Agents of Nonprofit

In this episode of Agents of Nonprofit, I talk with Matt Frank - Director of Technology Evangelism and Product Marketing at Blackthorn. Blackthorn helps to meet the needs of modern nonprofit organizations in meaningful ways through their Salesforce-native apps.Topics we cover include:What Blackthorn offers to nonprofits to help them succeedThe ethos of simplicity behind Blackthorn appsBlackthorn’s Salesforce-native apps that help nonprofits with Payments & Event ManagementEnabling organizations to prevent harmful data from entering the CRMThe emphasis on listening to potential customers to ensure mutual fitsHow Blackthorn predicts what their customers will need 18+ months in advance To learn more about Blackthorn & connect with Matt Frank:Blackthorn.ioMatthew Frank on LinkedInBlackthorn Events on Salesforce AppExchangeIf you enjoyed this podcast, please consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts, or your preferred podcast player. Thank you kindly!Support the show

BuildGood is a donor communications agency that helps nonprofits with done-for-you fundraising services and consulting. In this episode, Mike Duerksen, founder and CEO of BuildGood, joins me to discuss fundraising services, best practices, and much more. Topics we cover include:Mike’s journey to starting BuildGoodThe agency’s core services and outcomesPositive and negative indicators Mike considers when determining if a particular client is the right fitMike’s CRM and software recommendationsHow to build a community rather than just an audienceA look at the future of fundraising — and strategic moves to start making nowWhat Mike has learned from running two podcastsTo connect with Mike:BuildGoodThe Build Good Fundraising PodcastLinkedInIf you enjoyed this podcast, please consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts, or your preferred podcast player. Thank you kindly!Support the show

Donor Science Consulting helps nonprofits stay competitive through advanced data analytics. In this episode, Matthew Dubins, founder of Donor Science Consulting, joins me to discuss all things data science. Topics we cover include:How Matthew got started in data science and the nonprofit spaceWhy no organization can afford to ignore data scienceSome of the main services he offers, all centered around predictive modelingEthical considerations and privacy best practicesThe limits of what data science can’t — and shouldn’t — doImpacts he’s seen from COVID on the nonprofit industryTo connect with Matthew:Donor Science ConsultingLinkedInIf you enjoyed this podcast, please consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts, or your preferred podcast player. Thank you kindly!Support the show

Elements.cloud is a change intelligence platform that helps organizations get more out of Salesforce through analysis and documentation. In this episode, Ian Gotts, founder and CEO at Elements.cloud, joins me to discuss change intelligence and documentation best practices. Topics we cover include:The features and capabilities of Elements.cloud, including automated documentation, consolidating data in one place, and visualizationThe importance of documenting not just what changes were made, but whyWhat Ian refers to as the “Three Cs” of change intelligence: Content, Connections, and ContextWhat “technical debt” means and how Elements.cloud helps reduce it Simple steps to get started building up solid documentation practicesTo connect with Ian:Elements.cloudLinkedInIf you enjoyed this podcast, please consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts, or your preferred podcast player. Thank you kindly!Support the show

Wingate Group is a Salesforce consulting boutique serving clients throughout Canada and the USA. In this episode, Andrew Maruzzella, Director of Professional Services at Wingate Group, joins me to discuss the ins and outs of Salesforce consulting for nonprofits. Topics we cover include:What Salesforce used to look like in the past and how far it’s come sinceThe differences between a consulting boutique and a solopreneur consultantSome of the many hats that a Salesforce consultant wearsWhy we continue to do what we doThe specific values we each look for in team members — and why talent or skill isn’t necessarily the most important qualificationTo connect with Andrew:Wingate GroupLinkedInIf you enjoyed this podcast, please consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts, or your preferred podcast player. Thank you kindly!Support the show

Oxfam Canada, a member of the International Oxfam Confederation, works to end global poverty through fighting for womens’ rights. In this episode, Saleh Nur, IS and Analytics Specialist at Oxfam Canada, joins me to discuss the challenges and processes of working within such a multinational company in the nonprofit space, and how Oxfam Canada uses Salesforce as their central hub. Topics we cover include:How Oxfam handles communication among its international locations and functionsHow Oxfam Canada is tackling challenges such as data security, scalability, and data archiving Oxfam’s Unwrapped program and how it worksBenefits and challenges of using Salesforce, and how to decide if it’s the right platform for your companyLessons learned during the pandemicHow to get involved with the work Oxfam Canada is doingTo connect with Saleh:Oxfam CanadaOxfam UnwrappedLinkedInIf you enjoyed this podcast, please consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts, or your preferred podcast player. Thank you kindly!Support the show

LemonSkies helps nonprofit organizations create campaigns, plan strategically, and improve their messaging, and more. In this episode, Olga Woltman, Founder and Principal of LemonSkies, joins me to discuss how empathy drives every aspect of her work.Topics we cover include:Olga’s journey to working with nonprofits and founding LemonSkiesHow to handle change management with empathyHow to determine what technology and your organization needsOlga’s favorite philosophy for selecting a CRMChoosing the right marketing strategies for your nonprofitTips for fundraising and getting donors more involvedHow COVID has impacted fundraisingTo connect with Olga: LemonSkiesLinkedInIf you enjoyed this podcast, please consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts, or your preferred podcast player. Thank you kindly!Support the show

Vera Solutions works with social sector organizations to help them understand, track, and leverage data to amplify their impact. In this episode, Katrina Seidel, Director of Business Development at Vera Solutions, joins me to discuss their product Amp Impact and how they’ve served over 325 organizations so far. Topics we cover include:How Vera Solutions got its startThe benefits of using Amp Impact and how it compares to other products like Salesforce’s Program Management ModuleHow partnerships help Vera Solutions drive new opportunities and bring in new clientsWhat the product delivery process looks likeOther ways Vera Solutions works with organizations not using Amp ImpactThe future of Vera SolutionsTo connect with Katrina:Vera SolutionsAmp ImpactLinkedInTwitterIf you enjoyed this podcast, please consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts, or your preferred podcast player. Thank you kindly!Support the show

Talented and experienced Salesforce nonprofit consultant Sandy Hunter joins me to discuss some of the major topics of being a consultant in the nonprofit industry. We discussed topics such as:- How he got started working with NFPs - How great it feels to be part of a larger community- How he evaluates an existing Salesforce installation in order to make recommendations- His most favorite and least favorite feature within SalesforceTo connect with Sandy:Trailhead LinkedInTwitter If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts, or your preferred podcast player. Thank you kindly!Support the show

Prodly provides DevOps (Development Operations) services and tools to help organizations manage their day-to-day operations at a technical level. In this episode, Abby Malvestuto, Product Marketing Specialist at Prodly, joins me to discuss the key functions of Prodly and how it makes handling data and metadata simple, even for non-technically-inclined users. Topics we cover include:What DevOps are, and how Prodly fits into that definition through the use of SalesforceKey functions of Prodly and how it developed over timeHow Prodly makes data and metadata transfers easy and user-friendlyProdly’s process for working with partners, and why they do this for freePlans for future developmentsTo connect with Abby:ProdlyLinkedInIf you enjoyed this podcast, please consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts, or your preferred podcast player. Thank you kindly!Support the show