Small Nonprofit: Fundraising Tips, Leadership Strategies, and Community-Centric Solutions

Send us Fan Mail Feeling overwhelmed by current challenges in the nonprofit sector? In this episode, host Maria Rio sits down with Robyn Schwartz, historian-turned-fundraiser and co-founder of Dumbo Octopus Consulting, to explore how understanding historical patterns can help nonprofit leaders navigate today's uncertainty. Robyn draws striking parallels between our current moment and the 1920...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wondered why some donors stick around for decades while others disappear after one gift? Join Maria Rio and Caitlin McBride as they break down the eight psychological and social reasons people actually donate to nonprofits. They tackle everything from the power of peer-to-peer fundraising (hint: 80% are brand new donors) to why guilt-based appeals only work once, why your 50t...

Send us Fan Mail Nonprofits are constantly told to “tell powerful stories” to move donors, but what happens when those stories come at the expense of the people you serve? In this episode, we dive into the messy, important questions behind ethical storytelling: consent, power, and what it really means to honor people’s dignity in your fundraising and communications. Maria and Ceallaigh unpack how...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wondered how to critique the nonprofit sector while leading an organization within it?  Join Maria Rio for a conversation with Amber Hamilton, President and CEO of the Memphis Music Initiative, who went viral for saying what every nonprofit leader thinks but won't say out loud.  Amber shares why humor became her weapon of choice; creating satirical videos that called out...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wondered why your nonprofit's email list is stuck at 400 contacts after decades of work? Join Maria Rio for a conversation with Jess Campbell, founder of Out in the Boons, who shares an uncomfortable truth: your email list is probably shrinking right now, and it's kneecapping your fundraising. Jess shares why email is 9-10 times more effective than social media, cre...

Send us Fan Mail What's the one thing you wish the public understood better about the problem you're solving?  That gap between what people know and what you wish they knew? That's your narrative change work, and it should be driving every communication decision you make.  On this week's episode, we break down how small nonprofits can stop reacting to headlines and start shapin...

Send us Fan Mail There's a reason some fundraising stories feel easier to tell than others. Stories about animals, "grateful" clients, and non-political solutions raise money quickly because they tap into what donors already believe about who deserves help. But what happens when those easy stories erase the complexity and humanity of the people you actually serve?  On this week&apos...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when the money your organization needs comes with a muzzle attached? In this bold and necessary conversation, Maria and Caitlin tackle one of the most uncomfortable truths in the nonprofit sector: funders using their financial power to silence organizational advocacy and control community narratives.  On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, co-host...

Send us Fan Mail What is it like to lead a nonprofit when you’re constantly being told you’re “too much” of one thing and “not enough” of another? On this week’s episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Sharonne Navas shares what it’s been like to navigate a predominantly white sector as a first-gen American Latina. With experience spanning organizations like Para Los Niños, Ayuda, NARAL Pro-Choice...

Send us Fan Mail The nonprofit sector is facing a “polycrisis”. In this candid conversation, we unpack how simultaneous shocks (policy shifts, funder chill, shrinking donor pools) are reshaping civil society and what small nonprofits can do to adapt. We talk about building durable strategies instead of episodic crisis responses, and how to make decisions that protect mission over ego. Just as impo...

Send us Fan Mail If you’re tired of chasing dead-end applications or hearing “we don’t accept unsolicited proposals,” this episode is for you. We dig into how to build a smarter pipeline by prioritizing funders that welcome new grantees. Then we tackle the myth of “hard-to-fund” programs (arts, advocacy, civic education, etc.) and show you how reframing your work to match donor priorities can unlo...

Send us Fan Mail From Donor-Centric to Community-Centric: Building Equity Into Fundraising   Most “best practices” put donors and boards at the top of the pyramid - and everyone else (staff, volunteers, service users) at the bottom.   In this episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast , Maria Rio breaks down the shift from donor-centric to community-centric fundraising and why this change is key to bu...

Send us Fan Mail Grants look easy from the outside: download a form, fill it in, wait for the cheque. In reality? Cold applications rarely convert, and the magic happens off the application portal. On this week’s episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast , Maria Rio and co-host Caitlin McBride unpack why grants are not the quick win many organizations expect and how a single 15-minute call can comple...

Send us Fan Mail A four-day work week is not a gimmick. Done right, it can reduce burnout, stabilize output, and help you keep great people. Our guest today shares that after two years of doing a 4-day work week model, they saw a 46% increase in staff morale and wellbeing. This is only one of the many amazing benefits Imagine Canada has seen!  In this episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast , Maria...

Send us Fan Mail When a nonprofit faces a full board turnover, staff departures, and community outrage all at once, most Executive Directors want to run away. Nina Horvath stayed.  In this episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, I sit down with Nina Horvath, Executive Director of the Coastal Jazz and Blues Society, producers of the Vancouver International Jazz Festival. Years ago, Nina joined Coas...

Send us Fan Mail The 2025 Changemaker Wellbeing Index Report shows that 30% of nonprofit workers are experiencing food insecurity. This new study confirms what so many in our sector already feel every day: burnout, financial strain, and constant pressure.  In this episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria Rio is joined by Caitlin McBride, CFRE, a fundraising executive with over a decade of exp...

Send us Fan Mail Small nonprofits deserve BIG support. However, many fundraisers stumble while trying one to one relationships with major donors without it feeling fake, forced, or transactional.  Fundraising is not sales; it is matchmaking. At the heart of every major gift is a shared why: the values and experiences that connect you, your mission, and your donors.  In this episode of The Small No...

Send us Fan Mail Growing your organization is about smarter, easier touchpoints. It’s about how small nonprofits can show up where people already are, build real connection, and grow a brand that attracts donors, partners, and advocates.  In this episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast , host Maria Rio is joined by Christa Stelzmuller, Chief Technology Officer at Charity: Water. Christa brings a we...

Send us Fan Mail Storytelling is the heartbeat of nonprofit fundraising - and now, AI is giving organizations new ways to capture and share those stories while still keeping a human touch at the center.  In this episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast , Maria Rio sits down with Gustavo Zylberberg, Co-founder and CEO of Vitalcy, an AI-powered alumni engagement platform helping nonprofits reconnect w...

Send us Fan Mail Your top donors don’t just write big cheques; they could be folding newsletters in your conference room every Tuesday or serving on your board for the third consecutive year. In this episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast , we're exploring on what it means to steward supporters through a Community-Centric Fundraising lens. We're sharing ways we’ve shown gratitude to peop...

Send us Fan Mail Is your nonprofit struggling to turn DEI intentions into meaningful action? Fear, burnout, and performative allyship often hold us back from creating truly equitable organizations. But what if we could move beyond discomfort into sustainable change? In this episode, Maria sits down with Jonathan Meagher-Zayas, an equity educator and nonprofit consultant, to explore the real reason...

Send us Fan Mail Social enterprises aren't only about earning or diversifying revenue; they’re key to finding creative, sustainable ways to advance your mission while serving your community with dignity.  In this episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast , host Maria Rio chats with Tom Armitage, who has been leading The SEED, a project of the Guelph Community Health Centre, for almost 10 years....

Send us Fan Mail Relying on a fundraiser’s personal network isn’t a fundraising strategy; it’s a shortcut that can cost your nonprofit big in the long run.  In this episode, Maria Rio and Caitlin McBride unpack why this common hiring question is a major red flag, what it reveals about an organization’s approach to fundraising, and how small nonprofits can shift toward healthier, more sustainable d...

Send us Fan Mail The nonprofit world is changing FAST - and the way we fundraise, build teams, and connect with communities is being rewritten in real time. If you’ve been feeling the tension between keeping your nonprofit afloat today and preparing for tomorrow, this episode is a must-listen.  In this solo episode, Maria Rio dives into five powerful forces shaping the future of the nonprofit sect...

Send us Fan Mail About The Episode   AI is here to stay, and many nonprofits are already embracing it. In this episode, we break down how you can set up your own custom GPT to save time, boost donor engagement, and make your team’s life a whole lot easier. Whether you're writing thank-you emails, managing volunteers, or brainstorming fundraising ideas, your nonprofit can benefit from an AI as...