Nonprofit Everything

How do you prepare for Foundation staff coming to tour your facility, especially when they’ve been known to ask really tough questions? Stacey has some ideas! Also on the theme of preparing, we have some thoughts on the best way to be ready to take the leap into leadership of your organization. Finally, there’s an oddly specific question about the difference between for-profit corporat...

Two Guest Experts in a row?! Yes! Join Stacey as she talks to Tracy Gniewek of TGHR Consulting about the practicality of extending benefits to an employee who is exhausting their medical leave. Also, is it time to retire the Executive Committee for good? Andy and Stacey have some thoughts… Topics: Is our Executive Committee too engaged? – 0:00 Options for compassionate medical leave, w...

Join us this week as Stacy talks about volunteer handbooks with Guest Expert Almendra Johnson, Volunteer Director for Get Outdoors Nevada ! Also, what happens when a donor changes their mind about donating property? Yikes! Topics: Help! One of our donors wants his donated assets back! – 0:00 Rethinking the volunteer handbook, with Guest Expert Almendra Johnson of Get Outdoors Nevada –...

Our board wants to know the percentage of grants a typical organization wins so they can measure us against it. Is there one? Well, we certainly have opinions on that! Also, this week Stacey has some thoughts on how to figure out which programs to cut, and we talk about whether or not to rebudget when a new ED arrives. And hey! Join us on Discord! Topics: What percentage of grants should our grant...

One of our board members and prominent donors was involved in a newsworthy scandal and our organization remained quiet. Should we have said something? Stacey and Andy have thoughts! Also this week, we talk about how an executive director should handle a micro-managing founder, and answer an oddly specific question about stacking up consulting engagements. By the way, thanks for listening! We look...

This week: When a scammer called one of our donors pretending to be us, did we respond appropriately? Stacey has some thoughts. Also, is there value in using a search firm to help find our next Executive Director? And how do we deal with confidential employee complaints if they’re supposed to stay confidential? Join Andy and Stacey this week to find out! Topics: One of our donors got called...

Is it a huge red flag when an organization has no fundraising expenses reported on their 990? That sounds like an easy enough question, but instead Stacey and Andy get all in the weeds about output factors, the birth of Guidestar, bacon double cheeseburgers and the dreaded overhead ratio question on grant applications. Also discussed: the governance implications of board members in love. Don&#8217...

What are some board status quo things that need to change? Stacey has some ideas! Also, we have some strategies for helping a new manager that’s too quiet. Andy has thoughts on what financial policies are required, and we’ve included an encore answer (from June 2020) by Guest Expert John Waldron ! Topics: What should we do to shake up a static board? – 0:00 How do I handle a new...

What are the most important questions your board and staff should be able to answer about your organization? Stacey has some thoughts! Also, this week we talk about how to manage two very different employees, and continue our nonprofit startup conversation with a question about what a board member should look for in a startup nonprofit board. Topics: What questions about our organization should ou...

You’ve got the mission, you’ve got the board, you’ve got the business plan, you’ve got the 510(c)3 letter, now what? Stacey and Andy have some thoughts. Also, we find out whether or not you need written board reports, and once again wade into the shark-infested waters of finance vs. development. Topics: Is the finance team part of the development team or vice versa? –...

Join us this week for a discussion about common questions on federal grants with guest expert Lisa Ruiz-Lee . Also, is there a way to get my Board to use the resources we develop for them? Stacey has some thoughts! Topics: How can I get my Board to use the resources we develop? – 0:00 Common Federal Grant Questions with Guest Expert Lisa Ruiz-Lee – 6:30 Mentioned this week: The Allianc...

There’s just one big question this week: Are we wasting time generating reports and dashboards nobody ever looks at? And Guest Expert Jason Cho, of Prex Consulting has some ideas for Stacey! Topics: Are we over-reporting? – 0:00 Guest Expert Jason Cho with Prex Consulting ? – 12:55 Mentioned this week: The Alliance for Nevada Nonprofits Ask us a question Sponsor the podcast

How do you know when it’s time to leave a failing nonprofit? (Guess what answer Stacey gives!) Also this week, we talk about whether a board should set staff salaries, and Andy & Stacey get self-referential about podcasts and podcasting… Topics: How do I know when it’s time to leave a failing nonprofit? – 0:00 What role does the board have in setting staff salaries? &#...

Where do the responsibilities of the the board development committee start and fundraising staff start? Stacey has some thoughts! Plus, this week we find out when to process year-end donations, and how to keep up with the never-ending barrage of information that we need to know to keep current. Topics: How do I keep up with the everything I need to keep up with? It’s overwhelming! – 0:...

If the CEO is also the Board President, could we lose our nonprofit status? Stacey and Andy have the answer! Also this week, what to do about nonprofit management that overworks staff, and (alternately) how to handle a staff member that’s taking on too much responsibility. Topics: Will we lose our 501(c)3 if the CEO is also the Board President? – 0:00 Should unpaid staff time be part o...

Who should we thank if we get a donation from a retirement account but don’t know who the actual donor is? We have a few ideas. Also, this week Andy and Stacey combine a couple of Form 990 filing questions into one mega-question. Finally, we tackle the question on everyone’s mind: employee or independent contractor? And don’t forget to send us your questions! Topics: How do we th...

Video game streamers raised $90 million for charity in 2020. How do we get some of that?! We’re joined by Guest Expert Nick Lynch , CEO of Collidescope to talk about how nonprofits can get started working with social media influencers, streamers and brands. Topics: How can (and why should) we engage with social media influencers? – 0:00 Mentioned this week: Livestreams are the New Tele...

This week, Guest Expert April Mastroluca sets the record straight on lobbying and advocacy! Plus, what should an ED do if a board member recommends a job candidate you’re not thrilled about? We have opinions! And Stacey and Andy have some thoughts on how (and whether) to squeeze your vendors for donations to your organization. Topics: A board member is recommending a job candidate I don&#821...

It’s bad board member behavior week here at the Nonprofit Everything podcast! What should we do if a board member wants our ED to record a message talking about what a great board member they are (and oh, by the way, they’re running for office)? And how do you talk a board member out of their own program ideas? We have opinions! Also, Stacey and Andy talk about whether to market to con...

Should we follow up with a potential board member who expressed interest and then vanished? Stacey has opinions! Also, this week we talk about managing third-party fundraisers, whether there are any benefits to not paying down debt, and how to maintain an awesome work culture during a big expansion. Topics: Should we follow up with a board member who expressed interest and then vanished? – 0...

There's just one question this week, but it's an important one. Guest expert Miles Dickson of Nevada GrantLab joins us to talk about why Nevada nonprofits should be seeking out and applying for federal grants. Topics: Should we be applying for federal grants? With Guest Expert Miles Dickson of Nevada GrantLab - 0:00 Save the Date! The Alliance for Nevada Nonprofits 2021 Conference will be held at...

If you always skip the finance and accounting questions, maybe take a couple of weeks off! This week, Stacey talks with guest expert Jessica Sayles, CPA , Managing Principal at HRC about reporting in-kind donations on the Form 990, and Andy is of the shocking opinion that the internet is not a good place to learn nonprofit accounting. Finally, we reach all the way back to Episode 13 to answer a qu...

Is there really a difference between getting five stars and four stars with a ratings agency? We have opinions! Also, this week Andy has some thoughts on how to manage a check approval process in a tiny organization, and Stacey knows what to do when people keep connecting you to other people via email. Topics: How do I best follow up when being connected to someone else via email? – 0:00 Wha...

Should we write a MOU or a renter’s contract for use of our space? We have opinions! Also, this week Stacey has some thoughts about dealing with a board chair who wants to be CCd on all the ED’s emails, and we share some tips on starting a scholarship program. Topics: Help! The board chair wants to be CCd on every email! – 0:00 Should we use an MOU or a renter’s contract if...

It’s an overstuffed episode! This week, Andy has some thoughts on investing a surplus, Stacey counsels resolve in the face of a morale committee, and they both agree that tracking in-kind donations is worth the trouble. Plus, can the Form 990 really be a fundraiser’s secret weapon? Topics: Do I really have to participate in events organized by the morale committee? – 0:00 Should...