Nonprofits Are Messy: Lessons in Leadership | Fundraising | Board Development | Communications

Seth Godin, the marketing GOAT, shares a fresh, transformative approach to nonprofit marketing. He reveals how understanding and aligning with your donors' emotions can significantly enhance your strategy.

One-third of all nonprofits fail within 10 years, and 30% of the 1.5 million nonprofits in the U.S. have budgets under $100,000, putting them at significant risk of failure. To address this challenge, Scott Curran, CEO of Beyond Advisors, shares his expertise on how growth-stage social impact enterprises can strengthen their core, define their unique value, and strategically scale. This episode offers nonprofit leaders practical advice to ensure long-term sustainability and maximize their impact.

In this episode, Glennda Testone and I dive into real-life scenarios where we've had to make tough decisions and say no. Our intimate conversation offers practical tips on navigating common leadership challenges with confidence and diplomacy.

Allison Fine and I discuss the need to transform nonprofit fundraising from a transactional to a relational model, leverage technology to build meaningful donor relationships, and create a more sustainable and joyful fundraising environment.

Like me, Claire Babineaux-Fontenot moved from the corporate world to the nonprofit sector with zero previous experience in nonprofit work. In this episode, she shares her inspiring story of how and why she shifted her focus to step into her most impactful work yet.

The nonprofit sector has a serious PR problem that impacts its ability to garner adequate support. Nonprofit leaders have a powerful opportunity to be ambassadors and advocates for the sector as a whole. In this episode, I make a poignant call to action for nonprofit leaders everywhere to rally to the side of saving public perception of the important work they do.

Let’s discuss collective nonprofit power - what it is, what it isn’t, and what the nonprofit sector could do to harness it. To do more good in the world, we need to stand in our collective power which includes, ironically, taking a seat at the table.

Need to build capacity? Fix your fundraising? Graphics design or marketing? HR support? Then you need to know about Catchafire, an organization that is bridging paths to stronger communities by aligning nonprofits with expert volunteers.

Congrats! A funder is considering donating to your nonprofit and they have questions. For some, this request instills panic. Here is how to prepare!

Since he was 8 years old, Jeremy Heimans has been mobilizing movements that galvanize people for social change. He is the guru to ask about how to reach people and motivate them to take action. In this episode, he shares his insights.

You’ve heard of IQ and EQ. But, CQ is the third intelligence that empowers a nonprofit leader to mightily drive the mission with the strong, rallying support of a unified team. Listen in to learn what CQ is, how it works, and why it matters in the nonprofit landscape like never before.

Releasing episode 200 of the Nonprofits Are Messy podcast is a milestone. It has been a journey full of insights, observations, and a big fat “I told you so”. This is a look back at how far we’ve come together.

Conservative and risk-averse boards tend to lower expectations and pull back on fundraising during an election year. In this episode with Tom Kissane, Vice Chairman of CCS Fundraising, he shares compelling reasons to go boldly forward with your organization’s fundraising efforts in 2024.

What is the secret to implementing DEI strategy in long-standing nonprofit organizations? Cica Dadjo, Chief GEDI at the IRC, shares universal lessons that can help nonprofit leaders disrupt the status quo of organizational culture.

It is a misnomer. There is nothing ‘micro’ about microaggression. What is the real meaning of microaggression, what should it truly be called, and how can a leader recognize and take action to tackle it? Dr. Tiffany Jana shares her insights, why she has stopped using the word ‘crazy’, and what organizations can do to create a culture of awareness.

Organizations around the world are using artificial intelligence to improve processes, delegate tasks, and drive progress. What do nonprofit leaders need to know?

World-renowned conflict resolution expert, Ken Cloke, shares his secrets for overcoming conflict using proven strategies from his mediation practice that have brought "impossible" conflicts to peace across the world for 4 decades.

In this episode, I chat with April Frazier Camara about how diversity is the secret sauce in nonprofit leadership. Her insights? Eye-opening. You'll see our sector in a whole new light.

In our sector, time often feels like a scarce resource. You're likely juggling countless tasks, believing that maximum productivity is the key to fulfilling your mission. But what if we're approaching time all wrong?

In our sector, time often feels like a scarce resource. You're likely juggling countless tasks, believing that maximum productivity is the key to fulfilling your mission. But what if we're approaching time all wrong?

Great work relationships lead to greater job satisfaction and higher employee retention. Michael Bungay Stanier shares with us his recipe for designing our work relationships to thrive.

In this episode, Mayor Ras J. Baraka of Newark, NJ shed light on a beautiful partnership dance between city government and nonprofits. These organizations, he shared, often handle tasks the city can't, challenging local governance to aim higher, do better.

Organizations often stay with a subpar development director because they don't believe they could get someone better. Let's explore this assumption.

How do we ensure that the next generation of nonprofit leadership is prepared? Sarah Hernholm shares her groundbreaking work with WIT.

Mission creep is a big problem for many nonprofits. Here’s some practical advice on how to prevent it.

How can we improve our emotional intelligence and become better leaders as a result? Daniel Goleman, author of "Emotional Intelligence", explains.

Let's bring your organizational values to life in a tangible way. Join me and Lindsay Hoffman as we transform vague concepts into a potent value statement that drives your nonprofit's mission.

Let’s unpack the truth about board fundraising expectations…

Tune in as Dan Harris from 10% Happier and I explore meditation as a vital tool for mindful leadership, helping you control ego and anxiety for a greater impact.

Nonprofit coaching can be transformative, but there are different styles as my guests Laura Zielke and Darian Heyman Rodriguez demonstrate in this compelling and actionable episode.

Tune in as Priya Parker uncovers the treasure within hybrid meetings and shares golden nuggets to transform your hybrid gatherings from 'awkward' to 'awesome'.

When fierce advocates clash, who you gonna call? Nonprofit internal conflict busters! Tune in to learn how Aarati Kasturirangan, Senior Partner and Managing Director of Dragonfly Partners, navigates this important work.

Board dysfunction driving you bonkers? Join Rob Acton and me as we unravel the causes and offer practical solutions to get your nonprofit board of directors back on track!

Enough with the bland icebreakers! Join me as I share a game-changing team-building icebreaker that will change your nonprofit's group dynamics for the better. Less cringing, more connection.

Ready to transform your volunteer community? Join me and the queen of the power of volunteerism, Tobi Johnson, as we explore DEI strategies and share practical advice to help you build a diverse and vibrant volunteer base that drives your mission forward. Don't miss this game-changing conversation!

It can be frustrating to see people overlook the incredible impact of our organizations. We're constantly fighting against stereotypes and misconceptions, but I believe we can change the narrative and set the record straight.

Crypto donations guru Pat Duffy shares his expert insights and debunks some of the myths around crypto donations. We discuss the benefits of accepting crypto donations, how to reach potential donors, and how The Giving Block has helped thousands of charities, healthcare systems, schools, and faith-based non-profits to fundraise with cryptocurrency.

In this episode, we discuss a critical topic for every nonprofit that wants to effectively serve their community: board composition.

What happens when purpose and celebrity status join forces? Join me as I sit down with Jessica Seinfeld — bestselling author, founder of the powerhouse nonprofit, Good+ Foundation, and wife of comedy legend Jerry Seinfeld to find out!

Tune in as collaboration evangelist and Walton Family Foundation CSO, Chelsea Peters and I uncover the power of public-private partnerships. Spoiler alert: it's all about combining your superpowers!

A very special guest joins me in this episode to share her journey from burned out realtor to ignited volunteer. Tune in to learn how to find volunteer opportunities that fuel you.

What were your biggest takeaways from 2022? Tune in as Stacy Palmer, editor of the Chronicle of Philanthropy, and I discuss some of the nonprofit sector’s biggest headlines, trends, and takeaways of 2022.

Does your organization have an ED with a low appetite for fundraising? Tune in to learn how strengthening the partnership between your ED and development director can help!

Feeling the heat lately? You are not alone… burnout impacts many of us in the nonprofit sector. Tune in to learn best-selling author and global keynote speaker, Hamza Khan’s strategies for preventing burnout.

In this episode, my guest compares strategy to love — tune in as Robert Raben and I dig deep into the topic of nonprofit strategic planning and how the right approach can help promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Are there nonprofit funding sources out there that are not being sufficiently taken advantage of? According to my guest, Candid CEO, Ann Mei Chang, the answer is yes. Tune in to learn more.

Getting the right people on your nonprofit board is no easy task. Tune in to this episode to learn how one nominations committee chair helped her org build the board of its dreams!

Want to leave your nonprofit in good hands even after you move on to your next adventure? Tune in to discover the 7 crucial steps to a successful succession planning process.

Join me for an eye-opening conversation about fundraising mistakes, fundraising anxiety, and what it actually takes to be a first-rate development director for your nonprofit.

What does an ideal relationship between a program officer and a grantee actually look like? Experienced program officer, Rebecca Cokley, joins me in this episode to answer this frequently asked question.