Nonprofits are supported by people at all stages of life. When we invite more conversations about legacy, we help the people who care about their mission consider how they can support the causes they care about when they aren't here anymore. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah reflect on some lessons Nancy learned with her mother's passing. They discuss:Why it is helpful to have a fundraising strategy that offers many ways to support across donor life stagesWhat a nonprofit can do to encourage d...

Every spring and fall we receive invitations to attend a conference. It may be a nonprofit conference or a conference related to the mission of our organization. It can feel hard to take the time, and yet there is so much benefit. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah talk about conferences and how it is important to make time to learn, connect, and be inspired. They discuss:Breaking Routine: How stepping away from daily tasks to attend a conference can refresh your perspective and enhance your ef...

Many nonprofit board members feel that being a good steward of money means that they shouldn't invest in themselves as a board or organization. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah challenge board members to let go that that scarcity mindset and recognize the value of investing in their organization. They talk about how people are our most important asset, and people need to feel competent and confident to be motivated in the work. They share a tip on how you might know if an investment is a good...

We've been hearing from nonprofit colleagues that they feel like their donors have gone into hibernation. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah share six steps on how to bring spring into your fundraising program and reconnect with past donors. They talk about how reconnecting with your donors can be a great way to learn about the motivations of your donors and what excites them about your mission.  Enjoyed this episode? Share it with a friend. Want to request a topic? Email us at...

Time for our regular break to discuss how to make nonprofit work joyful and fun! We are hearing a lot about nonprofit leaders needing a break after a long winter. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah share a few ideas for how to find moments of fun and joy in the very serious work of our nonprofits. Imagine that office bell ringing when something good happens-- how might that invite people to celebrate together?  What would you want to read if you sent yourself a letter than you received a week...

It can be easy to forget among all of the good work that nonprofits do that we also need to follow the law! In this episode, Nancy and Sarah talk about the rules related to the people delivering our missions. There are work standards, safety and health laws, and workers' compensation rules that nonprofits need to follow. The good news is that there are helpful tools to help you make sense of it all. Consider this one of those episodes as a appetizer to help you know what you need to know more...

Nonprofit finance can feel overwhelming to many nonprofit board and staff members. One way to break it down is by considering the five roles needed to ensure your organization’s money is well managed. When everyone knows what they need to be doing, you’ll get more people involved in conversations, decision-making, and oversight, and that is a great place to be. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah share the five finance hats and what responsibilities come with each hat. Which hat are you...

The change of a year invites reflection on lessons learned and what we might do differently going forward. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah share a few change of year thoughts that they are reflecting on. Join us as we talk about the role of boards, conflict, recognition of hard work, curiosity, stories, and gratitude. What are you reflecting as you start the new year?  Enjoyed this episode? Share it with a friend. Want to request a topic? Email us at [email protected]. You can...

It's easy to feel that our small nonprofits don't have a lot in the way of power. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah challenge that idea and share some of the comparative advantages that we have as small nonprofit organizations. They go one step further and describe ways to use those advantages to help further your mission. By the end of the episode, you will feel more confident naming the power you have and how you might use it to strengthen your nonprofit community.  Enjoyed this episode?...

There is so much a board needs to know-- where you do you begin in building a plan for learning? In this episode, Nancy and Sarah share the three categories of information every board member needs to explore. They give practical examples of what your board members might focus on to strengthen their knowledge and practice. You'll leave listening to this episode with a few ideas on how you might deepen what your board members know about your cause, your nonprofit, and what is involved in...

We know that a personal email or letter is more likely to be read and acted upon. But how do we personalize communication when there is so much to do! In this episode, Nancy and Sarah explore the power of personalization for your fundraising and outreach efforts. They give you three practical tips on how to personalize your communication. Sarah shares a strategy to make personalization efficient and meaningful. You'll even have an opportunity to practice using this episode of the Nonprofit...

A board's job is to govern, but what does that really mean? In this episode, Nancy and Sarah explain what governance means in normal, everyday terms. They name concrete tasks to move board members more deeply into their governing role. When boards are focused on governing, a lot of  common board-related challenges go away-- micromanaging, lack of focus, disinterest, burnout, stalled missions, etc. By the end of this episode, you will know the four buckets of governance and one thing you can...

It is that time of year-- the time when so many nonprofit Executive Directors are sitting down to write their end-of-year annual appeal letter. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah define the role of the annual appeal and talk about how to write a letter that someone would read and then act on with a donation. By the end of the episode, you'll be able to tap into practical ways to get beyond writer's block and into an invigorating process that inspires your fellow movement builders.  Enjoyed this...

The annual performance review is something that can cause stress for both managers and staff members. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah offer some tips and suggestions for rethinking the way you provide feedback and support to your staff or volunteers. They talk about how to reframe the review as something designed to leave each member of the team feeling significant, recognized, and appreciated, while also feeling like they can grow. You will finish listening with ideas on how you can make...

Leaders wear many hats. One of those hats is that of coach. A coach guides someone to solve their own challenges by sharing questions, perspectives, or feedback. You can imagine how a nonprofit executive director, board chair, or volunteer manager might step into a coaching role in conversations with team members, board colleagues, or volunteers. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah talk about the coaching role a nonprofit leader plays. They explore why coaching is necessary, who a nonprofit...

We've talked about collaboration in past, and yet there is one aspect of collaboration that deserves a deeper dive. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah talk about collaborations and how organizations can pro-actively address culture and cultural differences within them. They share a few steps for success. You will finish listening with ideas on how you might strengthen the collaborations that you are in or working towards.  Enjoyed this episode? Share it with a friend. Want to request a topic?...

All of this churn in nonprofit staffing means that there are a whole lot of new supervisors who need training and support. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah talk about what new supervisors need to know and do to be set up for success. They share the highlights from a webinar Nancy and HR expert Skye Mercer led in June 2023, which can be accessed here. By the end of the episode, you'll know why supervisor training and support matters, what is involved in people leadership, and how to implement...

With a pomodoro ticking in the background (just kidding), Nancy and Sarah squeeze out a few minutes to talk about time management. In this episode, you will learn a few strategies on how to manage your time when you just have too much going on. Nancy and Sarah share six strategies to try as you get on top of your to-do list. By the end of the episode, you will be thinking about your relationship to time.  Enjoyed this episode? Share it with a friend. Want to request a topic? Email us at...

Reduce, reuse, recycle... and now upcycle. How can nonprofits apply these environment lessons to be more efficient and effective? In this episode, Nancy and Sarah share tips on how to use the principles of reuse, recycle, and upcycle in nonprofit communications and financial management. They challenge themselves to imagine how to use the same content at least three times. They give examples of upcycling and how you can take something like a newsletter and turn it into an annual report. By the...

How can you take away information to get more done? How might less help you better move others to action? In this episode, Nancy and Sarah take recent research on "less is more" and apply it to nonprofit communications and finance. That's all you need to know to take a listen. Let us know what you think! Enjoyed this episode? Share it with a friend. Want to request a topic? Email us at [email protected]. You can also follow us on these social media channels: Facebook:...

It is grantwriting time. So many of our nonprofit colleagues are spending a lot of time filling out forms, checking boxes, and trying to figure out how to explain their work within strict character counts. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah make a list of a few questions they wish family foundations-- really any foundation-- would ask us. They share what these questions would reveal-- and what foundations might listen for.  You'll finish the episode with new ideas on how to ask and answer...

Thanking someone is a powerful two-way street that invites further connection and collaboration. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah talk about why thanking people matters both in terms of our own personal well-being and our organization's mission. They walk through three kinds of thank yous and why they matter.  By the end of the episode, you will have reflected on  have-to, want-to, and get-to thank you messages and how you could implement them within your organization.   Enjoyed this episode?...

We’ve been noticing how hard “big picture thinking” can be for nonprofit people who so commonly are too busy getting things done to pause and consider the larger landscape. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah explain what “big picture thinking” is, why it matters, and how your organization can expand how you think about your work. You’ll finish listening with a few strategies to put to work within your organization to change the questions you ask and engage more people in key...

Donor meetings can be mysterious and stressful to some. Making an ask for money isn't something we all intuitively know how to do. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah demystify the donor meeting to explain what happens at a typical donor meeting and how you can best prepare. They provide tips on how to think about donor meetings as opportunities to build a relationship with an important member of your community. You'll finish your listening with concrete ideas on how you can strengthen your...