Nonprofit Everything

A special episode on Silo Breaking! How do you break down silos within an organization? And how do you break down silos between organizations with similar or complementary missions? Stacy and Andy have solutions, including org charts, networking, and that annoying co-worker who wants to show you pictures of his kids. Topics: Breaking down silos – 0:00 Episode Sponsor: Today’s episode i...

This week we find out if staff should be invited to board meetings, and how to prepare if a funder wants to see your facilities. Stacey has some thoughts about a board member who wants to be a loaned executive (with no supervision), and we hear about Nevada’s new raffle and charitable gaming law from attorney Katie Hoffman from Fennemore Craig . Topics: Should staff be invited to board meeti...

What should you do if a funder asks to see client records? Stacey and Andy have opinions! This week we also find out how involved a board should be in the budgeting process, how to deal with random donor requests, and talk to guest expert and seasoned board chair Tanna Prince about whether or not to fire board members for low attendance. Topics: Funder wants to see client records – 0:00 How...

Do nonprofits need to comply with open meetings law? Find out this week! Stacey and Andy have differing opinions on job hopping, we learn the difference between overhead and operating costs, and Stacey talks about some cool RFP coordination among funders. Topics: Open Meetings Law – 0:00 Job Hopping (for a good reason) – 2:09 Overhead vs. Operating Cost – 15:22 RFP Coordination A...

Grants genius Beth Rubins explains the right way to fund overhead, and Stacey and Andy answer questions about how to select an audit firm and the bitter disappointment that is Amazon Smile. Topics: Amazon Smile – 0:00 Buzzwords to use in a grant for funding overhead, with Beth Rubins – 5:15 How to select an audit firm – 22:55 Episode Sponsor: Today’s episode is sponsored by...

It’s our anniversary! Over the last year we’ve answered 101 questions, talked for 780 minutes and played the bumper theme 127 times (sorry about that last one.) This week Andy answers a 401(k) vs 403(b) question someone was too lazy to Google, and Stacey talks with Guest Expert Clay Buck about Donor Dominance. Today’s episode is sponsored by Brenda J. Stout, CPA . Topics: Differe...

In this jam-packed episode, we find out whether or not you can switch your nonprofit from a 501(c)4 to a 501(c)3, what constitutes a good conflict of interest policy, and if you can reimburse your board members for expenses. We check in with social media expert Heather Curry Frommer , who gives us tips on what channels to use for new donors, and are absolutely shocked to discover that both Stacey...

This week, Stacey crushes the dreams of a board member hoping to avoid a volunteer assignment, we find out what due diligence an org should do before hiring an executive director, and some strategies to prevent burnout from psychically heavy work. Andy gives Stacey tips on how to steal money, and we discuss the ever-confusing Vice President position on the board. Topics: Can a board member be a vo...

This week, we learn the difference between outputs and outcomes, and Stacey offers some great advice about grant reporting. We also tackle the advisory board question once again, and by request, we actually share some drunk at the gala stories. Topics: Outputs vs Outcomes – 0:01 Alcohol Policies for Fundraising Staff – 8:57 Grant Reporting Templates – 16:50 Advisory Board Advice...

This week, we find out if you can send a donor to collection for failing to honor a pledge, and Stacey has some great advice about attending a donor’s funeral. We also attempt to clear up the confusion between Trustees and Directors, and tap guest expert Karen Durkin , Executive Coach at Houldsworth, Russo & Company to answer a really hard question about how to keep staff from freaking...

This week we dedicate the whole podcast to a fascinating conversation with Julia Campbell , digital marketing consultant and author of Storytelling in the Digital Age: A Guide for Nonprofits . We had a question about Facebook fundraisers, but that was just the beginning… Topics: Working with Facebook Fundraisers – 2:12 Mentioned this week: Julia Campbell of JC Social Marketing Twitter:...

How the heck do I get off this board? Stacey knows. We also find out what questions an internal candidate for Executive Director should ask, and hear from guest expert Kevin Dincher on how to motivate unmotivatable employees. Topics: How does a board member resign? – 1:51 Questions an internal candidate can ask when applying for the Executive Director job – 7:01 Motivating a team for a...

How should you set stretch goals for a brand new Executive Director? Stacey and Andy have a few thoughts on the subject. Also, we find out why having to create an RFP might be a good planning exercise, and Andy goes completely off-topic when talking about cost centers. Topics Should I do an RFP? – 1:34 What are cost centers and why do I need them? – 10:17 Setting goals for a brand new...

How can an Executive Director tell if she’s about to be fired? We have some thoughts. Stacey provides some useful information on how to prepare for a regional expansion, as well as how to cope with high employee turnover. We also give a bunch of information about potential bitcoin and cryptocurrency donations. Topics ED on the way out? – 1:02 Accepting Bitcoin – 10:34 Expanding y...

Not all questions are happy ones: this week, we find out how to deal with donations when you’re closing a regional office. But on a happier note, Stacey has ideas on how to write grants that pay for salaries and Andy gives you audit prep tips. We discuss whether or not the ED and Board Chair can be the same person, as well as the technical difference between a mission and a vision. Topics: C...

Should you hire a Development Director or Grant Writer first? Or is that even the right question? Stacey knows. Also, we discuss great year-end reflection activities, and bring back our guest Greg Wilken of Endunamo Consulting , who tells us we were way too soft on the ED and Board Member relationship question. Topics Year end reflection routines – 1:24 Do you hire a Development Director or...

This might be the best gift you get this Christmas! Anthony Alonso of Catapult Fundraising stops by to answer *a ton* of questions about direct mail, and Stacey and Andy poke a hole in your big-hearted employee bonus plan. Topics: A bonus for a high-performing employee – 1:38 Getting $25 from a $25,000 donor, with Anthony Alonso of Catapult Fundraising- 8:52 Mentioned this week: The Alliance...

What do you tell your donors when you miss your Giving Tuesday goal? Stacey knows! This week we also talk about what to do when the passion for your cause is gone, where to find a whistleblower policy template (the ANN website, for one), and whether you should budget for break-even or a surplus. And Andy and Stacey are completely mystified by a board member who wants to upend the mission because i...

Don’t you hate it when the Executive Director is dating a Board Member? Stacey and Andy do. This week, we also find out whether or not an annual report is still required, and hear some amazing end-of-year fundraising tips from expert fundraiser Clay Buck . Topics: Board/Staff (personal) relationships – 1:04 Annual Report – 9:01 Year-End Appeals (with Clay Buck ) – 14:22 Men...

Ah, the double-edged sword of government grants. This week, Andy remembers he has to pay his car insurance, we talk about how to assemble a cash flow projection, Stacey gives some great tips on how to get silent auction items, and we find out whether or not you can put a slow-moving organization’s 501(c)3 on pause. Also, we tackle the ever thorny problem of just where to stick the Volunteer...

This week, our guest expert Greg Wilken of Endunamo Consulting answers a tough question about firing a long-tenured employee, Stacey (shockingly!) disagrees with Andy about overhead and optimization, and we find out whether or not to take donations from marijuana dispensaries. Topics: How to report on overhead for donors – 3:04 Donations from marijuana dispensaries – 12:16 Firing a lon...

This week, we find out who should participate in creating the strategic plan, and why you shouldn’t volunteer for your own job. Andy provides the best single thing you can have to get your board to understand your financials, and Stacey shares the secret to winning any kind of fundraising presentation competition. New feature! Do you only want to listen to a particular section? Or perhaps sk...

This week, we answer the most frequently asked question of both the Alliance for Nevada Nonprofits and Nonprofit Everything: “How do I start a nonprofit?” Our special guest is SCORE Counselor Bob Cushman. Bob spent 20 years working for three manufacturing corporations, and subsequently became Chief Operating Officer of Warner & Stackpole, a Boston law firm. Bob is joined SCORE in 1...

This week, we talk about whether or not a nonprofit always needs to provide its services for free (spoiler: it doesn’t), Stacey provides some tips on how to get gifts from donor advised funds, and Andy gives an organization some bad news about their 501(c) reinstatement. Also, attorney Lyn Beggs explains a new Nevada statute about accepting donations from pharmaceutical companies. Topics: Fe...

This week, we learn that bi-weekly and bi-monthly may or may not mean different things, Andy warns about the dangers of accepting “a portion of the proceeds” from strangers, we find out what financial information belongs on a nonprofit’s website, how to handle unusual volunteer requests, and how to survive a founder transition. Topics: Commercial co-ventures – 4:41 Website...