Nonprofit Everything

This week's question gets an unexpected and inspiring answer from Guest Expert Margo Walsh, Founder and CEO of MaineWorks. MaineWorks is an innovative employment company with a social mission: to dignify the experience for people who face real barriers to workforce reentry, including people recovering from substance use disorder and people with felony convictions. Join us for a fascinating discussion that covers inclusive hiring, retention, and promoting from within.

Now that hybrid work environments are everywhere, is it possible to regain some of our pre-Covid culture? We have a few ideas. Also this week, Stacey talks about checking references for joining your development committee, and remarkably, Andy and Stacey agree on how to respond to an unusual donor communication!

Raiser's Edge or Salesforce? Or something else? This week, Stacey is joined by Guest Expert Peter Schiano, Senior Consultant at Tech Impact. Not only does Peter address how to select a CRM solution, he provides some great insights on software acquisition, customization, pitfalls, and a drops a mean mythology metaphor. Other topics include: How do I right size my solution for my growing nonprofit? Is there any unbiased analysis available? And where can I get some free stuff?

What is it about donors that make them want to give you the stuff in their garage instead of the sweet, sweet cash that we desperately need? We've got some ideas! (Spoiler: Andy mentions agency theory again.) Also this week, we delve into the Byzantine hellscape that is municipal code to determine exactly what to put on a single line of a required form. And Stacey provides some clarity on a technical board question about majorities.

Every once in a while we get a question that just warms our little hearts. And this week, a new nonprofit is already thinking about avoiding founder's syndrome! Also, we talk about whether or not passthrough grants are allowed to be anonymous, and Stacey has some thoughts about how to avoid going after grants you really shouldn't be going after.

A couple of weeks ago we talked about accidentally restricting donations with an appeal, and this week week we continue the theme! Stacey talks to Guest Expert Barbara O'Reilly, CFRE, Founder and Principal of Windmill Hill Consulting, LLC about how to write specific fundraising appeals while still keeping contributions undesignated. Also this week, Stacey stumps Andy with a question about non-financial conflict of interest policies.

It's the last episode of 2022 and we crammed in four whole questions! This week, Andy mentions about a few nonprofit-specific year-end accounting tasks (don't worry, it's short). We also answer a question about accidentally restricting donations, and talk up the benefits of a consent agenda for your board. Finally, we're pretty sure someone lobbed us a question just to get us worked up for our end of year show.

Doesn't it seem weird that the people most affected by a change in leadership are the ones with no say in the matter? Stacey and Andy seem to think so. Also this week, Stacey has some ideas about how to use storytelling in your appeals when you're too new to have actual stories. Finally, Andy gets completely triggered by what could have been a simple math question, but instead turns into a history lesson about internal controls. (It's better than it sounds.) Join us!

When a funder asks for a single number for the "budget", what exactly do they want? We have some thoughts! Also, this week we turn a question about red flags to watch out for when considering an ED position into an excuse to complain about things! Finally, if you're having trouble sleeping, Stacey and Andy have just the IRS publication for you!

Since it can be hard to find development staff, does it make sense to try to convert program staff into fundraisers? Stacey has some thoughts! Also this week, we find out if there are different rules when raising money for a private operating foundation, and what core activities a nonprofit should stick to when facing an economic downturn.