Nonprofit Radio Show
89 episodes - English - Latest episode: 14 days ago -The Nonprofit Radio Show podcast offers bite-size, practical information to help small nonprofits thrive.
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Episodes
Why investing in your organization matters
April 16, 2024 16:00 - 19 minutes - 13.3 MBMany nonprofit board members feel that being a good steward of money means that they shouldn't invest in themselves as a board or organization. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah challenge board members to let go that that scarcity mindset and recognize the value of investing in their organization. They talk about how people are our most important asset, and people need to feel competent and confident to be motivated in the work. They share a tip on how you might know if an investment is a goo...
Reconnecting with donors
March 19, 2024 15:00 - 18 minutes - 13 MBWe've been hearing from nonprofit colleagues that they feel like their donors have gone into hibernation. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah share six steps on how to bring spring into your fundraising program and reconnect with past donors. They talk about how reconnecting with your donors can be a great way to learn about the motivations of your donors and what excites them about your mission. Enjoyed this episode? Share it with a friend. Want to request a topic? Email us at nonprofitradio...
Find joy in nonprofit work
February 22, 2024 04:00 - 16 minutes - 11.4 MBTime for our regular break to discuss how to make nonprofit work joyful and fun! We are hearing a lot about nonprofit leaders needing a break after a long winter. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah share a few ideas for how to find moments of fun and joy in the very serious work of our nonprofits. Imagine that office bell ringing when something good happens-- how might that invite people to celebrate together? What would you want to read if you sent yourself a letter than you received a week ...
Worker-related rules apply to nonprofits
February 22, 2024 04:00 - 14 minutes - 10.1 MBIt can be easy to forget among all of the good work that nonprofits do that we also need to follow the law! In this episode, Nancy and Sarah talk about the rules related to the people delivering our missions. There are work standards, safety and health laws, and workers' compensation rules that nonprofits need to follow. The good news is that there are helpful tools to help you make sense of it all. Consider this one of those episodes as a appetizer to help you know what you need to know mor...
Nonprofit Finance: What Hat Are You Wearing?
January 30, 2024 17:00 - 17 minutes - 12.1 MBNonprofit finance can feel overwhelming to many nonprofit board and staff members. One way to break it down is by considering the five roles needed to ensure your organization’s money is well managed. When everyone knows what they need to be doing, you’ll get more people involved in conversations, decision-making, and oversight, and that is a great place to be. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah share the five finance hats and what responsibilities come with each hat. Which hat are you wearing...
Change of Year Thoughts
January 04, 2024 18:00 - 15 minutes - 10.5 MBThe change of a year invites reflection on lessons learned and what we might do differently going forward. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah share a few change of year thoughts that they are reflecting on. Join us as we talk about the role of boards, conflict, recognition of hard work, curiosity, stories, and gratitude. What are you reflecting as you start the new year? Enjoyed this episode? Share it with a friend. Want to request a topic? Email us at [email protected]. You can ...
The Superpowers of Small Nonprofits
January 02, 2024 19:00 - 18 minutes - 12.9 MBIt's easy to feel that our small nonprofits don't have a lot in the way of power. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah challenge that idea and share some of the comparative advantages that we have as small nonprofit organizations. They go one step further and describe ways to use those advantages to help further your mission. By the end of the episode, you will feel more confident naming the power you have and how you might use it to strengthen your nonprofit community. Enjoyed this episode? S...
Three Buckets of Board Learning
December 04, 2023 17:00 - 17 minutes - 11.9 MBThere is so much a board needs to know-- where you do you begin in building a plan for learning? In this episode, Nancy and Sarah share the three categories of information every board member needs to explore. They give practical examples of what your board members might focus on to strengthen their knowledge and practice. You'll leave listening to this episode with a few ideas on how you might deepen what your board members know about your cause, your nonprofit, and what is involved in runni...
Putting personalization to work
November 21, 2023 16:00 - 16 minutes - 11.5 MBWe know that a personal email or letter is more likely to be read and acted upon. But how do we personalize communication when there is so much to do! In this episode, Nancy and Sarah explore the power of personalization for your fundraising and outreach efforts. They give you three practical tips on how to personalize your communication. Sarah shares a strategy to make personalization efficient and meaningful. You'll even have an opportunity to practice using this episode of the Nonprofit R...
Board governance made simple
November 06, 2023 16:00 - 15 minutes - 10.9 MBA board's job is to govern, but what does that really mean? In this episode, Nancy and Sarah explain what governance means in normal, everyday terms. They name concrete tasks to move board members more deeply into their governing role. When boards are focused on governing, a lot of common board-related challenges go away-- micromanaging, lack of focus, disinterest, burnout, stalled missions, etc. By the end of this episode, you will know the four buckets of governance and one thing you can ...
How to Write an Annual Appeal Letter
October 23, 2023 17:00 - 19 minutes - 13.2 MBIt is that time of year-- the time when so many nonprofit Executive Directors are sitting down to write their end-of-year annual appeal letter. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah define the role of the annual appeal and talk about how to write a letter that someone would read and then act on with a donation. By the end of the episode, you'll be able to tap into practical ways to get beyond writer's block and into an invigorating process that inspires your fellow movement builders. Enjoyed th...
Rethinking Performance Reviews
August 29, 2023 14:00 - 29 minutes - 20.2 MBThe annual performance review is something that can cause stress for both managers and staff members. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah offer some tips and suggestions for rethinking the way you provide feedback and support to your staff or volunteers. They talk about how to reframe the review as something designed to leave each member of the team feeling significant, recognized, and appreciated, while also feeling like they can grow. You will finish listening with ideas on how you can make f...
Nonprofit Leader as Coach
August 29, 2023 14:00 - 19 minutes - 13.1 MBLeaders wear many hats. One of those hats is that of coach. A coach guides someone to solve their own challenges by sharing questions, perspectives, or feedback. You can imagine how a nonprofit executive director, board chair, or volunteer manager might step into a coaching role in conversations with team members, board colleagues, or volunteers. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah talk about the coaching role a nonprofit leader plays. They explore why coaching is necessary, who a nonprofit le...
The art of collaboration
August 07, 2023 18:00 - 14 minutes - 9.98 MBWe've talked about collaboration in past, and yet there is one aspect of collaboration that deserves a deeper dive. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah talk about collaborations and how organizations can pro-actively address culture and cultural differences within them. They share a few steps for success. You will finish listening with ideas on how you might strengthen the collaborations that you are in or working towards. Enjoyed this episode? Share it with a friend. Want to request a topic?...
How to set supervisors up for success
July 24, 2023 17:00 - 17 minutes - 11.8 MBAll of this churn in nonprofit staffing means that there are a whole lot of new supervisors who need training and support. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah talk about what new supervisors need to know and do to be set up for success. They share the highlights from a webinar Nancy and HR expert Skye Mercer led in June 2023, which can be accessed here. By the end of the episode, you'll know why supervisor training and support matters, what is involved in people leadership, and how to implement...
Time management for nonprofit leaders
June 12, 2023 22:00 - 16 minutes - 11.1 MBWith a pomodoro ticking in the background (just kidding), Nancy and Sarah squeeze out a few minutes to talk about time management. In this episode, you will learn a few strategies on how to manage your time when you just have too much going on. Nancy and Sarah share six strategies to try as you get on top of your to-do list. By the end of the episode, you will be thinking about your relationship to time. Enjoyed this episode? Share it with a friend. Want to request a topic? Email us at non...
Nonprofit Upcycling: How to do more with less
June 12, 2023 22:00 - 20 minutes - 13.9 MBReduce, reuse, recycle... and now upcycle. How can nonprofits apply these environment lessons to be more efficient and effective? In this episode, Nancy and Sarah share tips on how to use the principles of reuse, recycle, and upcycle in nonprofit communications and financial management. They challenge themselves to imagine how to use the same content at least three times. They give examples of upcycling and how you can take something like a newsletter and turn it into an annual report. By th...
Less is More
May 10, 2023 04:00 - 18 minutes - 12.9 MBHow can you take away information to get more done? How might less help you better move others to action? In this episode, Nancy and Sarah take recent research on "less is more" and apply it to nonprofit communications and finance. That's all you need to know to take a listen. Let us know what you think! Enjoyed this episode? Share it with a friend. Want to request a topic? Email us at [email protected]. You can also follow us on these social media channels: Facebook: www.faceb...
Family Foundations: Ask Us This
May 01, 2023 04:00 - 26 minutes - 18.3 MBIt is grantwriting time. So many of our nonprofit colleagues are spending a lot of time filling out forms, checking boxes, and trying to figure out how to explain their work within strict character counts. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah make a list of a few questions they wish family foundations-- really any foundation-- would ask us. They share what these questions would reveal-- and what foundations might listen for. You'll finish the episode with new ideas on how to ask and answer ques...
The power of a thank you
April 03, 2023 17:00 - 23 minutes - 16.4 MBThanking someone is a powerful two-way street that invites further connection and collaboration. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah talk about why thanking people matters both in terms of our own personal well-being and our organization's mission. They walk through three kinds of thank yous and why they matter. By the end of the episode, you will have reflected on have-to, want-to, and get-to thank you messages and how you could implement them within your organization. Enjoyed this episod...
Big Picture Thinking
March 16, 2023 13:00 - 16 minutes - 11.3 MBWe’ve been noticing how hard “big picture thinking” can be for nonprofit people who so commonly are too busy getting things done to pause and consider the larger landscape. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah explain what “big picture thinking” is, why it matters, and how your organization can expand how you think about your work. You’ll finish listening with a few strategies to put to work within your organization to change the questions you ask and engage more people in key conversations. E...
Demystifying the Donor Meeting
February 28, 2023 17:00 - 23 minutes - 16 MBDonor meetings can be mysterious and stressful to some. Making an ask for money isn't something we all intuitively know how to do. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah demystify the donor meeting to explain what happens at a typical donor meeting and how you can best prepare. They provide tips on how to think about donor meetings as opportunities to build a relationship with an important member of your community. You'll finish your listening with concrete ideas on how you can strengthen your don...
The Art of Nonprofit Gatherings
February 14, 2023 18:00 - 20 minutes - 14.2 MBNonprofits host a lot of gatherings: board meetings, fundraising events, volunteer trainings, etc. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah explore how to create transformational gatherings, from board meetings to fundraising events. They draw on the wisdom of gathering expert Priya Parker to expand how we think about events and simple steps we can do to make them more meaningful. They consider how to give each event a purpose, ways to create magical spaces that are different from people's everyda...
Nonprofit Sleuthing: Something is wrong, but what?
January 24, 2023 03:00 - 19 minutes - 13.6 MBNancy and Sarah regularly get asked nonprofit questions. Often they are in the form of “This is happening in our nonprofit. Is that normal?” In this episode, Nancy and Sarah talk about common questions and how they would approach them. You will learn strategies to get to the bottom of what your nonprofit’s challenge really might be. Grab your magnifying glass to practice how you might sleuth out what’s at the core of keeping you from meeting your mission. Enjoyed this episode? Share it with...
Habits for a strong new year
January 12, 2023 16:00 - 17 minutes - 12 MBA new year has begun, and for many that means resolutions. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah talk about what mission-supporting habits they are going to focus on as we start a new year. You’ll get some ideas on how you might approach the year to set yourself up for success. Enjoyed this episode? Share it with a friend. Want to request a topic? Email us at [email protected]. You can also follow us on these social media channels: Facebook: www.facebook.com/nonprofitradioshow In...
Becoming a community giving ambassador
December 05, 2022 18:00 - 14 minutes - 9.99 MBMany of us know community giving projects. They are community-wide invitations for people to give to their favorite nonprofits, usually on one day or in one period of time. Our colleagues in Washington State may know GiveBig. In this episode, Sarah tells Nancy about the story of her local community giving project, Give Methow, and how it has created giving ambassadors throughout the community. They talk about some of general lessons any nonprofit leader can learn from Give Methow and why it...
End-of-year fundraising: Four strategies to meet your fundraising goals
November 17, 2022 16:00 - 17 minutes - 11.9 MBIt is mid-November, and you have six weeks to meet your organization's annual fundraising goal. What are your options? In this episode, Nancy and Sarah talk through four end-of-year fundraising strategies for folks who may be falling short on their fundraising goal. As the year's clock counts down, there's still time to be strategic and find ways to invite your donors or potential donors to be a part of the important work you do. Enjoyed this episode? Share it with a friend. Want to reques...
I am busy.
October 26, 2022 15:00 - 15 minutes - 10.7 MBWe are hearing it all the time. We ask someone "How are you?," and their response is "Busy!" We get asked, and our natural response is the same: "I'm so busy." In this episode, Nancy and Sarah talk about why "busy" can work against what we are really trying to achieve. They explore the emotions behind it and alternatives to describe how we are actually doing. Ultimately we are busy doing important things, and we want to invite conversation about that. Enjoyed this episode? Share it with ...
My board members won't.....
October 26, 2022 15:00 - 13 minutes - 9.32 MB"My board members won't...." fill in the blank: attend meetings, raise money, get more deeply involved in the issues we are facing, etc. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah talk about why board members won't and what Executive Directors, board chairs, and others can do about it. They unpack what might be behind the "won't" and how we can change how we exchange board members to turn a "won't" to a "will." Enjoyed this episode? Share it with a friend. Want to request a topic? Email us at nonprof...
What to do about inflation
October 06, 2022 16:00 - 17 minutes - 11.8 MBNonprofits are facing all of the same inflationary pressures as others across our communities. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah talk about how a nonprofit can respond to inflation, particularly related to finance and fundraising. They share some ideas for thinking about salary adjustments, communicating with donors and supporters, and engaging board members in scenario planning. They highlight the importance of true cost accounting and advocacy as ways to expand the amount of money you have ...
Facilitation with Mike Beebe: How to ensure all voices are heard
September 26, 2022 22:00 - 31 minutes - 21.9 MBA few episodes ago, Sarah shared a vision of nonprofit leaders helping each other by facilitating each other's retreats. That invites the question of how to facilitate well. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah invite facilitation expert Mike Beebe to share his wisdom on how to facilitate a meeting or event effectively. Mike talks about what facilitation is, how to do it well, and strategies to engage everyone in the conversation. Mike addresses what is hard about facilitation and some options t...
Who to call when you need help
August 10, 2022 16:00 - 18 minutes - 12.4 MBThere is a world of help available to nonprofits. The question is how to access the kind of help you need when you need it! In this episode, Nancy and Sarah talk through a list of who is available to help nonprofits. They highlight how these types of help might be most useful. Who do you find most helpful? Let us know. Enjoyed this episode? Share it with a friend. Want to request a topic? Email us at [email protected]. You can also follow us on these social media channels: Fac...
Our Good Things List
August 10, 2022 16:00 - 17 minutes - 11.9 MBIt is easy to get caught up in what is not going well these days. In this episode, Sarah tells the story of the board member who went home from a meeting and made a "good things list" to remind each other what is going well. Nancy and Sarah share a few things on their good things list this summer. What is on yours? Enjoyed this episode? Share it with a friend. Want to request a topic? Email us at [email protected]. You can also follow us on these social media channels: Faceboo...
Well-functioning boards: Ideas for board members
June 28, 2022 17:00 - 20 minutes - 13.9 MBHow do we make sure our boards are fully functioning in a joyful, productive way? In this episode, Nancy and Sarah talk about why nonprofits have a board and what boards need to focus on to build a movement for their mission. They talk about what governance means in every day language, and how a board is accountable to their community, their purpose, and the organization. This is the first in a two-part series on boards. Nancy and Sarah will share tips for staff members working with boards i...
Well-functioning boards: Ideas for staff members
June 28, 2022 17:00 - 25 minutes - 17.5 MBHow do we make sure our boards are fully functioning in a joyful, productive way? In this episode, Nancy and Sarah talk to nonprofit staff members about what they can do to support their board as they build a movement for their mission. They talk about three ways staff members can help boards today: time, job roles, and communication. This is the second in a two-part series on boards. Nancy and Sarah shared tips for board members in the previous episode. Make sure you listen to that episo...
Leading in 2022: Sarah has a new job!
June 01, 2022 17:00 - 23 minutes - 16.3 MBNonprofit Radio Show co-host Sarah Brooks has a new job as Executive Director of the Methow Conservancy in Eastern Washington. In this episode, Nancy asks Sarah about leadership transition and building a movement during the turbulence of 2022. Have you recently changed jobs? How would you answer these questions? (Read about the Methow Conservancy's recent work returning land to the Colville Tribe.) Enjoyed this episode? Share it with a friend. Want to request a topic? Email us at nonprof...
Leading in 2022: Sarah has a new job!
June 01, 2022 17:00 - 23 minutes - 16.3 MBNonprofit Radio Show co-host Sarah Brooks has a new job as Executive Director of the Methow Conservancy in Eastern Washington. In this episode, Nancy asks Sarah about leadership transition and building a movement during the turbulence of 2022. Have you recently changed jobs? How would you answer these questions? (Read about the Methow Conservancy's recent work returning land to the Colville Tribe.) Enjoyed this episode? Share it with a friend. Want to request a topic? Email us at nonprof...
The Importance of Formers
May 10, 2022 16:00 - 22 minutes - 15.6 MBPeople who used to work on behalf of your mission are important people in your movement. Former staff members, board members, volunteers and others have played in important role in forming your work. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah talk about "formers," why they matter, and how you can keep them connected to your mission and programs. Enjoyed this episode? Share it with a friend. Want to request a topic? Email us at [email protected]. You can also follow us on these social me...
Become a trustful nonprofit
April 20, 2022 03:00 - 18 minutes - 12.8 MBThere have been a few reports out over the past year that warn us that trust in institutions has decreased, including in nonprofits. One body of research that we will link in the show notes says that only 19% of people highly trust nonprofits. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah talk about what causes people to trust a nonprofit, how you know if people trust your nonprofit, and what you can do to increase trust. Trust us, you'll want to take a listen. Philanthropy New Digest article Independ...
Understand your donors' why
April 07, 2022 15:00 - 22 minutes - 15.6 MBYour donors give for a reason. Do you know what it is? In this episode, Sarah and Nancy explore four common reasons why donors give. They give advice on which of these groups of donors you should spend more of your time with and why. If you don't know why your donors give, listen for some ways that will help you find out. Your mission matters, and money is the fuel for you to deliver that mission. Take 20 minutes to reflect on your fundraising practice so you build your movement for the next...
2022 Series: Staffing our organizations in a time of the great resignation
March 16, 2022 17:00 - 21 minutes - 14.8 MBThe Nonprofit Radio Show continues its three-part 2022 leadership series with a focus on staffing. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah talk about what is important to remember about building your team in 2022. On the table is an honest conversation about whether you need to pay your staff more in our current marketplace of work. If you are in a position of hiring staff, listen for specific advice on small steps you can take to strengthen your team. Our people matter. What will you do to strengt...
2022 Series: The ED (or other senior staff member) Search
March 01, 2022 16:00 - 28 minutes - 19.9 MBThe Nonprofit Radio Show continues its three-part 2022 leadership series with a focus on the ED search. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah reflect on the "great resignation" and offer thoughts on how a nonprofit might approach recruiting and hiring an Executive Director or senior staff member during these tight staffing times. They reframe the job description, as well as the questions that a search committee might ask. Ultimately, Nancy and Sarah offer insights into how to engage in a search ...
2022 Series: Strategic Planning
February 15, 2022 00:00 - 21 minutes - 14.7 MBThe Nonprofit Radio Show is kicking off 2022 episodes with a series on three inter-related topics on the minds of nonprofit leaders: strategic planning, succession planning, and staffing. This is the first episode in the series. So many organizations want to launch a new strategic planning effort after two years of "being on hold" through the pandemic. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah talk about what strategic planning looks like in 2022 and how an organization can implement a planning proc...
Refreshing the board matrix to build a diverse board
February 02, 2022 17:00 - 17 minutes - 12 MBThe board matrix is a tool that many boards use to be intentional about the diversity of members needed to best achieve their mission. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah reflect on the purpose of a board matrix and how we can update this tool to better capture a fuller diversity of the humans tasked with moving forward our mission and movement. The complex topics in front of us require a range of perspectives, experiences, knowledges, and approaches. And the work doesn't stop at recruitment. W...
Breaking the rules
January 09, 2022 21:00 - 18 minutes - 12.7 MBThere are a lot of rules that guide nonprofit practice. We name three in this episode: Robert's Rules of Order, overhead rules, and best practice rules that we hear at trainings or in conversations with others. Where did these rules come from, and why do they matter? In this episode, Nancy and Sarah talk about what kinds of rules we face as nonprofit leaders and what rules we can break--should break!-- as we build strategy and intention around our programs and practice. Enjoyed this episod...
It's time to tidy up your nonprofit
December 21, 2021 14:00 - 18 minutes - 12.7 MBHave you gotten caught up in Marie Kondo and the KonMari method of organizing your closet? Our sheets are rolled and shirts stacked, and so now it is time to KonMari our nonprofits. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah talk about why it is a good time to pull everything out of your metaphorical nonprofit closet to be intentional about what you load back in for 2022. Enjoyed this episode? Share it with a friend. Want to request a topic? Email us at [email protected]. You can also fol...
What and how. The difference matters.
December 05, 2021 21:00 - 21 minutes - 14.7 MBWhen we communicate about our programs, we often get tangled in what we are doing and how we are doing it. The difference between what and how matters across many elements of running a successful nonprofit. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah talk about what and how, what the difference is, and how you can apply the difference to how you communicate, engage your board, and plan your strategy. Enjoyed this episode? Share it with a friend. Want to request a topic? Email us at nonprofitradioshow@...
What and how. The difference matters.
December 05, 2021 21:00 - 21 minutes - 14.7 MBWhen we communicate about our programs, we often get tangled in what we are doing and how we are doing it. The difference between what and how matters across many elements of running a successful nonprofit. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah talk about what and how, what the difference is, and how you can apply the difference to how you communicate, engage your board, and plan your strategy. Enjoyed this episode? Share it with a friend. Want to request a topic? Email us at nonprofitradioshow@...
Program evaluation (with Chari Smith)
November 20, 2021 01:00 - 33 minutes - 22.8 MBAt the end of the day, we want to make sure we are running good programs that make a difference. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah talk with evaluation expert Chari Smith to learn some simple strategies for tracking the right data to both show our impact and learn from our work. Chari Smith is author of “Nonprofit Program Evaluation Made Simple.” Question to reflect on before you listen: What data do you track now that shows you are making a difference? Enjoyed this episode? Share it with...
Here we go again... ideas for dealing with burnout
October 19, 2021 16:00 - 18 minutes - 13.1 MBWe are tired, and we know others are too. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah talk about what so many people are feeling in our nonprofit sector: burnout. They share some ideas for getting to the other side of this feeling of exhaustion and disconnection. Question to reflect on before you listen: How are you feeling? Enjoyed this episode? Share it with a friend. Want to request a topic? Email us at [email protected]. You can also follow us on these social media channels: Facebo...