The Practice of Nonprofit Leadership

Send a text Research indicates that many nonprofits receive up to one-third of their revenue in the last few weeks of the year.  But it also takes planning, preparation, and work with your donors to see that happen. On the last episode of 2021, Tim and Nathan discuss why people give to nonprofits and why the end of the year is a popular time to give.  Practical steps to have a successful end of th...

Send a text Recent statistics show that the majority of people who start a podcast, fail to get to 10 episodes.  With this episode, The Practice of Nonprofit Leadership has reached 20. In this edition of PNPL, Tim and Nathan reflect back on producing 20 episodes, lessons they have learned, and how those lessons can be applied to leading a nonprofit organization. Resources mentioned in this episode...

Send a text The debate is on.  Back to the office or not...or some sort of hybrid.  And is working remotely right for Nonprofit work? In this episode, Tim and Nathan share from their experiences both the benefits and challenges of a remote team.  Tim also presents 4 actions that are required when leading a remote team., including some practical leadership ideas. One resource that is mentioned in t...

Send a text Where do grants fall in your fundraising strategy?  Are grants something you would like to pursue to help fund your organization's programs?  And why does Nathan, the fundraising guru, have a love/hate relationship when it comes to grants? In this episode, Tim and Nathan explore the big ocean called grant funding and answer the love/hate question.   Nathan provides 4 significant q...

Send a text Your organization is growing.  More opportunities are coming your way.  The workload is increasing.  You begin to realize that you need more help to get everything done.  What kind of help do you need? On this episode, Tim and Nathan discuss the five kinds of "help" that  one can bring into their organization.  Starting with bringing on volunteers and ending with hiring full...

Send a text Being successful and making a difference are two things Executive Directors strive for when leading their organizations.  But how do you know?  What measurements do you use to evaluate your program effectiveness?  On this episode, Tim and Nathan discuss why program evaluation is  important and defines some the terms that are used when going through this process.  They also provide some...

Send a text In most cases, Executive Directors are not hired for their financial prowess but most often for their leadership gifts, passion for the mission, and/or ability to raise funds.  But providing financial oversight, in concert with the Board of Directors is a significant piece of the job. On this episode, Tim and Nathan discuss 4 key areas that are part of providing financial oversight and...

Send a text As a nonprofit leader, what keeps you up at night?  What occupy's your mind? On this episode, Tim and Nathan share four issues that tend to keep them up at night as nonprofit leaders.  They also discuss each issue and some ways that leaders can address them. Tim Barnes serves as the Executive Vice President of International Association for Refugees (IAFR).  You can contact him at...

Send a text While there seems to be no shortage of crisis in the world, sometimes that crisis makes its way into your nonprofit organization.  Sharing from their current realties, Tim and Nathan share steps the Executive Director and an organization can take in a crisis situation.  They also provide thoughts on the posture and actions of a leader, when leading in a crisis. In the podcast, Tim ment...

Send a text Who is really responsible for a nonprofit organization ?  What is the role of the Board vs the Executive Director when it comes to governance?  In today's episode, Tim and Nathan answers those questions as they address the issue of nonprofit governance.  Practical insights are provided on how an Executive Director can help the Board  provide good governance and to work well togeth...

Send a text How do you respond when a staff member, Board member, or volunteer has a great new idea for the organization?  Or if a donor offers to fund a new project substantially, if the organization will take it on? "Mission Creep" is real, especially when there are lots of needs and plenty of good ideas and opportunities out there.  In this episode, Tim and Nathan discuss the hard wor...

Send a text We all know that a nonprofit requires resources to do its work.  But where do those resources come from?  As part of their series on "What's my Job?" , Tim and Nathan discuss the role of Executive Director as "Chief Fundraiser".  Drawing on his nearly 20 years as both a professional fundraiser and nonprofit executive director, Nathan provides insights and pract...

Send a text With all that comes at us as leaders of nonprofits on a daily basis, it is often tempting to ask the question, "What is my job?"  Tim and Nathan kick off a new series looking at that very question. Together they discuss four key principles to consider when working to clarify what is your job as a nonprofit leader. Support the show The Hosts of The Practice of NonProfit Leader...

Send a text It may be retirement, health issues, or just time to move on...but there are few things more challenging than the transition of a Nonprofit Founder to a new Executive Director.  The transition requires strategic intention by the Board, the Founder and the new Executive Director.   Tim and Nathan discuss three important things to keep in mind when tackling this significant leadership ch...

Send a text Starting a nonprofit usually kicks off with lots of passion and excitement.  But as it moves along, there are actions that limit the growth and impact of the organization.  In this episode, Tim and Nathan discuss 5 mistakes that founders often make when starting their nonprofit. Support the show The Hosts of The Practice of NonProfit Leadership: Tim Barnes serves as the Executive Vice...

Send a text During the Covid-19 pandemic, with job losses and the world on hold,  reports show that a large number of nonprofits were started to address local, national, and global issues.  Tim and Nathan discuss what it takes to found a nonprofit and address the challenges ahead. Support the show The Hosts of The Practice of NonProfit Leadership: Tim Barnes serves as the Executive Vice President...

Send a text Volunteers are a vital aspect of nonprofits and a key relationship for nonprofit leaders.  Sharing from their current experiences, Tim and Nathan discuss finding, managing, and appreciating volunteers.   Support the show The Hosts of The Practice of NonProfit Leadership: Tim Barnes serves as the Executive Vice President of International Association for Refugees (IAFR) Nathan Ruby serve...

Send a text One of the most rewarding, and yet sometimes challenging, is the relationship we have with our Board members.  It is also one of the most important relationships for an Executive Director.  Tim and Nathan share from their own experiences, some practical ideas for finding right board members, keeping them connected, and building healthy relationships. Support the show The Hosts of The P...

Send a text As a nonprofit executive leader, you may not be in it for the money but if you don't have money, you will not be in it.  On podcast #3, Tim and Nathan. explore the importance of good relationships with donors.  And, as an experienced and effective fundraiser, Nathan provides some practical insights into building good relationship with an organization's donors. Support the sho...

Send a text Welcome to the Practice of Nonprofit Leadership!   Hosts Tim Barnes and Nathan Ruby, introduce themselves and share what to expect on upcoming episodes of the Practice of Nonprofit Leadership podcast.  Laugh along with them, as they share both their good and bad experiences leading and serving in nonprofits.   Support the show The Hosts of The Practice of NonProfit Leadership: Tim Barn...

Send a text A recent article stated that more than 50% of a Nonprofit Executive Director's time is spent focused on people.  In this episode, Tim and Nathan identify a few key relationships that are important to focus on when leading a nonprofit and how they can contribute to the effectiveness of the leader.  Some practical actions are shared and the question, "What if I am not really a...