Small Nonprofit: Fundraising Tips, Leadership Strategies, and Community-Centric Solutions

Send us Fan Mail

Does your nonprofit seem to be just scraping by even though everyone is working harder than ever?  It's not just your organization. The nonprofit sector is in crisis, facing issues like shrinking revenue, chronic underfunding, staffing struggles, and increasing demands from the community. 

Join Maria Rio and Nicole Gagliardi, a nonprofit governance consultant with nearly 20 years of experience, as they discuss the challenges and opportunities within nonprofit governance today. 

Nicole shares her insights into how nonprofit leadership structures can hinder or help, trends impacting the sector, and how nonprofits can move towards innovative, community-centric governance. 

This episode explores bold leadership strategies, addressing board challenges, and building capacity for long-term impact.

Nonprofit Governance Challenges & Solutions — The Highlights:

• How nonprofit governance structures impact bold leadership.
• Addressing the common struggles of nonprofit boards and staff.
• Trends threatening the nonprofit sector and solutions to adapt.
• Practical steps for nonprofit organizations to innovate governance models.
• Why collaborative networks and resource sharing are key for the sector.

🎧 Listen to more episodes for actionable fundraising tips and insights on nonprofit leadership, nonprofit governance, donor engagement, productivity & tools, and nonprofit storytelling strategies!

About Nicole Gagliardi:

Nicole helps nonprofit leaders build stronger governance structures, develop effective impact strategies, and enhance organizational capacity. Her goal is to empower organizations to advance their core purpose, successfully and sustainably, even in challenging times. With over 18 years of experience working in and alongside nonprofits, Nicole offers a sober view of the sector's challenges and provides actionable insights on how organizations can start adapting. 

Links and Resources:  

• Connect with Nicole Gagliardi  on Linkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolegagliardi1/
• Connect with Maria on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mariario/
• Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/208666/supporters/new
• Watch this episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/ujVXfd7qfmM 

If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure.

Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. 

Check out the What The Fundraising podcast here.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Does your nonprofit talk a good game about diversity and inclusion, but the action never seems to follow? Maybe you've been part of mandatory trainings that left you asking, "Okay, but now what??" 

Join Maria Rio and Jade Pichette, Director of Programs at Pride at Work Canada, as they explore how organizations can implement effective DEI strategies to foster inclusive workplace cultures. With years of experience in nonprofit leadership, Jade shares actionable insights on how to support marginalized communities, repair harm, and create spaces where all employees can thrive.

This episode dives deep into the challenges and opportunities for nonprofits to lead with inclusion and equity.

Creating Inclusive Workplaces: DEI Strategies for Small Nonprofits — The Highlights:

• How small nonprofits can implement DEI strategies effectively.
• The importance of inclusive culture and leadership in nonprofits.
• Practical examples of inclusive practices like leadership chats and accessibility planning.
• How organizations can repair harm and prioritize equity.
• The role of inclusion councils and action plans in fostering cultural change.

🎧 Listen to more episodes for actionable fundraising tips and insights on nonprofit leadership, nonprofit governance, donor engagement, productivity & tools, and nonprofit storytelling strategies!

About Jade Pichette:

Jade (they/them) is an inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA!) professional based in Tkarón:to/Toronto. Currently, Jade serves as the Director of Programs at Pride at Work Canada, where they work with over 250 large employers across Canada around gender expression, gender identity, and sexual orientation inclusion. Previously, Jade served as the Volunteer and Community Outreach Coordinator at the ArQuives, the Education Programs Coordinator at Kind Space, and an independent inclusion consultant. 

Links and Resources:  

• Connect with Jade Pichette on Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/jadepichette and Website: jadepichette.com
• Learn more about Pride at Work Canada: https://prideatwork.ca/ 
• Connect with Maria on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mariario/
• Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/208666/supporters/new
• Watch this episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/Byz5mGyk0LY 

If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure.

Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. 

Check out the What The Fundraising podcast here.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Feel like you're constantly chasing, juggling, and maybe even losing ground? Join Maria Rio and communication expert Maryanne Dersch, founder of Courageous Communication, as they discuss how nonprofits can master the art of influence, release fear, and embrace bold communication strategies. 

Maryanne shares how organizations can stand in their values, build meaningful relationships, and confidently handle criticism while fostering genuine connections. This episode is packed with actionable insights on how nonprofits can effectively communicate, lead, and make an impact without compromising their authenticity.

Balancing Confidence And Doubt in Nonprofit Leadership — The Highlights:

• How to release fear and embrace bold communication strategies.
• Why criticism and doubt are essential for the growth of your nonprofit.
• The power of standing in your values and letting go of outcomes.
• Practical tips for influencing donors and board members.
• How to foster authentic connections through listening and empowered choice.

🎧 Listen to more episodes for actionable fundraising tips and insights on nonprofit leadership, nonprofit governance, donor engagement, productivity & tools, and nonprofit storytelling strategies!

About Maryanne Dersch:

Maryanne specializes in helping nonprofit organizations easily increase their influence and connect with new donors so they can raise more money without feeling rejected, ineffective or pushy. She has spent almost 30 years working in the nonprofit world helping organizations communicate more effectively internally and externally. From those experiences she authored "Courageous Communication: Why codependence is making your nonprofit brand boring and what to do about it."

Resources & Links:

• Don’t forget to become a supporter of our show!
• Watch this episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/1-_aVugy33Y  

If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure.

Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. 

Check out the What The Fundraising podcast here.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

What if everyone in you nonprofit was a fundraiser? Join Maria Rio as she chats with Tammy Ebuen, Senior Director of Development at Visions of Science, about creating a shared fundraising culture and engaging program staff in fundraising campaigns. Tammy shares her personal journey from HR admin to fundraising leadership and discusses the impact of authentic representation -- highlighting how inclusive work environments lead to more successful fundraising.

This episode dives into the power of psychological safety, community-based leadership, and fostering a shared fundraising culture across teams.

Building Inclusive Cultures for Fundraising Success — The Highlights:

• The importance of psychological safety and authentic representation in nonprofits.
• How inclusive cultures empower fundraisers and enhance donor engagement.
• Tammy’s unique career journey and how it shaped her fundraising philosophy.
• Practical tips on creating a shared fundraising culture and engaging program staff.
• How fostering belonging translates to staff retention and 700K growth.

🎧 Listen to more episodes for actionable fundraising tips and insights on nonprofit leadership, nonprofit governance, donor engagement, productivity & tools, and nonprofit storytelling strategies!

About Tammy Ebuen:

Tammy is a savvy, outcomes-focused fundraising generalist with over a decade of professional nonprofit leadership experience. She brings a background in fundraising, human resources, health, education, gender, and social justice within both community-based and international development organizations. 

Links and Resources:

• Don’t forget to become a supporter of our show!
• Watch this episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/g0SOACjg-lQ 

If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure.

Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. 

Check out the What The Fundraising podcast here.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Think you know how donors behave? Think again! Join Maria and Tim Sarrantonio, Director of Corporate Brand at Neon One, as they explore the realities (and myths) of monthly giving and donor retention. They talk about the psychology behind giving and Tim shares insights from a five-year analysis of donor data, revealing that recurring donors give nearly $1,000 annually -- with 50% contributing additional gifts.

Learn how to design a recurring giving program that builds strong donor relationships and enhances your nonprofit’s sustainability.

Monthly Giving Insights – The Highlights:

• Key findings from Neon One’s five-year donor analysis.
• 50% of recurring donors contribute additional gifts annually.
• How to design impactful monthly giving programs for small nonprofits.
• The role of ethical AI in donor engagement.
• Why prioritizing people over money strengthens donor communities.

🎧 Listen to more episodes for actionable fundraising tips and insights on nonprofit leadership, nonprofit governance, donor engagement, productivity & tools, and nonprofit storytelling strategies!

About Tim Sarrantonio:

Tim Sarrantonio is a Nonprofit Ecosystems Theorist studying the intersection of technology, human behavior, and organizational structures in modern giving. As chair of the Fundraising Effectiveness Project and through his work at Neon One, he has helped shape how thousands of nonprofits approach their mission. A speaker at AFPICON, NTC, and TEDx, Tim holds a Certificate in Philanthropic Psychology from the Institute for Sustainable Philanthropy. He lives in Niskayuna with his wife and three daughters, finding inspiration in the Adirondacks.

Links and Resources:  

• Email Report's digital reader: https://neonone.com/resources/nonprofit-email-report/report-reader/?section=1-1
• Recurring Giving Report: https://neonone.com/resources/recurring-giving-report/?ref=mainNav 
• Connect with Tim on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timsarrantonio/ 
• Website: https://neonone.com/ 
• Connect with Maria on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mariario/
• Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/208666/supporters/new
• Watch this episode on Youtube:https://youtu.be/RidjdI1A-NM 

If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure.

Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. 

Check out the What The Fundraising podcast here.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Why are fundraisers of color leaving the sector? Join Maria and Marissa as they explore the vital role of mentorship in supporting fundraisers of color in the nonprofit sector. Marissa, a California-based mentor and facilitator, shares her experience running a cohort for BIPOC fundraisers and leaders. She is uniquely positioned to provide key insights on the state of the sector, its treatment of racialized leaders, and the exodus of fundraisers.

Racialized leaders do not have the same access to wealth, connections, or power as white leaders. However, like all EDs, they feel the entire mission's weight resting solely on their shoulders. We'll unpack how this impacts the sector, and most importantly, what we can do about it.

Nonprofit Mentorship: Supporting Fundraisers of Color – The Highlights:

• The "Black Excellence" trap.
• The importance of mentorship in empowering fundraisers of color.
• Key challenges faced by racialized fundraisers, including tone policing and career barriers.
• Unpacking trauma and tending to ourselves.
• How creating safe spaces for sharing stories can support nonprofit professionals.
• The impact of systemic racism in fundraising and nonprofit leadership.
• Practical advice for finding and being a mentor in the nonprofit sector.

🎧 Listen to more episodes for actionable fundraising tips and insights on nonprofit leadership, nonprofit governance, donor engagement, productivity & tools, and nonprofit storytelling strategies!

About Marisa DeSalles:

Marisa is a faculty member with Impact Foundry, assisting as a Certified Sustainable coach, presenting a monthly series of educational workshops and is the featured speaker, Emcee and host for the Impact Foundry’s 5th annual What IF conference. She also serves on the global transition team for Community-Centric Fundraising, a burgeoning movement of nonprofit fundraising professionals working to improve fundraising through a lens of equity. She volunteers her time with Sacramento Community Land Trust, a cohort of Big Day of Giving mentees and dozens of other organizations, mentoring young and newly emerging fundraisers.

Links and Resources:  

• “12 Years a Fly in the Milk”: https://communitycentricfundraising.org/2020/07/11/12-years-a-fly-in-the-milk/
• Collecting Courage: https://www.collectingcourage.org/
• Dean Article - https://archive.is/lYjUU
• Giving Black Conference - https://www.givingblack.ca/copy-of-giving-black-conference-2023
• Connect with Marissa DeSalles on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marisa-desalles/
• Learn more about Good Tilth Consulting: https://www.goodtilthconsulting.com/
• Connect with Maria on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mariario/
• Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/208666/supporters/new
• Watch this episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/Nw4LPpPOtS4 

If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure.

Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. 

Check out the What The Fundraising podcast here.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Tired of the same old fundraising that doesn't reflect your community? Join Maria and Madeline Taylor as they dive into the unique fundraising efforts at Out On Screen, a queer-focused nonprofit in Vancouver, BC. Madeline shares their approach to Community-Centric Fundraising, showcasing queer stories in the Vancouver Queer Film Festival, and using live events to build stronger community relationships.

Learn about the challenges and rewards of fundraising authentically in a diverse, intersectional community. Get inspired by their innovative methods, including inclusive programming and building deep connections with donors.

Community-Centric Fundraising – The Highlights:

• The impact of authentic, community-centered fundraising on donor relationships.
• How Out On Screen represents diverse queer experiences in their programming.
• Examples of inclusive fundraising strategies, including access pricing and community partnerships.
• How to build connections with donors through shared values and transparency.
• Tips on using live events and interactive fundraising campaigns to engage supporters.

🎧 Listen to more episodes for actionable fundraising tips and insights on nonprofit leadership, nonprofit governance, donor engagement, productivity & tools, and nonprofit storytelling strategies!

About Madeline Taylor:

Madeline is an experienced community builder, programming manager, and communicator with a passion for storytelling, leadership, and new media. Skilled in fundraising campaigns, donor stewardship, event planning, management, project coordination, interviewing, teaching, program development and radio production.

Don’t forget to become a supporter of our show!

If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure.

Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. 

Check out the What The Fundraising podcast here.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Ready to rethink nonprofit leadership and accountability? Scandals, harmful practices, and image-obsessed leaders plague our sector, but it doesn't have to be this way. Join host Maria Rio and Liz LeClair -- an intersectional feminist, fundraiser, and advocate -- as they discuss accountability, equity, and systemic challenges in the nonprofit sector. Liz shares insights into the sector’s struggle with groupthink, tokenism, and performative allyship while highlighting the importance of meaningful leadership practices. 

This episode might leave you uncomfortable – and that's the point. But it will also provide actionable steps nonprofits can take to prioritize diversity, inclusion, and transparency in their governance and operations.

The Nonprofit Sector’s Struggle with Groupthink, Tokenism, and Performative Allyship  – The Highlights:

• The importance of listening to marginalized voices in the nonprofit sector.
• How groupthink and lack of accountability harm nonprofit organizations.
• Tackling systemic racism and tokenism in board governance.
• Practical steps to integrate equity and inclusion into your organization's culture.
• Why accountability starts with leadership.

🎧 Listen to more episodes for actionable fundraising tips and insights on nonprofit leadership, nonprofit governance, donor engagement, productivity & tools, and nonprofit storytelling strategies!

About Liz LeClair:

Liz LeClair brings 20 years of experience to her role as a co-founder and partner of Sargasso Philanthropic CIC. She's a long-standing member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and the past chair of the AFP Women's Impact Initiative (WII), a board member of the African American Development Officer Network (AADO), and a former member on the board of Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) International. In 2019, Liz published an op-ed with CBC on rampant issue of sexual harassment in the non-profit sector, putting a face to the issue. In the fall of 2019 she helped co-found the National Day of Conversation to highlight the issue of sexualized violence in fundraising. Liz is committed to speaking up about the challenges facing women and marginalized individuals in the non-profit sector.

Links and Resources:  

• Website: https://www.sargassophilanthropic.ca/ 
• Connect with Liz on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-leclair/ 
• Connect with Maria on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mariario/
• Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/208666/supporters/new
• Watch this episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/eVCH1_lgviQ 

If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure.

Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. 

Check out the What The Fundraising podcast here.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

What if you could turn your biggest supporters into top-performing fundraisers? Discover the untapped power of peer-to-peer fundraising with Tess Conrad, founder of Full Potential Fundraising. Tess breaks down how nonprofits, big and small, can engage their supporters to become ambassadors for their cause. From setting realistic goals to crafting effective toolkits and engaging donors, Tess shares actionable insights to help your organization leverage peer-to-peer campaigns for maximum impact.

Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Simplified  – The Highlights:

• How to get started with peer-to-peer fundraising, even if you're a small nonprofit.
• Tips for setting achievable goals and recruiting fundraisers.
• The importance of donor stewardship and retention in peer-to-peer campaigns.
• Creative ideas for unique fundraising events and challenges.
• How to identify your top supporters and turn them into fundraisers.

🎧 Listen to more episodes for actionable fundraising tips and insights on nonprofit leadership, nonprofit governance, donor engagement, productivity & tools, and nonprofit storytelling strategies!

About Tess Conrad:

Tess founded Full Potential Fundraising to help charities build a foundation of effective fundraising that drives results - without compromising their values. Too often in her career in the non-profit sector she witnessed charities waste time on ineffective fundraising strategies. The sector's siloed departments, lack of systems, and high-effort-low-results-fundraising keep amazing organizations from reaching their potential and Tess is on a mission to change that.

Links and Resources:  

• Connect with Tess on Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/tess-conrad-cfre
• Learn more about Full Potential Fundraising: https://www.fullpotentialfundraising.com/ 
• Connect with Maria on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mariario/
• Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/208666/supporters/new
• Watch this episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/GURy-BbU7ig 

If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure.

Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. 

Check out the What The Fundraising podcast here.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Why do "big nonprofits" use those emotional, tear-jerking stories? Well, today, we are sharing a much better (and more ethical) way to inspire donors. Discover how ethical storytelling can transform your nonprofit's marketing strategy and deepen donor relationships. Diana Farias Heinrich, a marketing and communications expert, shares her insights into putting service users’ voices first while creating powerful, transformative stories. Learn about informed consent, bridging the gap between program staff and fundraisers, and the dos and don'ts of nonprofit storytelling.

Why Ethical Storytelling Will Transform Your Nonprofit Marketing Strategy – The Highlights:

• The importance of informed consent and agency in nonprofit storytelling.
• Bridging power dynamics between nonprofits and service users.
• How ethical storytelling enhances donor retention and engagement.
• Practical steps for creating human-centered narratives.
• The role of program and development staff in ethical storytelling.

🎧 Listen to more episodes for actionable fundraising tips and insights on nonprofit leadership, donor engagement, productivity & tools, and nonprofit storytelling strategies!

About Diana Heinrich:

Diana is the CEO of Habrá Marketing. She's passionate about helping nonprofits share their work in ways that empower both clients and donors. With certifications in DEI and as an Advocate for Survivors of Domestic Violence, she brings essential expertise to our sector. We talk about the long-term harm of those guilt-driven appeals, how to build trust with clients, and the transformative power of letting people share their stories on their own terms.

Links and Resources:  

• Connect with Diana on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianafariasheinrich/
• Cultivating ethical narratives workshop: https://witty-musician-3516.ck.page/products/cultivating-ethical-narratives
• Your Guide to Informed Consent Conversations: https://informedconsentconversation.habramarketing.com/
• Learn more about Habra Marketing: https://habramarketing.com/
• Connect with Maria on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mariario/
• 10 Dignified questions guide:  https://www.gofurthertogether.ca/sign-up
• Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/208666/supporters/new
• Watch this episode on Youtube:  https://youtu.be/RKLqPgUfzgE 

If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure.

Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. 

Check out the What The Fundraising podcast here.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Are you torn between supporting your team's work-life balance and striving to hit those all-important milestones? Balancing parental leave and nonprofit work is no small feat, but Lacey Kempinski, founder and CEO of Balanced Good, is leading the charge in creating supportive workplace practices. In this episode, Maria and Lacey discuss the challenges faced by working parents in the nonprofit sector and actionable steps organizations can take to better support employees, retain talent, and decrease turnover. Lacey shares her journey as a working parent, insights on parental leave policies, and the importance of leading human-first in nonprofits.

Supporting Parental Leave in Nonprofits - The Highlights:

• How nonprofits can support working parents and retain talent.
• The importance of parental leave policies and workplace flexibility.
• Strategies for creating a supportive and inclusive work environment.
• Practical recommendations for balancing employee needs and organizational goals.
• Why treating employees holistically leads to better retention and engagement.

🎧 Listen to more episodes for actionable insights on nonprofit leadership, ethical fundraising, and employee engagement strategies!

About Lacey Kempinski:

Lacey Kempinski is the CEO and Founder of Balanced Good. Balanced Good provides parental leave coverage – from the day-to-day hands-on work to big picture transition planning. Balanced Good believes that a supported transition to parenthood will benefit both our sector and the parents working in it. Lacey has a big vision, she wants parental leave to become a celebrated life milestone, not a feared employment gap.

Links and Resources:  

• Connect with Lacey Kempinski on Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/laceykempinski 
• Learn more about Balanced Good: balancedgood.com
• Balanced Good LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/balanced-good/ 
• Mat Leave Workbook: https://icy-base-20781.myflodesk.com/1986644d-75ba-476f-a37f-788cd7e5d48d
• VIP Day Waitlist: https://icy-base-20781.myflodesk.com/vipwaitlist
• Connect with Maria on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mariario/
• Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/208666/supporters/new
• Watch this episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/tNxjzz1q6Fo 

If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure.

Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. 

Check out the What The Fundraising podcast here.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Wanna get your voice heard at city council meetings? Join Maria Rio and Alison Stewart, Director of Advocacy and Public Policy at Cycle Toronto, as they explore the intersection of advocacy, public policy, and collaboration to create safer streets in Toronto. In this episode, Alison shares how small nonprofits can effectively engage with government officials, advocate for policy changes, and build alliances to achieve shared goals. Learn actionable strategies to influence public policy and create healthier, more equitable communities.

Engaging with Government Officials - The Highlights:

• Insights on building relationships with government officials to influence public policy.
• Key steps for small nonprofits to engage in advocacy and public policy.
• How collaboration with community organizations amplifies impact.
• Lessons from creating safer streets through protected bike lanes and complete streets.
• Tips for navigating municipal processes and engaging supporters to depute.

🎵 Listen to more episodes for actionable fundraising tips and insights on nonprofit leadership, nonprofit governance, donor engagement, productivity & tools, and nonprofit storytelling strategies!

About Alison Stewart:

Alison's passion for biking paired with her desire to make Toronto a vibrant cycling city led her to take on several volunteer roles since 2013. Her background includes senior leadership roles in the post secondary sector which saw her develop strategic plans that focused on supporting the diverse needs of international and domestic students while securing funding and developing government and community partnerships. 

Links and Resources: 

• Alison Stewart (LinkedIn): linkedin.com/in/alisonvstewart
• Alison Stewart (Twitter): https://twitter.com/AlisonVStewart 
• Alison Stewart (Email): Alison.Stewart@CycleTO.ca
• Cycle Toronto (Website): https://www.cycleto.ca/ 
• Connect with Maria on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mariario/
• Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/208666/supporters/new
• Watch this episode on Youtube:  https://youtu.be/NBZsYb21eUs

If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure.

Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. 

Check out the What The Fundraising podcast here.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Are you feeling burned out? In this deeply insightful episode, Mike Prosserman, founder of Unity Charity and CEO of EPIC Leadership, shares his journey of starting and growing a nonprofit organization.

From humble beginnings as a high school project to becoming a national charity, Mike opens up about the challenges, lessons, and personal tolls of nonprofit leadership. He dives into his decision to leave Unity Charity, reflecting on the importance of founder transitions, avoiding burnout, and fostering sustainable organizational growth. Mike also provides actionable advice for nonprofit leaders on setting boundaries, supporting staff, and creating a healthier nonprofit culture.

Preventing Nonprofit Burnout - the highlights:

• The story of founding Unity Charity and building it from a high school project.
• Navigating the transition from founder to a sustainable leadership model.
• Insights into preventing nonprofit burnout and creating boundaries as an ED.
• The importance of empowering staff and alumni for nonprofit sustainability.
• Strategies for tackling challenges and transitions in nonprofit leadership.

🎧 Listen to more episodes for actionable fundraising tips and insights on nonprofit leadership, nonprofit governance, donor engagement, productivity & tools, and nonprofit storytelling strategies!

About Mike Prosserman:

Mike ‘Piecez’ Prosserman is a bestselling author, professional B-Boy (breakdancer), university instructor, and certified coach who specializes in scaling non-profits, team culture, and succession. In Michael’s book Building Unity: Leading a Non-Profit From Spark to Succession, he shares practical tools to building resilient and responsive organizations.

Links and Resources:  

• Mike Prosserman (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/bboypiecez/
• Mike Prosserman (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelprosserman/
• EPIC Leadership: https://www.epicleadership.ca/ 
• Unity Charity: https://www.unitycharity.com/ 
• Connect with Maria on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mariario/
• Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/208666/supporters/new
• Watch this episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/cgxK1coghmU 

If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure.

Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. 

Check out the What The Fundraising podcast here.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Tired of pouring your time and effort onto social media and NOT hit your fundraising goals? In this episode, Sara Hoosholey, fundraising consultant and founder of Charity Shift, joins host Maria Rio and shares innovative strategies for small nonprofits to collect emails, engage audiences, and boost donations.

Sara explains how nonprofits can use digital strategies to build trust, retain donors, and grow their impact. Learn how to create values-aligned campaigns, collect email leads effectively, and nurture long-term donor relationships.

Email Strategies for Nonprofits – The Highlights:

• Why email is the most effective communication channel for nonprofit donors.
• How to grow your nonprofit's email list: Proven email collection strategies for nonprofits.
• How values-aligned campaigns build trust and create long-term donor relationships.
• Steps to nurture new email subscribers with a targeted welcome series.
• The role of reciprocity in donor retention and engagement.

🎧 Listen to more episodes for actionable fundraising tips and insights on nonprofit leadership, nonprofit governance, donor engagement, productivity & tools, and nonprofit storytelling strategies!

About Sara Hoshooley:

Our guest, Sara Hoshooley is a fundraising consultant and coach with a passion for small nonprofit organizations. As a former small charity Executive Director, she understands the challenges and opportunities facing small but growing nonprofits. Her unique approach uses each organization's strengths to grow fundraising in an authentic and achievable way. 

Links and Resources:  

• Connect with Sara on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/Sarahoshooley/
• Sara’s Website: https://www.charityshift.ca/
• Email: Sara@charityshift
• Connect with Maria on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mariario/
• Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/208666/supporters/new
• Watch this episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/W1PAtQ2x7dI 

If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure.

Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. 

Check out the What The Fundraising podcast here.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Are the challenges in your nonprofit growing pains or signs of deeper issues? This episode can make your nonprofit more effective, scalable, and fundable, so listen up!

Join host Maria Rio and operational expert Miriam Dicks from 180 Management Group as they share how nonprofits can strengthen their operations, foster accountability, and streamline efficiency. Miriam highlights common issues within nonprofit operations, from lack of accountability to the challenges of change management.

Discover practical solutions to build a healthy organizational culture, optimize operations, and leverage automation to maximize impact. From preventing high staff turnover to creating a culture of accountability, this episode is packed with actionable advice for nonprofit leaders looking to enhance their organizations.

Nonprofit Capacity Building – The Highlights:

• Why accountability at all levels is critical to organizational success.
• How poor accountability structures lead to nonprofit staff turnover and burnout.
• The importance of change management to implement and sustain operational improvements.
• Leveraging automation and outsourcing to boost efficiency in small nonprofits.
• Creating systems that boost capacity + promote alignment between strategy and daily operations (without expanding your team)!

🎵 Listen to more episodes for actionable fundraising tips and insights on nonprofit leadership, nonprofit governance, donor engagement, productivity & tools, and nonprofit storytelling strategies!

About Miriam Dicks:

Miriam has over two decades of operational management and consulting experience. She brings her insights to the operational challenges facing our sector. From the perils of toxic workplace cultures to the smart outsourcing of HR functions, Miriam opens up about what truly can move the needle for small nonprofits.

Links and Resources:  

• Connect with Miriam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miriampdicks 
• Website: https://www.180managementgroup.com/  
• Connect with Maria on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mariario/
• Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/208666/supporters/new

If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure.

Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. 

Check out the What The Fundraising podcast here.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Is your major gifts fundraising strategy aligned with your core values? In this insightful conversation, host Maria Rio is joined by Sarah Staiger. Together, they explore the intimidating (but rewarding!) world of major gifts and the transformative power of community-centric fundraising (CCF) while also discussing actionable strategies for small nonprofits to align their values with their fundraising practices.

Major Gifts & Community-Centric Fundraising - the highlights:

• What is Community-Centric Fundraising (CCF)? Sarah explains how CCF prioritizes values, community accountability, and systemic change over traditional donor-centric models.
• Values-Based Major Gifts Strategy: Learn how to incorporate values-based qualifiers into your donor portfolios, making donor engagement more aligned with your mission and community.
• Engaging Your Board in CCF Practices: Sarah shares practical tips for training predominantly white boards to adopt CCF principles and foster long-term cultural change within nonprofits.
• The Role of Transparency in Fundraising: How being honest about deficits, challenges, and community needs can deepen trust and partnership with donors.
• Centering Community in Annual Reports: Sarah introduces the innovative concept of creating "Community Reports" rather than traditional donor-centric annual reports.
• Navigating Donor Values Misalignment: Sarah and Maria discuss how addressing misaligned values with donors early can lead to stronger, more sustainable relationships.

Throughout the episode, Sarah and Maria also reflect on the impact of the Community-Centric Fundraising movement and offer practical examples of how fundraisers can adopt these principles to increase donor trust, engagement, and overall impact.

🎧 Listen to more episodes for actionable fundraising tips and insights on nonprofit leadership, nonprofit governance, donor engagement, productivity & tools, and nonprofit storytelling strategies!

About Sarah Staiger:

Sarah Staiger is a fundraiser with over 20 years of experience. Sarah is passionate about building power through organized people and organized money. She is a partner at Staiger Vitelli Associates and has been exploring Community-Centric Fundraising methodologies since 2017. 

Links and Resources:  

• Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/staigervitelli/ 
• Sarah’s Values-Based Donor Qualification: https://www.staigervitelli.com/vbdq
• Connect with Maria on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mariario/
• Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/208666/supporters/new
• Watch this episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/VhzvjcgPQcI

If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure.

Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. 

Check out the What The Fundraising podcast here.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Does face-to-face fundraising feel out of reach for your small nonprofit?  In this episode of The Small Nonprofit, Maria Rio sits down with Jerome Cheung, fundraising expert and Strategic Communications leader at Stratcom Canada, to dive deep into the world of face-to-face fundraising. Jerome reflects on his extensive career in nonprofit fundraising, international development, and grassroots initiatives. Together, they explore the evolution of face-to-face fundraising and its impact on nonprofit organizations.

Jerome shares his experiences with Greenpeace, Ecojustice, and Public Outreach, offering insights into how professionalized face-to-face campaigns have shaped the nonprofit sector. From the challenges of canvassing in harsh conditions to the importance of genuine connections with donors, this episode is packed with actionable advice for nonprofits looking to optimize their fundraising strategies.

Face-to-Face Fundraising - the highlights:

• The origins of face-to-face fundraising and how Greenpeace played a pivotal role in professionalizing it.
• Why face-to-face fundraising remains a valuable donor acquisition method for nonprofits of all sizes.
• The difference between grassroots volunteer canvassing and professionalized agency-led campaigns.
• How smaller organizations can leverage volunteer canvassing to build lists and engage their communities.
• Strategies for creating a seamless donor journey, from initial contact to long-term support.
• The importance of tailoring canvassing strategies to local contexts and reducing barriers for volunteers.
• Tips for smaller organizations to implement face-to-face fundraising without high upfront costs.
• Jerome’s personal experiences managing large-scale fundraising initiatives globally and his advice for nonprofits navigating similar efforts.

🎧 Listen to more episodes for actionable fundraising tips and insights on nonprofit leadership, nonprofit governance, donor engagement, productivity & tools, and nonprofit storytelling strategies!

About Jerome Cheung:

Jerome Cheung is a seasoned fundraiser whose 18-year career has spanned across high-profile charities and agencies. His expertise in monthly giving, telefundraising, face-to-face engagement, and other fundraising avenues has made him a distinguished professional in our field.

Links and Resources:  

• Connect with Jerome on LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/jerome-cheung-a0819912
• Email: jerome.cheung@stratcom.ca
• Connect with Maria on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mariario/
• Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/208666/supporters/new
• Watch this episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/lDuNNHprP9I

If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure.

Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. 

Check out the What The Fundraising podcast here.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Is your small nonprofit is getting the attention it deserves from key decision-makers? In this episode of The Small Nonprofit, host Maria Rio welcomes government relations expert Tristan Dewdny to explore how nonprofits can engage effectively with government to drive systemic change.

Tristan, a seasoned lobbyist and founder of his own GR consultancy, shares insights into the practicalities of lobbying, the importance of advocacy, and how nonprofits can build impactful relationships with policymakers.

Whether you're new to government relations or looking to refine your strategy, this episode is packed with actionable advice for nonprofits seeking to advance their missions by influencing policy, accessing funding, and amplifying their impact.

Leveraging Government Relations for Nonprofits - the highlights:

• What nonprofits need to know about lobbying and advocacy in Canada.
• The unique power of government officials to amplify nonprofit causes and connect organizations with key opportunities.
• Why building relationships with policymakers is vital for advancing systemic solutions.
• Key strategies for nonprofits to develop an effective advocacy and lobbying plan.
• How to structure an ask and engage politicians with clear goals and impactful messaging.
• Insights into the registration process for lobbying activities and compliance with Canadian rules.
• Real-world examples of successful nonprofit advocacy and grassroots campaigns.
• Tips for nonprofits starting their government relations journey.

🎧 Listen to more episodes for actionable fundraising tips and insights on nonprofit leadership, nonprofit governance, donor engagement, productivity & tools, and nonprofit storytelling strategies!

About Tristan Dewdney:

Tristan is a seasoned government expert with over 15 years in policy and advocacy. His expertise spans both community-level and systemic advocacy strategies, making him the perfect guide for small nonprofits looking to make a significant impact through government engagement.

Links and Resources:  

• Connect with Tristan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tristan-downe-dewdney-21523b28/
• Tristan’s Website: www.downedewdney.com
• Connect with Maria on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mariario/
• Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/208666/supporters/new

If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure.

Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. 

Check out the What The Fundraising podcast here.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Are you missing the mark when it comes to fundraising online? In this episode of The Small Nonprofit, host Maria Rio dives into the dynamic world of digital fundraising and ethical storytelling with Fai Hassan, Associate Director of Digital Fundraising at Public Outreach. From leveraging social media platforms to amplify fundraising efforts to rethinking how nonprofits tell impactful and ethical stories, Fai shares practical advice and thoughtful insights for organizations navigating the complexities of the nonprofit sector.

Whether you're interested in exploring innovative digital strategies or prioritizing ethical practices in storytelling, this episode will leave you inspired and better equipped to drive meaningful change.

Storytelling & Digital Fundraising Strategies - the highlights:

• How digital fundraising has evolved and the role of platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Reddit, and Pinterest in donor acquisition.
• The importance of balancing organizational goals with ethical considerations in digital campaigns.
• Practical tips for nonprofits to improve their storytelling, including ensuring consent, respecting boundaries, and avoiding trauma-based narratives.
• Why testing and adaptability are crucial for digital fundraising success.
• How the rise of racialized fundraisers is reshaping the nonprofit sector and storytelling approaches.
• The potential and pitfalls of using AI in nonprofit storytelling and imagery.
• Fai’s personal journey navigating lived experience, imposter syndrome, and finding a voice in the fundraising space.

🎧 Listen to more episodes for actionable fundraising tips and insights on nonprofit leadership, nonprofit governance, donor engagement, productivity & tools, and nonprofit storytelling strategies!

About Fai Hassam:

Fai Hassam is an expert in digital fundraising. Her role is all about helping non-profit organizations create digital campaigns that engage supporters and convert them into donors. She's got a wealth of experience working with various non-profits, but what really sets her apart is her advocacy and her knack for crafting, executing, and managing compelling campaigns.

Links and Resources:  

• Connect with Fai on LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/fai-hassan-50561b271
• Learn more about Public Outreach: https://www.publicoutreachgroup.com/
• Connect with Maria on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mariario/
• Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/208666/supporters/new

If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure.

Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. 

Check out the What The Fundraising podcast here.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Struggling with staff leaving, keeping donors happy, or having competent leaders? In this episode of The Small Nonprofit, host Maria Rio sits down with fundraising expert Frank Mumford, who shares his journey from student caller to nonprofit consultant and thought leader. Together, they discuss the evolving landscape of fundraising, the importance of authentic donor stewardship, and how nonprofits can navigate trends like AI and data-driven personalization to build meaningful relationships.

Frank also delves into his experiences transitioning from frontline fundraising to the vendor side, offering practical advice for fundraisers looking to amplify their impact and explore new opportunities in the sector.

Donor Relationships & Fundraising Trends - the highlights:

• Why donor stewardship is more than just a thank-you email – it’s about creating a personal connection.
• Tips for balancing professional and personal relationships with donors while keeping the focus on the mission.
• How to personalize donor engagement without overcomplicating the process, including leveraging data and thoughtful follow-ups.
• Trends in fundraising, such as the rise of mid-level giving and the use of AI to save time and prioritize donor outreach.
• Challenges nonprofits face, from staff turnover to data management, and how leaders can foster more sustainable organizational cultures.
• The importance of introducing donors to other staff and leaders to strengthen their connection to the organization.
• Why fundraisers should embrace their power and advocate for healthier workplace practices.

🎧 Listen to more episodes for actionable fundraising tips and insights on nonprofit leadership, nonprofit governance, donor engagement, productivity & tools, and nonprofit storytelling strategies!

About Frank Mumford:

Our guest is Frank Mumford, a seasoned fundraiser with 14 years in the charity sector. Frank started as a student fundraiser and now works at Gravyty, where he helps charities with new software solutions. He's been a CFRE since 2019 and is active in several nonprofit boards. Frank will share his views on the challenges that charities and fundraisers face today.

Links and Resources:  

• Connect with Frank on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frank-mumford/
• Email Frank: frank.mumford@gravyty.com
• Connect with Maria on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mariario/
• Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/208666/supporters/new

If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure.

Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. 

Check out the What The Fundraising podcast here.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

In this brand new episode of 'The Small Nonprofit'—we have some exciting news! Our beloved host Cindy is handing over the microphone to Maria Rio, another leader in the non-profit world. 

A dynamic and passionate personality, Maria started her career as a face-to-face fundraiser, climbed the nonprofit ladder with dedication and hard work, and eventually found her niche in community-centric fundraising. She's worked with many small nonprofits, and knows the struggles that come with low capacity and limited funds. She is the proud founder of Further Together, a fundraising consultancy dedicated to supporting organizations implement community-centric fundraising values. 

So, gear up, get comfortable and join us as we embark on this new season with our new host!

Key Episode Highlights:  

• Cindy and Maria talk about their respective journeys in fundraising; from how they became fundraisers to owning their own businesses
• Maria's Transition to Community-Centric Fundraising: Maria shares her journey of moving away from harmful practices to a more personal, inclusive fundraising model. This approach gave her a sense of belonging and proved to be a successful strategy.
• Fractional Fundraising: We explore the concept of fractional executives, which offer stability and transformative support for organizations. This stress-free consulting approach allows work to be done without the need for managing or administrative tasks.
• Cindy's Role Beyond Hosting: Apart from hosting the show, Cindy has made significant contributions as a consultant for nonprofits, championing fractional fundraising and innovation. She extends her expertise in the sector to her new podcast centred on supporting nonprofit consultants.
• The Future of The Small Nonprofit Podcast: As Maria takes the baton, listeners can anticipate exciting conversations around fundraising and the unique opportunities and challenges facing small nonprofits.

Links and Resources: 

Connect with Maria: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariario/

Connect with Cindy: https://cindywagman.com/

Confessions Podcast:  confessionswithjessandcindy.com

If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure.

Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. 

Check out the What The Fundraising podcast here.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

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

Key Highlights: 

• The parallels between donor and government relations
• The significance of government investment in the non-profit sector
• Strategies to sustain and enhance funding from government sources
• How to start influencing decisions and building influence with government funders
• The importance of relationships in dealing with government funding
• Navigating through the bureaucratic systems for effective government relations

Connect with Jesse:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jnclarke/

If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure.

Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. 

Check out the What The Fundraising podcast here.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

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

Key Highlights:

• The importance of effective communication in small organizations
• Understanding your audiences
• Self-talk and its direct impact on your communication
• What the Claxon method is and how to use it for optimizing communication
• Strategies for effective communication with your team 

Connect with Erica: 

Podcast: Communicate for Good 

Website: claxon-communication.com. 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericamillsbarnhart/

If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure.

Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. 

Check out the What The Fundraising podcast here.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

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

Key Highlights: 

• The role and importance of a website in the digital era.
• Strategies to drive visitors to your website and increase visibility.
• The importance of content and how to create a year-long content calendar.
• Understanding your audience's search behavior to better tailor your content.
• How to make your website more accessible to audience
• Five essential elements to make your website effective

Connect with David:
Website: https://wowdigital.com/
Free website audit:  https://wowdigital.com/audit
Nonprofit Websites Done-For-You: https://mightynpo.com/

If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure.

Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. 

Check out the What The Fundraising podcast here.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Have you ever encountered a micromanager in your professional life? That person who just can't resist scrutinizing every little detail and checking in with you constantly? It's not only frustrating but can also hinder productivity and growth.

On today’s episode I’m joined by Erin Allgood, a social impact strategist from Allgood Strategies, to discuss the detrimental effects of micromanagement in organizations. She delves into the reasons behind micromanaging tendencies, the impact of remote work, and explore effective strategies for delegating tasks. So, whether you're a leader looking to break free from micromanagement or an employee seeking autonomy, this episode is packed with valuable insights.

Key Highlights:
The extremes of management styles
The rise of micromanagement and it’s negative impact on organizations
Delegating tasks and building relationships with employees
Finding the root cause of micromanagement
The role of empathy in addressing micromanagement

Connect with Erin:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinallgood/
Podcast: https://www.allgoodstrategies.com/rise-and-rouse

If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure.

Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. 

Check out the What The Fundraising podcast here.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Are you tired of feeling like your small nonprofit is constantly trying to catch up with the big organizations? What if there was a way to shift your perspective and leverage your size to create unique fundraising opportunities? In today's episode we explore exactly that! I've invited Sara Hoshooley, founder of Charity Shift to discuss how to make small but impactful shifts in your nonprofit that can significantly boost your fundraising success.

Key Highlights: 

• Why small nonprofits shouldn't mimic large organizational models.
• The importance of creating a personalized connection with your donors.
• The effectiveness of 15-minute check-in calls in building relationships.
• Dealing with fundraising rejections.
• Using positive experiences for donor communication.

Connect with Sara: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahoshooley/

Website: https://www.charityshift.ca/

If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure.

Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. 

Check out the What The Fundraising podcast here.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

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

Key Highlights: 

• The benefits of conducting an intentional strategic planning process.
• How to identify the important stakeholders in your organization.
• The optimal ways to engage people in the planning process.
• How to manage conflict during the process.
• How to integrate the strategic plan into your day-to-day practices.

Connect with Carol: 

Website: http://www.gracesocialsector.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carol-hamilton-0052b71/

If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure.

Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. 

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

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

Key Highlights:

• The importance of unrestricted funds for small nonprofits
• How to shift from program-based fundraising to vision-based asks
• Tips for tapping into your organization's unique values and personality
• The benefits of humanizing your fundraising appeals and communications
• Strategies for balancing specific asks with broader, unrestricted funding goals

Connect with Aimee:
Website: https://refocusfundraising.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aim%C3%A9e-lindenberger/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/a_lindenberger?lang=en
Unrestricted Funds Bonus: https://bit.ly/UnrestrictedFundsBonus

If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure.

Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. 

Check out the What The Fundraising podcast here.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

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

Key Highlights: 

• The importance of a messaging guide for your nonprofit
• Strategies for crafting a consistent message that brings together all stakeholders
• Common messaging mistakes nonprofits make and how to avoid them
• The power of language in motivating and moving people to action

Connect with Jordana: 

LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/jordana-merkin/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/voiceforgood/

Website:  https://www.voiceforgoodmarketing.com/

Freebie: https://www.voiceforgoodmarketing.com/prompts (download a free guide to building your messaging guide)

If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure.

Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. 

Check out the What The Fundraising podcast here.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

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

Key Highlights: 

1. Why the exploitation of nonprofit staff is a pervasive issue
2. The role of charity and scarcity mindset on this issue 
3. The importance of connecting sector-wide understanding with the daily lived realities of nonprofit workers
4. Why nonprofit organizations do not think of themselves as employers
5. The importance of creating a healthy workplace culture and how it affects the organization's mission
6. Using an equity lens to review HR practices 

Connect with Nicole: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolegagliardi1/

If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure.

Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. 

Check out the What The Fundraising podcast here.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

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

Key Highlights:

• The challenges of starting a nonprofit and accessing vital information
• Key questions to ask yourself before starting a nonprofit
• The importance of having a vision and a plan for your nonprofit
• Essential skill sets for nonprofit founders
• First things to outsource or get help with
• Recognizing the impact of small and new nonprofits

Connect with Tiffany: 

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@BossonaBudget

Website: www.bossonabudget.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bossonab/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bossonab

If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure.

Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. 

Check out the What The Fundraising podcast here.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

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

Key Highlights:

• The importance of implementing a strategic plan in organizations
• The significance of having a visible and engaged executive sponsor
• How to involve staff members in the change process 
• Different stages of change 
• Being intentional about pursuing change in your organization 

Connect with Veronica:

Website: https://lafemina.co/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vlafemina

If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure.

Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. 

Check out the What The Fundraising podcast here.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

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

 Key Highlights:

• How to get started with sponsorship for your nonprofit events 
• The mistake nonprofits make in hosting an event and how to avoid it
• Building long-term relationships with potential sponsors and funders
• How to deliver meaningful experiences to sponsors and event attendees

Connect with Mariah:

Website: https://www.thesponsorshipcatalyst.com/

Free resource: What to offer sponsors https://colossal-hustler-635.ck.page/104885a769

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesponsorshipcatalyst/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thesponsorshipcatalyst/

If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure.

Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. 

Check out the What The Fundraising podcast here.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

In today's episode of the Small Nonprofit Podcast, I'm introducing you to the Fractional Fundraising movement and our new private podcast series that will give you an inside look at how we do this revolutionary approach to fundraising that has helped many small nonprofits thrive. 

Key Highlights:

• What fractional fundraising is and how it can benefit fundraisers and charities
• The behind-the-scenes of our Fractional Fundraiser Academy
• The stories and experiences of our current members in the network

If you're interested in learning more, visit thegoodpartnership.com/pod to get exclusive access to our limited-time private podcast series. Don't miss out on the opportunity to change the fundraising game for your small nonprofit.

If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure.

Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. 

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

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

Key Highlights:

• The impact of working remotely for small nonprofits 
• Practical tools for combating isolation 
• Productivity hacks: setting top three priorities and four-day workweek 
• The importance of recognizing burnout and ways to overcome it
• Creating a meaningful environment for team collaboration 

Connect with Sean:

Website:  www.NonprofitFixer.com

4 Day Workweek: https://www.nonprofitfixer.com/nonprofit-fixer-blog/the-complete-guide-to-implementing-the-four-day-workweek

FREE Fundraising Strategy Guide: https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/guide

If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure.

Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. 

Check out the What The Fundraising podcast here.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

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

 Key Highlights:

• How can nonprofits better engage with younger donors?
• How strategic listening can help connect your organization with new audiences or deepen connections with existing ones.
• How can we recognize and overcome unconscious biases to make better strategic decisions?

Connect with Emily:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-taylor-teenybig/

Free worksheet on biases: https://mailchi.mp/teenybig/beyondbias

If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure.

Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. 

Check out the What The Fundraising podcast here.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

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

Key Highlights:

• The meaning of impact 
• Why it is crucial for nonprofits to communicate their impact to stakeholders, funders, and donors.
• How Julie’s Stepping Stones Impact framework can help nonprofits
• What are the “impacts” that nonprofits should measure and strategies to evaluate change
• How to use narratives and storytelling strategy for impact measurement

Connect with Julie:

Website: 
Julie Gilbert Consulting: https://juliegilbertconsulting.com/
Impact Institute Academy: https://juliegilbertconsulting.com/impact-institute
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliegilbert001/

If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure.

Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. 

Check out the What The Fundraising podcast here.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

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

Highlights:

1. How Sabrina invested in herself - for her health, but also in learning to start a business 
2. Getting clear on your business’ offerings and services
3. Working in your business vs. on your business and how to balance those two 

Connect with Sabrina:

• Website: sabrina@supportingworldhope.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/supportingworldhope
• Linktree: https://linktr.ee/supportingworldhope?fbclid=IwAR1cQd9zCUNADjoUr_WMSiaqp_aD4gsJZE6_kJpngs7IwejJ3H05zbBcyNk

If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure.

Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. 

Check out the What The Fundraising podcast here.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

When you're a small nonprofit, your work often involves doing more with less—which is why it's so important to know which tasks are essential and which just add up to clutter. Today, we’re talking about one approach that helps streamline our workload while staying focused on the biggest priorities- minimalism.

Danielle Russell walks us through minimalism in nonprofits. Danielle S. Russell, CAE is a Canadian Not-for-Profit Industry Leader, Consultant, Author, Speaker, YouTuber, and Artist. She loves connecting ideas and people so that each individual can achieve their greatest potential impact. From keynote podiums, to the boardroom, to YouTube; Danielle leverages her unique strengths to help foster collaboration, empathy and action.

Key Highlights:

• What is Minimalism in nonprofits?
• Practical guide to minimalism for nonprofits 
• Letting go of “sentimental items” in your small nonprofit

Connect with Danielle:

Website: http://daniellerussell.ca/

Instagram:@Danny_S_Russell

Resources: 

FREE Fundraising Strategy Guide: https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/guide

If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure.

Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. 

Check out the What The Fundraising podcast here.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

On today’s podcast, we’re bringing you someone else’s podcast! That’s right, from time to time we’ll be featuring some friends and their podcast episodes that we think are worth a listen. Today it’s Dana Synder’s podcast, Missions to Movements. 

If there is an organization to watch, Hope for Haiti is it, and today, you’ll meet Community Director of Innovative Philanthropy, Sarah Porter, and CMO Taylor Hebble. Hope for Haiti is pushing the boundaries with incredible creativity and innovation! A new VR experience transports supporters to a partner school in rural Haiti, they created a beautiful NFT collection in partnership with Haitian artists to fund the build of new schools after the earthquake, AND they’re using LinkedIn as an outlet to reach the media and have already more than doubled their following in the process.

It’s time to step into the future and imagine the possibilities as we consider VR experiences as a launchpad for deeper social impact.

Key Highlights:

• Bringing Haiti to everyone through VR experiences
• From concept to execution: how long it took Hope for Haiti to launch their VR experience
• How Hope for Haiti grew to over 8,000 followers on LinkedIn

Connect with:

• Hope for Haiti: https://hopeforhaiti.com/
• Missions to Movement Podcast: https://positiveequation.com/podcast/

If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure.

Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. 

Check out the What The Fundraising podcast here.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

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

Key Highlights:

• The benefits of cloud-based technology for small nonprofits
• Why the cloud is better than an external hard drive
• Building partnerships with technology providers
• How to get started and adapt cloud-based technology
• Cloud collaboration and accessibility

Connect with Kevin:

Website: https://www.greenmerits.com/

Email: kgeorge@greenmerits.com

Resources: 

FREE Fundraising Strategy Guide: https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/guide

If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure.

Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. 

Check out the What The Fundraising podcast here.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

So many small nonprofits don't know where to start when it comes to managing the data they have. How can we use our data effectively and efficiently? And how do we make sure it’s being used with an equity lens? If you're struggling with this, definitely give this episode a listen!

On today’s episode, I’m joined by Meena Das, Founder & Philanthropy Analytics Consultant at NamasteData, and her focus of work is grounding data and analytics solutions for nonprofits in the ideas of equity and inclusion.

Key Highlights:

• Best practices of equitable data management for small nonprofits
• How to apply an equity lens in data collection as a nonprofit?
• Ethical challenges of data collection in the nonprofit sector
• How to balance DEI values with funders and partners?

Connect with Meena Das:

• Meena’s LinkedIn https://ca.linkedin.com/in/meenadas 
• Website: https://www.namastedata.org/

Resources: 

FREE Fundraising Strategy Guide: https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/guide

If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure.

Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. 

Check out the What The Fundraising podcast here.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

“Everybody pays, nobody pays. Because I think one of the most important principles that we put in place with our clients around corporate is transparency” - Heather Nelson

employee volunteering with Heather Nelson

Is corporate volunteerism trendy right now? Absolutely! Should you still include it in your corporate giving strategies? Probably.

In this episode, I sat down with Heather Nelson of Bridgeraise, and talked about how your nonprofit can benefit from corporate volunteerism and how to get started with building a strong relationship with your corporate partners.

Key Highlights:

• The value of corporate volunteerism to for-profit organizations and how to leverage it for your small nonprofit
• Types of employee engagement: In-person, online, employee education
• Activity ideas for an employee engagement program
• How to gain revenue from corporate volunteering
• How to set up corporate partnerships with transparency

Connect with Heather: 

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/nelsonheather

Website: https://www.bridgeraise.com/

Resources: 

FREE Fundraising Strategy Guide: https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/guide

If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure.

Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. 

Check out the What The Fundraising podcast here.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

“Community-Centric Fundraising is about reimagining how we engage our communities, so whether that's our service users or volunteers, our donors, to make everyone feel really valued and invested in the work. - Maria Rio”

practicing community centric fundraising with Maria Rio

You may have heard of a growing movement called Community Centric Fundraising (CCF) but have lots of questions of how it works and how you might apply it to your organization.

Maria Rio, joins me in this conversation today on The Small Nonprofit Podcast. She has been working in nonprofits for ten years, has personal experience as a service user, and has spent the last year and a half testing out various CCF approaches. Maria is going to talk about how community-centric fundraising works—and how it can enable your fundraising program to raise money AND fulfill your mission at the same time. 

Highlights: 

• What is community-centric fundraising and what makes it different?
• Equitable donor stewardship
• Building non-transactional relationships in fundraising events
• Community Advocacy and public policy work
• Collective mission

Connect with Maria: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariario/

Resource: 

FREE Fundraising Strategy Guide: https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/guide

If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure.

Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. 

Check out the What The Fundraising podcast here.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Sometimes fundraising in a small nonprofit can feel start-stop. You put in effort and maybe see results, but then as soon as you slow down, the money stops coming in. 

But on today’s podcast, guest Mike Duerksen, Founder and CEO of BuildGood, shares with us his “flywheel” method for creating a fundraising program that operates on momentum, so that the longer you fundraise, the less effort it takes to grow.

Sounds dreamy, right? Mike covers:

• The Flywheel analogy of fundraising for small nonprofits
• Five parts of Flywheel analogy 
• Listening to donors
• How to engage donors through virtual and in-person events
• The tactics of a good “ASK”

Connect with Mike: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeduerksen

Website: https://buildgood.com/

Resources: 

5minutefundraisingfix.com

FREE Fundraising Strategy Guide: https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/guide

If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure.

Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. 

Check out the What The Fundraising podcast here.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

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

In today’s episode, we are joined by John Lepp, a partner at Agents of Good and the author of Creative Deviations. He has over 25 years of experience in the fundraising and design industry and is an expert in direct-response fundraising. John is breaking down how to raise more money through direct mail using design and authenticity. 

Highlights:

• The role of creative design in fundraising
• The importance of direct mail in fundraising, despite the common belief that it is no longer effective.
• The advantages that small organizations have in terms of being able to stand out and be more personal with their donor communications.
• Debunking myths about direct mail in fundraising 
• How can small nonprofits stand out in direct mail to raise more money

Connect with John: 

• Website: https://agentsofgood.org/creative
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnlepp/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnlepp_aog/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/johnlepp

Resources:

• The Good Partnership - FREE Fundraising Strategy Guide

If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure.

Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. 

Check out the What The Fundraising podcast here.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

“Your first goal is let's create a win where we can begin to work on these relationships, where we can begin to build some trust, and then we're going to come back and we're going to see what the next step is. ” - Michelle Shumate

In today’s episode, we are joined by Michelle Shumate from Northwestern University and the author of Networks for Social Impact. If you’ve ever wondered about working in partnership with other organizations, Michelle shares her experience and framework to help that go smoothly so that everyone benefits.

Highlights: 

• How small nonprofits can benefit from collaboration
• How to make partnerships work for your organization without depleting your resources
• Two paths of sharing vision and goals in partnerships
• Implementing an equitable collaboration
• Managing collaborations during unexpected circumstances

Connect with Michelle: 

• Website: https://nnsi.northwestern.edu
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/ProfShumate
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelleshumate

Resources:

• The Good Partnership - FREE Fundraising Strategy Guide

If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure.

Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. 

Check out the What The Fundraising podcast here.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

"What are those moments where we can captivate our audience in a different way,  because otherwise, they would just be standing around. And how can we use those moments to also encourage donations in giving?” — Rebecca Alfred

Optimizing your event revenue in surprising ways with Rebecca Alfred

Fundraising events can be hard for small organizations. The time and effort to get it off the ground and make it “profitable” doesn’t often work out. But if you are going to host an event or have a legacy event that is profitable, our guest for this episode will make sure you achieve maximum results. Join Rebecca Alfred, Charity Relationships Lead, Trellis Social Enterprise Inc. to learn how to raise more money and have a bigger impact with your events. 

Highlights:

• Optimizing fundraising events for meaningful giving opportunities
• Fundraising drivers that are helping organizations hit and succeed their fundraising goals at their events
•  The future of fundraising events - hybrid, online, in-person
• Creating better donor experience at events

Connect with Rebecca Alfred:

• https://trellis.org/
• LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-alfred
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/trellis.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trellisorg
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/trellis_org
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCegTxlyqGK8R3lxMn7sA0pw

If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure.

Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. 

Check out the What The Fundraising podcast here.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

There's more fear than there was courage. We had to sort of change into, you know what, we're trying something new. We are not asking the clients to give to their own campaigns or to give to anyone else's campaign. We are asking them to tell their story to their friends and family and invite their friends and family to support us. — Deborah Gold

From a plan to implementation with Deborah Gold

Planning to change the world might seem daunting. Getting help with your fundraising - maybe even more daunting! Today’s podcast is a conversation with one of our clients about how she made the leap to hiring a fundraising consultant, what she learned along the way, and what’s working for them now. On today’s podcast, join Deborah Gold to dive deep into all things fundraising for BALANCE for Blind Adults.

Highlights:

1. Making a decision to seek fundraising help
2. Behind the scenes, challenges and wins in implementing a fundraising plan
3. Raising funds and awareness through peer-to-peer campaign
4. How the campaign evolved over time, including lessons learned about what works and what doesn't

Connect with Deborah Gold:

• https://www.balancefba.org/
• LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/deborahgold
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/balanceforblindadults/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/balanceforblindadults/
• Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/balancefba

If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure.

Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. 

Check out the What The Fundraising podcast here.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

"Grant writing is one of those things that small organizations love and hate. I would say the idea of grant funding, that is, funding programs that feels like large amounts of money coming in and one ask is really a dream for so many small organizations, but they struggle with how to do it.” — DeaRonda Harrison

get those grants with DeaRonda Harrison

Are you still hesitant to hire a grant writer for your organization? Maybe you’ve had great success with grants and the portfolio has become time-consuming and too large to handle. Or, maybe your sending out applications left, right, and centre and still not having any luck. Join DeaRonda Harrison to deep dive into all things grant writing - from benefits, challenges and the importance of it!

Highlights:

• How can grants help small organizations
• How to get started with grant writing
• Guide to hiring grant support and internal training
• Outreach and networking for grants
• Managing relationships after getting the grant

Connect with DeaRonda:

• https://junefirstfirm.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/DeaRondaharrison
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DeaRondah/?hl=en
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/DeaRondah
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3zRU5o_FjbL3P4BDpQx16w

If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure.

Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. 

Check out the What The Fundraising podcast here.

Support the show