Nonprofit Radio Show

A nonprofit spends a lot of time growing its database of people, whether that database is an excel spreadsheet or something fancy. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah talk about how to know who is in your community and how best to engage them. They talk about the assumptions we make about people when we give them binary options-- give or don't give-- something that we can fix by expanding what w...

Effective communication is key to community building. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah talk generally about ways to think about communication as a way to bring people in to your community. They also break down some practical steps on how to manage your database and cull names out when people aren't engaged. Sarah makes the case for going beyond the binary of inviting people to give (or not),...

 Wildfire season is coming in much of Washington. Other parts of our state face earthquakes and tsunamis. And our friends elsewhere in the country face winter storms, tornadoes, flooding and more. It is hard to set time aside to get ready for something you don't really know when or how it will come. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah give you three steps to put a nonprofit disaster plan in plac...

Hard problems require collaboration. But collaboration is hard! In this episode, Nancy and Sarah share some tips on how to think about collaboration and position yourself to succeed at building strong collaborations. They talk about starting small, building trust, and taking time to shape a relationship that will hold your shared work into the long run.  Questions to reflect on before you listen:...

Daffodils are blooming and the days are warmer, and that means that people are starting to think about getting together in person. More specifically, boards are thinking about gathering for a board retreat. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah implore board members not to pull out their old retreat agenda but to use this opportunity to refresh their purpose, culture, and focus. We talk about what a re...

So many of the nonprofit organizations in our communities are run by volunteers. There is no paid staff moving forward their mission. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah speak to these organizations and how they can be sure to provide both the governance and management functions every organization needs. They point out the challenges these organizations often face, challenges that can be overcome wit...

We hear about culture a lot, but what does it really mean, and how do we influence it to help us deliver our mission? Nancy and Sarah pull apart what culture is and what makes a culture. Culture is malleable, so they talk about how a small nonprofit can shift its culture to be more inclusive, more learningful, and more reflective of their values. Of course they need to mention the oft-cited quote,...

Enjoyed this episode? Share it with a friend. Want to request a topic? Email us at nonprofitradioshow@gmail.com. You can also follow us on these social media channels : Facebook: www.facebook.com/nonprofitradioshow Instagram: www.instagram.com/nonprofitradioshow Twitter: @smallnonprofits LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/nonprofit-radio-show/ You got this. 

In this episode, Nancy and Sarah talk about ways to engage volunteers so they feel more commitment to your organization. Too often nonprofits see volunteers as free labor when in reality they are vital to your movement. Sarah and Nancy share tips for seeing volunteers in a new way and therefore strengthening the role that your volunteer program plays in achieving your mission. Enjoyed this episode...

 In this episode, Nancy and Sarah recognize that fundraising can be overwhelming. Many nonprofit leaders set out with the simple goal of raising more money, which makes it hard to prioritize what to do. In this episode, we provide some focus around four metrics that matter the most. These are numbers that are accessible with any form of database. Having these numbers in mind will help you and your...

In this episode, Nancy and Sarah consider whether there are aspects of 2020 that we might hold onto in delivering purposeful gatherings in 2021. They talk about the role of purpose in shaping effective gatherings. Zoom has brought an interesting intimacy to our conversations, which can build deeper connections. Because being on Zoom all of the time is stressful, Nancy and Sarah draw on learning re...

Nancy and Sarah welcome Human Resources expert Skye Mercer to talk about what nonprofit people-- particularly "accidental HR managers" -- should be thinking about as we start 2021. Skye tells us why it is worth our time to get HR right, even if we are an all volunteer organization with no staff. We talk about how to boost morale when so many people are working from home. Skye shares her...

We’ve been thinking about our 2020 Nonprofit Radio Show conversations, and in today’s episode, we’re each going to share three resolutions for 2021 that we hope your nonprofit will consider. There's a lot of value in taking stock of the past year and resolving to do some things differently – even if you don’t meet every resolution perfectly. Setting good resolutions starts with understanding...

In this episode we talk about evaluation and how to measure what matters. With everything a nonprofit needs to do, evaluation is often an afterthought. Our funders expect us to gather data about what we do, so we count heads at our events or use surveys to get feedback. There are a few ways that we can better measure what matters for our organization, giving us the data we need to better tell our...

 In this episode we talk about the core purpose of a nonprofit board. We know that boards can be challenging. There is a certain about of tension that comes with having a group of people who don't know each other well making important decisions together. We start by underscoring why our nonprofits have boards and then talk about three ways to strengthen your board.  Enjoyed this episode? Shar...

In this episode we recognize that we are a little stressed out and talk about how we are navigating through these unpredictable times. Nonprofit people know stress. We are used to doing a lot with very little. But there comes a time when stress turns into fatigue which becomes burnout. We explore why we are so exhausted and what we can do about it.   Enjoyed this episode? Share it with a friend. W...

In this episode we talk about cloud storage and why it is so important for your organization. Think about it. A disaster destroys your documents and you lose everything. How long would it take you to recreate everything you need to keep your organization running? Consider your financial documents, your board history, your organizational paperwork, etc. It would take a long time--and it may be that...

In this episode we talk about online meetings and how to make them engaging and productive. We break down the key elements of a successful online meeting and give some tips on how to increase engagement. We know that nonprofit people spend a lot of time in meetings--board meetings, staff meetings, event planning meetings, etc. Our goal is to support you as you plan an intentional gathering that ma...

In this episode, we define what we mean by a "good program." We talk about how you know a program is good, and how you can leverage them as a core strategy to strengthen your board, collaborations, and fundraising. The episode is only 11 minutes long. Why not play it for your board and have a conversation about a program that your nonprofit depends on to achieve its mission?  All of our...

Money. It is a topic that many of us are thinking a lot about right now. Will we have enough money to get through this crisis? How do we make decisions about money when there is so much uncertainty around us? In this episode, we make the case for why you need a financial forecast right now. We explain what that is and how you can make some quick calculations on the back of an envelope. These calcu...

Many of us rely on events to raise money and build community. As we look ahead to the fall, we know that we can't hold our favorite events as we have in the past. What to do? In this episode, we talk about the three reasons we hold events: raise money, build community, and engage people in activities. We talk about what questions your staff and board can ask in determining whether or not to m...

When policymakers hear your voice on issues in front of them, they are better able to do their jobs. They hear the impact of decisions on your work, the stories of people impacted by policies, and opportunities to do better by your community. Nonprofits are directly impacted by decisions being made at the local, state, and federal level. This episode is all about advocacy and how you can move forw...

Whatever our mission is, ultimately our work is about people. We work with people, our boards are made up of diverse people with different interests, and we engage people as clients or participants in our programs. As we release this episode, many nonprofits are returning to work after being out of the office due to COVID-19. Staff and volunteers are having to find new ways of connecting with coll...

Imagine if everyone in your organization had their eyes on the same destination. That's what a strategy gives you. While a strategic plan too often sits on the self, a strategy gives you a practical tool to make decisions and move forward with your board and partners.   Enjoyed this episode? Share it with a friend. Want to request a topic? Email us at nonprofitradioshow@gmail.com. You can als...

We recorded this episode the week of George Floyd’s funeral. We acknowledge the need to address what is happening in our communities today. We did not tape our usual banter about nonprofit topics. We took the week to be in conversation with each other and people in our communities on racism, privilege, and what we can do. We want to share some of what we have been reading and discussing. We warmly...