Often we take government funding for granted. Or, we treat it like an impenetrable black box that’s a mystery so we write our applications and cross our fingers. Today, we’re joined by Jesse Clarke, CEO of JN Clarke Consulting who shares insider tips on how to form successful relationships with government partners to secure new funding, keep the existing funds rolling in, and have champions at the decision making table.  Key Highlights:  The parallels between donor and government relationsThe...

Do you ever find yourself questioning whether your message was clear or if you expressed your thoughts effectively? If so, this episode is for you. Tune in as Erica Barnhart, the CEO of Claxon, delves into the art of communication. Discover the significant impact of effective communication on both your personal and professional life, and learn how to inspire and mobilize the people around you. Key Highlights: The importance of effective communication in small organizationsUnderstanding your...

Today's digital world demands an impactful online presence. In the era where a website is your business card and more, do you know how to leverage it for your small nonprofit organization? In this episode of the Small Nonprofit Podcast, David Pisarek, founder and CEO of Wow Digital, dive into the critical aspects of websites and digital marketing. Discover how your organization can improve its online presence, foster engagement, and attract more donations. Key Highlights:  The role and...

Have you ever encountered a micromanager in your professional life? That person who just can't resist scrutinizing every little detail and checking in with you constantly? It's not only frustrating but can also hinder productivity and growth. On today’s episode I’m joined by Erin Allgood, a social impact strategist from Allgood Strategies, to discuss the detrimental effects of micromanagement in organizations. She delves into the reasons behind micromanaging tendencies, the impact of remote...

Are you tired of feeling like your small nonprofit is constantly trying to catch up with the big organizations? What if there was a way to shift your perspective and leverage your size to create unique fundraising opportunities? In today's episode we explore exactly that! I've invited Sara Hoshooley, founder of Charity Shift to discuss how to make small but impactful shifts in your nonprofit that can significantly boost your fundraising success. Key Highlights:  Why small nonprofits shouldn't...

Have you ever struggled with strategic planning? Do you find it challenging to bring people along in the process? In this episode of the Small Nonprofit Podcast, I talk with Carol Hamilton, Principal of Grace Social Sector Consulting, about the importance of strategic planning in today's changing world. Carol discusses how to involve all stakeholders in the process, what to do when things get off track, and how to integrate the plan into your day-to-day practices. Key Highlights:  The...

Today we'll tackle a common challenge faced by small nonprofits – obtaining unrestricted funds. It's no secret that while many organizations excel at securing grants and program funding, the quest for those vital, unrestricted annual operating funds can be an uphill battle. In this episode, we’re joined by Aimee Lindenberger, the founder of Refocused Fundraising, an expert in fundraising communications, key messages, annual appeals, and legacy giving. Listen in as we discuss the importance of...

Are you struggling to connect with your audience and make an impact with your organization's messaging? In this episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, I speak with Jordana Merkin, founder and CEO of Voice for Good, about the power of words in moving people to action. Join us as we dive into the world of nonprofit messaging and show you how to make a lasting impact with your words. Key Highlights:  The importance of a messaging guide for your nonprofitStrategies for crafting a consistent...

Are you tired of watching your nonprofit's most passionate and dedicated employees leave due to burnout and exhaustion? It's time to address the elephant in the room - the exploitation of nonprofit staff. In this episode, we're joined by Nicole Gagliardi, an innovator and changemaker in the nonprofit sector with over 10 years of experience leading small nonprofits.  Join us as we discuss the pervasive issue of staff exploitation in the nonprofit sector and explore practical solutions to...

Our sector has a clear response when someone asks about starting a nonprofit - “please don’t”. I’ve seen this in Facebook groups and discussions. But what if starting a nonprofit is an act of equity and justice? Tune in to hear from our guest, Tiffany Allen, CEO of Boss On A Budget, as she shares her experience and expertise in the world of nonprofit startups. Key Highlights: The challenges of starting a nonprofit and accessing vital informationKey questions to ask yourself before starting a...

Are you struggling to turn your organization's strategic plan into a reality? Do you feel like your efforts to create change within your nonprofit are falling flat? Today on the podcast, I'm joined by Veronica LaFemina, a strategic advisor to nonprofit leaders with over 20 years of experience in change management. In this episode, Veronica shares her insights on why change often fails in organizations and what you can do to set yourself up for success. Key Highlights: The importance of...

Have you ever considered hosting an event for your nonprofit organization? Do you know how to incorporate sponsorship into the profitability of your event? In this episode of The Small Nonprofit podcast, Mariah Monique,  founder of The Sponsorship Catalyst, shares some insightful tips on how to leverage strategic partnerships and potential sponsors to make your event a success.  Key Highlights: How to get started with sponsorship for your nonprofit events The mistake nonprofits make in...

In today's episode of the Small Nonprofit Podcast, I'm introducing you to the Fractional Fundraising movement and our new private podcast series that will give you an inside look at how we do this revolutionary approach to fundraising that has helped many small nonprofits thrive.  Key Highlights: What fractional fundraising is and how it can benefit fundraisers and charitiesThe behind-the-scenes of our Fractional Fundraiser AcademyThe stories and experiences of our current members in the...

In this episode of the Small Nonprofit Podcast, I’m joined by Sean Kosofsky, aka the Nonprofit Fixer, to discuss the impact of isolation on small nonprofit organizations in a post-pandemic world. Working remotely or changing jobs can leave nonprofit professionals feeling disconnected and lonely, but Sean offers practical advice for breaking through the isolation.  Key Highlights: The impact of working remotely for small nonprofits Practical tools for combating isolation Productivity hacks:...

As donors get older, it's essential for nonprofits to find new, younger donors to keep their organizations running. In this episode of The Small Nonprofit, I talk to Emily Taylor, the founder of Teeny Big, where she helps nonprofit leaders create clear, defined paths to build engagement with people so they can achieve their goals faster. Emily talks about the challenge of engaging younger donors and her insights on how to understand and connect with them.  Key Highlights: How can nonprofits...

Are you struggling to demonstrate your organization's impact? Are you looking for ways to engage your donors and keep them coming back? In this episode, I’m joined by Julie Gilbert, an independent consultant and coach in Julie Gilbert Consulting. She has over 25 years of experience working with public sector and nonprofit organizations, focused on helping organizations measure and communicate their impact. Julie talks about the meaning of impact, strategies and how solid measurement work can...

In today’s podcast, we’re chatting with Sabrina Walker Hernandez about how she moved from being completely burned out (including how that affected her health) to growing a business that allowed her to still serve nonprofits but in a way that protected herself and her own well-being.  Through her company, Supporting World Hope, Sabrina is a trainer, facilitator, and coach who specializes in strategic planning, fundraising, and leadership development. Highlights: How Sabrina invested in herself...

When you're a small nonprofit, your work often involves doing more with less—which is why it's so important to know which tasks are essential and which just add up to clutter. Today, we’re talking about one approach that helps streamline our workload while staying focused on the biggest priorities- minimalism. Danielle Russell walks us through minimalism in nonprofits. Danielle S. Russell, CAE is a Canadian Not-for-Profit Industry Leader, Consultant, Author, Speaker, YouTuber, and Artist. She...

On today’s podcast, we’re bringing you someone else’s podcast! That’s right, from time to time we’ll be featuring some friends and their podcast episodes that we think are worth a listen. Today it’s Dana Synder’s podcast, Missions to Movements.  If there is an organization to watch, Hope for Haiti is it, and today, you’ll meet Community Director of Innovative Philanthropy, Sarah Porter, and CMO Taylor Hebble. Hope for Haiti is pushing the boundaries with incredible creativity and innovation!...

The cloud is changing the tech game. In fact, it's already changed it. But how can you adapt to this new technology? How can your small nonprofit make sure that you're ready for what's coming next? On this episode, I speak with Kevin Christopher George of Green Merits Consulting, about cloud technology with a grounded, real life, practical perspective on what it means to research, select and adapt cloud technologies. Key Highlights: The benefits of cloud-based technology for small...

So many small nonprofits don't know where to start when it comes to managing the data they have. How can we use our data effectively and efficiently? And how do we make sure it’s being used with an equity lens? If you're struggling with this, definitely give this episode a listen! On today’s episode, I’m joined by Meena Das, Founder & Philanthropy Analytics Consultant at NamasteData, and her focus of work is grounding data and analytics solutions for nonprofits in the ideas of equity and...

“Everybody pays, nobody pays. Because I think one of the most important principles that we put in place with our clients around corporate is transparency” - Heather Nelson employee volunteering with Heather Nelson Is corporate volunteerism trendy right now? Absolutely! Should you still include it in your corporate giving strategies? Probably. In this episode, I sat down with Heather Nelson of Bridgeraise, and talked about how your nonprofit can benefit from corporate volunteerism and how to...

“Community-Centric Fundraising is about reimagining how we engage our communities, so whether that's our service users or volunteers, our donors, to make everyone feel really valued and invested in the work. - Maria Rio” practicing community centric fundraising with Maria Rio You may have heard of a growing movement called Community Centric Fundraising (CCF) but have lots of questions of how it works and how you might apply it to your organization. Maria Rio, joins me in this conversation...

Sometimes fundraising in a small nonprofit can feel start-stop. You put in effort and maybe see results, but then as soon as you slow down, the money stops coming in.  But on today’s podcast, guest Mike Duerksen, Founder and CEO of BuildGood, shares with us his “flywheel” method for creating a fundraising program that operates on momentum, so that the longer you fundraise, the less effort it takes to grow. Sounds dreamy, right? Mike covers: The Flywheel analogy of fundraising for small...

And the small charities can slow down a little bit and stop automating. I remind people that direct response, whether it's direct mail or if it's online, I don't care what it is. It is an opportunity for conversation. You are talking to other human beings that we call donors. And that's an opportunity to have something, a meaningful connection with someone who wants to help you achieve your goals. And just like relationships are in real life. - John Lepp direct mail isn’t dead with John...