Nonprofit Pulse

How to Work Effectively Inside Public Systems Without Taking Them Over - Lindsay Whorton, The Holdsworth Center

Lindsay Whorton says nonprofit-public partnerships work best when nonprofits support a public system’s goals rather than trying to shape its decisions. As president of The Holdsworth Center, she explains that lasting partnerships require real alignment from the start, respect for the public leader’s chain of accountability, and the willingness to say no when the fit is not right. Public systems often face constrained budgets, limited staff capacity, and urgent needs. That can make any outside resource feel like an opportunity. Lindsay says the better test is whether the nonprofit’s offering supports the system’s actual strategy and priorities, not simply whether it addresses a gap or comes with funding. In this episode: How to tell the difference between a nonprofit partnership that strengthens a public system and one that quietly tries to direct it Why saying no to an unaligned partnership can protect a district’s limited time, attention, and capacity How The Holdsworth Center works through superintendents rather than approaching school boards directly What the organization’s five-year partnership with Lockhart ISD shows about shared ownership, redesigned leadership roles, and sustainable results Why the nonprofit takes responsibility for adapting its delivery to each district’s culture while keeping clear values-based boundaries How funder boundaries protect district confidentiality and keep district selection independent of outside influence Why real scale means building a system’s ability to continue the work after the partnership ends The questions to ask before entering a partnership, including whether the work aligns with the system’s goals and whether leaders have the capacity to benefit from it You will leave with a way to evaluate nonprofit-public partnerships before they begin, clarify who owns the strategy and accountability, communicate boundaries with funders and stakeholders, and build support that strengthens public institutions without taking them over. Episode highlights: (0:00) Intro (1:26) The growing need for nonprofit partnerships in public education (5:02) What a healthy nonprofit partnership with public schools looks like (7:51) Working inside public school systems without losing your mission (9:41) A public school partnership that strengthened outcomes for students and educators (13:22) The biggest fears about nonprofits working with public systems (14:40) Strategic support versus short-term fixes in public partnerships (17:53) Building trust and shared culture across nonprofit and public school teams (20:39) Getting boards and executive teams aligned around a public partnership (23:32) Questions to ask before entering into a public partnership (25:30) What it takes to build a long-term public school partnership (28:12) Clearly communicating roles in a nonprofit-public partnership (30:41) The future of nonprofit partnerships in public education Guest: Lindsay Whorton, President, The Holdsworth Center ⁠https://holdsworthcenter.org/⁠ Full transcript and show notes: ⁠https://www.anedot.com/nonprofit-pulse⁠ More episodes and the monthly newsletter: ⁠https://www.nonprofitpulse.com/⁠ If this was useful, follow Nonprofit Pulse wherever you listen. Nonprofit Pulse is a podcast by Anedot that explores trends, insights, and resources that help nonprofits accomplish their mission. Hosted by Josh Breland.

Nonprofit AI: How to Start Using AI With the Systems and Data You Already Have - Erica Cox, Provisio Partners

Erica Cox has spent more than 30 years in technology consulting, and she says nonprofit AI adoption is the polar opposite of a large, singular transformation. The Chief Innovation Officer at Provisio Partners recommends small, controlled use cases that let a team fail fast or win fast while building the guardrails it needs. The usual instruction is to clean all of your data first, then modernize systems, then consider AI. Erica says data readiness does not depend on organization size or a sophisticated platform. It depends on the minimum viable data required for a useful job. In this episode: How to find a small AI use case inside a recurring process instead of starting with one large transformation project The minimum viable data test, including why asking staff to enter 100 fields can hurt both adoption and AI results How the Higher Learning Commission used runners, walkers, and bystanders to identify early adopters and bring more people in The guardrail behind Pacific Clinics' agent Hope, which had one identifier and no other information about a person Why a client kept staff at eight-hour days but helped them see ten kids instead of five and complete three grant applications instead of one You will leave with a way to inventory AI already in use, choose a pilot, revisit governance monthly, and explain why responsible adoption can strengthen the human work your team does. Episode highlights: (0:00) Starting with AI without a transformation (1:14) Small pilots beat the big transformation (3:14) The minimum viable data test (7:19) The runners, and permission to fail (10:31) How to inventory scattered data (13:18) What the agent named Hope actually does (15:37) Guardrails before sensitive data (19:19) Why AI is changing work so fast (25:38) Why ignoring AI can be risky (30:00) AI that strengthens human work (33:09) Where to start this week Guest: Erica Cox, Chief Innovation Officer, Provisio Partners https://provisiopartners.com Full transcript and show notes: https://www.anedot.com/blog/nonprofit-pulse-nonprofit-ai-how-to-start More episodes and the monthly newsletter: https://www.nonprofitpulse.com/ If this was useful, follow Nonprofit Pulse wherever you listen. Nonprofit Pulse is a podcast by Anedot that explores trends, insights, and resources that help nonprofits accomplish their mission. Hosted by Josh Breland.

Annual Nonprofit Fundraising Plan: How to Turn Big Goals Into a Clear Annual Roadmap - Krissie Kelleher, Team IMPACT

Krissie Kelleher brings more than 25 years of strategic fundraising experience to Team IMPACT, and she says an annual fundraising plan is not a document. It is a decision about what you will do and what you will not do. The answer is not a 40-page plan no one reads. Krissie starts with the few revenue drivers that matter, maps the work across the year, and turns ambitious goals into math the team can manage. Fear is not a strategy, and neither is hope. In this episode: How to identify the 3 to 5 core revenue drivers instead of treating every idea as equally important Why 70 to 80% of revenue is often predictable, while the rest can be tested, shrunk, or removed What a $3.7 million Team IMPACT gala reveals once $750,000 in event costs are counted How a 12-month calendar becomes the strategy for campaigns, appeals, events, and stewardship Why the top 25 prospects and 30%, 50%, and 75% yield calculations keep a pipeline honest You will leave with a one-page planning approach, a calendar your team can follow, and a quarterly review rhythm for changing course. Focus on relationships, not activity for activity's sake. Krissie would take a sit-down visit with a major-gift prospect ten times more than an event invitation. Episode highlights: (0:00) What the plan says no to (1:26) What makes a fundraising plan work (4:58) Choose revenue drivers that matter (8:36) A 12-month calendar people use (12:59) Targets ambitious enough to manage (18:25) Planning mistakes to avoid (24:55) When to revise the plan (27:58) Fundraising beyond the development team (34:16) Staying focused amid shiny objects (43:37) Start with the one-page plan Guest: Krissie Kelleher, CEO, Team IMPACT Full transcript and show notes: https://www.anedot.com/blog/nonprofit-pulse-annual-nonprofit-fundraising-plan More episodes and the monthly newsletter: https://www.nonprofitpulse.com/ If this was useful, follow Nonprofit Pulse wherever you listen. Nonprofit Pulse is a podcast by Anedot that explores trends, insights, and resources that help nonprofits accomplish their mission. Hosted by Josh Breland.

Nonprofit Growth: How to Scale a Volunteer-Powered Nonprofit to 300+ Chapters - Luke Mickelson, Sleep in Heavenly Peace

Luke Mickelson helped turn Sleep in Heavenly Peace into a volunteer-powered nonprofit with more than 300 chapters, and he did not want to become the bottleneck. The organization's national ambassador says founders do not always have to step back. They have to step differently, from daily operator to a role that protects the mission while local leaders carry it forward. That transition demands a shared process, not hundreds of separate ways of doing the same work. It also demands an experience that lets volunteers contribute meaningfully, even if they have never touched a tool before. In this episode: How Sleep in Heavenly Peace grew from seven chapters to 125 in less than a year, while its budget rose from $80,000 to $1 million in six months Why every chapter needs at least four core team members, rather than one or two people headed for burnout Why a jig that builds beds ten times faster with ten times fewer people can work against a volunteer-powered mission How public bed builds turn one person's 10 to 30 beds a year into a community effort that can build 300 or 400 Why chapter presidents receive a weekly P&L and the organization presents its finances every quarter You will leave with a framework for deciding what to centralize, choosing coachable chapter leaders, designing a meaningful volunteer experience, and preparing for the moment your organization outgrows you. Episode highlights: (0:00) How to grow past the founder bottleneck (1:41) When founders must step differently (6:40) National standards, local ownership (9:49) A founder's job: vision, not operations (14:06) Keeping quality across 300 chapters (18:19) When growth breaks the system (22:33) Choosing leaders who can be coached (28:26) Volunteers who become long-term champions (35:13) Why radical transparency matters (41:40) Before your idea takes off (45:46) Where founders go from here Guest: Luke Mickelson, National Ambassador, Sleep in Heavenly Peace Full transcript and show notes: https://www.anedot.com/blog/nonprofit-pulse-how-to-scale-a-volunteer-powered-nonprofit More episodes and the monthly newsletter: https://www.nonprofitpulse.com/ If this was useful, follow Nonprofit Pulse wherever you listen. Nonprofit Pulse is a podcast by Anedot that explores trends, insights, and resources that help nonprofits accomplish their mission. Hosted by Josh Breland.

Recurring Giving: Why Most Programs Plateau and How to Build One That Grows - Dave Raley, The Center for Sustainable Giving

Dave Raley, Founder and CEO of The Center for Sustainable Giving, says recurring giving programs do not grow on technology pixie dust. Recurring giving has changed with the subscription economy, but too many charities still treat it as a checkbox. The average recurring donor retention rate is between 78 and 84%, yet a recurring program can still plateau when nobody owns it or donors have no reason to stay. Dave explains how to make recurring giving a full-fledged discipline, not a side project. In this episode: What The Joshua Fund changed to grow from about 1,900 to more than 4,000 recurring donors in two years Why Netflix and Spotify spend heavily to acquire subscribers, and what that says about donor lifetime value The difference between voluntary and involuntary churn, including the 20 to 25% of cards that go bad each year Why a $1,500 to $3,000 recurring donor is worth a call when a payment fails The "how many and how much" questions to answer by the end of today before assessing six technology criteria You will leave with a way to identify the owner of your program, define a recurring value proposition, and start reducing churn with the resources you already have. Technology can be a barrier or an ally, but it will not grow the program for you. Episode highlights: (0:00) Why recurring programs stop growing (1:06) Why resilient programs still plateau (3:44) Quick wins for a stagnant program (5:11) What Netflix and Spotify reveal (7:38) When recurring giving becomes core strategy (9:50) Who owns recurring giving? (12:49) A value proposition donors want to keep (15:08) Reducing churn and winning donors back (18:24) Growth without a big tech stack (21:20) First steps toward sustainable growth (24:42) Start with the program, not the technology Guest: Dave Raley, Founder and CEO, The Center for Sustainable Giving Full transcript and show notes: https://www.anedot.com/blog/nonprofit-pulse-recurring-giving More episodes and the monthly newsletter: https://www.nonprofitpulse.com/ If this was useful, follow Nonprofit Pulse wherever you listen. Nonprofit Pulse is a podcast by Anedot that explores trends, insights, and resources that help nonprofits accomplish their mission. Hosted by Josh Breland.

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Nonprofit Data: How to Make Impact Measurement a Tool That Empowers Your Team - Stephen Minix, UpMetrics

Stephen Minix thinks nonprofit impact measurement starts with people, not a report or a platform. As Vice President of Community at UpMetrics, he helps investors, funders, and nonprofits move beyond transactional engagement toward authentic partnership. An annual report that says everything worked is validation, not learning. Stephen explains how nonprofits can own their story, decide what success means for their intervention, and use information to improve instead of merely meeting a funder requirement. The work becomes more useful when teams can see themselves in the process. In this episode: Why collecting every possible metric makes it harder to identify what actually matters How a single source of truth can replace disconnected surveys, budgets, marketing data, and spreadsheets What the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation event revealed by putting a story before the data Why Affirmative Athletics could move from the story to its data without putting Rob Thelusma on the back foot The $8 million funding loss that affected 12,000 kids across Los Angeles and exposed the cost of an ineffective data strategy You will leave with a people-first approach to choosing useful measures, combining numbers with stories, and making room to change course when the data shows an intervention is not working. Start with the mission and values before looking for a tool. Episode highlights: (0:00) When measurement becomes a burden (1:10) Make measurement work for your team (4:13) One source of truth, not scattered systems (7:20) From collecting data to improving programs (10:16) When numbers and stories work together (14:01) A shared framework with funders (17:46) From ad hoc reports to disciplined measurement (21:59) Data confidence for non-data people (26:39) Define the work before choosing a platform (29:49) Start with mission and values Guest: Stephen Minix, Vice President of Community, UpMetrics Full transcript and show notes: https://www.anedot.com/blog/nonprofit-pulse-nonprofit-data-impact-measurement More episodes and the monthly newsletter: https://www.nonprofitpulse.com/ If this was useful, follow Nonprofit Pulse wherever you listen. Nonprofit Pulse is a podcast by Anedot that explores trends, insights, and resources that help nonprofits accomplish their mission. Hosted by Josh Breland.

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Nonprofit Preparedness: How to Build Community Before a Crisis Hits - Laurie Hood, Alaqua Animal Refuge

Laurie Hood has spent 20 years growing Alaqua Animal Refuge, a no-kill animal sanctuary in Northwest Florida, and she says nonprofit crisis preparedness begins long before an emergency. For Laurie, relationship building is not something to turn on in a crisis. It is work an organization lives every day. When Hurricane Milton created an urgent need, Alaqua had less than 24 hours to organize hundreds of dogs from South Florida. The response worked because people knew its role, trusted its team, and could be assigned to work quickly. In this episode: How Alaqua became part of a statewide disaster-response coalition before it needed to activate one What changed when hundreds of dogs arrived from South Florida and Alaqua was fully set up within 24 hours How more than 1,000 volunteers contributing 80,000 hours a year create readiness before the next call for help Why knowing volunteers' strengths lets a team assign tasks quickly, safely, and without chaos How to use AI as an intern to create a starting point for an emergency-management plan and identify community partners You will leave with a simple first move: make one phone call this week, start one relationship in the calm season, and build the trust that turns goodwill into coordinated response. Episode highlights: (0:00) The relationships a crisis response depends on (2:03) Build community before the emergency (4:18) Who needs to be at the table first (6:49) Making room for readiness on a maxed-out team (7:56) Why calm-season relationships matter (10:46) Earning a seat in emergency planning (14:16) Keeping volunteers engaged between crises (16:22) The cost of activating community too late (18:12) What a prepared response looks like (19:24) One call to start building readiness (21:05) Your first relationship this week Guest: Laurie Hood, Founder, Alaqua Animal Refuge Full transcript and show notes: https://www.anedot.com/blog/nonprofit-pulse-how-to-build-community-before-a-crisis-hits More episodes and the monthly newsletter: https://www.nonprofitpulse.com/ If this was useful, follow Nonprofit Pulse wherever you listen. Nonprofit Pulse is a podcast by Anedot that explores trends, insights, and resources that help nonprofits accomplish their mission. Hosted by Josh Breland.

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Nonprofit Ambassador Programs: How to Design One That Actually Works - Tasha Van Vlack, The Nonprofit Hive

Tasha Van Vlack says nonprofit ambassador programs fail when organizations treat people as a marketing tactic instead of building community. As Founder & Co-Director of The Nonprofit Hive, she has seen why a Slack channel full of posts to share can turn committed supporters into a distribution channel. The goal is not simply brand awareness. Tasha argues that ambassadors should create trust, belonging, and influence around the mission. That begins by defining the purpose, choosing the right people, and giving the group a role that is clear without trying to control every action. In this episode: Why an ambassador program should be a community strategy, not a cheaper substitute for paid advertising How The Nonprofit Hive used a one-page overview, an internal owner, and minimum expectations for its cohorts Why 12 ambassadors may need to become 18 instead of being asked to do more The value of separate tracks for a TikTok contributor and someone connected to a local chamber of commerce How a second-Wednesday monthly rhythm lets ambassadors put 12 months on the calendar You will leave with a practical way to pilot an ambassador program, define its role, and recognize people without making the work feel transactional. Start small, learn from the pilot, and refine it. Episode highlights: (0:00) When ambassadors become a distribution channel (1:08) Why ambassador programs miss the point (4:45) When programs turn transactional (7:00) Define the purpose before recruiting (8:53) What a working ambassador program needs (13:13) Values before marketing goals (17:18) Ambassadors as community leaders (20:01) Scaling without burning out supporters (25:59) Building belonging beyond the task list (30:08) How to start a program that lasts (37:08) Start small, learn, refine Guest: Tasha Van Vlack, Founder & Co-Director, The Nonprofit Hive Full transcript and show notes: https://www.anedot.com/blog/nonprofit-pulse-nonprofit-ambassador-programs More episodes and the monthly newsletter: https://www.nonprofitpulse.com/ If this was useful, follow Nonprofit Pulse wherever you listen. Nonprofit Pulse is a podcast by Anedot that explores trends, insights, and resources that help nonprofits accomplish their mission. Hosted by Josh Breland.

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Nonprofit Mergers: How Mergers Strengthen Mission and Impact - Debra Hertz, The Strategy Group

Debra Hertz says a nonprofit merger can make one plus one equal five, but only when the organizations share a clear vision and common values. As Managing Director and founder of The Strategy Group, she helps nonprofit organizations build strength, clarity, and impact through moments of growth, transition, and complexity. A merger is not automatically a sign of failure. Debra explains why leaders should look beyond themselves to what is best for the people they serve, while being honest about the time, money, and champion the process requires. Culture must be part of the conversation early, because cultures do not simply merge. The dominant culture dominates. In this episode: How Connecticut's two food banks became a larger organization that served more pantries and saved $1 million a year Why the strongest mergers begin with common values, common vision, and a realistic view of non-negotiables The difference between a boardroom conversation and broad discussion before leaders have done their homework Why a merger can take 7 to 8 months, while an unusually compressed process can take 60 days How community foundations and capacity-building grants can help fund the work of exploring a merger You will leave with a practical lens for deciding whether a merger is a strategic opportunity, how to raise the question responsibly, and which early issues deserve attention before a commitment. Reimagine the future around mission and community impact. Episode highlights: (0:00) When one plus one can equal five (1:22) Why mission-driven mergers are rising (4:24) A merger that strengthened impact (5:52) The misconceptions that cloud merger talks (8:06) Strategic opportunity or desperation? (10:00) Why cultures do not simply merge (13:48) How boards should start the conversation (17:16) Questions to ask before pursuing a merger (18:37) What the merger process requires (20:55) Mergers as a sustainability strategy (23:15) Reimagine the future around mission Guest: Debra Hertz, Managing Director and founder, The Strategy Group Full transcript and show notes: https://www.anedot.com/blog/nonprofit-pulse-nonprofit-mergers More episodes and the monthly newsletter: https://www.nonprofitpulse.com/ If this was useful, follow Nonprofit Pulse wherever you listen. Nonprofit Pulse is a podcast by Anedot that explores trends, insights, and resources that help nonprofits accomplish their mission. Hosted by Josh Breland.

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Fundraising Engines: How to Build Repeatable Campaigns That Compound Over Time - Christina Tzavaras Edwards, Splendid Consulting

Christina Tzavaras Edwards has trained more than 10,000 nonprofit professionals across 20 countries, and she wants leaders to build fundraising systems that run like an engine instead of betting the budget on one annual event. She is not anti-event. She is against high expense, high time, and high people power for diminishing returns. A fundraising engine carries momentum through the year, gives donors more than one moment to participate, and creates repeatable campaigns that compound over time. In this episode: What makes a $10K+ sprint campaign different: a clear goal, a defined audience, and less than 30 days How clients raised $20K in 20 days and $10K in 10 days with sprint campaigns Why recurring-giving sprints moved one organization from 12 to 120 recurring donors Why PayPal is not a donation tool, and how a poor donation experience can block recurring giving How email, a 3-to-5-part welcome series, and personal texts can outperform a social media campaign You will leave with a practical first step for launching a sprint in the next 30 days, a way to choose a real goal, and a better case for reallocating time from reactionary fundraising. Forward momentum includes hearing no, falling, and getting back up. Episode highlights: (0:00) Stop betting the budget on one event (1:12) Fundraising as an engine (4:48) What scattered fundraising has to stop (6:42) What to prioritize before the next campaign (8:33) The anatomy of a $10K+ sprint (12:06) Campaigns that earn repeat giving (15:36) Storytelling beyond the transaction (16:44) Building a digital giving engine (21:30) Scaling mistakes to avoid (24:01) The first 30 days of your first sprint (24:48) Forward momentum, even after no Guest: Christina Tzavaras Edwards, Founder of Splendid Consulting, Splendid Consulting Sprint campaign class: https://splendidcourses.com/sprintclass Full transcript and show notes: https://www.anedot.com/blog/nonprofit-pulse-fundraising-engines More episodes and the monthly newsletter: https://www.nonprofitpulse.com/ If this was useful, follow Nonprofit Pulse wherever you listen. Nonprofit Pulse is a podcast by Anedot that explores trends, insights, and resources that help nonprofits accomplish their mission. Hosted by Josh Breland.

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Sustaining the Changemakers: Practical Ways Nonprofit Leaders Can Prioritize Mental Well-being - Dacia Moore, Second Wind Counseling and Consulting

Dacia Moore says nonprofit leader burnout is too late. A licensed professional counselor and Founder of Second Wind Counseling and Consulting, she helps people build sustainable mental wellness and challenges leaders to stop treating themselves like machines. Mission-driven work can make it easy to ignore the indicators and push through. Dacia explains that strength includes asking for help, taking basic care of yourself, and recognizing that leaders are interdependent. The nature of the work may not change, but what leaders do to manage it can. In this episode: Why Dacia cites 95% of nonprofit leaders as worried about staff, while one third are worried about themselves The 1-to-10 exhaustion check leaders can use to compare how they feel now with last year Why a client who went to bed at midnight and got up at 3 a.m. to work needed a different approach How lunch outside the office at least three days a week can create space away from the pressure Dacia's 15-minute focus and 10-minute break version of the Pomodoro method You will leave with small, sustainable ways to notice burnout sooner, protect time, and build a culture where counseling, coaching, and an EAP can be used without shame. Start now. Little things matter. Episode highlights: (0:00) When mission work makes self-care feel optional (1:26) Why leader well-being cannot wait (4:58) What leaders carry behind the scenes (10:24) Early warning signs leaders miss (13:17) How burnout changes culture and retention (15:20) Well-being practices that fit mission work (20:31) Small habits that protect your capacity (25:33) A culture that makes support usable (34:04) Boundaries in mission-driven work (39:37) Little things matter Guest: Dacia Moore, Founder, Second Wind Counseling and Consulting Full transcript and show notes: https://www.anedot.com/blog/nonprofit-pulse-nonprofit-leaders-mental-well-being More episodes and the monthly newsletter: https://www.nonprofitpulse.com/ If this was useful, follow Nonprofit Pulse wherever you listen. Nonprofit Pulse is a podcast by Anedot that explores trends, insights, and resources that help nonprofits accomplish their mission. Hosted by Josh Breland.

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Nonprofit Event Planning: How to Plan Events That Drive Engagement and Empower Your Supporters - Karen Alonso, United Way of Southern Nevada

Karen Alonso believes nonprofit event planning is not about a singular focus. As Chief Advancement and Communications Officer at United Way of Southern Nevada, she designs experiences that can fundraise, educate, build a supporter base, and turn attendees into advocates for a cause. The work continues after people leave the room. Karen explains why every event needs a mission connection, participation before and during the experience, and a timely follow-up plan. The payoff is not just a dollar total. It is whether people remember the mission and choose to engage again. In this episode: How United Way of Southern Nevada brings more than 1,000 volunteers together for Fall Day of Caring Why a save-the-date sent six or nine months ahead helps protect a fundraising gala from calendar conflicts The personal photo experience that gave attendees images they later used as Facebook and Instagram profile photos Why calling every attendee within 48 hours, with no ask involved, prevents the next-year-only follow-up mistake How a Salvation Army emcee's story of addiction and homelessness made the mission more memorable than figures alone You will leave with a practical plan for designing an event people participate in, talk about afterward, and connect back to the mission. Measure the experience through engagement, follow-up, and the relationships it creates, not attendance and donations alone. Episode highlights: (0:00) More than a fundraising event (1:24) Mission-first event design (7:35) Engagement before and during the event (13:52) Interactive moments people remember (18:18) Turn attendees into lasting supporters (23:31) Stories that make the mission stick (29:08) Success beyond attendance and donations (32:22) Follow up while the experience is fresh Guest: Karen Alonso, Chief Advancement and Communications Officer, United Way of Southern Nevada Full transcript and show notes: https://www.anedot.com/blog/nonprofit-pulse-nonprofit-event-planning More episodes and the monthly newsletter: https://www.nonprofitpulse.com/ If this was useful, follow Nonprofit Pulse wherever you listen. Nonprofit Pulse is a podcast by Anedot that explores trends, insights, and resources that help nonprofits accomplish their mission. Hosted by Josh Breland.

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Nonprofit Leadership: Leveraging Insights Over Instincts - Courtney De Ronde, Forge Financial and Management Consulting

Courtney De Ronde says instinct can get a nonprofit to a certain level, but it cannot be the only guide when the organization is trying to grow, launch a program, or enter a new geography. As CEO of Forge Financial and Management Consulting, she helps leaders build reliable intelligence around the decisions that matter. Hope is a great virtue, she says, but not a wonderful strategy. Courtney does not argue that leaders should ignore their gut. She argues that they should supplement it with clear outcomes, a system for gathering information, and a way to see what the organization needs to do next. In this episode: How one client modeled best-case, better-case, and worst-case scenarios after governmental funding was affected The four areas in Courtney's system: finance, leadership, productivity, and human intelligence Why reliability, visibility, predictability, and flexibility must come before a dashboard can help The difference between a six-year-old small-dollar campaign anecdote and a measurable 3% annual-giving goal How 1- or 2-question pulse surveys can reveal more than isolated feedback from leaders or coordinators You will leave with a way to move from gut-only decisions toward a system that makes instincts more valuable over time. Begin by getting visibility into where your organization is now, then define the result before you measure it. Episode highlights: (0:00) When instinct is not enough (1:03) From gut calls to reliable insight (5:27) When funding cuts test your decisions (9:25) What insight-led decisions look like (11:58) Track the results that matter (18:03) Insights for donors, fundraising, and volunteers (24:49) A learning culture without losing creativity (27:43) The first move beyond gut instinct (29:14) Start with visibility, then define the result Guest: Courtney De Ronde, CEO, Forge Financial and Management Consulting Full transcript and show notes: https://www.anedot.com/blog/nonprofit-pulse-nonprofit-leadership-insights-over-instincts More episodes and the monthly newsletter: https://www.nonprofitpulse.com/ If this was useful, follow Nonprofit Pulse wherever you listen. Nonprofit Pulse is a podcast by Anedot that explores trends, insights, and resources that help nonprofits accomplish their mission. Hosted by Josh Breland.

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Nonprofit Leadership: How Storytelling Builds Powerful, Engaging Leaders - Nathan Young, StoryCulture Consulting

Nathan Young has spent more than 12 years helping leaders use nonprofit storytelling to connect, inspire, and lead the narrative. The founder of StoryCulture Consulting says storytelling is more than recounting events. It is the cognitive tool people use to make sense of the world. Instead of searching for one emotional story that sells, Nathan urges nonprofits to keep sharing many stories that make their work recognizable over time. The same discipline can shape fundraising, internal culture, and a leader's vision for the community. In this episode: How the Mingei Museum connected a capital campaign to three distinct audiences, from younger millennials to legacy-minded donors Why opening every meeting with a story and sharing a story of the month can make storytelling part of the culture How accountants, HR staff, and volunteers can connect their everyday work to the mission statement and organizational values Why a leader's vulnerability sets the emotional tone, and why confidence matters even more than a polished story How fight, flight, freeze, and fawn can keep leaders from telling the bigger, more honest vision You will leave with practical ways to find stories already inside your organization, invite more people to share them, and connect a near-term fundraising need to the community change you want to create. Episode highlights: (0:00) Why stories do more than sell (1:34) What makes supporters feel a story (5:48) Finding stories without a big moment (7:40) A culture built on stories (10:22) Getting staff and volunteers to share (13:11) Storytelling as leadership vision (16:18) Vision mistakes leaders make (20:56) Building a narrative that inspires (23:01) Naming the change you want (24:47) Growing confident as a storyteller (28:06) Start with stories you already have Guest: Nathan Young, Founder, StoryCulture Consulting Full transcript and show notes: https://www.anedot.com/blog/nonprofit-pulse-how-storytelling-builds-powerful-engaging-leaders More episodes and the monthly newsletter: https://www.nonprofitpulse.com/ If this was useful, follow Nonprofit Pulse wherever you listen. Nonprofit Pulse is a podcast by Anedot that explores trends, insights, and resources that help nonprofits accomplish their mission. Hosted by Josh Breland.

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Nonprofit Branding: Why a Tangled Brand Could Be Holding You Back - Lyn Wiseman, KidGlov

Lyn Wineman, founder, president, and chief strategist at KidGlov, says nonprofit branding is not a logo-and-colors exercise. After more than 15 years of nonprofit branding work, she sees tangled brands drain time, blur the mission, and leave leaders misaligned. The usual impulse is to jump straight to a name, tagline, logo, or font. Lyn's eight-step framework starts somewhere else: visioning, audience research, peer analysis, and alignment before a nonprofit invests in creative elements. In this episode: Why KidGlov's first five of eight brand-framework steps are strategy based, not creative The 30% marketing-time efficiency Lyn sees when an organization has a strong brand How a confusing name that sounded like a government agency became a fresh identity and better messaging Why storytelling produces emotion, emotion produces trust, and consistency signals quality The two facilitated conversations that bring leaders together before the fifth-step brand strategy session You will leave with a way to diagnose whether your brand needs clarity, align the people who have to carry it, and begin before a major rebrand. Lyn's practical starting point is the brand compass, with fewer than ten questions. Episode highlights: (0:00) Brand clarity before creative (2:16) Why Untangling Spaghetti tells a fable (4:41) The eight steps before the logo (6:31) Why clarity is worth the investment (8:46) How brand clarity changes culture (10:35) How clarity earns trust and loyalty (13:38) Why logos cannot create clarity (15:43) Getting leaders on the same page (21:17) The tools inside Untangling Spaghetti (23:43) The brand compass starting point Guest: Lyn Wineman, founder, president, and chief strategist, KidGlov Kidglov.com Full transcript and show notes: https://www.anedot.com/blog/nonprofit-pulse-tangled-brand More episodes and the monthly newsletter: https://www.nonprofitpulse.com/ If this was useful, follow Nonprofit Pulse wherever you listen. Nonprofit Pulse is a podcast by Anedot that explores trends, insights, and resources that help nonprofits accomplish their mission. Hosted by Josh Breland.

Donor Retention: How to Maximize Donor Retention and Overcome the Loss of Recurring Givers - James Misner, The Kipos Group

James Misner has more than 20 years of fundraising leadership, and he says donor retention is not a mystery outside a nonprofit's control. The Founder & Owner of The Kipos Group identifies three reasons recurring donors stop giving, and says two of them come down to what an organization does after the gift is made. The goal is to reinforce that a donor made an amazing decision from the moment they hit submit. That requires an experience built around appreciation, stories, and signals that catch a lapse before it becomes permanent. In this episode: Why monthly donors leave when they do not know they made a difference or do not realize that they lapsed How a physical welcome packet can stay in a home for an average of four to six months, long after an email falls down the inbox Why James recommends hearing from your organization at least twice a month, with impact stories, frontline reports, and thought leadership The donor-appreciation finding behind random handwritten thanks, and why anniversary celebrations can give people an excuse to unsubscribe How 17 to 20 touchpoints reactivated a donor who gave $50,000 at the 17th touchpoint, then grew to $100,000 and eventually $250,000 a year You will leave with concrete ways to welcome recurring donors, use stories instead of facts alone, monitor early-warning signals, and give a lapsed donor campaign enough time to work. Episode highlights: (0:00) Why recurring donors quietly stop giving (1:00) The three reasons donors leave (3:45) An experience that earns long-term loyalty (7:19) The twice-a-month contact rhythm (8:53) Creative thanks that keep donors close (11:35) Stories that make the impact real (14:27) Using data to find lapsed donors (16:52) Personal outreach that reconnects donors (20:35) A retention plan you can start today (23:57) Give the campaign time to work Guest: James Misner, Founder & Owner, The Kipos Group Full transcript and show notes: https://www.anedot.com/blog/nonprofit-pulse-how-to-maximize-donor-retention More episodes and the monthly newsletter: https://www.nonprofitpulse.com/ If this was useful, follow Nonprofit Pulse wherever you listen. Nonprofit Pulse is a podcast by Anedot that explores trends, insights, and resources that help nonprofits accomplish their mission. Hosted by Josh Breland.

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Nonprofit Marketing: Why Video Storytelling for Nonprofits Works and How to Do It Well - Pat Taggart, SkyBlue Creative

Pat Taggart, Founder of SkyBlue Creative, says nonprofit video storytelling does not need an $8,000 camera or a word-perfect script. The former documentary filmmaker believes the cell phone in your pocket can be a better tool, because people do not want perfection. They want humanity, honesty, and authenticity. Video has the power to move people from knowing something exists to feeling something. Pat explains how nonprofits can make that connection without forced performances, inflated production budgets, or videos that keep talking after the story is over. In this episode: Why a cell phone, tripod, light, and microphone can cost about 100 bucks all in How six, eight, or ten video FAQs can turn repeated questions into a human touch point Why scripts are the enemy of great content, and how an editor can shape an unscripted conversation The test for video length: as long as the content is compelling, and not a second longer Why Pat points to The Bonnell Foundation and Leaven Kids while discussing how to let people into your world You will leave with a simpler way to put people on camera, select a useful format, and judge whether a video is working. You do not have to look into the lens. Start with a real conversation and let people into your world. Episode highlights: (0:00) Why honest video beats polished video (1:12) How video moves people to feel (3:49) The ingredients of a story that works (7:38) Quality video on a 100-dollar budget (12:28) Video mistakes that lose the story (14:03) Choosing the right format and length (17:11) How to make camera conversations feel real (20:25) What makes a video work (25:35) Let people into your world Guest: Pat Taggart, Founder, SkyBlue Creative SkyBlueCreative.com Full transcript and show notes: https://www.anedot.com/blog/nonprofit-pulse-video-storytelling-for-nonprofits More episodes and the monthly newsletter: https://www.nonprofitpulse.com/ If this was useful, follow Nonprofit Pulse wherever you listen. Nonprofit Pulse is a podcast by Anedot that explores trends, insights, and resources that help nonprofits accomplish their mission. Hosted by Josh Breland.

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Nonprofit Growth: Why Seeing Nonprofits As Corporations Is Important For Change and Growth - Laura Bonnell, The Bonnell Foundation

Laura Bonnell founded The Bonnell Foundation in 2010 and says nonprofits need to act like they are in it to win. The foundation provides tools to navigate the difficulties of living with cystic fibrosis, and Laura views herself as its CEO because financial health is what sustains programs for people across the country. That mindset means asking confidently, spending strategically, and treating other leaders as potential collaborators. Laura does not see a nonprofit as a lesser kind of organization. She sees an organization that needs a financial plan, a strategic plan, and the confidence to tell its story everywhere. In this episode: Why Laura stopped asking larger companies for $10,000 and began asking for $25,000 How a Meijer grant request received a yes in 24 hours and yielded $1,000 after a $2,000 ask The $4,000 strategic financial planner investment that Laura says paid for itself How a $40,000 cystic fibrosis vitamin program came together when The Bonnell Foundation could commit $15,000 Why Laura says every event produces either funding or friends, including a new camp idea for parents You will leave with a corporate-minded approach to setting bigger asks, investing in expertise, and building reciprocal relationships with donors and peers. Take your organization seriously, share what you know, and keep asking for support that matches the work. Episode highlights: (0:00) Nonprofits that think like businesses (1:23) The corporate mindset for nonprofit growth (4:27) Treat your nonprofit as a revenue generator (6:50) Strategic planning that supports scale (8:51) Collaboration that multiplies impact (12:40) Deeper relationships with donors and peers (17:45) When investing in expertise pays off (19:53) Mentorship for a stronger network (21:44) Changing how the public sees nonprofits (23:13) Ask for support that matches the work Guest: Laura Bonnell, Founder, The Bonnell Foundation Full transcript and show notes: https://www.anedot.com/blog/nonprofit-pulse-nonprofit-growth-seeing-nonprofits-as-corporations More episodes and the monthly newsletter: https://www.nonprofitpulse.com/ If this was useful, follow Nonprofit Pulse wherever you listen. Nonprofit Pulse is a podcast by Anedot that explores trends, insights, and resources that help nonprofits accomplish their mission. Hosted by Josh Breland.

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Nonprofit Board: How to Build a Diverse, High-Impact Board of Directors - Chief Joe Allio and General Maryanne Miller, Leaven Kids

Joe Allio and Maryanne Miller believe a diverse nonprofit board needs more than a mix of résumés. As President and Vice President of the Leaven Kids Board, they argue that character, humility, and a real servant-leadership mindset are what turn different perspectives into impact. Their conversation moves past box-checking. A board may not always look like the community it serves, but it must have a heart for the people it serves, the courage to ask hard questions, and the discipline to stay focused on governance rather than operations. In this episode: How Leaven Kids moved from a like-minded church committee to a board with business and public-sector experience Why the right fit is more than your network, and how showing up in rooms where people do not know you creates new recruitment opportunities The onboarding approach that has kept every participant so far and left new members with clearer focus How finance, operations, marketing, and personnel committees keep a working board aligned with mission, vision, and stewardship Why a board debating whether 2,000 pencils should be replaced at 50% or 60% used is in the wrong weeds You will leave with a sharper lens for vetting board candidates, welcoming them into meaningful work, and making space for disagreement without making the board about ego. Episode highlights: (0:00) What makes a board diverse in practice (1:02) Why diversity needs more than resumes (1:24) Finding board members beyond your network (19:15) The gaps your board needs to see (21:48) A board with heart for its community (25:15) Welcoming new members into real work (28:24) Making room for unique perspectives (29:57) Moving past barriers to diversity (30:24) How Leaven Kids broadened its board (32:22) Where to start with your board Guest: Joe Allio, President of the Leaven Kids Board, Leaven Kids Guest: Maryanne Miller, Vice President of the Leaven Kids Board, Leaven Kids Full transcript and show notes: https://www.anedot.com/blog/nonprofit-pulse-how-to-build-a-diverse-high-impact-board-of-directors More episodes and the monthly newsletter: https://www.nonprofitpulse.com/ If this was useful, follow Nonprofit Pulse wherever you listen. Nonprofit Pulse is a podcast by Anedot that explores trends, insights, and resources that help nonprofits accomplish their mission. Hosted by Josh Breland.

Nonprofit Funding: Why Nonprofits Need to Build Diverse Revenue Streams for Sustainability - Ciara Byrne, Green Our Planet

Ciara Byrne started Green Our Planet in 2013 with ten schools in Las Vegas, and her nonprofit funding lesson is that one dependable revenue source is not enough. Nonprofits need diverse revenue streams and a business model that can support the mission when funding shifts. In 2020, Green Our Planet lost half of its annual budget within a month as funders redirected money. Ciara did not see that as a reason to abandon the mission. She saw it as a reason to monetize the expertise the organization had already built through school garden and hydroponics programs. In this episode: How Green Our Planet grew from ten Las Vegas schools to more than 1,200 schools in 43 states Why some foundations now look for 20% to 50% of revenue to come from a business model How selling programs to schools and corporations supports STEM education and community empowerment What it took to get a Nevada school garden bill passed on its first attempt after serving about 400 schools Why the organization aims for 15% of revenue from sales now and 50% over the longer term You will leave with a way to look at your nonprofit's expertise, identify a revenue opportunity that fits the mission, and begin diversifying without stretching the team too thin. Be creative, be optimistic, and be kind to yourself as you go down that route. Episode highlights: (0:00) When one funder is not enough (1:18) Why funding diversity matters (4:56) Turning expertise into revenue (8:20) Diversification pitfalls (13:34) Revenue options for small nonprofits (16:16) Tradition and innovation in balance (21:20) Metrics that show what works (25:11) Ethics behind new revenue (29:53) Where to start diversifying Guest: Ciara Byrne, Founder, Green Our Planet Full transcript and show notes: https://www.anedot.com/blog/nonprofit-pulse-diverse-revenue-streams-for-sustainability More episodes and the monthly newsletter: https://www.nonprofitpulse.com/ If this was useful, follow Nonprofit Pulse wherever you listen. Nonprofit Pulse is a podcast by Anedot that explores trends, insights, and resources that help nonprofits accomplish their mission. Hosted by Josh Breland.