with government partners to secure new funding, keep the existing funds rolling in, and have champions at the decision making table.

Key Highlights:

The parallels between donor and government relations
The significance of government investment in the non-profit sector
Strategies to sustain and enhance funding from government sources
How to start influencing decisions and building influence with government funders
The importance of relationships in dealing with government funding
Navigating through the bureaucratic systems for effective government relations

Connect with Jesse:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jnclarke/

Our friends and sponsors at Keela asked me to put together a guide of fundraising tips I wished every small nonprofit knew. Go ahead and download the guide here: https://www.keela.co/consultant/the-good-partnership (and don't forget that Keela offers our listeners 40% off their first year's subscription).

Do you ever find yourself questioning whether your message was clear or if you expressed your thoughts effectively? If so, this episode is for you. Tune in as Erica Barnhart, the CEO of Claxon, delves into the art of communication. Discover the significant impact of effective communication on both your personal and professional life, and learn how to inspire and mobilize the people around you.

Key Highlights:

The importance of effective communication in small organizations
Understanding your audiences
Self-talk and its direct impact on your communication
What the Claxon method is and how to use it for optimizing communication
Strategies for effective communication with your team

Connect with Erica:

Podcast: Communicate for Good

Website: claxon-communication.com.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericamillsbarnhart/

Our friends and sponsors at Keela asked me to put together a guide of fundraising tips I wished every small nonprofit knew. Go ahead and download the guide here: https://www.keela.co/consultant/the-good-partnership (and don't forget that Keela offers our listeners 40% off their first year's subscription).

Today's digital world demands an impactful online presence. In the era where a website is your business card and more, do you know how to leverage it for your small nonprofit organization? In this episode of the Small Nonprofit Podcast, David Pisarek, founder and CEO of Wow Digital, dive into the critical aspects of websites and digital marketing. Discover how your organization can improve its online presence, foster engagement, and attract more donations.

Key Highlights:

The role and importance of a website in the digital era.
Strategies to drive visitors to your website and increase visibility.
The importance of content and how to create a year-long content calendar.
Understanding your audience's search behavior to better tailor your content.
How to make your website more accessible to audience
Five essential elements to make your website effective

Connect with David:
Website: https://wowdigital.com/
Free website audit: https://wowdigital.com/audit Nonprofit Websites Done-For-You: https://mightynpo.com/

Our friends and sponsors at Keela asked me to put together a guide of fundraising tips I wished every small nonprofit knew. Go ahead and download the guide here: https://www.keela.co/consultant/the-good-partnership (and don't forget that Keela offers our listeners 40% off their first year's subscription).

Have you ever encountered a micromanager in your professional life? That person who just can't resist scrutinizing every little detail and checking in with you constantly? It's not only frustrating but can also hinder productivity and growth.

On today’s episode I’m joined by Erin Allgood, a social impact strategist from Allgood Strategies, to discuss the detrimental effects of micromanagement in organizations. She delves into the reasons behind micromanaging tendencies, the impact of remote work, and explore effective strategies for delegating tasks. So, whether you're a leader looking to break free from micromanagement or an employee seeking autonomy, this episode is packed with valuable insights.

Key Highlights:
The extremes of management styles
The rise of micromanagement and it’s negative impact on organizations
Delegating tasks and building relationships with employees
Finding the root cause of micromanagement
The role of empathy in addressing micromanagement

Connect with Erin:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinallgood/
Podcast: https://www.allgoodstrategies.com/rise-and-rouse

Our friends and sponsors at Keela asked me to put together a guide of fundraising tips I wished every small nonprofit knew. Go ahead and download the guide here: https://www.keela.co/consultant/the-good-partnership (and don't forget that Keela offers our listeners 40% off their first year's subscription).

Are you tired of feeling like your small nonprofit is constantly trying to catch up with the big organizations? What if there was a way to shift your perspective and leverage your size to create unique fundraising opportunities? In today's episode we explore exactly that! I've invited Sara Hoshooley, founder of Charity Shift to discuss how to make small but impactful shifts in your nonprofit that can significantly boost your fundraising success.

Key Highlights:

Why small nonprofits shouldn't mimic large organizational models.
The importance of creating a personalized connection with your donors.
The effectiveness of 15-minute check-in calls in building relationships.
Dealing with fundraising rejections.
Using positive experiences for donor communication.

Connect with Sara:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahoshooley/

Website: https://www.charityshift.ca/

Our friends and sponsors at Keela asked me to put together a guide of fundraising tips I wished every small nonprofit knew. Go ahead and download the guide here: https://www.keela.co/consultant/the-good-partnership (and don't forget that Keela offers our listeners 40% off their first year's subscription).

Have you ever struggled with strategic planning? Do you find it challenging to bring people along in the process? In this episode of the Small Nonprofit Podcast, I talk with Carol Hamilton, Principal of Grace Social Sector Consulting, about the importance of strategic planning in today's changing world. Carol discusses how to involve all stakeholders in the process, what to do when things get off track, and how to integrate the plan into your day-to-day practices.

Key Highlights:

The benefits of conducting an intentional strategic planning process.
How to identify the important stakeholders in your organization.
The optimal ways to engage people in the planning process.
How to manage conflict during the process.
How to integrate the strategic plan into your day-to-day practices.

Connect with Carol:

Website: http://www.gracesocialsector.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carol-hamilton-0052b71/

Our friends and sponsors at Keela asked me to put together a guide of fundraising tips I wished every small nonprofit knew. Go ahead and download the guide here: https://www.keela.co/consultant/the-good-partnership (and don't forget that Keela offers our listeners 40% off their first year's subscription).

Today we'll tackle a common challenge faced by small nonprofits – obtaining unrestricted funds. It's no secret that while many organizations excel at securing grants and program funding, the quest for those vital, unrestricted annual operating funds can be an uphill battle. In this episode, we’re joined by Aimee Lindenberger, the founder of Refocused Fundraising, an expert in fundraising communications, key messages, annual appeals, and legacy giving. Listen in as we discuss the importance of unrestricted funds and how to effectively communicate their value to your supporters.

Key Highlights:

The importance of unrestricted funds for small nonprofits
How to shift from program-based fundraising to vision-based asks
Tips for tapping into your organization's unique values and personality
The benefits of humanizing your fundraising appeals and communications
Strategies for balancing specific asks with broader, unrestricted funding goals

Connect with Aimee:
Website: https://refocusfundraising.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aim%C3%A9e-lindenberger/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/a_lindenberger?lang=en
Unrestricted Funds Bonus: https://bit.ly/UnrestrictedFundsBonus

Our friends and sponsors at Keela asked me to put together a guide of fundraising tips I wished every small nonprofit knew. Go ahead and download the guide here: https://www.keela.co/consultant/the-good-partnership (and don't forget that Keela offers our listeners 40% off their first year's subscription).

Are you struggling to connect with your audience and make an impact with your organization's messaging? In this episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, I speak with Jordana Merkin, founder and CEO of Voice for Good, about the power of words in moving people to action. Join us as we dive into the world of nonprofit messaging and show you how to make a lasting impact with your words.

Key Highlights:

The importance of a messaging guide for your nonprofit
Strategies for crafting a consistent message that brings together all stakeholders
Common messaging mistakes nonprofits make and how to avoid them
The power of language in motivating and moving people to action

Connect with Jordana:

LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/jordana-merkin/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/voiceforgood/

Website: https://www.voiceforgoodmarketing.com/

Freebie: https://www.voiceforgoodmarketing.com/prompts (download a free guide to building your messaging guide)

Our friends and sponsors at Keela asked me to put together a guide of fundraising tips I wished every small nonprofit knew. Go ahead and download the guide here: https://www.keela.co/consultant/the-good-partnership (and don't forget that Keela offers our listeners 40% off their first year's subscription).

Are you tired of watching your nonprofit's most passionate and dedicated employees leave due to burnout and exhaustion? It's time to address the elephant in the room - the exploitation of nonprofit staff. In this episode, we're joined by Nicole Gagliardi, an innovator and changemaker in the nonprofit sector with over 10 years of experience leading small nonprofits. Join us as we discuss the pervasive issue of staff exploitation in the nonprofit sector and explore practical solutions to create a healthier workplace culture.

Key Highlights:

Why the exploitation of nonprofit staff is a pervasive issue
The role of charity and scarcity mindset on this issue
The importance of connecting sector-wide understanding with the daily lived realities of nonprofit workers
Why nonprofit organizations do not think of themselves as employers
The importance of creating a healthy workplace culture and how it affects the organization's mission
Using an equity lens to review HR practices

Connect with Nicole:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolegagliardi1/

Our friends and sponsors at Keela asked me to put together a guide of fundraising tips I wished every small nonprofit knew. Go ahead and download the guide here: https://www.keela.co/consultant/the-good-partnership (and don't forget that Keela offers our listeners 40% off their first year's subscription).

Our sector has a clear response when someone asks about starting a nonprofit - “please don’t”. I’ve seen this in Facebook groups and discussions. But what if starting a nonprofit is an act of equity and justice? Tune in to hear from our guest, Tiffany Allen, CEO of Boss On A Budget, as she shares her experience and expertise in the world of nonprofit startups.

Key Highlights:

The challenges of starting a nonprofit and accessing vital information
Key questions to ask yourself before starting a nonprofit
The importance of having a vision and a plan for your nonprofit
Essential skill sets for nonprofit founders
First things to outsource or get help with
Recognizing the impact of small and new nonprofits

Connect with Tiffany:

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@BossonaBudget

Website: www.bossonabudget.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bossonab/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bossonab

Our friends and sponsors at Keela asked me to put together a guide of fundraising tips I wished every small nonprofit knew. Go ahead and download the guide here: https://www.keela.co/consultant/the-good-partnership (and don't forget that Keela offers our listeners 40% off their first year's subscription).

Are you struggling to turn your organization's strategic plan into a reality? Do you feel like your efforts to create change within your nonprofit are falling flat? Today on the podcast, I'm joined by Veronica LaFemina, a strategic advisor to nonprofit leaders with over 20 years of experience in change management. In this episode, Veronica shares her insights on why change often fails in organizations and what you can do to set yourself up for success.

Key Highlights:

The importance of implementing a strategic plan in organizations
The significance of having a visible and engaged executive sponsor
How to involve staff members in the change process
Different stages of change
Being intentional about pursuing change in your organization

Connect with Veronica:

Website: https://lafemina.co/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vlafemina

Our friends and sponsors at Keela asked me to put together a guide of fundraising tips I wished every small nonprofit knew. Go ahead and download the guide here: https://www.keela.co/consultant/the-good-partnership (and don't forget that Keela offers our listeners 40% off their first year's subscription).

Have you ever considered hosting an event for your nonprofit organization? Do you know how to incorporate sponsorship into the profitability of your event? In this episode of The Small Nonprofit podcast, Mariah Monique, founder of The Sponsorship Catalyst, shares some insightful tips on how to leverage strategic partnerships and potential sponsors to make your event a success.

Key Highlights:

How to get started with sponsorship for your nonprofit events
The mistake nonprofits make in hosting an event and how to avoid it
Building long-term relationships with potential sponsors and funders
How to deliver meaningful experiences to sponsors and event attendees

Connect with Mariah:

Website: https://www.thesponsorshipcatalyst.com/

Free resource: What to offer sponsors https://colossal-hustler-635.ck.page/104885a769

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesponsorshipcatalyst/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thesponsorshipcatalyst/

Our friends and sponsors at Keela asked me to put together a guide of fundraising tips I wished every small nonprofit knew. Go ahead and download the guide here: https://www.keela.co/consultant/the-good-partnership (and don't forget that Keela offers our listeners 40% off their first year's subscription).

In today's episode of the Small Nonprofit Podcast, I'm introducing you to the Fractional Fundraising movement and our new private podcast series that will give you an inside look at how we do this revolutionary approach to fundraising that has helped many small nonprofits thrive.

Key Highlights:

What fractional fundraising is and how it can benefit fundraisers and charities
The behind-the-scenes of our Fractional Fundraiser Academy
The stories and experiences of our current members in the network

If you're interested in learning more, visit thegoodpartnership.com/pod to get exclusive access to our limited-time private podcast series. Don't miss out on the opportunity to change the fundraising game for your small nonprofit.

Our friends and sponsors at Keela asked me to put together a guide of fundraising tips I wished every small nonprofit knew. Go ahead and download the guide here: https://www.keela.co/consultant/the-good-partnership (and don't forget that Keela offers our listeners 40% off their first year's subscription).

In this episode of the Small Nonprofit Podcast, I’m joined by Sean Kosofsky, aka the Nonprofit Fixer, to discuss the impact of isolation on small nonprofit organizations in a post-pandemic world. Working remotely or changing jobs can leave nonprofit professionals feeling disconnected and lonely, but Sean offers practical advice for breaking through the isolation.

Key Highlights:

The impact of working remotely for small nonprofits
Practical tools for combating isolation
Productivity hacks: setting top three priorities and four-day workweek
The importance of recognizing burnout and ways to overcome it
Creating a meaningful environment for team collaboration

Connect with Sean:

Website: www.NonprofitFixer.com

4 Day Workweek: https://www.nonprofitfixer.com/nonprofit-fixer-blog/the-complete-guide-to-implementing-the-four-day-workweek

FREE Fundraising Strategy Guide: https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/guide

Our friends and sponsors at Keela asked me to put together a guide of fundraising tips I wished every small nonprofit knew. Go ahead and download the guide here: https://www.keela.co/consultant/the-good-partnership (and don't forget that Keela offers our listeners 40% off their first year's subscription).

As donors get older, it's essential for nonprofits to find new, younger donors to keep their organizations running. In this episode of The Small Nonprofit, I talk to Emily Taylor, the founder of Teeny Big, where she helps nonprofit leaders create clear, defined paths to build engagement with people so they can achieve their goals faster. Emily talks about the challenge of engaging younger donors and her insights on how to understand and connect with them.

Key Highlights:

How can nonprofits better engage with younger donors?
How strategic listening can help connect your organization with new audiences or deepen connections with existing ones.
How can we recognize and overcome unconscious biases to make better strategic decisions?

Connect with Emily:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-taylor-teenybig/

Free worksheet on biases: https://mailchi.mp/teenybig/beyondbias

Our friends and sponsors at Keela asked me to put together a guide of fundraising tips I wished every small nonprofit knew. Go ahead and download the guide here: https://www.keela.co/consultant/the-good-partnership (and don't forget that Keela offers our listeners 40% off their first year's subscription).

Are you struggling to demonstrate your organization's impact? Are you looking for ways to engage your donors and keep them coming back? In this episode, I’m joined by Julie Gilbert, an independent consultant and coach in Julie Gilbert Consulting. She has over 25 years of experience working with public sector and nonprofit organizations, focused on helping organizations measure and communicate their impact. Julie talks about the meaning of impact, strategies and how solid measurement work can benefit organizations in attracting funding, and achieving their mission.

Key Highlights:

The meaning of impact
Why it is crucial for nonprofits to communicate their impact to stakeholders, funders, and donors.
How Julie’s Stepping Stones Impact framework can help nonprofits
What are the “impacts” that nonprofits should measure and strategies to evaluate change
How to use narratives and storytelling strategy for impact measurement

Connect with Julie:

Website: Julie Gilbert, Impact Institute Academy

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliegilbert-mbacpa

Our friends and sponsors at Keela asked me to put together a guide of fundraising tips I wished every small nonprofit knew. Go ahead and download the guide here: https://www.keela.co/consultant/the-good-partnership (and don't forget that Keela offers our listeners 40% off their first year's subscription).

In today’s podcast, we’re chatting with Sabrina Walker Hernandez about how she moved from being completely burned out (including how that affected her health) to growing a business that allowed her to still serve nonprofits but in a way that protected herself and her own well-being. Through her company, Supporting World Hope, Sabrina is a trainer, facilitator, and coach who specializes in strategic planning, fundraising, and leadership development.

Highlights:

How Sabrina invested in herself - for her health, but also in learning to start a business
Getting clear on your business’ offerings and services
Working in your business vs. on your business and how to balance those two

Connect with Sabrina:

Website: sabrina@supportingworldhope.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/supportingworldhope
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/supportingworldhope?fbclid=IwAR1cQd9zCUNADjoUr_WMSiaqp_aD4gsJZE6_kJpngs7IwejJ3H05zbBcyNk

Our friends and sponsors at Keela asked me to put together a guide of fundraising tips I wished every small nonprofit knew. Go ahead and download the guide here: https://www.keela.co/consultant/the-good-partnership (and don't forget that Keela offers our listeners 40% off their first year's subscription).

When you're a small nonprofit, your work often involves doing more with less—which is why it's so important to know which tasks are essential and which just add up to clutter. Today, we’re talking about one approach that helps streamline our workload while staying focused on the biggest priorities- minimalism.

Danielle Russell walks us through minimalism in nonprofits. Danielle S. Russell, CAE is a Canadian Not-for-Profit Industry Leader, Consultant, Author, Speaker, YouTuber, and Artist. She loves connecting ideas and people so that each individual can achieve their greatest potential impact. From keynote podiums, to the boardroom, to YouTube; Danielle leverages her unique strengths to help foster collaboration, empathy and action.

Key Highlights:

What is Minimalism in nonprofits?
Practical guide to minimalism for nonprofits
Letting go of “sentimental items” in your small nonprofit

Connect with Danielle:

Website: http://daniellerussell.ca/

Instagram:@Danny_S_Russell

Resources:

FREE Fundraising Strategy Guide: https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/guide

Our friends and sponsors at Keela asked me to put together a guide of fundraising tips I wished every small nonprofit knew. Go ahead and download the guide here: https://www.keela.co/consultant/the-good-partnership (and don't forget that Keela offers our listeners 40% off their first year's subscription).

On today’s podcast, we’re bringing you someone else’s podcast! That’s right, from time to time we’ll be featuring some friends and their podcast episodes that we think are worth a listen. Today it’s Dana Synder’s podcast, Missions to Movements.

If there is an organization to watch, Hope for Haiti is it, and today, you’ll meet Community Director of Innovative Philanthropy, Sarah Porter, and CMO Taylor Hebble. Hope for Haiti is pushing the boundaries with incredible creativity and innovation! A new VR experience transports supporters to a partner school in rural Haiti, they created a beautiful NFT collection in partnership with Haitian artists to fund the build of new schools after the earthquake, AND they’re using LinkedIn as an outlet to reach the media and have already more than doubled their following in the process.

It’s time to step into the future and imagine the possibilities as we consider VR experiences as a launchpad for deeper social impact.

Key Highlights:

Bringing Haiti to everyone through VR experiences
From concept to execution: how long it took Hope for Haiti to launch their VR experience
How Hope for Haiti grew to over 8,000 followers on LinkedIn

Connect with:

Hope for Haiti: https://hopeforhaiti.com/
Missions to Movement Podcast: https://positiveequation.com/podcast/

Our friends and sponsors at Keela asked me to put together a guide of fundraising tips I wished every small nonprofit knew. Go ahead and download the guide here: https://www.keela.co/consultant/the-good-partnership (and don't forget that Keela offers our listeners 40% off their first year's subscription).

The cloud is changing the tech game. In fact, it's already changed it. But how can you adapt to this new technology? How can your small nonprofit make sure that you're ready for what's coming next? On this episode, I speak with Kevin Christopher George of Green Merits Consulting, about cloud technology with a grounded, real life, practical perspective on what it means to research, select and adapt cloud technologies.

Key Highlights:

The benefits of cloud-based technology for small nonprofits
Why the cloud is better than an external hard drive
Building partnerships with technology providers
How to get started and adapt cloud-based technology
Cloud collaboration and accessibility

Connect with Kevin:

Website: https://www.greenmerits.com/

Email: kgeorge@greenmerits.com

Resources:

FREE Fundraising Strategy Guide: https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/guide

Our friends and sponsors at Keela asked me to put together a guide of fundraising tips I wished every small nonprofit knew. Go ahead and download the guide here: https://www.keela.co/consultant/the-good-partnership (and don't forget that Keela offers our listeners 40% off their first year's subscription).

So many small nonprofits don't know where to start when it comes to managing the data they have. How can we use our data effectively and efficiently? And how do we make sure it’s being used with an equity lens? If you're struggling with this, definitely give this episode a listen!

On today’s episode, I’m joined by Meena Das, Founder & Philanthropy Analytics Consultant at NamasteData, and her focus of work is grounding data and analytics solutions for nonprofits in the ideas of equity and inclusion.

Key Highlights:

Best practices of equitable data management for small nonprofits
How to apply an equity lens in data collection as a nonprofit?
Ethical challenges of data collection in the nonprofit sector
How to balance DEI values with funders and partners?

Connect with Meena Das:

Meena’s LinkedIn https://ca.linkedin.com/in/meenadas
Website: https://www.namastedata.org/

Resources:

FREE Fundraising Strategy Guide: https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/guide

Our friends and sponsors at Keela asked me to put together a guide of fundraising tips I wished every small nonprofit knew. Go ahead and download the guide here: https://www.keela.co/consultant/the-good-partnership (and don't forget that Keela offers our listeners 40% off their first year's subscription).

“Everybody pays, nobody pays. Because I think one of the most important principles that we put in place with our clients around corporate is transparency” - Heather Nelson

employee volunteering with Heather Nelson

Is corporate volunteerism trendy right now? Absolutely! Should you still include it in your corporate giving strategies? Probably.

In this episode, I sat down with Heather Nelson of Bridgeraise, and talked about how your nonprofit can benefit from corporate volunteerism and how to get started with building a strong relationship with your corporate partners.

Key Highlights:

The value of corporate volunteerism to for-profit organizations and how to leverage it for your small nonprofit
Types of employee engagement: In-person, online, employee education
Activity ideas for an employee engagement program
How to gain revenue from corporate volunteering
How to set up corporate partnerships with transparency

Connect with Heather:

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/nelsonheather

Website: https://www.bridgeraise.com/

Resources:

FREE Fundraising Strategy Guide: https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/guide

Our friends and sponsors at Keela asked me to put together a guide of fundraising tips I wished every small nonprofit knew. Go ahead and download the guide here: https://www.keela.co/consultant/the-good-partnership (and don't forget that Keela offers our listeners 40% off their first year's subscription).

“Community-Centric Fundraising is about reimagining how we engage our communities, so whether that's our service users or volunteers, our donors, to make everyone feel really valued and invested in the work. - Maria Rio”

practicing community centric fundraising with Maria Rio

You may have heard of a growing movement called Community Centric Fundraising (CCF) but have lots of questions of how it works and how you might apply it to your organization.

Maria Rio, joins me in this conversation today on The Small Nonprofit Podcast. She has been working in nonprofits for ten years, has personal experience as a service user, and has spent the last year and a half testing out various CCF approaches. Maria is going to talk about how community-centric fundraising works—and how it can enable your fundraising program to raise money AND fulfill your mission at the same time.

Highlights:

What is community-centric fundraising and what makes it different?
Equitable donor stewardship
Building non-transactional relationships in fundraising events
Community Advocacy and public policy work
Collective mission

Connect with Maria:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariario/

Resource:

FREE Fundraising Strategy Guide: https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/guide

Our friends and sponsors at Keela asked me to put together a guide of fundraising tips I wished every small nonprofit knew. Go ahead and download the guide here: https://www.keela.co/consultant/the-good-partnership (and don't forget that Keela offers our listeners 40% off their first year's subscription).

Sometimes fundraising in a small nonprofit can feel start-stop. You put in effort and maybe see results, but then as soon as you slow down, the money stops coming in.

But on today’s podcast, guest Mike Duerksen, Founder and CEO of BuildGood, shares with us his “flywheel” method for creating a fundraising program that operates on momentum, so that the longer you fundraise, the less effort it takes to grow.

Sounds dreamy, right? Mike covers:

The Flywheel analogy of fundraising for small nonprofits
Five parts of Flywheel analogy
Listening to donors
How to engage donors through virtual and in-person events
The tactics of a good “ASK”

Connect with Mike:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeduerksen

Website: https://buildgood.com/

Resources:

5minutefundraisingfix.com

FREE Fundraising Strategy Guide: https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/guide

Our friends and sponsors at Keela asked me to put together a guide of fundraising tips I wished every small nonprofit knew. Go ahead and download the guide here: https://www.keela.co/consultant/the-good-partnership (and don't forget that Keela offers our listeners 40% off their first year's subscription).

And the small charities can slow down a little bit and stop automating. I remind people that direct response, whether it's direct mail or if it's online, I don't care what it is. It is an opportunity for conversation. You are talking to other human beings that we call donors. And that's an opportunity to have something, a meaningful connection with someone who wants to help you achieve your goals. And just like relationships are in real life. - John Lepp

direct mail isn’t dead with John LeppIn today’s episode, we are joined by John Lepp, a partner at Agents of Good and the author of Creative Deviations. He has over 25 years of experience in the fundraising and design industry and is an expert in direct-response fundraising. John is breaking down how to raise more money through direct mail using design and authenticity.

Highlights:

The role of creative design in fundraising
The importance of direct mail in fundraising, despite the common belief that it is no longer effective.
The advantages that small organizations have in terms of being able to stand out and be more personal with their donor communications.
Debunking myths about direct mail in fundraising
How can small nonprofits stand out in direct mail to raise more money

Connect with John:

Website: https://agentsofgood.org/creative
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnlepp/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnlepp_aog/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/johnlepp

Resources:

The Good Partnership - FREE Fundraising Strategy Guide

Our friends and sponsors at Keela asked me to put together a guide of fundraising tips I wished every small nonprofit knew. Go ahead and download the guide here: https://www.keela.co/consultant/the-good-partnership (and don't forget that Keela offers our listeners 40% off their first year's subscription).

“Your first goal is let's create a win where we can begin to work on these relationships, where we can begin to build some trust, and then we're going to come back and we're going to see what the next step is. ” - Michelle Shumate

networks for impact with Michelle ShumateIn today’s episode, we are joined by Michelle Shumate from Northwestern University and the author of Networks for Social Impact. If you’ve ever wondered about working in partnership with other organizations, Michelle shares her experience and framework to help that go smoothly so that everyone benefits.

Highlights:

How small nonprofits can benefit from collaboration
How to make partnerships work for your organization without depleting your resources
Two paths of sharing vision and goals in partnerships
Implementing an equitable collaboration
Managing collaborations during unexpected circumstances

Connect with Michelle:

Website: https://nnsi.northwestern.edu
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ProfShumate
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelleshumate

Resources:

The Good Partnership - FREE Fundraising Strategy Guide

Our friends and sponsors at Keela asked me to put together a guide of fundraising tips I wished every small nonprofit knew. Go ahead and download the guide here: https://www.keela.co/consultant/the-good-partnership (and don't forget that Keela offers our listeners 40% off their first year's subscription).

"What are those moments where we can captivate our audience in a different way, because otherwise, they would just be standing around. And how can we use those moments to also encourage donations in giving?” — Rebecca Alfred

Optimizing your event revenue in surprising ways with Rebecca Alfred

Fundraising events can be hard for small organizations. The time and effort to get it off the ground and make it “profitable” doesn’t often work out. But if you are going to host an event or have a legacy event that is profitable, our guest for this episode will make sure you achieve maximum results. Join Rebecca Alfred, Charity Relationships Lead, Trellis Social Enterprise Inc. to learn how to raise more money and have a bigger impact with your events.

Highlights:

Optimizing fundraising events for meaningful giving opportunities
Fundraising drivers that are helping organizations hit and succeed their fundraising goals at their events
The future of fundraising events - hybrid, online, in-person
Creating better donor experience at events

Connect with Rebecca Alfred:

https://trellis.org/
LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-alfred
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/trellis.org
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trellisorg
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/trellis_org
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCegTxlyqGK8R3lxMn7sA0pw

Our friends and sponsors at Keela asked me to put together a guide of fundraising tips I wished every small nonprofit knew. Go ahead and download the guide here: https://www.keela.co/consultant/the-good-partnership (and don't forget that Keela offers our listeners 40% off their first year's subscription).

There's more fear than there was courage. We had to sort of change into, you know what, we're trying something new. We are not asking the clients to give to their own campaigns or to give to anyone else's campaign. We are asking them to tell their story to their friends and family and invite their friends and family to support us. — Deborah Gold

From a plan to implementation with Deborah Gold

Planning to change the world might seem daunting. Getting help with your fundraising - maybe even more daunting! Today’s podcast is a conversation with one of our clients about how she made the leap to hiring a fundraising consultant, what she learned along the way, and what’s working for them now. On today’s podcast, join Deborah Gold to dive deep into all things fundraising for BALANCE for Blind Adults.

Highlights:

Making a decision to seek fundraising help
Behind the scenes, challenges and wins in implementing a fundraising plan
Raising funds and awareness through peer-to-peer campaign
How the campaign evolved over time, including lessons learned about what works and what doesn't

Connect with Deborah Gold:

https://www.balancefba.org/
LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/deborahgold
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/balanceforblindadults/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/balanceforblindadults/
Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/balancefba

Our friends and sponsors at Keela asked me to put together a guide of fundraising tips I wished every small nonprofit knew. Go ahead and download the guide here: https://www.keela.co/consultant/the-good-partnership (and don't forget that Keela offers our listeners 40% off their first year's subscription).

"Grant writing is one of those things that small organizations love and hate. I would say the idea of grant funding, that is, funding programs that feels like large amounts of money coming in and one ask is really a dream for so many small organizations, but they struggle with how to do it.” — DeaRonda Harrison

get those grants with DeaRonda Harrison

Are you still hesitant to hire a grant writer for your organization? Maybe you’ve had great success with grants and the portfolio has become time-consuming and too large to handle. Or, maybe your sending out applications left, right, and centre and still not having any luck. Join DeaRonda Harrison to deep dive into all things grant writing - from benefits, challenges and the importance of it!

Highlights:

How can grants help small organizations
How to get started with grant writing
Guide to hiring grant support and internal training
Outreach and networking for grants
Managing relationships after getting the grant

Connect with DeaRonda:

https://junefirstfirm.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/DeaRondaharrison
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DeaRondah/?hl=en
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DeaRondah
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3zRU5o_FjbL3P4BDpQx16w

Our friends and sponsors at Keela asked me to put together a guide of fundraising tips I wished every small nonprofit knew. Go ahead and download the guide here: https://www.keela.co/consultant/the-good-partnership (and don't forget that Keela offers our listeners 40% off their first year's subscription).

“And number one question I would get usually is how many emails should I send in a year? So if you're starting from that big picture and I was like, oh, great, great, and I want to write a book, how long should it be? And you get why is that an appropriate response? And it's like, well, you shouldn't write bad content. And it turns out you can write seven books about a middle school kid who's a wizard. And it's like, if we do great content that's really engaging, keep going, please.” — Ben Johnson

the secrets to successful emails with Ben Johnson

Email marketing is the most effective way to engage your supporters. But how do you leverage it for maximum impact? In this episode, we'll discuss how to use email marketing to maximize your nonprofit's fundraising efforts in a way that is aligned with your values and mission. .Join Ben Johnson as he deep dives into the successful ways and strategies to engage community and raise more money for your nonprofit.

Highlights:

Trends and best practices of email marketing for small nonprofits
Benefits of email list segmentation for fundraising
How to leverage email marketing tools and funnels to raise more money
How you can communicate effectively with donors using email

Connect with Ben:

https://www.frontier.io/
LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/mrbenjohnson

Our friends and sponsors at Keela asked me to put together a guide of fundraising tips I wished every small nonprofit knew. Go ahead and download the guide here: https://www.keela.co/consultant/the-good-partnership (and don't forget that Keela offers our listeners 40% off their first year's subscription).

“Patience is getting beyond yourself. If there's a lack of patience, it's because you're putting yourself as a priority to any situation that there is.” - Patrick Rodriguez

tending the seeds that you sew with Patrick Rodriguez

In our work in the nonprofit sector, it often feels like things need to happen right away - the needs are, after all, urgent. But today on the podcast we’re talking all about patience - the ability to play the long game to have a greater impact. I’m joined by first-time ED and formerly incarcerated Patrick Rodriguez, from the Georgia Coalition for Higher Education in Prison. Patrick’s journey from inmate to ED along with his deep reflections and patience, teaches us how to look beyond the immediate needs to a more strategic long-term vision.

Highlights:

The benefit of having patience for long-term growth and mission fulfilment
How to take time to do things well to set your organization up for success
The role of relationships to get buy-in for patience and long term planning

Resources Mentioned In This Episode:

Georgia Coalition for Higher Education in Prison
- Website
Good Partnership

Connect with Patrick:

Instagram
Twitter
Email: patrickleerod@gmail.com
Outlook: patrickleerod@outlook.com

Our friends and sponsors at Keela asked me to put together a guide of fundraising tips I wished every small nonprofit knew. Go ahead and download the guide here: https://www.keela.co/consultant/the-good-partnership (and don't forget that Keela offers our listeners 40% off their first year's subscription).

“I'll talk often to clients about the idea of building a culture of succession so that we know from the get go that when we hire someone into the organization, that our hope is to offer development pathways. It doesn't necessarily mean climbing the ladder, but an opportunity for professional growth and naturally with professional growth, we need to be open and honest around feedback.“ Danielle Rocheleau

leveling up your leadership with Danielle Rocheleau

Your employees are your BEST asset when it comes to having an impact, yet it’s also one of the most under invested in resources. In today’s episode, we have Danielle Rocheleau from Laridae sharing ways to support your employees in honing their skills and empowering them as leaders.

Highlights:

The reason why investing in your team is important for your organization
Identifying opportunities and providing support to employees
The importance of onboarding process for internal candidates

Resources Mentioned In This Episode:

Laridae Website
- Website
- LinkedIn
- Facebook
The Good Partnership

Connect with Danielle:

Email: danielle@laridaemc.com

Our friends and sponsors at Keela asked me to put together a guide of fundraising tips I wished every small nonprofit knew. Go ahead and download the guide here: https://www.keela.co/consultant/the-good-partnership (and don't forget that Keela offers our listeners 40% off their first year's subscription).

“We're not changing for the sake of change. We're changing because we wanna do something different or grow or improve.” - Ashley Fontaine

get unstuck with Ashley Fontaine

We’ll all be there - stuck! In a rut. Bored. Trapped.

It feels like this is just part of the nonprofit experience. But this can be hurting our missions. And ourselves. In today’s episode, Ashley Fontaine, founder of Flux AF Consulting shares with us how she is helping nonprofits navigate getting “unstuck” by building skills, improving leadership, and avoiding burnout.

Highlights:

The story behind her upcoming book “Unstuck: Disrupting the Status Quo”
Dichotomy of change and status quo bias
Power and influence of nonprofit leaders
Values-based leadership for creating change

Resources Mentioned In This Episode:

Flux AF consulting Website
- Flux AF Consulting
Get a copy of: Unstuck: Disrupting the Status Quo
The Good Partnership

Connect with Ashley:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fontainea/

Our friends and sponsors at Keela asked me to put together a guide of fundraising tips I wished every small nonprofit knew. Go ahead and download the guide here: https://www.keela.co/consultant/the-good-partnership (and don't forget that Keela offers our listeners 40% off their first year's subscription).

You might have heard about the benefits of testing in your fundraising. Tweaking copy and sending to two different groups to see which performs better. Testing different web pages to see which gets more conversions. Maybe you’ve also tried to survey your donors to see what they like. This can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be! On today’s podcast join Cherian Koshy to deep dive into all things testing in a way that’s accessible to small organizations with limited resources.

Highlights:

Why you should be testing and getting to understand your donor’s behaviours
How to use market research and other tools to get a clear picture of how your donors actually behave (vs. what they say they will do)
Testing behavior through conjoint analysis (and what even is conjoint analysis)
Framing questions to avoid bias and social desirability bias

Resources Mentioned In This Episode:

Endowment Partners
Robert Cialdini’s Pre-Suasion

Connect with Cherian:

http://www.cheriankoshy.com/
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/cheriankoshy/
Twitter: @cherian_koshy

Our friends and sponsors at Keela asked me to put together a guide of fundraising tips I wished every small nonprofit knew. Go ahead and download the guide here: https://www.keela.co/consultant/the-good-partnership (and don't forget that Keela offers our listeners 40% off their first year's subscription).

“What am I doing in modeling for future leaders? I firmly believe everyone is a leader. Everyone has that ability just innately from birth. And so what are we doing to support the next leaders of the community, of the nonprofit sector in particular? - Jarrett Ransom

NONPROFIT SECTOR ROLE MODELS WITH JARRETT RANSOM

Join our conversation with Jarrett Ransom, known as The Nonprofit Nerd. We reflect on the legacy that we would want to leave behind in the nonprofit sector, which led to a discussion of the mindsets we don’t want to pass on, and how we can overcome these.

HIGHLIGHTS:

The responsibility of teaching the next generation of nonprofit professionals
Why investing in people is so important for our sector (and why we’re bad at it)
Shifting to an abundance perspective

CONNECT WITH JARRETT RANSOM:

Jarrett’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jrransom/
Jarrett’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nonprofit_nerd/
The Rayvan Group: https://www.therayvangroup.com/

“If you're learning about what indigenous protocols are applicable and relevant to your work? That's a journey. If we're learning how to balance decolonization and philanthropy, that's a journey. And I feel like that's also aligned with what I understand, or the people who I've worked with from the indigenous communities looking at how they've approached just everything. It is a journey.” - Rowena Veylan

INDIGENOUS PROTOCOLS IN FUNDRAISING WITH ROWENA VEYLAN

In today’s episode, we are joined by Rowena Veylan from New School Of Fundraising to talk about how to meaningfully incorporate Indigenous Protocols in fundraising through an authentic and impactful approach.

HIGHLIGHTS:

What are Indigenous Protocols and why is it important to fundraising
Meaningful and authentic land acknowledgments
Fundraising, colonization and anti-oppression work

LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

The Good Partnership
New School Of Fundraising

CONNECT WITH ROWENA:

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/newschoolway
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/newschooloffundraising/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rowena-veylan

One of the biggest tenets of empathy is just listening and doing an act of deep listening. So understanding where people are at. You know how to be able to engage with them in a way that makes sense. If you have the patience and ability to just be in a moment with people, understand what they do. I think that can, that can work wonders. - Kyle Empringham

FUNDRAISING THROUGH AN EMPATHETIC LENS WITH KYLE EMPRINGHAM

In today’s episode, we have Kyle Empringham from Starfish Canada to discuss building connections and empathy’s power in making small nonprofits stand out in their fundraising.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Why fundraising is like selling (the good and the bad)
Applying an empathetic lens to fundraising
Tools and tips for fundraising in a small organization where everyone can get involved

LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Starfish Canada
ESG Partnerships
ThoughtExchange
The Good Partnership

CONNECT WITH KYLE:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kbempringham/?hl=en
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kbempringham
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kbempringham/

“Sometimes you have to have the courage to say that you are walking away from a potential supporter because it's not missionly aligned.” - Janaiha Bennett

BROAD AND DEEP RELATIONSHIPS FOR FUNDRAISING SUCCESS WITH JANAIHA BENNETT

In today’s episode, we are joined by Janaiha Bennett from Youth Leadership Foundation to teach us how to develop relationships with our donors and how to treat them as humans first than people who would just give you money.

HIGHLIGHTS:

How she got into fundraising without being a fundraiser herself
The importance of leadership in raising funds
Developing a community who share the same vision

LINKS AND RESOURCES:

Youth Leadership Foundation
- Website
- Instagram
The Good Partnership

CONNECT WITH JANAIHA:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janaiha/

Re-release curated by: Morgan Domijan, Peerfect Fundraising Solutions

Every year before GivingTuesdays, a lot of fundraisers and Executive Directors are scratching their heads and wondering whether they should do something on GivingTuesday, and if do do something, what can make their organization’s messaging stand out? On today’s podcast, Lys Huggesen, the VP of Partnerships at CanadaHelps and one of the pioneers and leaders of GivingTuesday Canada, shares her insights on how charities might best leverage this day of giving and generosity.

Myths that Lys wants us to walk away

GivingTuesday is not just about fundraising. Giving Tuesday is a day to celebrate generosity that over 73 countries are now participating in. Any form of generosity is celebrated. There are 100 different ways to celebrate generosity without making a money ask.
People are tired of GivingTuesday asks. 52% of people say that they want to give on GivingTuesday because they want to be part of something bigger. Lys likened it to Black Friday - just because everyone is having a sale, does that mean you shouldn’t? Of course not - it’s an opportunity to capitalize on people’s planned behaviour.

Lys’ tips on leveraging GivingTuesday

Don’t treat GivingTuesday as just a day-long campaign. The best campaigns launch before the day, and the campaign can continue beyond GivingTuesday. Be intentional about the campaign launches and the different touch points you design with your audience and donors.
Have good messages in your ask and don’t rely on “just because it’s GivingTuesday.” GivingTuesday or not, people give when they are emotionally motivated and inspired. While the day provides a great opportunity to make an ask, make sure your communication also includes compelling messages and storytelling.
Thank your supporters and express gratitude. If you are not planning to make an ask on GivingTuesday, there are still many ways to engage your audience. It is a day to celebrate generosity, and so why not thank your donors and share messages of gratitude and community togetherness?

Favourite Quotes from Today’s Episode

Post your favourite quote on social media to share with us!

“People are primed to give. 52% of people say that they want to give on GivingTuesday itself because they're part of something bigger.”

“I think one of the biggest myths is that GivingTuesday is just a day. It's more than just a day. The best campaigns start well before.”

Resources from this Episode

The Good Partnership

Download toolkit and resources to support your GivingTuesday campaign

Connect with Lys on Linkedin

Learn more about Morgan at Peerfect Fundraising Solutions

Re-release curated by: Morgan Domijan, Peerfect Fundraising Solutions

On today’s podcast, David Love, seasoned fundraiser also known as the Godfather of Good, shares with us his take on the role of fundraisers in achieving change in the world. When we centre our work around the mission and the journey that we are on as an organization and how that aligns with the journey our donors are making - we can impact meaningful and lasting change in the world.

Myths that David wants us to walk away from

The nature of a fundraiser's work to raise money. What fundraisers actually do is create value and make connections - connecting donors to the causes that matter deeply to them.
Less people are donating nowadays. Donors are stepping up again and again for different causes. Less people are donating just for a charitable receipt, but more people are giving to causes they are deeply passionate of regardless of the tax receipt. This is why we don’t yet have a great metric on the current state of philanthropy.

David’s tips on working with donors:

Recognize that the donors’ journey already started and you’re here to support them on their journey. No hard sell is needed. There is a reason that a potential donor is interested in the organization's mission and vision. You’re just here to support them on a path that they’re already on, guided by their own values, interest, and passion.
Help them to find and support initiatives that speak to their values and the changes they want to see in the world. Ask questions or guide the donors to hone in what is it that will make them feel the spark or the connection with the impact that matters to them.
Show passion and authenticity in your communication with your donors. Do away with aloof and formal language and focus on showing that you too deeply care about the mission and vision that your donors are invested in.

Favourite Quotes from Today’s Episode

Post your favourite quote on social to share with us!

“It’s a fallacy to think that fundraisers raise money. What fundraisers spend their lives doing is creating value. Fundraisers make dreams come true. Small organizations with difficult causes need to find ways to make the values that are at the heart of what they do come alive in a donor’s soul.”

“Donors are already on a journey. We as fundraisers didn't actually start that journey. They come to us because they're on a journey and they're actually trying to find out whether the road that we’re showing them is one we want to go down or not.”

Resources from this Episode

The Good Partnership

Connect with David on Linkedin

David’s new book: Green Green: Reflections on 51 Years of Raising Money for Nature

Learn more about Morgan at Peerfect Fundraising Solutions

RE-RELEASE CURATED BY: Lacey Kempinski, Balanced Good

These are scary times. The world is in crisis as we work hard to contain the COVID 19 outbreak and minimize its impact. Our organizations are being challenged in ways we could never imagine. For some of us, our clients are at high risk and we are working around the clock to support them. For others, we have been forced to lay off staff because our programs have been cancelled. The emotional toll on each and every one of us is significant, at a time when we are most isolated.

We’re also seeing stories of hope, community, and caring. I’ve seen breweries turn the alcohol they have into free hand sanitizer. My neighbours created a mini food drive for a local shelter. Communities coming together in song.

While this podcast episode was recorded a little while ago, the content is perhaps even more relevant now. Our guest is Sam Laprade and we are talking about burnout. Sam has been talking about mental health so that we can better take care of ourselves and our colleagues. Now more than ever. Sam joins me in today’s podcast, talking about burnout, mental health and self-care. So, take a breath and take a listen.

Connect with Lacey Kempinski at Balanced Good

RE-RELEASE CURATED BY: Lacey Kempinski, Balanced Good

How do we recover from the exhaustion and pain of the pandemic? How do we lead our organizations into the post-pandemic world with responsible leadership in service for our communities? On today’s episode, social impact leader Chi Nguyen gives us the real talk on how to approach our leadership and the way we show up with a feminist and inclusive lens.

Chi’s tips on approaching leadership from a feminist and inclusive lens:

Caregiving is deeply feminist. Caregiving translates into leadership at all levels of our society. Leaders who understand the value of caregiving have the potential to transform how we are organized and governed.
Purpose and responsibility driven. Think about responsibility not just for ourselves and our immediate community, but our collective responsibility for this planet and future generations.
Show up as our whole selves. We carry what’s going on in our lives, our identities, and our values to the table and so let our authenticity and experience shine through our decision-making and leadership.
Be ok with the discomfort when wrestling with power. Disrupting systemic privilege and the power structure is uncomfortable but a necessary part of the work in service for our communities. And it’s not just about disrupting power structures outside of our own organizations and our sector. We have to be able to look inward as well.

Favourite Quotes from Today’s Episode

Post your favourite quote on social to share with us!

“When I think about inclusive leadership and feminist leadership, it’s about bringing that whole person and all of the weight of that into decision making, into how we run our organizations with lots of forgiveness and resiliency, and frankly, real humanity.”

“The best community programming and best response to community initiatives is a program that is for us by us — fundraised, led, designed, implemented. That is the model for ownership of community solutions, but it is not how our systems have been built. We need to move from a charitable model to collective impact model.”

Resources from this Episode

The Good Partnership

Chi Nguyen

Balanced Good

RE-RELEASE CURATED BY: Jordana Merkin, Voice for Good

Working with a consultant can be beneficial for nonprofits. They enable organizations to focus on keeping things running smoothly and efficiently by freeing up time for the bigger picture. But how do you find the right consultant for your organization?

In today’s episode, we’re going to talk about working with consultants with Jessica Campbell, Founder and CEO of Out in the Boons and a dear friend of mine. She is a trained nonprofit fundraiser who has worked with big and small organizations and runs a consulting business where she helps organizations to connect with the right consultants to get the help they need.

Myths that Jess wants us to walk away from:

Consultants only develop the plan. Some consultants like Jess, are committed to doing things differently. They are out there to help organizations not only get the plan, but also understand it and have the tools and resources they need to carry it out.
Nonprofit consultants are always expensive. There is a large range in price for nonprofit consultants. The right consultant will have a pricing structure that works for you and your organization's budget.

Jess’s tips on working with consultants

Outsourcing helps you focus on your mission: Wearing multiple hats is common in our sector, but trying to do everything at once can lead you and your team to burnout. Getting help from a consultant allows your organization to do other tasks and focus on what really matters.
Leveling of expectations: Before you decide to work with a consultant, Jess suggests that it is critical to identify the outcome that you want out of consulting, what your expectations and needs are to make this work effective for your organization.
Matchmaking: In her own program, Jess uses matchmaking to match nonprofits with consultants based on their specific needs and areas of expertise. She also stresses the importance of finding the right match between the consultant's personality, working style, and the nonprofit's team.

Favourite Quotes from Today’s Episode

Post your favorite quote on social media to share with us!

“The biggest pet peeve is I see small organizations trying to do it all themselves. Or one person or two person team trying to do it all. And I wish that people realize that there's no trophies for burnout. You don't get a gold star for that. ”

Resources from this Episode

outintheboons.me/the-rolodex

Jess Campbell Instagram

The Good Partnership

Connect with Jordana on Instagram @voiceforgood, or on LinkedIn.

RE-RELEASE CURATED BY: Jordana Merkin, Voice for GoodWhat makes a good leader? If you’re an executive director in a nonprofit, you're probably thinking about how you can be more effective and motivate your team to create a bigger impact. But what are these qualities you should have to inspire others?

To learn more about what makes a great leader, I sat down with Mathieu Yuill, Founder of Leading with a Nice, consultancy that develops leaders. Mathieu has more than 25 years of experience in the field of communication and marketing, as well as a master's degree in management and leadership.

Myths that Mathieu wants us to walk away from:

Leaders only give orders. Leaders who inspire their employees are those who practice empathy, listen, and genuinely care about their employees' well-being rather than just the work.
Leaders should hide any weaknesses. Honesty and trust are qualities of a good leader that requires being vulnerable, assessing one's own weaknesses, and communicating them to one's team.

Matthieu’s GET HG: qualities of leaders that inspire

Gratitude: Checking in with your staff and simply asking how things are going or offering them help is a way to express gratitude because you trust the person to do their job. You're also acknowledging that they're working hard and that you appreciate it.
Empathy: Stepping into other people’s shoes to understand their circumstances. A leader who shows empathy toward their employees reduces employee absenteeism and has a more productive team.
Trust: It is all about intent. By communicating your desired outcome to your team and trusting them to choose the best path forward.
Honesty: It is about understanding your own weaknesses and releasing control.
Generosity: It is simply a matter of making time to mentor your employees and check in with them.

Favourite Quotes from Today’s Episode

Post your favorite quote on social media to share with us!

“So if you have a report who's working on a project often what we do is we'll come by and be like, “Hey, you know, are you done with that yet? Or how far along are you?” That's checking up and that's like a doctor's appointment. Nobody likes it. But instead, check-in and be like, “Hey, how are things going? Is there anything I can help you with?” That's actually showing gratitude and trust cause you're trusting the person they're doing their job and you're also acknowledging that they're working hard and you recognize like, “Hey, can I help you? Like I get this is a job that might need an extra set of hands.” That's a very simple way to show gratitude.”

”We need to understand how to communicate with each other and that's really the first base, the barrier to entry is do you know how to communicate with each other? ”

Resources from this Episode

Leading with Nice

Crucial Conversations

Culture Code

The Good Partnership

Connect with Jordana on Instagram @voiceforgood, or on LinkedIn.

Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High, Second Edition

RE-RELEASE CURATED BY: IMAGINE CANADA

From lack of opportunity to develop leaders or train managers to pay transparency, there are so many issues and topics about HR that we never seem to have time to do or be able to make the proper investments. It's going to be a big problem for our sector because our work is only as good as our teams. Our organizations are only as strong as our culture.

In today’s podcast episode, Bruce MacDonald, President, and CEO of Imagine Canada, is going to share with us HR Intervals - a new and entirely free human resources toolkit specifically designed for nonprofit professionals to help them manage new challenges and opportunities in our work cultures.

Myths that Bruce wants us to walk away from

Small nonprofits can’t afford human resources. Some leaders may need to find some volunteers to help them out, whether it's a member of the board or just networking to find some HR folks. Start that conversation with the staff about the priorities and urgent needs of the organization and be willing to listen to them. A talented staff member who is inspired by this work could be the staff lead supported by the executive director. They can also access the information and resources they need to perform HR functions at their organizations with the new HR Intervals toolkit.
Nonprofits shouldn’t invest in human resources. The pandemic posed new challenges in terms of attracting and retaining employees. Private-sector firms are improving their ability to attract and retain talent, which has an impact on charities and nonprofits. Companies are now offering incentives to work there, and it is critical to ensure that we have the best possible workplaces, fair workplaces, reasonable, transparent compensation, that the culture is there, that this equity and equality is more vital than it has been in quite some time because of this competition for talent.

Bruce’s thoughts around HR Intervals for Nonprofits

Access to free information and resources. A vast majority of our sector does not have paid human resources talent inside their organizations, there can be a gap in terms of how organizations think about the management of their people. HR Intervals is made to bring a service that organizations can go to, to help leaders better understand, address, and guide people management in their organizations.
Be intentional. HR Intervals offers a variety of resources and practices that can be utilized by nonprofits to assess their organizations. They can leverage this information to develop realistic opportunities and set priorities that will create a better workplace for their employees and enable them to do their mission effectively.

Favorite Quotes for Today’s Episode

“I think the one thing I've learned is you can't do it all at the same time or can do it all at once, but over time can create a basket of offerings that make it a place where people want to be, want to go and want to stay.”

Resources from this Episode

HR Intervals
The Good Partnership

RE-RELEASE CURATED BY: IMAGINE CANADA
Guess what - the next generation of workers are not millennials!

We’re so past the conversation of millennials in the workplace and now is the time to think about how you’re hiring and engaging the next generation. This new generation values diversity and inclusion, as well as the ability to have an impact. This is in great alignment with the nonprofit sector, but the reality is that as many as 30% of employers struggle to fill their entry-level roles.

Want to build your pipeline of talent in a meaningful and lasting way? Listen to today’s podcast with CivicAction and their HireNext program.

For more HR resources, including on topics related to workplace wellness, decent work and equity, visit HR Intervals - an entirely free, bilingual toolkit specifically designed to help nonprofit professionals better understand, address, and guide people management in their organization.

RE-RELEASE CURATED BY: Kim Peterson, Cedar Fundraising I know you have a long list of “to-dos” that never seems to end. I can also guess that on that list, somewhere towards the end (and seemingly never moving) is to create a Case for Support for your organization.

Well, today you’re in luck because our podcast guest Leah Eustice is a pro when it comes to writing a Case for Support and she’s going to give you all of her tricks and tips. The best part about it - she shows you how you can write your Case quickly and still make it meaningful.

RE-RELEASE CURATED BY: Kim Peterson, Cedar Fundraising

In times like this, it’s so important that we stay connected. The same goes for our donors. They want to hear from you about how you and your organization are doing. I know what you are thinking: donors already have a lot on their plate right now. Why would they want to hear from me?

On today’s podcast, David from The Common Good Philanthropy shares a great story about how donors felt so connected to a small nonprofit that they got upset when they were not called to help in a time of crisis. David wants us to think about fundraising as community building, and offers great advice on how to connect with our donors as our authentic selves. Take a listen!

RE-RELEASE CURATED BY: Sara Hoshooley, Charity Shift

From lack of opportunity to develop leaders or train managers to pay transparency, there are so many issues and topics about HR that we never seem to have time to do or be able to make the proper investments. It's going to be a big problem for our sector because our work is only as good as our teams. Our organizations are only as strong as our culture.

In today’s podcast episode, Bruce MacDonald, President, and CEO of Imagine Canada, is going to share with us HR Intervals - a new and entirely free human resources toolkit specifically designed for nonprofit professionals to help them manage new challenges and opportunities in our work cultures.

Myths that Bruce wants us to walk away from

Small nonprofits can’t afford human resources. Some leaders may need to find some volunteers to help them out, whether it's a member of the board or just networking to find some HR folks. Start that conversation with the staff about the priorities and urgent needs of the organization and be willing to listen to them. A talented staff member who is inspired by this work could be the staff lead supported by the executive director. They can also access the information and resources they need to perform HR functions at their organizations with the new HR Intervals toolkit.
Nonprofits shouldn’t invest in human resources. The pandemic posed new challenges in terms of attracting and retaining employees. Private-sector firms are improving their ability to attract and retain talent, which has an impact on charities and nonprofits. Companies are now offering incentives to work there, and it is critical to ensure that we have the best possible workplaces, fair workplaces, reasonable, transparent compensation, that the culture is there, that this equity and equality is more vital than it has been in quite some time because of this competition for talent.

Bruce’s thoughts around HR Intervals for Nonprofits

Access to free information and resources. A vast majority of our sector does not have paid human resources talent inside their organizations, there can be a gap in terms of how organizations think about the management of their people. HR Intervals is made to bring a service that organizations can go to, to help leaders better understand, address, and guide people management in their organizations.
Be intentional. HR Intervals offers a variety of resources and practices that can be utilized by nonprofits to assess their organizations. They can leverage this information to develop realistic opportunities and set priorities that will create a better workplace for their employees and enable them to do their mission effectively.

Favorite Quotes for Today’s Episode

“I think the one thing I've learned is you can't do it all at the same time or can do it all at once, but over time can create a basket of offerings that make it a place where people want to be, want to go and want to stay.”

Resources from this Episode

HR Intervals
The Good Partnership

Charity Shift is offering customized, End of Year Campaign Strategy packages for charities ready to raise more money than ever before this holiday season. Visit charityshift.ca to download our free tips and to learn more.

RE-RELEASE CURATED BY: Sara Hoshooley, Charity Shift

Fundraising is all about mindset. And if you don't believe that, chances are actually that you need to work on your mindset. If you've heard me speak about my fundraising origin story, you’ll know that I have loved fundraising right out of the gate, but I know that that's not the case for everyone. And so today you're going to hear from someone who hated fundraising and learned to love it by focusing on changing the mindset.

Mallory Erickson, CEO & Creator of the Power Partners Formula, joins us in the podcast to discuss how you can change your mindset about fundraising and raise more money for your nonprofit.

Myths that Mallory wants us to walk away from:

Mindset has nothing to do with fundraising. How we feel and think about fundraising ultimately impacts how we show up and the results that we see. We can overcome the barriers to fundraising success by reframing our mindset and developing new habits.
Great fundraisers don’t get rejected. Good fundraising is a job that involves regular rejection and it takes a lot of intentional building of resilience to be able to not internalize that rejection or make it about you, or have it relate to your stories about yourself that get in the way and keep you in a paralysis and perfectionist state.

GAIL: four primary types of thoughts that hold you back from successful fundraising

Gremlin or self-critic is the voice in your head that says “I am not good enough. I am not smart enough. I am not pretty enough. I am not enough” which plagues all of us. It gets triggered in fundraising because fundraising is a job that involves regular rejections and it takes a lot of work to build up your resilience so that you don't take them personally.
Assumptions This is the result of our belief that when something has happened before, we believe it's going to happen again. For example, one donor didn't give last year, now we think that they're not going to give this year. But in reality, the data shows the exact opposite.
Interpretations are the stories that we make up about someone’s behavior that is not based on facts. For instance, a donor does not respond to your email in 48 hours, and you make up an entire story about what is happening, how they feel about you, what they think about you, and if they're ever going to donate to your cause. We make these stories and hold on to them as if they were true, but in reality, they are not based on facts.
Limiting beliefs are things that society puts on us that restrict our ability to think outside the box. The hundred percent model is a great example of a limiting belief, where we have been trained to think that there’s too much money to overhead. This is simply the limiting belief that we are all continuing to perpetuate, even as fundraisers. However, once you begin to challenge these beliefs, they disappear.

Resources from this Episode

What the Fundraising Podcast

Power Partners Formula

The Good Partnership

Charity Shift is offering customized, End of Year Campaign Strategy packages for charities ready to raise more money than ever before this holiday season. Visit charityshift.ca to download our free tips and to learn more.

RE-RELEASE CURATED BY BRIDGERAISE: https://www.bridgeraise.com/

Anti-oppression, anti-racism, inclusion is an important conversation for our organization and there's so much work to be done around this. This interview with Christina Sackeyfio, Principal of Boldly Inclusive, articulates that space between an articulated inclusion or diversity effort and what you're actually putting into practice.

Tune in to learn how to identify and address oppression, how to create an inclusive culture and how to benchmark your organization's effort on inclusion and diversity so you can track your efforts.

Connect with Heather on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nelsonheather/

We hear all the time about corporate fundraising as an ~easy~ solution to all of our funding needs and we see a lot of organizations not do it quite right. Not sure how exactly to get started? We are joined this week by Heather Nelson, an incredible thought leader in the corporate fundraising space, who shares guidelines for creating that valuable partnership with corporations and businesses. In this episode, you’re going to learn:How to have the right conversation with the right person at the company or businessHow to build a successful corporate fundraising programAdvice on building and maintaining your relationship throughout the yearWhat your opportunities are in big or small businessesThe strategies you need to help turn employee engagement into financial supportCommon pitfalls and how to avoid themThrough exploring the relationship nature and the bottom line of corporations, Heather deep dives into what you can do to ensure that your partnership is one that is sustainable and lasts. That win-win partnership starts with a conversation. Get prepared by checking out a special page filled with amazing resources like a template agenda, a flowchart of the terminology you need to use and understand, and sample questions you can ask! Visit www.bridgeraise.com/smallnonprofit!Have a question that didn’t get answered in the episode? Need a cheerleader to help motivate you? Feel free to email Heather directly at heather@bridgeraise.com. We also love her partnership plan which you can find on her website [bridgeraise.com] along with more valuable resources!

This season's sponsor, Keela, has provided you with a FREE grant manager resource to keep track of all your grant applications.

Check it out and learn more about Keela here: https://www.keela.co/consultant/the-good-partnership

The nonprofit sector has a problem with racism and white supremacy. Well, not just the nonprofit sector - a lot of sectors and really, society in general. But hey - this is a podcast for the nonprofit sector, so we’re going to be focusing on that in today’s episode with Martha Awojobi, the curator of #BAMEOnline Conference, a series of online events that centers fundraisers of colour, showcases new talent, and gets to the heart of how we can dismantle structural racism in fundraising and in the wider charity sector. Martha is a consultant for non-profits specialising in event curation, recruitment and income generation with an anti-racist lens.

The truth is that philanthropy has a long history of excluding people of color from their missions and communities—and it's not just about money. It's also about how we think about making change.

Myths that Martha wants us to walk away from:

Wealth is a product of individual hard work. The wealth in our sector didn’t come out of “hard work”. There was a history of wealth accumulation based on the theft of knowledge and on slavery that has built the riches that we see in philanthropy.
White supremacy doesn’t exist in our sector. As a sector dedicated to “good work”, it’s hard to see that racism is also perpetuated. This is made worse by the fact that many people just put their head in the sand and don’t engage or want to talk about their privileges and how these systemic issues affect people of colour. We have to acknowledge that it exists and reflect on how we participate to create change.

Five Stages of Decolonization

Rediscovery and recovery. Acknowledging racism, colonial practices and harm is hard work. This is all about learning and unlearning and discovering the ugly truth of colonization. We are all products of a white supremacist society and the first step is to recognize it in yourself and really dedicate yourself to learning.
Mourning. This is the social process that we are supposed to do together. It involves grief, anger, and sadness. It's not just for people of color, white people have to dehumanize themselves in order to participate in the system of racism. Learning to let go in sadness and anger is part of the process.
Dreaming. This is about decolonizing the mind to bring in new ideas instead of using the same ideas that have been introduced by colonizers. This is perhaps the hardest stage, but also exciting.
Commitment. Establishing the intention to manifest your anti-racist vision.
Action. Select the steps that you want to take and do what you have to do.

Favourite Quotes from Today’s Episode

Post your favourite quote on social media to share with us!

“The lack of learning and the lack of willingness to learn, that lack of willingness to see yourself as part of the problem and to understand the white supremacist within - it's kind of all the nature of racism and white supremacy. To make it so ugly and so terrifying that people don't want to engage with it. ”

Resources from this EpisodeBAME Online Conference 2022

JMB Consulting

Martha Awojobi | Twitter

The Good Partnership

This season's sponsor, Keela, has provided you with a FREE grant manager resource to keep track of all your grant applications.

Check it out and learn more about Keela here: https://www.keela.co/consultant/the-good-partnership

We love busting myths in this podcast and in this episode, we are diving into more fundraising fallacies and why most of them are actually harmful for our beneficiaries, donors and relationships in our sector.

Here to share their Five Fallacies of Fundraising are Tanya Rumble and Nicole McVan. These two have been showing up on virtual stages for a while now and I’m so excited to have them on the podcast to share their framework and how it can help organizations and fundraisers.

Tanya and Nicole's Five Fallacies of Fundraising:

Wealth is built by the smartest and most capable people. In fundraising, we often think of white donors pictured with a racialized person or community member who's benefited from the funds that they donated. As fundraisers, we need to acknowledge the structural advantages that allowed donors to build their wealth and debunk the myth that they gained it only based on merit because this narrative creates more harm and deepens inequity in philanthropy.
The donor is always right. The donor-first-at-all-cost mentality essentially gives away all of the power and creates zero or very limited boundaries for the individual fundraiser and for the organization. If we continue to please and follow our donors it will be difficult to feel a sense of control and can have a negative impact on the direction of our program and mission.
Donor centricity should trump everything else. Fundraisers should not subjugate ourselves, keep donors away from work and give away our power. Donors, by and large, don't want to be on this pedestal. Oftentimes it's the charity themselves that creates these recognition grids for donors. This fills the sector with unrealistic expectations from donors and later on drains the resources of the organization for stewardship and donor recognition.
Beneficiaries are deficient and need a donor to save them. Saviorism is when we center ourselves in the story instead of our beneficiaries. As fundraisers, we need to take an asset-based lens when we talk about our communities and beneficiaries that have identities that have been structurally disadvantaged from time immemorial, and we need to be thoughtful about how we position those.
Resources are scarce, and we must fight each other for funding. Charities and fundraisers are worried about losing donors because our sector is built on a scarcity mindset of there's never enough, and we're constantly having to go out there to earn the money to be able to survive. But the reality is there are tons of folks out there who think about your charity in a different way.

Favourite Quotes from Today’s Episode

Post your favourite quote on social media to share with us!

“We're not fundraising for fundraising's sake. We're fundraising to make a difference. And if we miss an opportunity to connect with the hearts and minds of our donors, to help them understand how they could change the behavior, not just give money, we're missing a massive opportunity to move our missions forward.” - Nicole M.

Resources from this Episodephilanthropyandequitycop@gmail.com

Nicole McVan | LinkedIn

Tanya Hannah Rumble, CFRE, MFA-P™ | LinkedIn

thegoodpartnership.com

This season's sponsor, Keela, has provided you with a FREE grant manager resource to keep track of all your grant applications.

Check it out and learn more about Keela here: https://www.keela.co/consultant/the-good-partnership

It's no secret that nonprofit organizations are a bit behind the times when it comes to technology. There are many reasons why nonprofits are slower to adopt new technologies, from a lack of funding and resources to the fact that many of them work on tight budgets, which can make tech seem like an unnecessary expense. Add to that the fact that as humans, we don’t generally like change - adopting new technology at small organizations can feel insurmountable.

In today's episode, I’m talking with Beth Kanter and Allison Fine, authors of the new book “The Smart Nonprofit: Staying Human-Centered in An Automated World” to share with us how we can integrate smart tech into nonprofit work to work more effectively and improve the impact of our work on the sector.

Myths that Beth and Allison want us to walk away from:

Smart technology is neutral and infallible. There are two things that can make smart tech biased. One is the assumptions and biases of the computer programmer who made the tool, and the second is the datasets on which the AI is being built, which it uses to learn and create its patterns.
Cost is the main barrier for nonprofits to using smart technology. The number one barrier for nonprofits is not the resources and cost of the tools but the knowledge about what the tech does and how to use it to free up time for staff to work effectively.

Beth and Allison’s tips on integrating smart tech into nonprofit work

Readiness: The first step is really pinpointing the pain point from the end user's point of view. We have to go through radical prioritization of what the pain point is and make it tiny especially if you're a smaller organization.
Setting: Know what are the tools or the technical partners that we should look for. The vendors that you select with smart tech have to have values that are aligned with your organization.
Mitigation of bias problems: Be aware of the bias of the tools and try to mitigate the problems that it creates. One way you mitigate is to ask the developers what assumptions were built into it, how it was tested and then you can test it yourself.
Go: This is where we start to implement. We implement it in really small pilots and set it up, learn as we go, and make it better.

Favourite Quotes from Today’s Episode

“It's really focusing on this reset, focusing on making the shift to smart tech so you can improve the culture of your organization. And both of them take this intentional work. And our dream is that organizations will embrace this because what we see if they do it again, this time to think time, to breathe a time to really improve the impact of their work on the sector. ” - Beth K.

“You don't start to solve problems with a tool. You start to solve problems in conversation with a large group of stakeholders.” Allison F.

Resources from this EpisodeThe Smart Nonprofit

The Good Partnership

This season's sponsor, Keela, has provided you with a FREE grant manager resource to keep track of all your grant applications.

Check it out and learn more about Keela here: https://www.keela.co/consultant/the-good-partnership

The Smart Nonprofit: Staying Human-Centered in An Automated World

We've all heard the stereotypes about giving and donors: They're wealthy, they're old, and they're white. But what if those stereotypes are wrong? Perhaps it’s time to rethink what you thought about giving and donors, and start to understand who is actually giving and how you can reach out to in order to raise more money for your nonprofit.

In today’s episode, we are going to debunk some of the myths that you know about giving and donors with Tim Sarrantonio, Director of Corporate Brand, NeonOne. NeonOne provides nonprofits and social good organizations with unified tools and services they need to help fulfill their mission. The team works hard to help social good organizations raise more money and build sustainable, long-term growth with software, services, and resources.

Myths that Tim wants us to walk away from:

People with higher income are more generously. Regardless of your income level, most people on average give between 1.5% to 2% of their income. People who earn more are NOT more generous!
Philanthropy is for white people. The Urban Institute has done some multi-year analyses and the Federal Reserve in the US has done this too, where black families in the United States are more likely to give higher percentages of their annual income to charity versus other demographics.
Giving makes people uncomfortable. When somebody gives, the brain's dopamine centers activate at a higher rate than either receiving or entering into a more transactional relationship. It’s important to understand that people actually WANT to give.

Tim’s highlights on individual giving

Showing gratitude: When creating a thank you note for your donors or designing an appeal, always focus on the person and not the transaction. You can highlight the generosity of the person instead of the amount of donation they gave. For example, instead of saying thank you for your generous gift - try thank you for being generous.
When do people give: Neon One found that Thursday is the day of the week that donors are most likely to give online and during the early afternoon around 11:30.
Geographic analysis: Neon One also reports that donors are more likely to give to organizations that serve their local community. Small shops should look into the geography and demographics of the people who live in their community.

Favourite Quotes from Today’s Episode

Post your favourite quote on social media to share with us!

“And the best piece of actionable advice I can give a small shop is when you're designing something like an appeal, for instance, when you're writing your thank you notes or the emails that go out or thinking about when you are talking to somebody, ask yourself, am I looking at the person or am I looking at the transaction?”

“ But ultimately, all people are generous. There are just different ways that they're showing their generosity. ”

Resources from this Episode
Neon One Individual Giving Report

Neon One Resources

The Good Partnership

This season's sponsor, Keela, has provided you with a FREE grant manager resource to keep track of all your grant applications.

Check it out and learn more about Keela here: https://www.keela.co/consultant/the-good-partnership

Having a “positive” relationship with your donors is a cornerstone of fundraising success. It's the key to building trust and earning loyalty, which is why so many fundraisers and executive directors are afraid of saying the wrong thing or doing the wrong thing. But what if you could be completely honest with your donors? What would that look like?

With Rickesh Lakhani, we're discussing the importance of “honest fundraising'' in today's episode. Rickesh has over 15 years of experience in the social good sector, and he is the current Executive Director at Future Possibilities for Kids. He believes that we are all responsible for each other’s success.

Myths that Rickesh wants us to walk away from:

Donors should only know about the good things in your organization. Being honest with your donors about the reality of your organization will help them understand how your organization works and how you are spending your funds. It can bring them closer to your organization and help you achieve more of your goals.
Donations should only go to programs and services. Allowing donors to understand unrestricted funds and how they will support your services in the long term will help your organization become more sustainable.

Rickesh’s tips on starting an honest fundraising

Start with your team. Write down everything you wish donors knew about the work you do and tell them the realities of everything that happens within your organization that they aren't aware of.
Communicate with donors. Start having an honest conversation about fundraising with board members and annual donors, or with people you feel most comfortable with.
Make it a practice. Building trust and relationships with donors doesn’t happen overnight, that’s why you need to make sure to include them in the conversation to help them understand how the organization works and how they can help in a more meaningful way.

Favourite Quotes from Today’s EpisodePost your favourite quote on social media to share with us!

“When I say honest fundraising, it's not that we've been dishonest, but there are specific things that we have been withholding from donors and proactively sharing with them that are keeping things the way they are and what we're wanting all this change we’re wanting donors to invest in the space differently and have a different relationship. And we're holding back on some of these conversations that we're all having amongst ourselves and we're not having with donors. And so I was like, how are we going to expect them to understand and change what they're doing? If we, as the folks who are living this day-to-day, aren't letting them into that a little bit more?”

“Trust is built through the good times and the bad, to the vulnerability. ”

Resources from this Episode
Rickesh’s Twitter

Rickesh’s LinkedIn

The Good Partnership

This season's sponsor, Keela, has provided you with a FREE grant manager resource to keep track of all your grant applications.

Check it out and learn more about Keela here: https://www.keela.co/consultant/the-good-partnership

Changes to the charitable sector? Indeed.

You’ve probably felt those changes over the last few years—nothing like a pandemic to shake things up. You might have some anecdotes or stories of how things have changed, but today we’re diving into some of the research.

In this episode, I’m talking with Jacob O’ Connor, Senior Vice President of Charity Engagement at Canada Helps, to discuss The Giving Report 2022 which highlights insights and generational giving trends facing Canada’s charitable sector that are taking place as charities are still struggling with demands and challenges from the ongoing pandemic, and now significant challenges brought about by historic inflation rates. Don’t worry if you’re not in Canada - guaranteed you will benefit from understanding these trends (because they are likely true where you are too).

Key findings:

Donors care about causes over affinity to specific organizations. The younger generation has a greater affinity for cause-based donations and support as opposed to giving to specific organizations. It’s important for nonprofits to know how they position themselves as contributors to these causes. This is a great opportunity for small organizations and underscores the importance of stewardship.
Digital is here to stay. CanadaHelps saw a 119% increase year over year in giving in year one of the pandemic. Moreover, The Giving Report 2022 highlighted that younger generations find new and strategic ways to give online such as cryptocurrencies and securities.

Jacob’s Key Insights on Giving Trends 2022

The giving gap: Donors aged 55+ are actually giving twice the amount of the 25 to 54 age group. This gap is growing and as a sector, we need to think about where we will be when this generation no longer has the capacity to give?
Cause-based donations: The way you tell your stories and engage with fundamental causes or movements, such as social justice and environmental issues, will be very important to the next generation of donors. It’s important to know where your organization stands and how are you helping specific causes?
Leveraging current trends and reports: Further than just education providing insights, this report serves as a call to action that Canadians need to step up and engage with the sector and support the sector that gives us so much.

Favourite Quotes from Today’s EpisodePost your favourite quote on social media to share with us!

“ Canadian charities have experienced rises in demand throughout the pandemic. In our panel, we saw that 11% of Canadians are accessing charitable services for their basic needs. This number, if the effects of the inflation pandemic don't change, expects to go up to 26%, which is staggering. Charities are already struggling to meet the demands and then the effects of inflation. We need to do more, we need Canadians to step up.”

“We want to amplify that the sector needs support. Even though the pandemic is coming hopefully to an end, inflation is here and yet it was a big drop over the last few years that we need to help the sector recover from. ”

Resources from this Episode
CanadaHelps.org

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When you’re a small nonprofit, it’s hard to say no to any opportunity that comes your way. After all, you want to make the most out of every single day and help as many people as possible. But if you try to take on too much, it can be a detriment to your effectiveness as an organization. When should you say yes vs. no?

We're talking with Dr. William Clark, founder of Eli Patrick & Co. which provides fundraising consulting to nonprofits. He has over 15 years of experience working in city government, nonprofit administration, and public housing operations. Dr. Clark assists nonprofits with developing sustainable revenue strategies and identifying talent acquisition solutions for growing businesses.

Myths that Dr. Clark wants us to walk away from:

Saying NO will cost you opportunities: In making important decisions, we need to think about things more intentionally rather than being driven by the need of the moment, which is most likely revenue for small nonprofits.
You are always in control: If things didn't work out in your favour, remember that there are forces bigger than you that may have contributed to this as well, forces you couldn't and will never be able to control. You must accept the fact that you will not always be in complete control.

Dr. Clark’s Tips on the power of "no"

Know your capacity. One of the questions you can ask yourself is: Can you do the job? It is a question of skill, talent, money and partnerships and everything that goes into running a successful business, or non-profit.
Communicate. Communicate consistently with folks that you work with, your consultant, your colleagues, and your board to get different perspectives and advice.
When you said no when you should’ve said yes. Every organization has its ups and downs. It's fine to rethink things and reevaluate how we proceed so that we can build up this account of goodwill with the various people with whom we were doing business.

Favourite Quotes from Today’s EpisodePost your favourite quote on social media to share with us!

“Giving yourself space to grieve, grieve in the moment, grieve in potential loss, grieve in potential failure, grieving the fact that your view of yourself is not necessarily consistent with the situation. Grieve in the fact that some people may look at you slightly differently and it might not be favourable because of changes that they may blame you for. So I think a lot of it is just processing through. And as you've worked through that, you don't want to stay in that moment way too long, because there's still work to be done. There are still clients who are looking to you for services and resources and they need you. And so you need to process through these things, but get up, dust yourself off, get back on that horse. Learn from what happened and grow ”

“ When it comes to yes-no, it’s just understanding the moment and living in that moment and responding as best as you can. And lastly being okay with that response. ”

Resources from this Episode
drwilliampclark.com

The Good Partnership

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We constantly hear that if you don't have a fundraising board, you won't be able to raise funds as an organization. I don't believe that! In fact, I’ve had a lot of fundraising success without board fundraising. I know - call all the “gurus” and report this sacrilegious statement!

How do we build a board that is all the things we require in leadership (subject matter experts, lived experience, community members) AND get them to love and embrace fundraising?

In this episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, we talk to Elizabeth Abel, about how to motivate board members to fundraise. Elizabeth is the Senior Vice President at CCS Fundraising, a global fundraising consulting firm for nonprofits and an instructor at the University of Pennsylvania. She has designed, advised, and directed development initiatives and capital campaigns that have collectively raised nearly half a billion dollars, positively impacting tens of thousands of lives.

Myths that Elizabeth wants us to walk away from: Board members can’t be involved in fundraising: Board members can be one of the greatest assets to any nonprofit's fundraising efforts because they champion your mission, engage their networks and provide financial support. * Board members should focus on major gifts: You need to figure out how your board members want to be involved in fundraising, find out what are their strengths? And then how can you create that synergy that allows them to be fantastic multipliers and fundraising ambassadors? * Corporate giving is better than individual giving:* According to Giving USA 2021: The Annual Report on Philanthropy for the Year 2020, individuals drove 69% of total giving in the US, which was about $324 billion. Corporations are estimated to have declined by 6.1% in 2020 to only about 17 billion. So there is a huge gap between where people think corporations are and where they are relative to individuals.

Elizabeth’s Tips on Engaging Board Members to Fundraise Fundraising Ambassadors. They bring a diverse set of experiences and skills and talents. They are multipliers of all that you're doing programmatically, operationally, and of course your philanthropy. * Recruiting and Engaging Boards. Many people just don't necessarily know what's expected of them so you can begin with setting expectations and educating board members in their role in fundraising. * Best practices.* When considering how our board members can support our fundraising efforts, we want to prioritize relationship building. Elizabeth uses small events to engage and connect with donors as an example.

Favourite Quotes from Today’s Episode“It's figuring out the ways in which your board members want to be involved in fundraising, what are their strengths? And then how can we create that synergy that allows them to be fantastic multipliers and fundraising ambassadors? ”

Resources from this EpisodeElizabeth LinkedIn

Elizabeth Instagram

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What makes a good leader? If you’re an executive director in a nonprofit, you're probably thinking about how you can be more effective and motivate your team to create a bigger impact. But what are these qualities you should have to inspire others?

To learn more about what makes a great leader, I sat down with Mathieu Yuill, Founder of Leading with a Nice, consultancy that develops leaders. Mathieu has more than 25 years of experience in the field of communication and marketing, as well as a master's degree in management and leadership.

Myths that Mathieu wants us to walk away from:

Leaders only give orders. Leaders who inspire their employees are those who practice empathy, listen, and genuinely care about their employees' well-being rather than just the work.
Leaders should hide any weaknesses. Honesty and trust are qualities of a good leader that requires being vulnerable, assessing one's own weaknesses, and communicating them to one's team.

Mathieu’s GET HG: qualities of leaders that inspire

Gratitude: Checking in with your staff and simply asking how things are going or offering them help is a way to express gratitude because you trust the person to do their job. You're also acknowledging that they're working hard and that you appreciate it.
Empathy: Stepping into other people’s shoes to understand their circumstances. A leader who shows empathy toward their employees reduces employee absenteeism and has a more productive team.
Trust: It is all about intent. By communicating your desired outcome to your team and trusting them to choose the best path forward.
Honesty: It is about understanding your own weaknesses and releasing control.
Generosity: It is simply a matter of making time to mentor your employees and check in with them.

Favourite Quotes from Today’s Episode

Post your favorite quote on social media to share with us!

“So if you have a report who's working on a project often what we do is we'll come by and be like, “Hey, you know, are you done with that yet? Or how far along are you?” That's checking up and that's like a doctor's appointment. Nobody likes it. But instead, check-in and be like, “Hey, how are things going? Is there anything I can help you with?” That's actually showing gratitude and trust cause you're trusting the person they're doing their job and you're also acknowledging that they're working hard and you recognize like, “Hey, can I help you? Like I get this is a job that might need an extra set of hands.” That's a very simple way to show gratitude.”

”We need to understand how to communicate with each other and that's really the first base, the barrier to entry is do you know how to communicate with each other? ”

Resources from this Episode

Leading with Nice

Crucial Conversations

Culture Code

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Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High, Second Edition

A lot of people think that once they decide they want to start a capital campaign, they can just jump right in and start raising money. But it takes a lot of planning and preparation to make sure your campaign is successful. So, how do you know if your small nonprofit is ready to launch a capital campaign?

On today's episode, we’re talking all about Capital Campaigns with Sabrina Walker-Hernandez, Certified Consultant, Coach, Facilitator & Best Selling Author helping small nonprofits build relationships that convert into more donations. She's worked for 25 years in our sector from direct services operations all the way to executive leadership, and she took an organization with an annual budget of 750,000 to 2.5 million a year operations and launched a $12 million capital campaign in the US's third poorest county.

Myths that Sabrina wants us to walk away from: You can start a capital campaign right away: If you are a small nonprofit, you need to build your annual campaign before you go into a capital campaign because capital campaigns are all about individuals and relationships. And you want those individuals connected to you and your work before you ask them to dig deep into their pockets. * You can ask any of your donors to give to your capital campaign:* Yes - you can ask each and every donor to give towards your capital campaign (it’s not just about the big gifts), BUT you really need to have a relationship with them before you go and ask them for a special gift. You can't take a person from zero to $250,000.

Sabrina’s thoughts on Capital Campaign Relationships first. Start with individual giving as you build your foundation. You have to have a relationship with people before you go and ask them for the amount of money that you're going to need to complete a capital campaign. * Feasibility Study. Have a conversation with the individuals in the community to let them know about what you want to do and share your vision. Seek advice from people who want to be part of the campaign. * Identify the key person. The executive director doesn't necessarily have to lead, but you can identify a co-chair to lead the campaign or even hire a consultant that can guide you through the campaign. * Phases of the campaign.* You can start to secure your top gifts from your top donors and board members first. Depending on your strategy, you can also have mid-level, the corporate approach, and the foundation approach. Lastly, you can also have a community approach to get everyone involved.

Favourite Quotes from Today’s EpisodePost your favorite quote on social media to share with us!

“People will follow success. When we first launched this capital campaign and we talked about $12 million, people did not think it could be done. So we had to come out strong and so people will follow success, invest upfront in getting those top donors on board. It will break or make your capital campaign.”

Resources from this Episode
Supporting World Hope

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Charity vs. Nonprofit. You may or may not know that those two have different meanings! They both doing amazing, mission-centred work! But there are more rules and regulations for charities (if you’re in the US, that’s a 501c3) which means it takes a lot more time and resources to get going.

Many nonprofits have aspirations to become a charity, but one of the biggest questions I get asked along the way is - “how do we fundraise without charitable status?” You see - nonprofits cannot issue tax receipts to donors.

Now - the short answer is that donors are not giving for the receipts.

But the long answer is that there is a formal structure - in Canada called a Shared Platform and in the US Fiscal Sponsorship - that allows emerging nonprofits to issue tax receipts and then some!

There are lots of reasons why this model is growing in popularity. So much so that Mackenzie Scott herself invested in today’s podcast guest’s organization - to the tune of $18.9 million.

Join me for this conversation all about Shared Platforms with Lizzie Howell, Director, Shared Platform at MakeWay. With MakeWay’s shared platform, changemakers share a suite of centralized organizational supports, and coaching when needed, so more time and money can go towards building strong, vibrant, just communities and a healthier planet.

Myths that Lizzie wants us to walk away from: Only big organizations can host a Shared Platform. MakeWay is unique in that they are the only Shared Platform host that has gone through an audit - so they have formalized the operations of Shared Platforms in accordance with Canada Revenue Agency. However, there are many smaller charities that also act as a Shared Platform for nonprofits that are aligned with their work. * It’s just about issuing tax receipts.* Established Shared Platforms do much more than allow your nonprofit to issue receipts for donations. They offer structure and support to help grow your impact.

Lizzie’s thoughts around Shared Platform Support: As part of a shared platform, you can have access to a wide range of operational administrative support on the backend including financial management, human resources, grounds administration, charitable compliance, risk management. You get to focus on doing the work that you want to do, and create change in the community. * Efficient: It's a way to operate within the charitable sector that's far more cost and time effective than becoming a new charity. * Expertise:* MakeWay has a great governance structure set up to support projects where they each have a steering committee who are responsible for providing strategic advice and direction for projects.

Favourite Quotes from Today’s Episode“We really value the autonomy of projects to be able to make their own decisions around things like compensation, and again, different groups have, different values in terms of who they hire and what that looks like and at MakeWay, overrule, we have a commitment to equity, to economic well being, and we realize that we're in a position where we were providing guidance advice, and of course, with the legal employer.”

Resources from this EpisodeMakeWay

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Nonprofit leaders are always trying to do more with less. There never seems to be enough time in the day or enough resources to handle everything that comes along, but you still have to manage and lead your organization effectively.

In today’s episode, we’re going to talk about leadership and management with Kishshana Palmer. Kishshana is an international speaker, trainer, and coach with a 20+ year background in fundraising, marketing, and talent management. When an organization wants to grow, find and retain people on their team, raise money, and more she is the fairy godmother they have on speed dial.

Myths that Kishshana wants us to walk away from: You can do it all. As a leader, you don't need to push yourself until you're exhausted because you think you have to. Invest in the systems and people around you that will allow you to let go of things and focus on what you do best. * You don’t have enough time.* Understanding how you work, what time of day it is, what fuels you, and where you busy yourself, so you don't have to do your work, this is everything you need to know if you want to regain control of your calendar.

Kishshana’s tips on leadership and management Taking rest and break: We have to rethink the way we approach rest. We need to release what used to work. And now start thinking about what is going to satisfy you in your adult life in this new season.The idea of bringing in play into the work is so important in order for us to start to grab those small pieces of reset that we need. * You have agency and control: You are the CEO of your responsibilities within the organization, regardless of your title in your organization. Understanding that you're actually in control of a lot more than you might think is critical when navigating the power dynamics within your organization. * Leveraging resources:* Leveraging tools and systems, developing your people and spending those dollars so that as you continue to grow. As you continue to deepen roots, you'll do so in a way that's healthy, that continues to attract folks who are there for longevity who want to have ties both to their work and ties to the community in a different kind of way, and who are healthy at work.

Favourite Quotes from Today’s EpisodePost your favorite quote on social media to share with us!

“Let it be the last year that at 2022, that I utter this foolishness because I want to be in a place where if something were to happen to me or if I just wanted to take a darn break that I have hired capable folks who can take on the work that needs to be done, to be able to move the ball down the field.”

Resources from this Episode
Kishshanaco.com

Kishshana’s LinkedIn

Kishshana's Instagram

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The pandemic has changed the way that many teams work. More people are working from home, or in a hybrid arrangement. And as we rethink our culture, many of us wonder how we can cultivate a sense of connection and create a unique and meaningful team culture in this ever-changing world?

In today’s episode, we’re going to talk about how to build team culture with Ashlee Livingstone, CEO of Our Forté. She has built her career creating curated and memorable experiences for people, and works collaboratively with leaders in building stronger cultures to help teams thrive.

Myths that Ashlee wants us to walk away from: Building team culture costs a lot of money. Applying humans first approach in teams does not have to cost you money. It just has to cost you time to focus on engaging with your team and making them feel that they matter. * Team culture is all about company events.* You need to do the foundational work ahead of time to build that team and show ongoing connection with them so that when it's time to have a year end celebration or a halfway point celebration, people are actually excited to go.

Ashlee’s tips on developing teams with EDGE Engagement: Engagement is about connecting with your team and how are they connecting with each other? It is important for leaders to keep their current team members engaged and feeling connected to their colleagues. * Development: Development looks like mentorship. It looks like understanding what your team member's goals and future is and what they want, not just what you see in them. * Gratitude: To show gratitude you have to really know your team and you can ask them questions such as how do you like to be appreciated? What motivates you? * Experience:* Experience is about making your team feel empowered and heard. Helping them to enhance their experience at work.

Favourite Quotes from Today’s EpisodePost your favorite quote on social media to share with us!

“We can easily replace that person, people are replaceable, that mentality, even if you say it a couple of times, or you try and say it jokingly, that seeps into people. And so we guess the work that they're doing matters, but if they think they're replaceable or you can easily replace them, that's where they're not gonna feel connected to what they're doing.”

“At the end of the day, people want to be seen and they want to be heard and they want to know that they matter.”

Resources from this EpisodeOurForte.ca

Teams with Edge Podcast

Ashlee Livingstone’s LinkedIn

Ashlee Livingstone Instagram

The Good Partnership

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Working with a consultant can be beneficial for nonprofits. They enable organizations to focus on keeping things running smoothly and efficiently by freeing up time for the bigger picture. But how do you find the right consultant for your organization?

In today’s episode, we’re going to talk about working with consultants with Jess Campbell, Founder and CEO of Out in the Boons and a dear friend of mine. She is a trained nonprofit fundraiser who has worked with big and small organizations and runs a consulting business where she helps organizations to connect with the right consultants to get the help they need.

Myths that Jess wants us to walk away from: Consultants only develop the plan. Some consultants like Jess, are committed to doing things differently. They are out there to help organizations not only get the plan, but also understand it and have the tools and resources they need to carry it out. * Nonprofit consultants are always expensive.* There is a large range in price for nonprofit consultants. The right consultant will have a pricing structure that works for you and your organization's budget.

Jess’s tips on working with consultants * Outsourcing helps you focus on your mission: Wearing multiple hats is common in our sector, but trying to do everything at once can lead you and your team to burnout. Getting help from a consultant allows your organization to do other tasks and focus on what really matters. * Leveling of expectations: Before you decide to work with a consultant, Jess suggests that it is critical to identify the outcome that you want out of consulting, what your expectations and needs are to make this work effective for your organization. * Matchmaking: In her own program, Jess uses matchmaking to match nonprofits with consultants based on their specific needs and areas of expertise. She also stresses the importance of finding the right match between the consultant's personality, working style, and the nonprofit's team.

Favourite Quotes from Today’s EpisodePost your favorite quote on social media to share with us!

“And like you said, your experience working with coaches and consultants when you were in-house, I had a very similar experience. They came in, they wrote a plan, and then they left and I wanted to be more hands on. It's not in my nature to really set it and forget it as they say. And I think what I've learned in doing this for the last five or so years, is that it's so much more than a plan that folks need. It's really the execution. And I know that working with coaches and consultants can be such an investment. And so I've committed myself to doing it differently, which is really helping folks, not just get the plan, but understand the plan and then have the tools and resources to execute the plan.”

Resources from this Episodeoutintheboons.me/the-rolodex
Jess Campbell Instagram
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If you’re a regular listener, you will know that we love exploring brain science. And I am so excited to be exploring that in the context of branding. While I’ve been diving deeper into my own study of neuroscience, I haven't seen it applied to branding ever before.

In today’s episode, Chloé Nwangwu, Brand Scientist, Digital Diplomacy Consultant, and Conflict Mediator, shares with us the brain science behind brands and how you can leverage that to connect more with your audience and create more impact with your small nonprofit.

Myths that Chloe wants us to walk away from:

You can’t fundraise without rebranding. Before rebranding, think about how it contributes to the memorability of your brand and how it impacts your mission or the work that you do because if it doesn't, it's best not to do it.
Branding is about your personal preference. Knowing the preferences of your organization's most important stakeholders is essential when developing a brand for your nonprofit. If you're familiar with these patterns and trends in your industry, you'll have a better idea of how to stand out from the crowd.

Chloe’s thoughts around brain science branding

Brand vs Branding: A brand is simply a system of ideas that influences the behaviour of others. Branding is brand assets that are memorable. So the job that your branding is meant to do is meant to capture attention because that's how the memory process starts. And then it's meant to be stored within the right part of your memories, your memory network.
Brain Science of Branding: The definition of brand building from a scientific perspective is creating memories for people to recall or remember. If you want your brand and your branding to be effective to do the job that you need them to do, if you are looking to have the kind of impact in the world that shapes the future, repetition is required.
Behavioural Design: We figure out the steps that our stakeholders usually take between where they are now and the kind of behaviour that we would like to see from them. We can create an effective branding strategy once we know what the uncomfortably specific behaviour is and once we understand where they currently are.

Favourite Quotes from Today’s Episode

Post your favorite quote on social media to share with us!

“A brand's branding is really anything that can serve as a memory anchor for that brand. That just brings us back to the idea of memorability and attentional capture. If it captures attention, it stands a chance of getting past the brain's filters, which means it stands a chance of getting sorted into the right part of the memory network. Once it does that, it can serve as a memory anchor so that when people are making decisions about who to vote for, who to donate to, who to support, who to buy from, you stand a chance of being on that short list of people that they're considering are their considerations.”

Resources from this Episode

NobiWorks.com

Nobiworks Instagram

Chloe Ngwangwu LinkedIn

The Good Partnership

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These days it's easy to feel like we're not passionate about our work. Very often we get into the sector because we are passionate about changing the world. And then something happens over time and we lose that passion. And now we layer over COVID and isolation (and now a new global conflict) and all the other things, and that passion feels like a very distant memory.

In today’s episode, Shilbee Dhalla-Kim, Passion and Social Enterprise Coach, talks about how we can reignite the fire within us and find balance in doing our passion without burning out.

Myths that Shilbee wants us to walk away from:

Passion is always a good thing: When there’s only one thing that makes us feel good and we give all our energy to it but less energy to other important aspects of our life, this kind of passion becomes obsessive and not harmonious.
Passion is always about your profession: Very often we determine our worth based on our job. And then what happens is our passion for our job becomes the only thing that we identify as a passion. And then we don't find worthiness and meaning and value for other elements of our lives, where passions can also exist.

Shilbee’s thoughts around Passion

Harmonious vs Obsessive: To recover from passion burnout, you need to identify which of the passions in your life currently, or passions that you had before, may have lost their essence. Which of these passions would you describe as harmonious? Or obsessive?
Practice detaching our identity to the passions: Attachment of our identity to passion can prevent us from seeing other things that we might be passionate about. When our passion is so linked to our identity, it can create fear and prevent us from doing something new or different. We must be mindful of how our realities and beliefs might come up to prevent us from exploring other things that we are passionate about.
Embodied values: We need to identify what are those values that will help us stay anchored and grounded towards this better world. Passion can be one of our access points to help clarify our embodied values. We need to ask ourselves, what's the value that I'm willing to fight for?

Favourite Quotes from Today’s Episode

Post your favorite quote on social media to share with us!

“So we determine our worth based on our job. And then what happens is our passion for our job becomes the only thing that we identify as a passion. And then we don't find worthiness and meaning and value for other elements of our lives, where passions also can exist, like me drinking this tea and drinking it mindfully and enjoying this to me, activates passions. But I think we don't give ourselves permission or that time and space or the language to call it that.“

“ We need to shift those values in order to create systems and structures and policies and laws and cultures and relations that can ensure that all of us can not only survive but thrive. And so, what are those values that will help us stay anchored and grounded towards this better world? I believe passion can be one of our access points to help clarify our embodied values.”

Resources from this Episode

Shilbee.com

Shilbee Kim Instagram

The Good Partnership

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Strategic planning is one of those seemingly boring things that we need to do every once in a while to have a vision and clarity around where our organization is going. But I've never seen it done as an exciting or innovative process in most small organizations.

In today’s episode, Jennifer Riel, IDEO’s global director of strategy (and probably one of the smartest people I’ve met), talks about how you can actually use that process to think about innovation and really have a strong impact on your organization.

Myths that Jennifer wants us to walk away from:

Strategy is about updating old plans: Doing the status quo may look risk-free, but it may be extremely risky because the world has changed, or we lack the capabilities, or whatever the case may be. Holding the same standard hinders us from seeing other possibilities that could lead us to where we want to be.
Strategy is all about budget and a thick binder full of initiatives: Strategy is a set of choices. And a choice means yes to some things and a no to other things, giving things up, trading things off. Real choices. And those choices are about how you are going to try to win in a particular way.

Jennifer’s thoughts around Strategy

“Winning” for nonprofits: Strategy is about making choices that will allow you to win and for nonprofits, winning means achieving ambitions and creating the change that we want to see in the world. Jennifer encourages not for profits to think of choices about what they can uniquely do and what should they uniquely do to create the change that they are after?
Start with human-centeredness: Understanding the context in which you are operating is important for nonprofits. You need to know what's happening in the community, what are the folks that you are working with, and what is it that is working for them or not? And use that to define the problem to be solved.
Competitive advantage: For nonprofits, the competitive advantage is a reason a donor would give you the dollar instead of someone else, a reason to believe that you can achieve the outcome you're after more effectively or less expensively than someone else could.
Knowing Your Capabilities: You need to know the capabilities and systems that you will need as an organization in order to implement your strategy. Be honest about where you are.

Favourite Quotes from Today’s Episode

Post your favorite quote on social media to share with us!

“The starting place is to use your existing understanding of the world, your collective wisdom as a leadership team to say what is the problem we need our new strategy to solve. Start there, then explore the possibilities. So don't try to get to that answer right away, diverge a little bit and explore different playing fields, different potential sources of advantage. Those are the two fundamental questions. “

Resources from this Episode

Playing to Win by Roger Martin

Jennifer Riel LinkedIn

Jennifer Riel Twitter

The Good Partnership

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Playing to Win: How Strategy Really Works

LinkedIn is known for being a professional social media platform that can help you find a job and make stronger connections with individuals in your industry. However, it’s also a great place for nonprofits to make new connections or do prospect research, or find people who can help or volunteer.

In today’s podcast, Dee Boswell-Buck, Digital Marketing Strategist and Consultant of Boswell-Buck Creative, will talk about how nonprofits can leverage LinkedIn to advance their mission and grow visibility online.

Myths that Dee wants us to walk away from:

LinkedIn is only good for job seekers: LinkedIn is also a great way to build a business, share your content, connect with individuals who are aligned with your organization, start a conversation and move those conversations off of the profile.
You can’t create meaningful connections on LinkedIn: If you are looking to build your online network, LinkedIn is a great place to start. In building meaningful connections, you have to be genuine with your message and engage intentionally with your audience.

Dee’s thoughts around leveraging LinkedIn

Optimize Your Profile. Choose a great image for your profile picture. Include some important keywords about what you do in your banner or headline. In the summary section, highlight keywords about how you help, what your skills are, or other relevant services you offer.
Build genuine connections. With LinkedIn, you can make connections with individuals within your industry or who share similar interests. You can engage with them by learning more about them before you send personalized or intentional messages.
Be active and consistent. Dee suggests sharing content in your profile at least four times a week, by sharing relevant posts, and spending time to engage with your connections.

Favourite Quotes from Today’s Episode

Post your favorite quote on social media to share with us!

“There's no set of rules, but you want to spend time on LinkedIn where you're actually engaging with those who you have connected with, or, you know, when you're surfing through engaging with posts that you like, because when you are engaging on content of others, and even if you're not connected with them, then that opens it up for others to connect with you. ”

Resources from this Episode

deeboswellbuck.com

The Good Partnership

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Have you ever seen this in an organization? Maybe the executive director or founding executive director leaves and they hire someone to replace them, but that person may last six or eight months because the transition is just too hard. It's too hard to take over from long-standing ED or a founding ED or maybe you are the ED and you're really struggling with how to create a succession plan where your organization can be in really good hands after you leave.

In today’s podcast, Jane Garthson, President of Garthson Leadership Centre and experienced interim executive director, will talk about how interim leadership can help nonprofits navigate change and organizational transition.

Myths that Jane wants us to walk away from:

Internal promotion is always beneficial for the organization. Most small organizations do not have a lot of people who are ready to step into an executive director role and promoting someone without enough skills and experience to handle an executive role can be overwhelming for the person and can have a negative impact on the organization.
Interim leaders are just like consultants. Executive consultants always give advice to organizations, but interim leaders not only give advice to the board but also become part of the management team that implements the goals and objectives of the organization.

Jane’s thoughts around Interim leadership

Navigating change An interim executive’s role is to help any organization have a smooth transition when there’s a need to recruit a new executive. Interim leaders make sure that the organization continues to operate and do its mission, that board members have the time to make decisions on the changes and to make the new executive successful in the role.
Managing relationships Being hired externally, not all people in the organization will like the interim executive. If the leader speaks the truth about an issue, it should be related to how it is affecting the mission and how it reflects the organization’s values.
Success Measures It is important that the board member and interim ED be always on the same page. It is the role of the board to make sure that the ED understands what is expected of them, but also listens when the interim ED has any suggested changes.

Favourite Quotes from Today’s Episode

Post your favorite quote on social media to share with us!

“An interim executive forces them basically to accept change and be resilient and ready for more change. New person comes, they're not fighting that same level of we've always done it that way. They've seen change and they've seen that some of it is at least starting to work. ”

Resources from this Episode

Janegarthsonleadership.ca

The Good Partnership

Our friends at Keela are offering you 40% off your first year's subscription of their donor database.

Click the link to book a demo: https://www.keela.co/partner/certified-partner?ref=cindy72

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Fundraising is all about mindset. And if you don't believe that, chances are actually that you need to work on your mindset. If you've heard me speak about my fundraising origin story, you’ll know that I have loved fundraising right out of the gate, but I know that that's not the case for everyone. And so today you're going to hear from someone who hated fundraising and learned to love it by focusing on changing the mindset.

Mallory Erickson, CEO & Creator of the Power Partners Formula, joins us in the podcast to discuss how you can change your mindset about fundraising and raise more money for your nonprofit.

Myths that Mallory wants us to walk away from:

Mindset has nothing to do with fundraising. How we feel and think about fundraising ultimately impacts how we show up and the results that we see. We can overcome the barriers to fundraising success by reframing our mindset and developing new habits.
Great fundraisers don’t get rejected. Good fundraising is a job that involves regular rejection and it takes a lot of intentional building of resilience to be able to not internalize that rejection or make it about you, or have it relate to your stories about yourself that get in the way and keep you in a paralysis and perfectionist state.

GAIL: four primary types of thoughts that hold you back from successful fundraising

Gremlin or self-critic is the voice in your head that says “I am not good enough. I am not smart enough. I am not pretty enough. I am not enough” which plagues all of us.
Assumptions this is the result of our belief that when something has happened before, we believe it's going to happen again. For example, one donor didn't give last year, now we think that they're not going to give this year. But in reality, the data shows the exact opposite.
Interpretations are the stories that we make up about someone’s behavior that is not based on facts.
Limiting beliefs are things that society puts on us that restrict our ability to think outside the box. The hundred percent model is a great example of a limiting belief, where we have been trained to think that there’s too much money to overhead. This is simply the limiting belief that we are all continuing to perpetuate, even as fundraisers. However, once you begin to challenge these beliefs, they disappear.

Favourite Quotes from Today’s Episode

“Good fundraising is a job that involves regular rejection and it takes a lot of intentional building of resilience to be able to not internalize that rejection or make it about you, or have it relate to your, um, stories about self, um, that that often sort of get in the way and keep us in a sort of paralysis and perfectionist state. ”

Resources from this Episode

What the Fundraising Podcast

Power Partners Formula

The Good Partnership

Our friends at Keela are offering you 40% off your first year's subscription of their donor database.

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Major gift fundraising can be very intimidating for so many small organizations. Oftentimes we think we don't know anyone who can give, or we think of a major gift as a hundred thousand dollars where very often it can be 500 or a thousand dollars for your organization. But I think the most intimidating part of major gift fundraising is the idea of a face-to-face ask that gets people running and hiding. I think that is truly the number one thing that many people think of as the worst part of fundraising.

In today’s podcast, Rhea Wong, experienced nonprofit consultant and coach, will talk about how you can make bigger asks for bigger gifts to fully fund your small nonprofit’s vision and mission.

Myths that Rhea wants us to walk away from:

You can ask anyone to give. Building a relationship with donors is a process. To determine whether they align with your organization’s mission, you must first identify and understand the type of person you are approaching, their capacity to give and know their values and interests.
Only rich people have the capacity to give. Rhea suggests that the best way to know whether someone is inclined to give to you is to simply ask. Just because someone has a hundred million dollars doesn't mean they're going to give you a hundred million dollars. These donors could give you a thousand or five hundred dollars if your mission does not resonate with them.

Rhea’s thoughts around major gift fundraising

Fundraising is just a math problem. It's asks minus no’s equal yeses. The more asks you put out, the more nos you're going to get, but the more yeses you're going to get.
Learn to listen. In conversations with donors, remember the 75:25 ratio, where 75% donors talking and 25% you listening. People who are nervous about money, about the conversation, they overtalk, they create a deck as a crutch but there's no substitute for being present and being vulnerable and asking really good questions to people.
Give value. Every time you talk to someone and you're asking them for something, you're probably not going to get callbacks. But you can cultivate a relationship where you are also offering value and that could be in the form of companionship, giving information, opportunity to get more engaged or involved in a meaningful volunteer experience. Every meeting should be about engaging further, but that engaging further, it doesn't have to be about them giving it can also be about you giving.

Favourite Quotes from Today’s Episode

“ I build a whole business around major gift fundraising training, and I'm like, here's the big secret you guys, I'm training you to have a conversation. That's the secret. Like, it's not like some deck, it's not magical words. It's not like anything other than like, can I as a human being have, sit with you and understand who you are as a human being. And see if the thing that you care about is the thing that we're doing. And if so, can we build something together? Like, that's it, that's the big secret, right? ”

Resources from this Episode

Rhea Wong Consulting

The Good Partnership

Our friends at Keela are offering you 40% off your first year's subscription of their donor database.

Click the link to book a demo: https://www.keela.co/partner/certified-partner?ref=cindy72

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Running a small nonprofit can be pretty lonely. Very often, whether we're the executive director or a senior manager or leader in the organization, we don't have peers in our role. In small shops, we're often the only ones responsible for our area of work. And that can be hard, especially when we feel like we might not be as competent, confident, or content with ourselves as leaders in the work that we do.

In today’s podcast, we’ve invited Kathy Archer, a leadership development coach, to share her insights on how to lead your small nonprofit with confidence.

Myths that Kathy wants us to walk away from:

Leaders know everything. The most effective leaders are learners and they not only focus on professional development, but they focus on personal development. You can continue to grow and learn all of the stuff you need in your organization, your field, your sector, but as you move up the ranks, there's a lot of inner growth that needs to happen as well.
Small nonprofit employees can’t have leadership skills. Leadership is not about job title or job description. This is about becoming the person you want to be and as a leader. You can think of your future career path and make a decision. Forget about the victim mindset and take responsibility for your own learning and growth.

Kathy’s Inner Guidance Cycle in Mastering Confidence as Nonprofit Leader

Pause – Stop and pay attention to your thoughts. As leaders, we're always on the go, like whacking moles or sending emails and going to a meeting and we're getting this done and taking this off the to-do list, but we never step back and stop. The first thing we should do is step back and pause.

Ponder – Consider the messages in your thinking. True pondering is forward motion. Stop a moment and check where you're attuned to your body or your body sensations, your thoughts, and where you want to be. Think about your goals. Ask yourself: how do I want to develop? What do other people say? What's the feedback? What are my own desires? What's the direction my career wants to go?

Pivot – Shift your thoughts. This is the stage to think about the direction you are going and to review your goals. Break it down into those more reasonable steps so it doesn’t feel overwhelming.

Proceed – Move forward again, intentionally and mindfully. This stage is actually doing the work you said you were going to do and recycling that process again. Pause, think about your goals, review, and proceed.

Favourite Quotes from Today’s Episode

Post your favorite quote on social media to share with us!

“The most effective leaders are learners and they not only focus on professional development, but they focus on personal development. And so you can continue to grow and learn all of the stuff you need in your organization, your field, your sector, but as you move up the ranks, there's a lot of inner growth that needs to happen as well. And so we have to align the two.”

Resources from this EpisodeKathyArcher.com

The Good Partnership

Our friends at Keela are offering you 40% off your first year's subscription of their donor database.

Click the link to book a demo: https://www.keela.co/partner/certified-partner?ref=cindy72

Support the show (https://paypal.me/smallnonprofit)

In today’s podcast episode, we’re going to talk about influencer marketing with Christina Edwards, the founder of Splendid Consulting, a marketing expert, and a coach, and she will show you how to work with influencers to grow your small nonprofit and amplify your social impact.

Myths that Christina wants us to walk away from:

Influencer marketing doesn’t work with small nonprofits. Influencers are used to being paid but a lot of these people, especially on Instagram or TikTok, want to be part of change, they want to be part of making their world or their community or their neighbourhood, a better place. We just need to find influencers who care and resonate with our cause and highlight the benefit to them.
Influencers need to have large followings. Micro-influencers, who have 900 or 2000 followers are also powerful and sometimes even more powerful than influencers with 5 million followers because that person usually has a higher engagement level and is also very specific to what they talk about and that could be specific to your location or a cause of your organization.

Christina’s thoughts around influencer marketing for nonprofits

Make it fun and easy. Working with an influencer should feel fun and easy for the influencer. If it's not fun and it's not easy, then this is a business opportunity and we need to pay them for their time. This should feel like an added value for them because they're partnering with you.
Connect with influencers. Meet them where they are. Start by warming up before you make the ask. Interact, share and comment on their content in an authentic way. This should be a partnership that feels well aligned, fun, and easy for both people. You can also develop relationships with influencer agencies, managers, or publicists.
Make influencers your brand ambassadors and partners. Influencers are used to being paid for and they typically need to create a lot of content. In this sense, it's not a heavy lift for them if you give them done-for-you assets. The second thing is that we're really highlighting the benefit to them. They want to be part of something that is giving back to the community. They want to be a part of this social change. Lastly, start with an initial ask for one time, where you bring them in on for one of your campaigns. So that might be two or three times a year.

Favourite Quotes from Today’s EpisodePost your favorite quote on social media to share with us!

“We didn't really talk about like the power of the influencer who has 900 followers or 2000 followers, because that person is so powerful. Arguably sometimes more powerful than the person who has 5 million followers because that person usually has eight engaged community that has a higher engagement level and is also very specific to what it is they talk about.”

Resources from this Episode

Splendid Consulting

The Good Partnership

Our friends at Keela are offering you 40% off your first year's subscription of their donor database.

Click the link to book a demo: https://www.keela.co/partner/certified-partner?ref=cindy72

Support the show (https://paypal.me/smallnonprofit)

Small nonprofit organizations face the same fundraising challenges over and over again. They often believe that one fundraising strategy can solve all of their problems and look to large organizations for inspiration. Better marketing, major gift campaigns, corporate sponsorship- they have so many ideas, but most of the time, those solutions are not aligned with what will raise their organization's money today and in the near future and grow it into a sustainable program.

If you want to learn how to raise more money for your small nonprofit that is aligned with your organization’s mission, our very own Cindy Wagman will share the key strategy to your fundraising success in our upcoming FREE online training on January 18, see you there!

Myths that Cindy wants us to walk away from

A donor meeting is an ask for money. Donor meetings are not an ask for money. It is not a pitch and it's not talking about your organization very much. This is an opportunity for you to get to know your donors, why they support you, what they care about. Maybe they even have feedback around your fundraising or ideas to help you raise more money.
It’s okay to make assumptions about your donors. We make so many assumptions about our donors based on our beliefs around fundraising and the value of our work, and almost always we're wrong. And then we use these wrong assumptions to then drive our fundraising strategy and decisions, which leads to us making bad fundraising decisions, which leads to us not raising the money we want to make or raise for the organization.

Cindy’s thoughts around fundraising

Get to know your donors. Most of our fundraising decisions are made by people sitting in a boardroom or around zoom and we make assumptions about our donors. And almost always these assumptions are wrong. We need to stop making assumptions and start verifying information about our supporters. The more information we know the more we can think about fundraising strategies that make sense for their donors and of course for our mission.
Donor meetings help you find more donors. By getting to know your donors, it will help you see patterns and learn about their values. They have probably shared these values with their friends and networks. Your donors are one of the biggest untapped resources in finding new donors to your cause so the more you get to know them and build that fundraising strategy in line with them, you're also creating opportunities for them to welcome more people and introduce your organization to more potential donors.
Communicate with donors. Getting to know your donor is an opportunity to understand how to communicate with them. By leveraging tools and technology, you can find ways to connect more with them.

Favourite Quotes from Today’s Episode

“We always get so caught up in elaborate fundraising plans and strategies, and we have to do these big things. It's not fundraising. Success comes from consistency and finding those points of intersection between your organization, its mission, and your donors.”

Resources from this Episode

Sign up for our FREE online training and get your donor meeting guide today

The Good Partnership

Our friends at Keela are offering you 40% off your first year's subscription of their donor database.

Click the link to book a demo: https://www.keela.co/partner/certified-partner?ref=cindy72

Support the show (https://paypal.me/smallnonprofit)

From lack of opportunity to develop leaders or train managers to pay transparency, there are so many issues and topics about HR that we never seem to have time to do or be able to make the proper investments. It's going to be a big problem for our sector because our work is only as good as our teams. Our organizations are only as strong as our culture.

In today’s podcast episode, Bruce MacDonald, President, and CEO of Imagine Canada, is going to share with us HR Intervals - a new and entirely free human resources toolkit specifically designed for nonprofit professionals to help them manage new challenges and opportunities in our work cultures.

Myths that Bruce wants us to walk away from

Small nonprofits can’t afford human resources. Some leaders may need to find some volunteers to help them out, whether it's a member of the board or just networking to find some HR folks. Start that conversation with the staff about the priorities and urgent needs of the organization and be willing to listen to them. A talented staff member who is inspired by this work could be the staff lead supported by the executive director. They can also access the information and resources they need to perform HR functions at their organizations with the new HR Intervals toolkit.
Nonprofits shouldn’t invest in human resources. The pandemic posed new challenges in terms of attracting and retaining employees. Private-sector firms are improving their ability to attract and retain talent, which has an impact on charities and nonprofits. Companies are now offering incentives to work there, and it is critical to ensure that we have the best possible workplaces, fair workplaces, reasonable, transparent compensation, that the culture is there, that this equity and equality is more vital than it has been in quite some time because of this competition for talent.

Bruce’s thoughts around HR Intervals for Nonprofits

Access to free information and resources. A vast majority of our sector does not have paid human resources talent inside their organizations, there can be a gap in terms of how organizations think about the management of their people. HR Intervals is made to bring a service that organizations can go to, to help leaders better understand, address, and guide people management in their organizations.
Be intentional. HR Intervals offers a variety of resources and practices that can be utilized by nonprofits to assess their organizations. They can leverage this information to develop realistic opportunities and set priorities that will create a better workplace for their employees and enable them to do their mission effectively.

Favorite Quotes for Today’s Episode

“I think the one thing I've learned is you can't do it all at the same time or can do it all at once, but over time can create a basket of offerings that make it a place where people want to be, want to go and want to stay.”

Resources from this Episode

HR Intervals
The Good Partnership

Our friends at Keela are offering you 40% off your first year's subscription of their donor database.

Click the link to book a demo: https://www.keela.co/partner/certified-partner?ref=cindy72

Support the show (https://paypal.me/smallnonprofit)

Have you ever felt overwhelmed, like giving up? Or maybe just really burnt out?

You are not alone! Nonprofit employees are always at risk of burnout. Pre-pandemic, our work was already demanding. And now the pandemic has left us even more stressed and with no capacity to deal with any more ups and downs.

In this episode, Kim Dechaine, Founder of Inner Powered Leaders, will discuss how we can change our mindset, and prevent and overcome burnout at work.

Myths that Kim wants us to walk away from:

Being busy and overwhelmed is normal. We have been told over the years that being busy and getting many things done is a good thing. But these are just the expectations of our society, especially in our sector. In reality, we need to listen to our body, and we need to take a break from work, slow down and take care of ourselves to prevent burning out.
We can’t control burnout. In order to find balanced energy, we need to have self-leadership which is learning to control our thoughts, feelings, and actions. We can have more balance and connection when we slow down, practice mindfulness, compassion, and gratitude.

Kim’s thoughts around Burnout

Mindfulness: Slowing down our minds and being quiet allows us to choose more of our energies. We can choose more creativity and flow. We can listen to what our body is telling us. Mindfulness helps us to focus on one thing at a time and we can train ourselves to be mindful by doing breathing exercises.
Compassion: Stepping into another person’s shoes. It is looking at their situation from their perspective without judgment. We need to practice breathing and quieting our minds first, which allows us to choose how we are going to react, what action we should take, and how we can look at a situation from someone else's perspective.
Practice Gratitude: Kim suggests practicing gratitude in three ways. First, by writing down three things that you are grateful for every day. This doesn’t have to be massive, we can find it with the small things. Second, saying you’re grateful right when the moment happens. Lastly, when you feel like you are in a difficult moment, you can pause for a moment and choose gratitude instead of reacting in a situation. Gratitude helps us to shift our perspective.

Favorite Quotes from Today’s Episode

“We have been taught this from a very young age that actually being busy and overwhelmed is normal. And it makes us a better person because we're doing more because we are, you know, look at how much work she gets done. Look at how the time, oh, look who spends the longest at work. Right. And it's almost like we applaud those actions and we cannot do that. And honestly, the only way we can change burnout is each of us taking control and deciding we're going to change this. We're going to change the outlook of society and the expectations.”

Resources from this Episode

Inner Powered Leaders
Kim Dechaine | LinkedIn
The Good Partnership

Our friends at Keela are offering you 40% off your first year's subscription of their donor database.

Click the link to book a demo: https://www.keela.co/partner/certified-partner?ref=cindy72

Support the show (https://paypal.me/smallnonprofit)

AI is one of those buzzwords that has recently taken over people's minds. We imagine AI as a futuristic, thrilling, and scary opportunity. But we don't always recognize how it affects us or our work. The cool thing is that AI is being brought into our sector and has a lot of potentials to help organizations leverage their data to do more focused work or analyze and find new opportunities.

In today’s podcast, our guest, Nejeed Kassam, Lawyer, CEO and Founder of Keela, an impact technology company, talks about AI and how it helps small nonprofits manage their donors, mobilize resources, and raise more money.

Myths that Nejeed wants us to walk away from:

AI will replace your job as a fundraiser. Nobody's coming for your jobs. You can't automate fundraising. That's not realistic. What you can do is allow folks to be less burnt out, allow them to prioritize more effectively, allow them to see patterns and focus their work in different ways.
Spending time on data has no benefits for your organization. Quality data has many benefits for organizations. Aside from compliance, data helps organizations to prepare for donor meetings, and then to use it for reporting and analytics.

Nejeed’s thoughts around AI and Fundraising

AI predictions help drive decision-making. Using patterns from data that you have collected will help drive your decision-making. Data can tell your organization a story about your donors that is not recognizable when we don’t see the big data picture. It can also help you identify ask levels or make decisions about where you spend your time and energy.
Forecasting helps fundraisers. Understanding forecasting can help you understand your organization’s programming realities. It can understand whether you’re on track for where you want to be. You can make decisions when you have an idea of where you're going. It also helps identify when to ask for support, how much to ask for, and more.
Benchmarking for fundraising. Data helps your organization to measure efficacy and focus on thinking about how you are doing relative to your goals. Being able to check yourself, being able to hold yourself as an organization and as a fundraiser accountable is really valuable because then you can lean on all these data points in these predictive analytics and know where you really need to dig in and not.

Favorite Quotes from Today’s Episode

“No, you can't automate fundraising. That's not realistic. What you can do is allow folks to be less burnt out, allow them to prioritize more effectively, allow them to see patterns and, um, focus their work in different ways because of the AI ultimately the effective use of artificial intelligence and fundraising is going to be because it’s deployed appropriately and then the fundraisers can take that knowledge and make decisions and steward better and build stronger relationships.”

Resources from this Episode

Nonprofit Software | Keela
KIT: AI-Powered Fundraising (fundraisingkit.com)
The Good Partnership

Our friends at Keela are offering you 40% off your first year's subscription of their donor database.

Click the link to book a demo: https://www.keela.co/partner/certified-partner?ref=cindy72

Support the show (https://paypal.me/smallnonprofit)

Have you ever heard the term design thinking thrown around whether in our sector or in the business world and you've thought, what are they talking about? What is that such a buzzword? But there's actually a lot of really cool stuff happening around design thinking and the approach that it has to problem-solving, which is exactly what today's podcast is about, how we can apply design thinking to our fundraising and our work.

Our guest for today’s episode is our colleague at The Good Partnership, Betty Xie, a fundraiser, filmmaker, and Coach for creatives. She studied Strategic Foresight, Innovation and Design at OCAD and brought that to our work.

Myths that Betty wants us to walk away from:

Design Thinking can't be applied in fundraising. At the core of design thinking is a process of problem-solving that is focused on a human-centric, problem-solving process. In the fundraising space, empathizing with the user is the key. This means understanding your donors and funders’ needs, reaching out to them, and getting feedback.
You need to have a perfect pitch deck to raise more money. Following the process of design thinking, at the most minimum prototype, it’s just like passing an idea or some kind of model that doesn’t go for the most perfect state and move forward with it.

The Stages of Design Thinking Process

Empathize with the user - In the nonprofit’s case, this could be our beneficiaries, the people that we serve, or our donors.
Framing the problem - Defining what exactly is the problem that we try to solve.
Ideate and design a solution - Once you have an idea of a solution, instead of going with the perfect solution, you will come up with a prototype and a prototype doesn't need to be physical. In a context of an organization, the prototype can be an idea that you're testing or a server or program.
Testing and Iterating - Testing the prototype to see what works, what doesn't work, and then bring it back, have an honest conversation of other feedback, and try again and again.

Favorite Quotes from today’s episode

Empathize with the user is key. And in the fundraising space, that means really understanding your donors and funders’ need. I just think that it's very common to not spend enough time staying in that space and trying to reach out and get feedback.

Resources from this episode

Betty Xie LinkedIn
Lead to Create
The Good Partnership

Our friends at Keela are offering you 40% off your first year's subscription of their donor database.

Click the link to book a demo: https://www.keela.co/partner/certified-partner?ref=cindy72

Support the show (https://paypal.me/smallnonprofit)

Supervision is one of those things in our sector that we kind of fall into. It is often overlooked in our sector but the quality of supervision is important because it affects productivity, morale, work quality, team interaction, conflict, and the overall culture of the organization.

In today’s episode, Rita Sever, an expert in human resources, organizational psychology, and nonprofit systems, talks about how to lead, manage people, and create a culture that is aligned with our organization’s anti-oppression work and values.

Myths that Rita wants us to walk away from:

Nonprofit workers don’t need supervision. Nonprofit organizations are full of kind, caring, and committed people, but that doesn't mean they don't need to be supervised. Even when people are extremely high functioning, they need a supervisor's tender touch and a culture that will encourage them along the way and help them succeed.
Power and privilege don’t exist in nonprofit supervision. Power and privilege have an impact on supervisory relationships. To work from an anti-oppression perspective, supervisors must be prepared for self-awareness – knowing their own background, norms, and hidden rules, and bringing that awareness to real conversations about how it affects their supervision, relationships, and treatment of others.

Rita’s JOIN framework on giving feedback as a supervisor

J - Join your supervisees before you give them feedback. You want to make sure you remember you're on the same side.
O - Observation and objective statement of what actually happened.
I - Impact. What was the impact of that objective observation? How did it impact the person, the team, the work?
N - What needs to be different. And that can be simply, let's talk more about how you could have handled that interaction.

Favorite Quotes from Today’s EpisodePost your favorite quote on social media to share with us!

“I think the pitfall is that we are doing so much or so committed to our missions that we sort of take it for granted that everything will work out in terms of people because people are there to support the mission. So we just trust that it's all going to work, but even when people are extremely high functioning, they need that tender touch of a supervisor and a culture that is going to encourage them along the way and help them be successful.”

Resources from this EpisodeSupervisionmatters.com
Leading for Justice: Supervision, HR and Culture
The Good Partnership

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Fundraising and philanthropy make a lot of people very uncomfortable. A big part of that is our discomfort with money generally, but a lot of it is how our sector and philanthropy have been structured and the power systems it upholds.

Our sector faces challenges related to power, change, and resource redistribution for impact. In today's episode, Yonis Hassan, Co-Founder, and CEO of The Justice Fund discusses one of his biggest challenges with the philanthropic sector - the hoarding of money in foundations. According to the Justice Fund’s most recent campaign, Move The Money, charitable foundations in Canada are holding onto over $85 billion dollars in charitable assets. If distributed, this money would create transformative change in providing security and proper access to opportunities and long-term resources to underserved communities. Join the conversation as Yonis shares why the time to use this money is now. It’s time to call for change.

Myths that Yonis wants us to walk away from:

Preserving a foundation’s capital over a long time is in the best interest of the public. It’s not. There's going to be more money coming into this sector. There’s going to be more innovation, more creativity, and more risk-taking. Yonis urges the charitable sector to use the abundance of taxpayer’s assets in a timely manner when we have a plethora of crises facing our communities.
Small nonprofits cannot make big changes in the philanthropy sector. Whether you are a grassroots organization, an unincorporated organization, a volunteer, a board member, someone who just donates to organizations, there will be an opportunity for you to speak up around these issues.

Yonis’ thoughts around reforming philanthropy:

Changing the status quo. The foundations and funds in our sector have amassed a total of $85 billion. Reforming philanthropy entails leveraging the abundance of these assets to have a greater impact and serve the most vulnerable communities, especially during times of crisis.
Stepping up as a collective sector. We must act collectively and have an open discussion about charitable laws and how they contribute to discrimination and continued oppression of indigenous communities in order to mobilize resources that will improve the situation of the vulnerable populations.
It’s time to speak up. Yonis encouraged the philanthropic community to speak up. Whether it's speaking with your municipal council or your MP or MPP, your donors, or your board members, stand up and urge them to take action and make these legislative reforms.

Favorite Quotes from Today’s EpisodePost your favorite quote on social media to share with us!

“With over $85 billion of charitable assets in this country, we can be using that to invest in affordable housing, to invest in climate financing, to invest in transit, to invest in cooperatives, but we choose not to. So, expecting the federal government to implement some changes to hold us accountable, to hold the philanthropic sector accountable.”

Resources from this Episode

Justice Fund
The Good Partnership

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Are your donors on the same page as your organization when it comes to understanding the work? Often, we think that there is this great divide between us and our donors - one that is not easily bridged. But Aniel Gokhale at The Toronto Foundation has been creating programs for donors to go on a learning journey to better understand how they can change how they give to align with their values.

What might be considered risky - engaging your donors in conversations about justice, equity and a redistribution of funds - has turned into a very successful fundraising campaign and community building initiative.

Myths that Aneil wants us to walk away from:

Younger generations don’t give. In fact, younger generations often are excited to give but want a little more than just writing a cheque. They want to learn, be involved, and stay engaged. Think of how you can create a community of supporters and bring them along on a learning journey.
We have to tiptoe around tough topics with our donors. It can be hard to challenge your donors beliefs around philanthropy, but definitely not impossible. Aneil has leaned on research their organization does as well as understanding the intentions of donors and their values, to broach topics of privilege and power, as well as funding organizations that have historically been underserved by philanthropy.

Aneil’s thoughts around bring your donors on a learning journey.

You don’t have to be big or well resourced to bring your donors on a learning journey. Now is the time to have important conversations about equity. The world is going through changes and the status quo is being challenged. Your donors want to align their giving with their values but might not know how. Your donors also see you as the expert, so share your knowledge and experience.
Let your experts lead the way. The Toronto Foundation ensured that their new equity priorities were driven by populations they wanted to serve and support. Remember that you are the experts and your donors want to learn from you.
Now is the time to ask! Younger generations care and they want to be engaged in philanthropy. They expect to be focused on justice and equity and they want to be involved. Your donors are likely committed to their community and feel connected to the work they support.

Favourite Quotes from Today’s Episode

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“It was this idea of actually building out a learning journey and taking your donors on an experience where they're giving more than just that sum of money, but they're actually going out there and they are learning a ton of things about this topic that they care deeply about. So we basically took that concept and created a learning journey here in Toronto, focused on resilience, focused on really just trying to make people understand what the needs were in our community and really trying to underscore how they could make a difference and make an impact.”

Resources from this Episode

The Good Partnership

Toronto Foundation

Aneil on Twitter

Email Aneil: agokhale@torontofoundation.ca

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Have you ever wondered how your small organization can leverage marketing to build an audience, raise more money, find volunteers or even find service users? I'm sure you've looked at the big organizations and their advertising, whether it be online or in-person and felt a little bit of envy - “I wish we could invest in that.” Well today's guest, Adora Drake, is going to bring her experience in marketing to the level that small nonprofits can actually implement.

Myths that Adora wants us to walk away from:

You need a big budget. The good news is that a lot of online engagement can happen for FREE! If you follow Adora’s SCALE model, you can build community and drive them to action organically, without a budget.
Big ads are the goal. The days of billboards and TV infomercials for nonprofits are limited (or at least, not the goal for small shops). Instead, focus on digital marketing where you can better track results and have a clear picture of who you are targeting and what actions they take because of your ads.

Adora’s SCALE method:

Social Media. You can’t be everywhere, so start by understanding the persona of who you are trying to reach and connect with. Where would they hang out online?
Content. What type of content will engage your audience or target persona? Think of it as an exchange. Often we assume we’re asking people to give to us, but we forget we have things that they value. Be consistent in your content.
Audience. Now is the time to grow your audience, leveraging the insights and engagement you’ve built with your persona and how they have been engaging with your content. You can run ads to target people based on their interests.The platform algorithms can help you find more people!
Lead. Social media is limited as you don’t own the relationship with your community. When the platforms go down (recently Facebook and Instagram), you still want to be able to engage with your audience. Think about giving them something valuable in exchange for their email address.
Execution. Use your email to nurture your list and lead them into a call to action - to give, volunteer, etc. Again, consistency is key - keep those relationships warm and engaged to build a “know, like, and trust” factor.

Favourite Quotes from Today’s Episode
Post your favourite quote on social media to share with us!

“So no matter if you're in a for-profit or nonprofit, you're always going to have people that get on the list and they just don't stay on the list. There's nothing you can do about that. And it's actually a good thing. And I'm going to tell you why it's a good thing, because if they get on the list and they're not engaged, they don't really care about what you guys are talking about, then why have them on the list? It's just a vanity. I would rather have a really small list. Actually. I would really have five people that are really engaged on my list. Then they have a hundred people and one person maybe opens the email.”

“And so that persona represents that one person, that one ideal, which we call maybe a donor or a volunteer that you want to attract. You want to grab their attention. And so, instead of looking at a bunch of people and trying to get all these different people's interests, you want to just narrow it down to “who is this person?” Why would they be interested in my organization? And what should I do to give them value, to make them w

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The last year and a half has been lonely. While at the beginning slogans like “together alone” might have made us feel connected, that has slipped away and many of us are feeling like our worlds are a whole lot smaller than before. But this loneliness is not new for those in small nonprofits. Often we are very much alone in our work, without peers. In today’s podcast episode, Kimberley MacKenzie joins us to talk about authenticity, community, and tough conversations.

Myths that Kimberley wants us to walk away from:

We need to put on our “armour” for work and “be professional.” Instead, Kimberley wants us to bring our whole selves to work. As leaders, we need to model that we’re human and lean on those around us when we’re not on our game. Not only do we get help, but then we also build trust and collaboration and create a safe space for others to be authentic.
We just need to fix our organizations. A lot of us are questioning some of the status quo and feel that our organizations need anything from a lite improvement to a full overhaul. And while that might be true, Kimberley reminds us that for change to stick, we have to change. It’s not just the organization, but we have personal work we need to do.
You’re the only one. One of the things Kimberley has seen in building her community is that as soon as we show up authentically, we find others who are very much in the same boat as us. You are most definitely not alone!

Kimberley’s tips on finding and building community:

Make the time and space to connect with others. This is something we often put off, because we are so busy with other things. But, as flight attendants like to remind us, put on your own oxygen mask first! Community can help you work through challenges and get different perspectives.
Change requires discomfort. Change is important and is probably more urgent now than ever. Change requires courage and discomfort, but knowing you are not alone can help you move forward and find accountability in the community.

Favourite Quotes from Today’s Episode
Post your favourite quote on social media to share with us!

“People are craving that community and people, you know, those small networks of support are fundamentally important to us being able to continue to do this change because it's exhausting. It's exhausting. The world needs our sector more than ever. The need is greater. The resources are fewer and we're driven by passion. So we often compromise our own physical and mental wellbeing to deliver for our organizations. And of course, we need to fill our tank.”

“I know it's happened to a lot of people where all of our human messiness has been exposed. And I think that as leaders, when we create, when we model that we're human and when we model that, we're not always on our game. And when we lean on our teams, when we need to, and we create space for safe conversations about what it is to be human right now, in this moment that will build trust and that will build collaboration and that will build safety so that folks will bring forward. Some of them are difficult, challenging situations.”

Resources from this Episode

The Good Partnership

The Intersection Hub

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Video - one of those things that everyone wants to get better at using, but not many know where and how to start. On today’s podcast, co-owner of Nonprofit Video Comms, David Phu, joins our host Cindy Wagman, to exchange insights on how nonprofits can best leverage the power of video.

Myths that David wants us to walk away

Video = social media. There are so many other ways videos can be useful for an organization beyond social media, including internal communication, personal messaging, documentation of work processes, guiding donors through their journey etc.
We need fancy equipment to make videos. You have everything you need. Your phone and your laptop can support you to make compelling videos to reach your specific goals.

David’s tips on using video content in a nonprofit setting

Guide donors through their journey using video content. From compelling donors to make a donation, to providing them instructions on how to make the donation, to thanking them, every touch point can be a short video.
Use videos to connect and establish personal connections. Before you interact with someone face-to-face, a quick and unedited video message is the best way to connect with them. An instant video message is like an upgraded voicemail.
Use videos to communicate work processes and provide training for staff and volunteers. There are many tools available now that allow you to record your screen while you’re working through a problem. What’s a better/quicker way to create an instructional manual than just simply hit record and send that video to your staff or volunteers after?

Favourite Quotes from Today’s Episode
Post your favourite quote on social media to share with us!

“Video comes from a time where it was really about entertainment. And it later grew into advertising, maybe training, and publishing this and that. But now with video, it's really about being person to person as much as possible without being there in person.”

“It seems that the first thing that people's minds go to is social media. Video equals social media, which it does. But I think a lot of people are missing all these other opportunities, like personal video messaging, websites, or internal communications videos. There's so much more power right now with video.”

Resources from this Episode

The Good Partnership

Connect with David on Linkedin

Nonprofit Video Comms

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Every year before GivingTuesdays, a lot of fundraisers and Executive Directors are scratching their heads and wondering whether they should do something on GivingTuesday, and if do do something, what can make their organization’s messaging stand out? On today’s podcast, Lys Huggesen, the VP of Partnerships at CanadaHelps and one of the pioneers and leaders of GivingTuesday Canada, shares her insights on how charities might best leverage this day of giving and generosity.

Myths that Lys wants us to walk away

GivingTuesday is not just about fundraising. Giving Tuesday is a day to celebrate generosity that over 73 countries are now participating in. Any form of generosity is celebrated. There are 100 different ways to celebrate generosity without making a money ask.
People are tired of GivingTuesday asks. 52% of people say that they want to give on GivingTuesday because they want to be part of something bigger. Lys likened it to Black Friday - just because everyone is having a sale, does that mean you shouldn’t? Of course not - it’s an opportunity to capitalize on people’s planned behaviour.

Lys’ tips on leveraging GivingTuesday

Don’t treat GivingTuesday as just a day-long campaign. The best campaigns launch before the day, and the campaign can continue beyond GivingTuesday. Be intentional about the campaign launches and the different touch points you design with your audience and donors.
Have good messages in your ask and don’t rely on “just because it’s GivingTuesday.” GivingTuesday or not, people give when they are emotionally motivated and inspired. While the day provides a great opportunity to make an ask, make sure your communication also includes compelling messages and storytelling.
Thank your supporters and express gratitude. If you are not planning to make an ask on GivingTuesday, there are still many ways to engage your audience. It is a day to celebrate generosity, and so why not thank your donors and share messages of gratitude and community togetherness?

Favourite Quotes from Today’s Episode
Post your favourite quote on social media to share with us!

“People are primed to give. 52% of people say that they want to give on GivingTuesday itself because they're part of something bigger.”

“I think one of the biggest myths is that GivingTuesday is just a day. It's more than just a day. The best campaigns start well before.”

Resources from this Episode

The Good Partnership

Download toolkit and resources to support your GivingTuesday campaign

Connect with Lys on Linkedin

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Podcasting is exploding. More and more nonprofits have a podcast, or are considering getting into it. Should your organization also have a podcast? Is it a lot of work to manage a podcast? What should you talk about on the podcast? On today’s episode, Christian Robillard, founder of Purpose Podcasting, joins our host Cindy Wagman, and the two of them are going to answer all your burning questions about why and how to podcast.

Thinking of setting up a podcast for your organization and your cause? Christian shared with us some benefits and opportunities:

Building an audience (especially age 18-35) in an intimate way. Especially during the pandemic, as we all suffer from screen fatigue, podcasts are a great medium to connect with an audience in a different way and make them feel that they get to know you and your organization intimately.
Onboarding staff and volunteers and sharing resources internally. Especially for bigger organizations that have a large number of staff and volunteers, a podcast is a very great way to do internal resources and knowledge sharing.
Raising awareness on how your organization is helping your audience overcoming a specific problem. Whether your target audience is your donors, your program beneficiaries, or your partners, understanding what problem your podcast is helping them to overcome is the first thing to do before setting up your podcast.

Christian’s tips on podcasting

Hook your audience in the first 60 seconds. In the first 60 seconds of each episode, have a clear structure that introduces who you and your organization are and what the audience can expect from the podcast and this episode.
Include a clear call to action in the podcast. Be very clear what you want people to do as a result of listening to your podcast and communicating that.
Infuse personal touches. Let your audience know what is the host and the hosting organization’s stance and philosophies on issues that matter to them.
Be strategic about the production of the podcast. Decide how much you want to do in house and how much you want to outsource. Set up a good workflow and rinse and repeat.
Repurpose your podcast content. Take bits and pieces from the podcast and repurpose them widely to your blog, social media, e-news and even annual report. Christian’s take is if you are only doing less than 5 pieces of content from your podcast, you’re missing out.

Favourite Quotes from Today’s Episode
Post your favourite quote on social media to share with us!

“With any type of podcasting, the why is definitely important. But ultimately you have to think about who your audience is and what's the problem. Or what are the challenges that this particular piece of content is going to help them overcome?”

“If you're getting any less than five pieces of content out there, including the podcast from your recording, I think you're missing out. I would argue if you have an hour-long podcast that you've recorded and produced, you could probably get up to 20 pieces of solid 30 to 60 second content, plus a blog post, plus the transcription, plus any other parts that you want to use to compliment other communications that you're doing.”

Resources from this Episode

The Good Partnership

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Are you experiencing the awkward silences at the board meetings where people seem to want to say something, but no one is speaking up? Or maybe it’s that one person is dominating the conversation. How might leaders and organizations actually facilitate structure and process for all voices to be heard at the decision making table? On today’s podcast, organizational development consultant Susan Loucks shares with us how inclusive decision making can be facilitated and fostered.

Myths that Susan wants us to walk away from

Having a structure for decision making restricts participation. While having a very complicated decision making framework can definitely be too restrictive, having no structure is not conducive for ensuring inclusive participation at the board or organizational decision making table. For people who feel that they are not the loudest or most powerful voices in the room, having a simple and clear structure can actually allow them to fall back to that structure and express their opinion.
It’s great that our board is always in agreement and making efficient decisions. While there is value in efficiency, having consistent agreement might mean that you’re not paying attention to the diversity of perspectives and opinions at the table, or that you don’t have a diversity of perspectives at the table.

Susan’s tips on fostering inclusive organizational/board decision-making

Adopt a clear decision making framework that people get behind with, and actually follow the structure.
Establish the culture that accepts and celebrates disagreement
Don’t rush with decision making. Be ok to sit in the uncomfortable zone of deciding to not decide.

Favourite Quotes from Today’s Episode

Post your favourite quote on social media to share with us!

“I am usually happy if everybody is in agreement, it means it's going to be easy. It means it's going to be efficient. But I have to watch myself - this is not the optimal place for the group. We don't want people at each other's throats, but to have everybody agreeing is not the best outcome for this group. We want to be able to see that disagreement. So actually just to frame this as disagreement is healthy and good, and we want to surface that and learn what we can do better.”

“I think the bias is towards let's just make this happen. We're informal. We'll just talk. We don't have to have a lot of rules. If you're the one in power, it's super easy for you to not understand how it feels if you don't have power. To feel like I have an open door. People can just come in and talk to me! They're not going to do that unless there's like a time in the week when you're allowed to come in and talk. Right?”

Resources from this Episode

The Good Partnership

Susan Loucks

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Grant writing. It’s one of those things that every organization struggles with. Often grant writing seems like it’s a bad investment of time and effort - you put 100 out there, you hear 1 back. So how can nonprofits be more “grant-ready” and less overwhelmed with the process. On today’s podcast, CEO of Think and Ink Consulting, Shavonn Richardson, walks us through the key steps to prepare for a successful grant writing cycle.

Myths that Shavonn wants us to walk away

“Let’s start writing right away!”. Getting straight into the writing without doing any pre-work is not necessarily a sign of proactiveness when it comes to grant-writing. There are steps to set your organization’s grant strategy and writing up for success, See tips below.

Shavonn’s tips on preparing your organization to be grant-ready

Building relationships with funders. Do the research to find funders that are truly in alignment with your needs and values and have a conversation with them before applying if possible. This step will help you narrow down the list of prospects.
Conduct a logic model exercise. What is the theory of change that your program has, and how are you going to deliver the impact you want to deliver? Articulating the logic model of your program will help you anticipate and answer so many grant questions that by the time you write, it will feel effortless.
Establish measure of success and track metrics consistently. You don’t have to follow a grantor's definition of success, but you do need to establish your own measure of success and be able to track those metrics consistently. Regardless of which grant you’re applying, have these measures in place and develop the habit for tracking metrics now.
Have a detailed program/project budget. Build out a program budget that has a very detailed, line-by-line program budget so that if the funder asks for a detailed budget, you already have it, and if they don’t, then you can simplify it.
Train your board to take part in the process. The board needs to be involved in collaboration with the staff to come up with the strategic direction of programs, and they should be involved talking to funders when needed. Make sure your board understands their role and is supporting the staff.

Favourite Quotes from Today’s Episode

Post your favourite quote on social media to share with us!

“Really take the time and focus on quality over quantity and do the research to only select foundations that are really aligned with what you do. Not a stretch. Not outside of your current program. But are really aligned with what you do. And if you take the time to cultivate a relationship with that funder, you will go much further when you go to submit an application.”

“A logic model will pull out all those juicy details that funders ask for. They will ask what are your smart outcomes? What are your short term, intermediate term, and long term objectives? What's your overall vision? What are your activities? How are you measuring them? One logic model can answer 500 questions that a funder would ask you.”

Resources from this Episode

The Good Partnership

Connect with Shavonn on Linkedin

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Our sector - especially in small nonprofits - is filled with reluctant fundraisers who were assigned the responsibility of fundraising so that they can keep the organization afloat. Reluctant fundraisers know a lot about fundraising best practices, but when it comes to actually doing it, fundraising still feels difficult and even impossible.

To support all the reluctant fundraisers, our very own Cindy Wagman wrote a book titled Raise It! The Reluctant Fundraiser’s Guide to Raising Money Without Selling Your Soul. On this very first episode of the season, Cindy shares with us an excerpt from the book.

Myths that Cindy wants us to walk away from

“How dare I ask people?” There is always a hesitation to ask because of our assumptions about donors and funders. A helpful reframe for this thought is - “how dare I not ask people?” Our organization’s mission is too important for it to be sitting in dust and not rally people’s support.
“If this strategy works for other organizations, it must work for us. Right?!” The comparison game shows up a lot for small organizations. The truth is - a cookie cutter approach to fundraising doesn’t work. What works for another organization is not a magical solution to your problem. Start from where you are.
“We need this and that in place before we can fundraise” Is this thought true, or is this another excuse to delay the action of actually doing the fundraising? You don’t need a fancy branding guide or marketing plan before starting to fundraising.

Cindy’s philosophy on addressing the root cause of fundraising pain

Focus on changing how we think and feel when we fundraise, rather than chasing for the magical solution. Recruiting a board member that knows fundraising won’t fix all your fundraising pain. Speaking to another organization that does individual giving well is not going to drastically increase your donations. If you are reluctant to fundraise, you will never prioritize it.
Check in how our beliefs around fundraising show up in different fundraising situations. For example, before going into a donor meeting, what are all the thoughts that are showing up on your mind? How are you feeling? Write these down and see if these thoughts are true or just assumptions that you’re bringing into the situation.

For more on how to change our mindset around fundraising, listen to the podcast and get your hands on Cindy’s new book and the amazing bonuses exclusive to the presale period. Pre-order your copy of Raise It! here today.

Resources from this Episode

The Good Partnership

Pre-order your copy of Raise It! The Reluctant Fundraiser’s Guide to Raising Money Without Selling Your Soul and get all the amazing bonuses today.

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Do you get butterflies in your stomach before making a big pitch or presentation? To end the season off, we invited Lucia Cesaroni, world renowned opera singer and voice consultant, to share with us how to find our own voice and project it with confidence and ease.

Myths that Lucia wants us to walk away from

“I get nervous before presenting because I am not good at it.”Everyone gets nervous. We’re biologically wired to get nerves before a big presentation. Our brain perceives the presentation as a threat. Our nerves are a signal that our brain is trying to protect us from danger.
“I am not an extrovert and so I am not good at presenting.” Despite the fact that we’re often informed by the assumption extroverted people are better at public speaking, finding your own voice and projecting your voice is not related to introversion or extroversion.

Lucia’s tips on preparing the body and mind for presenting

Do some breathing exercises to find your own voice modulation. We often subconsciously model our voice after our role models or what society projects as our role models, without realizing that we have a tonal range and voice modulation that we can explore and leverage according to different situations. Tune into the breathing exercises that Lucia shares on the podcast to explore the different possibilities of your own voice.
Stretch to take up more space. When you stretch, you will find that your body naturally sits up a little straighter and taller. When you take up more space, your voice will project with more confidence and the receiver of your voice will feel your presence.
Take time before responding. Whether you are making a big speech, or responding to comments in an intense meeting, make sure you take pauses. Take a second to bring back awareness to your body and breathing. Take a second to feel your grounding, whether you’re sitting or standing.

Favourite Quotes from Today’s Episode

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“When our brain, mostly incorrectly, perceives a high pressure situation as a threat, adrenaline rises, certain chemicals are released. What we need to do is to learn to reroute that process, and that requires body awareness, vocal awareness and mental focus, mindful preparedness, and coping strategies.”

“When we are confronted with a challenging situation, we have to focus on body first and brain second.”

Resources from this Episode

The Good Partnership

Find Lucia at Cesaroni Consulting

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How have donors been giving this past year? And what’s the outlook for the future of giving? On today’s podcast episode, Jacob O’Connor, Vice President of Engagement at CanadaHelps, comes to share with us the latest giving trends published in CanadaHelps’ 2021 Giving Report.

Jacob’s highlights of 2021 giving trends

Charities are adopting digital giving rapidly. During the pandemic, online giving grew 86% while overall giving decreased by 10%. While many charities needed to put a stop to their in-person fundraising efforts, they are seeing significant growth to their online giving. There is huge potential for charities that have not yet adopted online giving to make that shift.
Young donors are giving to causes they deeply care about. Young donors who don’t necessarily have a very high income have stepped up in major ways during this pandemic. Not only are they giving to individual charities, they are also donating to cause based funds that will benefit a larger number of charities.
Because of the diversification of donors, important issues and sectors are being supported in more significant ways. For instance, we’re seeing an increase for individual donation to Indigenous charities and arts and cultural sector

6

Favourite Quotes from Today’s Episode

Post your favourite quote on social media to share with us!

“Young people are really engaged with the issues that are top of mind right now, and that's playing out across the board in all the given trends.”

“From a financial perspective, the shift from big checks to community-based giving is much more sustainable and less volatile, when you have 1000 donors versus one funder as your source of funding.”

Resources from this Episode

The Good Partnership

Connect with Jacob on LinkedIn

Read The 2021 Giving Report by CanadaHelps

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How can we actively create the future we want to see beyond the COVID-19 pandemic? On today’s podcast, André Pawan Vashist, ecosystem facilitator, system solution designer, and seasoned nonprofit leader, shares with us his insights on how to move from a transactional way of thinking and doing to bringing about transformational changes in our sector and in our society as a whole.

André’s insights on how we move beyond the COVID-19 pandemic

Move beyond transactional based processes. Recognize the limit of the transactional processes (like a grant application for funding) in our system and assess how they can better reflect relationships and perspectives from different communities.
Actively learn different ways of knowing and thinking. To bring about transformational changes, We must learn not only the different ways of doing but also the different ways of knowing. In the episode, Audre gives the example of learning from Indigenous communities and how they view ways of knowing.
Hold space to heal our intersectional identities. We see through experiences from our different lived experiences and identify. It is important to not only recognize the different identities and perspectives that co-exist, but also celebrate that identities are intrinsically intersectional.
Increase transparency and openness. Say goodbye to job postings that don’t disclose salary range. Question the lack of transparency and what kind of structure and value they try to uphold that no longer fit into the equitable world we want to see.

Favourite Quotes from Today’s Episode

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“To go from transactional to transformation - in the middle of that is our relationships”

“Revisit what it means to be an actor in society and not having to always be structured within a hierarchical organizational structure, it's okay to have those structures because they’re foundational in terms of holding space and resources, but they also interact in terms of transformation that requires actors moving in between those spaces"

Resources from this Episode

The Good Partnership

Connect with André

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Despite all the research that shows the untapped talent and capabilities of neurodiverse population, neurodiverse individuals are still facing significant barriers when seeking employment and adapting to workplace culture and practice that is not made accessible to them. How can employers proactively design a healthy workplace to support neurodiverse individuals to shine with their incredible talents? On today’s podcast, Isabella He and Isabelle Hsu, two young leaders of advocacy for neurodiversity, join us to share their insight and experience.

Isabelle and Isabella’s tips on making workplace accessible for neurodiverse individuals:

Adopt a strength-based approach. Neurodiverse individuals might need specific accommodations to equip them to work in the style they feel comfortable with and show their amazing strengths. Focus on their strengths when you communicate and work with neurodiverse individuals. Adopt the mindset of how you can design the workplace to unleash the amazing strengths of your neurodiverse teammates.
Raise general awareness and literacy about neurodiversity. The literacy around neurodiversity is still relatively low in our society. Seek resources that raise awareness at your workplace to learn more about neurodiversity so that you and your team know how to
Seek help to design the accessibility policy and practice at your workplace. There are professional accessibility specialists that can help you design your workplace practice and support your workplace to be certified neurodiverse workplace.

Favourite Quotes from Today’s Episode

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“I founded SN Inclusion after realizing that some people I knew that I had no idea were neurodiverse were actually neurodiverse and they had such struggles getting into the workplace and face so many adversities due to a lot of the stigmas that still perpetuate yeah in our world today. Unemployment rates among individuals with autism spectrum disorder is at 85%. I was shocked by that statistics.” - Isabella

“One thing to keep in mind is that so many of us with neurodiverse conditions have unfortunately learned to keep our conditions private and try not to bother others or to advocate for our specific needs. Of course, there are also people who are the complete opposite of that. But in general, if an employer wants to make a workplace more friendly, I suggest they approach it in a more proactive way to ask what needs to be done instead of waiting for employees to approach you and tell you what they need.” - Isabelle

Resources from this Episode

The Good Partnership

SN Inclusion

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Is your organization starting to plan for going back to the office? Or is your team going to continue working from home as we slowly transition to post-pandemic reality? Whichever option you’re thinking about, there are considerations for how to ensure your staff has a safe and healthy working environment. On today’s podcast, Alice D’Abreu, an HR expert and founder of Monday Morning, shares with us what employers should be thinking about, planning for, and starting to roll out now.

Alice’s tips on going back to the office

Develop plans and strategies to ensure workplace health and safety at the office. Consider strategies such as installing plexiglass and implementing a shift system and pay attention to details that people might get exposed to health hazards.
Have a work-from-home policy. It’s likely that for every organization, working from home will play a part in the post-pandemic reality. So if you don’t already have a work-from-home policy in place at your organization, start planning and implementing one.
Make sure that you also consider how to ensure staff working from home have a safe and accommodating work environment. Just because staff are working from home, it doesn’t mean that you don’t need to consider their working conditions. Check in on if they have the right equipment and resources to work with and if there is the accommodation that they need at home.
Provide targeted support to address the main challenges your employees have faced. Understanding that people have different levels of experiences and challenges during the pandemic, first get a pulse check on what are the specific challenges that your staff have faced, and then look into providing targeted resources, training, or workshops to support them.

Favourite Quotes from Today’s Episode

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“Before COVID, there were a lot of businesses that didn't even consider work from home and it's just become a fundamental reality for people that this is not going anywhere and this change might be here to stay.”

“Think about how this whole pandemic experience has had an impact on people during these very trying times. Get a pulse of what are the main challenges that people have faced and might face going forward and then look into providing targeted support.”

Resources from this Episode

The Good Partnership

Find Alice at Monday Morning

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**With everything that’s happening in the world right now, work can feel heavy and onerous. How can we bring back the joy in our work and feel aligned? On today’s podcast, business coach extraordinaire Lianne Kim shares with us her insight and tips on how to show up to work with a joy oriented mindset.

Get your copy of Lianne’s new book*here* Building a Joyful Business a 15% percent discount code exclusive to our listeners. Simply enter the code GOOD when you’re checking out to get the discount.**

Self-talk that Lianne wants us to walk away from:

“What should I be doing today?”:Rather than operating from the place of asking yourself what you should be doing, try to shift to what you would like to do. That simple mindset shift will bring more joy and meaning to your day to day.
“I have no control during these unprecedented times.”: Yes. We don’t have control over how and when many things are happening in the world, but we do have control on how we respond to them. Our response is a choice that we make.
“I have to serve everyone.”: You don’t have to serve every donor, client, or person in the world. Honing down in your strength and being very specific about the community of people you serve is going to make your work that much more aligned and joyful.

Lianne’ tips on bringing back joy in our work:

Learn to let go. Learn to say no to projects, clients, donors that do not align with your values and vision and make space for things, people and tasks that truly matter.
Cultivate the mental awareness for the mindset trap of “I am not enough.” Often when we spend so much time and energy in doing the things we think we should do, we are informed by the mindset of not-enough-ness. Building awareness to the existence of this mindset is the first step to put some distance to it.
Stop playing the comparison game. Pick a lane, focus on your strength, doing things the way that you’re great at and feeling great from it. Don’t pay so much attention to what other people or organizations are doing. Think about how much you can accomplish can do with the time and energy that you spend on playing the comparison game.

Favourite Quotes from Today’s Episode

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“Every single choice that we make can bring us closer to joy or further away.”

“I'm a big proponent that mindset really does need to be the foundation for all success. There’s no one tactic or strategy that is going to overcome a crappy mindset.”

“It’s in the letting go of the stuff that really isn't serving us, the stuff that is going to serve us shows up.”

Resources from this Episode

The Good Partnership

Lianne Kim

Get your copy of Lianne’s new book Building a Joyful Business with our 15% percent discount code GOOD

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As part 2 of Collecting Courage, we invited several white leaders in the sector to talk about how to be real and active allies for anti-racism work. On the podcast today are Mazarine Treyz, Fundraising Author and Coach, Chris Conroy, Partner at the Wellspring Group, and Scott Russell, Chief Executive Director at the Alzheimer Society of Toronto.

Mazarine, Chris and Scott’ tips on being active allies:

Commit to lifelong learning and listening. Allyship and anti-racism work is not a quick fix - it’s a lifelong commitment. Look for resources to help yourself learn and talk to people around you.
Stepping Back and Calling Out. When you’re invited to a panel or speaking engagement that includes only white people, do the work to ask questions, call out the organizers, and step back. Acts like participating in all-white panels is perpetuating the system at work that disproportionately supports white voices over other’s.
Get comfortable with confronting your own complicity. We are all complicit one way or another in participating in a system that is racist. Get comfortable with the uncomfortable feeling of coming face to face your own complicity.

Favourite Quotes from Today’s Episode

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“Highlight people of colour and their work. Pay them if you’re inviting them to speak. Ask the questions that people don't want to ask. Like, why is the sector not a safe or good space for a lot of people of colour?” - Mazarine

“We have to be willing to go deeper and to look at things with critical eyes and questions. We have to be honest with ourselves that we don't see our bias and complicity very well and see it very clearly.” - Scott

“Getting comfortable with getting uncomfortable is about getting comfortable with letting go of your own empowered worldview, which has come at the expense at the oppression of people with different world views and differing identities, which whiteness has itself framed and named and defined for itself.” - Chris

Resources from this Episode

The Good Partnership

Connect with Mazarine

Connect with Scott

Connect with Chris

Feral Visions Podcast

The Mother of All Questions

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The Mother of All Questions

On today’s podcast, editors of the book Collecting Courage: Joy, Pain, Freedom, Love - Nneka Allen, Camila Vital Nunes Pereira, and Nicole Salmon - share with us their insight and wisdom on how to confront systemic racism in our sector by starting with speaking up and sharing stories.

Ways that Nneka, Nicole and Camille encourages us to confront systemic racism:

Recognize that we are all part of a racist system. Centre the conversation on the system, and recognize that we all live and breathe in racism. Good people or organizations trying to do good can be actively participating in reinforcing systemic racism too.
Recognize that both action and inaction have impact. Not only do words have an impact in making changes or perpetuating harm, silence also can have significant impact. Think about what your silence means and reinforces.
Leverage collective power for change. Collective courage and power will mobilize changes. Click the links in the resource section to join and support the community of Black fundraisers or host a book club at your workplace.
Show commitment to philanthropy and community that do not subject to the tradition of Western and white philanthropy. Don’t let the tradition of Western and white philanthropy speak for all philanthropic and community endeavour. The Black communities’ love for community, making a difference, and connecting with people through giving predates Western philanthropy.

Favourite Quotes from Today’s Episode

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“The word racism is so charged because we've attached a good, bad binary to the word. And that's problematic and false. Racism is the water we swim in. So we're all infected. The question is what are we each going to do about our own infection?” - Nneka Allen

“The impact of your action and inaction lands somewhere. Words you use have a lasting impact on people.” - Nicole Salmon

“When I joined the collective, I was looking for a community, because most of the time you feel alone and you feel like you're the only one. We’re here. This is an invitation. If there's any, anyone out there in the nonprofit sector, and you're looking for a community, a place to really feel like you were at home, connect with us.” --Camila Vital Nunes Pereira

Resources from this Episode

The Good Partnership

Collecting Courage

Donate to the Black Philanthropy Fund

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On today’s podcast, David Love, seasoned fundraiser also known as the Godfather of Good, shares with us his take on the role of fundraisers in achieving change in the world. When we centre our work around the mission and the journey that we are on as an organization and how that aligns with the journey our donors are making - we can impact meaningful and lasting change in the world.

Myths that David wants us to walk away from

The nature of a fundraiser's work to raise money. What fundraisers actually do is create value and make connections - connecting donors to the causes that matter deeply to them.
Less people are donating nowadays. Donors are stepping up again and again for different causes. Less people are donating just for a charitable receipt, but more people are giving to causes they are deeply passionate of regardless of the tax receipt. This is why we don’t yet have a great metric on the current state of philanthropy.

David’s tips on working with donors:

Recognize that the donors’ journey already started and you’re here to support them on their journey. No hard sell is needed. There is a reason that a potential donor is interested in the organization's mission and vision. You’re just here to support them on a path that they’re already on, guided by their own values, interest, and passion.
Help them to find and support initiatives that speak to their values and the changes they want to see in the world. Ask questions or guide the donors to hone in what is it that will make them feel the spark or the connection with the impact that matters to them.
Show passion and authenticity in your communication with your donors. Do away with aloof and formal language and focus on showing that you too deeply care about the mission and vision that your donors are invested in.

Favourite Quotes from Today’s Episode

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“It’s a fallacy to think that fundraisers raise money. What fundraisers spend their lives doing is creating value. Fundraisers make dreams come true. Small organizations with difficult causes need to find ways to make the values that are at the heart of what they do come alive in a donor’s soul.”

“Donors are already on a journey. We as fundraisers didn't actually start that journey. They come to us because they're on a journey and they're actually trying to find out whether the road that we’re showing them is one we want to go down or not.”

Resources from this Episode

The Good Partnership

Connect with David on Linkedin

David’s new book: Green Green: Reflections on 51 Years of Raising Money for Nature

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How do we recover from the exhaustion and pain of the pandemic? How do we lead our organizations into the post-pandemic world with responsible leadership in service for our communities? On today’s episode, social impact leader Chi Nguyen gives us the real talk on how to approach our leadership and the way we show up with a feminist and inclusive lens.

Chi’s tips on approaching leadership from a feminist and inclusive lens:

Caregiving is deeply feminist. Caregiving translates into leadership at all levels of our society. Leaders who understand the value of caregiving have the potential to transform how we are organized and governed.
Purpose and responsibility driven. Think about responsibility not just for ourselves and our immediate community, but our collective responsibility for this planet and future generations.
Show up as our whole selves. We carry what’s going on in our lives, our identities, and our values to the table and so let our authenticity and experience shine through our decision making and leadership.
Be ok with the discomfort when wrestling with power. Disrupting systemic privilege and power structure is uncomfortable but a necessary part of the work in service for our communities. And it’s not just about disrupting power structures outside of our own organizations and our sector. We have to be able to look inward as well.

Favourite Quotes from Today’s Episode

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“When I think about inclusive leadership and feminist leadership, it's about bringing that whole person and all of the weight of that into decision making, into how we run our organizations with lots of forgiveness and resiliency, and frankly, real humanity.”

“The best community programming and best response to community initiatives is a program that is for us by us - fundraised, led, designed, implemented. That is the model for ownership of community solutions, but it is not how our systems have been built. We need to move from a charitable model to collective impact model.”

Resources from this Episode

The Good Partnership

Chi Nguyen

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How can I close that sponsorship deal? This is the question that keeps many fundraisers and Executive Directors up at night. On today’s episode, Charmaine Hammond, partnership development expert at Raise a Dream, shares with us an easy-to-follow, 7-step framework for building long lasting partnerships.

Myths that Charmaine wants us to leave behind

You have to shoehorn your nonprofit into a partnership. Have a discovery call with a potential partner and assess if there is an alignment before proceeding further. You don’t have to pursue a partner that has no value and impact alignment with your organization.
If there is a problem with partnership deliverables, let’s not report the problem until the point of no return. Engage your partner early on with the problem and invite them to be part of the solution. Your partner is invested in the success of the partnership just as you are.

Charmaine’s tips on building partnerships

Listen for the full episode to get all of Charmaine's tips and the complete 7-step framework.

Go beyond the obvious for partnership research. Try to see where your partners are speaking at, what social media engagement they are doing, and what campaigns they are involving themselves in.
Let the partnerships/sponsors tell you what to include in a proposal. Ask them explicitly what would be helpful to include, what should not be included, who else will be involved in the decision making process and viewing the proposal etc.
Continue to consistently engage your partners after the partnership is concluded. Get in touch with partners and see how they’re doing. Keep tabs on what initiatives they’re engaged in. Share program updates from your side. Keep in touch with them like your friends and the relationship will flow organically.

Favourite Quotes from Today’s Episode

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“I don't want any surprises when potential partners read the proposal and contract I send over. So when a potential partner asks for a proposal, I say absolutely, I can put it together and ask these questions: what would you like me to send you? Who else is going to be looking at it just you? Okay. Oh, you've got to bring in some other team members, what will they want to see? How many pages? What do I not need to cover? What do I need to ensure is in there for you to take this forward and sell it?”

“What I have learned is the earlier you bring a possible issue forward to a partner, the more support you get in the solution, because nobody at this point wants to see failure. Everybody is committed to make the partnership successful. So, let people be part of the solution.”

Resources from this Episode

The Good Partnership

Raise a Dream

Connect with Charmaine on Linkedin

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We’re so busy taking care of everything that often we forget to take care of ourselves first. How do we create space for ourselves in our day to day so that we build resilience in the long run? Tune in to this amazing conversation with Komal Minhas, a resilience educator with a mission to help people rise through adversity

Myths that Komal wants us to leave behind

We need to build resilience or learn to be resilient. You’re already resilient. We’re all resilient by being able to live through life and overcoming difficult things. Believing that you already have resilience in you is the first time towards building an even more resilient system of habits and behaviours for yourself.
We need to avoid burnout and low points in life. Instead, accept that we will inevitably experience burnouts and low points in life, and focus on when we do experience those difficult periods, what is the system in our life that will help us get back to baseline, and how fast.

Komal’s tips for cultivating resilience in the long run

Celebrate what we have overcome. Celebrating moments that you have exercised resilience and perseverance to overcome difficulties is just as important as celebrating the positive moments in your life. Only when you start seeing and recognizing your incredible resilience that you can cultivate it further.
Create space in your day to day for yourself. Are you reserving time and space for yourself to move, eat, relax, breathe? Be a better friend to yourself every day, rather than waiting for your mind and body to be totally burned out to step up your self care game.
Cultivate your identity and wholeness outside of work. Find joy and fun things that nurture your soul outside of your work so that work and productivity are not the only things that define you and confine your life.
Build wellness habits that you enjoy and have an accountability buddy or community. The key is to focus on wellness habits that you truly like to do. Start with small things, and try to find a buddy or a community of people to keep you accountable. That will likely make the habits stick.

Favourite Quotes from Today’s Episode

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“We often say celebrate your birthday; celebrate the promotion; celebrate the good things. How often do we encourage each other to celebrate those difficult things? But it's equally as important, if not more important, because we expect only positivity to be celebrated when in fact like that tenacity, perseverance, resilience we have for overcoming difficult things is really what makes those positive moments matter that much more.”

“How do we cultivate a wholeness in our identity outside of work when we are confined to our homes. This is the challenge we face in this pandemic. And if instead of feeling victimized by that, we can flip the switch and say, I'm going to rise to this challenge. I'm going to make game nights with my friends online or with my family. I'm going to constantly move my body, I'm going to find pockets of joy, I am going to turn off my laptop at six o'clock. I'm going to set boundaries with work. We can almost gamify developing our wholeness, outside of our productivity, and for me that's a big aspect of resiliency that we need to talk about in our work-addicted

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We often think about branding for our organizations as something that speaks to communities we serve and stakeholders we answer to. We forget to count our staff and prospective staff in that list. How is your organization speaking to current and future employees? On today’s podcast, Laura Tolhoek, President of Essential HR, shares with us how to build your employer brand and recruit and keep the talents your team needs.

Laura’s tips on building your employer brand

Understand and clarify your organization’s value proposition to employees and show that in your job posting. What experience are you offering to your team? What are your values and what is your culture like? Answer these questions internally and make sure you communicate these in job postings.
Build a pay compensation framework. This will help guide the leadership team in hiring, and if you are confident in your pay compensation framework, there is no reason why the organization cannot share salary range in job posting. Pay range transparency is what candidates look for as an indicator of the organization’s value in pay equity.
Amplify what’s working and aligned with your employer brand. So often we focus on what is not working in our HR practice and our culture, and forget about things that are working. Lean into what is already working so well and amplify those aspects in your organization.
Make onboarding a priority. The onboarding process can make or break a new hire’s experience. Don’t just hand off a bunch of documents and policies to the new hire. Make sure to have someone introduce the organization and be available to the person. If you are the hiring manager and you do not have the capacity, that’s ok. Assign this task to people in your company who are keen on doing this and love meeting new people.

Favourite Quotes from Today’s Episode

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“If you can provide yourself with the pay compensation framework that you're confident in, and if you're confident in those numbers, then there's no problem providing those numbers to other people and include in job posting, because you can give the reasons why they're there.”

“Anything to do with HR, top to bottom, is about communication. There is no such thing as over-communication in the recruitment process.”

Resources from this Episode

The Good Partnership

Essential HR

Laura on Linkedin

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More and more organizations are prioritizing diversity and inclusion as their strategic priorities. But how are organizations actually doing this work? On today’s episode, Trish Mandewo, Founder & CEO at Synergy on Boards Consulting Group and Coquitlam City Councillor, shares with us how to distinguish D&I tactics that are lip service and perpetuate harm from those that have a lasting and meaningful impact.

Myths that Trish wants us to walk away

If we have diverse representation in our leadership team and on our board, our organization will be inclusive. Tokenism is far from diversity and inclusion. As well, don’t automatically assume BIPOC people have the expertise or responsibility to push for diversity, inclusion and equity at the organization.
We will do a D&I training and we will have done “the work.” If your mindset is that D&I work is something to be done within a short span of time with limited effort and resources, you’re already starting at the wrong place. Diversity takes time, and diversity, inclusion and equity is a commitment, not a temporary goal.

Trish’ tips on building diverse and inclusive culture

When you recruit, look outside of your own circle. If you’re struggling to look for diverse talents, it’s not that there are none. Most likely, it’s because your organization has been looking at the same places or engaging the same exec search firm that doesn’t include diverse talents in their network. Get out of your familiar circle and cast the net wider.
Assess your inclusive framework with all kinds of inclusion in mind. Don’t limit your equity and inclusive framework and policy to inclusion based on race. There are many kinds of discrimination, gender based, age based, disability based etc. Look at everything with an inclusive lens.
Don’t do preferential hiring based on diversity measures and then shove all the EDI responsibilities to those employees or board members. This in itself is perpetuating the narrative and culture of discrimination. No one wants to be seen, valued or hired solely based on their race, gender, age etc. Trust and value diverse talents for their competencies and apply true meritocracy.

Favourite Quotes from Today’s Episode

Post your favourite quote on social to share with us!

“We need to not wait to be invited to come to the circle. We need to invite ourselves into the circle. Because when you experience inequity over the years, you get to a point where you just think you’re just going to stand outside the circle and look in. Keep inviting yourselves into the circle.”

“Inclusion starts now, and diversity takes time. Show me that your company actually has an inclusion framework so that when the person that you're looking for comes in, they're going to come into your place that’s welcoming, where they can feel like they belong. If your organization is just going to hire diverse candidates and do nothing else, then you might be bringing in people into an environment which is not ready or welcoming for them.”

Resources from this Episode

The Good Partnership

Trish on Linkedin

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How can charities become “investment-ready”? On today’s podcast, Narinder, Managing Partner at Marigold Capital, shares with us what impact investors, grantors, and other funders, are looking for when choosing charity partners, and how charities can assess whether an investor or funder is the right fit for them.

Myths that Narinder wants us to walk away

We have to fit a program into funders’ objectives. If you are tweaking a program so much to fit funders’ objectives to the extent that it does not align with your organization's mission and vision anymore, you have to pause and ask yourself what is the long term value that this funding will bring to your organization.
Never say no to money. It takes courage for the leaders of a nonprofit to assess any given funding is aligned with their mission and vision. Be very clear of what your vision is. If there is no alignment, it is ok to walk away.

Narinder’s tips on becoming investment ready:

Do your research on similar charities in the space and highlight your unique value proposition. Your understanding on who else is doing similar work as your charity and rationale for why your organization’s work is different, unique or needed will show to the funders that you have a deep understanding of the space you’re in and what your organization’s role in the space is.
Celebrate your leadership team’s lived experience. More and more, funders and impact investors are just valuing the leadership team’s professional experience. They also assess the lived experience of the board and staff to get a sense of their potential community expertise and perspective.
Have a clear vision on how the investment will fit into your strategy, not the other way around. Constantly inventing programs to fit a funding requirement not going to work. Impact investors care about the sustainability of your organization’s business model. They would be less likely to invest in your organization if they don’t see themselves adding value to your work in the long term.

Favourite Quotes from Today’s Episode

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“Asking a simple question of who else is doing what you're doing and how is your approach different sometimes is the most revealing. If what your organization is doing is unique that no one is coming close to what you're doing, but you don't have a sense of your neighbor who's doing a similar program, that tells me a lot about the actual work that you're engaging in and potentially the why.”

“As a funder, I most appreciate when the executive directors say - this is my strategy, and this is your funding bucket and this is how it fits into my strategy that I've already defined. That way you're not unintentionally getting into mission drift and find yourself creating many different programs that may or may not drive value for the organization.”

Resources from this Episode

The Good Partnership

Narinder on Linkedin

Marigold Capital

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What do funders really look for in a proposal? How do they decide what to fund and what not to? These are the burning questions we have when laboring hours and hours of work for a funding application. On today’s podcast, we go behind the scenes with a funder and connect with Stephanie Rebello, Manager of Sustainability and Inclusion at LoyaltyOne to tackle all your burning questions.

Myths that Stephanie wants us to walk away

Getting a corporate grant is a cheque exchange. Gone are the days that corporate philanthropy is transactional relationship. Corporate funding managers like Stephanie care deeply about how corporate and charitable partners can co-create sustainable values.
Don’t report on bad news. Trust that your funders value resilience and adaptability and have faith in your expertise. When facing problems like the unexpected impact brought about by the global pandemic, be transparent with your funders, tell them the problems you’re facing, outline your pivot plan, and let them know how they can support you.

Stephanie’s tips on building partnership with funders

Propose joint value proposition. Whether it’s for a pitch or a funding application, do your homework in thinking about what the funder can bring to the table and what your charity can bring to the table to co-create values for each other. Oftentimes, charities will have insights into specific communities that the funders would never have, and funders will have certain capabilities and capacities in a specific sector that the charities don’t have. Think holistically and creatively about how those cross sections can bring about collaboration and impact.
Take a co-design approach. One size does not fit all. Understand specific funders’ needs, objectives and capabilities in partnering with you and design the partnership proposal with both your charity and the funder’s perspectives in mind. Be open to get feedback and design with the funder. This process might take longer but the result will be rewarding for both parties in the partnership.
Lean in to your community insights and subject expertise. These are valuable assets that the funders won’t have or won’t know. Lean in your strength and inspire your funders in both your proposal and reporting.

Favourite Quotes from Today’s Episode

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“Ask what are some joint value propositions of what we're doing and what you're doing. One thing I love about working with some nonprofits is that deep knowledge that they have on their community members that I will never have. But I have some of the products, services, some of the data analytics and some of the powerhouse tools and resources. When you put them together, it’s really awesome and you can see some amazing sustainable impacts”

“We’re seeing such a transition and such a disruption in both the corporate social responsibility sector and the philanthropy sector, because we're no longer looking at transactional relationships. We're now more actively involved with purpose driven work products and services that give back.”

Resources from this Episode

The Good Partnership

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Support the show (https://paypal.me/smallnonprofit)

Social media is one of those things that almost everyone has, but very few use it well. On today’s podcast, we invited Brock Warner, fundraiser and author of the book From the Ground Up: Digital Fundraising for Nonprofits to walk us through how to build a consistent and effective social media strategy.

Myths that Brock wants us to walk away

All my followers will see every post I post, right? Only about 10% of your followers will see each of your organic posts. For your posts to make it to more people’s feeds, it needs to attract engagement (sharing and commenting)
There is a secret for making viral posts: there are so many factors that will inspire people to share, and different audience personalities behave differently. There is no one strategy that will work all the time other than consistently trying, testing, and understanding your audience.

Brock’s tips on increasing social media engagement

Empathize with your audience and be intentional in your social media posts. Who is your donor base? What are they interested in? What is it that you would like your posts to do for your audience? Take time to come up with hypotheses for these questions and let the answers guide the way you craft your posts.
Build loyalty consistently over time. Post consistently, be available and be transparent to your followers. When people interact with your posts and ask you questions, be there to socialize with them. Test out different kinds of content and see what works.
Connect your social media strategy with your email marketing strategy. Email remains one of the most effective ways for storytelling and converting audiences to become donors. Plan for evergreen content on your social media with a call to action for them to subscribe to your email list.

Favourite Quotes from Today’s Episode

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“The golden rules apply now more than ever. In fundraising, people give to people telling good stories, relating on a very human level, being open and honest and transparent. These are the things that no matter what the algorithm is people like and are going to resonate with.”

“For a smaller organization, you can quickly come up with what 40% of your donor base tends to look like and sound like and be interested in. So if you start with putting yourself in that person's shoes. What would that person want to see. Let that guide your decisions about the tone, the voice, the length you use in your social media posts.”

Resources from this Episode

The Good Partnership

Brock’s Linkedin

Brock’s book: From the Ground Up: Digital Fundraising for Nonprofits

Our friends at Keela are offering you 40% off your first year's subscription of their donor database.

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If things are not broken, why change?

But what are some fundamental assumptions and myths that we believe in working in the charitable sector that hinder us from enabling changes and delivering impact? On today’s podcast episode, Rickesh Lakhani, Executive Director of Future Possibilities for Kids and a passionate champion of grassroots organizations, joins us to bust these myths and question status-quo that does more harm than good.

Big questions about the sector we tackle on this episode

Is it ethical to invest in our staff? Investing in our staff and our team is key to the long term sustainability of our organizations. Moreover, investing in the organization’s infrastructure, system and process is equally important.
Do we have to choose between being donor-centred and being community centred? Fundraising is supposed to enable us to do our work for our communities, not hinder it. Donor-centricity doesn’t mean to please donors at all cost. Do not be afraid to have difficult conversations with donors when their approach of philanthropy does not align with your values and might cause harm to the communuty.
Who can give? We often make assumptions about who has the capacity to give and who doesn’t. We also often normalize the practice of 100% staff and board giving but don’t customize the strategy and approach for the organization. There are many ways people can contribute to the organization, and there are also donors that can and will give but the organization precludes them right from the prospecting stage.
Can charities do harm? Just because charities set out to do good, it doesn’t mean they can’t do harm. Doing good and doing harm can co-exist. If we let people in the sector get off the hook just because they intend to do good, we are reinforcing racism, seixsm, and other systemic issues.
Is our work political? By law, charities’ work needs to be bipartisan, but it doesn’t mean our work is apolitical. By nature, our work is political as we push for social changes. Charities can add values to enabling social changes and responding to societal crises like the pandemic by being nimble innovators and community connectors.

Favourite Quotes from Today’s Episode

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“If we are not investing in our infrastructure, our system, our process, our people - our future, how are we going to tackle the magnitude of the work that we set out to do?”

“I don’t want the kind of fundraising that donors can have so much power that they can harass a staff member and walk away. I don’t want the kind of fundraising that reinforces the stereotypes of communities. I don’t want growth that is at the expense of our employees.”

“People who do community work are some of the most resourceful people I know. Imagine giving them enough funding and resources - what might be the impact and changes they bring?”

Resources from this Episode

The Good Partnership

Connect with Rickesh

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Good financial health is the cornerstone of a sustainable nonprofit. As nonprofit leaders, we all know the importance of financial management, but budgets and audits still give us the worst headaches. How can we build up our financial management muscles and confidence? On today’s episode, Betty Ferreira, Founder of GoodCasting who has trained and coached many nonprofit leaders on financial management, shares with us how we can figure out our organization’s finances without headaches and tears.

Myths that Betty wants us to walk away

You have to be good at math to manage your finances. Managing finance doesn’t necessarily require you to be good at math. A lot of it is exercising your logical thinking muscles.
You have to have all the answers whenever you’re talking about finance with your board. Don’t aim for perfection. Aiming for perfection will trap you into the habit of avoiding talking about your organization’s finance with your board of directors. No one has all the answers. Work with your board together on figuring out your finances.

Betty’s tips on figuring out your finance

Know that you can transform your organization’s business model and financial structure. Many inherit the business model and financial structure from their predecessors and assume that they can’t change them. You can (and in some cases, should) absolutely make changes to the financial structure to suit the changing needs of the organization.
Have a thorough and transparent discussion about finance with your board. It’s tempting to provide the minimum and most succinct version of your financial statements to your board. But in order for them to do their job of providing financial oversight, you should present them more comprehensive information including the financial position statement of your organization. Expect that this process will take time and effort in going back and forth with your board.

Favourite Quotes from Today’s Episode

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“Doing the match and sorting out your finance is connected to social justice -- they’re about your organization’s resilience and impact.”

“For both fundraising and finance management, don’t wait for the crisis to build the competencies”

Resources from this Episode

The Good Partnership

Find Betty at GoodCasting

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Donating with cryptocurrency is an emerging trend. With a lot of information (and hype) out there about cryptocurrency, it can be confusing and even a bit scary when considering whether your charity should start receiving cryptocurrency donations. On today’s episode, two experts in this field, Anne Connelly and Jason Shim, share with us how to get started with cryptocurrency fundraising.

Quick facts about cryptocurrency donations

You can sell the donated crypto currency right away, or you can hold on to it and sell it to harness a higher profit. Note that cryptocurrency is more volatile than stocks or bonds but charities can leverage on the volatility.
You issue a tax receipt for cryptocurrency donations at fair market value at the time of donation. Crypto currency donations are currently considered as in-kind donations in Canada.
You’re not the first charity to do this. There are Canadian charities that have already started to accept cryptocurrency donations. Pathway to Education Canada, Simon Fraser University, and more.

Anne and Jason’s tips on getting started with cryptocurrency donation

Set up your system to receive cryptocurrency. Start with choosing a platform that can receive cryptocurrency and embedding the system to your website. After that, think about what are other ways in your communication channels and touch points that you can set up the receiving of crypto donation and promote it.
Reframe about the way you think about who can give and the way they give. Crypto donors are often young and digital minded. They may behave and think quite differently than traditional donors.
Evaluate perceived risk versus actual risk. Don’t get caught up in sensationalism in media headlines. Do your research. Try buying one bitcoin on your own to see what the process is like.

Favourite Quotes from Today’s Episode

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“This is something that every charity is going to have in the next 10 years. When you look back on the adoption of credit cards, the charitable sector also had people who were really afraid of that at first. With Bitcoin right now, people are nervous about it but I guarantee within the next 10 years if your donor database doesn't integrate crypto currency donations, you'll be finding a new database.”

“Here’s a really amazing window of opportunity right now, where if you build it they will come. And that's because there's so few charities out there that actually do accept cryptocurrency donations. With wealthy crypto donors, their first step in finding a charity to donate to is literally googling charity that accepts Bitcoin and then picking from five or six that are on the list.”

Resources from this Episode

The Good Partnership

Anne Connelly

Jason Shim

Anne and Jason’s new book: Bitcoin and the Future of Fundraising

Anne’s Blog (including guides on how to buy cryptocurrency)

Our friends at Keela are offering you 40% off your first year's subscription of their donor database.

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Support the show (https://paypal.me/smallnonprofit)

Dealing with conflicts often invokes uneasy feelings or even fear. But healthy debates and conflicts can bring thought diversity and new perspectives to the table. So can we stop avoiding conflict and manage them with more ease and courage? On today’s episode, personal development coach and mediator Claudia Aronowitz shares with us practical tips on conflict management.

Myths that Claudia wants us to leave behind

“I need to know what to say during an argument!” Don’t listen to the other person in conflict with you just so that you can have the perfect come-back line to prove your point. That is not constructive for moving along the conversation. Don’t be afraid of silence in an argument. Give space to listen. Ask more, talk less.
We need to leave emotion out of the door when we try to de-escalate a conflict. Acknowledging the emotion in a tense conversation is key to de-escalation. When emotion runs high, it is ok to take a time-out break.

Claudia’s tips on managing conflicts

Acknowledge the other side and agree to disagree. Listen and acknowledge differences of opinion and perspective and stay curious. You do not have to agree with everything, but you can always acknowledge the other person’s point and emotion.
Understand and anticipate your triggers. Observe what kind of behaviour, signals, and patterns trigger yourself. If you can get a better understanding of your trigger points, you will be able to anticipate when and how you get triggered.
Paraphrase what the other person is saying and summarize it out loud. If you can paraphrase what the other person engaging in a conflict with you is saying, you are showing the other person you're actively listening and understanding the person’s point of view. This is helpful for de-escalation in a difficult conversation.

Favourite Quotes from Today’s Episode

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“There are always two sides in a conflict. Ask yourselves what are the things that you’re willing to do to deal with that conflict. Because if we change, the relationship changes. If we start dealing with conflict differently, the other person on offense will come around and start understanding that something's shifting.”

“To prepare yourself for a conversation involving conflict, you really need to work through the steps of what do you want to say? How are you going to listen? How are you going to get the information you need? And in a situation involving power dynamics, do you need somebody else to come to the meeting with you? “

Resources from this Episode

The Good Partnership

Claudia Aronowitz

Values Exercise Worksheet

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Prospect research, or prospect development, often seems to be one of those fundraising “best practices” that feel exclusive to charities with more resources. How can small charities do meaningful prospect research and development without draining their bank account? On today’s podcast, prospect development expert Preeti Gill shares some practical tips for small nonprofits to kickstart their prospect research and challenges us to rethink the notion of philanthropy through the process of prospect development.

Myths that Preeti wants us to leave behind

You always have to look outside for prospects. Be curious about your own donor base first. Look at the donors who have made a gift larger than you expected in the past, reach out to them, and get to know them and why they support your organization.
More information means more dollars will be raised. Gathering external information and research about donors and donor prospects must be coupled with action in order to yield results. Don’t expect any donor research database or tool will solve all your fundraising problems.

Preeti’s tips on prospect research

Actively and consistently capture data on who is interacting with your organization. Collect data on who is subscribed to your e-newsletter, who comes to your event, and who volunteers for your organizations - your best donor prospects are those who already support your organization.
Leverage external information to fill in the information gap about your existing donors. There might be information that your donors do not want to share with you explicitly. For instance, how much are they giving to other charities. If you can leverag donor research to fill these information gaps, you will have a better picture of your donors.
Don’t do prospect research just from your desk - meet with people! Communities everywhere are filled with diverse donors who are eager to support and engage with their community initiatives. You’re missing a big part of the picture if you only rely on an online database to look up past giving history. You might also fall for the dangerous trap of having a narrow definition of a philanthropist and philanthropy.

Favourite Quotes from Today’s Episode

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“It is not enough to have beautifully crafted and presourced prospect development. You also need to be investing in training your donor facing colleagues to get to know their donors and understand that it is their job to foster philanthropy and secure philanthropic support from donors supported by the prospect research.”

“Prospect researchers play an important role in broadening our definitions of what philanthropy is beyond seeing an old white guy's name on the top of a building. Really think about what philanthropy means to a broader subset of Canadians, because I would argue newcomer Canadians and first generation Canadians have a different definition of philanthropy and how philanthropy is practiced and viewed in North America.”

Resources from this Episode

The Good Partnership

Preeti Gill on Linkedin

Preeti Gill on Twitter

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Managing the board often gives EDs a headache. When a board functions effectively, it can be an organization’s greatest asset, but when it doesn’t, it becomes an extra burden for the ED and the rest of the staff. So how do you build your dream board from inside out? On today’s episode, Andrea Shirey, CEO of One Nine Design and expert on nonprofit board management, shares with us step-by-step tips on improving your board’s experience and impact.

Myths that Andrea wants us to leave behind

People with tons of board experience are going to fix your board. Bringing in someone who is sitting on multiple boards is not necessarily going to fix things. Assess whether this board member even has the capacity to support your board, and be mindful that sometimes positioning a new board member as “the fixer” of problems can set the board member up for failure and create unintended friction within the board
“We need to train our board!” - instead of focusing so much on training your board, focus on untraining them on bad habits first. Assess what they are doing right now that is not a good use of time and resources. See the tips below for some of the examples on how to “untrain” them.

Andrea’s tips on increasing board engagement

Improve communication with your board with the ED’s executive report. Avoid pages of long content without focus. Instead of writing the ED’s report the night before the board meeting, keep a document throughout the month to keep track of highlights and items you need the board’s support. When presenting the report, be very clear what kind of support you’re trying to get from the board members. See below for Andrea’s free Executive Director Board Report template.
Flip your board agenda upside down. Make the board meeting engaging and interesting by sharing a good story right at the top and have the most important discussions at the beginning. Leave the procedural stuff at the end.
Leverage your existing board members to recruit board members with authenticity and specificity. When you’re writing out a board recruitment posting for public distribution or your board members to share, avoid jargons and give a succinct summary of your organization’s theory of change and what is the expected commitment of your board members. Don’t be afraid of specifying the skill sets and expertise that you’re looking for.

Favourite Quotes from Today’s Episode

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“Start with your current board, understanding what you need to move forward, and take the right steps to recruit the right people. An ideal board is made up of the right people for the right time for the organization who understand why they're there and understand what's expected of them.”

“Improving the current board members’ experience and recruiting the right people to the board needs to happen simultaneously. When you improve the current board members’ experience, you’re setting them up to help the organization effectively. A good and specific place to start is with the Executive Director’s report.”

Resources from this Episode

The Good Partnership

Andrea Shirey at One Nine Design

Our friends at Keela are offering you 40% off your first year's subscription of their donor database.

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Reaching and engaging the changing demographics in communities is often on organizations’ strategic agenda. But when it comes to developing the actual strategic tactics and implementing them, organizations often face a set of questions: where do we begin? How do we reach new communities authentically and meaningfully? And how long will our strategies start to show results?

On today’s podcast, Bobby Sahni, Partner and Co-Founder of Ethnicity Matters, joins us to answer all your burning questions about engaging diverse and multicultural communities.

Myths that Bobby wants us to leave behind

There are universal strategies for building a D&I program. The make-up of communities are shifting and organizations must pay ongoing attention to shifting trends to build a thoughtful diversity and inclusion practice.
“do immigrant communities give”? According to the recent study that EthnicityMatters conducted with Imagine Canada, across the board, immigrant communities have the willingness to give more but they currently feel like they’re not being spoken to directly by charities.

Bobby’s tips on building a multicultural philanthropy program

Develop a long term strategy and give yourself permission to fail. Don’t try something in the short term and then easily fall back to the good old way of doing things just because one or two strategic tactics do not work out.
Start from the top. Driving diversity, inclusion and belonging is an internal journey and must be led by the leadership level of the organizations in order to have long term, sustainable outcomes.
Know the communities you want to reach and serve. While this may sound so intuitively obvious, do a gut check and be honest with yourself and your organization whether you truly know the communities you want to serve. Go out in the communities to meet people and get to know them. Be curious and open.

My favourite quotes from this episode

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“The only thing we have in common is that we’re different. Let’s be curious and open and talk about all of our differences”

“Building a multicultural philanthropy program is not a one-month, two-month, or one-year, or five-year project. It's constantly evolving and changing. Every organization really needs to first develop a strategic mindset and understand that there is no one-size-fits-all strategy.”

Resources from this Episode

The Good Partnership

EthnicityMatters

Report on Multicultural Canada and the Future of Giving

Bobby Sahni on Linkedin

Our friends at Keela are offering you 40% off your first year's subscription of their donor database.

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Myths that Bruce wants us to leave behind

Because corporations have shrinking budgets, they can’t support the charitable sector. Many corporations have digital expertise that charities might not have. Corporations can share their digital expertise and help charities to assess their digital infrastructure needs to support them to adapt to the pandemic and post-pandemic world.
After we survive this pandemic, it will be back to normal and business as usual for the charitable sector. It is clear that the ways we work and collaborate and the way we deliver our impact in the sector is rapidly changing. Charities must start thinking about what is their future business model and consider how to design their workspace (physical and/or digital), work culture, and service delivery model.

Bruce’s tips on how can charities be equipped to face future storms

Build digital infrastructure. Whether it is through sharing resources and expertise with partners and funders, or hiring digital specialists on the team, charities need to act now to build digital infrastructure that will ensure the sustainable health of their organizations.
Diversify or maintain a diversified pool of funding support. We need a mix ecology for what is supporting the charitable sector, including support from the government, corporations and communities. The coming together of different stakeholders will allow for the charitable sector to thrive.
Continue to invest in impact sharing and storytelling. Continued and effective communication of the impact of charities and our sector as a whole has a profound impact on building and deepening trust with the general public.

My favourite quotes from this episode

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“It's time to shift the conversation to health and well being as opposed to overhead and administration. I've been using a tree analogy. We all understand that we need to deepen the roots and have a strong foundation. If several branches of the tree break off in a storm, for organizations whose roots are not strong, the storm will break the trunk of the tree. Part of building foundational strength is investing in the kinds of things like digital infrastructure and digital technology that are going to last in the long run.”

“I’m hopeful that some of the practices that we've seen emerge through a crisis can shift our DNA and become part of how we as a sector work together more effectively going forward. With 2.4 million Canadians working in this sector, 13 million volunteers and 8.5% of GDP, we are a force to be reckoned with in Canada, and should be reckoned with. And if there's one thing we can do something out of this is to leverage our ability to use that strength for good.”

Resources from this Episode

The Good Partnership

Imagine Canada

Bruce MacDonald on Linkedin

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We all want to do a good job. Especially in the nonprofit sector, sometimes there’s immense pressure to do an outstanding job because we need to answer to the community we serve. But trying to do a good job does not equate to the endlessly pursuing perfection. In fact, perfection doesn’t exist and we learn the most when we fail. On today’s episode, our guest Nikki Bell, fundraising consultant and founder of Pizza for Losers, will share with us how we can learn from the smallest to the biggest failures and how to build a growth-oriented relationship with our fear of failure.

Myths that Nikki wants us to leave behind

Failure shows our weakness. Moments of failures show our real potential. If you have not failed at anything, it means you’ve been playing too safe.
Only big failures can guide us to learn. Our work and lives are made up of many small failures more than big, catastrophic failures. Some of the biggest learnings can come from the smallest failures.

Nikki’s tips on failing forward

Take space and time for reflection. Failing gives us an opportunity for introspection. Make sure that you allow yourself to sit with the uncomfortable feeling and observe what is going on and reflect what is your biggest takeaway.
Have a toolkit ready for facing fear. Dealing with fear of failure and pressure to succeed takes practice. Use methods like free writing to dissect your feelings and nurture habits to make you feel comfortable with these stressful and uncomfortable feelings. The more you practice, the more you will become aware of it and know how to respond instead of react to it.
Don’t play the comparison game. Practicing failing forward is a journey, and everyone’s journey is different. Avoid comparing yourself with others or else you might fall for the trap of thinking the person you compare yourself with doesn't seem to have fear or failures, but in actuality you don’t know another that person feels.

My favourite quotes from this episode

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“With failures, we tend to blame elsewhere. It’s really important to get comfortable with uncomfortable feelings. Reflect, work on yourself, and love yourself.”

“Quitting something that’s not working is not failure. The failure is sticking in it and festering there long term just to save face.”

Resources from this Episode

The Good Partnership

Nikki Bell

Pizza for Losers

Fundraising Everywhere

Our friends at Keela are offering you 40% off your first year's subscription of their donor database.

Click the link to book a demo: https://www.keela.co/partner/certified-partner?ref=cindy72

Support the show (https://paypal.me/smallnonprofit)

Offering a naming right opportunity to donors can be a daunting process. From making the right offer to negotiating the terms of the naming, how might we think holistically and act strategically about it? On today’s episode, Vincent Duckworth, seasoned fundraiser and CEO and President of the ViTreo Group, reframes our fear and worry around donor naming rights and provides practical advice on how to manage this process, regardless of how big or small your organization is.

Myths that Vincent wants us to leave behind

Naming rights only benefits the donors. Having a major donor’s name on a campaign or program can help drive momentum to the campaign and establish credibility for the program.
Donors who want naming rights only care about visibility. Many donors actually don’t care about visibility as much as they care about impact. Understand every donor’s unique needs and design the naming right opportunity to meet those needs.

Vincent’s tips on managing donor naming rights

The property you associate the donors names’ with is a reflection of the relationship. The more tangible the named property is, the more that it shows you value the relationship. For example, a physical donor wall reflects more permanence in a relationship than a virtual donor wall.
Be adaptable with your recognition strategies as your organization evolves. There is no one golden rule that is always right when it comes to naming right opportunities. When your organiatin starts out, it might make sense to provide more donors with naming rights. As your organization grows, you can also decide whether or not to reserve naming rights to be more exlcusive.
When confirming naming terms, be aware of the impact it has on the communities you serve. While it might make sense to limit the naming rights’ to a term, for certain programs, sustaining stability and longevity is important and changing their names from time to time can have a negative impact on your community. Engage your community in the process if possible and be aware of the impact it has if you need to change the naming of a program, an offering, or a property.

My favourite quotes from this episode

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“In the nonprofit sector, some organizations suffer from thinking that their brand is not as important as those in the for-profit sector. And that’s just not true. But we don’t realize this until we make an abrupt change like renaming a property or program without talking to the community. Be aware that naming things has an impact on community dynamics.”

“Sometimes, donors like naming right opportunities that are only seen by program recipients and staff. They do this not because of ego and not because of brands. It’s about making people know others care.”

Resources from this Episode

The Good Partnership

Find Vincent at ViTreo Group

BrainTrust Philanthropy Podcast

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How can we have a real conversation about systemic racism and white supremacy, especially at our workplace with power dynamics involved? On today’s podcast, Hawa Mire, strategy and equity consultant and community organizer, walks us through how we might build up our muscles and emotional intelligence for having these important conversations.

Myths that Hawa wants us to leave behind

If I do better individually, racism and oppression will go away. Racism permeates our society and culture on a systemic level. While individual actions matter immensely, recognizing systemic racism and oppression exist and continue to exist is a starting point for us to tackle and dismantle white supremacy together.
Only bad people will do racist things. Everyone has blindspots and unconscious bias perpetuated by systemic racism. Assuming that only bad people are racist pigeonholes conversations about race to be about individual character and risk neglecting the whole picture of systemic racism and power dynamics at play.

Hawa’s tips on building up your muscle for talking about race, racism and white supremacy:

Get out of passive learning. Reading a book is very different from engaging with real people and engaging with the community. Get out there to engage in experiential learning and connect with people and understand their lived experiences.
Don’t react to a conversation with the sole intent of self-preservation. Conversations about race and racism are much more complex than one person’s good or bad. Allow people to come talk to you about their experiences without making the conversation about you. Respond mindfully and don’t be afraid to recognize you don’t have the language or answers.
Recognize you’re responsible for the harm of your action and words. Intentions and outcomes can be very different. Having good intentions does not automatically preclude you from inflicting harm. Take responsibility for the impact and outcome of your actions and words.

My favourite quotes from this episode

Post your favourite quote on social to share with us!

“It’s hard for people to get out of this sense of: I'm only a racist if I'm a bad person, not racist if I'm a good person. When you start the conversation around white supremacy there, you don't get very far because people are much more interested in preserving their sense of themselves. If the conversations involve BIPOC people responding rightfully about their lived experience, then suddenly we've got groups of people having conversations about themselves, but only one of those groups of people has any significant power to change the condition of the other”

“In the context of a work environment, a charity, or an organization especially charities and nonprofit, what often happens is that staff or clients bring forward concerns around race and senior leaders bring in unconscious bias training. And what that does is it, it suggests that everybody in the room has the same level of power to engage in uncovering their bias, and it's just not the truth. We have to recognize the power dynamics: some of us have the power to do things about our bias, and some of us don’t.”

Resources from this Episode

The Good Partnership

Hawa Mire

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How are you going to make this program sustainable after we stop funding you?

Most people who have written a grant have been asked that question, and guess what, most people just improvise the answer.

There’s a lot to unpack about program sustainability. Is it a fair expectation to ask from nonprofits? If nonprofits do want to sustain a program, what factors should they consider.

Today’s guest on the podcast, Kylie Hutchinson from Community Solutions, has spent many years researching and trying to understand more about this subject. She even has a book specifically on this topic.

Give it a listen, and know that next time when you’re scratching your head trying to answer that million dollar question about program sustainability, you’re not alone.

Myths that Kylie want us to leave behind

Let us run the pilot, then we will think about sustainability. If you want your program to sustain, start planning for sustainability now. There’re many external factors that will help shape that, and although those factors can vary from program to program and organization to organization, it is never too early to think about sustainability, given that sustainability is aligned with your organization’s strategic goals.
Sustaining a program means sustaining all parts of it all the time. Sometimes, like right now during the pandemic, even with the best intentions, it’s unrealistic to sustain all parts of a program. Instead, Kylie advises to focus on sustaining the core components of the program that can reignite momentum for the whole program.

Kylie’s tips on program sustainability

Show and talk about your impact. No matter how great your program is, no external stakeholders will know unless you tell a compelling story about your impact. Showing and talking about your impact is instrumental to bring attention to why your program deserves support and should be sustained.
Build community support through partnerships and collaboration. Kylie recognizes that partnerships and collaborations take work and require capacity, and sometimes it is very tempting to roll out a program all with internal support and no external collaboration. However, having community partnerships is like gaining legs for a table that is harder to shake down. Do the upfront work of collaborating now and your program will be stronger in the long run.
Find your program champions in your community. Program champions are usually those who are at an arm-length with your organization (so not your board or staff) and believe in your impact. They have the connections and resources in local communities that you roll out your program, and so can contribute to your program needs in a practical way (like connecting you with a local media) or in a reputational way. These champions can have a huge impact in supporting your program in the long run.

My favourite quotes from this episode

Post your favourite quote on social to share with us!

“Don’t wait till you have a month left in your funding, start planning for sustainability now.”

“Ask yourself what are the embers of your programming absolutely need to maintain? So that when you are in a position to start rebuilding, you can blow on those embers and get your services back to where they were.”

Resources from this Episode

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Conversations about data, databases, and CRMs often surface fear and insecurity. Are you doing enough? Are we missing out just because we can’t afford an expensive database? How can we leverage the tools out there to help our fundraising efforts?

In this episode, Allen Dadvidov, VP of Business Consulting and Nonprofit Sector Lead from Environics Analytics, shares with us tips on how to leverage our existing donor data (yes, spreadsheets included!) to look for indicators that can help grow our fundraising and how general behaviour trends of the populations can support our understanding of donors’ engagement and giving potential.

Myths that Allen want us to leave behind

You need a fancy database to understand your donors. Even if you’re using an excel sheet, if you’re clear about what indicators you’re looking for to tell you more about your donors, you will be able to look for those insights. On the other hand, even if you have a very comprehensive database, if you don’t know what you’re looking for, you will just be sitting on data that tell you no story.
Income level is not the sole indicator of a donor’s giving potential. On one level, income is a non-comprehensive data to reflect wealth, as people with high income can also have high debt. On another level, just because someone has a lot of wealth, it does not mean that person will make a large gift. Donor engagement is a bigger indicator for whether a donor will give than that person’s income level or wealth.

Allen’s tips on using data to learn about your donors

Track and look at what triggered a reaction. Don’t just track who gave and when. Look at whether there is a spike in donations after an email appeal is sent out. Or, try doing an A/B test with an appeal to see what kind of stories or tone works with your donors.
Leveraging existing tools to understand the general behaviour of our population. For example, Environics has a tool called PRIZM that has a free online postal code look-up component that allows you to understand the persona of the Canadian population based on the neighbourhood they live in. These data can give you a good sense who your donors might be and what’re potential ways to engage them.

My favourite quotes from this episode

Post your favourite quote on social to share with us!

“The first great step to understand your database is to ask the question: how are people responding and engaging? There might be a group that's very specific to just eblasts and wanting to know about awareness about a specific part of what you do. And there might be a part of your database that could be very tied to fundraising or advocacy. Mapping out these segments and keeping tabs on them are very good starting points to understand your database”

“Oftentimes, when we look at fundraising data, we focus solely on how much we raise or how many people responded to an appeal, versus, what or who in an appeal triggered a reaction, because something obviously triggered a reaction. Understanding that is very important.”

Resources from this Episode

The Good Partnership

Allen on Linkedin

Environics Analytics

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Donor stewardship is something that most of us know is important, but for some reason, it always gets pushed to the bottom of our to-do list.

What ends up happening is when it comes time that you need your donors, you realize you haven’t talked to them in forever!

This is why donor stewardship is not a nice-to-have. It’s a must-have if you want consistent fundraising growth.

Today, Roxanne Tackie and Rochelle Greaves from Story Point Consulting share with us their expertise on what makes great stewardship and how you can leverage it to grow your fundraising.

Myths that Roxanne and Rochelle want us to leave behind

Stewardship is a lot of work. Great and consistent stewardship can save you work from stressing over how to get donors and make asks.
We need to constantly find new donors. Instead of constantly feeling pressured to find new donors, fish in your own pond. Your existing donor base is the best place to start deepening relationships and engagement.
We need big data to observe donor behaviour. You don’t need a fancy database or meticulous dataset to understand your donors. Even if your donor data is sitting in a spreadsheet, look for important indicators such as how often donors give and what their gift size.

Roxanne and Rochelle’s on leveraging donor stewardship to grow your fundraising

Your volunteers are great potential donors. Overcome the fear of asking your volunteers to give. They already have invested interest in the organization. A lot of times, they’re just waiting for an opportunity to give.
Equip your board or fundraising committee with great stories. A lot of organizations struggle with mobilizing the board or volunteer fundraising committees to do fundraising. The first step is to equip the board members and committee members with great personal stories and experience they have with the organization so that they can paint a compelling picture of why others should support the organization too.
Be personal in your communication. Connect with your donors authentically with your own voice. Put away template letters with ultra-professional and corporate tone.
Tailor recognition to your donor’s needs. Everyone wants to be recognized or not recognized according to their needs. Listen to your donors' needs and provide the thank you and recognition in the way that suits them.

My favourite quotes from this episode

Post your favourite quote on social to share with us!

“We really don’t want donors to only hear from us when we’re asking for money. If we’ve been communicating to our donors, celebrating our successes with them, and letting them know how the programs are going, by the time we ask them, they should already be aware of where you’re going. Now you’re setting up a situation where your donors are ready to talk about the support you need.” - Roxanne

“Once you look at your donor database, you can really see which donors are really engaged. Look at things like: how often are they donating? How long have they donated? Do they volunteer with your organizations? Once you learn who are the most engaged donors, you can start develop plans for stewarding these donors, and maybe eventually move them up to become major donors at your organizations” - Rochelle

Resources from this Episode

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How do you go beyond the land acknowledgement?

In recent years, we see more and more nonprofits including decolonization as their strategic priorities. But if we do a gut check, how’re we actually committing to decolonization everyday?

On today’s podcast, Tim Fox, Vice President of Indigenous Relations and Racial Equity at Calgary Foundation, shares his lived experience of facilitating the Calgary Foundation to commit to transformative changes and learning. Tim urges us to challenge us to think beyond decolonization as a short term project that has easy fixes. He encourages us to reflect on how we might make ourselves open and vulnerable in sharing our responsibilities for decolonization and commit to life-long actions.

Myths that Tim wants us to leave behind

If we do this and that, it will get us to decolonization. There is no quick fix. Systemic oppression has existed for hundreds of years, and decolonization is generational work. It’s not enough to just do land acknowledgements. It’s not enough to just include indigenous communities in your funding catchment areas. With actions like that come responsibility to intentionally learn and understand the Indigenous communities.
Indigenous, black and people of colour have all the answers for decolonization. It is not the responsibility for BIPOC people to lead decolonization. BIPOC people are there to walk alongside with settlers to facilitate change. The responsibility for leading change rests with settlers. As well, the idea that some people are experts and have all the answers in and of itself is an assumption encoded with settlers’ logic.

Tim’s tips on transformative unlearning and learning

Recognize and try different processes of learning. Shifting away from the linear learning process of getting knowledge from experts or listening in workshops, Tim encourages us to be open to different methods and ways of learning, such as the circle learning process and art of hosting.
Letting go of the idea of perfection. Don’t set a deadline for decolonization work, and walk away from the mindset that there is a perfect way to do this. Allow yourself and your organizations to make mistakes, acknowledge them, and keep push through.
Be open and vulnerable. If you’re not an Indigenous person or a BIPOC person, put yourself in situations and settings where you’re the minority. Be vulnerable and don’t be afraid to be uncomfortable.

Resources from this Episode

The Good Partnership

The Calgary Foundation

Indigenous Ally Toolkit

Tim Fox

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“Just because we've been told one story about philanthropy, or about ourselves as fundraisers, it doesn't have to be true. We can change the narrative.”

We become what we believe in. In this special episode, Cindy Wagman, the Founder and CEO of The Good Partnership and host of our podcast talks about why it is so important to tackle our mindset when fundraising, and how to do that without compromising our values and authenticity.

Myths that Cindy wants us to leave behind

Fundraising is hard and icky. The more that we tell our brain that fundraising is hard, the more that our brain will reinforce this notion and make it feel icky. It's a negatively reinforcing loop.
You have to become someone else to fundraise successfully. Having a growth mindset for fundraising does not mean you need to be inauthentic or sell out your values and mission. Pretending to be someone else when fundraising is exhausting, and no one can sustain that in the long term.

Cindy’s tips on hacking your brain for fundraising success

Align your mindset first, then build habits and tactics. No matter how many tactics you learn for fundraising, if you’re putting on the brake (ie, negative mindset), you’re not going to get the results you want. Align your mindset first then lean into the tools and tactics.
Give your brain space to change. The more you force yourself to change, the harder it is to change. That’s natural survival mechanisms. So when trying to create new pathways of thinking for your brain, be patient with yourself and set aside self judgements.
Stay true to your values. One of the biggest turning points for many students at Flipside Fundraising is gaining the understanding that their values and mission are what inspire funders and donors to support them. So stay true to your values as you align your mindset for fundraising success.

Want to learn more about Cindy’s secrets for raising over 8 million dollar for small nonprofits, join her on this FREE live webinar on October 20 1 pm EST. (If you can’t make it, sign up anyway to get the recording afterward)

Resources from this Episode

The Good Partnership

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Advocacy is in the DNA of our sector. Every day, whether it’s a front line social agency, or an arts organization, nonprofits are doing great advocacy work at the community level.

How can we as a sector lift each other up and support each other’s advocacy efforts?

Joining us today for this discussion is Cathy Taylor, the Executive Director of the Ontario Nonprofit Network.

Resources from this Episode

FREE Webinar - Fundraising Secrets

The Good Partnership

Ontario Nonprofit Network

Cathy on Linkedin

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In this special episode of the podcast, one of the students from our spring 2020 Flipside Fundraising cohort, Yvonne Harding, Resource Development Manager at Assaulted Women’s Helpline, to share the transformation she has experienced after she changed her fundraising mindset with the lessons learned in Flipside Fundraising.

If you want to be like Yvonne and turn fundraising from something you dread into something that is meaningful, productive, and successful for you and your small nonprofit, apply for the Flipside Fundraising scholarships today. The scholarship recipients will receive life-time access to the program and its materials, launching in November. Deadline for scholarship applications is October 9 11:59 PM EST. The application will only take you 3 minutes!

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In fundraising, we often talk about surprising and delighting donors. Sending them updates, creating special experiences, writing them cards etc.. But let me ask you this instead: have your donors ever surprised you?

Whether it is a gift made unprompted at the time that your organization really needs it, or it's a simple message to check in on how you and your team are doing - our donors often go beyond our expectation, especially those who truly care about you and your work. I’ll never forget the donor who hand-knitted me a baby blanket when I was pregnant with my first born. It made my heart sing!

When a relationship is aligned and authentic, your donors have your back. You wouldn’t feel awkward or uncomfortable reaching out and having an honest conversation with them, especially when your organization has a need your donor can help with.

So how can we cultivate authentic relationships with donors? Nneka Allen, the guest on today's podcast, asks us to look no further than in our own lives. You're familiar with Nneka's incredible work. In the summer, we shared the amazing series that she curated, Our Right to Heal, a series that features inspiring stories and journeys of Black women fundraisers.

I am so excited to share with you this conversation I had with Nneka, in which she turned observations that she made at her daughter's wedding during the pandemic into nuggets of wisdom about meaningful relationship-building. Give it a listen, and keep up the great work.

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Your organization is like your baby. And that is exactly why you have to make sure that it can grow on its own without you. In order to get to that state, the organization needs you to build in some great planning and set up the right culture and systems.

On today's podcast, our returning guest Michael Prosserman shares his insight on how to lead an organization from the ground up to planning for succession so that it continues to thrive beyond his tenure. Michael urges us to think and act: succession planning starts today.

Mike P is also hosting a FREE book launch party on Oct 24th! Here is the link to join: https://buildingunity.eventbrite.ca

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Imposter Syndrome - we don't talk about it very often. But when we do, there's so many nodding heads and people in agreement saying “of course, I experienced that too.”

Imposter syndrome seems to be more prevalent for people who don't see themselves reflected in the leadership around them. There's no role model so how do I know I'm doing things, right? With representation, diversity and anti-oppression work becoming more prevalent, it can be easy to wonder whether we were hired for our skills or simply to be that “token” employee within your organization.

On today’s podcast, I am excited to have Mimosa Kabir share her perspective to help us unpack the conversation. Tune in as we tackle topics like what imposter syndrome looks like in action, imposter syndrome and risk-aversion, how this can actually contribute to relationship-building and much more!

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When the pandemic started in March, no one knew what was going to happen.EDs at nonprofits big and small were projecting layoffs and devastating deficits. And that happened. To be sure - the impact of COVID on our sector and all of us has been significant. And mostly awful. People had to quickly adjust their work and lives to adapt. Yes. It's been a rough year.

6 months later, we're still dealing with an ongoing pandemic with no foreseeable end date. So, let's recognize this: our sector has also made some huge wins. Nonprofits have become more nimble than ever. They're shifting long-existing programming online, making their workplace remote-friendly, communicating to donors in ways they never tried before. Most of these things have been on our bucket lists for years, but we haven’t had the time and space to move forward with these changes.

In many ways, the COVID-19 pandemic has been the perfect storm that forced us to change. When our environment forces us to change, we become more resilient than we thought we ever would or could be. We realize that changes are not as scary as we imagined. Can we reverse engineer this process and lead necessary changes with courage?

I am so excited to launch the new season of the Small Nonprofit Podcast with a conversation on managing change. Surranna Sandy, the CEO of Skills of Change, shares her philosophy on leading change with people at the centre. She walks us through how to leverage this pandemic to set up the infrastructure that will enable positive changes. Ready for a new season of change and courage?

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It seems like on all fronts we are currently engaged in deep unlearning and learning. Whether it’s around anti-racism or new technologies, the world is a changing place and learning has become more routine than ever.

Right now, while our learning might be accelerated, it’s a good time to reflect on how we can integrate this type of growth and development into the long-term. Today’s podcast is all about lifelong learning with guest Aaron Sanderson, SVP, Advancement & Chief Development Officer at Kids Help Phone. Give it a listen and start planning your next learning!

For access to the show notes and resources, click here.

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As things are slowly opening up, do you have a favourite cafe nearby your home or work that you always visit and can't wait to go back to? If you do, you'll be familiar with this scenario: you go to the cafe a few times, and the barista starts remembering your order. The next time you show up, the barista smiles at you and asks: "americano with oat milk?" (that's my order!)

Surprised, right there and then, the barista has fostered a sense of connection. Before you know it, that cafe becomes your favourite spot. A simple gesture of acknowledging "I know you" is so powerful for sparking connection. How can we also make that magical spark happen with our donors?

Well, I want to introduce to you one of my favourite tools to foster those connections in today’s digital age and in the absence of having donor phone numbers: Bonjoro, a personalized one-to-one video messaging service. On this week's podcast, I chatted with Bonjoro's founder Matt Barnett. Matt shared with us some really doable tips to build authentic connection with your donors remotely.

At The Good Partnership, we started using Bonjoro to send personalized videos to onboard clients and students for Flipside Fundraising, and it’s getting great responses and engagement. We’re also using it with our clients and their donors. As you know, I don’t usually recommend a specific product without context. But we fell in love with Bonjoro, and we know that can be such a great tool for you right now to connect with your donors in a socially distanced world. But, even if it’s not the right tool for you (p.s they have a free version), you can try the tactics in this podcast with other tools too!

For access to the show notes and resources, click here.

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This past week, we’ve all been taking the necessary action to support the Black Lives Matter movement and holding space for difficult and necessary conversations both at work and at home. As you likely know, the work for anti-racism and anti-oppression practices has just begun.

This is not a one-time effort, but something ongoing. We must address how our organizations are governed. We must talk about who sits on our boards and how the board truly supports different voices to be heard and championed (tokenism is not the answer).

On this week's podcast, I had the pleasure to connect with Bailey Greenspon, acting Co-CEO from G(irls)20 and Amal Elmi, a young director of the G(irls)20' Girls on Board program and member of the Community Impact Cabinet at United Way Ottawa. We talked about how to support young and diverse women to sit on nonprofit boards and bring about systemic changes for leadership in our sector.

This episode was recorded before last week. In light of the events this past week, relistening Bailey and Amal's insights and stories deeply touched me. I am inspired by their tireless effort to advocate for young and diverse voices and enact real actions towards equity. It reminds me that we can do this. We must do this. Let's do this together.

For access to the show notes and resources, click here.

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Do you ever make impulse buys? You know, that online sale that you just can’t say “no” to? Or you are out on a socially distant walk and you see something that catches your eye in the window? And plus, you want to support a local business!

Think back to that feeling you get when you make that decision. While there might be rational reasons such as price points and needs, what made us push the “buy” button seems to involve something emotional and intuitive that we can’t always logically explain. How our brain says “yes” is well researched, but we don’t talk about this enough in our sector.

If we could understand the science of decision-making better, we would be so much more effective and efficient when crafting communication and designing experiences for our donors. I'm excited to connect with Dana Segal about this topic on today's podcast episode. Give it a listen. Dana shares some amazing tips on tiny changes that you can implement today to effortlessly raise more money and make it easier for your donors to say “yes”!

For access to the show notes and resources, click here.

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Having become a parent, I now understand how hard it is for parents to let go of their babies. When my boys are not with me, I worry about them all the time. But I’m also learning that controlling them is not empowering them to carve their own paths. There's a fine line between love and control.

That same fine line exists at our workplace. Sometimes, founders and leaders of organizations can't let go of what they created, and they hold onto so much control and end up jeopardizing the long term health of the organization. This is what’s called the founders' syndrome. It's a very tricky problem to resolve and can cause a lot of emotional stress.

That's why we are tackling this difficult but necessary topic with Susanna on today's podcast episode. Susanna Kislenko will share with us her insights on how to survive founders’ syndromes if you're an employer, and how to prevent yourself from slipping into patterns of over-controlling if you're a founder.

Oh, and by the way, you can have founder's syndrome even if you’re not a founder! If you've dealt with or are actively struggling with founders' syndrome, I want to acknowledge how difficult this is. Be gentle with yourself, and know that there’s the support you can seek.

For access to the show notes and resources, click here.

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If I go for a short run this morning, then I will feel energized throughout the day and be healthier in the long term. This was my mental cue that got me up at 5:30 am today. This has been my personal theory of change for the past 5 years, since I started running. Put simply, a theory of change is an “If… then…” scenario. If I do this, then this will happen. But for some reason, when it comes to the theory of change for our organizations, things get messy.

Different people at the table will have different opinions. Peeling off layers of complexity in our organizations can provoke some uncomfortable conversations. More often than not, theory of change becomes a document covered in dust on a shelf. But if I didn't think running would give more fuel for the day and make me healthier, why would I get up so early for it? By that same logic, if we are not clear about why we do what we do, how could we show up with our best selves?

This is why I'm delighted to share with you today's podcast with Lisa Watson, co-founder and lead strategist from Openly. Lisa and her team have done some incredible work helping nonprofits to clarify their theory of change and communicate them in creative, meaningful ways. Give a listen, and may we all be on track towards the changes we want to make in the world!

For access to the show notes and resources, click here.

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I took a deep breath. Feeling a bit nervous, excited and scared, I pushed the button and hoped for the best. If you think I’m talking about playing a slot machine, you’re not that far off. Isn’t this how we feel every time we hit the “submit” button for a grant?

Everybody tells you to do it, but there is no guarantee or any indication of certainty that you’ll get it. This was certainly true for me when I started my fundraising career! I’ve had so many clients and friends in the sector ask me whether they should outsource their grant writing. I get it. If someone can just show up and magically lift us off from the burden of writing grants, that would be so wonderful.

This is why I'm so excited to share today’s podcast, where grant writer, coach, and community developer Stachen Frederick tells us her secrets on writing successful grants (with a unique spin). Stachen wants you to be writing less grants but getting way more out of every one of them, including the impact of bringing your community together in the process. Give it a listen!

For access to the show notes and resources, click here.

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How we do our work is just as important as what we do. But we don’t talk about this enough at work. We get so busy. But are we productive? I’m so excited to talk to my friend Rachel Bearbower from Small Shop Strategies about this topic on this week’s episode of the podcast.

If you are feeling overwhelmed by your long to-dos, or you are looking for a Monday energy boost, take a break and take a listen. You will walk away with some practical tips that you can implement today. And if you enter our special contest, you might win the very special Vault planner Rachel designed to help you maximize your productivity.

For access to the show notes and resources, click here.

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I have heard such different stories from clients and friends. Some are having no problem working from home, as they’re able to access all of their files on the cloud. Some, however, are frustrated by databases and other tools that are crashing or are not functioning remotely at all. How organizations can remain relevant and resilient in the digital world is one of the biggest learnings for our sector during this pandemic.

This can be an overwhelming topic. Technology is not always easy to use. That’s why our guest on this week’s podcast, Avery Swartz, wrote a book about all things internet for you. Avery wants you to save your energy and time to focus on your important work and mission, and not to lose any sleep worrying about technology or digital marketing. Give a listen and start your week with something refreshing!

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Do you remember that icky feeling back in school, when you were assigned a piece of homework that you didn't see the point in doing, but had to do it anyway? Well, I bet that’s the same feeling you get when you’re filling out a program report and are asked to provide evaluation numbers that don’t make sense to you.

Impact evaluation is one of those things we are told that is good for us, but often feels so disconnected from our day-to-day work. On today's episode of the Small Nonprofit Podcast, Jeff Couillard shares with us his journey of helping organizations take back the ownership of their impact data and measure what truly matters.

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Do you ever get that nagging feeling that your voice is not heard or that it’s drowned out? Currently, with everything being communicated online, it’s so easy to feel that what you have to say is going to get buried in a conference call or countless social media posts. And when we do share our voices, we don’t love it. I remembered when I started the podcast, I also struggled with listening to my own voice playing back at me. Being able to express ourselves and communicate clearly is so important to our work and our wellbeing.

I am more than excited to share with you today’s podcast, where Jam Gamble, coach extraordinaire of Slay the Mic program, tells us how to overcome the fear of self-expression and ace public speaking. Let me let you in on a little secret: memorizing the speech does not do the trick. My whole team is loving this podcast episode so I know you will too! What you have to say is so important. Your voice is unique and beautiful. Share it!

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In times like this, it’s so important that we stay connected. The same goes with our donors. They want to hear from you about how you and your organization is doing. I know what you are thinking: donors already have a lot on their plate right now. Why would they want to hear from me?

On today’s podcast, David from The Common Good Philanthropy shares a great story about how donors felt so connected to a small nonprofit that they got upset when they were not called to help in a time of crisis. David wants us to think about fundraising as community building, and offers great advice on how to connect with our donors as our authentic selves. Take a listen!

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During this global pandemic, I know you are holding down the fort for your organization, your community, and your family. So, how can we make sure you have all the tools you need to get through these tough times. Part of that answer is resiliency. What is resilience and how can you build resilience in your everyday life?

On today’s The Small Nonprofit podcast, wellness expert Monica Bodurka shares her step-by-step guide of how we can all build resiliency from everyday habits. All of these habits can be easily incorporated in your daily routines. We are great at caring for others. Let’s take some time and become great at taking care of ourselves.

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These are scary times. The world is in crisis as we work hard to contain the COVID 19 outbreak and minimize its impact. Our organizations are being challenged in ways we could never imagine. For some of us, our clients are at high risk and we are working around the clock to support them. For others, we have been forced to lay off staff because our programs have been cancelled. The emotional toll on each and every one of us is significant, at a time when we are most isolated.

We’re also seeing stories of hope, community, and caring. I’ve seen breweries turn the alcohol they have into free hand sanitizer. My neighbours created a mini food drive for a local shelter. Communities coming together in song.

While this podcast episode was recorded a little while ago, the content is perhaps even more relevant now. Our guest is Sam Laprade and we are talking about burnout. Sam has been talking about mental health so that we can better take care of ourselves and our colleagues. Now more than ever. Sam joins me in today’s podcast, talking about burnout, mental health and self-care. So, take a breath and take a listen.

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In our conversation today with Nouman Ashraf, we’ll debunk some myths around what a leader is and how to be a good one. In short - leadership is not a position or title, it’s a way of being and enabling those around you. Anyone can be a good leader. Everyone SHOULD become a good leader. Nouman has some tips on how to get there.

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What causes you to open that envelope from a charity? What is going through your mind as you decide to read on? Or make a donation? Wouldn’t it be great if you could unlock some of the secrets that influence your donors' behaviours as they think about giving to your organization?

Today’s podcast guest is John Lepp and he is going to be sharing how you can use design to influence your fundraising outcomes - ie: raise more money! But good design isn’t what we like, it’s what works. So through away your personal preferences and grab a pen and paper to discover what design can do to help you raise more money.

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I know you have a long list of “to-dos” that never seems to end. I can also guess that on that list, somewhere towards the end (and seemingly never moving) is to create a Case for Support for your organization.

Well, today you’re in luck because our podcast guest Leah Eustice is a pro when it comes to writing a Case for Support and she’s going to give you all of her tricks and tips. The best part about it - she shows you how you can write your Case quickly and still make it meaningful.

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Guess what - the next generation of workers are not millennials! We’re so past the conversation of millennials in the workplace and now is the time to think about how you’re hiring and engaging the next generation. This new generation values diversity and inclusion, as well as the ability to have an impact. This is in great alignment with the nonprofit sector, but the reality is that as many as 30% of employers struggle to fill their entry-level roles.

Want to build your pipeline of talent in a meaningful and lasting way? Listen to today’s podcast with CivicAction and their HireNext program.

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Are you introverted or extroverted? I’m right in the middle with a sway towards extroversion. It can sometimes look like the modern work environment is created for us extroverts and if you're introverted, it can feel draining or even exclusionary.

Today’s podcast guest, Trina Isakson, spent years working in our sector as an introvert and created the Quiet Changemaker Project - a place for introverted nonprofit professionals to connect. Our conversation is all about thriving as an introvert (and supporting introverts on your team).

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I’ve had to hire my fair share of staff over the years and I’m embarrassed to say how many times I’ve heard someone comment, “we can’t hire her, she’s going to have babies soon.”

This was said to me pre-kids (as I was thinking of starting my own family), and since I’ve had kids (my two sons are now 5 and 8). It’s been said by men and women. Young and old. Parents and non-parents.

When today’s podcast guest, Lacey Kempinski, had her own children and started to explore the need for balance in her life, she quickly found that most workplaces, certainly everywhere but specifically in our sector, are really not that parent-friendly.

What do women and other parents experience in the workplace and how do we change that to ensure that we have happy and healthy employees (and therefore productive and effective staff)? Take a listen!

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Is it really worth having interns and students? Sometimes it can feel hit or miss making it feel like you're adding to your workload instead of having a great mentorship experience.

In this episode, we're speaking with Peter and Catherine from Seneca360, a program that matches yourself with a skilled student who can support very specific project-based work. With both the perspectives of a mentor and a student, tune in to learn their insights on how to approach a mentorship program with success and how Seneca360 can sponsor a motivated student to complete quality work for you (without costing you a dime!)

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Did you know that I’m psychic? I can tell whether or not you have challenges with your board of directors. Let me look into my magic ball. The answer is “yes” - your board is not functioning as well as it could or should be.

While you may be in awe of my incredible powers, the reality is that we know most small organizations have some struggles with their boards. Or their boards have struggled with their organizations. Or both simultaneously.

Today’s podcast features Dr. Patricia Bradshaw, who studies nonprofit boards and shares with you some tools to identify the type of board you have (there are many types) and how you can optimize effectiveness with that type of board.

For access to the show notes and resources, click here.

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Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and now TikTok - do you often feel pressure to get your organization on the latest trend? Whether that's from your board or the organization itself, it seems like everyone wants you to be on every single platform there is.

Tune in to our live conversation from Happy You Year as we chat with Simon Scriver, host of Simon Scriver's Amazingly Ultimate Fundraising Superstar Podcast, about Shiny Object Syndrome. Learn about how to confidently (and successfully) say no, how to evaluate whether a trend is right of you and much more!

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So today's guest really needs no introduction - we think everyone knows Paul Nazareth. He's been on the podcast before and he is, we believe, one of the most influential people in our sector in Canada. We've talked with him before about planned giving, but today we're going to talk to him about something that I actually think is even more uncomfortable for most people than even planned giving - networking! If you're cringing or feel a little nauseous, you're not alone!

Tune in to learn how to network without feeling icky, increase your social capital and create more meaningful connections without worrying about business cards!

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Happy New Year and Happy New Decade!

We're kicking off season four of The Small Nonprofit with Beth Jordan, founder and principal of Adobe Consulting Services. This week we're talking about alignment - how we look forward and internally within our organizations to focus on being aligned with our core values as an organization. We've had lots of conversations around strategy and planning on the podcast before but I feel like this is a really fresh take as a values centred company working with a lot of values centred charities and nonprofits. This approach really sits well with how we think about our work and I know a lot of our clients think about their work.

Tune in to learn all about how we make sure that all the things we're doing in our organization reflect our values, how to measure and audit this, and how you can use this to improve your staff, donor and client engagement.

For access to the show notes and resources, click here.

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**When we think about our organizational culture, we refer to a nice culture deck then we're good to go. However, we know that what's on that deck isn't always reflective of how things are practiced or how things get done - a huge problem in our sector!

In this episode, we chat with Maryann Kerr, Chief Happiness Officer/CEO of The Medalist Group, who is on a mission to call organizations out on this disconnect and to give them some tools to help them move towards more cohesion and be the kind of a workplace they say they want to be. Tune in to learn how to create a healthier culture, attract and keep the right employees for the job and meet your goals more efficiently!**

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**Have you ever been on a website where you just click and then you don't know where you came from? You don't understand where things are and then you keep clicking and can't get back to where you want to go?

If you haven't updated your website in the last month, chances are, your audience is having the same experience with your website. In this episode, we're chatting with Kristi Porter from Signify Solutions about the top mistakes we're doing with our websites. Tune in as we debunk myths around your website and offer practical tips that you can use to update your ideal website today!**For access to the show notes and resources, click here.

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Anti-oppression, anti-racism, inclusion is an important conversation for our organization and there's so much work to be done around this. This interview with Christina Sackeyfio, Principal of Boldly Inclusive, articulates that space between an articulated inclusion or diversity effort and what you're actually putting into practice. Tune in to learn how to identify and address oppression, how to create an inclusive culture and how to benchmark your organization's effort on inclusion and diversity so you can track your efforts.

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**Strategy. It’s one of those things we all know is important, but we never find the time to do it properly. We're so used to the inertia of our work and it's really hard to make time to undertake a strategic planning process.

Today's guest is Josie Fung the Executive Director of I Think, which is a program based out of the Rotman School of Business at the University of Toronto. I'm really excited to have her on the podcast talking about “playing to win,” which is a framework that helps us think about our strategic planning and aspirations.**

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Community bonds are an alternative model of financing for charities and nonprofits, that are repayable to investors, with defined interest terms. The bonds allow organizations to collect capital for projects and pay it back over time, like a loan, but you're enabling your community to support it instead of putting money back into the big bank.

Today’s guest is Ryan Collins-Swartz from Tapestry Capital. He helps organizations across Ontario raise community bonds, which are a powerful way for nonprofits and charities to finance capital projects by raising investments from their supporters. They allow citizens to invest locally in meaningful projects.

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We love to talk about corporate giving because it literally comes up in every single conversation with every single organization. In this conversation with our friend Heather Nelson, the founder and principal of BridgeRaise, she talks about what it takes to be open for business to corporate giving. Tune in to learn about what kind of corporate ask to make, how to become "open for business" and how to cultivate sustainable relationships with corporations.

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You know your work has impact. You see that impact every day. You feel it in your bones. That’s why you get up and go to work every morning. But do your supporters know and understand that impact?

Small organizations often struggle with how to communicate that impact. We live it and breathe it every day and it’s hard to share it with others in a way that they understand and connect with the work.

This week we’re chatting with Shelley and David from RAMP Communications about the process behind impact stories and how to use them effectively and ethically. They share with us how to empower the communities we serve and help them share their experiences in a way that resonates with your supporters and inspires them to take action.

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We’ve all been in meetings wondering... “why am I here?” In fact, I imagine that’s what you’re thinking during most meetings. Or, “when will this be over so I can get back to my real work!?”

Whether it’s going on for too long or someone else seems to be dominating the conversation, meetings can feel time-consuming and unproductive. In our conversation with Rebecca Sutherns, founder and principal of Sage Solutions, we discuss how you can have better, more meaningful meetings (and fewer of them!).

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Hands up if you have a full-time bookkeeper!

Ha ha - joking! Most small nonprofits we work with don’t have a full-time, professionally trained bookkeeper. You’re not alone.

In this episode, we’re chatting with Omar Visram, CEO of Enkel Backoffice Solutions about cloud-based bookkeeping and accounting solutions that will save you time and money. Tune in to learn about how to move your organization digitally forward.For access to the show notes and resources, click here.

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In this episode of the podcast, we’re talking about Google Ad Grants with David Botwick-Ries and Simon Choy from ConnectAd, an organization dedicated to assisting charities to obtain and manage free advertising through Google Ad Grants. Tune in to learn what Google Ads are (if you’re just starting out), how to get the grant, how to set up your account and ads, and how to optimize your ads so that you’re actually getting results.For access to the show notes and resources, click here.

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Time. Sigh. If only we had more of it.

Time is the most precious resource for small organizations. But we don’t treat it that way. Instead, we disregard it. Treat it badly.

We can take ownership of our time and make it work better for us. But it takes commitment and practice.

I love this quote from Charles Buxton, “You will never find time for anything. If you want time you must make it.”

Today’s podcast episode features Maya Khanna Le Roy, founder and CEO of MKLC talks to us about managing your time in a realistic way that can help save you from burnout and reclaim your time. Tune in to learn step-by-step how you can work smarter, not harder.

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When people want a rebrand, it’s easy to automatically think of a new logo, website and so on. But that’s just the marketing component of your brand. Your brand is so much more.

Laura challenges us to imagine our brand is a beautifully decorated cake. Your logo, website and all the visual things people see are the icing and sprinkles. This is what makes the cake look good and enticing.

For access to the show notes and resources, click here.

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Today's bonus episode is live from EconoUs which is a conference for community economic development organizations but we thought some of the content would be relevant to all of our listeners. This third session is led by Ted Howard who is the co-founder and president of the Democracy Collaborative. Tune in as we look at co-ops and ways that we can redistribute wealth and provide ownership opportunities for the communities we work with.

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Welcome to a very special episode - the first of a few very special episodes. We are podcasting live from EconoUs, which is the Community Economic Development Conference in London, Ontario. We are bringing you some of the excellent sessions as a bonus to the podcast. This first episode is a great panel discussion about social enterprise and funding opportunity, which is fantastic. Tune in as Jocelyn Formsma, Béatrice Alain, Victor Beausoleil and Sara Lyons discuss a new initiative that has a number of players at the table to invest in and make social enterprise sustainable for Canadians. Moderated by Sarah Leeson-Klym.

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In this special bonus mini-series recorded live at EconoUs 2019, we're learning all about leadership for new innovation and leadership for a new economy. And so many of what Amanda Fernandez talks about rings true to my experience and I'm excited to share with you! Definitely pay attention to some of what she says around giving and receiving feedback around failing up. There's so much great content in here about how to lead in a sector that's trying to do good. Happy listening and stay tuned for our very next session!

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Media coverage is something that pretty much all organizations want, but very few actually get.

In this episode, we’re speaking with Jennifer Singh, founder of She’s Newsworthy Media a public relations agency that specializes in helping small businesses get recognized. Tune in to learn about how to pitch properly, timely and to the right person!

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Welcome to season three of the Small Nonprofit! We’re kicking things off strong with a discussion about the state of the charitable sector in Canada. You work on the frontlines supporting our community… but how is our government supporting you? In this episode, we’re speaking with the Honourable Ratna Omidvar, to talk about the recent Senate report on the charitable sector that she co-authored. Their results are not surprising, but some of their recommendations are pretty exciting.

This episode will be airing just before the federal election - and if you leave with anything, let it be this. For these changes to take place, we need a government that prioritizes them and values the work of our sector. Talk to the candidates in your community to see where they stand.

For access to the show notes and resources, click here.

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The way we do our work plays a huge role in our organizations - especially in a world where digital is the new normal. In this episode, Aine McGlynn, our very own COO of The Good Partnership, drops some truth bombs about systems and processes.

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At this year’s AFP Fundraising Day in Toronto, we spoke Theresa Cheng, Nayeon Kim, Michelle Yeung, Deborah Thompson amongst many other delegates about their thoughts on self-care and productivity. In this live episode, learn some tried-and-true strategies and tips for taking care of yourself and boosting your productivity.

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Do you work with equity-seeking populations? Is your organization on the front-line of social justice change? So often we see our values challenged in traditional fundraising and communications and don’t know how to reconcile our need to fundraise effectively with our beliefs and values. The good news is that we can still be powerful communicators and respect, honour, and empower the equity-seeking populations we work with.

In this episode, Andrea Gunraj, vice-president of public engagement at the Canadian Women’s Foundation, teaches us all about recognizing our bias, rethinking our storytelling and engagement strategies, and how to ensure our organization is reflective of the communities we serve.

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Whether you’re on the employee or employer side, job negotiations are something that gives everyone butterflies. In this episode, Denise Lloyd, CEO and founder of Engaged HR, teaches us that employee compensation is ultimately about creating an environment where your employees can thrive. Learn how to create this environment and how to have these conversations from both perspectives - making your work and mission have a bigger impact.

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Events - it’s a lot of work, the financial return is often a surprise or isn’t there at all and there are many misconceptions about what goes into making an event successful. In this episode, Amy Milne, founder of Beyond Fundraising, shares step-by-step how to ensure your next event does more than just make money so you can advance your long-term fundraising strategy.

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Have a hard time finding and keeping new donors? Not getting any responses from mailing appeals?

In this episode, Whitney Brown, digital director of Public Outreach, goes through each step of the donor journey and how you can use Facebook to get the best results. Learn how to find and target your donors, engage with them to develop an ask, and keep them giving over time - even with a small budget!

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Imagine building a plane while you’re flying it - not an ideal scenario but one that forces you to do what you can so you can eventually level out the plane and keep it steady. This is what growing a small nonprofit is like. In this episode, Michael “Piecez” Prosserman, Founder of Unity Charity and CEO of Epic Leadership xChange, discusses understanding personal limits and how to break them with smart and strategic investments - regardless of where you are in your organization!

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We often hear about #donorlove, but what about #stafflove? In this episode, Mazarine, leadership coach and founder of Wild Woman Fundraising, teaches us about the importance of improving our staff experience and in turn, they will ensure that our donors have a great experience too!

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Facebook and other social media tools can be effective in helping you reach your goals - but you have to be deliberate and strategic with them. In this episode, Sarah Ali, non-profit digital strategist, takes us step-by-step through Facebook advertising. Learn how to understand your audiences, create Facebook campaigns and much more!

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Ever look at other organizations’ strategies, get tempted to copy it but end up with less success? In this episode, Kerstin Heuer, a nonprofit marketing consultant and founder of Nonprofit Today, teaches us how to improve our marketing and branding so we can stop comparing and start seeing results in a way that’s easy and practical.

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When you’re designing for any process, system or event, you’re designing for everyone. In this episode, Liz Chornenki, the annual giving officer at YWCA Toronto, shares some practical steps to internal and external design with accessibility in mind!

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Looking for an extra boost in productivity? In this quick bonus episode, we talk about all the tools we use at The Good Partnership and some crowd favourites in the charitable sector. From Trello to Freedcamp, you're bound to find a tool (or two) that work best for you!

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We all know that a strategic plan is so important for organizational growth and operations - but it can feel overwhelming and expensive.

In this episode, Ashley Whitworth, senior manager at BDO, teaches us how to run a strategic planning process in a small non-profit organization. Learn about how to facilitate your process in a busy environment, how to get feedback from BOTH introverts and extroverts, and how to move your organization forward!

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Are you ready for some pretty big #truthbombs about our sector? Mixing humour and honesty, Vu Le calls out our sector out on all the charitable sector’s shortfalls and challenges and helps us do better.

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What are the trends affecting the philanthropic sector in Canada? How can we prepare our organizations to weather changes and thrive in the future? Guest Marina Glogovac, President and CEO of CanadaHelps joins the podcast to talk about their 2018 Giving Report and its implications for our sector. Together we rant about the challenges we are all facing and offer some ways to move forward.

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So often we focus on how our website looks, but not how it functions. Specifically, a lot of small nonprofits we come across don’t understand how to get found online.

That’s where SEO is crucial. SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, helps your website show up in the search results on Google, Yahoo, Bing and other search engines. In this episode, digital media specialist Rachel Di Martino, founder of Geek Unicorn breaks down what SEO is, what audience clues to look for and steps you can take to get that top result on search engines!

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There are so many trends impacting the working world as we know it. Hala Beisha, principal and founder of Resilience Factor and certified Leadership and Executive Coach accredited by the International Coach Federation, reveals findings from her study that can help prepare you and your team to become more agile in the workplace and to grow and adapt to the changing work environment.

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Issues happen at any time and to anyone. We often see organizations pick up the phone in a crisis, calling for help when things change at the government level. In this episode, Chris Holz, seasoned public affairs executive and one of the top 10 lobbyists at Queen’s Park, teaches us about the foundations of government relations, how to build it into your practice and how to develop your relationship with different levels of government BEFORE a crisis happens.

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Have you ever felt bewildered by a new hire, who seemed fantastic on paper and in interviews but just wasn’t what you expected? How much time and resources to charities waste with bad hires?

It’s not your fault - most people are really bad at making effective hiring decisions. Maria Rotundo, Professor of Organizational Behaviour and Human Resource Management at the Joseph L. Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto, helps us find the right candidates, onboard them and help them grow within our organizations.

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It can be scary to ask your board members, who are already giving so much of their time and attention, to think about board fundraising, especially if they aren’t recruited to be a fundraising board. In this episode, Emma Lewzey, national chair of the Fellowship for Inclusion and Philanthropy and president-elect of the world’s largest Association of Fundraising Professionals chapter (Toronto), deep dives into board education! Learn all about how to engage your non-fundraising board in a way that's comfortable for them, setting them up for success and demystifying fundraising WITHOUT asking them to bring out their Rolodex.

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Everyone (especially small organizations) LOVES monthly giving. It embodies the “set it and forget it” mindset. It’s the instant pot of the fundraising world. In this episode, Ashleigh Saith, Annual Programs Manager at Home for Few Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation, breaks down why you should invest in monthly giving and gives actionable advice on how to leverage your monthly giving program while keeping your donors and your beneficiaries happy!

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Donor love is an area where small nonprofits can actually stand out and be exceptional. But what is it exactly, what does this look like in practice and why is it important? In this episode, Jen Love, a partner at Agents of Good and fundraising guru, teaches us all about donor love and gives us practical and easy ways you can develop better relationships with your donors!

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With the start of a new year, we’re going back to basics - fundraising basics. In this episode, we chat with Simon Scriver, fundraising coach, consultant, and host of Simon Scriver’s Amazingly Ultimate Fundraising Superstar Podcast in Ireland. Fresh off your new year's resolutions, we’ll help you keep your fundraising promises to yourself and help your organization thrive.

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The very first season of The Small Nonprofit is coming to a close and we’ve rounded up all of our guests for a very special episode! There is a huge emphasis on growth for all nonprofits, but especially small ones. It’s almost an obsession. How do we grow more? How do we raise more money? What happens if we don’t grow this year? All this got us thinking - is it grow or bust? What happens when a small nonprofit doesn’t grow? Is there a shelf-life for small organizations? We decided to get some of our guests to weigh in on this topic, including Paul Nazareth, Heather Nelson, Matt Fullbrook, Adil Dhalla, Vanessa Chase Lockshin, and Avery Swartz.

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Many organizations are stuck with a donor database sitting on a server somewhere, a website that they can’t update themselves or files saved in random places where no one can access them. It can be overwhelming when searching for the right option to create systems and technology to enable our teams to do the best work they can do. Anil Patel, co-founder of Timeraiser and GrantBook, shares three steps you can take today to save your organization both time and energy so you can get more work done.

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Social innovation can be a bit of a buzzword but there’s a lot that organizations can earn and do around it without diving into the deep end. This week Geraldine Cahill, co-author of Social Innovation Generation and manager of programs and partnerships at Social Innovation Generation National (SiG), who shares how you can think about social innovation in a way that impacts your organization’s day-to-day work AND how you think about changing the world.

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Taking an anti-oppression framework and putting into practice is a process, and often times a difficult one. Join our conversation with Adil Dhalla, Executive Director of the Centre for Social Innovation Toronto, on his personal journey to understand and implement an anti-oppression practice. His honest, vulnerable and reflective insights provide an excellent case study in how to move forward, understanding that anti-oppression is a journey as much as a destination.

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Go beyond the buzzwords to build a foundational understanding of an anti-oppression framework and how it applies to your organization and its mission. In this episode with Rania El Mugammar, an anti-oppression educator, learn how to understand power dynamics, oppression and liberation. Get familiar with the language of social justice and look at models for creating more equitable communities and organizations. In our conversation, we examine concepts of intersectionality, positionality, privilege and oppression.

Help your organization reach its equity, inclusion and anti-oppression goals in policy, process and practice.

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We all know how millennials have impacted the workforce, but a new generation is emerging! Gen Z is now entering the workforce and they are poised to have a very different impact than the generation before them. Join our conversation with Mary Barroll, President of TalentEgg, to learn how to find and hire Gen Z interns and employees and how to keep them engaged in their jobs.

We discuss: how insights about their work ethic and motivations can help your small charity, what's important and meaningful work for them and how you can find, recruit and retain them.

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Board governance and effectiveness lies at the heart of charities. We love our boards, but working with them can be very challenging.

Matt Fullbrook from the Clarkson Centre for Board Governance walks us through some easy but impactful steps to take to re-focus your board and repair or optimize your relationship with your board members. Whether your board is highly functional or the cause of your grey hairs, Matt has tips and tools to get the most out of your board and make sure they are getting the most out of volunteering for your organization.

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Ever wonder where to focus your digital marketing efforts? Or even what digital marketing means? Then, once you know what you should be doing, you actually have to get it done. Avery Swartz, founder of Camp Tech, walks us through digital marketing and what you should be doing for your organization.

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In this quick bonus episode, learn more about the new nonprofit sector pension plan available to organizations in Ontario. This is a great initiative that helps promote employee retention and position sector employees for a better and more secure retirement.

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Volunteers are critical to small organizations, but managing them often requires a lot of resources that we don't plan for. Camara Chambers, Executive Director of Volunteer Toronto helps break down the ins and outs of managing volunteers to make sure they are adding as much value as possible to your work and impact.

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Legal problems are something that all organizations face and the rules around them aren’t always clear. So how can we make sure we’re not only compliant, but doing it right the first time? Today we’re talking with Mark Blumberg, a thought-leader in the non-profit legal space, about legal best-practices and how to avoid mistakes.

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We hear all the time about corporate fundraising as an ~easy~ solution to all of our funding needs and we see a lot of organizations not do it quite right. Not sure how exactly to get started? We are joined this week by Heather Nelson, an incredible thought leader in the corporate fundraising space, who shares guidelines for creating that valuable partnership with corporations and businesses. In this episode, you’re going to learn:How to have the right conversation with the right person at the company or businessHow to build a successful corporate fundraising programAdvice on building and maintaining your relationship throughout the yearWhat your opportunities are in big or small businessesThe strategies you need to help turn employee engagement into financial supportCommon pitfalls and how to avoid themThrough exploring the relationship nature and the bottom line of corporations, Heather deep dives into what you can do to ensure that your partnership is one that is sustainable and lasts. That win-win partnership starts with a conversation. Get prepared by checking out a special page filled with amazing resources like a template agenda, a flowchart of the terminology you need to use and understand, and sample questions you can ask! Visit www.bridgeraise.com/smallnonprofit!Have a question that didn’t get answered in the episode? Need a cheerleader to help motivate you? Feel free to email Heather directly at heather@bridgeraise.com. We also love her partnership plan which you can find on her website [bridgeraise.com] along with more valuable resources!

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If you think of your small nonprofit's financials as a chore more than an opportunity, this episode is for you. Gordon explores some best practices around finances that will help you have more meaningful conversations with funders. Plus, avoid some common pitfalls that can put all your hard work at risk.

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Planned giving. It can be terrifying and uncomfortable for most small charities. Join in on the conversation as Paul Nazareth, Vice President of Education & Development at the Canadian Association of Gift Planners and recent VP at the charity CanadaHelps, breaks down planned giving and the advantages that your small nonprofit can take.

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We all know that stories are important to fundraising, but do you know how to create one? Join us for a conversation with Vanessa Chase Lockshin, talking about how to craft good fundraising stories.

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Whether or not you think about it, succession planning is essential to future proofing your organization. Lianne shows us that succession planning isn’t necessarily about thinking of successors, but more about organizational development.

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