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

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When the pandemic started in March, no one knew what was going to happen.EDs at nonprofits big and small were projecting layoffs and devastating deficits. And that happened. To be sure - the impact of COVID on our sector and all of us has been significant. And mostly awful. People had to quickly adjust their work and lives to adapt. Yes. It's been a rough year. 

6 months later, we're still dealing with an ongoing pandemic with no foreseeable end date. So, let's recognize this: our sector has also made some huge wins. Nonprofits have become more nimble than ever. They're shifting long-existing programming online, making their workplace remote-friendly, communicating to donors in ways they never tried before. Most of these things have been on our bucket lists for years, but we haven’t had the time and space to move forward with these changes.

In many ways, the COVID-19 pandemic has been the perfect storm that forced us to change. When our environment forces us to change, we become more resilient than we thought we ever would or could be. We realize that changes are not as scary as we imagined. Can we reverse engineer this process and lead necessary changes with courage?

I am so excited to launch the new season of the Small Nonprofit Podcast with a conversation on managing change. Surranna Sandy, the CEO of Skills of Change, shares her philosophy on leading change with people at the centre. She walks us through how to leverage this pandemic to set up the infrastructure that will enable positive changes. Ready for a new season of change and courage?

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.

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It seems like on all fronts we are currently engaged in deep unlearning and learning. Whether it’s around anti-racism or new technologies, the world is a changing place and learning has become more routine than ever.

Right now, while our learning might be accelerated, it’s a good time to reflect on how we can integrate this type of growth and development into the long-term. Today’s podcast is all about lifelong learning with guest Aaron Sanderson, SVP, Advancement & Chief Development Officer at Kids Help Phone. Give it a listen and start planning your next learning!

For access to the show notes and resources, click here.

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.

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As things are slowly opening up, do you have a favourite cafe nearby your home or work that you always visit and can't wait to go back to? If you do, you'll be familiar with this scenario: you go to the cafe a few times, and the barista starts remembering your order. The next time you show up, the barista smiles at you and asks: "americano with oat milk?" (that's my order!)

Surprised, right there and then, the barista has fostered a sense of connection. Before you know it, that cafe becomes your favourite spot. A simple gesture of acknowledging "I know you" is so powerful for sparking connection. How can we also make that magical spark happen with our donors?

Well, I want to introduce to you one of my favourite tools to foster those connections in today’s digital age and in the absence of having donor phone numbers: Bonjoro, a personalized one-to-one video messaging service. On this week's podcast, I chatted with Bonjoro's founder Matt Barnett. Matt shared with us some really doable tips to build authentic connection with your donors remotely.

At The Good Partnership, we started using Bonjoro to send personalized videos to onboard clients and students for Flipside Fundraising, and it’s getting great responses and engagement. We’re also using it with our clients and their donors. As you know, I don’t usually recommend a specific product without context. But we fell in love with Bonjoro, and we know that can be such a great tool for you right now to connect with your donors in a socially distanced world. But, even if it’s not the right tool for you (p.s they have a free version), you can try the tactics in this podcast with other tools too!

For access to the show notes and resources, click here.

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.

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This past week, we’ve all been taking the necessary action to support the Black Lives Matter movement and holding space for difficult and necessary conversations both at work and at home. As you likely know, the work for anti-racism and anti-oppression practices has just begun.

This is not a one-time effort, but something ongoing. We must address how our organizations are governed. We must talk about who sits on our boards and how the board truly supports different voices to be heard and championed (tokenism is not the answer).

On this week's podcast, I had the pleasure to connect with Bailey Greenspon, acting Co-CEO from G(irls)20 and Amal Elmi, a young director of the G(irls)20' Girls on Board program and member of the Community Impact Cabinet at United Way Ottawa. We talked about how to support young and diverse women to sit on nonprofit boards and bring about systemic changes for leadership in our sector.

This episode was recorded before last week. In light of the events this past week, relistening Bailey and Amal's insights and stories deeply touched me. I am inspired by their tireless effort to advocate for young and diverse voices and enact real actions towards equity. It reminds me that we can do this. We must do this. Let's do this together.

For access to the show notes and resources, click here.

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.

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Do you ever make impulse buys? You know, that online sale that you just can’t say “no” to? Or you are out on a socially distant walk and you see something that catches your eye in the window? And plus, you want to support a local business!

Think back to that feeling you get when you make that decision. While there might be rational reasons such as price points and needs, what made us push the “buy” button seems to involve something emotional and intuitive that we can’t always logically explain. How our brain says “yes” is well researched, but we don’t talk about this enough in our sector.

If we could understand the science of decision-making better, we would be so much more effective and efficient when crafting communication and designing experiences for our donors. I'm excited to connect with Dana Segal about this topic on today's podcast episode. Give it a listen. Dana shares some amazing tips on tiny changes that you can implement today to effortlessly raise more money and make it easier for your donors to say “yes”!

For access to the show notes and resources, click here.

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.

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Having become a parent, I now understand how hard it is for parents to let go of their babies. When my boys are not with me, I worry about them all the time. But I’m also learning that controlling them is not empowering them to carve their own paths. There's a fine line between love and control. 

That same fine line exists at our workplace. Sometimes, founders and leaders of organizations can't let go of what they created, and they hold onto so much control and end up jeopardizing the long term health of the organization. This is what’s called the founders' syndrome. It's a very tricky problem to resolve and can cause a lot of emotional stress. 

That's why we are tackling this difficult but necessary topic with Susanna on today's podcast episode. Susanna Kislenko will share with us her insights on how to survive founders’ syndromes if you're an employer, and how to prevent yourself from slipping into patterns of over-controlling if you're a founder.

Oh, and by the way, you can have founder's syndrome even if you’re not a founder! If you've dealt with or are actively struggling with founders' syndrome, I want to acknowledge how difficult this is. Be gentle with yourself, and know that there’s the support you can seek.

For access to the show notes and resources, click here.

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.

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If I go for a short run this morning, then I will feel energized throughout the day and be healthier in the long term. This was my mental cue that got me up at 5:30 am today. This has been my personal theory of change for the past 5 years, since I started running. Put simply, a theory of change is an “If… then…” scenario. If I do this, then this will happen. But for some reason, when it comes to the theory of change for our organizations, things get messy. 

Different people at the table will have different opinions. Peeling off layers of complexity in our organizations can provoke some uncomfortable conversations. More often than not, theory of change becomes a document covered in dust on a shelf. But if I didn't think running would give more fuel for the day and make me healthier, why would I get up so early for it? By that same logic, if we are not clear about why we do what we do, how could we show up with our best selves?
 
This is why I'm delighted to share with you today's podcast with Lisa Watson, co-founder and lead strategist from Openly. Lisa and her team have done some incredible work helping nonprofits to clarify their theory of change and communicate them in creative, meaningful ways. Give a listen, and may we all be on track towards the changes we want to make in the world!

For access to the show notes and resources, click here.

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.

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I took a deep breath. Feeling a bit nervous, excited and scared, I pushed the button and hoped for the best. If you think I’m talking about playing a slot machine, you’re not that far off. Isn’t this how we feel every time we hit the “submit” button for a grant? 

Everybody tells you to do it, but there is no guarantee or any indication of certainty that you’ll get it. This was certainly true for me when I started my fundraising career! I’ve had so many clients and friends in the sector ask me whether they should outsource their grant writing. I get it. If someone can just show up and magically lift us off from the burden of writing grants, that would be so wonderful. 

This is why I'm so excited to share today’s podcast, where grant writer, coach, and community developer Stachen Frederick tells us her secrets on writing successful grants (with a unique spin). Stachen wants you to be writing less grants but getting way more out of every one of them, including the impact of bringing your community together in the process. Give it a listen!

For access to the show notes and resources, click here.

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.

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How we do our work is just as important as what we do. But we don’t talk about this enough at work. We get so busy. But are we productive? I’m so excited to talk to my friend Rachel Bearbower from Small Shop Strategies about this topic on this week’s episode of the podcast.

If you are feeling overwhelmed by your long to-dos, or you are looking for a Monday energy boost, take a break and take a listen. You will walk away with some practical tips that you can implement today. And if you enter our special contest, you might win the very special Vault planner Rachel designed to help you maximize your productivity.

For access to the show notes and resources, click here.

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.

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I have heard such different stories from clients and friends. Some are having no problem working from home, as they’re able to access all of their files on the cloud. Some, however, are frustrated by databases and other tools that are crashing or are not functioning remotely at all. How organizations can remain relevant and resilient in the digital world is one of the biggest learnings for our sector during this pandemic. 

This can be an overwhelming topic. Technology is not always easy to use. That’s why our guest on this week’s podcast, Avery Swartz, wrote a book about all things internet for you. Avery wants you to save your energy and time to focus on your important work and mission, and not to lose any sleep worrying about technology or digital marketing. Give a listen and start your week with something refreshing!

For access to the show notes and resources, click here.

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.

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Do you remember that icky feeling back in school, when you were assigned a piece of homework that you didn't see the point in doing, but had to do it anyway? Well, I bet that’s the same feeling you get when you’re filling out a program report and are asked to provide evaluation numbers that don’t make sense to you. 

Impact evaluation is one of those things we are told that is good for us, but often feels so disconnected from our day-to-day work. On today's episode of the Small Nonprofit Podcast, Jeff Couillard shares with us his journey of helping organizations take back the ownership of their impact data and measure what truly matters.

For access to the show notes and resources, click here.

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.

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Do you ever get that nagging feeling that your voice is not heard or that it’s drowned out? Currently, with everything being communicated online, it’s so easy to feel that what you have to say is going to get buried in a conference call or countless social media posts. And when we do share our voices, we don’t love it. I remembered when I started the podcast, I also struggled with listening to my own voice playing back at me. Being able to express ourselves and communicate clearly is so important to our work and our wellbeing.

I am more than excited to share with you today’s podcast, where Jam Gamble, coach extraordinaire of Slay the Mic program, tells us how to overcome the fear of self-expression and ace public speaking. Let me let you in on a little secret: memorizing the speech does not do the trick. My whole team is loving this podcast episode so I know you will too! What you have to say is so important. Your voice is unique and beautiful. Share it!

For access to the show notes and resources, click here.

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.

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In times like this, it’s so important that we stay connected. The same goes with our donors. They want to hear from you about how you and your organization is doing. I know what you are thinking: donors already have a lot on their plate right now. Why would they want to hear from me?

On today’s podcast, David from The Common Good Philanthropy shares a great story about how donors felt so connected to a small nonprofit that they got upset when they were not called to help in a time of crisis. David wants us to think about fundraising as community building, and offers great advice on how to connect with our donors as our authentic selves. Take a listen!

For access to the show notes and resources, click here.

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.

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During this global pandemic, I know you are holding down the fort for your organization, your community, and your family. So, how can we make sure you have all the tools you need to get through these tough times. Part of that answer is resiliency. What is resilience and how can you build resilience in your everyday life?

On today’s The Small Nonprofit podcast, wellness expert Monica Bodurka shares her step-by-step guide of how we can all build resiliency from everyday habits. All of these habits can be easily incorporated in your daily routines. We are great at caring for others. Let’s take some time and become great at taking care of ourselves.

For access to the show notes and resources, click here.

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.

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These are scary times. The world is in crisis as we work hard to contain the COVID 19 outbreak and minimize its impact. Our organizations are being challenged in ways we could never imagine. For some of us, our clients are at high risk and we are working around the clock to support them. For others, we have been forced to lay off staff because our programs have been cancelled. The emotional toll on each and every one of us is significant, at a time when we are most isolated. 

We’re also seeing stories of hope, community, and caring. I’ve seen breweries turn the alcohol they have into free hand sanitizer. My neighbours created a mini food drive for a local shelter. Communities coming together in song. 

While this podcast episode was recorded a little while ago, the content is perhaps even more relevant now. Our guest is Sam Laprade and we are talking about burnout. Sam has been talking about mental health so that we can better take care of ourselves and our colleagues. Now more than ever. Sam joins me in today’s podcast, talking about burnout, mental health and self-care. So, take a breath and take a listen.

For access to the show notes and resources, click here.

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.

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In our conversation today with Nouman Ashraf, we’ll debunk some myths around what a leader is and how to be a good one. In short - leadership is not a position or title, it’s a way of being and enabling those around you. Anyone can be a good leader. Everyone SHOULD become a good leader. Nouman has some tips on how to get there.

For access to the show notes and resources, click here.

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.

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What causes you to open that envelope from a charity? What is going through your mind as you decide to read on? Or make a donation? Wouldn’t it be great if you could unlock some of the secrets that influence your donors' behaviours as they think about giving to your organization?

Today’s podcast guest is John Lepp and he is going to be sharing how you can use design to influence your fundraising outcomes - ie: raise more money! But good design isn’t what we like, it’s what works. So through away your personal preferences and grab a pen and paper to discover what design can do to help you raise more money.

For access to the show notes and resources, click here.

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.

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I know you have a long list of “to-dos” that never seems to end. I can also guess that on that list, somewhere towards the end (and seemingly never moving) is to create a Case for Support for your organization. 

Well, today you’re in luck because our podcast guest Leah Eustice is a pro when it comes to writing a Case for Support and she’s going to give you all of her tricks and tips. The best part about it - she shows you how you can write your Case quickly and still make it meaningful.

For access to the show notes and resources, click here.

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.

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Guess what - the next generation of workers are not millennials! We’re so past the conversation of millennials in the workplace and now is the time to think about how you’re hiring and engaging the next generation. This new generation values diversity and inclusion, as well as the ability to have an impact. This is in great alignment with the nonprofit sector, but the reality is that as many as 30% of employers struggle to fill their entry-level roles.

Want to build your pipeline of talent in a meaningful and lasting way? Listen to today’s podcast with CivicAction and their HireNext program.

For access to the show notes and resources, click here.

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.

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Are you introverted or extroverted? I’m right in the middle with a sway towards extroversion. It can sometimes look like the modern work environment is created for us extroverts and if you're introverted, it can feel draining or even exclusionary.

Today’s podcast guest, Trina Isakson, spent years working in our sector as an introvert and created the Quiet Changemaker Project - a place for introverted nonprofit professionals to connect. Our conversation is all about thriving as an introvert (and supporting introverts on your team).

For access to the show notes and resources, click here.

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.

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I’ve had to hire my fair share of staff over the years and I’m embarrassed to say how many times I’ve heard someone comment, “we can’t hire her, she’s going to have babies soon.”

This was said to me pre-kids (as I was thinking of starting my own family), and since I’ve had kids (my two sons are now 5 and 8). It’s been said by men and women. Young and old. Parents and non-parents.

When today’s podcast guest, Lacey Kempinski, had her own children and started to explore the need for balance in her life, she quickly found that most workplaces, certainly everywhere but specifically in our sector, are really not that parent-friendly.

What do women and other parents experience in the workplace and how do we change that to ensure that we have happy and healthy employees (and therefore productive and effective staff)? Take a listen!

For access to the show notes and resources, click here.

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.

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Is it really worth having interns and students? Sometimes it can feel hit or miss making it feel like you're adding to your workload instead of having a great mentorship experience.

In this episode, we're speaking with Peter and Catherine from Seneca360, a program that matches yourself with a skilled student who can support very specific project-based work. With both the perspectives of a mentor and a student, tune in to learn their insights on how to approach a mentorship program with success and how Seneca360 can sponsor a motivated student to complete quality work for you (without costing you a dime!)

For access to the show notes and resources, click here.

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.

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Did you know that I’m psychic? I can tell whether or not you have challenges with your board of directors. Let me look into my magic ball. The answer is “yes” - your board is not functioning as well as it could or should be.

While you may be in awe of my incredible powers, the reality is that we know most small organizations have some struggles with their boards. Or their boards have struggled with their organizations. Or both simultaneously.

Today’s podcast features Dr. Patricia Bradshaw, who studies nonprofit boards and shares with you some tools to identify the type of board you have (there are many types) and how you can optimize effectiveness with that type of board.

For access to the show notes and resources, click here.

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.

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Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and now TikTok - do you often feel pressure to get your organization on the latest trend? Whether that's from your board or the organization itself, it seems like everyone wants you to be on every single platform there is.

Tune in to our live conversation from Happy You Year as we chat with Simon Scriver, host of Simon Scriver's Amazingly Ultimate Fundraising Superstar Podcast, about Shiny Object Syndrome. Learn about how to confidently (and successfully) say no, how to evaluate whether a trend is right of you and much more!

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.

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So today's guest really needs no introduction - we think everyone knows Paul Nazareth. He's been on the podcast before and he is, we believe, one of the most influential people in our sector in Canada. We've talked with him before about planned giving, but today we're going to talk to him about something that I actually think is even more uncomfortable for most people than even planned giving - networking! If you're cringing or feel a little nauseous, you're not alone!

Tune in to learn how to network without feeling icky, increase your social capital and create more meaningful connections without worrying about business cards!

For access to the show notes and resources, click here.

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

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Happy New Year and Happy New Decade!

We're kicking off season four of The Small Nonprofit with Beth Jordan, founder and principal of Adobe Consulting Services. This week we're talking about alignment - how we look forward and internally within our organizations to focus on being aligned with our core values as an organization. We've had lots of conversations around strategy and planning on the podcast before but I feel like this is a really fresh take as a values centred company working with a lot of values centred charities and nonprofits. This approach really sits well with how we think about our work and I know a lot of our clients think about their work.

Tune in to learn all about how we make sure that all the things we're doing in our organization reflect our values, how to measure and audit this, and how you can use this to improve your staff, donor and client engagement.

For access to the show notes and resources, click here.

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.

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When we think about our organizational culture, we refer to a nice culture deck then we're good to go. However, we know that what's on that deck isn't always reflective of how things are practiced or how things get done - a huge problem in our sector!

In this episode, we chat with Maryann Kerr, Chief Happiness Officer/CEO of The Medalist Group, who is on a mission to call organizations out on this disconnect and to give them some tools to help them move towards more cohesion and be the kind of a workplace they say they want to be. Tune in to learn how to create a healthier culture, attract and keep the right employees for the job and meet your goals more efficiently!

For access to the show notes and resources, click here.

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.

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Have you ever been on a website where you just click and then you don't know where you came from? You don't understand where things are and then you keep clicking and can't get back to where you want to go?

If you haven't updated your website in the last month, chances are, your audience is having the same experience with your website. In this episode, we're chatting with Kristi Porter from Signify Solutions about the top mistakes we're doing with our websites. Tune in as we debunk myths around your website and offer practical tips that you can use to update your ideal website today!

For access to the show notes and resources, click here.

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.

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Anti-oppression, anti-racism, inclusion is an important conversation for our organization and there's so much work to be done around this. This interview with Christina Sackeyfio, Principal of Boldly Inclusive, articulates that space between an articulated inclusion or diversity effort and what you're actually putting into practice. Tune in to learn how to identify and address oppression, how to create an inclusive culture and how to benchmark your organization's effort on inclusion and diversity so you can track your efforts.

For access to the show notes and resources, click here.

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.

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Strategy. It’s one of those things we all know is important, but we never find the time to do it properly. We're so used to the inertia of our work and it's really hard to make time to undertake a strategic planning process.

Today's guest is Josie Fung the Executive Director of I Think, which is a program based out of the Rotman School of Business at the University of Toronto. I'm really excited to have her on the podcast talking about “playing to win,” which is a framework that helps us think about our strategic planning and aspirations. 

For access to the show notes and resources, click here.

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.

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Community bonds are an alternative model of financing for charities and nonprofits, that are repayable to investors, with defined interest terms. The bonds allow organizations to collect capital for projects and pay it back over time, like a loan, but you're enabling your community to support it instead of putting money back into the big bank.

Today’s guest is Ryan Collins-Swartz from Tapestry Capital. He helps organizations across Ontario raise community bonds, which are a powerful way for nonprofits and charities to finance capital projects by raising investments from their supporters. They allow citizens to invest locally in meaningful projects. 

For access to the show notes and resources, click here.

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.

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We love to talk about corporate giving because it literally comes up in every single conversation with every single organization. In this conversation with our friend Heather Nelson, the founder and principal of BridgeRaise, she talks about what it takes to be open for business to corporate giving. Tune in to learn about what kind of corporate ask to make, how to become "open for business" and how to cultivate sustainable relationships with corporations.

For access to the show notes and resources, click here.

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.

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You know your work has impact. You see that impact every day. You feel it in your bones. That’s why you get up and go to work every morning. But do your supporters know and understand that impact?

Small organizations often struggle with how to communicate that impact. We live it and breathe it every day and it’s hard to share it with others in a way that they understand and connect with the work.

This week we’re chatting with Shelley and David from RAMP Communications about the process behind impact stories and how to use them effectively and ethically. They share with us how to empower the communities we serve and help them share their experiences in a way that resonates with your supporters and inspires them to take action.

For access to the show notes and resources, click here.

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.

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We’ve all been in meetings wondering... “why am I here?” In fact, I imagine that’s what you’re thinking during most meetings. Or, “when will this be over so I can get back to my real work!?”

Whether it’s going on for too long or someone else seems to be dominating the conversation, meetings can feel time-consuming and unproductive. In our conversation with Rebecca Sutherns, founder and principal of Sage Solutions, we discuss how you can have better, more meaningful meetings (and fewer of them!). 

For access to the show notes and resources, click here.

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.

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Hands up if you have a full-time bookkeeper! 

Ha ha - joking! Most small nonprofits we work with don’t have a full-time, professionally trained bookkeeper. You’re not alone.

In this episode, we’re chatting with Omar Visram, CEO of Enkel Backoffice Solutions about cloud-based bookkeeping and accounting solutions that will save you time and money. Tune in to learn about how to move your organization digitally forward.

For access to the show notes and resources, click here.

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.

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In this episode of the podcast, we’re talking about Google Ad Grants with David Botwick-Ries and Simon Choy from ConnectAd, an organization dedicated to assisting charities to obtain and manage free advertising through Google Ad Grants. Tune in to learn what Google Ads are (if you’re just starting out), how to get the grant, how to set up your account and ads, and how to optimize your ads so that you’re actually getting results.

For access to the show notes and resources, click here.

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.

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Time. Sigh. If only we had more of it.

Time is the most precious resource for small organizations. But we don’t treat it that way. Instead, we disregard it. Treat it badly. 

We can take ownership of our time and make it work better for us. But it takes commitment and practice. 

I love this quote from Charles Buxton, “You will never find time for anything. If you want time you must make it.”

Today’s podcast episode features Maya Khanna Le Roy, founder and CEO of MKLC talks to us about managing your time in a realistic way that can help save you from burnout and reclaim your time. Tune in to learn step-by-step how you can work smarter, not harder. 

For access to the show notes and resources, click here.

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.

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When people want a rebrand, it’s easy to automatically think of a new logo, website and so on. But that’s just the marketing component of your brand. Your brand is so much more.

Laura challenges us to imagine our brand is a beautifully decorated cake. Your logo, website and all the visual things people see are the icing and sprinkles. This is what makes the cake look good and enticing.

For access to the show notes and resources, click here.

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.

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Today's bonus episode is live from EconoUs which is a conference for community economic development organizations but we thought some of the content would be relevant to all of our listeners. This third session is led by Ted Howard who is the co-founder and president of the Democracy Collaborative. Tune in as we look at co-ops and ways that we can redistribute wealth and provide ownership opportunities for the communities we work with.

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.

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Welcome to a very special episode - the first of a few very special episodes. We are podcasting live from EconoUs, which is the Community Economic Development Conference in London, Ontario. We are bringing you some of the excellent sessions as a bonus to the podcast. This first episode is a great panel discussion about social enterprise and funding opportunity, which is fantastic. Tune in as Jocelyn Formsma, Béatrice Alain, Victor Beausoleil and Sara Lyons discuss a new initiative that has a number of players at the table to invest in and make social enterprise sustainable for Canadians. Moderated by Sarah Leeson-Klym.

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.

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In this special bonus mini-series recorded live at EconoUs 2019,  we're learning all about leadership for new innovation and leadership for a new economy. And so many of what Amanda Fernandez talks about rings true to my experience and I'm excited to share with you! Definitely pay attention to some of what she says around giving and receiving feedback around failing up. There's so much great content in here about how to lead in a sector that's trying to do good. Happy listening and stay tuned for our very next session!

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.

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Media coverage is something that pretty much all organizations want, but very few actually get.

In this episode, we’re speaking with Jennifer Singh, founder of She’s Newsworthy Media a public relations agency that specializes in helping small businesses get recognized. Tune in to learn about how to pitch properly, timely and to the right person!

For access to the show notes and resources, click here.

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.

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Welcome to season three of the Small Nonprofit! We’re kicking things off strong with a discussion about the state of the charitable sector in Canada. You work on the frontlines supporting our community… but how is our government supporting you? In this episode, we’re speaking with the Honourable Ratna Omidvar, to talk about the recent Senate report on the charitable sector that she co-authored. Their results are not surprising, but some of their recommendations are pretty exciting.

This episode will be airing just before the federal election - and if you leave with anything, let it be this. For these changes to take place, we need a government that prioritizes them and values the work of our sector. Talk to the candidates in your community to see where they stand.

For access to the show notes and resources, click here.

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.

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The way we do our work plays a huge role in our organizations - especially in a world where digital is the new normal. In this episode, Aine McGlynn, our very own COO of The Good Partnership, drops some truth bombs about systems and processes. 

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.

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At this year’s AFP Fundraising Day in Toronto, we spoke Theresa Cheng, Nayeon Kim, Michelle Yeung, Deborah Thompson amongst many other delegates about their thoughts on self-care and productivity. In this live episode, learn some tried-and-true strategies and tips for taking care of yourself and boosting your productivity.

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. 

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Do you work with equity-seeking populations? Is your organization on the front-line of social justice change? So often we see our values challenged in traditional fundraising and communications and don’t know how to reconcile our need to fundraise effectively with our beliefs and values. The good news is that we can still be powerful communicators and respect, honour, and empower the equity-seeking populations we work with.

In this episode, Andrea Gunraj, vice-president of public engagement at the Canadian Women’s Foundation, teaches us all about recognizing our bias, rethinking our storytelling and engagement strategies, and how to ensure our organization is reflective of the communities we serve.

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.

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Whether you’re on the employee or employer side, job negotiations are something that gives everyone butterflies. In this episode, Denise Lloyd, CEO and founder of Engaged HR, teaches us that employee compensation is ultimately about creating an environment where your employees can thrive. Learn how to create this environment and how to have these conversations from both perspectives - making your work and mission have a bigger impact.

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.

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Events - it’s a lot of work, the financial return is often a surprise or isn’t there at all and there are many misconceptions about what goes into making an event successful. In this episode, Amy Milne, founder of Beyond Fundraising, shares step-by-step how to ensure your next event does more than just make money so you can advance your long-term fundraising strategy.

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.

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Have a hard time finding and keeping new donors? Not getting any responses from mailing appeals?

In this episode, Whitney Brown, digital director of Public Outreach, goes through each step of the donor journey and how you can use Facebook to get the best results. Learn how to find and target your donors, engage with them to develop an ask, and keep them giving over time - even with a small budget!

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.

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Imagine building a plane while you’re flying it - not an ideal scenario but one that forces you to do what you can so you can eventually level out the plane and keep it steady. This is what growing a small nonprofit is like. In this episode, Michael “Piecez” Prosserman, Founder of Unity Charity and CEO of Epic Leadership xChange, discusses understanding personal limits and how to break them with smart and strategic investments - regardless of where you are in your organization!

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.

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