In this episode, I reflect on conversations with inspiring leaders from my Next Level Nonprofit program. We delve into the core of sustainable leadership, exploring how to lead in a way that fuels our passion and honors our whole selves. I revisit dialogues with Kishishana Palmer, Chitra Aiyar, and Reverend Dr. Emma Jordan Simpson, discussing the weight of leadership, the importance of mental health, and sustainability as a value. Join me as we navigate the evolving landscape of nonprofit lea...

I've been having some incredible conversations with leaders in my Next Level Nonprofit and coaching programs about sustainable leadership, staying true to our missions, and forming vital partnerships with funders and donors. These discussions have brought up key themes around what it means to lead in today's ever-evolving nonprofit landscape, especially post-COVID. This week, I’m revisiting these insightful dialogues to explore how we can create equitable relationships with funders, featuring...

In this episode, I reflect on insightful conversations with leaders from my Next Level Nonprofit program, exploring the essence of effective whole-self leadership. We dive into how leaders can bring their entire selves into their roles, maintain their passion, and build impactful organizations post-COVID. Through discussions with Tene Howard, Zareta Ricks, Jill Eisenhard, and Katy Rubin, we unpack the challenges of traditional leadership models and the importance of aligning leadership ...

In this episode, I share the ultimate tool that can revolutionize your hiring process: the hiring rubric. By standardizing your hiring approach, you can reduce bias, make better hiring decisions, and streamline the entire process. I break down the structure of an effective hiring rubric and show you how to implement it to build your own high-impact team.What You'll LearnHow to define and prioritize core competencies and skills for your organization.The importance of clear indicators for evalu...

Have you ever had people in your network who are excited about your mission and work, but who don’t totally fit on your board? Enter: the Advisory Council. A well designed and executed advisory board can provide a unique blend of expertise, experience, and expanded networks — without the formalities of governance. In this episode, I delve into how to design, structure and implement an effective advisory council to bolster your credibility, offer invaluable advice, and act as ambassadors for y...

This week I’m bringing back one part of my 3-part series on how to unlock the power of ChatGPT. I’m bringing it back into the rotation because I just launched a new ChatGPT resource for nonprofits that I’m so excited about — the Nonprofit ChatGPT Headquarters.ChatGPT isn’t some fancy, super-techie tool that needs to be built out and figured out. It should be as integrated and simple as Google Docs. It’s a capacity builder and a time saver and my goal is to make it easy for organizations to ta...

In this episode, I walk through the 4 core metrics vital for your nonprofit's success. I can't overstate the importance of tracking and understanding your organization's health, effectiveness, and alignment with its mission. Yet, for many nonprofit leaders, navigating this terrain can feel overwhelming and perplexing, leaving them unsure of where to begin.I'm sharing a four-part, structured approach to tracking and measuring your organization's health on a month-to-month basis.While the conce...

In this episode, I dive into the concept of a Brain Trust—a facilitated gathering that leverages the expertise of advisors and thinkers to tackle specific organizational challenges. Imagine convening your “dream team” of advisors and strategic thought partners, all focused on solving a real, tangible problem your nonprofit faces. It's not just about sharing ideas; it's about action-oriented problem-solving that's grounded in real-world issues. I'll guide you through why Brain Trusts are a...

In today's podcast, I share a concrete method for communicating your work to potential supporters — no matter who they are: The Stakeholder Communication Bridge. Drawing from my own experience with fundraising and network building, the Stakeholder Communication Bridge is a straightforward and powerful framework for clarifying and connecting your mission to the activities and outcomes that make your organization stand out. If you've ever struggled to articulate the impact of your work in a way...

The end of a quarter is a powerful opportunity for growth and strategic planning. In this episode, I share five critical questions that can guide you and your team through a meaningful exercise of introspection and evaluation, helping you stay on track toward, and aligned with your goals. Whether you're utilizing these insights during a quiet week or a CEO day, this episode is your guide to refining your approach, optimizing resources, and making strategic, impactful decisions. What You...

In today’s episode, I offer a catalog of the episodes in which I’ve done a deeper dive into how to think about and operationalize leverage. You can find all of the episodes in this curated playlist: brookerichiebabbage.com/leverage-playlist Connect With Brooke: Enhance your leadership journey by connecting with me. Let's explore the paths to impactful leadership together: LinkedIn Instagram YouTube

In this episode, I’m doing a deep dive into the concept of leveraged networks - the secret sauce to expanding your organization's capacity, influence, and impact without breaking the bank. As a founder and leader myself, I've navigated the complexities of growing an organization, and I've discovered that the strength of your network can truly make or break your impact. Today, I'm sharing personal insights and strategies on how to build and leverage a micro-group within your broader network to...

In this episode, I walk through how Key Financial Indicators can serve as a high leverage navigational compass through the murky world of your financial health. Whether it's understanding your liquidity to seize new opportunities or measuring your mission's efficiency to ensure alignment with your values, KFIs are indispensable tools. What You’ll Learn: The role of financial KPIs in navigating your business towards its financial health goals.How to leverage KPIs for strategic...

Over the past 25 years, I've learned that understanding the concept of leverage can mean the difference between sustainable growth and burning out. In this episode, I explore three areas in which leverage is critical: evaluating your impact, leveraging your network and partnerships, and optimizing your use of resources. I share concrete questions every organization should ask itself in each of these 3 areas, as part of an organizational leverage self-audit process. What Listeners Will...

A CEO Day isn’t just about stepping away from the day-to-day tasks. It’s about stepping fully into a role that demands vision, strategy, and long-term planning. In this episode, I share why dedicating time to think like a CEO can be a game-changer for your organization. From fostering a mindset shift from managing to leading, to ensuring every effort aligns with your overarching objectives, a CEO Day is your catalyst for growth, innovation, and renewed focus. What You’ll Learn: The importance...

Do you ever wonder about the approaches someone actually takes to grow their organization’s budget, team, board and impact? Like what strategies do they actually use to go from a $450K budget, a tiny team, and awesome but scrappy programs to a $2M budget a strong team, board, and impact that go along with that growth? The answer is by using approaches to growth that are intentionally about increasing leverage. In this episode, I’m breaking down five of the most powerful organizational and...

I'm resharing one of my most popular podcast episodes: A fantastic conversation with Cindy Wagman,  Founder and President of The Good Partnership, best-selling author of Raise It! The Reluctant Fundraiser’s Guide to Raising Money Without Selling Your Soul, and host of the top-rated podcast, The Small Nonprofit.  Cindy offers a mini-masterclass on how to build your fundraising team as your organization grows, before you have the budget for a full-time development director.  She shares:  Why...

 Welcome to this week’s episode of the Nonprofit Mastermind Podcast! I'm your host, Brooke, and today, I’m thrilled to share an insightful conversation with one of my dearest friends and a true game-changer in the nonprofit world, Rachel Bearbower. As the founder of Small Shop Strategies, Rachel is a wizard in teaching nonprofit leaders the art of untangling complex systems to focus on what truly matters – nurturing relationships and boosting fundraising efforts. In our chat, we delve into...

In this episode, I unravel the art of getting out of the daily hustle to carve out space for strategic visioning and impactful leadership. Join me as we explore how to harness 3 specific strategies for spending time on high leverage activities throughout your leadership journey, whether you're implementing them today or aspiring towards them as your future benchmark. What You'll Learn: Elevating Productivity with Energy-Aware Scheduling: Understand how to align your tasks with your natural...

This week is another quick strategy episode. I’m sharing a powerful strategic framework that organizations use to anchor and align their growth: Intentional Design. What You'll Learn: The difference between Referential & Iterative and Intentional Design approaches in strategic planning.How to define and analyze your organization's focal problem for clearer vision and impact.Steps to develop a Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG) and align your activities with your Theory of Change. Key...

In this episode, I’m thrilled to share my conversation with Farra Trompeter, Co-Director and Worker - Owner at Big Duck. Not only is Farra just delightful to talk to, every time I talk to her it’s like a masterclass in strategic brand building. She - and her colleagues at Big Duck - have been the go-to for nonprofit brand building for as long as I can remember. I used to devour their resources when I was an ED, because they helped me come to see my organization’s brand as more than just its...

In this week’s quick strategy episode, I dive into a pivotal mindset shift that revolutionized my approach to leading and coaching: the concept of 'WHO not HOW.' This idea isn't just a strategy; it's a growth catalyst, steering you away from mundane tasks and towards high-impact activities like visioning, strategy, and relationship-building. What You'll Learn: The importance of focusing on 'WHO' instead of 'HOW' in organizational leadership.Strategies for delegating tasks effectively to...

In this episode, I explore the concept of the flywheel concept, a game-changer for any organization aiming for sustainable growth and impact. Developed by Jim Collins in his book “Good to Great,” this concept is about building systems that gain momentum over time, propelling your organization forward with each turn. I share my journey of understanding and implementing this powerful tool, offering concrete examples and actionable insights. Whether you’re struggling with donor retention,...

In today's episode, I’m talking with two of my favorite people: Becky Endicott and Jon McCoy, co-founders of We Are For Good. They pull back the curtain on one of their collective superpowers: A strategy they’ve used to grow their community to tens of thousands of nonprofit leaders and practitioners, and one of the simplest and most powerful ways to amplify your organization’s impact. Content syndication. Content syndication is the process of turning a single piece of content into a ripple...