The Nonprofit Experts: Recent Episodes
Spark Group Consulting
You are the expert of your nonprofit organization. You work hard, know your organization inside and out, and seek thought partners to think through challenging moments and exciting new strategies. This show is a chance to have conversations with nonprofit leaders like yourself.
In each episode, you'll hear from everyday, exceptional leaders of the nonprofit sector as they chat with host Mary Gladstone-Highland, CEO of Spark Group Consulting, about the critical issues that impact nonprofits and how they use their assets to provide creative solutions to complex problems.
In this episode of "Nonprofit Experts," host Mary Gladstone-Highland delves into the often-misunderstood world of nonprofit lobbying with a true advocate for change, Nick Lutton from Family Voices of California. Together, they explore the transformative journey from hesitation to legislation, revealing the untapped potential nonprofits hold in shaping policy and driving their mission forward.
🌟 Key Takeaways:
- Demystifying Lobbying: Nick shares insights on dispelling common fears surrounding lobbying, emphasizing the strategic aspects that can elevate a nonprofit's impact.
- Advocacy Success Stories: Discover real-life examples of nonprofits, including Family Voices of California, that have successfully utilized lobbying as a powerful tool to create positive change.
- Preparing for Advocacy: Mary and Nick discuss the essential steps nonprofits can take to prepare for effective lobbying, ensuring they navigate the political landscape with confidence.
- The Legislative Landscape: Gain a deeper understanding of how nonprofits can navigate legislative processes to influence policies that align with their mission and values.
Join Mary and Nick on this empowering episode as they inspire nonprofit leaders to embrace advocacy, turning hesitation into a force for legislative change. Whether you're a seasoned nonprofit professional or just starting your journey, this episode is a roadmap for transforming your organization's impact through the strategic use of lobbying.
🔗 Connect with Our Guest:Learn more about Nick Lutton and Family Voices of California at familyvoicesofca.org.
✨ Don't miss this enlightening conversation that proves lobbying isn't just for the big players; it's a valuable tool for every nonprofit ready to make a lasting difference.
In this episode of the Nonprofit Experts podcast, titled "Leadership in Times of Crisis," we tackle the common struggles of nonprofit leaders who often grapple with feelings of scarcity, whether it's not enough time, donations, or staff. Our expert shares three essential assets that you already possess to bolster your nonprofit work, and they recount an inspiring story of overcoming exceptional circumstances with unwavering resilience. Stay tuned to the end of the episode for an interactive poll where you can share your thoughts on this critical topic.
Join host Mary Gladstone-Highland in a compelling conversation with Dorothy Norris-Tirrell, Interim Executive Director at the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance, on the Nonprofit Experts podcast. Discover intentionality's pivotal role in hiring, the dangers of hasty recruitment, and the valuable insights offered by interim leadership during times of transition.
In this episode, explore:
- Intentional Hiring: Uncover why rushed hires can lead to pitfalls.
- Interim Leadership Insights: Learn the often-underestimated advantages of interim leaders in stabilizing organizations, facilitating transitions, and introducing fresh perspectives.
- Continuous Learning: Delve into the importance of nurturing professional growth through ongoing education, fostering innovation and adaptability.
- Tips for Emerging Leaders: Gain practical advice from Dorothy's journey, embracing challenges, building resilience, and forging meaningful connections.
- Navigating Senior Leadership Changes: Get a roadmap for managing leadership shifts with open communication and transparency.
For a comprehensive exploration of intentional hiring, interim leadership's transformational effects, and navigating leadership changes, tune in to this enriching episode of Nonprofit Experts. Whether you're a seasoned nonprofit professional or an aspiring leader, you'll find valuable insights to elevate your leadership experience.
In this episode, Mary Gladstone-Highland, Christina Wichert, and Katy Stokes share insights from their upcoming book titled Calm: How to End Destructive Conflict in Your Church. The book focuses on providing practical guidance and strategies for addressing conflict within a faith-based organization, although many of the principles can be applied to any kind of organization.
During the discussion, the authors provide a behind-the-scenes look at the process of developing their book. They talk about the personal experiences they drew upon, and the collaborative effort it took to create a comprehensive resource on conflict resolution.
The authors explore different approaches and techniques that can be used to effectively handle conflicts in a productive and healthy manner.
In this episode, you will hear:
- How to address conflict in your organization
- Tools and resources that you can use in order to not feel alone in your tension
- Tips for being proactive about conflict resolution
Welcome to "The Nonprofit Experts," a podcast where we discuss important topics for nonprofit professionals. In this episode, we explore:
- The power of an asset-based approach
- The importance of flexibility
- Making deep investments in our community
- Navigating the complexities of multiple partners
- Strategies for collective decision-making
- Advice for launching new programs
Tune in to gain valuable insights and practical advice to enhance your nonprofit work and make a meaningful impact.
You've heard the buzz. Everyone is talking about ChatGPT. But how can it support your work? In this episode, host Mary Gladstone-Highland is joined again by her friend and co-owner of Spark Group Consulting, Christina Wichert. The two discuss cutting-edge technology that's transforming the nonprofit sector. Whether you are a ChatGPT savant or brand new to the movement, this episode is for you. Here is a taste of what you will hear in this episode: What ChatGPT is and why nonprofits should pay attention Examples of the practical uses for ChatGPT in nonprofit organizations What using ChatGPT frees your employees up to do Ideas for small steps you can use to implement ChatGPT in your work.
Starting as a new Executive Director of an organization is nerve-wracking – especially if you're new to the role! New EDs may be wondering: What decisions need to be prioritized? How will I interact with the board? How can I optimize my relationship with the staff? In this episode, you will hear from Kristina Schmidgall, LMSW, the Executive Director of the Lansing Area Aids Network. Kristina shares her journey to the role of an E.D., how she prepared for the job, what she did to make her first two years a success, and how you can adapt her guidance to your career path.
Here are some parts of the interview you don't want to miss:
9:00 - Lansing Area Aids Network's approach to supporting clients holistically
10:00 - The Biggest Misconception around HIV/AIDS
14:50 - The path toward becoming an executive director
20:30 - Learning from staff through 'stay interviews,' and the benefit of sending questions ahead of time
25:50 - The challenges of transitioning into an organization as a new leader, and what makes it easier
30:00 - Tips for the first year of being an ED
Whose voice really matters when you develop a new program? What kind of insight does it take to develop a successful program? On the other hand, is there a first step that really leads toward a program disaster ... and can it be avoided? A game changer for how nonprofits can approach their work with clients is taking a trauma-informed approach, looking holistically at the different and varied experiences of individuals rather than just their symptoms. In the latest episode of The Nonprofit Expert podcast, macro-level social work expert Benita Robinson explains more about this approach. Listen as she and host Mary Gladstone-Highland discuss taking a proactive approach to program design, making sure our programs aren't retraumatizing individuals, while also considering the potential impact of programs on staff. You don't want to miss it!
Here are some highlights you don't want to miss:
9:00 - Â What does it mean to take a trauma-informed approach to program design
11:20 - Vicarious staff trauma and burnout
17:30 - How staff capacity affects program success and sustainability
23:00 - Who should have a voice in program design
28:00 - How to begin to implement a trauma-informed approach
30:00 - Applying a trauma-informed approach to fundraising, storytelling, and strategic planning
What do you do when everything around your organization shifts and you must rethink your operations?
This is a topic that Jan Lawerance, the Executive Director of the Reconciling Ministries Network, knows a lot about.Â
Listen in while Mary and Jan discuss how you can ride the wave of change, articulate your true north, seek out diverse thought partners, and remain relevant to your communities regardless of any changes that come your way. Â
Here is what you will hear in this episode
- How to be flexible and open to change
- The importance of revisiting your mission and guiding principles
- The benefits of seeking out diverse thought partners when considering your next steps
- How to leverage your north star to help you know what moves are right for your organization
The second episode of our podcast: ’The Nonprofit Experts’ is live! Listen as Mary Gladstone-Highland talks with Tim Paré, founding artistic director and CEO of Michigan Stage, on Building Community Connections to Fast-Track Sustainable Growth. Hear how this great organization was able to quickly scale, as well as Tim’s secrets for networking and finding partners. You can also read more about Michigan Stage, and buy your tickets for their upcoming event, Broadway in the Burbs, here: www.michiganstage.org
Below are some highlights you don't want to miss!
03:30 Introducing Michigan Stage
11:00 Using a Broadway performer's mindset when approaching community partners
17:20 The Dos and Don'ts of NetworkingÂ
19:25 Finding confidence
32:10 Telling your story
Welcome to the Nonprofit Experts podcast! In our pilot episode, you will meet our team, hear how sector leaders (like yourself) define 'expert,' and reflect on your expertise. Additionally, you will hear how you can use this material with your team to uncover the assets hidden within your midst. Â Here are some highlights from the show!
00:00 Welcome to the Nonprofit Experts podcast.
05:00 How sector leaders define ‘expert.’
07:35 Harnessing confidence to highlight your expertise.
10:35 The expertise that clients bring to your work.
12:50 Reflecting on your inward and outward-facing relationship to the word ‘expert?’
15:30 What are you an expert in?
19:00 What else can you learn?
23:00 Staking your claim on your expertise.
26:00 Listening to the expertise of your clients.
27:30 Using this material with your team.
You are the expert of your nonprofit organization. You work hard, know your organization inside and out, and seek thought partners to think through challenging moments and exciting new strategies. This show is a chance to have conversations with nonprofit leaders like yourself.Â
In each episode, you'll hear from everyday, exceptional leaders of the nonprofit sector as they chat with host Mary Gladstone-Highland, CEO of Spark Group Consulting, about the critical issues that impact nonprofits and how they use their assets to provide creative solutions to complex problems.Â