Nonprofit Everything

You think your nonprofit is a mess? Wait until you hear this question — while it masquerades as a technical query about verbal resignations and bylaws, it gets weird fast! Also this week, Stacey and Andy share some thoughts about fundraising in a different state than the one you’re incorporated in, and we find out whether or not you are allowed to raise money before you actually get yo...

Ah, the age-old question — how do we set development goals when we’ve never had a development person before? Believe it or not, Stacey and Andy have some ideas! Also this week, we talk about how to handle naming rights when you’re renovating a building that already has a name. Finally, we tackle a particularly sensitive question that, frankly, is going to be a little uncomfortabl...

What’s the best way to respond to memorial gifts? Stacey has some (non-ghoulish) thoughts. Also this week, Andy and Stacey have a minor disagreement about whether or not a nonprofit job is good for a person looking to advance in their career, and we find out how to train up a brand-new board member! Topics: How do we prepare a board member for first-time service? – 0:00 Is my nonprofit...

What happens to restrictions if our nonprofit is acquired by another nonprofit? We have some questions (and answers!) Plus, Stacey and Andy have tips for hiring for an Interim Executive Director, chat about some unconventional reporting structures, and get asked a very personal question. And we had to use the bleep button again this week — pretty soon we’re going to need a swear jar. T...

Is it possible to refrain from physical violence when the words “run it more like a business” fall out of the mouth of a board member? Probably not, but Stacey and Andy have some coping strategies. Also this week, we talk about how to keep the energy of a good mission, vision and values discussion, and finally, now that you’re receiving federal grant money is it time to hire a gr...

Just one question this week, but we were lucky to get guest expert André C. Wade , State Director of Silver State Equality to answer it! How do you best respond to reports of microaggressions in the workplace? Topics: Responding to Reports of Microagressions – with Guest Expert André C. Wade – 0:00 Mentioned this week: Silver State Equality Equality California Cultural Linguistic Appro...

Help! We’ve entered into an agreement with a benefit corporation, and they’re not playing nice! Andy’s got some ideas for that. Also, Stacey answers a question about having elected officials on the board, and we talk about the best ways to bring a new treasurer into the organization, even if they’ve got no nonprofit experience. Topics: Should we add elected officials to our...

Our mission statement process is awful! Should we get help? (Nah, Stacey has some tips.) Also, this week we discuss whether a give/get policy will prevent you from getting an effective board, and Andy and Stacey go way off topic answering how to best fundraise for a new Executive Director position. Topics: Should we get third-party help designing our mission statement? – 0:00 Will a give/get...

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...