Nonprofit Utopia Podcast

Building effective boards is a developmental process and can be compared to a game. There are rules of engagement, players, strategies, time limits, winners and losers.  Darchelle M. Garner, Managing Director of Vineland Consulting, LLC, has significant success working with faith-based organizations to help them master the game of developing effective boards and operations.  Join us as I engage Da...

The Get Cleared Campaign reduces recidivism by making work possible for formerly incarcerated individuals who are eligible to have their records expunged. They help their clients focus on developing skills that would increase their chances of securing living-wage jobs, as opposed to spending inordinate amounts of time navigating the court system in hopes of clearing their records. In so doing, the...

There are over 1.5 million nonprofit organizations in the United States, with new entities opening “every day”.  Well, maybe not every day, but you get the idea.    With the growing number of nonprofit organizations competing for fewer dollars, how do you position your organization to stand out from the crowd? Join host Valerie F. Leonard and Mia Hillery, expert marketer,  brand ambassador and coa...

Join Patrick Kirby, Founder of Do Good Better Consulting, and host Valerie F. Leonard, for a lively discussion on how to make your organization’s case for support; how to develop effective fundraising strategies and capital campaigns; how to assess your organization’s readiness for fundraising and capital campaigns and some of the common mistakes nonprofits make along their fundraising journeys. C...

Your human-service nonprofit exists to make a positive impact in the lives of the people you serve. But how do you get there, especially in the current environment? Join Sarah Olivieri, Founder of PivotGround, and host Valerie F. Leonard for a lively discussion on breaking with traditional strategic planning processes; how to accomplish more without expending more money and how to get ahead of the...

It is not uncommon to start a new initiative with the idea of “…if we build it, they’ll come.”  What if, instead, we started the process with the end-users in mind, and built solutions tailor-made to their needs? Join Alvin Schexnider, Erie Neighborhood House’s Senior Director of Operations, and Host Valerie F. Leonard, to learn how human-centered design can bridge the needs of those closest to th...

#GivingTuesday is a global day of giving fueled by the power of social media and collaboration. Celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, #GivingTuesday kicks off the charitable season, when many focus on their holiday and end-of-year giving. Will your organization be ready? Join us as Jessica Schneider, Director of Strategy and Collaboration for 92Y’s Belfer Center for Innovation and Soci...

Life after the military can be just as challenging for veterans and their families as serving in active combat.  In their effort to transition back into civilian life, many struggle with a number of physical, psychological, social and economic issues. Join Dumont Moore, Founder of Veterans Strike Force, and me for a lively discussion of life after military service.  We will talk about the most com...

Sales and marketing are the lifeblood of any business—whether for-profit or nonprofit.  Organizational  leaders need a firm grasp of the changes in the marketplace and the implications for their organizations, clients and communities.  At the same time, they must cultivate relationships with funders and a host of other stakeholders to maintain a steady flow of cash, volunteers and goodwill. Join S...

Today, a successful media relations strategy requires much more than press releases and posed photos... You need to build relationships, be accessible, and offer valuable information and insights to reporters and editors…    –Kivi Leroux Miller, Founder &CEO,  The Nonprofit Marketing Guide Peter Panepento and Antionette Kerr, authors of Modern Media Relations for Nonprofits, will join host Valerie...

Nearly 4 years after shooting 17-year-old Laquan McDonald to death, Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke was convicted of 2nd degree murder and 16 counts of aggravated assault. Most people believed a conviction would be impossible, given our country’s track record with police-involved shootings. They were wrong. What was it about this case that was different?  What lessons can be learned that tra...

#GivingTuesday is a global day of giving fueled by the power of social media and collaboration. Celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, #GivingTuesday kicks off the charitable season, when many focus on their holiday and end-of-year giving. Will your organization be ready? Join us as Jessica Schneider, Director of Strategy and Collaboration for 92Y’s Belfer Center for Innovation and Soci...

Join us as Xavier Ramey,CEO and Lead Strategist, of Justice Informed, LLC, looks at the intersections of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI); community engagement, philanthropy  and corporate responsibility.  We will  examine the current environment and discuss strategies organizations can use to strategically align people, processes and culture to capitalize on changes in a globalized economy,...

Writing a compelling case for support is not always as easy as it seems.  In Case Development 201, Communications Consultant Andrew Brommel writes “an organization’s case for support is ultimately ‘your message to your donors—why should they give to your organization?’  In this day and age of increased competition for fewer dollars, your answer to the funders’ question must be stronger than ever b...

Vivien Hoexter and Linda C. Hartley, principals of H2Growth Strategies LLC, will discuss their new book, Big Impact:Insights & Stories from America’s Non-Profit Leaders. The book highlights nonprofit leaders from the U.S. and abroad who have found solutions to some of the world’s most vexing societal problems. Hoexter and Hartley will also share insights on how these change-makers are implementing...

Even when asked by their funders, organizational leaders are often reluctant to provide candid feedback to foundations, for fear of alienating  them.  As a result, foundations don't always have an accurate picture of what the grantee experience has been with them, while nonprofit organizations sometimes suffer in silence, or decide not to pursue a relationship due to things like, onerous applicati...

Today’s nonprofit funding environment is characterized by increased competition for limited funding and unfavorable tax laws that could potentially reduce incentives for middle class donors to make gifts to nonprofits.  Now, more than ever, nonprofits must adopt  financial capitalization models that include public and private sources of financing, including grants, private equity investments, loan...

Peggy Duvette is an international thought leader in technology & social change and women’s leadership.  As Senior Director of Social Impact at Oracle NetSuite, Peggy guides the donation of the Oracle NetSuite products to nonprofits worldwide, and manages a range of capacity building programs, including Suite Pro Bono.  She is committed to helping nonprofits and social enterprises further their soc...

Do you ever wonder what role the Microsoft Stores play in community? Paula Brkich is the Community Development Specialist based at the Microsoft Store in Schaumburg. In her role, she connects the store to the community through educational workshops and events for kids, seniors, businesses, gamers, and works with non-profits on volunteer events.  Paula will talk about  Microsoft’s  educational prog...

Do you ever wonder what organizational capacity is, or why it’s important?  Tune in to Nonprofit “U” for a lively discussion with Tom Fuechtmann, Senior Program Officer with the Community Memorial Foundation and me.  We will demystify organizational capacity building, talk about Community Memorial Foundation’s investment in  organizational leaders  and the importance of building organizational cap...

Do you ever wonder what role the Microsoft Stores play in community? Paula Brkich is the Community Development Specialist based at the Microsoft Store in Schaumburg. In her role, she connects the store to the community through educational workshops and events for kids, seniors, businesses, gamers, and works with non-profits on volunteer events.  Paula will talk about  Microsoft’s  educational prog...

Peter Gariepy is a Principal with Vora Certified Public Accountants, and a candidate for the Cook County Treasurer’s Office.  Vora is the first CPA firm in the Midwest to become a certified Benefit Corporation, meaning that the firm seeks to generate a positive social and environmental impact through serving its clients. Peter is the treasurer of the West Town SSA, and a former member of the Auxil...

Nonprofits are often concerned with having  just the right social media messages to promote year-end giving campaigns. When the dust settles, they still need to maintain compliance with state and federal regulators.  These disclosure requirements provide an excellent opportunity for nonprofits to tell their stories; demonstrate impact and market their organizations and services. Join Holly Ivel, D...

Do you ever wonder what organizational capacity is, or why it’s important?  Tune in to Nonprofit “U” for a lively discussion with Tom Fuechtmann, Senior Program Officer with the Community Memorial Foundation and me.  We will demystify organizational capacity building, talk about Community Memorial Foundation’s investment in  organizational leaders  and the importance of building organizational cap...

As Cara’s Director of Student and Alumni Affairs and a 15-year Cara veteran, Jesse Teverbaugh is a firm believer in the notion that we transform our lives by transforming others. Cara helps men and women affected by poverty (and often the interrelated challenges of recovery, domestic violence, episodic homelessness and incarceration) to get and keep good jobs, rebuild hope, self-esteem and opportu...