Nonprofit Vision With Gregory Nielsen

Collaboration and merger are buzzwords nonprofit leaders hear frequently in leading their organizations.  However, when your organization is considering a more formal relationship with another, how do you set yourself up for success?  Dr. Tony Zipple joins Greg for a discussion on nonprofit collaboration and merger, including steps in the process and pitfalls to avoid.  

Effectively managing accounting functions is critical to effective governance and maintaining the public trust.  Stephen King, President and CEO of GrowthForce, joins Greg to discuss tips for nonprofit accounting done right, outsourced accounting, and strategies to prevent fraud.   

Challenges arise for every nonprofit organization, and when they do, you may benefit from the expertise and assistance of a consultant.  From facilitating a strategic planning process to inspiring a stagnant Board, consultants can play a valuable role.  Heather Yandow, Consultant and Founder of Nonprofit.ist joins Greg to discuss 5 questions that can help prepare nonprofit leaders for fr...

It has been over two decades since the Republic of Somalia collapsed, out of which came the Republic of Somaliland. Generations have grown up knowing only a war-torn society. There is a desperate need to rebuild infrastructure, extend educational opportunities and develop the leaders of tomorrow.  Jonathan Starr, Founder and CEO of The Abaarso Nework, and Chief Development Officer Juliet Bude...

Highly effective nonprofits understand that engaging in advocacy is vital in fulfilling their mission and translating their vision into reality.  Bethany Snyder, an experienced advocacy strategist, joins Greg to discuss tips for developing effective grassroots and grasstops programs to demonstrate your people power and leverage the expertise of your supporters.  

Coaching represents an integral tool in the development of nonprofit leaders.  Patrick Jinks coaches and trains leaders in both the social and corporate sectors, with a unique approach focused on clarity, simplicity, and alignment.  Patrick joins Greg to discuss the benefits of coaching, steps in the process, and tips for selecting the best coach for you.  

Patrick Schmitt and Jenny Xia, co-founders of FreeWill, were recently named one of Town & Country's Top 50 Philanthropists of 2019.  They join Greg to discuss strategies for enhancing the accessibility and effectiveness of your nonprofit's planned giving program, including information about FreeWill -- a product they founded that has helped raise over $914 million in bequests, qualified c...

Multi-generational philanthropy can pass down values, life lessons, and stories that inspire donors to give.  Arlene Cogen, author of the Amazon #1 Bestseller, "Give to Live: Make a Charitable Gift You Never Imagined," shares the the importance of and how to engage your donors and their professional advisors in attaining their philanthropic goals.

A fiscal sponsor is a nonprofit organization that provides fiduciary oversight, financial management, and other administrative services to help build the capacity of charitable projects.  Gene Takagi joins Greg to discuss the pros and cons of fiscal sponsorship as well as key questions to ask in determining if this is right for your project or nonprofit.   

Collaboration is both a core value and an essential skill for the nonprofit community.  However, developing effective collaboration between and among teams can be challenging.  Grace Alfiero joins Greg to discuss "Crosswalks for Collaboration" -- including tips for developing a safe space for collaboration that allows the creativity and insights of the individual to enhance the performan...

Many nonprofit organizations seek to engage additional leaders through the creation of an Associate Board, sometimes also called a Junior Board.  If your nonprofit is considering this approach, what are some of the key factors to consider to set yourself up for success?  Sarah Gomel joins Greg to discuss strategies to ensure that your Associate Board represents a positive experience both...

Developing effective partnerships for insurance coverage and benefits is an integral component of nonprofit excellence.  From mitigating risk to promoting the health and wellness of team members, it is more important than ever to build a relationship with those who can help.  Ben Byrne, Owner of Byrne Insurance Group, joins Greg to discuss tips and strategies for navigating an often chal...

From Board meetings to Staff Meetings, we all strive to create effective meetings -- meetings that matter.  Change agent Whitney Bishop joins Greg to discuss tips for elevating your meetings through purpose, people, and commitment to action.  

Do you know the "magic number" of auction items for your event?  How about the 3 pockets of money attendees bring to your fundraiser?  Learn about these as well as other trends and strategies to set your nonprofit fundraising auction up for success as Kalley Dunn of AmFund joins Greg on this podcast episode.  

Developing deep relationships with donors remains a critical factor in nonprofit fundraising success.  Now, with the help of machine-learning and AI, your organization can better understand the motivations of your supporters and more effectively predict their likelihood to give.  Nathan Chappell joins Greg to discuss using machine learning to predict generosity and elevate philanthropy....

Highly effective Board teams are composed of a diverse group of talented and passionate leaders.  Christina Carr joins Greg to discuss the importance of age diversity on nonprofit Boards and strategies to engage nextgen Board leaders.  

Nonprofit organizations face a particularly challenging labor market, at a time when it is critical to attract and retain talent.  Gary Romano joins Greg to discuss HR trends and hot topics for nonprofits.  

Recent articles discuss the high turnover rate of nonprofit fundraising professionals, some even referring to it as a "fundraising exodus."  Jennifer Harris joins Greg to discuss this challenge and ways in which leaders can empower their teams to co-create a more positive, shared culture where individuals feel valued and connected to the mission.   

While the perspectives and contributions of thought leaders with established platforms are valuable, we must continue to elevate the unheard voices in philanthropy and nonprofit leadership in order to deepen critical conversations and move the sector forward.  Jen Bokoff, Director of Stakeholder Engagement at Candid, joins Greg to discuss her recent article and efforts aimed at lifting up phi...

Your nonprofit has a mission that is vital to the community you serve, and you can't afford to be the best kept secret in town!  Scarlett Hawkins, a Senior Consultant in International Development, joins Greg to discuss not just the importance of narrative, but how to add a dash of audacity to build a compelling communication strategy that is embraced by the entire organization.  

Highly effective nonprofits leverage the tools of program evaluation to build a culture of continuous improvement.  This allows nonprofit and Board leaders to make better strategic decisions.  Chari Smith joins Greg to discuss the steps necessary to translate evaluation into action for your nonprofit. 

Many nonprofit leaders face uncertainty on their journey to mission impact.   In this episode, Janeal Ford joins Greg to discuss the importance of a clear, concise case for support, tips for choosing and working successfully with a grant writer, and guidance on identifying funders with a passion for your mission.

Following an intentional process of listening to and learning from their grantee partners, the Barr Foundation implemented a series of changes to enhance the relationship between the Foundation and grantees.  Kerri Hurley and Yvonne Belanger join Greg to discuss the importance of a strong relationship between philanthropy and nonprofits, and the efforts of the Barr Foundation to incorporate c...

Within each nonprofit organization or movement, individuals play a variety of critical roles in pursuit of equity, inclusion, and justice.  Deepa Iyer is a South Asian American activist, writer, and lawyer.  Her areas of expertise include the post 9/11 America experiences of South Asian, Muslim, Arab and Sikh immigrants, national security and immigration policies, and racial equity and s...

Nonprofit professionals address complex community challenges each day in an effort to create communities in which everyone can thrive and have their needs met.  However, the profession currently faces a significant deficit of investment in the development of these critical leaders.  As funding challenges grow, leadership investment frequently suffers.  In this episode, Rusty Stahl -...