A Modern Nonprofit Podcast

Brandon Peacock survived a drive by shooting, was told he'd never walk again, and went on to run an Ironman. But this episode isn't about his comeback. It's about what he learned after: that being the face, the fundraiser, and the operator of his own nonprofit was quietly burning him out. Tosha Anderson and Brandon talk honestly about nonprofit founder burnout, the guilt of stepping ba...

What if your team's performance problems are actually a leadership problem? Tiffany Slater, founder and CEO of HR TailorMade, joins Tosha Anderson for a frank conversation on why teams underperform and what nonprofit leaders are missing. They dig into onboarding, unclear expectations, accountability systems, and the hard question of when to coach versus when to move on. Tiffany and Tosha also...

Most nonprofit leaders know what burnout feels like. But not everyone burns out the same way. In this episode, Tosha Anderson sits down with Britt Stockert, Certified Fundraising Executive and coach at Donorbox, to talk about something that rarely comes up in the nonprofit leadership conversation: neurodivergence and the invisible workload it creates. Britt and Tosha both share their own experienc...

Your press release is not getting picked up because it's written for you, not for the journalist. In this episode of A Modern Nonprofit Podcast, Tosha Anderson talks with Mickie Kennedy, founder of eReleases, about what actually makes a nonprofit press release work. They cover the story arc journalists want to see, how to pitch local media with no budget, why your quotes are probably too safe,...

Nonprofit burnout is real and nonprofit leaders are carrying more than ever before. In this episode, Tosha Anderson sits down with productivity coach and Winning the Week co-author Demir Bentley to talk about sustainable leadership, weekly planning, productivity systems, and how nonprofit professionals can stop living in constant overwhelm. If you constantly feel behind, struggle to disconnect fro...

Most nonprofits have a budget. But very few are actually using it to make better decisions. In this episode of A Modern Nonprofit Podcast , Tosha Anderson sits down with CFO Pat Fisher from The Charity CFO to break down what effective nonprofit budgeting really looks like. This is not about spreadsheets. It is about strategy. You will learn: Why every nonprofit needs a board-approved budget The bi...

Are you constantly chasing funding but still struggling to build sustainable growth? In this episode of A Modern Nonprofit Podcast, Tosha Anderson sits down with Drew Reynolds, Principal Consultant at Common Good Data, to break down why so many nonprofits are stuck in the funding trap and what to do about it. With increasing funding uncertainty and limited capacity, nonprofit leaders are being for...

Grant Writing in 2026 Is Harder Than Ever - Here’s How to Adapt Federal funding volatility. Private foundations acting like contracts. Massive nonprofits competing for $5,000 grants. And now AI flooding the system with applications. In this episode of A Modern Nonprofit Podcast, Tosha Anderson sits down with Dr. Krista Kurlinkus to unpack the state of grant seeking in 2026 and what nonprofit leade...

Why Are Donors Disappearing? Here’s What Nonprofits Must Change Only 20% of first-time donors give again. That means for every 100 new donors you acquire, 80 disappear. Is it donor fatigue? The economy? AI? Federal funding volatility? In this episode of A Modern Nonprofit Podcast , Tosha Anderson and donor strategist Erin Straza unpack the real reasons donors don’t return - and what nonprofit lead...

Is federal funding coming back? Should your nonprofit apply for federal grants in 2026? And what are the new compliance risks you need to understand before submitting an application? In this episode of A Modern Nonprofit Podcast, Tosha Anderson sits down with federal funding expert Fielding Jezreel to unpack the current state of federal grants as of February 2026.After a turbulent 2025 filled with...

Data doesn’t have to feel like a burden. In this episode of A Modern Nonprofit Podcast , Tosha Anderson talks with Kayla Meyers, Founder of Bridgepoint Evaluation, about how nonprofit leaders can move from compliance-driven data collection to clarity-driven evaluation strategy. If your organization is collecting data for grants but not using it for decision-making, team alignment, or strategic gro...

What if philanthropy wasn’t just about writing checks - but about building systems that actually work? In this episode of A Modern Nonprofit Podcast, host Tosha Anderson sits down with Ed Mitzen, Co-Founder of the Business for Good Foundation, to talk about rethinking traditional philanthropy through a business lens. After selling his for-profit company, Ed and his wife chose a hands-on approach t...

Traditional strategic plans are failing nonprofits. In this episode of A Modern Nonprofit Podcast , Tosha Anderson and Theresa Guest, CFO at The Charity CFO, explain why so many nonprofit strategic plans collect dust instead of driving decisions. Using insights from The Charity CFO Financial Blueprint , they unpack the missing links between strategy, accountability, financial planning, and executi...

Fundraising and finance are supposed to work together but in most nonprofits they operate in silos. In this episode of A Modern Nonprofit Podcast, Tosha Anderson sits down with David Cristello, Founder and CEO of Jetpack Workflow, to talk about why this disconnect is costing nonprofits time, money, and people. They dive into grant utilization, financial visibility, burnout, and why spreadsheets ar...

Trust is the currency of leadership - especially during disruption. In this episode of A Modern Nonprofit Podcast, host Tosha Anderson sits down with Kim Bohr, President & COO of SparkEffect, to unpack how nonprofit leaders can navigate uncertainty without losing the trust, morale, and engagement of their people. Kim draws from SparkEffect’s new research study, Trust in Turbulence: The 2025 St...

Most nonprofit leaders want more unrestricted revenue - but few have a strategy for building it. In this episode, The Charity CFO’s Tosha Anderson and Aaron Landis explain why unrestricted funds are the true fuel behind nonprofit growth, stability, and innovation. Drawing on conversations with hundreds of CEOs and EDs, they highlight why organizations with the highest unrestricted percentages are...

Why do people really give? It is not logic. It is not spreadsheets. It is not persuasion. In this thought-provoking conversation, Tosha talks with fundraising strategist and neuroscience expert Cherian Koshy about the biology and behavior behind generosity. Together they explore how the brain rewards giving, why relationships matter more than transactions, and how nonprofit leaders can create emot...

Are you walking into a financial mess without realizing it? In this episode of A Modern Nonprofit Podcast , Tosha Anderson shares the five critical financial questions every new nonprofit CEO should ask in their first 90 days. You’ll learn how to: Spot hidden red flags in budgets and audits Understand what funders, auditors, and reports are really saying Build early trust with your board and finan...

Your finance committee can be your nonprofit’s greatest asset—or its biggest headache. In this episode, host Tosha Anderson and CFO Trina Owens-Rogers dive into the do’s and don’ts of creating an effective finance committee. From micromanaging boards to committees that never meet, they’ve seen it all, and they share what actually works. You’ll discover: The true role of a finance committee How to...

Repost: Grant Writing 101 for Nonprofits: How to Find and Win the Right Grants Finding and managing grants is one of the toughest parts of nonprofit growth. In this conversation, Tosha and grant writer Kate Hephner break down how to: Identify the right grant opportunities Write stronger, more organized proposals Collaborate effectively with your team Build a reputation as a trustworthy funding par...

Most nonprofits struggle to understand why their fundraising isn’t working. In this episode, Tosha Anderson, Founder of The Charity CFO , talks with Jeff Schreifels, Principal and Owner of Veritus Group , about what it takes to build a fundraising strategy that truly connects with donors. You’ll learn: Why fundraising is not just about the money How to move from transactional asks to relationships...

Why are marketing metrics so confusing and how can nonprofits make smarter decisions about where to invest their dollars? Join Tosha Anderson, Founder of The Charity CFO, as she talks with Jeff Greenfield, CEO and Founder of Provalytics, about how nonprofits can finally get clarity on their marketing data. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why marketing numbers don’t always add upHow to distinguish c...

Most nonprofits try to scale by adding more people, but that often makes the chaos worse. In this episode, Tosha Anderson and Dr. Andrea Ortega uncover how to scale your nonprofit through systems, not stress. Learn how to build SOPs, create repeatable workflows, strengthen board engagement with useful dashboards, and handle the challenges that come with federal grants and rapid growth. If you’re a...

New nonprofit CEO? Don’t inherit a financial mess. In this solo episode, Tosha breaks down the exact questions to ask in Week 1 and the first 90 days so you can quickly assess risk, read audits + 990s with confidence, pressure-test budget assumptions, verify restricted funds, and fix delayed or conflicting reports. You’ll learn how to evaluate your finance team, set a cadence for monthly close, an...

Networking is not a box to check. It is how modern nonprofits fuel mission, board growth, fundraising, and talent. Tosha Anderson sits down with Anne Marie Dougherty, CEO of the Bob Woodruff Foundation, to break down how to prepare for events, find common ground quickly, tell sharper stories, and follow up with discipline. They cover board dynamics, scaling programs without losing focus, and why c...