Successful Nonprofits Podcast

Today we revisit one of our most popular episodes with Brad Wolff, author of the bestseller, "People Problems? How to Create People Solutions for a Competitive Edge." Brad shares the "aha!" moment that informs his work as a consultant with his firm, PeopleMax, and explains his belief that all professional success is derived from personal development.

People who feel satisfied with their jobs are also healthier and tend to live longer. So how do you find that job satisfaction? Well, you're off to a great start! Nonprofit professionals often experience higher job satisfaction thanks to their organizations' socially-oriented missions. But sometimes the mission just isn't enough. Bea Boccalandro, job satisfaction expert, joins us to discuss 8 steps you can take to increase your fulfillment at work.

COVID, like all crises, has affected the nonprofit real estate market. Some organizations are worried about making rent or mortgage payments. While others are looking to take advantage of new real estate opportunities. Master of nonprofit real estate, Paul Wolf, joins us today to share his experience and wisdom. Regardless of your organization's current real estate situation, Paul has recommendations for you!

Wouldn't it be nice to never lose another file? Or have time for lunch between meetings? Or get home on time? If you feel that way, it's time to get organized! Organizing expert, Susie Hayman, joins us with some tips to get organized, as well as what you can expect if you hire a professional organizer. Listen in to get organized, reduce your stress and increase your efficiency!

Who would think that for-profits and nonprofits could go together like peanut butter and jelly? Today's guest, Angela Hughey, did! Join us as we explore the hybrid organizational model through the case study of ONE Community and see if the hybrid model might work for you!

The Restaurant Worker's Community Foundation is only two years old and already has an annual revenue of $7 million from more than 15,000 donors. That's 250,000% growth! A lot of their success is the result of a great communications strategy. We invited communications thought leader and RWCF board member, Michael Hamill Remaley, to the podcast to discuss the topic. You will definitely pick up tips for your own communications strategy!

Abra Annes tells a tale of two very different development offices. One of the organizations she gives to treats her like she's a major donor. This smaller organization asked for her communication preferences, sent notes and offered a deeply personalized donor experience. The larger organization, however, used the same thank you letter for ten gifts totaling over $180,000! They never sent a personal note, never called, never texted. In this episode, we take a deep dive into the donor's perspective and learn ways your organization can be more nimble and effective at cultivating and stewarding donors.

Here's a commonly held myth in the nonprofit sector: A 501(c)3 cannot take part in advocacy work. In this episode, Tanya Tassi shares how nonprofits can safely and effectively advocate. Listen in and start creating that lasting change you already work so hard for!

Today we have a special reverse episode with Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta. Earlier this year, Dolph was featured on the Pro Bono Partnership Atlanta Podcast with Sireesha Ghanta and Robyn Miller. The episode released last week on SoundCloud. Check it out and learn about mission creep: what it is, how to avoid it, and what to do if you want to expand your mission.

Every nonprofit leader dreams of achieving and maintaining financial sustainability, and every good board member knows that fiscal stewardship is one of their sacred duties. To explore the roles your board treasurer and banker play in sustainability and fiscal stewardship, we speak with seasoned board member, nonprofit tech entrepreneur and extraordinary banker, Chad Wolver. In this episode you will discover: What your nonprofit should look for in its next board treasurer The key financials your board should monitor The many ways your banker can help you (beyond depositing your donor checks) And more!

With COVID and a budding recession, people around the world are stressed out about their jobs. If you have a job, you want to make sure you keep it. And if you lost your job, you want to find your next one as quickly as possible. For many people, both can feel beyond your control. Today's guest is extraordinary career coach, Gary Hines. Gary shares actionable tips you can take to keep the job you have or find your next one. Listen in and take control of your career!

Sherry Quam Taylor says it's time to push against common fundraising misconceptions and start telling donors what your nonprofit really needs! Do your staff need raises? Tell your donor! Do you need a technology upgrade? Tell your donor! Do you need to funnel a little extra money into fundraising this year? Tell your donor! Listen in on our conversation with Sherry to learn how actually sharing the nitty-gritty of what you need can help your organization double or even triple its incoming donations. Get tips for building your needs-based budget and how to confidently share it with your donors so that you don't leave any money sitting on the table!

If you Google "workplace stress", a plethora of data appears at your fingertips. The American Institute of Stress notes that job stress is the largest source of anxiety for Americans, and that it is escalating. In fact, job stress and burnout have become so common that the World Health Organization recognized it as an occupational syndrome in 2019! So if you're feeling stressed and burned out, you certainly are not alone. What studies show again and again is that stress and burnout aren't about the individual or about the job itself. So what can leaders do to ensure their organizations are healthy, happy places to work? Natasha Wallace, author of The Conscious Effect: 50 Lessons for Better Organizational Wellbeing, is an expert on training leaders to transform their workplaces. Listen in to hear lessons learned from her own burnout story and get actionable tips to help you create a healthier, less stressful workplace.

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.