Nonprofit Lowdown

Diversifying your board - yup, it's time for that awkward convo! But it's so key for representing your community, getting new perspectives, and just making decisions with more empathy and cultural awareness. Am I right?In this episode, I chat with Andy and Mayowa from the National Science and Technology Medals Foundation about how they transitioned their board from pale and male 👴👴 to a diverse dream team! 🙌 Here are some nuggets of wisdom gleaned from our discussion: : To effectively diversify, you have to look beyond surface diversity to passion and abilities. Relationship building is clutch! Take time to connect with potential recruits before they join. Steward each member intentionally even after they've joined. Give diverse members multiple ways to add value, not just cutting checks. Offer options like volunteering, social media, and building networks. Lend recruiting support by doing prep work like LinkedIn searches and email templates. Meet them where they're at! Foster connections between members through fun social events outside meetings. Personal bonds help teams work together. “Set the aspirational goal of what you want the board to look like in terms of representation … diversity … skill set… [G]o for that. It's going to get frustrating but it's a worthy exercise.” - Andy Rathmann-Noonan “Some people really do not come from a place where there's generational wealth, but they have something to offer “ -Mayowa Awe It may get uncomfortable, and it will definitely take time and patience; but, diversifying your board will uplevel the impact and effectiveness of your org! Check out the episode for more practical insights on how you can diversify your board and have capacity while achieving the mission and vision of your NPO.  Important Links:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-rathmann-noonan-69081053/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayowaawe/ https://nationalmedals.org/

Ask and you shall receive! Making big fundraising asks doesn't have to feel scary or daunting. My brilliant guest Laura Fredricks shares her golden rules for powering through the fear of asking and inspiring donors to take action. Laura is a best-selling author and fundraising guru who helps organizations bring in the big bucks. As CEO and founder of The Ask, she's worked with over 100 nonprofits and raised over $100 million. Her new book Hard Asks Made Easy offers a practical guide to conquering your fear of “the ask.” In our conversation, Laura breaks down the art and science behind making compelling asks. Her 5P framework - incorporating purpose, pride, persistence, practice and pause - provides the perfect recipe for fundraising success. Laura's tips on shaping the ask, from identifying potential donors to crafting the pitch, are invaluable for nonprofits seeking to level up their fundraising strategy. The key is matching the ask to the individual while leading with authenticity. As Laura says, "The warmth in your tone, the presence of your style will invite the person to want to do what you're gonna ask." Her advice has taken the fear out of fundraising for organizations worldwide. Now it's your turn - listen up and start asking! Laura’s books helped me understand my personal asking style and the psychology of making the ask so that I could be confident and fearless in fundraising.  Important Links: Get Laura’s Book - Hard Asks Made Easy: https://www.amazon.com/Hard-Asks-Made-Easy-Exactly/dp/1642257079 Contact Laura: https://laurafredricks.com/

Could Facebook be an untapped goldmine for your NPO? Sean Kosofsky, a veteran nonprofit leader turned consultant, makes a compelling case for maximizing Facebook fundraisers. He shares hard-won insights on how to run effective peer-to-peer campaigns that leverage individuals' networks for fundraising wins. Sean emphasizes that with the right strategy, timing, and volunteers, these free tools can deliver big returns.  Worried about chasing low dollar gifts? I feel that! (You know I’m all about nurturing Major Gift Individuals 👌.) But, now that Facebook provides nonprofits with donor email addresses, retaining and nurturing these new supporters is much more feasible! Facebook fundraisers tap into personal networks and harness the power of peer-to-peer fundraising.  So, what do you say? Ready to give Facebook fundraising another shot? Listen to the full episode for the lowdown on Facebook Fundraisers and leave a review to hear more content like this! Important Links: Free Guide to Running Facebook Fundraisers: https://www.nonprofitfixer.com/8-expert-tips-to-raising-10k-with-facebook-fundraisers Blog Post: https://www.nonprofitfixer.com/nonprofit-fixer-blog/guide-to-facebook-fundraisers?rq=facebook Rhea’s Book - Get That Money, Honey!: https://go.rheawong.com/get-that-money-honey

Join me as I chat with Brooke Richie-Babbage, Cindy Wagman, and Jess Campbell about “How to stop chasing donors and 10x your thinking.” This episode feels a little different than past episodes not just because we’re coming to you from behind the steering wheel, but because these are some of my favorite non-profit ladies who really know their stuff when it comes to fundraising with the right mindset, the right strategies, and the right people in place. And they have the track record to prove that it works. Grab your favorite road trip snacks and hop right in while we talk about how you can start attracting like-minded individuals who will fund your vision gladly, not because they feel pressured to do so out of guilt, obligation, or simply to get you off their backs.  Discover: How you can change your scarcity mindset.  How you can tell stories that your donors actually want to hear.  How to fundraise without fear of rejection.  How to make friends with people who have the capacity to help.  And so much more…  Buckle up, enjoy, and please leave a review if you learn something new!  Important Links: https://brookerichiebabbage.com/ https://cindywagman.com/ https://www.outintheboons.me/

While the tides are changing for people of color in the corporate world, there’s this awkward space where pillars of the old system still stand ominous while the framework of a new system begins to take shape.  So where does that leave women of color in 2023? Do we gear up for an all-out war on the old system or don an every-woman-for-herself demeanor as we toss our fear aside and climb the corporate ladders to achieve our personal goals?  Perhaps we do a little of both?  Today’s guest is LaTresse Snead, author of When Black Women Rise, founder & CEO of Bonsai Leadership group, former ED, and fellow San Franciscan! LaTresse knows a thing or two about facing challenges and overcoming fear. LaTresse has worked for some of the biggest non-profit organizations in her 20-year career and helped raise more than two hundred million dollars in donations. These days, she pours her experience and knowledge into coaching leaders, upcoming leaders, and organizations in the non-profit space to become the best version of themselves. Join us as we talk about: The state of DEI efforts in corporate America in 2023 What it looks like to be a woman of color in leadership right now What corporations should or should not expect from people of color in regards to building their DEI strategy How to negotiate salary as a woman of color How to know if an organization is worth your time and energy The importance of surrounding yourself with a network of support And, of course, how to chase your dreams fearlessly “I started out very fearful in my leadership of speaking out. … And I noticed that once I started to just authentically speak up … it was so much more impactful. … [P]eople start to respect that more.” -LaTresse Snead Don’t forget to drop a review and subscribe for more content like this!  Important Links:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/latressesnead/ https://www.bonsaileadershipgroup.com/ https://www.amazon.com/When-Black-Women-LaTresse-Snead/dp/B0C8RG5834

How do we untangle the web of systemic racism and inherent bias that are deeply etched into our society's fabric? How do white individuals fit into this dialogue, and more importantly, confront their roles in perpetuating or combating racism? All of these big questions might sound daunting, but we’ve got answers that will put the wind back in your sail. Join me and my guest, Jen Mayer, founder of Becoming Better Together, as we dig deep to answer these pressing questions. Jen unpacks her journey of introspection, the importance of acknowledging and embracing mistakes, and how people, especially white individuals, can learn to be true allies. Tune in to find out what your role is in combating racism, without being performative—straight from the heart of a real visionary in racial justice. Important Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenmayersandoval/ https://www.becomingbettertogether.com/the-collective-3 https://course.becomingbettertogethercoaching.com/video-series?r_done=1

Hey friends and fellow nonprofit nerds! Get ready for a super fun and informative chat with my buddy Raj Thakkar. You may know Raj as the founding genius behind FOREsight Financial Services for Good. But did you also know he's the author of a brand-new book called Fiscally Secure?! Raj knows his stuff when it comes to helping nonprofits get their financial ducks in a row. And let me tell you, it is WAY more interesting than it sounds. Who knew analytics could be so uplifting? In this episode, we're talking all things budgeting, fundraising, and shaking that scarcity mindset! Raj shares his 10-step framework for getting – and staying – fiscally fit. I know it sounds intimidating but I promise it’s way more empowering than it is scary. We also dive into creative ways to build revenue that don’t involve emptying your bank account. Hint: the answer isn’t always hiring expensive development pros! Sometimes the best solutions are right under our quirky nonprofit noses. So pour yourself something fun (I’m drinking sparkling water with lime today!) and get ready to geek out on numbers. I promise you’ll be feeling inspired, not stressed, by the time our chat is done. Sound like your kind of episode? Then click play! Let’s get fiscally secure together, friends. “What I realized was there was actually a method to our madness and ended up calling it “The Fiscal Responsibility Method” where there's ten components to responsible financial management in the way we define it.” - Raj Thakkar Important Links:https://csbm.com/fiscally-secure/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/raj-thakkar-135b172/

We all know storytelling is a powerful way to move people and effect change on the important issues of today. But in the fundraising world, storytelling has gotten a bad rap. Poverty porn, sensationalism, and negative storytelling practices have left a bad taste in our mouths and, at times, exposed the very people we want to help. So how can we use the powerful language of storytelling to unify and empower communities rather than divide and conquer?  Join me today as I talk to Tara Dorabji, Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer for The Center for Cultural Power!  We talk about the need for value-aligned storytelling that is rooted in authenticity and how we can choose, gather, and elevate stories and storytellers to amplify and elevate diverse voices that can accelerate systemic cultural change.  We also dive into how to test and measure the impact of our influence so that our efforts don’t fall on deaf ears.  Tune in for an eye-opening discussion that just might put the joy back into your storytelling! “It's not just about one messenger. … [D]ifferent Messengers speak to different groups, so it's important to have a multitude of stories and to continue to test and … learn. And as culture shifts and people shift, the storytelling will change too.” - Tara Dorabji, Vice President of The Center for Cultural Power Important Links:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-dorabji-a364711/The Border Report 2023: https://www.culturalpower.org/stories/the-border-report-2023/

Social media is a modern-day jungle. If you don’t know who you are and what you want to say; the algorithms will eat you for breakfast. So what choice do non-profit folks have if we want to be heard above all the noise? Please, don’t tell me I have to dance... PLEASE don’t tell me I have to dance…  Not even a little, my non-profit fam!  For your sake and mine, today I’m joined by the marvelous Tania Bhattacharyya, founder of Lumos Marketing Co and host of Campfire Circle Podcast. She’ll tell us all about her experience in the non-profit world and her unmatched storytelling prowess on LinkedIn. Tania teaches underrecognized social impact leaders - coaches, consultants, service providers, and nonprofit execs - to build top of mind trust and community by sharing their stories on LinkedIn.   “What's beautiful about building a personal brand as a non-profit leader is you get to pick the audience that … lights you up and that you were put on this planet to make a difference for. And so often it is the person that you once were or still are. It's the person that you can become a guide for because you have trudged through that journey yourself and now you have some nuggets of expertise and advice and wisdom to pass on.” - Tania Bhattacharyya Tania champions the idea that you can be consistent and “lazy on LinkedIn” and still gain traction with people you want to meet. It’s all about resonance versus reach, and I can’t wait for you to soak it all in!   Get ready to hear practical tips for building your brand and cultivating legit relationships on LinkedIn through thought leadership–without doing a song and dance or an endless stream of meaningless content. Important Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tania-bhattacharyya/ https://lumosmarketing.co/podcast

Succession planning. We all know it’s a possibility, but none of us wants to think about it. What processes do you have in place to protect your organization from losing funding? How will you manage the optics and let funders know your organization’s values and vision won’t change just because one person steps down? Hint: Don’t make it all about you! Join me today as I talk to Cassie Haynes and Jean Friedman-Rudovsky, the powerhouse co-founders of Resolve Philly, to get the lowdown on how they emerged from a leadership transition after Cassie, a black co-founder, stepped down from her position to be closer to her newly widowed mother. Find out what strategies they used to mitigate damages, disperse responsibilities, and elevate staff members to positions of higher visibility so that the organization could continue affecting change to make Philidelphia’s journalism scene a more equitable and diverse playing field. “We have always prioritized the storytelling around our work coming from those who are carrying out the work. More and more folks on our team are… showing up at conferences to talk about the work. […] When our funders think about who Resolve is, they should think about 25 people.” - Cassie Haynes, Resolve Philly Cofounder Important Links: https://resolvephilly.org/