Changemaker Conversations: The Podcast for Nonprofit Leaders

Strategic planning used to be handled the same way at most nonprofit organizations: hire a consultant, have them conduct research and facilitate a retreat, make some important decisions, and write the plan. It also used to be only the domain of those with a significant budget. However, that is changing rapidly.   In this solo episode, Prosper Strategies principal Alyssa Conrardy shares not one but...

Picture your last board retreat. Smart, well-meaning people in a room. An agenda. Everyone fired up. And then, three hours in, you're still relitigating the same two sticking points and the day ends in frustration instead of clarity. If that sounds familiar, this episode is for you, because you probably need a facilitator. In Episode 15 of Changemaker Conversations, Alyssa Conrardy interviews Lind...

Most nonprofits approach strategic planning the same way: a small group of senior leaders and board members make the calls, and then the plan gets shared out. Shared Power™ Strategic Planning flips that completely on its head, putting the people a nonprofit serves at the center of the most important decisions. In this episode, Alyssa and Lindsay walk through exactly how it works, step by step. Usi...

"Are you trying to put yourselves out of business?" That was the very first question Alyssa got after Prosper Strategies launched its new Nonprofit Strategic Planning Toolbox earlier this month. In this special solo episode of Changemaker Conversations, she answers it head-on — and tackles every other question that's been coming in since launch. Why would a consulting firm with 12 years of high-to...

Funding uncertainty is top of mind for many nonprofit leaders right now. Between shifting policies, unstable grants, and rising demand for services, organizations are being asked to do more with fewer resources. In this episode of Changemaker Conversations, Alyssa Conrardy and Lindsay Mullen wrap up their three-part Fix Your Funding series by discussing a practical tool nonprofit leaders can use t...

In this powerful episode of Changemaker Conversations, we confront what it means for nonprofits and their leaders to show up in times of moral crisis. Amidst violent ICE raids and the recent killings of Renée Nicole Good and Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, nonprofit leaders within and beyond Minnesota are grappling with how they can respond when communities are grieving,...

We’re kicking off 2026 with a topic that’s top of mind for nearly every nonprofit leader right now: funding. As part two of our three-part Fix Your Funding series, Lindsay and Alyssa walk through how to build a fundraising crisis response plan—so you can stabilize cash flow, close budget gaps, and focus your efforts where they’ll move the needle fastest. If you're heading into the new year feeling...

In this first episode of our three-part Fix Your Funding series on Changemaker Conversations, we dig into the financial crisis nonprofits are facing right now—and why “we just need more money” isn’t a clear enough diagnosis. From disappearing federal funds to shrinking corporate support and skyrocketing community need, we walk through how to get brutally honest about your organization’s financial...

In this episode of Changemaker Conversations, Alyssa and Lindsay break down one of the most overlooked yet mission-critical elements of strategic planning: defining clear roles for everyone involved. From staff and board members to constituents and facilitators, they unpack how each group contributes—and what happens when those roles blur. Whether you’re gearing up for your next planning cycle or...

In today's challenging political climate, many nonprofit leaders are focused on what they can't say—but what if we shifted our attention to what we can say? In this episode of Changemaker Conversations, we're exploring strength-based communication and why it's more relevant than ever for nonprofits navigating anti-DEI pressures and funding restrictions. Alyssa and Lindsay share their decade-plus j...

In this episode of Changemaker Conversations, Alyssa and Lindsay tackle one of the biggest things that holds nonprofits back: thinking too small about marketing. Moving far beyond the traditional view of marketing as just a fundraising tool, they make the case for marketing as a true mission driver that can advance every aspect of your strategic plan. Drawing from their groundbreaking Nonprofit Ma...

What if your nonprofit's most effective strategy decisions weren't made in a boardroom, but in partnership with the very people you serve? In this episode of Changemaker Conversations, we're diving deep into the Shared Power Philosophy™—the belief that nonprofits develop their most impactful and equitable strategies by deeply involving all stakeholders, especially the people and communities they s...

In this episode of Changemaker Conversations, we sit down with Kelly Mattox, Vice President of Campaign and Principal Gifts at Connecticut Children’s Foundation, to explore what it really takes to align marketing and fundraising for greater impact. Drawing on her decades of nonprofit experience—including 14 years at Horizons National—Kelly shares insights on running major campaigns, building susta...

In this episode of Changemaker Conversations, we're diving deep into board leadership and transformation with a unique perspective from co-host Lindsay Mullen. As a former board chair herself, Lindsay shares invaluable insights about building an engaged nonprofit board that can truly drive your mission forward. If you're navigating the complex dance between board and staff roles or looking to tran...

Should your nonprofit be strategic planning right now? In this episode of Changemaker Conversations, Prosper Strategies co-founders Alyssa Conrardy and Lindsay Mullen say yes—but only if you’re doing it the right way. They pull back the curtain on what makes a strategic plan actually work (and what makes it flop), drawing on lessons from their work with organizations like Feeding America and Boys...

In this inaugural episode of Changemaker Conversations, we're diving into what's keeping nonprofit leaders up at night in 2025. From sudden federal funding freezes to market volatility affecting donor confidence, we break down the four biggest challenges facing nonprofit leaders today—and more importantly, share practical solutions to address them. If you're feeling the weight of leading in today'...

Prosper Strategies principals Alyssa Conrady and Lindsay Mullen introduce their podcast for nonprofit leaders seeking to build better organizations. Learn how to transform plans into action, improve board relationships,  center constituents, and lead with less friction, and more joy. Visit changemakerconversations.com and prosper-strategies.com for more.