We Are For Good Podcast - The Podcast for Nonprofits

Sunsetting isn’t failure—it’s leadership.In this episode, Becky sits down with Desiree Lyons, CEO of Namaste Direct, and Kate Flatley, Executive Director of the Women’s Justice Initiative, for an honest conversation about what it really looks like to put community at the center—even when it means changing or ending your own model. Together, they share how Namaste Direct made the difficult decision to sunset with integrity and why transitioning its economic empowerment program to WJI became a powerful unlock for greater, more sustainable impact for women in Guatemala.This conversation challenges the idea that success in the nonprofit sector is always about scale and growth—and offers a practical look at how merging, evolving, and ending well can be an act of responsibility, courage, and mission-first leadership.Episode Highlights:  Kate’s Path to Guatemala and Law (02:04)Women’s Justice Initiative Mission and Impact (03:06)Namaste Direct’s Mission and Challenges (05:29)Turning Point: Rethinking Microfinance and Debt (09:36)Sunsetting and Succession: Strategic Decisions at Namaste (15:21)Reaching Out: Collaboration and Merger with WJI (20:55)Advice for Nonprofits: Mergers, Sunsets, and Impact (26:16)One Good Thing: Final Thoughts and Reflections (31:58)How to Connect and Closing Remarks (33:19)www.weareforgood.com/episode/668Thank you to our partners 🩵Big gratitude to Givebutter, RKD Group, Whiteboard, and Sowen for their partnership in growing the Impact Uprising. If you’re searching for a new CRM, tech tool, brand partner, direct mail partner, or impact strategist— we’d love for you to start with our trusted recs. We’ve vetted them so you don’t have to. Head to weareforgood.com/recs to learn more.//Join the We Are For Good Community—completely free.Join fellow changemakers, share takeaways from this working session, and keep collaborating in a space built for connection, inspiration, and real impact: www.weareforgoodcommunity.com Say hi 👋LinkedIn / Instagram / Facebook / YouTube / Twitter

In this rapid-fire Working Session, Jon and Becky break down storytelling as a core nonprofit skill — not a marketing tactic — and share simple, practical frameworks you can use immediately. From clarifying your values and audience to collecting and activating stories more intentionally, you’ll learn how to move supporters from empathy → connection → action and build a storytelling system that drives trust, belonging, and long-term engagement.Top 3 Takeaways:Story Drives Action — Not Tactics: People don’t act until they feel something, and they don’t stay until they feel like they belong. Learn how to anchor your storytelling in empathy, identity, and shared humanity so your calls to action actually land.Build a Simple Storytelling System: From collecting stories at the end of emails and donation forms to syndicating one story across multiple channels, you’ll learn how to turn storytelling into a repeatable workflow — not a one-off creative lift.Tell Stories With Dignity and Trust: Ethical storytelling isn’t about rules — it’s about relationships. Centering dignity, consent, and agency protects the people behind the stories, strengthens credibility, and builds the kind of trust that fuels long-term community and generosity.This episode is packed with practical, low-lift storytelling moves you can implement today — whether you’re writing an email, planning content, onboarding new supporters, or stewarding long-term relationships.Welcome back to Working Sessions: hands-on, clarity-filled conversations designed to help you move real work forward inside your organization.Let’s get to work.Episode Highlights: Story as Meaning, Not Marketing (01:24)Preparing for Storytelling: Values, Audiences, and Action (03:07)Building a Culture of Storytelling (04:26)Ethical Storytelling Principles (06:10)Introducing the Impact Arc Framework (08:05)Practical Working Session Activities (11:42)Community as the Accelerant for Storytelling (15:04) Episode Shownotes: www.weareforgood.com/episode/666//Join the We Are For Good Community—completely free.Join fellow changemakers, share takeaways from this working session, and keep collaborating in a space built for connection, inspiration, and real impact: www.weareforgoodcommunity.com Say hi 👋LinkedIn / Instagram / Facebook / YouTube / Twitter

If year-end fundraising feels like an all-gas-no-brakes sprint, this Working Session is your moment to regroup, refocus, and rally your strongest allies. We brought in fundraising expert and author Rhea Wong for a rapid-fire strategy session on two mission-critical moves: activating your board before December 31 and turning year-end gifts, signals, and conversations into a predictable 2026 pipeline — in under 30 minutes.Rhea walks us through her signature approach to board engagement and donor outreach: one rooted in clarity, specificity, and creating micro-yes moments that move relationships forward. You’ll learn how to give board members turnkey actions they’ll actually complete, how to structure two-call closes for warm prospects, and how to use January to set up a smarter, stronger pipeline for the entire year.Top 3 Takeaways:Your Board Is Your Force Multiplier: Stop sending blanket emails. Start giving individuals clear, specific, low-friction tasks — from making their own gift to nudging warm contacts to posting on LinkedIn. Activated intentionally, your board becomes your most powerful surface-area expander.December Is for Decisions: Rhea breaks down her two-step outreach process — the R for R.O. (Reason for Reaching Out), the alignment call, the opportunity call, and the art of making a clear ask and then staying quiet. January Is Your Pipeline Launchpad: Retention workflows, short donor surveys, micro-engagement signals, and a simple “schedule time with me” link in your email signature can dramatically increase donor conversations. Plus her favorite January homework: donor interviews that build your 2026 avatar and deepen relationships with zero solicitation pressure.This episode is packed with low-lift, high-impact tactics to help you close strong this year — and build a donor pipeline that carries you confidently into the next.Welcome back to Working Sessions: hands-on, clarity-filled conversations designed to help you move real work forward inside your organization.Let’s get to work.Episode Highlights: Four Quick Board Actions for Year-End Fundraising (00:58)Getting Your Nonprofit and Board Members on LinkedIn (03:39)Making Board Engagement Fun & Effective (04:01)Removing Friction: Scripts, Emails & Turnkey Tasks (05:08)How to Move Unengaged Board Members to Action (05:39)December is for Decisions: Triage Your Donor List (08:08) The Two-Call Strategy for Major Gift Closes (09:10)0:12:06 – Handling Objections & Building Consent at Every StepWhat to Do in January: Retention & Stewardship (14:25)Using Surveys & Engagement Data to Build Your Pipeline (15:16) Hot Prospect Lists & Calendar Link Pro Tips (17:43)Donor Interviews: Building Avatars & Deepening Relationships (18:15)Final Reflections, Resources, and Closing (19:27) Episode Shownotes: www.weareforgood.com/episode/665//Join the We Are For Good Community—completely free.Join fellow changemakers, share takeaways from this working session, and keep collaborating in a space built for connection, inspiration, and real impact: www.weareforgoodcommunity.com Say hi 👋LinkedIn / Instagram / Facebook / YouTube / Twitter

If creating content feels like a treadmill you can’t quite step off, this Working Session is your reset button. We brought in nonprofit marketing expert and author Julia Campbell to teach you how to build a simple, sustainable content calendar for your next two weeks — in under an hour.Julia walks us through her signature approach to content planning: one rooted in clarity, consistency, and choosing the platforms that actually support your goals. You’ll learn how to identify your core content buckets, repurpose stories across channels, and build a weekly rhythm that doesn’t burn you out.Top 3 Takeaways:Build Around Four Buckets: Impact, Engagement, Authority, and Human-Centered content give you a reliable weekly structure. When your buckets are clear, your content becomes far easier to plan.Work With Your Capacity, Not Against It: If you can’t build your content calendar in an hour, you're probably on too many platforms. Julia breaks down how to evaluate where your audience truly is, what each channel does best, and how to double down without overwhelm.Stories Are Your Anchor: One strong story each week — with a hook, emotional resonance, and mission clarity — can power multiple posts across multiple channels. Storytelling is the breadcrumb trail that leads supporters toward deeper understanding (and engagement).This episode is packed with low-lift, high-clarity tactics to help you show up consistently — without reinventing your content strategy every week.Welcome back to Working Sessions: hands-on, clarity-filled conversations designed to help you move real work forward inside your organization.Let’s get to work.Thank you to our partners 🩵Big gratitude to Givebutter, RKD Group, Whiteboard, and Sowen for their partnership in growing the Impact Uprising. If you’re searching for a new CRM, tech tool, brand partner, direct mail partner, or impact strategist— we’d love for you to start with our trusted recs. We’ve vetted them so you don’t have to. Head to weareforgood.com/recs to learn more.//Join the We Are For Good Community—completely free.Join fellow changemakers, share takeaways from this working session, and keep collaborating in a space built for connection, inspiration, and real impact: www.weareforgoodcommunity.com Say hi 👋LinkedIn / Instagram / Facebook / YouTube / Twitter

This week’s guest is Tania Bhattacharyya, a LinkedIn strategist and founder of Lumos Marketing, who empowers social impact leaders in online visibility. Tania highlights how nonprofits can utilize LinkedIn for year-end fundraising by spotlighting partners, using gratitude posts, and leveraging tagging for expanded reach. She advocates for engaging supporters through polls to gain insights and encourages the use of personal profiles rather than company pages for authentic outreach. Tania also shares tips on nurturing relationships with direct messages and voice notes.

Feeling worn down by work or wondering if your burnout is more than just stress? You’re not alone. In this episode, Lindsey Fuller is joined with Elandria Jackson Charles and Naomi Hattaway for a heartfelt conversation about how our jobs impact our wellbeing—and what to do when things start to feel overwhelming. Together, they explore real stories of burnout and offer gentle, practical tools for tuning into your own needs. Tap into how to recognize the difference between everyday discomfort and true harm, plus find fresh ways to rest and even reclaim joy amid the daily grind. Whether you’re considering a career shift, dreaming of consulting, or simply hoping to feel more balanced, this conversation will support you and give you thoughtful steps to move forward.Episode HighlightsExploring Self-Study and Burnout (02:57)The Importance of Nature and Grounding (05:31)Navigating Personal and Professional Seasons (08:22)Tools for Self-Care and Recovery (10:43)The Role of Agency in Time Management (13:47)Creating Protected Time for Wellbeing (16:54)The Power of Naming and Noticing (19:43)Zoom Out Somatic Practice (22:50)Understanding Workplace Dynamics (27:32)Differentiating Misalignment, Dysfunction, and Toxicity (28:49)Navigating the Transition to Consulting (35:20)Naomi and Elandria’s Affirmations (43:12) Episode Shownotes: www.weareforgood.com/episode/toxicworkplace//Join the We Are For Good Community—completely free.Join fellow changemakers, share takeaways from this working session, and keep collaborating in a space built for connection, inspiration, and real impact: www.weareforgoodcommunity.com Say hi 👋LinkedIn / Instagram / Facebook / YouTube / Twitter

If you want your year-end emails to stand out in the noisiest inbox season of the year, this Working Session is your new playbook. We brought in marketer and dynamic-content expert Caroline Griffin to break down the simple personalization shifts that make every donor feel seen—so your emails land, resonate, and inspire action.Top 3 Takeaways:Make Personalization Actually Personal — Go beyond “Hi {{ first_name }}.” Use giving history, donor status, or meaningful milestones to help supporters recognize their own impact—and feel connected to your mission.Segment Smarter, Not Harder — Data not perfect? No problem. Segmentation by donor behavior (last gift, last year, lapsed, monthly) allows you to tailor messages without relying on risky merge fields.Honor Donors by Adjusting Your Messaging — Once someone gives, they shouldn’t keep receiving asks during year-end. Excluding recent donors, or swapping in a gratitude version, strengthens trust and donor love.This episode digs into practical, approachable ways to bring more humanity and relevance to your year-end email strategy—no fancy tech required. Welcome back to Working Sessions: hands-on, clarity-filled conversations designed to help you move real work forward inside your organization.Let’s get to work.Episode HighlightsWhy Dynamic Content Is the Nonprofit Email Superpower No One’s Using (01:11)Beyond Merge Tags: Getting Creative With Donor Personalization (02:23)Using Giving History and Impact Data to Deepen Donor Relationships (03:13)Re-engaging Lapsed Donors Through Smart Dynamic Content (04:33)Data Accuracy Tips: What to Do When Merge Tags Go Wrong (05:10)Segmenting Donors Based on Recent Giving Activity (06:21)The Donor-Respect Rule: Excluding Recent Givers From Appeal Emails (07:39)Automating Segmentation and Exclusions in Your Email List (08:52)Seeing Year-End Emails Through the Donor’s Eyes (09:59)Episode Shownotes: www.weareforgood.com/episode/662//Join the We Are For Good Community—completely free.Join fellow changemakers, share takeaways from this working session, and keep collaborating in a space built for connection, inspiration, and real impact: www.weareforgoodcommunity.com Say hi 👋LinkedIn / Instagram / Facebook / YouTube / Twitter

If you need to close major gifts in the next five weeks, this Working Session is your new game plan. We brought in major gifts coach and CourageLab founder Julie Ordoñez to break down exactly who to ask, what to say, and how to step into these conversations with more courage, clarity, and conviction—especially during giving season.Top 3 Takeaways:Focus Beats Frenzy: Stop trying to reach everyone. Warm prospects—the people who’ve expressed support, encouragement, or interest in the last 3–6 months are the ones most primed to say yes right now.Courage Isn’t a Feeling, It’s an Action: Planning isn’t the work. Asking is. Discomfort is normal - and moving through it is the path to major gifts.Ask for More, With Less Guesswork: Vague asks create homework for donors. Clear, specific asks make giving easier and speed up decisions. When in doubt, ask for more than feels comfortable—and let humility guide the conversation.You'll leave this session with practical mindset shifts and scripts you need to move relationships forward today. Let’s get to work.Episode HighlightsHow to Identify Your Warm Prospects (01:29) Engaging Raving Fans and Supporters (05:38)How to Build Courage to Make the Ask (09:04) How to Ask for a Specific Amount (12:20) Julie’s One Good Thing (15:26) Episode Shownotes: www.weareforgood.com/episode/661//Join the We Are For Good Community—completely free.Join fellow changemakers, share takeaways from this working session, and keep collaborating in a space built for connection, inspiration, and real impact: www.weareforgoodcommunity.com Say hi 👋LinkedIn / Instagram / Facebook / YouTube / Twitter

If you want to raise more monthly gifts at year-end, this Working Session is your new playbook. We’re breaking down the simple changes that make recurring giving more visible, more compelling, and easier for your supporters to say yes to. Top 3 Takeaways: 1. Make Monthly Giving Impossible to Miss — Clear, separate buttons for one-time and monthly gifts can increase conversions by up to 45%. 2. Lead With Monthly Giving at Year-End — Put recurring giving front and center in your year-end messaging so supporters actually choose it. 3. Test Fast, Learn Fast — Small orgs have the advantage. Simple experiments in copy, ads, or donor journeys can unlock major monthly giving growth. This episode kicks off our new Working Sessions series — hands-on, clarity-filled conversations designed to help you move real work forward inside your organization. Let’s get to work.Episode Highlights:The Missed Opportunity: Not Asking for Monthly Gifts (00:42)Making Monthly Giving Visible: Website & Button Optimization (02:43)Reframing Annual to Monthly Giving (03:17)Success Story: Turner Syndrome Foundation’s Campaign (06:10)Working Session: Analyzing and Optimizing Current Plans (07:35)The Power of Strategic Website & Form Copy (08:14)Setting Accessible Monthly Gift Amounts (08:51)Humanizing Donor Communications (09:57)“Mind Movies”: Relatable, Impactful Storytelling (11:11)Practical Donor Engagement Tips for Email Outreach (12:10)Dana's One Good Thing: Team Engagement Exercise (13:38) Episode Shownotes: www.weareforgood.com/episode/660//Join the We Are For Good Community—completely free.Join fellow changemakers, share takeaways from this working session, and keep collaborating in a space built for connection, inspiration, and real impact: www.weareforgoodcommunity.com Say hi 👋LinkedIn / Instagram / Facebook / YouTube / Twitter

We know that gut-punch feeling when your time off ends and the peace you just earned starts draining away before Monday even hits. We've all been there. Here’s the thing: Returning to work shouldn't feel like a rush that undoes your rest.This week Lindsey is pulling back the curtain on how she makes rest non-negotiable, even after a big pause like an eight-week micro sabbatical. She's not just sharing ideas; she’s giving you the blueprint to design a mindful reentry, a process that is actually a nourishing ritual. Listen as she grounds her approach in the theme of Recovery as a Design Principle, sharing concrete examples from her own eight-week micro sabbatical to show you how to truly honor your rest instead of undoing it.It’s time to move past rigid "work-life balance" and embrace Work-Life Integration, designing flow that honors your mission and your humanity, choosing rhythm over rush. Episode Highlights: Lindsey’s Personal Approach to Returning After a Break (01:40)Five Key Re-Entry Rituals for Sustainable Return (06:28)Grounding Yourself: Jill’s 54321 Somatic Practice (10:08)Using the Parasympathetic System to Rest in Motion (12:22)Shifting from Work-Life Balance to Work-Life Integration (16:00)Actionable Homework for Designing Your Re-Entry (21:46)Reflective Journaling and Affirmations for Integration (22:07)Episode Shownotes: www.weareforgood.com/episode/restwithrhythmnotrush//Join the We Are For Good Community—completely free.Join fellow changemakers, share takeaways from this working session, and keep collaborating in a space built for connection, inspiration, and real impact: www.weareforgoodcommunity.com Say hi 👋LinkedIn / Instagram / Facebook / YouTube / Twitter