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

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast , host Maria Rio dives into the Five Pillars of Great Fundraising, a powerful framework to help nonprofits assess and optimize their fundraising strategies. Maria explains how nonprofit leaders can evaluate their efforts, identify gaps, and implement changes that lead to sustainable growth. Whether you're working with a small tea...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast , Maria sits down with Caitlin McBride, an experienced fundraiser and consultant, to discuss the unique challenges and opportunities of being a one-person fundraising department. Caitlin shares her journey from working in large fundraising teams to becoming the sole fundraiser at small nonprofits. She provides actionable insights on s...

Send us Fan Mail Is your nonprofit fundraising strategy working? In this episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast , Maria speaks with Kel Haney, a fundraising coach and consultant, about transforming donor engagement through personalized and strategic phone calls. Kel introduces her "ditch the script" approach and her "five-minute fundraising ask" framework, which emphasizes auth...

Send us Fan Mail Can nonprofits truly live their values? Learn how to align organizational values with action from the experienced leadership of Hoang Murphy, CEO of People Serving People. In this episode, we discuss building workplace cultures of transparency, centering lived experiences in decision-making, and embedding nonprofit values into budgeting and operations. Explore how intentional nonp...

Send us Fan Mail Is the nonprofit-industrial complex STUCK? Discover the journey of implementing Community-Centric Fundraising (CCF) principles with your host Maria Rio and Marie-France, Director of Community Engagement and Major Gifts at TNG Community Services. In this episode, they discuss the complexities and rewards of aligning fundraising strategies with equity, justice, and collective missio...

Send us Fan Mail Are you slipping into slip into siloed efforts in the nonprofit sector? Join Lanrick Bennett, Executive Director of Charlie's FreeWheels, as he discusses building a culture of collaboration in nonprofits. Lanrick shares his journey from a career in government and advocacy to leading a youth-centered cycling nonprofit, weaving themes of equity, leadership, and community into h...

Send us Fan Mail Ready to rank higher on Google and have donors find YOU? Join digital marketing expert Matt Diamante as he shares how Nonprofit SEO and digital funnels can revolutionize nonprofit fundraising. Learn actionable fundraising tips to optimize your website, attract donors, rank higher on Google, and build lasting relationships. From creating engaging funnels to improving donor trust, t...

Send us Fan Mail Sick and tired of constantly feeling stressed, overwhelmed, and burned out? Join Maria and Kimberley McKenzie in this insightful episode on nonprofit burnout prevention. Kimberley shares her transformative 4C framework—Culture, Confidence, Collaboration, and Coaching—to help organizations reduce staff burnout, enhance team resilience, and create sustainable impact.  From addressin...

Send us Fan Mail Dealing with rising disconnection, financial stress, and generational shifts in the nonprofit landscape? Building community connections during these challenging times might be the answer. But How? In this episode, Maria sits down with Nicole from Canada Helps and Sam from Apathy Is Boring to explore the power of nonprofit community building. They discuss the latest trends in donor...

Send us Fan Mail How much time are you spending on tasks that could be automated? Are you a small nonprofit looking to save time, retain donors, and streamline operations? Join Maria as she sits down with Rachel Bearbower, founder of Small Shop Strategies and The Nonprofit Automation Agency. Rachel shares expert tips on leveraging automation tools like CRMs, email series, and workflow integrations...

Send us Fan Mail Is your nonprofit to be "corporate-ready"? Unlock the potential of corporate partnerships for your nonprofit with insights from Heather Nelson, founder of BridgeRaise. With over 15 years of experience in corporate fundraising, Heather shares actionable tips on how small nonprofits can create meaningful corporate relationships. From overcoming fears of approaching large c...

Send us Fan Mail Wondering how to secure more major gifts for your nonprofit? Join us as we dive into the art of major gift fundraising with Rhea Wong, former Executive Director and current fundraising expert. In this episode, Rhea shares practical tips for identifying major donors, building lasting relationships, and transforming your fundraising strategy. From common pitfalls to actionable steps...

Send us Fan Mail Are you inspiring or traumatizing donors and supporters? Storytelling is a powerful tool for nonprofits, but how can it be done ethically and with care? In this episode, Maria Bryan, a trauma-informed storytelling expert, shares actionable strategies for gathering, crafting, and distributing stories in ways that promote safety, resist harm, and maintain dignity. Maria Bryan delive...

Send us Fan Mail A re you ready for Muslim Philantropy? Join Maria and Sarah Ali as they discuss the dynamic world of digital-first fundraising, the power of Muslim giving, and how nonprofits can embrace cultural competency to diversify their donor bases. Sarah shares insights from her journey as a digital-first fundraiser, her work with the Muslim Philanthropy Network, and innovative approaches t...

Send us Fan Mail Wanna know what the future holds? Welcome to another inspiring episode of Small Nonprofit. This week, Maria sits down with Kamilah Martin, founder and CEO of Katalyst, to discuss how the nonprofit sector is evolving and why consulting might be the future of work for nonprofit leaders.  Kamilah shares her journey from being a VP at an international humanitarian organization to buil...

Send us Fan Mail Heard of fractional fundraising but not quite sure if it's a good idea? Fractional fundraising is transforming how small nonprofits tackle resource challenges and in this episode of Small Nonprofit, Maria chats with Nina Horvath, Executive Director of the Coastal Jazz and Blues Society, about how her organization leveraged this innovative model to revitalize fundraising strat...

Send us Fan Mail Do donors realy know what you do and how you do it? Join us for an insightful conversation with Kathryn LeBlanc, a communications consultant specializing in social impact. Kathryn shares her expertise on overcoming common nonprofit messaging challenges, creating concise and emotionally resonant messages, and developing strategic communications plans. Discover how to craft messagin...

Send us Fan Mail Have you heard of the "Shift the South" report? Join Maria Rio and Carmen Randolph, CEO of the Women’s Foundation of the South, as they shed light on the critical funding challenges faced by nonprofits serving women and girls of color in the U.S. South. In this thought-provoking episode, Carmen discusses the disparities in philanthropic investment, the impact of systemic...

Send us Fan Mail Are you including admin costs in your funding requests? Join Juliana Sprott, Chief Giving Officer of the Sprott Foundation, as she shares her journey from sports broadcasting to becoming a leading voice in trust-based philanthropy. In this insightful episode, Juliana discusses the evolution of the Sprott Foundation, the importance of listening to grantees, and actionable strategie...

Send us Fan Mail Feeling intimidated by the competition? Join Maria Rio and Roz Zavras, founder of the Center for Community Collaboration (C3), as they discuss innovative approaches to nonprofit support through collaboration and resource sharing. In this episode, Roz dives into the challenges and opportunities of working together in the nonprofit sector, emphasizing the importance of trust, shared...

Send us Fan Mail Taking yourself a little too seriously? Join us for a bold and humorous conversation with Vu Le, the voice behind the popular blog Nonprofit AF. In this episode, Vu shares his journey into the nonprofit sector, the origins of his blog, and how humor can be a powerful tool for advocacy. He dives deep into issues plaguing the sector, from donor-centered fundraising to the challenges...

Send us Fan Mail What is trust-based philanthropy? In this episode of Small Nonprofit, Maria sits down with Megan Lorius, Managing Director of the Sprott Foundation, to explore the principles and practices of trust-based philanthropy and grant-making.  Megan shares insights into how the foundation supports nonprofits by centering trust, human connection, and respect for the grantee’s time and miss...

Send us Fan Mail DEI or JEDI? Why are we putting Justice first? In this episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Chris Talbot-Heindel shares their expertise and insights on the nonprofit sector's need for justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) principles. Chris discusses how centering justice in our work can lead to collective liberation, the challenges of addressing white supremacy...

Send us Fan Mail Are you walking the talk? In this episode of Small Nonprofit, Maria sits down with Rickesh Lakhani, Founder and Lead Consultant of Radiance Advisory, to discuss how nonprofits can truly align their organizational practices with their stated values. Rickesh highliths strategies for creating a culture of trust, addressing systemic issues, and holding leaders accountable to ensure th...

Send us Fan Mail Do you find it challenging to turn one-time gifts into lasting relationships? In this episode of Small Nonprofit, Maria Rio is joined by Owen O'Doherty, CEO of DonorSee, to explore the art of storytelling and how small nonprofits can leverage technology to build engaged donor communities. Owen shares insights on using video, AI, and authentic storytelling to drive donor reten...