Nonprofit Lowdown

Fakequity= Fake equity.  Like when you're in a meeting and someone repeats something a person of color said and takes credit for it.  Or when "These people need..." or "They need to..." is said.  Or when someone misses a previous meeting and then questions the decision made.  Or when being short on time is used to justify NOT asking the community that is impacted.  Or when...

If I had a nickel for every time an ED complained that their board was not raising money, not engaged or not working, I'd never have to fundraise.  Join me for this chat with Cindi Phallen to learn about how to re-invigorate your board, avoid a bored board, recruit according to your organizational goals and why staff members should never be on a board meeting agenda.  Cindi brings a weal...

Ever wonder why mergers and acquisitions are not so common in the nonprofit world?  Ever wondered about the nuts and bolts of leading a merger?  Join me and my friend Daniel as we discuss the nitty-gritty of a nonprofit merger.  Daniel has been a long-time nonprofit executive and, most recently, the Executive Director of Mouse.org.  Under his leadership, Mouse successfully merg...

Join me for this incredibly candid and vulnerable interview with Iris Chen.  Iris was one of the founding members of Teach for America and has built her career in education and social justice over the last twenty years.  We talk about perceptions of Asian-American leadership, what we have learned the hard way and what drives Iris after all these years.  Iris reflects on the ups and...

For folks of color who are trying to do big things in the world, fundraising can feel like pushing an endless rock up a hill.  Join me and Liza Mueller, VP of Knowledge at Echoing Green, to hear the data that backs up the lived experience.  Not surprisingly, women and folks of color raise significantly less funding than their white male counterparts.  Interestingly, this disparity s...

Join me and my new friend Karla Monterroso to talk about her important work as CEO of Code2040.  In today's high-flying tech economy, Code 2040 is committed to dismantling racial barriers that keep Latinx and Black tech workers from the highest levels of leadership.  Karla shares the work that she does with the tech community and beyond to help break down the systemic barriers to racial...

Instagram--it's a lifestyle choice.  Join me and my new bud Brandy Henry to talk about how and why nonprofits should be all over Instagram like white on rice.   In the sea of confusing social media choices and too much to do, Brandy breaks down some easy steps to get started with IG and how to not get overwhelmed.  The best piece of news: Brandy is willing to help you out for F...

Founders: they are among the most amazing and maddening people.  Many founders struggle as sustaining Executive Directors because the skills that helped you to start a nonprofit are different than the skills needed to be an enduring leader.  It takes a lot of reflection, maturity and grace to move from founder to mature ED.  Join me as we chat with Jai Nanda who has gone from a foun...

You guys--this convo BLEW MY MIND.  I usually try not to fangirl, but Susan Scott is so unbelievably amazing.  She shares insights from her top-selling book Fierce Conversations and Fierce Leadership to help you have the fierce and necessary conversations with your employees, your family and your friends.  This conversation is truthful, honest and whole-hearted.  I felt changed...

Happy 2020, friends!  Today's podcast is my hope for your 2020.  I hope and wish you good health.  How many of us sacrifice our health and well-being for the cause?  Join me and my friend Liza Baker, recovering nonprofit executive and health coach, to get tips about how to start taking care of yourself through food, exercise and little habits that can make a huge difference. &n...

How many of us would love to be funded by Robin Hood?  Ever wondered if you've hit a ceiling with your fundraising efforts?  Today my guest is Suzi Epstein, Managing Director of the Robin Hood Foundation who discusses a free program for nonprofits at Robin Hood to up their game, some of the mistakes that she sees on proposals and what it takes to qualify for Robin Hood funding.  Ple...

This episode is coming in HOT!  As we head into end-of-year fundraising, Kara breaks down how we need to flip the switch in our own minds about fundraising.  We talk about the mindset and psychology of an effective fundraiser, how to shake it off (hint: it's not about YOU), the power dynamics for fundraisers of color and how to retain our fundraisers.  Kara is funny, direct and an e...

For the busy nonprofit executive, it just feels like social media falls to the bottom of your very long to-do list, amirite?  It's all so overwhelming--so many platforms, not enough time.  Join me and my guest Julia Campbell to talk about how to leverage social media effectively to build community for your cause, how to stop using it like a billboard and how to avoid common mistakes (spo...

Happy Thanksgiving y'all!  It's particularly fitting that today's post is with my friend Kishshana: truth-teller, inspo and fundraiser extraordinaire.  I'm thankful to have people like Ms. Kishshana in my life.  Join today's no-holds-barred convo about the unique challenges that women of color (especially Black women) face in major gift fundraising, what happens behind closed doors...

Today I'm chilling with the Big Poppa of the New York nonprofit world, Rich Berlin.  Rich walks us through the quick history of Harlem RBI that has since become multi-service wraparound school called Dream.  Rich tells us how his organization went from almost closing to its current $40M a year budget.  He shares his thoughts about board recruitment, board management and how to prepa...

As we careen towards year-end, we know all you fundraisers are out burning the midnight oil.  Annual appeal, Giving Tuesday, making budget, oh my!  My guest Patrick Kirby FEELS YOU .  Take a quick 30 minutes to take a listen to this fun episode.  Patrick and I talk about why people dread fundraising, what happens when boards and executives don't know how to fundraise (spoiler a...

This month, as we head into the holiday giving season, we're featuring podcasts about fundraising!  This week, I'm chatting with Crystal Leochko Johnston, Founder of Eclipse Research to talk about how to identify and validate donor prospects.  Do you ever feel like fundraising is trying to find your way in the dark?  Ever hear your board tell you that they don't know anyone wealthy?...

Any ED will tell you that it feels like stress and pressure are part of the job.  Constant worry and panic got you down?  Join me and my buddy Shalini as we talk about strategies and tactics to make the time for self-care, how to use that four-letter word "H-E-L-P" and being responsible for your own energy.  Shalini is, like me, a recovering Executive Director and coach to leaders....

This week, I'm interviewing CEO and Co-founder of New Classrooms Joel Rose.  Joel started his career as a math teacher and created an organization that is re-thinking the classroom experience with technology.  While building New Classrooms, he shares his lessons learned about building an organization, the single most important practice for his team and the importance of being useful over...

Daniel Oscar: educator, nonprofit exec, marathoner.  Listen in to Daniel's gems of wisdom for staying the course in the nonprofit world.  Daniel helped Wendy Kopp build Teach for America and has been in various roles in the nonprofit/education reform sector since then.  He shares his tips on how to run the marathon and not the sprint, how to prioritize self-care and his best advice...

Have you ever walked away from a hard conversation feeling like a bomb went off and you didn't take cover?  Join me and my friend and mentor Jen Mayer, Founder of Becoming Better Together to talk about how to have hard conversations with fierceness and kindness, how to learn how to know thyself and how to be in the world even when it's uncomfortable. Jen is the queen of resources and offers t...

Join me for a chat with master coach and my former Board Chair Ted Federici to discuss the common pitfalls of leaders and the mistakes they make.  The job that we have as leaders is daunting and we sometimes do ourselves a disservice by being our own worst enemies.  Learn how to tame the ego, build trust and have the meeting before the meeting.  Bonus: you'll learn some of my favori...

Happy Birthday to Nonprofit Lowdown!  Thanks, listeners, for hanging with me for a year.  It's been a blast and a JOURNEY! For today's pod, I'm reviewing three books that have really taken my game to the next level.  There's something for everyone.  For organizational design geeks, there's Brave New Work .  For productivity and people who just need to get to work, there's...

We're back with our resident Technologista Emily Hicks-Rotella !  In today's pod, we talking about our favorite tech tools, tips and books for how to wrangle our to-do lists, get to inbox zero and manage our focus.  Too much to do and not enough time?  Join the club.  This is a must-listen if you're trying to get to work and for tech to work for you, not against you.   Som...

You know how there are people in your life who inspire you to level up your game?  Lisette Nieves is one of these people.  She's an educator, a do-er, a coach and an inspiration.  On today's pod we talk about the challenges of managing a board and staff and how to make people feel USEFUL is more important than making them feel happy.  We discuss the dangers of a bored board, wh...