Nonprofit Everything

What’s the best way to condense the massive impact our organization has into a easily digested social media clip? Stacey and Andy have some thoughts! Also this week, we (kinda) talk about how to find an easy to use accounting package for nonprofit organizations and dig into an uncomfortable story about a board overreacting to a personnel issue. Thanks for joining us this week, and please take the time to send us any and all questions to questions@NonprofitEverything.com. By the way, the show notes have good stuff this week, too. Topics: Advice on easy to use nonprofit accounting software? – skip to this question Help! A staff member went to the board with a personnel issue! – skip to this question How do we distill our impact down for use on social media? – skip to this question Mentioned this week: National Council of Nonprofits Impact of Executive Orders Five Steps to Responding to the Federal Funding Freeze (Dondra Ward Uzoka) Donor Communication Tips During Times of Crisis (Lisa Sargent) Impact of Presidential Action on the Nonprofit Sector (Arnold Porter) Review us on Apple Podcasts! Review us on Spotify! Review us on Podchaser! Hang out with us on Discord! Ask us a question Sponsor the podcast

Isn’t it a huge waste of effort to be a nonprofit once you consider the compliance, reporting and donor rules? For an organization just starting out, couldn’t we serve our mission more efficiently if we didn’t have to bother with all that? Stacey and Andy definitely have some thoughts on this! Also this week, we talk about whether Event Planners are important when designing a fundraising event, and find out how to deal with a board member who has gone MIA. Thanks for joining us this week, and don’t forget to send your questions to questions@NonprofitEverything.com. Topics: Tips for working with an event planner for a fundraiser? – skip to this question Why even be a nonprofit? – skip to this question How do we not re-elect an under-performing board member? – skip to this question Mentioned this week: Review us on Apple Podcasts! Review us on Spotify! Review us on Podchaser! Hang out with us on Discord! Ask us a question Sponsor the podcast

Are there fundamental differences between the board responsibilities of an arts nonprofit and a regular old charitable one? This week Andy is joined by guest expert and author of Scene Change Alan Harrison to get this question answered properly. You might need to listen twice, because this episode goes deep — court cases clarifying nonprofit law, the patronage system, and whether “art for arts sake” qualifies as a charitable mission. Thanks again for joining us this week! Please send us your questions and check out the show notes at NonprofitEverything.com. Topics: How are nonprofit arts organizations different? With Guest Expert Alan Harrison – skip to this question About Alan: Alan Harrison is a writer, father, performer, consultant, recovering artist, and the author of the industry best-seller “Scene Change: Why Today’s Nonprofit Arts Organizations Have to Stop Producing Art and Start Producing Impact” and “Scene Change 2: The Five REAL Responsibilities of Nonprofit Arts Boards.” For 30 years, he has led, produced, directed, promoted, raised money for, starred and failed in over 300 theatrical productions on and Off-Broadway and at prestigious (and not so prestigious) nonprofit arts organizations across the country. He’s also a two-time “Jeopardy!” champion so, you know, there’s that. The arts invoke passion (mostly from artists), but nonprofit arts are only successful when they result in measurably positive change among those that need it most. When a nonprofit’s donors are also its recipients, then its mission devolves into meaningless puffery, flapdoodle, and codswallop. Mentioned this week: Scene Change & Scene Change 2 The actual text of section 501(c)3 Plumstead Theatre Society, Inc., Petitioner v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, Respondent Review us on Apple Podcasts! Review us on Spotify! Review us on Podchaser! Hang out with us on Discord! Ask us a question Sponsor the podcast

How do you keep from being the subject of a negative news story? Stacey and Andy have some thoughts. Also this week, we talk about what a better set of nonprofit financial statements looks like. Thanks for joining us this week (and this entire year!), and please send your questions to questions@NonprofitEverything.com. Topics: Avoiding negative news stories – skip to this question Are there better financials? – skip to this question Mentioned this week: Review us on Apple Podcasts! Review us on Spotify! Review us on Podchaser! Hang out with us on Discord! Ask us a question Sponsor the podcast

How do we attract and retain younger board members? Stacey and Andy have some thoughts. Also this week, we talk about how to engage with new pro sports teams (or any new companies) coming to your town. And finally, we share some tips for making sure you don’t have a bad experience when working with a consultant. Thanks for joining us this week, and please send your questions to questions@NonprofitEverything.com. Topics: Connecting to new pro sports teams in town? – skip to this question Adding younger board members? – skip to this question Tips for working with consultants? – skip to this question Mentioned this week: Review us on Apple Podcasts! Review us on Spotify! Review us on Podchaser! Hang out with us on Discord! Ask us a question Sponsor the podcast

Are there things we need to know when bringing in our first ever board? Stacey has thoughts. Also this week, we talk about internal controls for an organization with one staff member, and whether or not to submit a report for a grant that doesn’t actually require one. And finally, Andy gets tricked into answering a question about gala auctioneers. Thanks for joining us this week, and please send your questions to questions@NonprofitEverything.com. Topics: Should we submit a grant report when one isn’t required? – skip to this question Help! We need to set up our first ever board! – skip to this question Can the emcee be the auctioneer, too? – skip to this question Are there appropriate internal controls for a staff of one? – skip to this question Mentioned this week: Review us on Apple Podcasts! Review us on Spotify! Review us on Podchaser! Hang out with us on Discord! Ask us a question Sponsor the podcast

How do you encourage donors to fund capacity building and not just programs? Stacey and Andy have some thoughts! Also this week, we talk about whether or not there is a best practice around reserve spending, and share some ideas about inspiring high school students to join us in our nonprofit missions. Thanks for being here this week, and don’t forget to send your questions to questions@nonprofiteverything.com. Topics: Inspiring the next generation – skip to this question Is there a best practice on reserve level and spending? – skip to this question How do you encourage a donor to fund capacity building? – skip to this question Mentioned this week: Review us on Apple Podcasts! Review us on Spotify! Review us on Podchaser! Hang out with us on Discord! Ask us a question Sponsor the podcast

Is there a difference between a nonprofit’s “story” and its “elevator pitch?” Stacey has some thoughts. Also this week, we talk about criteria for a recognition wall, and a really big one: how the heck do you get boards to ask more (intelligent) questions!? Thanks for joining us this week, and please send your questions to questions@NonprofitEverything.com. Topics: Storytelling vs. an Elevator Pitch – skip to this question Who to include on a recognition wall? – skip to this question How do you get the board to ask more questions? – skip to this question Mentioned this week: Review us on Apple Podcasts! Review us on Spotify! Review us on Podchaser! Hang out with us on Discord! Ask us a question Sponsor the podcast

After starting a brand new nonprofit and filing the paperwork, what’s next? Stacey and Andy will get you pointed in the right direction. Also this week, we talk about things to think about when hiring your first ever development professional, and whether or not it is appropriate to have a staff member also serve on the organization’s board. Thanks for joining us this week, and please don’t forget to send your questions to questions@nonprofiteverything.com! Topics: We’re a brand new nonprofit. What’s next? – skip to this question What should we know when hiring our first development professional? – skip to this question Can a staff member serve on the board, too? – skip to this question Mentioned this week: SCORE (Free) Business Mentors Candid – Nonprofit Resources Review us on Apple Podcasts! Review us on Spotify! Review us on Podchaser! Hang out with us on Discord! Ask us a question Sponsor the podcast

Are donor advised funds good or evil? That’s a big question, and Stacey and Andy definitely have some thoughts. Also, we talk about strategies for filling vacant committee leadership positions (it’s tough!) and Stacey has some tips for getting a geographically dispersed board all on the same page. Thanks for joining us this week, and don’t forget to send any and all nonprofit questions to questions@nonprofiteverything.com! Topics: Is there such a thing as team building for boards? – skip to this question Help! We’re having trouble filling vacant board committee positions! – skip to this question What’s the deal with donor advised funds? – skip to this question Mentioned this week: Review us on Apple Podcasts! Review us on Spotify! Review us on Podchaser! Hang out with us on Discord! Ask us a question Sponsor the podcast