Nonprofit Everything

After starting a brand new nonprofit and filing the paperwork, what’s next? Stacey and Andy will get you pointed in the right direction. Also this week, we talk about things to think about when hiring your first ever development professional, and whether or not it is appropriate to have a staff member also serve on the organization’s board. Thanks for joining us this week, and please d...

Are donor advised funds good or evil? That’s a big question, and Stacey and Andy definitely have some thoughts. Also, we talk about strategies for filling vacant committee leadership positions (it’s tough!) and Stacey has some tips for getting a geographically dispersed board all on the same page. Thanks for joining us this week, and don’t forget to send any and all nonprofit que...

We’ve got a really nice balance of questions this week! Is it possible to get a founding executive director to embrace change? Stacey and Andy have some thoughts on that! Also this week, we brainstorm about how to get new people to come to the same old gala, and talk through a couple of options when your revenue comes in all in the same month. Thanks for joining us this week, and don’t...

Just two questions for Stacey and Andy this week, but they’re biggies! When creating a strategic plan is a consultant really necessary, or can we spare that expense? Also this week, a technical question about calculating liquidity gets unexpectedly philosophical really fast. Thanks for joining us, and be sure to send us any nonprofit topic you want us to cover to questions@NonprofitEverythin...

If there’s something more terrifying than having to tell a grantor that they’re wrong, we haven’t heard of it. Is it even possible to push back on a state agency interpreting a federal grant incorrectly? Stacy and Andy have some thoughts! Also this week, we talk about when it’s appropriate for the board to lead committees, and Andy goes off on a tangent about needing to get...

Should the executive director select their own replacement? Andy and Stacey certainly have some thoughts on that topic! Also this week, an organization needs help attracting new and different volunteers, and we discuss whether a nonprofit should set up a for-profit subsidiary. Thanks for joining us this week! Don’t forget to check out the show notes at nonprofiteverything.com, and be sure to...

If you’ve spent years proudly telling donors that you’re all volunteer run, is it even possible to hire paid staff when you need to level up? Stacey and Andy have some thoughts. Also this week, we talk about the possibility and consequences of failing the Form 990’s “Public Support Test,” and Stacey shares some ideas to help celebrate an organization’s tenth ann...

This week Stacey and Andy delve into the Nonprofit Everything archive to bring you a thematically consistent series of previously aired questions. Which is a fancy way of saying “Hey! It’s a clip show!” From episode 79, we talk about how to handle a board member that’s publicly off mission. From episode 103, we hear from a nonprofit with a board member in the newspaper for...

It’s guest expert time! This week, Stacey is joined by April Mastroluca , Chief Solution Finder at Synergy Nonprofit Consulting to talk about the convergence of political campaign season and gala event season. Are there rules about ads in programs? Should we recognize elected officials and candidates who attend our events? What should we do if a candidate antagonistic to our mission wants to...

Should we be buying mailing lists to expand our reach, or is that a tactic from the olden days? Stacey and Andy certainly have some thoughts! Also this week, we talk about how strict to be when using the words “evidence based program” (in that exact order) and disagree strongly on the utility of exit interviews. We’re awarding ten points if you can guess which one of us thinks th...

If better boards can prevent nonprofit failures, would it be smart to require boards to take governance training? Stacey and Andy have some thoughts. Also this week, we talk about an executive director’s responsibility to prevent a bad board member nomination, and have both a short and a long answer to a question about founders. Thanks for joining us this week, and don’t forget to send...

Is there some magic language we can use to magically make a sponsorship tax deductible? Andy and Stacey have some thoughts. Also this week, we find out how to see who’s sharing your nonprofit mission and why its important, and try not to get buried in accounting speak when discussing split-interest agreements! Thanks for joining us, and don’t forget to send any and all questions to que...

Is there some use for emeritus boards? Stacey and Andy have thoughts! Also this week, a new nonprofit wonders what kind on insurance coverage they should have, we find out how to determine when a contribution should be officially received, and discuss how frequently a board chair should meet with the executive director (is quadrennially too often?) Thanks for joining us this week, and be sure to s...

Are your staff meetings snoozers? One of our listeners has this challenge and Stacey and Andy are here to help! (Can we make them more dangerous — like with fire?) Also this week, we discuss the historical antecedents of hierarchical organizational charts, and chat about the pros and cons of giving refunds for program events. Do you have questions? Send them to us at questions@nonprofitevery...

When a long-time donor changes priorities and it puts the capital campaign in jeopardy is there anything you can do? Stacey and Andy have some ideas. Also this week, what’s the best way to deal with some good old-fashioned nonprofit competition (other than a dance-off?) And finally, are we going to hurt the executive director’s feelings if we let him know that some volunteers have scor...

Is it okay to have all staff members be independent contractors and to give them titles like Director of Programs? Stacey welcomes guest expert Gina Bongiovi to help untie this complicated knot! Topics: Can staff members be independent contractors with titles? – skip to this question Mentioned this week: Bongiovi Law Firm Are you misclassifying your workers – Bongiovi Law Blog Nevada A...

It’s homework help time with Stacey and Andy! Is there a good definition of Theory of Change? We have some thoughts. Also this week, we talk about auditors that seem to be asking weird questions. Is it okay to push back on financial audit requests, or is that a terrible idea. Thanks for joining us, and don’t forget to send in those questions! Topics: What is a theory of change in pract...

This might be the most confusingly titled episode yet! No, there aren’t Nonprofit Everything t-shirts. But what happens when the marketing team decides to just open up a little shop on nonprofit-swag.com to sell logo branded stuff?* Stacey and Andy have some thoughts. Also this week, is it time to reevaluate our employee time-off policies? Thanks for joining us this week, and please share, r...

Is there a thoughtful and ethical way to use client stories in grantwriting? Stacey and Andy have a few thoughts. Also this week, we talk about ways to get past the gatekeeper when a job posting has unreasonable requirements. Keep sending those questions and posting those reviews. We really appreciate it (and read every single one!) Topics: Is there a thoughtful and ethical way to use client stori...

What should you do when the executive director assigns you a vague task with no clear purpose? Unsurprisingly, Stacey and Andy get philosophical on this one: is it busywork, or could it be a career-defining moment? Also this week, we find out if it’s useful to chase after board members from a particular industry. Thanks for joining us again in 2024, and please keep sending those questions (a...

Have you just suffered through another boring, uninspiring office holiday party? Well your fellow listeners have a question crafted just for you: Is there a way to make the nonprofit holiday party into something good? Stacey and Andy have some thoughts! Also this week, Stacey answers a question about rules we should be following about board quorum (it’s not as boring as it sounds!) and we fi...

It’s podcast day! Why on earth would an organization use the longer, more expensive, more complicated, more time consuming Form 1023 to form a new nonprofit organization when the 1023-EZ is available? We have a few thoughts. Also this week, Stacey has some great tips to help you fundraise for a vehicle, and Andy wants you to re-think credit cards that earn points (probably a hard sell.) Than...

This week we’ve got a new and exciting format for you! Stacey and Andy camped out at a table at the Alliance for Nevada Nonprofits Fall Conference, and used the opportunity to chat with some up-and-coming nonprofit leaders. Join us for a free-flowing conversation (and a few questions, too!) Topics: Tweaking our organizational culture – skip to this question Should we build relationship...

If you have a “Donate Now” button on your website (and since the internet is available everywhere) do you need to do a charitable solicitation registration in every single state in the US? Stacey and Andy have the answer (sorta!) Also this week, Stacey has some opinions about whether or not you should allow board members to take a leave of absence, Andy talks about just how fancy video...

Is it a good idea to take out a loan to help kickstart a fundraising program? Stacey and Andy have some thoughts! Also this week, we talk about finding a bank that understands how nonprofit organizations work, and what to do if you discover that your organization’s bylaws don’t actually comply with state law. While you’re reading this summary, maybe consider giving us a review to...