The NonProfit Nook

What would it mean for a child to tell the hardest story of their life just once, and then be surrounded by people working together to help them heal? That's the work happening every day at Children's Advocacy Center of Collin County. Kara Shrum is the Senior Donor Relations Manager there, and she's spent most of the last decade connecting donors, corporate partners, and volunteers to a mission sh...

What happens when the big check finally arrives and your organization isn't ready to hold it? Sharmon Lebby has seen it up close. She's the Founder and CEO of Blessed Designs Consulting, a nonprofit strategist with more than 20 years of experience, and she's currently serving as an interim executive director while running her own business. Ask her why more money doesn't automatically make an organ...

What happens when a victim of abuse finally makes the call, gets accepted into a shelter, and then can't get there? Sarah Nejdl asked herself that question in 2014. She was working a corporate job in technology and currency trading, scrolling social media one night, when she landed on a national survey showing that more than 14,000 victims were turned away from emergency shelters on a single day b...

What happens when a conversation among friends uncovers a need in your community that’s far bigger than anyone realized? For Angela Poen, Chair of Community Garden Kitchen, that moment came in 2014. Angela and a group of friends were talking about hunger when they learned just how many children and families in Collin County were experiencing food insecurity. They also discovered a gap: while food...

AI can save your nonprofit time—but where do you start without sacrificing the human relationships at the heart of your mission? In this episode of The Nonprofit Nook , Wendy Kidd sits down with Rachael Leventhal Garnett of EAAS AI to make AI feel practical, approachable, and useful for nonprofit leaders. They unpack the difference between AI and automation, how to identify repetitive tasks worth...

Is your nonprofit truly financially sustainable—or does everything just look okay because there’s still money in the bank? For a lot of nonprofit leaders and board members, financial reports can feel confusing, overwhelming, or like something to quickly review before moving on to the “real” work. But your financials are actually telling you a story about the health of your organization—and learnin...

What does it look like when a food pantry becomes more than a place to pick up groceries—and instead becomes a place where people feel seen, supported, and treated with dignity? In this Community Spotlight episode of Nonprofit Nook , Wendy sits down with Melody Krill, Executive Director of the Community Food Pantry of McKinney , to talk about the growing reality of food insecurity in North Texas a...

If social media feels like one more thing on your never-ending nonprofit to-do list, this episode is for you. I’m joined by Sheena Kalso, founder of Behind Your Scenes , a social media and video skills education company that helps established professionals show up on Instagram the way they already show up in real life. And Sheena understands the struggle firsthand: even while working as a social m...

From One Chapter to 400: Luke Mickelson on Scaling a Mission How do you grow a nonprofit from one local project into an international movement without losing the heart behind the mission? In this episode of The Nonprofit Nook , Wendy Kidd welcomes back Luke Mickelson , founder of Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP) , to pull back the curtain on what it really takes to scale a nonprofit. What started as...

In this episode of The Nonprofit Nook , Wendy sits down with nonprofit leader and marketing strategist Anh Nguyen to unpack the advice that always gets people's attention: "Don't start another nonprofit." Before you assume they're against new nonprofits, hear them out. Wendy and Anh explore why passion alone isn't enough to build a sustainable organization, why a 501(c)(3) is a tax designation—not...

Summary In this conversation, Wendy Kidd and E. Jeff Serrano discusses the nuances of corporate engagement for nonprofits, emphasizing the importance of building meaningful partnerships rather than merely seeking donations. He shares insights on how nonprofits can prepare for corporate partnerships, leverage in-kind contributions, and maintain long-term relationships with corporate sponsors. Jeff...

In this episode of The NonProfit Nook, host Wendy Kidd is joined by Andrew Lee from First United Bank to discuss the importance of cultivating strong relationships between nonprofits and their banks. With nearly 18 years of banking experience, Andrew highlights key benefits and strategies for nonprofits, emphasizing the importance of open communication and understanding the organization's needs. H...

In this episode of The NonProfit Nook, host Wendy Kidd welcomes back Kendria Taylor, a learning and development expert with over 20 years of experience. Kendria shares her insights on the importance of perception for nonprofit leaders, particularly focusing on the perceptions of Executive Directors by the public, board members, and staff. The discussion covers strategies for aligning personal beha...

Navigating Bookkeeping for Nonprofits: Tips, Tools, and Best Practices In this episode of The NonProfit Nook, host Wendy Kidd is joined by Kelsey Gleason, co-owner of Educated Bookkeeping, to explore the distinct challenges and strategies of bookkeeping for nonprofits versus for-profit businesses. They discuss the importance of understanding financial reports, customizing chart of accounts, and th...

In this episode of 'The NonProfit Nook,' host Wendy Kidd and guest Kendria Taylor, a learning and development expert, delve into the importance of creating a culture of feedback within nonprofit organizations. They discuss the definition and the significance of providing various types of feedback: reinforcing, redirecting, impact, and reflective. Kendria shares practical models such as the 'GOOD'...

Maximizing Impact: Inside the Communities Foundation of Texas and North Texas Giving Day In this episode of The NonProfit Nook, host Wendy Kidd converses with Heather Lothes, Donor Relations Officer at the Communities Foundation of Texas (CFT). The discussion focuses on the role and impact of CFT in North Texas, emphasizing its efforts to support local nonprofits and philanthropic activities. They...

In this episode, Wendy Kidd and Amy Jackson explore the importance of brand strategy for nonprofits and purpose-driven organizations. They discuss how a clear, authentic, and actionable brand foundation can simplify decision-making, improve consistency, and enhance community engagement. resources Amy's website: https://www.brandisnota4letterword.com/ Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/i...

In this insightful interview, Gabriela Norton, a strategic HR expert supporting nonprofits, shares practical strategies for building healthy workplace cultures, managing HR challenges, and implementing effective performance management. Discover how nonprofits can create sustainable, people-first environments with limited resources. keywords Nonprofit HR, workplace culture, performance management,...

summary Luke Mickelson shares his inspiring journey from small-town farm kid to founder of Sleep in Heavenly Peace, scaling a nonprofit that has delivered over 350,000 beds to children in need. He discusses the origins of his mission, the challenges of scaling, founder syndrome, and practical advice for nonprofit growth and leadership. key topics The origin story of Sleep in Heavenly Peace Scaling...

Robin Minick, a seasoned attorney and nonprofit leader, shares essential legal insights for nonprofits, emphasizing proactive legal planning, risk management, and building strong governance practices. Learn how to avoid common pitfalls and establish a solid legal foundation for your organization. resources Our Community Law - https://ourcommunitylaw.com https://www.linkedin.com/company/ourcommunit...

Wendy Kidd discusses red flags to watch for before and after joining a nonprofit board, offering practical solutions to build healthier, more effective boards. keywords nonprofit, board service, governance, leadership, organizational health key topics Red flags before joining a board Onboarding and structure for board members Role clarity and expectations Board engagement and accountability Commun...

Wendy Kidd explores the essential steps for successful nonprofit fundraising events, emphasizing planning before, during, and after the event to maximize impact and build lasting relationships. keywords nonprofit, fundraising, event planning, donor engagement, sponsorship, post-event follow-up key topics Pre-event goal setting and data analysis Targeted guest invitation strategies Securing sponsor...

Wendy Kidd shares the five biggest mistakes nonprofits make with their annual events and how to avoid them, focusing on branding, event flow, leadership roles, donation methods, and mission focus. keywords: nonprofit events, fundraising, event planning, nonprofit strategy, donor engagement key topics Event branding and visibility Creating a clear event timeline Role of leadership during events Eas...

In this episode, Wendy Kidd discusses the challenges nonprofit leaders face in establishing systems amidst their busy schedules. She emphasizes that systems are essential for creating time and reducing overwhelm. By starting with simple documentation of existing processes, leaders can gradually build effective systems that enhance organizational efficiency and sustainability. Wendy provides practi...

In this conversation, Wendy Kidd interviews Colleen Mier, the Executive Director of Foundation for C.H.O.I.C.E., a nonprofit organization dedicated to mentoring at-risk youth in North Texas. Colleen shares the origins of the foundation, its structured curriculum aimed at empowering students, and the importance of community engagement and volunteerism. The discussion highlights the transformative p...