Today's guest is Joan Garry, author of Guide to Nonprofit Leadership and host of the Nonprofits are Messy podcast. Molly MacCready (host of the Nonprofit Optimist podcast) and Joan discuss the importance of knowing what activities fuel you, how to define success and impact beyond the typical metrics, and some ways to learn and grow as a nonprofit following this unexpected pandemic time. Joan shares from her experiences of working with small nonprofit leaders within the Nonprofit Leadership...

In this episode of the Nonprofit Optimist, host Molly MacCready shares her experience with starting a Giving Day for her small nonprofit, CROSO. They started their giving day in 2019 and have successfully completed 3 annual giving days now and are preparing for their 4th in April 2022. In this episode, Molly explains what a giving day is and all the logistics about how to set one up for your nonprofit, including setting the date, identifying the goals and incentives to motivate people’s...

My guest today is Kim Morris, the project coordinator for River Keepers, a nonprofit based in Fargo, North Dakota. River Keepers’ mission is to advocate for safe and sustainable use of the Red River of the North and they work with the communities in both Fargo and Moorhead, MN. In today’s episode, you’ll hear us talk about project planning and event planning, how the pandemic impacted their programming, how Kim's organization engages over 2,000 volunteers each year, and also the importance of...

In today's episode, host Molly MacCready sheds some light on her own experiences and thoughts regarding the past 18 months as well as discusses self-care. While a self-professed amateur at self-care, Molly does share some of the lessons she's recently learned about how to create some balance within her schedule by leaning into untraditional work hours. Website: www.nonprofitoptimist.com Email: [email protected] Suggest a new guest:   https://www.nonprofitoptimist.com/futureguest

In today's episode, Tessa Vierk (co-founder of the Chicago Tool Library) chats with Molly about their founding story, recruiting volunteers, creating their membership model, and the power of saying "not right now." The Chicago Tool Library’s goal is to provide equitable access to tools, equipment, and information to allow all Chicagoans to learn, share, and create. If you visit our website, you can see more notes and topics of today's conversation. Website: www.nonprofitoptimist.com

Part 2 of 2! Julia Gatten is the Communications Director for AfricAid and she shares some of the biggest lessons she's learned about how to tell your story to donors. In this conversation, we talk about branding, messaging, and logos. It was important to AfricAid to involve stakeholders in that process from both Tanzania and America, and it's great to hear their process.  You can check out the outline of topics discussed here: NPO 042.   Nonprofit Optimist information: Become a Patron...

Julia Gatten is the Communications Director for AfricAid and she shares some of the biggest lessons she's learned about how to tell your story to donors. In this conversation, we talk about how AfricAid puts together their weekly blogs through contributions of staff in Tanzania and America, and how they engage a volunteer in a substantial role. We also discuss the role of email in their communication strategy, as well as videos. You can check out the outline of topics discussed here: NPO...

Sean MacCready and Stephenie Lazarus from Horizons for Youth share the lessons they have learned about partnering with donors, creating a major giving program, and participating in their first Giving Tuesday. You can check out the outline of topics discussed here: NPO 040.   Nonprofit Optimist information: Become a Patron of the Nonprofit Optimist: www.Patreon.com/nonprofitoptimist Website: www.nonprofitoptimist.com Email: [email protected] Facebook:...

Dr. Susan Blaustein of WomenStrong International shares the lessons she's learned about community and international development through her work. You can check out the outline of topics discussed here: NPO 039.    Nonprofit Optimist information: Become a Patron of the Nonprofit Optimist: www.Patreon.com/nonprofitoptimist Website: www.nonprofitoptimist.com Email: [email protected] Facebook: www.facebook.com/nonprofitoptimist Instagram: www.instagram.com/nonprofitoptimist   ...

Super quick episode sharing a fun announcement (picture here!) and a few shout outs.   Website: www.nonprofitoptimist.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/nonprofitoptimist Instagram: www.instagram.com/nonprofitoptimist   Become a Patron of the Nonprofit Optimist: www.Patreon.com/nonprofitoptimist   Back to regular interview-style episodes on Tuesday! Get excited!!!

Become a Patron: www.patreon.com/nonprofitoptimist For $2 or $4 per month, support the Nonprofit Optimist podcast! Today's Guest: Rose Hart         As a lifelong resident of Marshall County, WV, was part of the first graduating class of John Marshall High School in 1969. She spent 30 years of her career working for the United States Postal Service as a letter carrier, before co-founding Appalachian Outreach, Inc. in 2002. She now serves as the Executive Director of AOI. In 2012, Rose also...

My guest for today’s episode is Byron Sigcho, the executive director of Pilsen Alliance, here in Chicago. Pilsen Alliance is a social justice organization committed to developing grassroots leadership in Pilsen and neighboring working class, immigrant communities in Chicago’s Lower West Side. They work for quality public education, affordable housing, government accountability and healthy communities. To accomplish this, they use innovative community education tools and programs, direct...

Announcements: Molly will be at Podcast Movement conference next week! If you'll be there- email me: [email protected]. Come to our Nonprofit Meetup! Attend the panel where Molly and other nonprofit rockstars will be speaking!  Molly's husband (Sean MacCready) has a great podcast you should check out-- The Philanthropy Podcast.  Review the Nonprofit Optimist on iTunes. Free Online Resources: Doodle Polls: Doodle.com Google Drive: Google Forms Canva: Canva.com ...

Today’s guest is Stacy Horst, one of the founders of Erin’s Hope for Friends. Erin’s Hope for Friends believes that extending opportunities to form friendships to kids with High Functioning Autism Spectrum and Asperger’s can change their lives. In our conversation, Stacy shares how they formed their ideas for E’s Club and the different ways they’ve sought funding and support. So many small nonprofit leaders do not come into these roles with professional fundraising experience, and Stacy...

Carrie Collins-Fadell is the executive director of the Brain Injury Alliance of Arizona and is today's guest on the Nonprofit Optimist! Our conversation is dedicated to fundraising through events and Carrie has great ideas to share on this! Carrie has been able to plan and execute several large events for their organization and this year, they offered a run/walk for the first time. This interview occurred at the beginning of March and since then, Carrie's event happened and they surpassed...

My guest today is Shay Beider, the founder and executive director of Integrative Touch for Kids. Shay has been a pioneer in the field of integrative medicine for the past 17 years. Integrative Touch for Kids is a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to enhance well being, minimize suffering and facilitate healing for children with chronic, acute and life limiting illnesses. In our conversation, Shay and I discuss their business model, using volunteers not only for programming, but also for...

Helene Dudley is today's guest and she helped establish The Colombia Project in 2000, a zero-overhead, sustainable micro-loan program. This program evolved to include TCP Global in 2014 and now supports loan programs in 7 countries, including one with former Florida foster care youth in Miami. Helene served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Colombia and Slovakia and is a member of the Board Emeritus of the National Peace Corps Association. In our conversation, Helene and I discuss her philosophy...

Liz Ryan, President and CEO of Youth First Initiative, is the guest on today's show. Youth First is a national advocacy campaign to end the incarceration of youth by closing youth prisons and investing in community-based alternatives to incarceration and programs for youth. In this podcast episode, Liz tells host (Molly MacCready) how they measure progress on their big bold goal, how Youth First facilitates sharing knowledge and lessons learned, and how each state’s approach will be...

My guest today is John Zimmerman, co-founder of Casting for Hope and also serves as the board chair and CEO. Casting for Hope is a nonprofit that focuses on attending to the financial, emotional and spiritual needs of women living with ovarian and gynecological cancers in western North Carolina. In our conversation, John and I discuss the systems he’s put into place to maximize his all-volunteer team, as well as his own time. He shares how he manages his email communication, the importance of...

Margy Roberts has been a board member for CROSO (Child Restoration Outreach Support Organization) for the past 6 years. She and her husband Randy have been involved in CROSO as volunteers and donors since CROSO began in 2007. Last month, Margy, Randy and Molly MacCready (host of this podcast and executive director of CROSO) traveled to Uganda to visit the CROSO Scholars and their partners. In this episode, they discuss highlights from their trip and then their thoughts on how best to plan an...

Carin Willis is the guest for today's episode and serves as the founder and executive director of Bridge for Pelvic Pain. Based in Colorado Spring, the Bridge for Pelvic Pains's mission is to connect the global community of chronic pelvic, sexual and genital pain patients to resources, education and hope through an integrative approach. In our conversation, we discuss how she founded this nonprofit, and the importance of planning for a sustainable future. We talk about being part of existing...

Today's guest is Megan Stith, President and CEO of United Way of Central Kentucky. We discuss the importance and values of mentors, recommendations for how to manage time (including some scheduling apps) and how to build strong partnerships with businesses and corporations through networking. This episode has lots of tangible suggestions for how to become more effective and efficient in your work and I'd highly recommend listening!   To see the show notes, visit: www.nonprofitoptimist.com

Today's Guest: Jennifer Cole has been the Executive Director for Clean Fairfax Council since January 2009. The mission of Clean Fairfax is to encourage environmental stewardship and urban sustainability in Fairfax County, Virginia through education, programming, and community involvement. Clean Fairfax seeks to reduce littering and to encourage recycling, reusing, and reducing consumption, promote community action by supporting clean-ups and adopt-a-spots and serve as a clearing house for...

Beth Rosenberg founded Tech Kids Unlimited, a not-for-profit technology-based educational organization for kids ages 7 to 19 with special needs. In our conversation, she discusses how she initially connected with donors and how she keeps finding new connections whether on a train or through LinkedIn. This is another great episode of the Nonprofit Optimist, so be sure to listen in!   To see show notes for today's episode visit: www.nonprofitoptimist.com