Nonprofit Lowdown

Join me and expert fundraiser Adam-Michael Royston as he unlocks the vault on some of his secrets.  He's raised serious money for capital campaigns and annual campaigns and he shares some of his stories from the trenches.  We dive deep on details on how he prepares for the ask, where he does it and what happens when things don't go his way.  The big takeaway here is that Adam-Michael knows that his job is to prepare and to swing at the ball, not to get too in-his-head about the outcome. For more about Adam Michael, check out: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-michael-royston-cfre-/

Y'all!  This episode is fire.  My friend and new BFF Mallory breaks down how we embody energy that either attracts or repels money.  We talk about the different types of energy, how to harness the energy and, most importantly, tips that you can employ to help you get out of the funk.  This is one of my favorite conversations with Mallory (who has amazing energy btw:)  Check it out! For more about Mallory: https://malloryerickson.com/

In order for someone to remark on something, it must be remarkable.  Michelle, Executive Director of the Human Services Council, and I talk about their last video campaigns.  In it, they had the courage to claim an edge and to use humor to make their point.  Facts: we don't need another boring, canned nonprofit video.  In this interview, Michelle talks about the creative process, how the videos have been received and how they have made a point using humor.  The takeaway: the work is serious, but you don't have to be.  Listen to this as inspiration and courage to plan your next campaign. To see the videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gELZnORV4U To connect with Michelle: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-jackson-03a1a648/

Andrea is a Managing Partner at BDO which releases an annual State of Nonprofits report.  Join us as we discuss trends from 2020-2021 and opportunities and risks for 2022.  Will individual and foundation giving trends persist?  What risks should leaders be aware of and how can we mitigate them? What is the role of technology in the future of nonprofits.   For more about Andrea, connect: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-espinola-wilson-74a1507/ To read the report: https://www.bdo.com/insights/industries/nonprofit/nonprofitstandards

Join me and my friends as we tackle the big questions: what does "disrupting" fundraising really mean in theoretical and practical terms?  How do we develop our own theories of change and operation beyond the frameworks of "donor-centric" versus "community-centric" fundraising?  This trio is a masterclass in asking important questions, practicing fundraising as justice and daring to dream of a just future for all.  I am blown away by my guests and their thoughtful approaches to fundraising for a more equitable world.   For more about my guests: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stella-billings-4087b860/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/santana-moreno/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgesuttles/

Join me and my long-time friend Gabe Scheck to talk about how to successfully open, cultivate and solicit gifts from foundations.  Gabe has raised money for Teach for America and New Leaders among others and shares his top tips for raising major money.  He shares some early lessons learned, his guidance for how to network in order to get a warm intro and how to get the lead funder in.  Gabe is a fount of knowledge and a whole lot of fun. To connect with Gabe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabe-scheck-5260925/

Join me and my friend Darren Isom as we discuss the case for endowing Black-led nonprofits.  Darren published a thought-provoking piece in the Stanford Social Innovation Review on this topic and we do a deep dive on how we can shift the conversations from the myths and unhelpful narratives that keep Black-led nonprofits from growing endowments.  In this conversation, Darren offers up helpful tips on how we think about funding partners, shifting the conversation and elevating the conversations to trustees.  Instead of surviving, endowments help organizations to thrive. For more about Darren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/disom/ To read Darren's whitepaper: https://ssir.org/articles/entry/endow_black_led_nonprofits

Join me and adventurer, writer, environmentalist and former Patagonia executive Rick Ridgeway as talk about his many adventures and his experience in building Patagonia's famous corporate culture.  We talk about the hows and whys of his decades at Patagonia and how his adventures have informed his leadership.  This is a really fun conversation and I hope it inspires you to go outside and have fun in nature. For more about Rick, visit: https://rickridgeway.com/

Did you know that 5% of your supporters and responsible for 100% of your word-of-mouth referrals?  Do you know how to engage and activate your best supporters?  What is the role of a CRM system in engaging your supporters?  Join me and Hilary Doe of Nationbuilder to talk about how to start, nurture and leverage networks on behalf of your nonprofit.  We discuss common misconceptions about worrying too much about your brand and the fine balance between structure and freedom to take your network to the next level. For more about Hilary, visit: https://nationbuilder.com/hilary For more about Susan Fiske: https://www.fiskelab.org/

#realtalk: I never pursued government funding for my nonprofit because I was always so deterred by the administration.  It all seemed so complicated and bureaucratic that I never invested the time and energy to pursue it.  Enter Patrice Davis.  Patrice is a government grants expert who demystifies the process and has valuable information about new money through the America Rescue Plan Act that presents an UNPRECEDENTED amount of money to qualified nonprofits.  You literally cannot afford NOT to listen to this one. For more about Patrice, visit: https://grantsworks.com/about/ For more about ARPA: https://www.whitehouse.gov/american-rescue-plan/