Nonprofit Lowdown

In this episode, we chat with Tony Martignetti, an expert in planned giving programs. Planned giving is a way for everyday people to make a big impact on their favorite nonprofits by giving a gift through their will or estate. Tony shares his insights on what makes a successful planned giving program and how organizations can get started without a lot of resources or technical expertise. He also r...

My guest, Amy Eisenstein, a fundraising consultant, author, and speaker, shares her expertise on why you SHOULD consider a capital campaign during uncertain times. Amy explains that a capital campaign is a focused fundraising effort to raise a significant amount of money for a specific project or initiative, and it's crucial for nonprofits to achieve their long-term goals and expand their impa...

In this episode, we are joined by Britt Savage, a diversity, equity, and inclusion consultant who shares insights on the report "Unlocking Social Progress by Addressing Structural Racism" by Bridgespan Group. We discuss the findings of the report, its implications, and how organizations can address structural racism to unlock social progress. Key Takeaways: -The report identifies how str...

In this episode, Pooya Pourak, a design strategist, shares how human-centered design principles can be used to create meaningful connections with donors during the interview process. By focusing on curiosity and connection, nonprofits can build trust and rapport with donors, uncover their motivations, and create customized engagement plans that align with their values. Pooya also shares tips for m...

I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Ellen Wong, a naturopathic doctor and happiness expert.   During our conversation, Dr. Wong emphasized the importance of understanding that happiness is not a destination, but rather something you create.  We also discussed the importance of self-care and self-compassion in achieving happiness. Dr. Wong stressed that taking care of yourself, both ph...

Welcome to the podcast where we talk to successful consultants in various industries. Today we are joined by Tom Pyun, a former nonprofit leader who transitioned to consulting. Tom is here to share his experience on why he decided to become a consultant, how he got his clients, and how he dealt with imposter syndrome. He shares his strategies for getting clients, including networking, leveraging s...

Calling all New York based nonprofits! In this episode, we speak with Suzi Epstein, Senior Program Officer at the Robin Hood Foundation, and Kim DiPalo, Director of Development and Communications at Drive Change, about the GRIT program. Applications due March 15! Listen and learn about: What is the GRIT program? How does the GRIT program work? What impact has the GRIT program had? How can you, the...

In this episode, we talk to Miranda Ling, Director of Advancement for 826 Valencia, about how they use Afrofuturism to help raise funds. Miranda explains what Afrofuturism is and how it can be used as a tool to challenge mainstream narratives and inspire new ways of thinking about the future. They share their experiences incorporating Afrofuturism into their fundraising strategies and how it has h...

Join me and one of my favorite repeat guests Greg Warner, CEO of Marketsmart. In this episode, we unpack so much of what is wrong with so-called "best practices" in fundraising and why administrators make fundraisers' lives so difficult. We talk about ways to talk with donors when they are ready and have indicated their willingness to talk to us and how to structure investment-level conversations....

Today, we're talking about a really cool topic - using hostage negotiation tactics in fundraising. Our guest today is none other than Troy Smith, a seasoned hostage negotiator who's going to share his expertise with us. We'll dive into what hostage negotiation is, how the principles of it can be applied to fundraising, and the key takeaways that fundraisers need to keep in mind when using these te...

In this interview, I talk about Donor-Advised Funds or DAFs and crypto donations with Alexis Miller, who is the donor engagement and strategic partnerships lead at Endaoment.   Listen to this entire podcast episode if you want to know more about NFTs, DAOs, and a lot more interesting topics of cryptocurrencies in the nonprofit space. Alexis will help everyone understand these concepts related...

In this episode, Adam Michael Royston and Marvin Vilma are back and they're diving into the hot topic of East Coast vs. West Coast fundraising. These two fundraising experts have a wealth of experience between them, and they're bringing their unique perspectives to the table to give listeners a deeper understanding of the differences and similarities between fundraising on opposite coasts.  F...

In this delightful podcast episode, Yamilee Toussaint Beach shares her wealth of knowledge and experience in scaling up her nonprofit STEM from Dance. She explains how having a clear mission and vision, strong leadership, and a dedicated team are essential for any nonprofit looking to grow. One of the key takeaways from the episode is the importance of investment in skills building for leaders. Ya...

In this interview with Jason Frazell, we discuss the three levels of listening and how they can impact our ability to connect with others, particularly in the context of fundraising. Listen in to find out the difference between pretend listening, active listening, and energetic listening. We also discuss how the need to be right or how operating in scarcity can keep us in a transactional, not rela...

Happy 2023 everyone! 🎇 To start off our year right, join me and Hardy Smith to discuss his book Stop the Nonprofit Blame Game. Hardy and I touch on some of the hot-button 🔴 issues like why board members don't do what they're supposed to do (i.e. fundraising), what the role of the governance and fundraising committees are and how board chairs manage (or don't) in real life. This is an eye-opening...

We are in our very last week of 2022 and I think we can all agree, it has been a lot. After the upheaval of the pandemic, I feel like life is back to normal-ish. And what I've been hearing from a lot of you is that you are feeling really tired and so that you find some time at the end of the year to enjoy it with your friends and family.  Here's a fun way to wrap up our year, I have decided t...

Happy holidays, friends. As we wind down, I wanted to give you the gift of this podcast episode with my dear friend Glasa Gottschalk. Glasa is a coach who specializes in working with women of color. We talk about Glasa's own professional journey, how coaching is different than therapy, how coaching can help you progress in your career and in life and how to make the case to hire a coach. Glasa is...

Join me and my guests Christal Cherry and Renee Rubin Ross to talk about doing DEIAB work right. Often our boards lag behind the efforts of the staff and this dynamic duo helps to bring your board up to speed on issues of equity and inclusion. We talk about the myth of diversity vs. wealth, how to work with folks who don't think they have a problem and their tactics to start boards on this work. W...

Join me and co-founder of Pond, Mitch Stein, to talk about the power of community building, the role of trust in doing business with nonprofits and what pink sherbert has to do with marketing. Mitch is the founder of the online platform Pond that helps nonprofits and consultants connect. Part of his journey was building trusting and authentic relationships when trust was not a given. Join us to he...

When I get depressed about the future and the state of the world, I want you to listen to this podcast episode. Meghana Gunturi is an enterprising 16-year-old who runs four clubs, is a full-time student, and has successfully launched an international nonprofit. Join me and Meghana as we talk about how to leverage the power of Gen Z, how nonprofits can start to work with Gen Z, and what the heck yo...

Man oh man, do I love a good quiz. Chalk it up to my being of the YM generation 📣 (shout out to my Gen X'ers!) Join me and Brian Saber to deconstruct your Asking Style. Did you know that there are four kinds and that you have a primary and secondary style? Learn more about your strengths and how to partner with others to compensate for your weaknesses. This is a really fun conversation that helps...

Join me and my friend Erika Carley, AKA Queen of Monthly Giving to learn about Chive Charities and their incredible monthly giving program. 4K monthly donors, 98% month-over-month retention rate. Need I say more? Erika shares how to design, manage and grow a monthly giving program. We talk about her best strategies, what she's learned, and how there is no silver bullet to making people feel cared...

The world of obtaining funds through grants can be so confusing and time-consuming. Between prospect research, developing relationships, grant writing, and stewardship, it can feel overwhelming. Join me in today's session with Gauri Manglik, Co-Founder of Instrumentl, to discuss trends she's seeing, how to be grant-ready and how her platform might help streamline the process. For my listeners, Ins...

For all my peeps in the nonprofit world, leadership in the last few years has been...a lot. Between the pandemic, national racial reckoning, economic turbulence, remote working, and staff feelings, it ain't easy out here in these streets. Join me and organizational consultant and healer Emily Frieze-Kemeny to talk about how we progress without losing our minds and our well-being. We discuss the ch...

You literally cannot afford to not listen to this podcast. Join me and my friend/financial advisor/girlcrush Marissa Nehlsen to talk all about the money. We discuss her humble beginnings, her definition of what rich means and how we can start to deploy our resources to live our richest life. Scarcity mindset? Fear of money? Worried about the long-term financial health of you and your family? This...