In this encore episode originally aired in 2021, we bring you the insights and wisdom of 11 guests who have made significant impacts in their careers. Each guest shares what they started doing—or stopped doing—that made the biggest difference in their professional journey. These short and powerful moments of wisdom are designed to help you become more authentic, curious, and direct, leading to greater success in your career. Whether you're looking for practical advice or inspirational...

Join the conversation as I sit down with Jake Krotonsky and Alec Bansal, two remarkable high school seniors who didn't just dream of making a difference — they made it their mission. Jake and Alec have accomplished what many seasoned nonprofit leaders find challenging — they started and run a thriving nonprofit in their community.  During their sophomore year of high school, Jake and Alec looked at their shared passion for sneakers through a new lens, asking themselves how they could use it...

Joe Mull shares the secret to happy, productive employees who stay: employer loyalty and building humanity within the workplace. You read that right – employer loyalty is necessary before we earn employee loyalty.  In this episode, Joe discusses his new book Employalty: How to Ignite Commitment and Keep Top Talent in the New Age of Work. Joe and Dolph discuss practical strategies for increasing your retention rate, fostering a humane work environment, and transforming your leadership...

If you’ve ever signed a contract for a new CRM only to regret it a few months later, this episode will help you get the most out of your current donor database (and out of your next one, too). Paul Morris, a veteran in nonprofit fund development, shares invaluable insights from decades of CRM experience. This episode delves deep into the common pitfalls of CRM implementation and provides practical strategies to avoid costly mistakes and maximize the potential of your CRM to enhance donor...

As a nonprofit leader, you navigate the complexities of managing time, resources, staff, and your board. Today’s guest, Huggy Rao, wants you to create friction within your organization that makes the right things easier and the wrong things harder. Huggy and Dolph dive into practical strategies for reducing 'bad friction' that wastes time and energy, while advocating for 'good friction' that fosters deliberation and educated decisions. This episode is a must-listen for nonprofit executives...

My friend, colleague, and fellow podcaster Tony Martignetti was in the Atlanta area and stopped by to record this incredible episode about planned giving. Since my podcast studio is super-small, we recorded this week’s episode at my dining room table. (And I’d bet many of the best conversations with your planned giving prospects might happen at their dining room table.)  Together, we explore planned giving’s transformative power to help your organization achieve sustainable funding. Pull...

Whether you're grappling with salary negotiations, seeking to enhance donor engagement, or aiming to motivate your team more effectively, Uri's expert analysis provides actionable advice tailored for the unique challenges you face as nonprofit leaders. In this episode, renowned behavioral economist Uri Gneezy and our podcast host Dolph Goldenburg explore the world of incentives and their profound implications for nonprofit leaders. We dive into Gneezy's groundbreaking book, "Mixed Signals –...

In this transformative conversation with Bobby Herrera, author of "The Gift of Struggle," Bobby shares his journey from growing up in a large family where struggle was a constant companion, to becoming a leader who views every challenge as an opportunity to grow. Through personal anecdotes and profound insights, Bobby explores how struggles can be our most valuable teachers, guiding us towards empathy, leadership, and success. He helps us discover the profound impact of embracing struggle,...

Russ Finkelstein is a seasoned career coach, social entrepreneur, and advisor to founding executive directors. Together we dive deep into the fears that hold leaders back, the importance of authenticity, and the courage required to lead impactful organizations. Whether you're a new executive director, a seasoned founder, or someone passionate about making a difference in the nonprofit sector, Russ's advice is both practical and profound, offering a roadmap to leadership that's not only...

Today’s guest, Darren Isom, doesn’t love diversity just for the sake of diversity, but because honoring and celebrating diversity is how we all win. BIPOC leaders bring invaluable lived experiences that offer unique perspectives and insights to our world’s and sector’s problems. By amplifying these voices, we strengthen our teams, our nonprofits, our sector, and ultimately the world. Darren joins us today to share what he has learned about amplifying and honoring diverse voices from his own...

It doesn’t take much to build an effective brand. Yet many nonprofits struggle and end up investing a lot of time, energy, and money for little return. Today’s guests, Thom and Jason, specialize in helping nonprofits fortify their brand. Together, we delve into practical steps you can take to make sure your brand resonates with your audience and that your logo is an effective reminder of your new, awesome brand. This episode answers the following questions: What is the purpose of a logo?...

In this episode, Dolph and Lexie dig into some of the most commonly asked questions they receive from listeners and clients. Listen in for expert advice on staffing, podcasting, and partnerships. This episode answers the following questions: Can a paid staff member join the Board? How do I handle a staff member with a bad attitude? What equipment do you recommend I purchase to start a podcast? How can I build and maintain partnerships with other nonprofits? Links mentioned in this...

Understanding the true worth of an hour can transform how you prioritize tasks, delegate responsibilities, and, ultimately, how you contribute to your organization's mission. In this bonus break, Dolph shares practical advice, stories from the field, and an online calculator designed to help you quantify the value of your time. Whether you're an executive director, a development professional, or play a vital role in operations, this episode will equip you with the tools to make more informed...

When the country shut down in March 2020, Kia Croom realized the shift to remote work also shifted justice, equity, and inclusion dynamics. Racial discrimination, racial trauma, and microaggressions didn’t go away, they just changed a little. And now they were happening in her home. Since then, Kia has been working to disrupt and challenge the norms that lead to lack of inclusion in the nonprofit sector. She joins us today to share why this is an essential conversation for your own nonprofit...

What if you could personally spend time with hundreds of your nonprofit’s supporters every week? Joining them on walks, grocery shopping trips, commutes, dinner preparation, or even whispering in their ear at the gym?  For years, I’ve said that your nonprofit can do just that by starting a podcast. And, in addition to spending quality time with your supporters, you will also strengthen relationships, find new donors, and gain greater influence in your community.  In this episode, Thomas...

In this episode we delve into the crucial topic of team dynamics, uncovering how loneliness can silently sabotage your team and your mission --- and what you can do about it.  Steven Van Cohen is a global leadership consultant, executive coach, and best-selling author. He has spent over a decade working with large companies to improve their worker well-being, reduce employee isolation, and boost team belonging.  He joins us to explore the epidemic of loneliness, how it is impacting your...

Successful athletes have coaches. So why shouldn’t you? Well, we think you should! Dive into the benefits of executive coaching with Johnny Martinez, Executive Director of Northern Cares. Johnny joins us to discuss the unexpected benefits he received from executive coaching and how it ultimately reshaped his executive director journey. Don't miss this powerful discussion that sheds light on the profound impact coaching can have on your own leadership journey!  Links mentioned: Northland...

Have you ever attended a gala dinner, art auction, or golf tournament that faded from memory all too quickly? It's a common experience.  If you're tired of your own event's fleeting impact, then you won't want to miss this episode. We are joined by Joey Goone, a true maestro in producing unforgettable live, hybrid, and virtual events nationwide. Joey walks us through the three Cs of event success, all of which are backed by science! Listen in for proven secrets to turn your ordinary event...

Tech-savvy nonprofit leaders spill the beans on their favorite apps! Discover the game-changing tools they are using to revolutionize their organizations’ operations. Get ready to boost your own efficiency and productivity with these expert insights! Here are just a few of the apps mentioned in this episode: Pocket Windy Gallup Access app   Todoist Clara Fahlo  Looking for more? Check out these amazing episodes: The Secret to Low Stress & High Efficiency with Susie Hayman...

Imagine having a superpower that helps people relate to you and your nonprofit. And that superpower also helps you feel happier and more connected with the world around you! Well, that superpower exists. And guess what, it’s empathy! In this episode, Tim Leon shows us how to strengthen our empathy muscle and infuse empathy into our branding and marketing.  Tim runs the strategic marketing agency Geile Leon Marketing Communications, which is powered by empathy. Geileon serves...

Hopefully your nonprofit will never face a suicide among your staff, clients, or constituents. But just as we develop emergency plans for fires and natural disasters, we also need to be prepared in the event of a suicide within our organizations. In today’s episode with Beth Eversole, we discuss suicide postvention. Postvention is an organized response following a suicide to facilitate emotional recovery while also mitigating the negative effects that exposure to suicide brings.  A good...

In this essential Bonus Break episode, Dolph delves into the secret sauce of exceptional board member onboarding. Discover the transformative Triple-I approach - Inform, Initiate, and Inspire - and learn how to elevate your organization's onboarding process from mediocre to magnificent. Join Dolph as he shares personal experiences, debunks common onboarding myths, and provides actionable strategies to enhance your orientation process and the effectiveness of your new board members. Whether...

Today’s guest, Lindsay LaShell, has an important message: Stop wasting your time on random acts of marketing! Instead, make sure your marketing is so well thought out and so well planned that your audience members (be they clients, volunteers, staff, or donors) don’t even realize they are being led down a carefully cultivated path.  Listen in as we explore the steps Lindsay walks her clients through to develop and implement a marketing strategy that is intentional, efficient, and effective. ...

Discover innovative Board onboarding techniques that will revolutionize board member engagement at your organization. Dolph provides a step-by-step guide to effective board member onboarding, revealing a multi-stage process that ensures high-performing, committed board members. These expert insights have the power to transform your nonprofit's leadership landscape. Links:  Read the blog post that this bonus break is based on.  Contact Dolph or Lexie  Fast Friends Exercise

Do you find yourself on auto pilot for days or weeks at a time? Going through the motions of running your organization but not getting joy and awe from your work?  Steve Fredlund, known worldwide as The Safari Dude, helps you bring wonder and excitement back into your daily life. Steve was an actuarial scientist who recognized and escaped the “good life” trap. As an author, two-time TEDx speaker, coach, and keynote speaker, he guides others on their path to greater joy and fulfillment.  In...