SHORT 'Successfully Starting and Scaling A Nonprofit' David Rhode Nonprofit Leader, Consultant & Author of Passionate Isn't Enough - A Practical Guide to Nonprofit Leadership

Welcome to Purposely SHORT, a weekly episode that features one of our friends or past guests sharing their expertise on a specific topic.

This week's episode features David Rhode Nonprofit founder, Consultant & Author of Passionate Isn't Enough - A Practical Guide to Nonprofit Leadership.

David founded Pitch In For Baseball in 2005, a charity that provides sports equipment to under-resourced communities. David left the charity in 2019, he joins host Mark Longbottom to share his experiences of setting up and growing a nonprofit, offering practical insights for others in the sector.

He talks about the challenges of securing early funding without a track record and how personal connections played a key role in getting started. He explains how his first board, made up of friends and family, helped him access resources and build credibility.

David also reflects on leadership, highlighting how passion and a clear vision helped him attract support. He discusses the strategic partnerships that strengthened his charity, including a collaboration with Little League International, which improved their ability to distribute equipment.

Drawing on his background in branding at a Global corporate, David stresses the importance of a strong organisational identity. He shares how his understanding of funding evolved over time and how partnerships with major baseball teams expanded their reach.

He also talks openly about the lessons he learned in board management. While his early board members were enthusiastic, he later realised the need for clearer expectations and more defined roles.

Tune in for practical advice and insights from David’s journey in the nonprofit sector. His experiences highlight the value of persistence, partnerships, and learning along the way