Small Nonprofit: Fundraising Tips, Leadership Strategies, and Community-Centric Solutions
Further Together: Fundraising Strategies for Nonprofit Organizations
Welcome to Small Nonprofit, the podcast designed for leaders, fundraisers, and advocates in the nonprofit sector who want to create real change. We provide small nonprofit organizations with strategies to enhance their fundraising campaigns, improve nonprofit governance, and implement ethical fundraising practices that resonate with today’s values-driven donors. Hosted by an experienced nonprofit consultant, Maria Rio, this show delves into the unique challenges of nonprofit fundraising and community-centric fundraising, providing tools for donor engagement and major gifts fundraising.👤 Who Should Listen?This podcast is perfect for anyone involved in a small nonprofit seeking practical advice on fundraising strategy, nonprofit leadership, and board accountability. Whether you're looking for innovative fundraising ideas for nonprofit organizations or trying to create an impact measurement framework that demonstrates your organization’s value, Small Nonprofit is here to guide you.🎤 Core Topics We CoverCommunity-Centric Fundraising: Learn how ethical fundraising practices can strengthen donor relationships, enhance donor engagement, and align your organization with values-based major giving principles. We’ll help you shift from a donor-centric model to one that prioritizes the community.Systemic Change and Governance: From participatory budgeting to nonprofit board of directors best practices, we explore how to navigate the nonprofit industrial complex and embrace structures that foster diversity in nonprofit leadership and board accountability.Preventing Nonprofit Burnout: Tackle topics such as nonprofit burnout prevention and learn how to cultivate a healthy, anti-oppressive work culture that supports your team’s well-being.Nonprofit Storytelling: Understand how to measure your nonprofit’s effectiveness through nonprofit impact measurement strategies and leverage nonprofit storytelling to create compelling narratives that attract donors.📣 Engaging Conversations and Real-World AdviceIn each episode, we bring you insights from experts in fundraising consulting, nonprofit grant writing, and capital campaign strategies. From interviews with fractional fundraisers and major gift officers to deep dives on fundraising tips and innovative fundraising ideas, we offer actionable advice that you can implement immediately to strengthen your organization’s impact.💰 Learn How to Build a Sustainable NonprofitEvery nonprofit leader faces the challenge of achieving financial sustainability. Our episodes address critical fundraising strategies for nonprofit organizations, providing insights on volunteer management, capacity building, and nonprofit marketing strategy. Gain access to tools that help you execute successful fundraising campaigns and build a foundation for long-term growth.🤝 Join the Movement for Systemic ChangeAt The Small Nonprofit, we’re committed to transforming the nonprofit sector from the ground up. Our focus on systemic change and community-centric fundraising aligns with our mission to support nonprofits in creating equitable, sustainable communities. By addressing topics like values-based decision making and nonprofit transparency, we’re working to build a more ethical, inclusive sector.❤️ Stay ConnectedSubscribe to Small Nonprofit on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or your preferred podcast platform. Don’t miss an episode as we explore everything from fundraising tips to nonprofit social media strategy, and learn how you can become a stronger advocate for your organization’s mission.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Feb 10, 2020 • 27min
supporting parents in the workplace with Lacey Kempinski
I’ve had to hire my fair share of staff over the years and I’m embarrassed to say how many times I’ve heard someone comment, “we can’t hire her, she’s going to have babies soon.”This was said to me pre-kids (as I was thinking of starting my own family), and since I’ve had kids (my two sons are now 5 and 8). It’s been said by men and women. Young and old. Parents and non-parents.When today’s podcast guest, Lacey Kempinski, had her own children and started to explore the need for balance in her life, she quickly found that most workplaces, certainly everywhere but specifically in our sector, are really not that parent-friendly.What do women and other parents experience in the workplace and how do we change that to ensure that we have happy and healthy employees (and therefore productive and effective staff)? Take a listen!For access to the show notes and resources, click here.Liked this episode? Have an idea? Send us a text HERE :)Support the show
Feb 3, 2020 • 39min
how to work with students with Peter Moscone and Catherine Brassard
Is it really worth having interns and students? Sometimes it can feel hit or miss making it feel like you're adding to your workload instead of having a great mentorship experience.In this episode, we're speaking with Peter and Catherine from Seneca360, a program that matches yourself with a skilled student who can support very specific project-based work. With both the perspectives of a mentor and a student, tune in to learn their insights on how to approach a mentorship program with success and how Seneca360 can sponsor a motivated student to complete quality work for you (without costing you a dime!)For access to the show notes and resources, click here.Liked this episode? Have an idea? Send us a text HERE :)Support the show
Jan 27, 2020 • 32min
aligning your board with Patricia Bradshaw
Did you know that I’m psychic? I can tell whether or not you have challenges with your board of directors. Let me look into my magic ball. The answer is “yes” - your board is not functioning as well as it could or should be.While you may be in awe of my incredible powers, the reality is that we know most small organizations have some struggles with their boards. Or their boards have struggled with their organizations. Or both simultaneously.Today’s podcast features Dr. Patricia Bradshaw, who studies nonprofit boards and shares with you some tools to identify the type of board you have (there are many types) and how you can optimize effectiveness with that type of board.For access to the show notes and resources, click here.Liked this episode? Have an idea? Send us a text HERE :)Support the show
Jan 23, 2020 • 41min
Live from Happy You Year - Shiny Object Syndrome with Simon Scriver
Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and now TikTok - do you often feel pressure to get your organization on the latest trend? Whether that's from your board or the organization itself, it seems like everyone wants you to be on every single platform there is.Tune in to our live conversation from Happy You Year as we chat with Simon Scriver, host of Simon Scriver's Amazingly Ultimate Fundraising Superstar Podcast, about Shiny Object Syndrome. Learn about how to confidently (and successfully) say no, how to evaluate whether a trend is right of you and much more!Liked this episode? Have an idea? Send us a text HERE :)Support the show
Jan 20, 2020 • 35min
networking that feels good with Paul Nazareth
So today's guest really needs no introduction - we think everyone knows Paul Nazareth. He's been on the podcast before and he is, we believe, one of the most influential people in our sector in Canada. We've talked with him before about planned giving, but today we're going to talk to him about something that I actually think is even more uncomfortable for most people than even planned giving - networking! If you're cringing or feel a little nauseous, you're not alone!Tune in to learn how to network without feeling icky, increase your social capital and create more meaningful connections without worrying about business cards!For access to the show notes and resources, click here.Liked this episode? Have an idea? Send us a text HERE :)Support the show
Jan 13, 2020 • 37min
Values-centered planning with Beth Jordan
Happy New Year and Happy New Decade! We're kicking off season four of The Small Nonprofit with Beth Jordan, founder and principal of Adobe Consulting Services. This week we're talking about alignment - how we look forward and internally within our organizations to focus on being aligned with our core values as an organization. We've had lots of conversations around strategy and planning on the podcast before but I feel like this is a really fresh take as a values centred company working with a lot of values centred charities and nonprofits. This approach really sits well with how we think about our work and I know a lot of our clients think about their work.Tune in to learn all about how we make sure that all the things we're doing in our organization reflect our values, how to measure and audit this, and how you can use this to improve your staff, donor and client engagement.For access to the show notes and resources, click here.Liked this episode? Have an idea? Send us a text HERE :)Support the show
Dec 9, 2019 • 34min
Creating culture with Maryann Kerr
When we think about our organizational culture, we refer to a nice culture deck then we're good to go. However, we know that what's on that deck isn't always reflective of how things are practiced or how things get done - a huge problem in our sector!In this episode, we chat with Maryann Kerr, Chief Happiness Officer/CEO of The Medalist Group, who is on a mission to call organizations out on this disconnect and to give them some tools to help them move towards more cohesion and be the kind of a workplace they say they want to be. Tune in to learn how to create a healthier culture, attract and keep the right employees for the job and meet your goals more efficiently!For access to the show notes and resources, click here.Liked this episode? Have an idea? Send us a text HERE :)Support the show
Dec 2, 2019 • 56min
10 steps to upgrading your website with Kristi Porter
Have you ever been on a website where you just click and then you don't know where you came from? You don't understand where things are and then you keep clicking and can't get back to where you want to go? If you haven't updated your website in the last month, chances are, your audience is having the same experience with your website. In this episode, we're chatting with Kristi Porter from Signify Solutions about the top mistakes we're doing with our websites. Tune in as we debunk myths around your website and offer practical tips that you can use to update your ideal website today!For access to the show notes and resources, click here.Liked this episode? Have an idea? Send us a text HERE :)Support the show
Nov 25, 2019 • 43min
Building for inclusion with Christina Sackeyfio
Anti-oppression, anti-racism, inclusion is an important conversation for our organization and there's so much work to be done around this. This interview with Christina Sackeyfio, Principal of Boldly Inclusive, articulates that space between an articulated inclusion or diversity effort and what you're actually putting into practice. Tune in to learn how to identify and address oppression, how to create an inclusive culture and how to benchmark your organization's effort on inclusion and diversity so you can track your efforts.For access to the show notes and resources, click here.Liked this episode? Have an idea? Send us a text HERE :)Support the show
25 snips
Nov 18, 2019 • 43min
Playing to Win - a strategy framework with Josie Fung
Strategy. It’s one of those things we all know is important, but we never find the time to do it properly. We're so used to the inertia of our work and it's really hard to make time to undertake a strategic planning process. Today's guest is Josie Fung the Executive Director of I Think, which is a program based out of the Rotman School of Business at the University of Toronto. I'm really excited to have her on the podcast talking about “playing to win,” which is a framework that helps us think about our strategic planning and aspirations. For access to the show notes and resources, click here.Liked this episode? Have an idea? Send us a text HERE :)Support the show
