Successful Nonprofits Podcast

We all want to know how we can increase our donations, and these days we especially want to know how to increase our online donations. According to Brady Josephson with NextAfter, this all starts with understanding why donors give - - - and why they decide to not give. Join us for today's discussion about why donors do (or do not) give and get actionable tips that can help you unlock your greatest online giving potential.

A few weeks ago we postponed our regularly scheduled episode and asked Listeners to amplify black voices that week instead. Shortly after, nonprofit accountant extraordinaire, Germeen Guillaume, reached out to me to discuss the diversity, equity, and inclusion issues she sees plaguing the nonprofit sector. Listen in as we consider the bias that exists in nonprofits, for POC and the sector as a whole, and steps we can all take in our organizations to better live our DEI values, serve our communities more effectively, and lead by example.

What would you do if your online donations quintupled? Well, write down those ideas because with us today is Shane Michael, a website and fundraising guru. He and his organization, Mittun, have helped hundreds of clients increase their online donations and today he shares two tips that are proven to help increase your online donations.

Small and medium-sized nonprofits face unique fundraising challenges and all too often overcompensate in ways that can cause lasting damage. Today's guest, Patton McDowell, is not only a nonprofit podcast sensation himself, but a fundraising expert. Patton shares 4 simple tips to accomplish efficient and effective fundraising: adopt an achievable fundraising strategy, use positive messaging, properly engage your board and executive director, and keep your development staff happy. Listen in for details on how you and your nonprofit can achieve each of these and improve your fundraising outcome!

Are you tired of how your nonprofit manages its data? Are you considering adopting a new, or perhaps your first, CRM? Then today's episode is for you! Maureen Wallbeoff is an expert in both nonprofits and the technologies that help them thrive. Today she shares tips to help you love your next CRM. When you listen in you will hear how to select a CRM, how to make the change successfully, and a few recommended CRMs that are affordable and effective for small and medium-sized nonprofits.

We don't need to tell you that COVID-19 has created, well, a lot of challenges. But today's guest, Joan Garry, also points out that it has created a lot of opportunity in that it has given us the gift of time. By using this time to creatively engage donors, volunteers, and other key stakeholders, she suggests you can come out stronger "on the other side." So listen in for tips and ideas on how to create high touch engagement while staying socially distant.

"What's a reverse podcast?" Earlier this year, Patton McDowell interviewed me for his podcast, Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership. He released the episode on his feed last week, and I'm releasing his episode on the Successful Nonprofits Podcast feed with Patton's permission. Patton interviews me about how to best engage your board members and build your organization in these challenging times. We discuss board development, fundraising tactics you can incorporate into your development plan, and two things every nonprofit should invest in right now. We close our conversation with some great – and specific – productivity tips that I've developed during my years as a consultant and nonprofit CEO, as well as several online and book resources that you'll definitely want to check out!

Looking to shake up your fundraising strategy? Then get some inspiration from a political campaign! I know, I know. You're probably thinking that political and nonprofit fundraising are worlds apart. And you are right, there is no doubt that they are very different. But there is also no doubt that we have much to learn from each other. Today's guest, Perry Monastero, has successfully raised funds for both politicians and nonprofits. So listen in for ideas to shake up your own nonprofit's fundraising strategy.

Trauma is all around us, especially right now. It doesn't matter your age, income level, color, gender, political ideology, religion, or nationality. Trauma affects everyone. The very nature of nonprofit work assures that we regularly, if not daily, encounter colleagues and clients who have experienced trauma. So what can you do to make sure that you and your organization respect and empower people who have faced, or are facing, trauma? Here to answer that important question is Kate Daugherty, a leader when it comes to trauma-informed care. Today, Kate teaches us how trauma and stress impact our brains and a few trauma-informed techniques that can not only bring back balance, but also improve your organization's bottom-line. So get ready to put your own amygdala aside, activate your prefrontal cortex, and take some radical steps toward a trauma-informed culture.

Instead of bringing our regularly scheduled episode on Trauma Informed organizations with Kate Dougherty, I am using the podcast to focus on the tragic killings that have thrust Black Lives Matter into the headlines and to amplify black voices. Looking back on New Year's Eve, who among us thought that we would be where we find ourselves today? That a pandemic would sweep across the globe. That the pandemic would lay even more bare the disparities between people who are white and people who are black and brown? That our nation would finally erupt in protests and our elected President would encourage those protesters be dominated with troops, tear gas, bullets, and dogs. As a person with privilege, I've added my presence at Black Lives Matter protests and added my voice among those calling for justice and equality. But over the past week, I am also reminded of the importance of making the space for black voices and our role in amplifying those voices. Now is a time to amplify black voices, listen to those voices and make some personal decisions about what more each of us can do to stop the killing of black people. For this reason, I encourage you to read, watch, or listen to black voices during the 30-minutes you would normally spend listening to the podcast this week. Dr. Martin Luther King eloquently said, "In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends." It is within our power to stop police violence, but it requires that we act. I am confident that the nonprofit sector has an important role to play in building a more just world, and I am certain that we'll be talking about just that in future episodes.

Is your next annual gala at risk of being canceled due to COVID-19? Well then listen in before you do anything! As today's guest, Dean Crownover, points out, virtual fundraising events are working like gangbusters! So join us to learn how virtual fundraising events are structured, what you can expect to spend, what you can expect to earn, and the best practices you can adopt to make your next fundraising event a virtual success.

Are you considering a career change? Looking for something with a little more purpose and passion? How about a career in the nonprofit sector!? Today's guest, Ellen McCarty, discusses her process for helping professionals make the switch from the for-profit to the nonprofit sector. Join us as we delve into the culture and common myths of working at a nonprofit and see if this career path might be right for you.

Looking to boost your incoming donations? Not sure how to do that given our uncertain economic climate? Then check out today's episode on legacy giving. Join Lori Kranczer, lawyer and legacy giving expert, to hear her tips for creating and marketing an effective legacy giving campaign.

Let's talk money. We all need more money. We all want more money. We all hate to ask for money. But making that ask is essential for every nonprofit's day-to-day programming and long term sustainability. Listen in on our conversation with Dr. Shantell Chambliss, a self-described "sustainability junkie," for expert tips on how to support your team of solicitors as they prepare for and conduct the perfect ask.

Does your organization sometimes struggle to get results – despite having a talented, dedicated team and a phenomenal strategy? Today's guest, Leslie MacKrell, explains how your operating model, or lack of one, often stands in your way. Join her as she asks tough questions and looks for honest answers about what you need, what you have, and how you can make up the difference. So, put on your Operating Model Hat and tune in to learn how to start or enhance your own operating model.

As leaders and nonprofit organizations, we are facing uncertain and difficult times ahead. All organizations face periods of hardship, but an unprecedented number of nonprofits are wondering how they will survive. And, beyond that, how can they possibly thrive again? If you are feeling alone, please know that you are not. And know that there is hope. To prove it, Toni Pergolin shares her experiences bringing a nonprofit back from the brink of bankruptcy and turning it into a healthy, vibrant, and thriving organization. So please take a few minutes to join us for Toni's key lessons for nonprofit, and personal, survival.

As this episode is released, the US Congress is nearing a deal to reopen the Payroll Protection Program with an additional $300 billion of funding. This episode offers important strategies for accessing PPP funds, reducing expenses without harming staff and raising more funds quickly. Highlights: (7:23) Know your burn rate and cash flow projections (10:00 ) Actionable ideas for cutting your expenses without harming staff (18:00) Your staff might make more money from unemployment if you furloughed them now (23:00) Generate cash and raise more money fast (38:35) Prepare your organization to apply for the Paycheck Protection Program when it's refunded

If you've worked in the nonprofit sector, even for just a few years, then you have probably experienced burnout at least once. Some people are able to push through it, but many eventually decide to leave their jobs, their fields, or nonprofit work altogether. Therefore, it is imperative for everyone, from team members to team leaders, to take preventative measures. Today Diane Leonard joins us to share how her teams identify and maintain a sustainable work pace via the Scrum framework. Listen in as Diane explains the steps she takes to keep her team productive and happy.

Volunteers are the backbone of so many nonprofits. While many nonprofits could not keep their doors open without them, volunteers and volunteer programs are often overlooked. These volunteers come from all backgrounds and serve at all levels, from experienced professionals to four year olds, from board members to office assistants. On this episode, Rob Jackson shares just a few of his groundbreaking ideas to ramp up your organization's volunteer program. Join us as we shake up the norms surrounding who makes a great volunteer manager and how to retain volunteers.

In these polarized times it is especially hard to contemplate, let alone actually sit down with those we see as the enemies of our cause. But as our guest, Leah Garces, points out, it is exactly these people we need to work with to create change. Join Leah as she challenges us to become comfortable with the uncomfortable, recognize the humanity of our so-called enemies, look for the win-win solution, and ultimately make effective and lasting change.

Whether you are a candidate or the hiring manager, understanding interview best practices is essential. Our guest Evan Piekara shares everything you need to know about job interview questions and answers. In this episode, we discuss case study interview questions, the "right" answers for common interview questions, and tons of good ideas for your next job interview. Evan also shares how to position yourself as a leading candidate by preparing meaningful questions that reveal your pre-interview research, taking a genuine interest in those you interact with throughout the process and demonstrating your expertise. Most important, his advice is pertinent whether you are interviewing for a management position or an entry-level one.

We started the year off with strong intentions to manage stress, take care of ourselves and be kind to our inner child. But those of us working in the nonprofit sector have significantly more pressure on us every day. And, with the year almost 25% over, now is the perfect time to share this conversation with Matt Bennett about trauma-informed leadership and self-care. This dynamic conversation with Matt Bennett leads us on a journey through nonprofit leadership, trauma informed care, self-care and more. In this podcast episode, listeners will get self-care ideas and tips, as well as practical leadership advice for building professional and personal resiliency throughout your nonprofit.

"Here's the keys, here is the restroom, here's your office – good luck!" That's a terrible orientation for any staff member, but this is the orientation that many nonprofit executive directors receive. It's ironic because boards have taken great care in selecting the new chief executive, paid them the highest salary in the organization, and then don't position them for success. In this episode, we talk about six ways your board can prepare the organization for a successful new chief executive.

"Big bets give organizations the chance to think about what it looks like to go from serving to solving." That is always the goal isn't it? As much as smaller contributions and fundraising campaigns appreciated and valued, the big donations we receive from philanthropists can not only determine but also expand our organization's achievements. Sridhar Prasad, a partner with The Bridgespan Group, realized this long before he began researching "Big Bets" in philanthropy. Listen in to the show to learn how to better poise your nonprofit to become "big bettable".

Recruiting the right board is the key to a strong, healthy and successful nonprofit organization. Yet too many charities view board recruitment as an afterthought and rush through a process that results in ineffective board members and weak boards. Dolph Goldenburg shared techniques for recruiting the right board members at a live seminar at the CenterLink E-summit. With CenterLink's permission, we are sharing this seminar as a podcast mini-series. In this second half of the live presentation, we cover The board candidate vetting process Your board recruitment timeline Orientation of new members The 5 hacks for a better board recruitment process.

Though my greatest mistakes and successes have been the people that I have chosen to hire, my 2nd greatest mistakes and successes have been those I have recruited for boards. Tune in to hear my best practices for recruiting committed, progressive, and overall great board members!

You may have a well-run nonprofit organization, a great strategic plan, and effective programs with great outcomes. But your constituents live in a world full of distractions screaming for their attention. So how do you ensure that your charity's message is heard? Silicon Valley's AHA Guy, Mitchell Levy, joins us on the podcast to share his answer: thought leadership. Mitchell chats with us about how to apply the five best practices of thought leadership so that you and your nonprofit get the recognition you deserve. Mitchell is a global credibility expert, entrepreneur, and CEO of AHA-that, which helps accomplished professionals share their ideas with an amazon best-selling book.

It's the first week of January in America, which means we're all creating resolutions that the vast majority of us will bail on by January 17th. Dolph explores 11 tips, tricks and hacks for achieving your resolution. Show notes: https://successfulnonprofits.com/portfolio/76839/ Highlights: (2:15) Resolutions are really goals (2:55) How to create a plan that will achieve your goals (12:20) Hack #2: Celebrate milestones appropriately (24:00) Hack #7: Know what you'll do when the going gets tough. (27:30) Hack #8: Don't let failure derail you (20:10) Hack #11: Make it a lifestyle Want the other 7 tips and tricks for achieving your New Years resolution? Download and listen to the podcast!

Nonprofit fraud is the topic of this conversation with Tiffany Couch, CEO of Acuity Forensics. Sharing true stories of fraud found in her book, The Thief in Your Company, Tiffany breaks down what fraud looks like, who is likely to do it, and how to prevent it from happening to your organization.

Join Dolph and Wayne Sleight on this week's episode of the Successful Nonprofits Podcast to talk about 97th Floor nationally recognized company culture! From the decision to never track vacation days to Wayne's philosophical vendetta against ping-pong tables in the office, there is plenty to love and learn.

More time and money is not the answer to every nonprofit problem! Listen in to this week's episode of the Successful Nonprofits Podcast where Carol Hamilton gives us a few techniques from her everyday consulting toolbox.

Have you ever hired someone you thought would be great, but realized you made a huge mistake within the first few weeks or months? You are not alone – lots of people have made this mistake. Which is why part two of this episode explores everything to do once you post the position. We'll uncover some of the secrets to determining if a person can actually do the job and ways to make your next hiring process more inclusive.

Most executives are often able to go back and say this, including myself: My biggest success and my greatest failures have all been about the people I have hired. The lessons I have experienced over my career have helped me develop 5 mind shifts that can help us change and improve the way we think about hiring.

Nonprofit accounting expert, Tosha Anderson, shares lessons and advice for maximizing your nonprofit's accounting efficiency. She offers insights on best practices for accounting staff, effective software solutions, and aligning your accounting function as your nonprofit grows.

About six months ago, we asked folks to email in their pressing questions. Of course, we responded to each question in real-time, but we also saved the best questions to answer on the air. So in this very special solo podcast episode, we answer four questions that are as old as the nonprofit sector itself!

I believe that every nonprofit should launch its own podcast, and so does this episode's guest. There simply could not be a more intimate way to connect with hundreds or even thousands of supporters, prospective volunteers and prospective donors every week. Through a podcast, your organization can promote its mission, tell its story and significantly expand its base. Matthew Passey is widely known as The Podcast Consultant because he has helped clients generate over 20 million podcast downloads! At a time when very few nonprofits have jumped on this podcasting bandwagon, now is the time for your organization to start one.

Every nonprofit (and every nonprofit funder) wants to focus on collaboration opportunities. Traci Stanley and Joshua Fulcher are on the forefront of nonprofit partnerships and are the driving forces behind the Chicago Benchmarking Collaborative. The collaborative is an alliance of seven education and human service agencies that collectively work with more than 12,000 low-income individuals throughout some of Chicago's most underserved neighborhoods. The collaborative developed a set of common outcomes and a technology blueprint to track and benchmark metrics. The collected data is used to design and implement strategies for measurably better outcomes. The CBC recently published a how-to guide to its methodology, Increasing Mission Impact Through Collaboration: Chicago Benchmarking Collaborative Processes and Toolkit. *****Timestamped Highlights***** (2:30) The founding goal of the Chicago Benchmark Collaborative. (5:10) Overcoming resistance to collect and share more data. (6:10) Using this data to benchmark with peers. (8:30) Working with partners that are underperforming against the benchmark. (11:45) How the collaborative uses data sharing to create high need programs. (13:15) How data collaboration helps participating organizations secure funding. (15:20) Ways the collaborative uses data to learn from high performers and improve services. (17:45) Lessons from the Collaborative's early days that new collaboratives can learn from. (20:45) Why a collaborative needs strong executive sponsorship (and what that looks like). (24:45) How to handle CEO transitions that jeopardize the partnership.

Arlene Cogen shares her guidance getting the largest contributions from donor-advised funds. Arlene is a financial planner with more than 20 years of experience in the trust and investment services industry but also a considerable background in nonprofit fundraising and administration. She guided the nation's 9th largest community foundation for over a decade and authored her book, Give to Live, Make a Charitable Gift that you Never Imagined. *****Timestamped Highlights***** (1:55) Arlene explains how her daughters inspired her to leave Wall Street and transition to a career in the nonprofit sector. (5:40) How people transition from a "gain as much money as I can" mentality to a philanthropic one. (6:40) How donor-advised funds make philanthropy easier, more fun, and provide anonymity. (10:10) The three ways to get access to donors advised funds without knowing who the donors are. (13:10) The importance of connecting to your local community foundation's donor relationship team and respecting boundaries. (15:15) Out of the box ways to cultivate and approach donor-advised funds. (16:30) Things you should NEVER do while approaching a donor-advised fund. (20:05) Arlene explains who your board members should be introducing you to. (22:20) How someone making a moderate income, maybe even working in the nonprofit sector, can create a fund that will live beyond them. (25:00) The joy that comes with creating a donor-advised fund.

France Hoang has some pretty amazing credentials. France is a serial entrepreneur trading in everything from jets to law firms to coworking space to technology for nonprofits. So you may be asking, "Why is this for-profit guy on a nonprofit podcast?" The answer is simple: This West Point grad, Army Ranger and serial entrepreneur understands how to build and strengthen organizational culture better than anyone else. He's led teams in combat, on peace keeping missions, in the office and the board room. Oh yeah, and he also founded a company called boodleAI to help nonprofit supporters data mine their own social media and fundraise better. *****Timestamped Highlights***** (2:58) France explains why he went directly from West Point to Ranger School (3:35) The leadership skills France learned at West Point and Ranger School (11:18) How to develop culture-building experiences for your nonprofit team members (13:00) The importance of allowing team members to make mistakes (17:26) How to "hire right" for culture fit and soft skills (22:58) Why every hire is critically important for your small team (23:55) Why candidates applying to join your staff should speak with others on the team (29:12) The founding story of BoodleAI (29:45) Do you know what Boodle is? France explains this West Point term (30:30) How France knows an applicant is a good fit to work at BoodleAI (31:45) How BoodleAI resolves your fundraising pain points

Appreciative inquiry is a strengths-based approach to facilitating positive change in human organizations. Dolph talks with two seasoned practitioners of this method, Jeanie Cockell and Joan McArthur-Blair, about the intersection of hope, despair, and forgiveness that leads to resilience. Lots of inspiration ahead! Links: Building Resilience with Appreciative Inquiry: A Leadership Journey through Hope, Despair, and Forgiveness https://www.amazon.com/Building-Resilience-Appreciative-Inquiry-Leadership/dp/1523082550 First Section of Book: https://www.bkconnection.com/books/title/Building-Resilience-with-Appreciative-Inquiry Nautilus Book Awards: http://nautilusbookawards.com/ Joan and Jeanie's Website: https://cockellmcarthur-blair.com/ *****Timestamped Highlights***** (2:24) The hardest piece of resilience is forgiveness (3:05) If you can't forgive, forgive what you can (9:40) Joan's poem about forgiveness (14:45) A (short) stop at despair (16:02) Systemic despair (20:49) Moving forward with hope, the bedrock of resilience (24:14) A metaphorical car crash (24:36) The intersection of hope, despair, and forgiveness (25:45) Generative questions – easy yet profound (29:19) The good thoughts notebook (30:55) Joan's poem about hope (36:02) Keep your vision of the shore!

We take a deep dive into nonprofit growth with Maurya Couvares, founder of Code Nation, formerly known as ScriptEd. Having successfully grown ScriptEd from $0 to $3 million in under five years, Maurya gives us the scoop on what that phenomenal growth entailed. Spoiler alert: data collection and deep impact with fundraising are key! Links: ScriptEd's site: https://scripted.org/ ScriptEd's Twitter: https://twitter.com/ScriptEdOrg?lang=en ScriptEd's annual reports: https://scripted.org/annual-reports/ Maurya's Twitter: https://twitter.com/MauryaCouvares?lang=en Maurya's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mauryac/ *****Timestamped Highlights***** (3:14) Maurya's expectations for ScriptEd's Growth (4:58) What ScriptEd does (7:12) Three Ps: Passion, Partnerships, Program (9:29) Mo levels, mo expenses (10:19) Do the hustle! Maurya's approach for funds (12:34) Deep thinking, low-cost (16:45) The theory of change and the metrics pyramid (18:49) Talk about growth – less than 1% to 73%! (19:47) Translate impact into $$$ – speak the language of the funders (22:30) Automation of data collection (25:16) The Road Ahead: Maurya shares what's next for ScriptEd (27:00) 400%?!? (31:03) Dolph declines a dip in the Hudson Rive

9/11 and her daughter's outrage were the inspiration for Dr. Barbara Van Dahlen to pick up a copy of Nonprofits for Dummies and launch Give an Hour, her Craigslist-style nonprofit that links volunteer mental health service providers with those who need them. Join Dolph and Barbara as they discuss the background and lessons learned in the creation of Give an Hour, as well as newly formed The Campaign to Change Direction, Barbara's recent project. *****Timestamped Highlights***** (2:27) Give an Hour because Barbara felt the 9/11 tragedy was enough (6:45) How Barbara used the Craigslist model to build her nonprofit (12:40) How Give an Hour functions as a 100% virtual nonprofit (16:04) The transition into a virtual workplace (19:10) Culture is important! (20:33) A challenge with the virtual workplace model (22:10) From ED to CEO/Founder – how Barbara owned her leadership role (24:54) The Campaign to Change Direction, a collective impact initiative (26:31) Inner Space: Barbara's podcast (29:02) And yes, Barbara practices what she preaches Links: Give an Hour: https://giveanhour.org/ Barbara's podcast, Inner Space: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inner-space-with-dr-barbara-van-dahlen/id1450953411 Vault of Barbara's Huffington Post contributions: https://www.huffpost.com/author/barbara-van-dahlen-phd The Campaign to Change Direction: www.changedirection.org Barbara's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbara-van-dahlen-a298205/

Dolph talks with Evan Marwell, successful serial entrepreneur, about his move into the nonprofit world with the creation of EducationSuperHighway. Evan compares and contrasts his experiences starting for-profit companies with the startup of a nonprofit organization. *****Timestamped Highlights***** (2:20) The wifi problem that launched EducationSuperHighway (4:30) F.E. #1 – Learning from Bold Endeavors by Felix Rohatyn (6:00) F.E. #2 – Expanding a school's bandwidth for technology (7:45) F.E. #3 – Bringing the tech issue center stage (White House) (9:35) America's CTO lets Evan in on a government secret (shhh!) (12:23) How Evan ran his nonprofit like a startup (18:42) A project-oriented team is KEY! (20:56) Gauging commitment to allocate tasks (22:24) Working with a sense of urgency (23:25) You MUST recruit the people that are invested in your mission (25:39) A Big Bold & Finite Goal: Go out of business by 2020 (28:25) Preaching "planned obsolescence" to avoid mission creep (35:15) Evan's entrepreneurial advice (38:49) "It's better to be lucky than smart" Links: Bold Endeavors: https://www.amazon.com/Bold-Endeavors-Government-America-Rebuild/dp/1416533133 2019: State of the State Report: www.educationsuperhighway.org Be in the know about bandwidth: www.compareandconnectk12.org

Dolph talks with Joe Vella, former Director of Corporate Giving at Macy's, to learn how nonprofits can position themselves for corporate gifts in an era of more restricted giving. *****Timestamped Highlights***** (2:10) A happy accident: How Joe began community engagement (4:50) Massaging the numbers fairly, judiciously, and strategically (9:36) Securing funds from a corporation by showing tangible results (11:48) Cause marketing vs corporate giving (13:32) Doing your homework BEFORE you approach a corporation for funding (17:26) Tips to increase your chances of receiving funding (18:36) Trust me, a tour can show a LOT (21:35) Appreciating every single dollar of a contribution (22:46) The icing on the cake to your ask – proposing an offer they can't resist (25:44) Storytelling for the win! (26:53) What to do if you when a corporate funder declines (27:56) Postcards, postcards, and more postcards! Links: Joe's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-vella-9172303/ Macy's website: https://www.macys.com/

In Part Two of his Mini Program Planning Series, Dolph outlines the steps to set goals, track program outputs vs outcomes, secure initial funding, and obtain sustaining funding. He also throws in a few out-of-the-box ideas to consider and shares a real-deal timeline for program planning. Links: Lean more about the MVP (Most Viable Product) in episode 106 *****Timestamped Highlights***** (2:41) Outputs vs. outcomes, and examples that help you remember the difference (6:13) How will you measure outputs and outcomes? (7:13) Where are you going to put your collected data? (9:00) Look close to home for your first source of funding (10:52) An approach for sustainable funding that sets you up for success (11:47) Can you earn some income? (13:51) The long game: planned giving (15:16) O-O-B idea #1: MVP (minimum viable product) (16:00) The merits of the MVP approach (17:14) O-O-B idea #2: test it first (18:49) O-O-B idea #3: outsource first (20:04) True expectations timeline

Flood waters of Biblical proportions have forced Dolph to go solo for a few podcast episodes! It's all good, as Dolph kicks of a Mini Program Planning Series today. In part one, Dolph provides step-by-step check points of the crucial components involved in creating a successful program plan. *****Timestamped Highlights***** (3:19) Dolph's cautionary tale about program design (8:37) Back to the drawing board (10:52) 1st step: figure out what need your program is going to address. (11:30) Identifying data sources to establish need (15:03) 2nd step: define the program or service are you going to provide. (16:22) You'll need a program planning group, and here's why. (19:04) 3rd step: figure out the logistics – including the who, where, when, and everything in between. (20:15) 3a: outreach (21:10) 3b: put partnerships on paper (21:59) 3c: staying on the right side of the law (23:12) 3d: put together a documentation plan (23:55) 3e: hammer out auxiliary services – what they are, who will provide them, and what those relationships will look like (24:12) And yes, your logistics will overlap! (25:00) Next week: Setting goals, tracking goals, finding initial and sustained funding, and identifying out-of-the-box ideas!

Board builder Rob Acton joins us to discuss specific strategies and tactics to optimize your board. He offers actionable tactics that you can implement today. Acton, founder of Cause Strategy Partners, discusses the three categories of tactics: making better use of board meeting, treating board members as individuals not "the board" and reshaping board culture. ****Timestamped Highlights***** (10:00) Designing board meetings that are not snooze fests (11:30) An alternative to simply reading the Executive Director's report (13:30) The "Plus, Delta, Question" exercise every executive director can use with their board (17:00) The power of generative questions (21:40) Building the strategic dashboard your board needs (28:00) Uncovering the unique strengths of board candidates (33:15) Rob's advice for nonprofit board candidates to consider (35:45) The amount of time a board candidate should expect to volunteer each month. Links: Cause Strategy Partners: http://causestrategypartners.com/ Robert's Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/robertacton Cause Strategy's Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/causestrategy

In part one of his episode, Kevin Chase shared the importance of honing your professional development to prepare for a director-level job. In part two, Kevin discusses how resume building, negotiation skills, and your personality can help you secure the executive-level position you've been after. Links: Kevin's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kevinscakesla/?hl=en Kevin's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-chase-8a9a23/ Kevin's Firm, Kevin Chase Executive Search Group: www.kevinchasesearch.com See Kevin's current searches: http://kevinchasesearch.com/current-searches/ Kevin's Appearance on Season 1, Episode 2 of Nailedit! : www.netflix.com *****Timestamped Highlights***** (2:26) How to stand out from the crowd (4:05) It's all in the sauce (5:21) Kevin shares the recipe for job burnout (9:44) When Kevin knew he could not fix his fit (13:15) Do's and don't's of resume writing (17:12) Pro tip: Start your resume with an executive summary (18:57) Negotiation advice - be thorough but reasonable (22:27) Take the offer for the job you want, not the one that might come (25:06) Everyone should know a Kevin Chase! (29:17) If not LA or NY, then where? Kevin answers Dolph's hypothetical

Guess who's back… back again! Executive Search Consultant Kevin Chase returns to our podcast for a two-part episode. In part one, Kevin walks us through how to better position yourself for an executive-level job. A tip: Start by building your skills and investing in your professional (and personal) development. Links: Kevin's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kevinscakesla/?hl=en Kevin's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-chase-8a9a23/ Kevin's Firm, Kevin Chase Executive Search Group: www.kevinchasesearch.com See Kevin's current searches: http://kevinchasesearch.com/current-searches/ Kevin's Appearance on Season 1, Episode 2 of Nailedit! : www.netflix.com *****Timestamped Highlights***** (3:51) Gale Goodheart wants to save the world, but how, Kevin? (6:21) There's no such thing as a unicorn (exec), so stop hunting! (8:51) How Kevin once got world class marketing support for an organization (12:23) The 85/15 Rule – Balancing the Now and Next (15:00) The resources you need to build your skills are closer than you think (18:29) Aiming closer to home: The approach to a prospective mentor

Nonprofit fraud is the topic of this conversation with Tiffany Couch, CEO of Acuity Forensics. Sharing true stories of fraud found in her book, The Thief in Your Company, Tiffany breaks down what fraud looks like, who is likely to do it, and how to prevent it from happening to your organization. Links: Tiffany's Book: The Thief in Your Company https://www.amazon.com/Thief-Your-Company-Organization-Financial-ebook/dp/B01NH5OH4K Tiffany's firm: www.acuityforensics.com Stop Nonprofit Fraud: www.stopnonprofitfraud.com Link for discount code for Stop Nonprofit Fraud: https://www.acuityacademy.com/dolph *****Timestamped Highlights***** (4:18) The emotional costs of fraud (5:23) The top 3 most-trusted individuals in the organization (6:38) Great! You have an employee you like that well, BUT… (9:09) Ego problem or fraud? (9:52) Skimming schemes and the priest who stole from the church (15:12) How limited resources factor into fraud (16:06) Pardon my French…but review the damn bank statement! (21:58) Locking down the range with company credit cards (24:27) Even if you know the answer, ask the question (25:22) Expense reimbursement requests: the long-hanging fruit of fraud (27:10) Setting the threshold of "that's not okay" (28:10) The BIG problem with the "$20 and under" rule (29:23) Basic and effective internal controls (35:31) A tiara and a title